Daily Operations

February 7/8, 1945

131 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 69 Lancasters from 419, 424, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack troop positions at Goch. The crews were over the target at between 4,000 and 10,000 feet, releasing 315,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the attack was accurate but was stopped, as there was too much smoke and dust.

S/Ldr R. Norris and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-717 coded EQ-W, were attacked by a unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
F/O G. Gross and crew, flying Halifax III NR-124 coded EQ-K, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
6 crews returned to base on the master bombers orders.

All crews from 415 Squadron returned to base on the master bomber’s orders.
F/Lt W. Goodwin was attacked 6 times by enemy aircraft, 3 times by FW-190s and 3 times by a JU-88, there were no claims or damages.

Only 2 crews from 419 Squadron bombed the target.
F/Lt H. Metivier had one engine u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt H. Cave upon return to base had to use the emergency air method to lower the under carriage. They landed safely.
F/Lt E. Bruyns and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-761 coded VR-H, were attacked by a JU-88, some strikes were seen on the port wing and engines, with parts falling off the wing, it was claimed damaged.

8 crews from 420 Squadron bombed the target.
P/O E. Cole was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing.
F/O R. Kane and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-435 coded PT-M, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine aircraft, there was no claim or damages.

2 crews from 424 Squadron bombed the target.

All crews from 425 squadron returned to base without bombing on the master bomber’s orders.
F/O A. Lowe and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-419 coded KW-E, were attacked 4 times by an FW-190, many strikes were seen and a fighter was seen on fire hitting the ground, it was claimed destroyed.
F/O J. Desbiens landed at Carnaby on return.

2 crews from 426 Squadron bombed the target.
F/Lt H. McLure landed at Carnaby on return.
F/O D. Hamilton and crew, flying Halifax III NA-204 coded OW-N, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage.

Only 5 crews from 427 Squadron bombed the target.
F/Lt E. Shaw and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-823 coded ZL-A, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim but they received a cannon hole in the port wing.
F/O N. Roberts was attacked by an FW-190, it was claimed destroyed.
F/Lt W. Brittain and crew, flying Halifax III NP-941 coded ZL-X, were attacked by an ME-163, many strikes were seen and it dove to the ground in flames, it was claimed destroyed.
F/Lt J. Storms and crew, flying Halifax III NP-956 coded ZL-J, were attacked by an ME-163, many strikes were seen and it burst into flames, it was claimed destroyed.

Only F/Lt K. Ellson from 428 Squadron bombed the target.

All crews from 429 Squadron returned without bombing on the master bomber’s orders.

5 crews from 431 Squadron bombed the target.
P/O J. Lourie and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-741 coded SE-C, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
F/Lt S. Sorenson RCAF and crew flying, Lancaster X KB-818 coded SE-G, lost both inner engines over the English Channel after takeoff. They crash-landed at Ford.

5 crews from 432 Squadron returned to base without bombing on the master bomber’s orders.
F/O C. Hemming and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-705 coded QO-Y, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.

All crews from 433 Squadron returned without bombing on the master bomber’s orders.
F/O J. Farrell was hit by flak, not serious.

All crews from 434 Squadron returned to base without bombing on the master bomber’s orders.