180 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 42 Lancasters from 419, 428 and 431 squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,711,000 lbs of high explosives and 285,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the northern part of Dusseldorf was severely damaged. This was the last attack on Dusseldorf.
F/Lt H. Bracken and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-756
coded EQ-T, were attacked by an FW-190. Many strikes were seen, it
then caught fired and exploded as it entered the clouds. It was claimed
destroyed.
F/O D. Staples, RCAF F/O L. Reaume, RCAF P/O D. Woodworth, RCAF F/Sgt. W. Sutton, RCAF P/O A. Ineson, RCAF
F/O J. Tims from 415 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s.
They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O J. Fernie RCAF F/Sgt S. Morris RCAF W/O2 V. Witteralli RCAF F/Sgt J. Scarf RCAF Sgt T. Robertson RCAF F/O H. Knobovitch, RCAF, and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-0603 coded 6U-E, failed to return from this operation.
F/O A. Orchard, RCAF F/O B. Anderson, RCAF P/O J. Harper, RCAF F/O W. Huskilson, RCAF F/Sgt. C. Seeley, RCAF--POW P/O V. Valde, RCAF F/O W. Regimbal, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NA-583 coded 6U-F, failed to return from this operation.
F/O R. Rose, RCAF F/O H. Rabkin, RCAF F/O G. Zbura, RCAF P/O V. Nelson, RCAF P/O J. Griffin, RCAF P/O M. Morton, RCAF
F/O N. Vatne from 419 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
F/Lt F. McCarthy and crew from 420 Squadron, flying Halifax III NA-632
coded PT-E, were attacked by a JU-88, strikes were seen on the fuselage
starboard wing and engine. It descended into the clouds with the engine
on fire. It was claimed damaged.
F/O J. King RCAF and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-822 coded QB-F, was hit by flak over the target. The port tail plane and rudder were severely damaged. Port wing badly hit and port outer caught fire and started to burn under the wing. Because the Halifax was losing height the crew bailed out over allied territory. Shortly after the fire went out, F/O King was able to stabilize the aircraft but because he wasn’t sure of his bearing and low on fuel, he chose to belly land the damaged Halifax. He safely did so near Aisne with damage to the nose and propellors.
F/O T. Tustin RCAF F/O F. Moss RCAF F/O W. Harris RCAF Sgt A. Jopp RCAF Sgt J. Warwicker RCAF F/O W. Bonar, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-131 coded QB-J, failed to return from this operation.
P/O A. Cayer, RCAF F/Sgt. J. Lambert, RCAF--POW P/O J. Cote, RCAF--POW F/Sgt. A. McMullin, RCAF--POW P/O A. Keeping, RCAF
F/O G. Lareau from 425 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
W/Cdr. C. Burgess from 426 squadron returned early as the electrical
system was u/s.
P/O R. Dunn RAF F/Sgt S. Holmes RCAF W/O1 G. Ives RCAF F/Sgt R. Cairns RCAF W/O1 J. McLeod RCAF F/O G. Fidler and crew, flying Halifax VII LW-200 coded OW-N, were attacked
four times by an unidentified twin engine aircraft, thought to be a JU-88,
there was no claim or damage.
F/O R. Alderson RCAF F/O J. Swan RCAF Sgt W. Pooskunik RCAF Sgt J. Deyell RCAF Sgt T. Christie RCAF F/Lt. C. Boddington, RCAF (POW) and crew, flying Halifax VIILW-199 coded OW-C, failed to return from this operation.
F/O A. Harrison, RCAF Sgt. C. Campton, RCAF W/O1 R. Hodgson, RCAF--POW F/O R. Mitchell, RCAF--POW Sgt. J. Lawlor, RCAF--POW
F/O W. Wilson and crew from 427 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-162
coded ZL-D, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft.
6 to 8 rockets were fired that missed, they gave off orange flames.
There was no claim or damage.
F/O W. Mytruk from 428 squadron returned early as they were late getting
away. F/O J. Lindsay and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-764 coded NA-B, were
attacked by an FW-190. There was no claim or damage.
P/O J. Lupinsky, RCAF P/O A. Samuel, RCAF P/O L. Ruhl, RCAF P/O M. Dorrell, RCAF P/O J. Bachant, RCAF
F/O W. Thomas and crew, from 429 Squadron flying Halifax III NP-943, coded AL-A were hit by flak, not serious. They were then attacked by a JU-88. While corkscrewing on the attack, they were hit by another enemy aircraft, riddling the fuselage with cannon fire. F/Sgt L. Sproul RCAF, the rear gunner, was hit in the foot and F/Sgt W. Jackson RCAF, the wireless operator, in the hip. They landed safely at Manston on return.
F/O G. Kercher and crew from 431 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-822 coded SE-W, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage.
F/O G. McNicoll from 432 squadron returned early as the port outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O A. Bond and crew from 433 Squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-419 coded
BM-M, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
F/O V. Barr and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Halifax III NR-145 coded WL-L, were attacked by an ME-109. There was no damage or claim.
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