He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type X, serial KB711, code VR-C).
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force): Mission 335: 50 of 50 B-24s bomb V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area of France without loss; escort is provided by 50 P-47s and 52 P-51s.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): 250+ B-26s and A-20s bomb marshalling yards at Busigny, Valenciennes and Blanc-Misseron, France. 400+ P-47s and P-51s dive-bomb airfields and marshalling yards in France and the Low Countries.
On 6 days during this period, Bomber Command Oboe Mosquitos flew as 'formation leaders' in Second Tactical Air Force attacks on small targets in Northern France. There were no losses from the 12 Bomber Command sorties flown.
131 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attacked the aircraft assembly factory and an explosives factory at Toulouse. Both targets were hit and no aircraft were lost.
137 aircraft - 89 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitos - of 6 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at St Ghislain with great accuracy. 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster lost.
132 aircraft - 110 Halifaxes, 14 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitos of Nos 4 and 8 Groups attacked railway targets at Malines. 1 Halifax lost. The bombing was scattered, although the locomotive sheds were damaged.
Chambly: 120 aircraft - 96 Lancasters, 16 Stirlings, 8 Mosquitos - of Nos 3 and 8 Groups. 3 Lancasters and 2 Stirlings lost. Chambly, to the north of Paris was the main railway stores and repair depot for the Northern French system which the Allied bombers were trying to put out of action. The local report (provided by the office of the present Chief Engineer at Chambly) shows that the raid was extremely successful. Approximately 500 high-explosive bombs fell inside the railway depot area and serious damage was caused to all departments. The depot was completely out of action for 10 days.
75 Lancasters of No 1 Group attacked the Berliet motor worksat Lyon. The factory was badly damaged and nearby railways and factories were also hit. There is no local report to say whether civilian casualties were caused. No aircraft were lost.
46 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos of No 5 Group carried out an accurate attack on aircraft-repair workshops at Tours. The main buildings were completely destroyed. No aircraft lost.
28 Mosquitos to Ludwigshafen and 2 to Achères, 9 RCM sorties, 16 Serrate and 18 Intruder patrols, 32 Halifaxes and 3 Stirlings minelaying off the French coast and in the Frisians, 40 aircraft on Resistance operations. 1 Serrate Mosquito lost.
Total effort for the night: 801 sorties in 14 separate operations, 9 aircraft (1.1 per cent) lost.
29 Mosquitos to Leverkusen and 7 to Achères, 2 RCM sorties, 9 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisian Islands. No losses.
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