He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type X, serial KB712, code VR-L).
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 691: 382 bombers and 217 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks on marshalling yards in Germany; 3 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.
1. 184 of 192 B-17s hit the marshalling yard at Hamm; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged.
Escort is provided by 93 of 105 P-51s without loss.
2. 178 of 190 B-17s hit the marshalling yard at Munster; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 96 damaged; 12 airmen are WIA and 29 MIA.
Escort is provided by 106 of 112 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
Mission 692: 3 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): HQ 9th Bombardment Division moves from Chartres to Reims, France.
In Germany, 45 B-26s bomb rail bridges at Sinzig, Kempenich, and Ahrweiler, and airfield at Euskirchen; fighters escort the bombers, fly sweeps and armed reconnaissance over W Germany, attack 6 bridges and 1 tunnel, and support US XIX Corps in Belgium near the German border.
In Belgium, the 23d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group, moves from Juvincourt, France to Le Culot with P-47s.
In France, HQ 367th Fighter Group and the 392d and 393d Fighter Squadrons move from Clastres to Juvincourt with P-38s.
60 Mosquitos to Berlin and 21 in small numbers to 6 other targets. No aircraft lost.
Cologne: 733 aircraft - 28 Lancasters, 286 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitos. 4 Halifaxes and 3 Lancasters lost. The bombing took place in 2 separate waves and the local report confirms that enormous damage was caused. The districts of Mülheim and Zollstock, north-east and south-west of the centre respectively, became the centre of the 2 raids and were both devastated. Much damage was caused to power-stations, railways and harbour installations on the Rhine.
277 aircraft - 155 Halifaxes, 86 Lancasters, 36 Mosquitos - of 4 and 8 Groups carried out raids on gun positions at 5 places on the rim of the newly flooded island of Walcheren. Most of the bombing appeared to be successful. 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster lost.
4 RCM sorties, 1 Hudson on a Resistance operation. No losses.
Total effort for the day: 1,015 sorties, 9 aircraft (0.9 per cent) lost.237 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos of No 5 Group to attack the U-boat pens at Bergen. It is probable that No 5 Group had been waiting to attack this important target for several days; the Group had not flown any operations since 23 October. Clear conditions were forecast for the target area, although there were some doubts about this. Unfortunately the area was found to be cloud-covered. The Master Bomber tried to bring the force down below 5,000ft but cloud was still encountered and he ordered the raid to be abandoned after only 47 Lancasters had bombed. 3 Lancasters lost.
30 Mosquitos to Cologne, 4 to Karlsruhe and 3 to Rheine, 8 RCM sorties, 5 Mosquito patrols, 14 Lancasters minelaying off Oslo. No aircraft lost.
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