He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type I, serial PB723, code 9J-W).
19 December 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force): Mission 756: 328 bombers and 45 fighters are dispatched to hit tactical targets (rail and road junctions, rail and road chokepoints and railheads) in the Luxembourg and Ehrang and Koblenz, Germany area to impede the German counteroffensive launched in the Ardennes on 16 Dec using PFF:
1. 144 of 172 B-17s hit 6 tactical targets and 24 hit the secondary target, the Koblenz marshalling yard without loss.
2. 62 of 156 B-24s hit 2 tactical targets and 82 hit the secondary target, the Ehrang marshalling yard; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; 11 airmen are KIA.
3. The missions above are escorted by 37 of 41 P-47s; they claim 7-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-47s are damaged beyond repair; 1 pilot is WIA.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): All administrative sections and extra operational equipment of the XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) are moved from Maastricht, the Netherlands to Saint-Trond, Belgium to avert transportation problems should the XXIX Tactical Air Command be subsequently forced into a hasty withdrawal.
Weather grounds the bombers.
Fighters fly armed reconnaissance in W Germany, escort RAF Lancasters, fly patrols from Belgium to the Rhine River, support the US 1st, 2d, 99th, and 106th Infantry Divisions, and 7th Armored Division (N and E of Malmedy and SE and SW of Saint-Vith, Belgium), and fly cover for US Twelfth Army troops and the XII Corps near Verdun and Saint- Avold, France.
In Belgium, the 153d Liaison Squadron moves from Spa to Olne (the squadron is operating from Liege with L-5s).
20 December 1944
(Eighth Air Force): The 859th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 492d Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Brindisi, Italy from Harrington, England with B-24s and C-47s; the squadron is detached to the 15th Special Group (Provisional) and will fly CARPETBAGGER missions in the MTO beginning 31 Dec. TACTICAL OPERATIONS First Tactical Air Force (Provisional): In France, HQ 371st Fighter Group and the 404th and 406th Fighter Squadrons move from Tavaux Airfield, Dole to Tantonville with P-47s. Ninth Air Force: Bad weather prevents all combat operations, except a night intruder mission by 2 fighters.
236 Lancasters of No 5 Group attacked the distant port of Gdynia on the Baltic coast and caused damage to shipping, installations and housing in the port area. 4 Lancasters lost.
40 Mosquitos to Nuremberg and 16 to Münster, 34 RCM sorties, 11 Mosquito patrols, 14 Lancasters of No 5 Group minelaying in Danzig Bay. 1 Mosquito Intruder lost.
32 Lancasters of No 3 Group carried out a G-H raid on the railway yards in Trier behind the front on which the Germans were attacking in the Ardennes. No Lancasters lost.
12 Lancasters of No 3 Group minelaying in the Kadet Channel off Denmark without loss.
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