RB202

MN581

MN144

MN889

MN894

JR506

MN149

F/O N.H. Rassenti

F/L C.A. Lambert

F/L C.L. Burgess

F/O J.Carr

F/O B.F. Swingler

F/O W.G. Davis

F/O R.H. Laurence

F/O J.G. Martin

Details of Sortie or Flight

F/O Rassenti lead the Squadron, armed with 1000 lb bombs to do a "bridge beating" show, one of the first in a long time. The target was the small bridge across the Roer River  at a little town Hilfarth, Germany, map reference N.9472. Seven aircraft took-off, followed later by Blue four who had difficulty in getting away. The Squadron set course for the target climbing through a thin layer of stratus to about 8000 feet carrying 1000 pounders (.025 tailed fused). Once across the Meuse, moderate and very accurate heavy flak was encountered and followed the formation until they finished their dive. The dive was made north to south from 7500 feet. It was a good dive and all the bombs were extremely well grouped but due to tremendous drift, all landed about fifty yards from the bridge leaving it undamaged. The Squadron reformed and returned safely to base.

MP145

MN989

RB202

PD564

MN637

MN124

MP151

F/O J.Carr

F/O J. Roberts

F/O N.H. Rassenti

F/O J. Sweeney

F/O J.A. Cote

F/O R.A. Hiltz

F/O J.H. Stitt

W/O S.A. Church

Details of Sortie or Flight

F/O Johnny Carr led the Squadron on the same target the show before had come after, this was the bridge over the Roer River near Hilfarth, Germany, map reference N.2472. They climbed into the air with 1000 pounders (.025 tail fused) slung beneath each wing and set a southerly course, approaching **chan, Germany they turned east and then swung north to the target, approaching it in this manner kept them within our bomb line as long as possible and so avoided a lot of flak. Once over the target the flak became quite intense, Red three receiving one or two minor bits of shrapnel.  They went straight to the bridge and rolled over to the left, diving from 9500 to **** feet in an average dive of about 65 degrees. The bombing was quite consistent although the error was much as before due to a large amount of drift, and the bridge though narrowly missed, still remained undamaged. The Squadron reformed and returned safely to base following the same course they came on.

MN869

PD554

JR506

MP607

MN348

MP145

RB202

W/C G. Grant

F/O W. Anderson

F/O J.A. Cote

F/O W.G. Davis

F/O J.G. Martin

F/O B.E. Bell

F/O J. Roberts

F/L C.A. Lambert

Details of Sortie or Flight

The squadron led by the Wing commander Flying, took-off again to attack the bridge at map reference E.9472. They carried 1000 lb bombs (.025 tail fused) as before and after setting course climbed to 8500 feet. They flew south to the target and then turned east of Gailenkir***, Germany; flying east a short distance then swung north and right onto the target. Blue Flight was lagging so as to have an independent dive; Red flight went down going from 8500 to 3000 feet and their bombs all fell close to the target, one pair right at the entrance to the bridge; Blue Flight followed with much the same results, and there appeared over the target, an extraordinary amount of smoke, possibly a smoke screen layed down by the enemy in an effort to cover it up.

When the smoke cleared the bridge was still appeared intact. Flak was very heavy over the target and consisted of 80mm and light - Blue four, F/L Lambert received a direct hit in his port elevator from some light stuff that also damaged his tail fin, but maintained control and returned safely with the remainder of the Squadron, his aircraft was a Cat. AC.