MN402

JR506

PD492

F/L J.A. Cote

F/O A.H. Fraser

F/L K.F. Sage

F/S W.A. Wright

11:25

11:20

11:25

Details of Sortie or Flight

F/L Cote led a section of four aircraft armed with 500 lb bombs (11 sec delay fused) on a weather recce. Above base they found the cloud to be 10/10ths at 2500-3000 feet and this extended all the way east into enemy territory. In returning from the Rhine - Meuse area, F/L Joe Cote attempted to climb through the overcast above base, however, once above this at 8000 feet, the cloud increased in density and height  as it drifted east. They returned to base with their bombs reporting "oranges sour".

JR506

MN482

RB198

F/O R.H. Laurence

F/O A.W. Saunders

F/O W. Anderson

F/O W. Kubicki

Details of Sortie or Flight

A weather recce, armed with 500 lb. bombs (11 sec delay fused) was dispatched to cover the target area. With F/O Laurence leading, they set course over base and began a gentle climb, the overcast was about 3000 feet and an attempt was made to climb through it, but after reaching 4500 feet with no sign of clearing, they let down again, breaking cloud this side of the Meuse. The flight then swung south where the weather showed signs of clearing. South of Venlo, the cloud raised higher and to the east the ceiling seemed unlimited, so they sung across the bomb line and crossed the Meuse at 4500 feet. After about two minutes flying they were subjected to a terrific barrage of all calibres of flak and intensely accurate; F/O Laurence received a direct hit by 40mm in his port wing which made a large hole and splattered bits over his tail plane, rendering it a cat. AC. They turned about and returned to base. Before landing, the flight climbed through a break in the overcast above base, but found it still 10/10ths at 8000 feet all the way east. They returned and all landed safely still carrying their bombs.