PD459

MP145

MN581

F/L J. Carr

F/O D.C. Cleghorn

F/O J. Roberts

F/O J.L. Harrison

10:05

'

10:00

Details of Sortie or Flight

Four aircraft without bombs led by F/l carr, took-off on an armed weather recce of the Aachen-Duran-Euskirchen-Ahrweiler area. Weather in the area was suitable for operations. Intense light and heavy flak was encountered east of Duran and at Euskirchen An armed recce was carried out south of Euskirchen but little and very scattered movement was noted. All aircraft returned safely to base after making a few attacks.

Claims: MET - 2 damaged TRAINS - 1 damaged: HORSE-DRAWN TRUCKS: -1 damaged.

PD554

JR506

PD492

PD461

MN691

PD608

MN589

F/O R.H. Laurence

F/O A.H. Fraser

F/L K.F. Sage

F/S W.A. Wright

F/O L.C. shaver

F/o A.W. Saunders

F/O B.E. Bell

P/O D.E. Johnson

'

'

10:05

10:35

'

'

'

Details of Sortie or Flight

Eight aircraft led by F/O Laurence took-off on a straffing recce with no bombs to cover the area south of Duran in the Cologne Plains. They set course and once over the target area broke into two flights and began hunting.

Red Flight had very little luck, they found one little group of trucks on the border and made one pass at them being met by terrific flak; Red 2 (F/O Fraser) was hitting the wheel bay and landed with a flat tire. Red Flight continued to search for vehicles finding and attacking the odd one. On the return home they were attacked by two thunderbolts and broke into them, the Thunderbolts turned with them after damaging Red 3 (F/L Sage) in a head on shot, making his aircraft a Cat. *** They then shot at Red 4 (F/S Wright) who went over on his back and straight down in flames at map reference F.1545. He was seen to bail out but his parachute didn't open (presumed killed).

Blue Flight found one or two scattered vehicles and shot them up and after a recce in the area returned to base. However the results of our attacks were unobserved. The remaining seven aircraft returned safely to base.

MN691

MP145

RB233

MP134

MN894

MN482

F/L J. Carr

P/O A.E. Derouin

P/O J. Roberts

F/L J.A. Cote

F/O V.H.J. LeGera

F/O B.E. Bell

F/O W. Kubicki

'

'

'

12:05

12:15

'

Details of Sortie or Flight

Seven aircraft without bombs took-off to recce the battle area south and east of Aachen, and search for enemy vehicles. F/L Cote led Yellow flight and F/L Carr Green Flight. On reaching Aachen, they turned east towards Duren and then south to Euskirchen where they encountered considerable light and heavy flak. Scattered vehicles were discovered and attacked, then the flight separated and carried on independent recces after which they all returned safely to base. CLAIMS: MET - 2 damaged

PD608

MN894

MN869

MN144

PD459

MP145

RB233

MN482

PD461

F/O R.H. Laurence

F/O A.H. Fraser

F/L K.F. Sage

W/O S.A. Church

F/L J. Carr

F/O V.H.J. LeGear

F/O B.E. Bell

F/L J.A. Cote

F/O D.G. Cleghorn

F/O L.C. Shaver

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13:45

'

'

'

'

'

15:05

14:35

15:05

15:05

'

'

15:10

15:15

15:10

Details of Sortie or Flight

Ten aircraft took-off this time to cover the battle area south of Aachen, Germany. They were led by F/O Laurence and after climbing to 11,000 feet levelled out and flew towards the area south of Aachen where the Squadron broke up into three sections.

F/O Laurence and his section descended to 3,000 feet and searched for enemy transport. They were right over the battle line where great artillery and armoured activity was going on beneath. Considerable scattered MET was visible but all defended by concentrations of 20mm and 40mm guns which proved very formidable. After attacking various targets, they went down on some vehicles just outside the little village of Schonberg, inside Belgium where terrific flak was encountered. Red 3 (F/L Sage) received a hit between Mayan and Monreal, west of Keblens and flicked on his back, then crashed into the deck, burning up at map reference L.0579. Red one (F/O Laurence) received a direct hit in the fuselage behind the cockpit by a 40mm shell, it went in and exploded inside filling the cockpit with smoke and severing the elevator and rudder trim wires as well as the hydraulic lines. He managed to recover and returned safely to base with his number 2 and 4. It was necessary to lower his undercarriage by use of the emergency pedals. The aircraft was a Cat. AC.

Green and Yellow Section led by F/L Carr and F/L Cote respectively, went down on some vehicles near Euskirchen, Germany. A good deal of heavy and light flak coming from the area. These two flights continued to roam around and found the odd vehicle here and there and later some horse-drawn transport east of Duran. After expending most of their ammunition they all returned safely to base.

Total claims for the 3 sections : MET - 2 flammers, 7 damaged: GOODS TRUCKS: 1 damaged: HORSE-DRAWN TRUCKAS - 2 damaged.