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Home , Advanced Landing Ground, Agnes Newton Keith, Albert Guay, Battle of the Scheldt, Bell 47, Black Friday (1945)

'S AIR WAR 1945 updated 21/04/08

January 1945 424 Sqn. and 433 Sqn. begin to re-equip with Lancaster B.I & B.III aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). 443 Sqn. begins to re-equip with Spitfire XIV and XIVe aircraft (RCAF Sqns.).

Helicopter Training School established in on Sikorsky Hoverfly I . One of these aircraft is transferred to the RCAF.

An additional 16 PLUTO fuel pipelines are laid under the to points in (Oxford).

Japanese airstrip at , Borneo, is put out of action by Allied bombing. Built with forced labour by some 3,600 Indonesian civilians and 2,400 Australian and British PoWs captured at Singapore (of which only some 1,900 were still alive at this time). It is decided to abandon the airfield. Between January and March the prisoners are force marched in groups to a new location 160 miles away, but most cannot complete the journey due to disease and malnutrition, and are killed by their guards. Only 6 Australian servicemen are found alive from this at the end of the war, having escaped from the column, and only 3 of these survived to testify against their guards. All the remaining enlisted RAF prisoners of 205 Sqn., captured at Singapore and , died in these death marches (Jardine, wikipedia).

On the Russian front Soviet and Allied air forces (French, Czechoslovakian, Polish, etc, units flying under Soviet command) on their front with total over 16,000 fighters, , dive bombers and ground (Passingham & Klepacki).

During January #2 Flying Instructor School, Pearce, Alberta, closes (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm).

Monday 1 Japanese fighters from Iwo Jima attack B-29 bases on Saipan with limited results. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Fragments of a Japanese Balloon recovered near Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan (Mikesh).

Just after midnight the first V-2 of the New Year lands in , killing 45 and injuring 33 (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

In the Alsace region German forces begin a new , Operation NORDWIND, again making initial advances against thinly held US positions. Command attacks railway tunnels in the Eifel border region of Germany and to disrupt supply to German forces in the Ardennes (W.R. Chorley), using 17 Mosquitos dropping 4,000 lb. horizontally into the tunnel entrances in daylight. A force of 102 Lancasters and 2 marker Mosquitos attacked the repaired Dortmund-Ems Canal near Ladbergen. Total sorties were 121 with the loss of 3 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 1 99 Sqn. Liberator VI KH360 "G" or "C" "Lindy Lou" shot down by anti-aircraft fire off the coast of Burma while attacking shipping, WO1 G.L. Rowe, Sgt L.V. Chandler RAF, F/S J. Johnson RAF, F/L H.C.L. White RAF, F/S A. Hampshire RAF, F/S W.P. Hughes RAF, F/S G.D. Wright RAF and F/O P.J. Cuff RAF missing, Sgt C.R. Garner RAF, Sgt C. Thomson RAF and Sgt E. Hardisty RAF PoW (J. McCredie via Matt_Poole www.rafb24.com). 1 43 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PV137 hit by flak and crashed in a dive bombing attack on gun positions in , F/O W.R. Dauphin killed. 1 9 Sqn. Lancaster I NG252 WS-R crashed just after taking off on an operation to Germany, P/O E.H. Cooper, F/O C.S. Newton RCAF (USA), P/O R.S. Stevens, Sgt C. Booth RAF, F/S P. Grant RAF and Sgt L.G. Kelly RAF killed, P/O R.C. Flynn injured. 1 unknown unit S/L J.O.G. Cann died in Canada.

1 - Last German air offensive. Over 1,000 German fighters attack Allied airfields in Belgium, Holland and Northern France, destroying 156 Allied aircraft, but losing over 300 fighters shot down or damaged (Oxford). This attack was originally meant to support the offensive in the Ardennes, but was delayed by weather. Effect on Allied air forces was small as overall damage inflicted was slight and destroyed aircraft were soon replaced. German fighter operations, however, were crippled by the effort. Much of this disparity can be attributed to the inexperience of the German pilots, many flying armed fighters for the first time. The experienced fighter pilots of 1939 and 1940 were, largely, either dead, PoWs, with units fighting the Soviet air forces or no longer flying.

The hardest hit airfield was , where #39 RCAF (400, 414 and 430 Sqns.) and #143 Wing RCAF (168 RAF, 438, 439 and 440 Sqns.) were based. When the attack commenced flights of from 438 and 440 Squadrons were just about to take off. 1 400 Sqn. at Eindhoven lost 5 Spitfire PR.XI destroyed and 5 damaged to German fighters. 1 401 and 412 Spitfires were on their runway at Heesch waiting to take-off when the airfield was www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caattacked. They managed to scramble where 401 Squadrons F/O G.D. Cameron (Spitfire LF.IXb MJ448 YO-A) shot down 3 Bf 109 aircraft and F/L J. MacKay (Spitfire LF.IXb NH240 YO-Z) shot down 1 Bf 109 and 2 Fw 190 aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). This broke up the attack on this airfield. On this same day F/L J. MacKay and F/S A.K. Woodhill were credited with a shared Me 262 damaged (H.A. Halliday). 1 403 Sqn. lost 2 Spitfire LF.XVI aircraft destroyed at Evere. 1 412 Sqn. Spitfire IXe MJ877 shot down over Germany on a fighter sweep in the afternoon, F/L J.B. Doak killed. 1 412 Sqn. Spitfire IXe flown by F/L W.J. Banks shot down a Ju 88 near Dortmund (6th Year). 1 412 Sqn. Spitfire IXe aircraft flown by S/L D.H. and F/L J.A. Swan attacked 2 Bf 109 fighters near Osnabrück and they each claimed one shot down (6th Year). 1 414 Sqn. Spitfire FR.IX, F/O L. Woloschuk was on a reconnaissance sortie and ran into German fighters, claiming 1 destroyed and 1 damaged (6th Year). 1 414 Sqn. Spitfire FR.IX was returning to Eindhoven and ran into the German attack, S/L G. Wonnacott claimed 3 destroyed in a low level fight (6th Year). 1 414 Sqn. had 5 further Spitfire FR.IX damaged at Eindhoven due to German fighter attack. 1 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM304 DN-H managed to take off from Evere airfield and shoot down 1 Bf 109 fighter before being overwhelmed and shot down over , F/L D.W.A. Harling DFC killed. At the airfield, besides this aircraft, 416 Squadron had 3 more Spitfires shot up when taxiing which did not manage to take off, and 2 more damaged in dispersals. 1 430 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV aircraft were waiting for take off at Eindhoven airfield in Holland when they were attacked by German fighters, F/O W.P. Golden was wounded and broke an arm jumping out of his Spitfire, and F/L R.F. Gill was wounded when his aircraft was hit by cannon fire (6th Year). The squadron lost 4 Spitfire FR.XIV and 4 Mustang I aircraft during the attack. 1 438 Sqn. Ib PD556 F3-Q was one of 8 Typhoons ready to take off at Eindhoven, and was actually rolling down the runway when it was attacked by enemy fighters, acting Squadron commanding officer F/L P. Wilson aborted the take-off, pulled off the runway and exited the aircraft but was hit and died of his wounds (6th Year). F/L Wilson had survived a bail out June 12, 1944, off . 1 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib PD503 F3-R, F/L Wilson's wingman F/O R.W. Keller managed to get airborne but was shot down and killed (6th Year). 1 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib F/O D. Campbell was one of the 6 Typhoons behind the leading element and was trapped in his aircrafts cockpit on the runway in the open and endured the attacks crouching to remain unnoticed while his Typhoon was hit and damaged (6th Year). Besides these aircraft 438 lost 3 further Typhoons destroyed by fire and 2 damaged beyond repair in this attack. 1 439 Sqn. a flight of 4 Typhoons was returning to Eindhoven from a weather reconnaissance when they were intercepted by 15 or more German fighters and MM589 was shot down, F/O S. Angelini killed. On the ground at Eindhoven the squadron also lost 1 Typhoon destroyed and 1 damaged beyond repair. 1 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib was waiting to take-off when the airfield at Eindhoven was attacked, P/O E.T. Flanagan was injured as he got clear of the cockpit. 1 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib was waiting to take-off when German fighters attacked the airfield. P/O Watson opened fire from the ground at attacking aircraft before his aircraft was hit and set on fire and hewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca was forced to abandon it (440 SH; P/O R.A. Watson?, 6th Year). The squadron lost a total of 6 Typhoons destroyed and 4 damaged, 2 beyond repair, leaving only 4 aircraft serviceable. By the afternoon 8 pilots had been sent to England to collect new aircraft (440 SH). 1 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXe MH728 was returning from a fighter sweep with engine problems when he ran into the German fighter attack. F/L D.C. Gordon shot down two before being hit by flak and wounded. He crash landed in Allied territory where he was greeted by a local woman who slapped him on his injured back and wished him "Happy New Year!" as he climbed out of his aircraft (442 SH). 1 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXe MK420 damaged in combat with a Me 262 over Venlo, Holland, and crashed trying to force land, F/O D.A. Brigden killed (442 SH; 6th Year). 1 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX ran out of fuel after fighting German fighters attacking the airfield at Eindhoven and landed after the engine quit, F/L R.C. Smith safe (442 SH). 1 442 Sqn. Spitfire, F/L J.P. Lumsden damaged a Me 262 jet fighter (H.A. Halliday). 1 443 Sqn. at Evere lost 2 Spitfire LF.IX destroyed by the German fighter attack there. 1 464 Sqn. RAAF Mosquito FB.VI NT231 SB-U lost on a night INTRUDER sortie over the Ardennes, P/O I.C. Bradley and F/S E.O. Bule RAF killed (E. Martyn www.rafcommands.com). 1 #6403 Servicing Echelon, Evere, Belgium, aero engine mechanic LAC R.C. Medforth died of injuries from a attack. 1 #6414 Servicing Echelon, Eindhoven, Holland, aero engine mechanic LAC G.R. Bell and LAC J.L.B. Williams RCAF (USA) killed by strafing aircraft attacking airfield. 1 #6438 Servicing Echelon armourers F/S W. Large and F/S C.H. McGee RAF opened fire with Bren guns on the attacking German fighters and were credited with shooting down a Fw 190, as was armourer F/S R. Beatty (unidentified Squadron) (6th Year).

1-2 's attacks on canals, rail yards and oil targets continued with 152 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos making a good attack on the Mittelland Canal, plus 146 bombers attacking railway yards at Vohwinkel, and 123 bombers and 16 Mosquitos attacking an oil target in Dortmund, with scattered results. Other operations included 55 Mosquitos on spoof raids, 42 RCM aircraft and 59 SERRATE and INTRUDER patrols which claimed 6 German night fighters, a total of 598 sorties with 1 loss over enemy territory, 1 down in France, 3 shot down in error by and 5 lost in crashes in England as weather and chance continued to take it's toll (BC War Diaries). 1-2 10 Sqn. Halifax III LV785 ZA-C was on an operation to Germany when an engine failed. After jettisoning the bomb load the bomber returned to it's base where it hit a tree attempting a 3-engined go around from a missed approach and crashed, F/S W.A. Waite RAF and F/S H.J. Newling RAF were killed, F/S I.W. King RAF, P/O L.E. Cunningham RAF and F/S A.C. Smith RAF were injured, and P/O D.C. Bishop and F/O C. Winter RAF safe. P/O Bishop and F/O Winter with the assistance of the farmer on whose land the aircraft had crashed, Mr. W. Bennett, pulled the other crew from the burning wreckage. F/S Smith later wrote an account of this crew published as Halifax Crew ( Air Museum, 1987) (W.R. Chorley). 1-2 115 Sqn. Lancaster I NG332 IL-D was shot down in Belgium by US anti-aircraft fire killing P/O E.D. Mathisonwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca, P/O J.W. McLeod, Sgt C.D. Bassett RAF, F/O J.D. Booth RAF, F/S J.E.W. Fenwick RAF, S/L A.A.F. Mills RAF, P/O J.D.K. Sterling RNZAF and P/O G.D. Long RAAF. 1-2 218 Sqn. Lancaster I PB768 XH-B was hit by flak over it's target. Limping back it was shot down over Belgium by US anti-aircraft fire, F/S H. Clements, Sgt K. Bennett RAF, Sgt E.P. Buttrum-Gardiner RAF, Sgt R.E. Keel RAF, Sgt L. Peckett RAF, and F/O R.G. Grivell RAAF killed, F/O G. Ingram injured. The escape of F/O Ingram is detailed in The Eighth Passenger, a book on Bomber operations by Miles Tripp RAF, who was his friend. 1-2 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 aircraft on INTRUDER flights claimed a Bf 110 destroyed (F/L P.E. Etienne and F/L W.A. Boak) and a Ju 188 probably destroyed (F/L R.A. McKay and F/O H.A. Johnston) (6th Year). Tuesday 2 Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey RN killed in an air crash in enroute to Belgium (CJCA headline). Admiral Ramsay had been in charge of the evacuation of Dunkirk, and planned the landings in , Sicily and Normandy (Oxford) and also the naval portion and landings in the Battle of the .

#23 EFTS re-located from Davidson to Yorkton, Saskatchewan (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 2 #143 Wing, Eindhoven, Holland, electrician Cpl A.R.O. Eardley died of wounds received in the previous days attacks. 2 #1666 HCU Halifax II BB390 was climbing out from take-off on a bombing exercise when an engine failed. Returning to base a second engine failed and the aircraft force landed just 5 minutes after taking off, P/O R.A. Reith, Sgt T.H. Lightly, Sgt J.R.D. Baker, P/O T.N. Boehk, Sgt R.C. Wilkes, Sgt L.D. Johnson and Sgt J. Sklar all safe. See March 15-16, below. 2 #5 RMB, Dartmouth, N.S., seaman Sgt M.W. Himmelman died of natural causes.

2-3 Nuremburg was the main target for Bomber Command which sent 514 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos, making a concentrated attack on this city, resulting in widespread damage including the destruction of over 400 industrial buildings. The Halifax force of 351 aircraft with 22 Lancaster and 16 Mosquito Pathfinders attacked Ludwigshafen, aiming for the I.G. Farben chemical factory, which made a very accurate attack with small loss of life on the ground. The Light Night Strike Force (LNSF) Mosquitos bombed with 53 aircraft, plus 16 to two other targets, with 49 RCM and 41 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 1,069 sorties with the loss of 9 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 2-3 102 Sqn. Halifax III NR186 DY-U overran it's landing and removed it's undercarriage in a ditch, F/L J. Marvin and his crew safe. 2-3 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB222 XD-R lost over Germany on a sortie to Berlin, F/L J.P.O. Howard DFC and F/L D.G. Williams RAF killed. 2-3 153 Sqn. Lancaster III PB515 P4-N collided when circling to land from a sortie with 150 Sqn. Lancaster I NG421 IQ-M, both aircraft crashing. F/S M.V. Durling RCAF (USA), F/S A.J. Eberle, F/S D.D. Hoskins, F/S C.H. Pogson, F/O D.C. Reid, Sgt R.C. Richards RAF and Sgt R. Taylor RAF killed on PB515, and F/O G.L. Russell RAF, Sgt G. Hargreaves RAF, F/S P.H. Rodwell RAF, F/S F. Jones RAF, Sgt J.G. Hammond RAF, Sgt J.T. Frampton RAF and Sgt G.E.W.www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Redmile RAF killed in NG421. F/S Durlings grave was adopted by an English family which was the subject of a story on CBC Nov. 10, 2020 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/war-graves-commonwealth-second-world-war-veterans- rememberance-1.5794144). 2-3 166 Sqn. Lancaster III LM687 AS-N shot down by Allied anti-aircraft fire as it crossed the front lines homeward bound, Sgt N. Baker is believed to have struck the tail when bailing out and was killed, but the rest of the crew, F/S J. Bennett, F/O A.W. Brown, Sgt J.P. Tasker, P/O S.J. Buck RAF, Sgt A.J. MacKenzie RAF and Sgt J.D. Bendall RAF safe (RodM www.rafcommands.com). 2-3 166 Sqn. Lancaster III ND635 AS-M "Frandson's Frolics" lost over Germany, P/O R.H. Chittim, Sgt W.J. Morgan, Sgt J. Perry RAF, Sgt J.D.J.L. Tarlton RAF, F/S G.H. Pearson RAF and F/S R.S. Brown DFM RAF killed, Sgt J.C. Lillis PoW. 2-3* 166 Sqn. Lancaster III PB635 AS-G hit by flak or possibly friendly anti-aircraft (gaillot jp RodM www.rafcommands.com) and crashed in France, F/S L.E. Riggs, WO1 R.V. Weston, F/S M. Leyland RAF, F/O H. Burgoyne GM RAF, Sgt W.E. Lane RAF, Sgt T.F. Stewart RAF and F/S J.H. Gilbert RAF killed. F/O Burgoyne had been awarded his George Medal in 1941 as a police constable when he and PC J.P. James (also awarded the GM) entered an apartment building demolished by bombing and rescued several occupants (http://www.historybytheyard.co.uk). 2-3 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB477 LQ-B lost due to a Schrage Musik attack, S/L N. Crawford DFC RCAF (USA), F/O G.E. Geeves DFC, W/C K.J. Lawson DSO & Bar DFC RAF, F/L A.C. Duke DFM RAF, P/O S.H. Fitzhenry RAAF killed, WO1 D.G. Plyley and Sgt S. Rhodes RAF PoW (6th Year). It might be that F/O Geeves is the same as Sgt Geeves who survived the crash of a 148 Sqn. Wellington Dec. 7, 1942, and the ditching of another off Dec. 25-26 1942. 2-3 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J.S. McGuire, damaged in the tail by flak (R. Koval). See January 6-7, below. 2-3 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB700 VR-Z "Ruhr Express" returned from an operation to Germany but overran the landing area. The bomber then tried to regain the taxiway but a propeller struck some construction equipment which was followed by a fire that destroyed the aircraft, F/L A.G.R. Warner and his crew evacuated safely. This was the end of the first Canadian built Lancaster, which had completed 49 sorties. A good description of these operations and the loss can be found in Airforce, December, 1982. 2-3 427 Sqn. Halifax III LW133 ZL-S, F/O J. Bell, claimed some hits on one of 2 twin engined night fighters that attacked them (R. Koval). See January 6-7, below. 2-3 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O A. Clarke, lost an engine outbound, but bombed and returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). See April 8-9, below.

Wednesday 3 First Canadian conscripts depart Halifax for overseas (Polsson). 3 215 Sqn., Liberator VI KH214 "D" shot down in flames by Japanese AA fire at Milepost 37 of the Burma-Siam Railway attacking railway bridges. First and possibly only Liberator aircraft lost in combat by this Squadron, on the Squadrons second mission with these aircraft, although other aircraft had fatalities on later operations before conversion to Dakotas (J.R.W. Gwynne-Timothy). F/L C.M. "Steve" Brodie, F/L K.D. Cox, F/L A.H. "Art" Harris, WO1www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca H.O. Irvine, F/O J.M. Potts, P/O W. Washbrook, P/O J. Nesbitt RAF, F/S H. Dawson RAF, WO A.T. Read RAF, Sgt W.D. Adams RAF and F/L Hkun U Sao RAF (Burma) were killed and were buried by the Japanese. Their graves were identified post war but never moved to an official war cemetery, and due to politics it has not been possible to visit and mark the graves, so the crew is listed on the Singapore memorial (M. Poole) 3 Bomber Command sent 99 Lancasters to attack an oil target at Dortmund and Castrop- Rauxel using -H through cloud, 1 bomber lost (BC War Diaries). 3 622 Sqn. Lancaster I NF964 GI-L hit and exploded over the target in Germany, P/O V.C. Bullock, F/L W.E.M. Dean RAF, Sgt H.R. Willicombe RAF, F/O L.G. Mead RAF, F/S J. MacFarlane RAF, F/S R. Harland RAF and Sgt G.W. Brown RAF killed. 3 #45 Group, Ferry Command, Mitchell III KJ751 disappeared between Iceland and , F/O J.P. Jenkins, F/O F. Physick and F/S N. Wagstaffe RAF missing. 3 USAAF B-17G 44-6795 damaged taking off from Gander, Nfld. (AAIR).

3-4 First large night attack on by B-29 aircraft at Nagoya, results inconclusive (Oxford). 418 Sqn. began bombing communication targets on its nightly patrols over the Bulge, beginning with 12 attacks on St. Vith on this night (6th Year).

Thursday 4 A V-2 severely damages an apartment building in Lambeth, killing 43 and injuring 26. Another lands in Hackney killing 15 and injuring 27 (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). 4 1836 Sqn. FAA, HMS Victorious, Corsair II JT410 T8-H, Sub Lt (A) D.J. Sheppard RCNVR shot down 2 Japanese fighters over Sumatra as part of a carrier strike on oil refineries (C. Shores). 4 253 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII JF697 aircraft lost over Yugoslavia after being hit by flak, F/S W.H. Aldercotte RAF (Can.) missing. 4 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIV aircraft on a patrol attacked 5 trains in Germany (6th Year). 4 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX RK810 shot down by enemy fighters in northwestern , F/O K.J. Thomson PoW. Other pilots from the Squadron claimed 6 Fw 190s shot down in this fight (6th Year). 4 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ394 missing on a night patrol (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 4 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX aircraft on a patrol claimed 1 Bf 109 probably destroyed and 1 damaged of 15 they attacked (6th Year). 4 #3 AFU Oxford LX172 was descending to begin a low level flight exercise when it flew into a haystack, recovered, then hit two trees and crashed, F/S D.E. Hooper RAAF killed, F/O D.M. Anderson injured (A. Storr; davew at www.rafcommands.com). 4 #10 OTU Wellington X LP729 crashed on a cross country flight after an engine failure, WO N.W. Harnett RAF (Nfld.), F/S F.C. Hagland RNZAF, F/S M.H. Walton RNZAF, F/O B.A. Hogg RNZAF, Sgt C.D. Wong RAF (Jamaica) and Sgt W.A. George RAF killed, F/S J.R. Gammon RAF injured. According to W.R. Chorley F/S Gammon was pulled from the crash by Police Constable Poole, one of the first to reach the scene. 4 #22 OTU Wellington III BJ832 suffered an engine failure on an air firing exercise. Attempting to land at base in poor weather conditions it overshot the runway and was wrecked, F/O V. Thygeson andwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca his crew safe. 4 #22 OTU Wellington X MF508 was abandoned over England when the elevator controls jammed, WO1 L.J.A. Connolly and his crew safe. 4 #53 OTU Spitfire crashed attempting to land in zero visibility, F/O B. Shylega killed. Aircraft was possibly Spitfire Vb W3575 from this unit which is recorded having an engine fail when making a forced landing on this date (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 4 #1 Central Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, Cpl. J.C. Broadbent died of natural causes.

4-5 The German occupied town of Royan in France, blocking the port of Bordeaux, was bombed by 347 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos. This was done on the request of SHAEF to support French forces besieging the town, and Bomber Command was told only German forces were in the target area. This was tragically incorrect, and 500-800 French civilians were killed in the bombing. So severe was the damage that a 10 day truce was negotiated between the French and German forces to search for survivors (see Middlebrook and Everitt for details, and April 14, below). Other operations included 2 RCM aircraft and 66 LNSF Mosquitos bombing Berlin and 7 to another target, many aircraft making 2 sorties on this night using different crews, a new practice which would continue until the spring when the nights again became short. Total for the night was 429 sorties with 6 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries). 4-5 50 Sqn. Lancaster I PD292 VN-H lost without trace attacking a German garrison in France, P/O J.C. McFee, F/O V.G. Sagar RAF, Sgt A. Jones RAF, F/S D. Jackson RAF, F/S W.R. Dawes RAF, F/S J.H. Peill RAF and F/S J.H. Goddard RAF missing.

Friday 5 Canadian military services directed not to make public statements about Japanese Balloon Bombs, probably in co-ordination with US authorities, and news services were requested to withhold reports the next day (Joost).

The rail yards at Ludwigshafen were attacked by 160 Lancasters, and 1 Hudson was also operating on a Special Operation, 2 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries).

Heavy snow storms in England hampered flying operations (Zijlstra). 5 414 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ732 shot down by flak on a reconnaissance in the evening, F/O F.R. Bartlett bailed out and evaded (6th Year). 5 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX NH157 hit by flak and crashed on an armed reconnaissance over Germany near Munster, F/O T.C. Gamey killed. 5 #12 AFU Blenheim V AZ993 crashed in England on take-off for a night flying exercise killing F/O G.G. McGolrick. 5 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB443 lost on a night navigation exercise, F/S A. Sinclair RAF killed, F/L W.A. Moore RAF missing. 5 #82 OTU Wellington X LP841 crashed just after taking off on a night navigation exercise, striking an electrical pole after suffering engine problems, Sgt E.A. Bishop, F/O E.E. Fernandez, F/O J.C. McLeod, F/O L.J. Robillard killed, Sgt R. Eden injured. There is a monument near the crash site and another memorial stone to the four airmen who were killed in the nearby churchyard, dedicated in 2013 (Heros from across the ocean, www.thisisnottingham.co.uk,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Jan. 8, 2013). 5-6 Bomber Command's main effort on this night was an attack on Hannover by 650 bombers and 14 Mosquito markers which took heavy losses for scattered results. A second force of 131 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos again attacked the rail yards at Houffalize in support of the Allied offensive to clear the German forces from the Ardennes. Other operations included 66 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin and 14 to two other targets, 58 RCM and 55 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, for a total of 1,000 sorties with the loss of 37 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. Mosquitos again bombed St. Vith in the Ardennes as part of its patrols, losing 1 Mosquito (6th Year). 5-6 35 Sqn. Lancaster III TL-M PB343 TL-M shot down by flak over Germany, F/S M.B. Sharp RAF, F/S G.A. Pope RAF, F/S R.W. Bentley RAF and Sgt V.M.B. Halls RAF killed, F/O M.A. Mills was also killed and is also commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial as well as F/O A.J. Reeder and F/O K. Potts DFC RAF who have no known grave. 5-6 76 Sqn. Halifax III MZ693 MP-F was homeward bound when it collided in mid-air over Belgium with 578 Sqn. Halifax III RG367 LK-O (see below). F/S H.L. Ball managed to keep control and land the damaged bomber back in England where it was repaired. See Feb. 21-22, below 5-6 102 Sqn. Halifax III MZ796 DY-M shot down by flak over Germany, P/O C.N. Aune, P/O H.A. Dunphy, P/O E.L. Stevens, P/O J.F. Shirley RAF and F/O C.C. Smith DFC RAF killed, F/O J.F. Bergman and F/O D.W. Dale PoW. 5-6 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB397 4H-P took off on a sortie to Berlin and crashed in England due to an engine failure, F/L B. Eichler RAF (Czech.) and Sgt G. Logie RAF killed. This crew had survived a crash landing Nov. 20-21, 1944. 5-6 158 Sqn. Halifax III MZ432 NP-Q was shot down by a , Sgt G. Dacey RAF missing, F/O A.G. Robertson, F/O G.W. Cross, F/S J.D.E. Rae, WO2 G.E. Marion and F/S T.M. Laurie RAF PoW, Sgt J.J. Bromfield RAF managed to evade for just over a week before being caught. His story can be found Aeroplane Monthly, Dec. 2004, which also mentions that F/O Robertson was killed in the crash of a 413 (P) Sqn. Mitchell Oct. 18, 1947 (CWGC). 5-6 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, W/C R. Bannock and F/L C.J. Kirkpatrick DFC claimed a He 111 shot down and another aircraft damaged on the ground on an INTRUDER over the Danish/German border (6th Year). 5-6 408 Sqn. Halifax III NR209 EQ-A set on fire and exploded over Germany due to a Schrage Musik attack, F/O L.J. Benville, F/O F.T. Leithead, F/L A.F. Scheelar RCAF (USA) and Sgt J. Daly RAF killed, F/O D. Elkin, F/O F.A. Winter and F/O W.A. Baker PoW (6th Year). This was the first Halifax III lost by 408 Sqn. F/L Scheelar had survived a crash landing following an inflight fire Sept. 1, 1944. 5-6 415 Sqn. Halifax III MZ476 6U-Y set on fire and exploded over Germany, P/O J.T. Clarke RCAF (USA), F/O E. Rhind and F/S J.A. Rinder killed, F/O S.H. McFadden, F/O N. Conner, F/S F.T. Graves and Sgt J.J. Burton RAF were taken PoW (6th Year). F/O Conner fell through one of the propellors and lost his left leg. He then opened his parachute before using his parachute ripcord as a tourniquet, survived, and was repatriated to England in April (W.R. Chorley). This was the aircraft that had completed a sortie in daylight with the undercarriage down the whole flight, November 18, 1944 (McQuiston). 5-6 418 Sqn. Mosquitowww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca FB.VI NS830 TH-G lost on a night patrol and bombing sortie over the Ardennes, F/L H.S. Glassco and F/O T. Wood RAF killed (H.A. Halliday at www.rafcommands.com; 6th Year). 5-6 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB722 VR-A "The Hecklin' Hare II" hit by fire from another Lancaster over Europe, diverted to Brussels with 2 engines out, then Juvincourt, France, which was obscured by fog. They then attempted to return to England but found a cleared area in the overcast over France and crash landed near St. Quentin. P/O N.D. Mallen, Sgt R.S. Dickson, Sgt N.R. Poole and Sgt P.W. Hall RAF slightly injured, F/O J.A.F. Miller, WO2 B.R. Cameron and Sgt C. Drinka were safe. 5-6 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O P. Griffiths, damaged by flak in the fuselage and both wings (R. Koval). 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III MZ471 PT-V 'V-Victor' believed to have been shot down by a night fighter over Germany, F/L L.W. Brand, P/O J.W. Vandenbergh and P/O G.W. Walker DFC RAF killed, P/O G.A. Noble (injured), F/O R.W. Landers, F/O D.O. Palmer and F/O J.H. Warren were taken PoW (6th Year). See January 20, below. 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O E. Clarke, damaged by flak in one wing (R. Koval). 5-6 424 Sqn. Halifax III MZ451 QB-S, F/O M.C. Grant, was attacked by a Fw 190 night fighter that was claimed shot down in flames by mid-upper gunner F/S W.E. Archer with the assistance of the rear gunner F/S R. Carnegie (R. Koval; 6th Year). See January 12-13, below. 5-6 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ860 KW-E shot down over Germany, set on fire by a night fighter attack, P/O J.Y.J.C. Lamarre and P/O J.A.F. Piche killed, F/S J.T.R. Cauchy, F/S R.R.M. Cantin, F/S J.A. Cote, F/L J.J.P. L'Esperance and Sgt E.F. Faulkner PoW. P/O Lamarre was shot by guards after being captured near the crash site, trying to escape (6th Year), but O. Clutton-Brock states he was murdered. 5-6 425 Sqn. Halifax III NP999 KW-W attacked by a night fighter over Germany and set on fire, Sgt S.H. Moore RAF killed in the attack, F/O V.E. Brimicombe (burned), F/O L.U. Coleman, F/O M.D. Berry, F/S G.R. DeLong, F/S D.C. MacKeigan and F/S G.E. Hutton PoW (6th Year). 5-6 425 Sqn. Halifax III NR178 KW-J crashed after a mid-air collision over Germany, P/O B.G. Simonin and P/O G.B. Noonan RAF killed, F/O J.W.A. Seguin, F/O J.A.M. Bilodeau, F/S J.G.A.B. Cantin, F/S J.J.G. Huet and P/O J.M.R. Lapierre PoW (6th Year). 5-6 426 Sqn. Halifax VII LW201 OW-D, F/O J.D. Wadleigh, claimed some strikes on a night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). See February 8-9, below. 5-6 426 Sqn. Halifax III NA204 OW-N, F/O D. Hamilton, was attacked by two jet night fighters, both were claimed destroyed when they were hit and exploded in the air (R. Koval). 5-6 427 Sqn. Halifax III NR257 ZL-Y lost to flak over Germany, S/L B.G. Crew DFC, P/O C. Kelway, P/O J.D. Smith RAF and F/O T. Osler RAF killed, F/L J.S.H. Dodge, F/L H.W. Campbell and F/L J.D. Johnston DFC PoW. P/O Kelway had been part of the crew of a 427 Halifax III MZ867 ZL-G when it was written off in a 3 engined landing Nov. 27, 1944. Just over two years previously F/L Johnston had survived a crash in 78 Squadron Whitley Z6656 (R. Allenby). 5-6 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O W. Mytruk, was damaged by an exploding aircraft that shattered the windscreen, but returned and landed safely (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 5-6 429 Sqn. Halifax III LV964 AL-T lost over Germany, P/O F.N. Brown, P/O T.A. Gabriel, P/O G. Hay, F/O J.L.M.R. Savard, P/O J.J.M. Tremblay, P/O R.H. Couzens RAF and P/O F.J. Nicholson RAFwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca killed. 5-6 429 Sqn. Halifax III LV830 AL-Q, F/O M. Ages, claimed some strikes on a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). See March 7-8, below. 5-6 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O B.M. Kaplansky, was damaged in one rudder by flak (R. Koval). See February 20-21, below. 5-6 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O W.H. Weitendorf, made a safe landing at an emergency airfield after the fuselage, one rudder and both wings were hit by flak that also exploded an air bottle (R. Koval, W.E. Heron). 5-6 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP759 QO-C "Canada Kid" shot down by flak over Germany, pilot F/L J.E. Sales and his mid-upper gunner P/O C.H. McInnes killed, F/O J.L. Marcille, WO2 R.J.P. Young, F/S S.J. Aikens, F/S J.F. Charles and Sgt J. Dalton RAF PoW (R. Philips www.rafcommands.com). 5-6 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP817 QO-D lost on an operation to Germany, Squadron commanding officer W/C J.G. Stephenson AFC (injured) and his crew F/O W.E. Fleming, F/O R.G. Donaldson, F/O E.B. Pickthorne, WO1 W.T. McMahon, F/O T.R. Bond and Sgt B.M. Hodges RAF PoW. The efforts of the crew to remain uncaptured are detailed in The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year. 5-6 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O N.E. Patterson, damaged in a wing and the bomb bay by flak (R. Koval). 5-6 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP705 QO-Y, F/L J. Thompson, claimed some strikes to a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). See February 14-15, below. 5-6 550 Sqn. Lancaster I NG331 BQ-M lost over Germany, F/O J.C. Adams, F/O W.R. Elcoate, F/S F. Papple RAF, F/S B. Sterman RAF, F/O F.S. Renton RAF and Sgt W.P. Scott RAF killed, Sgt K.D. Winstanley RAF PoW. 5-6 578 Sqn. Halifax III RG367 LK-O collided in mid-air with 76 Sqn. Halifax III MZ693 MP-F (above), and crashed, P/O J.V. Bouzek, F/L R.B. Sledge RAF, Sgt W. Atkins RAF, F/O F.W. Asker RAF, F/S F.G. Fisher RAF, F/S F. Eplett RAF and F/S J. Allen RAF bailed out and safe.

Saturday 6 Bad weather now moved to the Continent, grounding many US and RAF tactical bombers and fighters (Zijlstra).

Fresh units of German soldiers and equipment stationed in are being transferred by sea to Germany. In order to interdict this the Beaufighter strike wing in Scotland (including 404 Squadron) increase their operations along the Norwegian coast (D. Newton). These involve coordinated attacks with Mustang or Mosquito fighter escorts, and Air/Sea Rescue Warwick aircraft to provide assistance to downed aircraft, and pinpoint survivors for seaplanes or rescue launches. Before the month is out shipping along the Norwegian coast is only able to move at night (D. Newton). 6 542 Sqn. Spitfire PR.XIX RM632 was returning from a photo reconnaissance sortie over Germany when it came down at sea off the coast of England. F/O L.G. body was recovered Jan. 24 and buried at sea. 6 #24 OTU Wellington X HE633 lost it's engines just as it took off and force landed, but was burnt out, F/O J.N. Beatty and his crew safe. 6 #1668 HCU Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca II LL636 was taxiing in after landing when it caught fire and although not badly damaged was not repaired. F/O G.D. George RAAF and P/O J.K. Watts RAAF safe. This aircraft had flown operations with 408 Sqn. where it carried the name "Miss Kingsville" and had flown at least 36 operations before being transferred to 432 Squadron (R. Koval).

6-7 Railway targets at Hanau and Neuss were attacked by a total of 629 bombers and 14 Mosquitos, plus a spoof attack by 20 Mosquitos and 6 more to another target, 52 RCM, 32 SERRATE/INTRUDER, and 49 GARDENING sorties, a total of 788 with the loss of 11 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 6-7 171 Sqn. Halifax III NA687 SY-R was on a MANDREL/WINDOW bomber support sortie when it was lost over France, WO2 C.D. Mison, WO A.C. Cheese RAF, WO F.E.T. Davy RAF (special operator), F/L G. Cox RAF, F/S C.D.C. Farlie RAF, F/S A.E. Meekings RAF, Sgt S.R. Fenwick RAF and F/O R. Maden RAF killed. 6-7 415 Sqn. Halifax III MZ456 6U-P collided with 10 Sqn. Halifax III LV909 ZA-P over Germany and both crashed, F/O M. Strosberg killed, F/O L.R. Belcher, F/O H.P. Breir, P/O N.A. Butler, F/O S.W. Elgie, F/O H.C. Irvine and Sgt L.D.A. Mawson RAF have no known grave. In the 10 Sqn. Halifax F/L W.D. Harrow RAF, P/O R.C. Hollings RAF and F/S A.H. Calvert RAF killed, F/S F.J. Walker RAF, F/S J. Draper RAF, Sgt M.A. Solomon RAF and F/S R.W. Thomas RAF have no known grave. 6-7 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J.S. McGuire, returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 18- 19, below. 6-7 427 Sqn. Halifax III LW130 ZL-U, F/O J. Bell, was fired on by another Halifax which damaged a wing and the nose, wounding the bomb aimer (R. Koval). 6-7 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB821 SE-P lost over Germany, F/L B.M. Adilman, F/L L.K. James and F/O A.W. Staves killed, F/O T. McQuitty, F/O F.J. Nickerson and F/L G.R. Pool DFC missing, F/O W.G. Gillissie was captured but murdered by German soldiers. The website http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?6646-Hanau-6-7-Jan-1945/page4 to page7 has a long discussion related to the fate of F/O Gillissie and one of the missing airmen. B. Barry notes that F/L Adilman was on his second tour after a spell as an instructor. His first tour had been on Hampdens and Wellington aircraft, and he had been in 4 forced landings. 6-7 433 Sqn. Halifax III(?), F/L R. Paterson, lost the pilot's escape hatch, and also landed at an emergency airfield low on fuel (R. Koval).

Sunday 7 In the the first survivor of the massacre of PoWs on Palawan reaches the US controlled area and reports what had happened. Alarmed, General McArthur orders the planning of a series of operations to seize and liberate camps containing PoWs and interned civilians in the Philippines before the Japanese can act on their orders to kill prisoners if attacked (wikipedia). See January 30, below.

In a renewal of their offensive operations German forces in the Colmar , on the western side of the River, attack north towards Strasbourg, while other German forces from the north attack south towards Strasbourg. US and French army units were unable to stop them for several days, then begin counter attacks (Oxford). Badwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca weather is still grounding tactical air force aircraft in Europe, but USAAF heavy bombers were able to attack bridges and airfields to disrupt this attack (Zijlstra). 7 279 Sqn. Warwick I BV233 spun and crashed in England avoiding a mock attack by two Hurricane fighters, F/L H.S. Luck, F/L R. Cooper RAF, F/O F.W. Ritchie RNZAF, F/O D.C. Holland RNZAF, Sgt J. Wiles RAF and F/O R.P. Woolfield RNZAF killed (R. McNeill and moonfire at www.rafcommands.com). 7 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70291 damaged in a landing accident in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). See July 9, below. 7 #1 Bombing & Gunnery School, Jarvis, , Anson #7013 crashed attempting to land in poor visibility, F/O T.H. Perley-Martin killed. 7 #9 B&G School, Mont Joli, , Battle I.T #1746 makes it's fourth and final belly landing near Luceville, Quebec, after the engine cut (S. Shail). This time it was not repaired.

7-8 Bomber Command sent 645 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos to bomb , plus 54 Mosquitos to Hannover, 18 to Nüremberg and 12 to Hanau, 39 RCM and 45 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 822 sorties with the loss of 13 aircraft over enemy territory and 4 more down in France (BC War Diaries).

This night saw the last operational sortie by a Bomber Command Wellington, an RCM flight by a 192 Squadron aircraft looking for signals believed to be used by He 111 aircraft launching V-1 flying bombs over the . When it landed the type had flown 47,409 sorties in Bomber Command, 1,727 had been lost on operations (BC War Diaries). This does not include it's use as a bomber in the , Italy, Aden and , or in Coastal Command or , where it was still in active service. The aircraft was also the basis for the Vickers VC-1 Viking, the first postwar British commercial design to go into service. 7-8 12 Sqn. Lancaster I PB851 PH-S lost without trace, P/O G. Durnan, P/O J. Gynane, F/O R.D.K. Hanbidge, Sgt R. Rickeard RAF, F/S G. Flaxman RAF, F/S H. Croucher RAF and F/S N.G. Prescott RAF missing. 7-8 103 Sqn. Lancaster I NN766 PM-R flew into high ground in France, F/S D.F. Campbell, F/S M. Greenstein, WO2 M.H. Horne, F/O R.J. Lougheed, F/O W.J. McArthur, F/S D.J. McAulay and Sgt R.P. Candy RAF killed. A monument is now on the hilltop where this aircraft crashed. 7-8 150 Sqn. Lancaster I PB781 collided over France with 626 Sqn. Lancaster I LL961 UM-S2 (see below) but was not badly damaged and F/L R.J. Rose managed to land his aircraft and crew safely back in England. 7-8 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB407 CR-R suffered fuel problems on a bombing sortie to Hannover and was abandoned over Holland, WO W.J.H. Henley RNZAF and Sgt J. Clark RAF safe (Errol Martyn at www.rafcommands.com). 7-8 166 Sqn. Lancaster I NG290 AS-B lost over Germany, F/S V.D. Elliott, F/O G.A. Humberstone, F/S J.G. MacKay, F/O J.K. McLean, F/O W.Y.J. Soper, F/S A.E. Wells and Sgt J.K. Walker RAF killed. 7-8 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB229 LQ-X "Honk Tonk" lost over Germany, possibly after a mid-air collision with 635 Sqn. Lancaster III PB173 F2-C, F/S D.H. Brown, F/S R.A. Quinn, F/L L.G. Sparlingwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca and P/O D. Veri killed, F/O J. Allan, P/O N.L.W. Scott and F/O L.W. Splatt have no known grave. On the 635 Sqn. aircraft P/O A.A. Wiggins RAF and F/S J.H. Watson RAF killed, F/L R.M. Clarke RAAF, F/S T. Robertshaw RAF, P/O W.T. Pethard RAF, P/O G.K. Hendy RAAF and F/S C.D. Mountain RAF have no known grave. 7-8 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB796 SE-R, F/O N.G. MacLeod, was attacked by a night fighter that knocked out both turrets, damaged the bomb bay, hydraulics and oxygen systems, and set an engine on fire. Returning to England on three engines the crew made a safe landing at an emergency airfield (R. Koval, W.E. Heron). 7-8 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O C.T. Alger, was damaged in the windscreen and mid-upper turret but landed safe in England (R. Koval, Awards). 7-8 550 Sqn. Lancaster I NG363 BQ-P lost over Germany, P/O F.W. Bradley, F/O C.J. Clarke, P/O L.A.J. Gauthier, P/O H.E. Meill, Sgt J.T. Tunstall RAF and Sgt L.O. Precieux RAF (Mauritius) killed, F/O A.L. Caldwell PoW. 7-8 576 Sqn. Lancaster I PA173 UL-Q2 lost on an operation to Germany, P/O A.S.B. Campton, F/O E.L. Saslove killed, F/S G.W. McClelland missing, F/L M. Chisick, F/S R.F. Hood, Sgt R. Hoyle RAF and F/O G. Davis RAF PoW. 7-8 626 Sqn. Lancaster I LL961 UM-S2 crashed in France after a mid air collision with 150 Sqn. Lancaster I PB781 (above), pilot F/O R.M. Smith MiD and his rear gunner Sgt W. MacLean RAF killed, F/O J.K. Yeaman, F/O D. Rymer, F/S D.F. Crowe, F/S G.M. Magee RAAF and Sgt C.J. Lane RAF safe. 7-8 626 Sqn. Lancaster III JB661 UM-C2 lost over Germany, F/O J.H. Clark, WO2 D.R. Hutchins, P/O K.R. Joslin, F/S W.J. Rahkola, F/O K.A. Stroh, F/O J.P.H. Terreau and Sgt E. Leather RAF killed.

Monday 8 German forces begin withdrawing from the "Bulge" (CJCA headline).

Intermittent snowfall in England over the next 3 days hampered air operations until Jan. 12, despite efforts at clearing runways by station personal (419 SH).

Ex-RCMP DH.90 Dragonfly aircraft are sold from RCAF service on this date (Griffin CMA). Today only the tail and some engine panels of one of these is held by the in Edmonton. 8 #1675 CU, Liberator VI EW101 on a training exercise in Palestine went into a spin in cloud and suffered structural failure, losing it's tail, F/O T.H.R. MacAulay, WO G.A. Clowes RAF, F/S C.G. Grubb RAF, Sgt J.A. Haddow RAF, F/S D.O. Lane RAF, WO J. Jones RAF and F/S J.A. Woodgate RAF killed (www.rafb24.com). 8 178 Sqn. Liberator VI KG928 lost in Yugoslavia on a supply drop, F/O J. Hornoi, F/S W.J. Furniss RAF, Sgt A. Helsby RAF, Sgt R.S. Melton RAF, F/S J.H.G. Milsom RAF, Sgt D.H.B. Norman RAF, Sgt R.A. Reilly RAF and Sgt J.B. Wilson RAF killed (R. Tebbutt). 8 #1546 BAT Flight Oxford I LW903 crashed in England in snowy conditions, possibly due to icing, F/O O.M.W. Clarson, F/O N.G. Riley and F/O J.D.S. Barkell RAF killed (R. Allenby). 8 RCAF Station Fort St. John, BC, tractor operator F/S B.L. Stevenson died in hospital of natural causes. 8 USAAF P-63A 42-70039 crash landed at Watson Lake, Yukon, 2Lt W.W. Priddis USAAF killed (AAIR). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca

Tuesday 9 US forces land on Luzon in Philippines (CJCA headline).

In Deptford 20 people were killed and 47 injured by a V-2 (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). 9 67 Sqn. five Spitfire LF.VIII aircraft intercepted a group of Japanese fighters attacking a flying boat off the coast of Burma, S/L R.W.R. Day, squadron commanding officer, claimed 2 Japanese fighters shot down, bringing his total to 5 victories in Southeast Asia (C. Shores). 9 USAAF 165th LS, 1st Air , Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5214 damaged in a landing accident in Burma (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 9 235 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR159 crashed on an air test in Scotland, F/L D.B. Douglas and LAC G.P. Robbins RAF killed (aviation-safety.net). 9 #5 OTU, , BC, Liberator B.VI KH173 lost off Bell Island, BC, on a navigation exercise, P/O T.H. Bastable RAF, P/O R.H. Burr RAF, Sgt F. Cocksey RAF, Sgt J.B. Cuthbertson RAF, F/O C.E. Mitchell RAF, Sgt W.D. Morgans RAF, Sgt G.A. Snelling RAF, F/L K.E. Spence RAF, Sgt P. Stead RAF, Sgt A. Simpson RAF and P/O J.F. Trickey RAF missing (BC Times Colonist, Other BC Crashes and Losses).

Wednesday 10 72 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ203 hit by flak strafing a train in Italy, F/O D.G. Crawford RCAF (USA) escaped the aircraft but did not open his parachute. 10 125 (Newfoundland) Sqn. Mosquito NF.XVII HK238 had an engine cut and belly landed in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 10* #108 OTU Dakota IV KJ835 crashed in England after an engine failed, Sgt J.R. Hillsdon and 2 crew killed. 10 #5 OTU Boundary Bay, BC, Liberator VI EW210 exploded in mid-air and crashed at 's Point, BC, killing Sgt H.C. Barr, F/L S.L. Bowhay and Sgt T.M. Calloway. The pilot, F/L Bowhay, stayed at the controls to enable most of the crew to bail out but went down with the aircraft.

10-11 Bomber Commands LNSF sent 50 Mosquitos to Hannover and 12 to other targets in Germany, no losses (BC War Diaries).

Thursday 11 US B-29s raid Singapore (CJCA headline) from India.

A cease fire was arranged in Athens in the (Oxford).

A heavy GEE-H attack was made on Krefeld by 152 Lancasters, and a Special Operation was flown, without loss (BC War Diaries).

A strike of Beaufighters with Mosquito escorts off Norway runs into fighters, claiming 3 Bf 109 and a Fwwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 190 shot down for the loss of 1 Beaufighter, 1 Mosquito and a Warwick ASR aircraft (D. Newton).

Western Air Command orders 1 at each operational base in western Canada to be maintained on standby to investigate balloon reports (Joost). 11 435 Sqn. Dakota aircraft making a drop to troops in Burma sight and report Japanese fighters which did not interfere (6th Year). 11 279 Sqn. Warwick ASR.I HG209 "B" missing providing rescue support for a shipping strike off Norway. Last seen over a ditched aircraft. Enemy fighters were in the area. P/O F.E. Bentley, F/L J.H. Moreton RAF, WO W.J. Sandercock RAAF, F/O G.C. Galloway RAF, WO G.W. Mansfield RAF, FS W.H. Bryan RAF and WO A.F. Goodall RAF missing (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). 11 423 Sqn. , F/O A.R. Pinder, attacked a schnorkeling U-boat (6th Year).

Friday 12 Soviet forces begin an offensive in Prussia, towards Berlin, catching the German army off guard (Polsson). Taken by surprise and stripped of soldiers and weapons for the Ardennes offensive, the German army cannot back the invading Soviet forces. Within days strong units still threatening to advance over the Maas River, held by the Canadian Army, are being transferred to the East (M. Zuehlke).

The U-boat pens at were again attacked by Bomber Command, but this time by equipped Lancasters of 9 and 617 Squadrons that made an accurate and damaging attack without causing a single further civilian casualty to this battered town. Other operations included 2 Mosquitos as long range fighter escort and 2 RCM Stirlings. Four of the Lancasters were lost (see below).

Near Minton, Saskatchewan, a Balloon Bomb descended and dropped it's bombs, one of which exploded, before disappearing (Mikesh). 12 45 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR492 crashed in India after an engine failed when taking off on a bombing sortie, F/O J.R. Wilson and his navigator WO W.J.S. Hayward RAF killed. 12 435 Sqn., five Dakota IV transports were dropping supplies over Burma when they were attacked by Japanese fighters. KJ899 was shot down, F/L D.J. MacKinnon, LAC R.H. Prosser, F/L J.K. Ramsay, armorer LAC K.A. Scott and P/O E.F. Williams were killed and F/O A.L. Thomson badly injured, (B. Barry et al; C. Shores; 6th Year). 12 435 Sqn. Dakota IV KJ857 was hit by a Japanese fighter that set an engine and its cargo of ammunition on fire, P/O D.G. Cotter, LAC R.G. Evans, F/O A.E. Foster and F/O T. Jordan- Knox were wounded. F/O Foster began throwing out burning ammunition boxes and navigator F/L L. Dumont put out the fire that had started in the cabin while the pilot F/L R.F. Simpson RAF made a crash landing and the crew evacuated. F/L Simpson was awarded a DFC for this action (B. Barry et al, C. Shores; 6th Year). See January 13, below. 12 435 Sqn. Dakota IV, F/L H.L. Coons DFC, was attacked by a Japanese fighter over Burma. Taking evasive action he deliberately flew at a second fighter attacking another Squadron Dakota and attracted that fighter to him as well. While taking evasive action at low level he hit a tree and lost a wing tip, but managed to return with 1 crewman, Cpl A.M. White, wounded. Thiswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca resulted in the award of a Bar to his DFC. As well for the remainder of the month until fighter escorts could be provided supply drops were made at night (6th Year). 12 9 Sqn. was part of an operation by 9 and 617 squadrons attacking the U-boat pens at Bergen, Norway, with TALLBOY bombs. After bombing the Lancasters were intercepted by Fw 190 fighters. The fight lasted over a quarter of an hour and four Lancasters were shot down, but the effective evasion tactics by the bomber crews enabled most to escape. Two pilots of 9 Squadron were awarded immediate DFCs for this action, F/L L.E. Marsh and F/L W.T.G. Gabriel RAF. 12 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ444 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire (possibly US) on a reconnaissance over the Ardennes near St. Vith, F/L E.H. Fairfield bailed out and evaded. 12 #1 AOS Anson V #12315 destroyed in a crash, photo in #6 RD book, no details. 12 RAF Ferry Command, PBN-1 Nomad (Catalina) 02915 crashed making a night take-off at Elizabeth City, New Jersey, USA, 4 Soviet airmen and Radio Officer/Navigator P.H. Nataros killed.

12-13 The LNSF had 20 Mosquitos over 2 targets in Germany and 32 Halifax bombers were GARDENING off the German coast with the loss of 4 bombers (BC War Diaries). 12-13 424 Sqn. Halifax III LV998 QB-Y shot down by a night fighter off Denmark on a GARDENING sortie, P/O R. Carnegie, F/O M.G. Fife, F/O M.C. Grant, P/O C.T. Rielly and Sgt J. Pollard RAF killed, P/O W.E. Archer missing, F/O J.G. Agnew PoW (6th Year). 12-13 424 Sqn. Halifax III MZ805 QB-X lost without trace on a GARDENING sortie, P/O H.A. Carruthers, F/O H.D. Christie, P/O F.W. Dobbs, F/S C.H. Hudson, F/O A.M. Mackie DFC, P/O J.S. Netzke and Sgt J.J. Farquhar RAF missing. 12-13 429 Sqn. Halifax III NR173 AL-D shot down by a night fighter on a GARDENING sortie, F/L A.R. Milner, F/O H.K. Frair, F/O R.H. Barnes, WO1 H.L. Johnson, F/S O.H. Sulek, F/S J.G. Small and Sgt K. Turner RAF bailed out and became PoW (6th Year). 12-13 429 Sqn. Halifax III NA201 AL-W on a GARDENING sortie, F/L R.K. Mitchell, claimed a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them destroyed by gunners P/O W.C. Hay and P/O L.J. Jodrell (R. Koval; Awards; 6th Year). See March 31, below. The use of night fighters against GARDENING aircraft was unusual according to The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year, which speculated they had been launched due to a perceived attack and found the mine layers by chance.

Saturday 13 Germans announce start of Soviet winter offensive (CJCA headline).

In Islington 32 people were killed and 28 injured by a V-2 (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

Bomber Command sent 158 Lancasters to the railway yards at Saarbrücken, and a Hudson on a Special Operation, with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 13 10 Sqn. IAF, Kaladan, India, Canadian built Hurricane IIc PJ716 struck after landing by Hurricane KZ919 and written off (aviation-safety.net). 13 435 Sqn., P/O D.G. Cotter died of injuries in hospital in Burma from the crash the day before (B. Barry et al; 6th Year). 13 274 Sqn. Tempestwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca V EJ639 was strafing a vehicle on a reconnaissance over Germany when it failed to pull up and crashed, killing F/L J.A. Malloy. 13 409 Sqn. Mosquito NF.XIII HK481 crashed landing in France returning from an early morning night fighter scramble, killing F/L J.E. Donoghue and F/L W.H. McPhail. 13 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM279 shot down by flak over St. Vith, Belgium, F/O W.F. Bridgman killed. Possibly shot down in error by US anti-aircraft. 13 418 Sqn. Oxford LB537 crashed in Wales, killing P/O J. Firth, F/O W.P. Retzer, F/O G. Day RAF and F/L T. Matthew RAF (www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk). 13 426 Sqn. F/O W.F. Nicholls, whose aircraft was lost March 15, 1944, died in a camp in Germany of tuberculosis. After the war his grave could not be found and he is listed on the Runnymede Memorial. 13 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB793 NA-E suffered an engine fire on a training flight over England. After ordering the crew to bail out P/O W.S. McMullen remained at the controls to steer the aircraft away from the city of Darlington. He was successful, but was too low to bail out and was killed when the aircraft crashed. Today a road in Darlington is named in his memory and a cairn is at the crash site to commemorate his selfless act of courage. One crewman, mid-upper gunner F/S Dykes, was injured, the other 5 crew were safe. This is possibly the aircraft flown back and landed by it's bomb aimer Sept. 12, 1944. 13* #60 OTU Anson NK890 crashed in England on a training flight, F/O D.G. Tinkess, F/O J.K. Langston RAF, F/O W.A. Lovatt RAF, F/O S.J. Margrie RAF, WO J.A.C. Russell RAF and Sgt E.G-F. Williams killed (tomthorne83 at www.rafcommands.com). 13 #1664 HCU RCAF Halifax III MZ587 ZU-G was practicing night circuits when it landed heavily enough to fold it's undercarriage and catch on fire, F/O J. Howard and his crew safe. This aircraft had flown with 420 Sqn. as PT-C 'The Champ' (D. Birrell). See March 1, below. 13 USAAF B-24L 44-49538 crashed near Goose Bay, Nfld., 2Lt R.J. Mellion killed (AAIR).

13-14 A force of 242 Halifax bombers with 20 Lancaster and 12 Mosquito Pathfinders returned to attack the rail yards at Saarbrücken, plus 218 Lancasters with 7 Mosquitos to the oil plant at Pölitz, 19 RCM, 22 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 10 GARDENING sorties, a total of 550 with the loss of 4 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquito patrols over the Ardennes which also bombed targets in the area of (6th Year). 13-14 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O D. Falconer, lost it's hydraulics which released the undercarriage. They bombed from a low altitude and made an emergency landing low on fuel in England (R. Koval). See January 16-17, below. 13-14 415 Sqn. Halifax III, WO2 J.S. McKenzie, lost an engine outbound but bombed and returned on 3 engines (R. Koval). See February 2-3, below. 13-14 426 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O C.B. Benton, lost an engine on the return flight and landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). See January 16-17, below. 13-14 427 Sqn. Halifax III aircraft flown by F/O J.V. Mulholland and P/O I. Thomson, both lost engines on the return flight and landed safe on 3 engines (R. Koval). 13-14 429 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O L.C. Moffatt, lost an engine over the target but returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 13-14 630 Sqn. Lancaster I PB880 LE-B was outbound for a target in Germany when it suffered an engine failure over Denmark and diverted to neutral where the crew bailed out. WO E.J. Edwardswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca RAF died the next day from injuries sustained when he hit the tail plane, but F/S T.W. Panting, F/O J.W. Langley RAF, Sgt J.R. Thomas RAF, F/S G.B. Gaughan RAF, F/S I.J. Penglass RAAF and WO S.H. Potter RNZAF were safe and were interned.

Sunday 14 #1 Training Command, Trenton, merged with #3 Training Command, , to form the new #1 Air Command (RCAF Sqns.).

Five V-2s that struck parts of London killed 48 and injured 214 on this day (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). The German group of He 111 aircraft configured for the air launch of V-1 missiles ended operations on this date due to lack of fuel (A. Price).

USAAF sends 841 heavy bombers to attack oil targets at Derben and Magdeburg (Zijlstra).

Bomber Command returned to the railway yards at Saarbrücken with 134 Lancasters without loss (BC War Diaries). This target had been attacked by 554 heavy bombers in three attacks in 24 hours, to disrupt German supplies to soldiers attacking from the . 14 28 Squadron F/L R.G. Johnson was on a photo reconnaissance in a Hurricane over the Irrawaddy River in Burma. Attempting to photograph a loading oil his aircraft was hit by flak and damaged. F/L Johnson managed to cross the River and bailed out on the west bank, where he escaped pursuit, and began walking out to Allied lines. It took 22 days without assistance, travelling at night, avoiding Japanese soldiers and Burmese natives. Approaching the front he had a fight with one Japanese soldier and was nearly killed by Indian Army soldiers before he was able to identify himself as friendly. He was then able to give his rescuers information on the Japanese troops he had seen opposing them. For this he was promoted to S/L and awarded the (Awards). 14 401 Sqn. Spitfires on a fighter sweep surprise German Fw 190 fighters taking off and claim 5 shot down, including 3 by F/O J. MacKay (Spitfire LF.IXb MJ980 YO-M), his second triple victory. 14 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXb MH761 was last seen in combat with Fw 190 aircraft over the airfield of Twente, Holland, F/L J.R. Land killed in the combat described above. 14 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP798 EQ-J caught fire while being prepared for an operation and exploded, LAC G.D. Pringle was blown off the wing and received some burns. 14 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ466 KW-P flew into the ground just after breaking out of cloud on a training flight, F/S J.L.A. Chauvin, F/O R.J. Dubeau, F/O J.R.R. Gingras, Sgt K.M. Hillis, WO2 J.J.M. Simard, F/O J.W.R. Walsh killed, F/S R.O. Custeau injured. He was pulled from the wreckage by a local civilian. See R. Allenby for details. 14 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB204 force landed in Holland after being hit by flak, F/L M.J.A. Cote evaded for the second time. He had bailed out of another Typhoon Sept. 28, 1944. See http://www.teunispats.net/fr-wwii.htm for details. 14 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PL370 was shot down by enemy fighters on a reconnaissance after shooting down a Fw 190, F/O A.J. Urquhart PoW. F/L J.E.G. Reade and F/L J.N.G. Dick each claimedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca a Fw 190 in this fight as well (6th Year). 14 #26 OTU Wellington X MF116 crashed in England on an evening cross country flight after making a distress call, F/O N. Chobaniuk, Sgt J.W. McMurdo, Sgt L.G. Good RAF, Sgt J.S. Gunn RAF, Sgt J. Thompson RAF and Sgt C.D. Parker RAF killed. 14 #133 (F) Sqn. RCAF, Patricia Bay, BC, Kittyhawk Ia #726 crashed in the , F/O D.H. Grundy killed.

14-15 Bomber Command sent 573 Lancasters with 14 Mosquitos to the oil plant at Leuna which devastated this important target, 136 Halifax with 3 Lancaster and 12 Mosquito Pathfinders to the rail yards at Grevenbroich, and 100 Halifax bombers with 3 Lancaster and 12 Mosquito Pathfinders to a fuel storage site at Dülmen, plus 126 aircraft from training units on a diversionary sweep over the sea, 83 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 9 more to Mannheim, 58 RCM, 54 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 31 GARDENING sorties, a total of 1,214 sorties with 17 lost and 14 crashed in England due to weather (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 16 patrols/bombing sorties in the area of Bastogne with one loss (6th Year). 14-15 12 Sqn. Lancaster III LM714 PH-L shot down by a night fighter over Germany, F/O K.G. Gutensohn, F/O E.W. Rech, Sgt J. Robertson RAF and Sgt F.T. White RAF killed, F/O J.B. Murray, F/S K. MacDonald RAAF and Sgt E.J. Burke RAF PoW. 14-15 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB263 XD-P crashed attempting to land in bad weather returning from a sortie to Berlin, F/L P.J. Drane DFC RAF and F/O K. Swale DFC RAF killed. 14-15 223 Sqn. Liberator B.VI TT336 6G-R shot down over Belgium on a JOSTLE bomber support sortie, F/S D.K. Clark, F/S A.L. Evens, P/O W.A. Gray, WO J.G. Galley DFM RAF, Sgt R. Hartop RAF, F/O F.A. Mason RAF, WO R.E. Ralph RAF and F/L G. Trail RAF killed, F/O G.R. Palmer RAAF died the next day of his injuries, F/L G. Noseworthy and Sgt J. Mellers RAF safe (Karin Frison www.rafb24.com). Pieces of this aircraft are now on display in a museum in Belgium. 14-15 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O G.D. Daughters, lost an engine over the target and returned safe on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 7-8, below. 14-15 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, S/L H.J. Reeves, lost power from 3 engines but bombed and returned on 1 good engine and 3 running at low power (R. Koval). 14-15 415 Sqn. Halifax III NA611 6U-T swung on taking off for an operation and caught fire, F/S E.F. Sirtonald (or Siertonski), F/S M. Campbell, F/S F. Fasang, F/S E.H. Engman, Sgt W. Dekur and Sgt D.L. Broughton RAF received slight burns, F/O G.T. Abel and F/S E.L. Gates safe (J.H. McQuiston). 14-15 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS571 TH-G flew into trees and crashed in England returning from a patrol over the Ardennes, F/O L.J. Berry and F/O W. Brown RAF killed (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 14-15 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB769 VR-I shot down over Germany by a night fighter, P/O A.G. McKay, P/O H.M. Rumball, P/O G.D.M. Spencer, F/L G.O. Tedford, P/O C.S. Thomson and Sgt R.J. Williams RAF killed, F/O J.Q. Eddy PoW. 14-15 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB799 VR-W damaged by flak over Germany and ran out of fuel attempting to reach Allied lines, pilot F/O N.R. Vatne held control until his crew could bail out, but was killed in the crash. F/O N.V. Hoas, F/O H.R. Eager, F/S E. Chatwin, F/S R.C. Woods, Sgt www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caB.C. Mitchell and P/O G.C. Woods were taken PoW. 14-15 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L G.L. Sheahan, lost an engine while outbound, but continued to the target and bombed on 3 engines. Returning the remaining engine on the one side also packed up over the French coast, but the crew returned to base on two engines (R. Koval). 14-15 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB806 SE-X exploded over the target after a mid-air collision with a German Bf 109 fighter, F/O G.R.R.H. Craib, F/O C. Gurevitch, P/O C.B. MacDonell, F/O M.A. MacLeod, WO2 O.J. Rau and F/S J. Mann RAF killed, F/S D.C. Cockwill was thrown clear and became PoW. 14-15 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB810 SE-H, F/O A.P. Huchala, shot down an Me 262 night fighter that attacked them on it's second pass (R. Koval). In H.A. Halliday's RCAF Personnel - Awards and Honours it is noted that F/O Huchala enlisted as an airman just prior to war breaking out, and served on ground crew before re-mustering to aircrew. He stayed in the RCAF post war and commanded 61 Sqn. RAF on exchange in England and Kenya before retiring in 1961. 14-15 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP691 QO-V was attacked and damaged over Germany by a night fighter that shot off it's tailwheel and was written off on return to England due to damage in the wing and bottom fuselage, all caused by just 4 cannon shell hits (R. Koval). F/L A.R.A. Bews and his crew safe. 14-15 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O G.E. Peaker, was forced to return early when the undercarriage would not retract (R. Koval). See March 18-19, below. 14-15 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O J.M. Wallace MiD AM(US), lost an engine after taking off, but continued to the target, bombed, and returned on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). See February 24, below. 14-15 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB832 WL-F, F/O A. Purnell, claimed an unidentified twin engined night fighter shot down in flames (R. Koval). 14-15 626 Sqn. Lancaster I LL959 UM-A2 hit by flak over Germany and exploded, F/O V.H. Halstead, F/O T.R. Murray DFC and Sgt O. Old RAF killed, F/S C.C. Merriman, P/O A.M.O. Walker and F/O R.J. Lacey RAF missing. The pilot, F/L D.S. Nelson, was ejected from the aircraft and was taken PoW. 14-15 #1666 HCU RCAF Lancaster I HK756 tasked with a SWEEPSTAKE (bomber support) Diversion and was lost without trace over the North Sea, F/O V.R. Adams, F/O W.A. Booth, Sgt W.H.G. Field, Sgt L.F.B. Goodwin, F/O J. Klatman, Sgt M.La V. Long and F/S W.A. Wegenast missing.

Monday 15 436 Sqn. becomes operational in India, 7 aircraft delivered 59 tons of supplies to Commonwealth forces in Burma (RCAF Sqns.). Between the two Squadrons they delivered 14,000,000 lbs. of freight and over 3,700 passengers and casualties during the month (6th Year).

Bomber Command had 145 Lancasters attacking oil plants at Recklinghausen and Bochum, plus 1 Special Operation by a Hudson without loss (BC War Diaries). 15 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII JF958 lost due to engine problems escorting Kittyhawk aircraft over Italy, P/O R.J. Ashley missing. 15 19 Sqn. Mustang III FB131 lost after a mid-air collision over the Nijmegen area of Holland with 234 Sqn. Mustangwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca III FB222, F/L D.B. MacNeil killed in FB131 and F/L R.D. Stebbings RAF PoW from FB222. F/L MacNeil had been involved in an accident at #9 B&G School Oct. 26, 1942. 15 #1659 HCU RCAF Halifax III LK878 failed to gain height after take-off and flew into high ground, Sgt A.J. MacDonell, F/O J.A. McCrea, F/O D.P. McGregor, F/O F.W. Mooney, Sgt A.R. Robson, F/S J.A. Savy, Sgt L.C. Stavenow, F/S G. Walton RAF and Sgt M. O'Sullivan RAF killed. Two hours before this accident this same crew had been taking off in Halifax III LK871 when it swung, ground looped, and was damaged beyond repair. See R. Allenby for details. 15 #1664 HCU RCAF Halifax III NA632 was returning from a night bombing exercise and after five attempts to land overran the runway and struck a totem pole (!), F/O R.K. Blythe and his crew safe. 15 AAF San Bernardino, , USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35357 damaged, 2 killed (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/, AAIR).

Tuesday 16 USAAF sends over 1,000 heavy bombers to 5 targets in Germany as well as tactical support to US forces in the Ardennes. On the ground US forces, moving north and south, met on this day at Houffalize, eliminating the tip of the "bulge", but most German troops had already evacuated the encircled zone (Zijlstra).

A single V-2 killed 58 people, injured 64 and destroyed 31 homes in Antwerp (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

Ground fog in England causes many diversions from returning USAAF bomber and fighter operations over Europe. This presages 10 days of severe weather conditions over England which severely restricts flying (G. Williams). 16 VB-7 USS Hancock Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21377 shot down over by anti- aircraft fire, Lt(jg) C.S. Snead USN (and his gunner?) missing (J. Baugher from L. Milberry; AAIR). 16 VB-20 USS Lexington Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21406 lost to unknown cause near Hong Kong (J. Baugher, AAIR). 16 763 Sqn. HMS Nightjar, RNAS Inskipp, Avenger II JZ390 flew into a hill in the Lake District of England on a navigation exercise, Lt(A) B.J. Kennedy RCNVR, Midshipman G. Fell RNVR and LA P.R. Mallorie RN killed (www.fleetairarmarchive.net, www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk). The wreckage fell down the hill (known as Great Scree) into a lake called Wastwater, the deepest lake in England. In 2012 scuba divers found the engine of the aircraft and were searching for more wreckage (www.thewestmolandgazette.co.uk). 16 USAAF B-25J 44-30217 damaged in a landing at Dorval, Quebec (AAIR).

16-17 Bomber Command sent forces to Magdeburg (371 aircraft), the synthetic oil plant at Zeitz (328), another oil plant at Brüx in Czechoslovakia (237), and a third plant at Wanne-Eickel (138), plus 24 Mosquitos bombers to two targets in Germany, 55 RCM, 52 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 31 GARDENING sorties off Norway and Germany, awww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca total of 1,238 sorties with the loss of 30 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 16-17 12 Sqn. Lancaster I LM213 PH-G lost over Germany, F/O D.J. Bailey, P/O W.J. Glass, F/O W. Kerluk, P/O D.E. Linington, Sgt F.J. Tate RAF and Sgt G.J. Harris RAF killed, Sgt H.F. Hymers PoW. 16-17 12 Sqn. Lancaster I NN712 PH-A lost over Germany, F/O L.W. Ferguson, F/L S.P. Whyte, Sgt J.D. Griffin RAF, Sgt R. Redmond RAF, Sgt H.J. Smalley RAF and F/L J.H. Marsh RAF killed, F/O A.L. Staley PoW. 16-17 51 Sqn. Halifax III LW461 MH-Y shot down over Germany by a night fighter, P/O A.J.J. Hisette, Sgt L. Annis RAF, F/S J.J. Atkinson RAF, F/S D.L. Johns RAF, F/S A.A. Muddiman RAF, F/O E.M. Popplewell RAF killed, Sgt R.A. Boydell RAF PoW (Mosquito, rafcommands.com). 16-17 100 Sqn. Lancaster I PA189 HW-P lost over Germany, F/O W.M. Chapman, P/O J.D. Gibbons, P/O M.S. McMaster, F/L F.T. Quigley, F/S R.C. Roller, F/O H.O. Berger DFM RAF and Sgt J.H. Guy RAF killed. 16-17 101 Sqn. ABC equipped Lancaster III LM472 SR-V2 lost over Germany on an operation to Czechoslovakia, F/O J.K. Armour (special operator), F/O F.D. McGonigle RAF, Sgt J.R. McDowell RAF, F/S R.W.L. Hart RAAF, F/S L. Collins RAAF, Sgt R.J. Beckett RAF and Sgt D. Conroy RAF killed, F/S J.E. Knight RAAF PoW. 16-17 102 Sqn. Halifax III LW179 DY-Y lost over Germany, P/O E.L. Davis, WO D. Galbraith RAF, S/L A.H. Jarand RAF, F/S G.C. Telfer RAF, Sgt E.E. Pope RAF, Sgt J. Wilson RAF and P/O J.M. Carter RAAF killed. 16-17 153 Sqn. Lancaster I NG335 P4-V lost without trace, P/O C.W. Byers, WO1 R.K. Crow, F/S M. Frank, F/S F.C. Irving, F/S R.C. Shilliday, Sgt J.B.M. Kelleher RAF and F/S E.C. McLenaghan RAF missing. F/S Irving had been injured Aug. 24, 1943 in the crash of an Anson near Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan 16-17 158 Sqn. Halifax III MZ927 NP-Y lost over Germany, F/O J.A.S. Stewart RAF, Sgt R.J. Knight RAF, F/O A. Cox RAF and F/O G.V.R. Yeulett RAF killed, F/S H.G. Hall, Sgt V.E. Washer RAF and F/O H.F. Parkes RAF PoW. 16-17 214 Sqn. Fortress III KJ103 BU-M hit a tree and crashed in England landing from a JOSTLE bomber support sortie, F/O T.V. McKee killed, F/O R.V. Houston injured, F/S R.J. Knickle, F/O N.T. Scott RAF, Sgt R.J. Willing RAF, Sgt D.V. Lewis RAF, F/O E.T. Hardman RAAF, F/S R. Smith RAF, Sgt B.J. Lunn RAF and Sgt C. Brown RAF safe. 16-17 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB402 LQ-M lost over Germany, P/O J.A. Bruggeman, P/O B.R. Cunliffe, F/O D.G. McKay, P/O A.B. Miller, F/O H.E. Novak, F/L H.L. Payne, P/O N.L.L. Smith and Sgt H.A. Marshall RAF killed. 16-17 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP776 EQ-R, pilot F/O R.M. Wallis, rear gunner F/S R.L. Siewart shot down a night fighter in flames that attacked them (R. Koval). See January 28-29, below. 16-17 415 Sqn. Halifax III NR253 6U-L lost over Germany on their first operation, F/L W.F. Borrett RCAF (USA), P/O P.R. Mogridge were killed, F/O D.M. Sloan, F/O T.K. Daniel, F/S R.A. Collins, F/S K.W. Bradley and Sgt G.A.Y. Binnie RCAF (USA) PoW (J.H. McQuiston). F/L Borrett stayed at the controls while the crew bailed out but didn't get out in time. 16-17 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O D. Falconer, had it's fuselage and damaged by flak (R. Koval). 16-17 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L A.E. Winmill, was hit in the wing by flak that started a fire and damaged the flaps. The fire was put out and the crew returned safely to England (R. Koval, Awards). 16-17 420 Sqn. Halifax III NA183 PT-M shot down by a night fighter making a Schrage Musik attack over Germany,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca F/L E.B. McCutcheon DFC, F/O J.G. Welk and F/O T.C. Jones RAF killed, F/O D.W. Ritchie, P/O J.G. Skidmore, P/O G.A. Haacke and P/O D.O. Mackey PoW (6th Year). 16-17 420 Sqn. Halifax III NA188 PT-E believed to have been shot down by a night fighter over Germany, F/O W.L. Dennis, F/O R.A. Ireland, P/O L.J. Penny, F/O W. Webb and Sgt R. Hutchinson RAF killed, F/S F.W. Poole and F/S S. Cameron PoW. 16-17 420 Sqn. Halifax III NA192 PT-Q shot down by flak over Germany, F/O Q.J. Louie, P/O W.J.D. Partridge, F/L E.W. Watson, Sgt A.K. Parker RAF and P/O C.W. Way DFC RAF killed, F/S D.J. Jacobi and F/S T. Lynch PoW (6th Year). Wireless operator air gunner F/O Louie was referred to in a CBC News Broadcast, Nov. 8, 2011, in reference to the Lost Canadians (Canadians who have lost their citizenship due to regulations imposed by parliament). Technically F/O Louie, born in Canada and a serving member of the RCAF, was not a citizen of Canada as his family, being Chinese, had not been allowed to apply for citizenship by law. 16-17 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR205 PT-L lost over Germany after multipile night fighter attacks, P/O R.E. Harvey and P/O J.F. McCormick killed, Sgt P.E. Morissette, Sgt R.J. Wilson, F/O C.F. Bryce, F/S K.D. Reid and F/S A.J. Little PoW (6th Year). 16-17 420 Sqn. Halifax III, WO1 R.F. Sollie, discovered after taking off that the aileron controls were not working. At one point the bomber entered a spiral dive, whereupon the bomb load was jettisoned to help regain control. A difficult emergency landing was made and the crew were safe (R. Koval). See February 13-14, below. 16-17 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O R.B. Field, was returning from bombing when it was in a mid-air collision with another aircraft that took off it's radome, damaged the fuselage, oil coolers, and the nacelle and propellor of one outer engine. The aircraft made a safe landing on 3 engines at an emergency airfield in England (R. Koval). 16-17 424 Sqn. Halifax III NR228 QB-Q, F/O G. MacLean, was attacked by two night fighters, claiming strikes on a Bf 109 (R. Koval). 16-17 425 Sqn. Halifax III LW477 KW-H, pilot P/O S.G.E. Chabot, claimed a twin engined fighter that attacked it damaged by gunners F/S J.E.G. Marcil and P/O J.E.B. Pare(R. Koval). See February 27, below. 16-17 426 Sqn. Halifax III RG350 OW-K shot down over Germany by a night fighter, P/O J. Davidson, F/L R.H. Galbraith, F/O J.W. Shirey killed, F/O R.R. Broadfoot, F/S J.M. MacDonald, F/S A.M. Lacchia and F/S B.W. McNicol PoW. 16-17 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP795 OW-T swung on take-off due to a burst tire and lost it's undercarriage, F/O R.N. Swift, F/O C.E. Sowerby, F/O D.J. Andrews, F/S J.H. Tapp, F/S G.L. McCallum, F/S R.S. Martin and Sgt R. Watson RAF safe. The aircraft blocked the runway and prevented four 408 Sqn. and five 426 Sqn. aircraft from taking off on the nights operation (L. Motiuk). See February 4-5, below. 16-17 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O M.E. Fraser, lost an engine after taking off but continued to the target and bombed. Returning they were in a mid-air collision that took off the outer third of one wing, the top of a fin and rudder, and put a large hole in the fuselage, but they managed to land safely in England (R. Koval). 16-17 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP740 OW-C, S/L R. Cowans, claimed a Bf 109 that attacked them destroyed (R. Koval, Awards). 16-17 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP819 OW-B, F/O C.B. Benton, was attacked twice by a Fw 190 that damaged theirwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca bomb bay doors, and was seen to be hit by return fire (R. Koval). See February 13-14, below. 16-17 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB820 NA-M, F/O V. Gaskin, was damaged in the tail and both wings by flak, and also avoided an attack by a night fighter before landing safely (R. Koval). 16-17 429 Sqn. Halifax III MZ427 AL-E lost on an operation to Germany, F/O F.H. Biddle, F/O C.E. Chapman, F/S R.A. Deck, P/O R.H.S. Bourne, F/S F.G. Peters, F/S J.R. Phillips and Sgt R.H.V. Streetfield RAF all taken PoW. B. Barry et al notes that F/O Chapman was the brother of F/O L.E. Chapman killed Aug. 30, 1944. 16-17 429 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J.E. Rowe, lost an engine outbound but continued, bombed, and returned on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). This flight was cited in the award of a DFC to F/O Rowe (Awards). 16-17 429 Sqn. Halifax III NR194 AL-X, F/L H.W. MacDonald, claimed an unidentified single engined Wilde Sau fighter shot down by gunner F/S W.H. Magill (R. Koval; 6th Year). See February 13-14, below. 16-17 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O G.W. Glaholt, lost an engine to flak but returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, W.E. Heron). 16-17 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, W/C J.K.F. MacDonald, squadron commanding officer, landed safely on 3 engines after losing one to flak (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). 16-17 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB850 WL-O lost over Germany, P/O A.G. Carolan, F/O N.G. Fadden, F/L A. Kiehl Bauch, P/O W.D. Martin, F/O G.G. Shaw, P/O D. Turner and P/O W.T. Wilson killed. This was the first Lancaster X lost by the squadron since conversion. 16-17 514 Sqn. Lancaster I PB906 JI-B2 lost without trace on an operation to Germany, F/O M.L. Matkin, F/O G.D. Orr RAF, Sgt R. Werrill RAF, F/S J. Bryson RAF, F/S T.F. Wilson RAF, F/S A. McGlone RAF, F/S H.E. Bishop RAF and F/S G. Spencer RAF missing. F/O Matkin had had an accident with a #28 OTU Wellington Aug. 13, 1944. 16-17 578 Sqn. Halifax III NA603 LK-T believed to have been shot down by a night fighter over Germany, F/O I.G. Owen RAF and F/O R.L. Maloney RAAF killed, P/O F.J. Fitzgerald, Sgt C.G. Atkins RAF, P/O P.H. Clews RAF, F/S C.T. Moore RAAF, Sgt H.G. Skeats RAF and Sgt T.W. Spencer RAF PoW (A. Storr, CWGC).

Wednesday 17 Soviet forces enter devastated Warsaw, having been holding just outside the city for 5 months while German forces defeated the Polish Home Army uprising, and then further razed the city on Hitlers orders. 17 #55 OTU Typhoon Ib MN938 crashed in a flying accident, WO1 H.C. Blizard killed. 17 USAAF B-24L 44-49923 damaged taking off from Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR). 17 USAAF B-25J 44-30224 damaged landing at Dorval, Quebec (AAIR).

17-18 Bomber Command has 92 Mosquitos of the LNSF over targets in Germany, 33 RCM and 13 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). As well 418 Sqn. was supporting the British 2nd Army north of with 16 bombing and strafing patrols (6th Year).

Thursday 18 A near complete Japanese Balloon Bomb was seen to land and was recovered at Fort Simpson, NWTwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca (Mikesh). German guards force 60,000 inmates of Auschwitz to begin marching to the west, a quarter would die on the journey. Some 7,000 to ill to move are abandoned in the camp (wikipedia). 18 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM474 crash landed after an engine failure (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 18 464 Sqn. RAAF Mosquito FB.VI MM403 crashed in France when it was unable to maintain height after losing an engine on an INTRUDER patrol over the Ardennes, F/L R.M. Trites killed, his navigator F/L D.M. Shanks RAAF bailed out and safe (A. Storr). Storr points out that this was F/L Shanks second bail out, he had been shot down on D-Day and evaded. 18 unknown unit, RCAF Anson II force landed on ice on Lake Champlain at Malletts Bay, USA, after trying to land at Burlington, Vermont. After jacking it up and replacing the propellors the aircraft was flown out, pilot P.G. Christiesen and 3 airmen safe (Burlington Free Press, A Bermuda Triangle of Vermont, Nov. 13, 2015). Possibly Anson II #7518 of #16 SFTS noted as damaged on this date (R.W.R. Walker). 18 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35330 damaged in an accident in France, 1Lt W.F. Collingsworth USAAF killed (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/, AAIR). 18 USAAF P-63A 42-70596 damaged in a mid-air collision at Kluane Lake, Yukon (AAIR).

18-19 The LNSF was again active with 56 Mosquitos over Sterkrade, 12 making H2S testing sorties to Düsseldorf, 12 more to Kassel and 12 more to Koblenz, plus 7 to an oil storage site at Ruthen, a total of 99 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 18-19 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB446 4H-X crash landed in Belgium returning from a bombing sortie over Germany, S/L T.M. Jones and his pilot F/L F.C. Young RAF safe. 18-19 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB447 4H-S swung and lost it's undercarriage landing from a bombing sortie over Germany, F/O T. Disson RAF and F/S R.D. Johnston RAF safe.

Friday 19 German army in full retreat from the Russians on a 500 mile front. Soviets capture Lodz, (CJCA headline). Allied airmen held as PoWs in Stalag Luft VII in Poland are evacuated by train in cattle cars through a blizzard to Germany away from advancing Russian forces (wikipedia). A brief account of this PoW march by WO2 G.H.P. Gibbens can be found in Lancaster, C. et al.

Two V-2s killed 49 people and injured 95 in Antwerp (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

413 Sqn. ceases operations in the and prepares to return to England to become a Bomber unit (RCAF Sqns.). 19 64 Sqn. F/L R.R. Law, captured Dec. 8, 1944, died as a PoW in Germany. 19 #1669 HCU Halifax II BB367 was making a 3 engine landing when an undercarriage leg failed, WO1 E.R. Peterson and his crew safe. 19 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70350 involved in an accident in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

19-20 418 Sqn. launchedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 5 Army support patrols over northern Germany, 4 returned due to weather and the fifth bombed a factory and attacked railroad targets before returning safe (6th Year).

Saturday 20 Provisional Hungarian Government signs peace with Allies. Further PoW camps in Poland begin forced evacuation over the next 3 days (wikipedia).

Roosevelt sworn in for 4th term (CJCA headline). The first of 8,300 conscripted Home Defence troops arrive in England, 6,300 more are absent without leave in Canada (CJCA headline).

RCAF units in Western Canada ordered to shoot down suspected Japanese Balloon bombs for recovery. Orders for fighter squadrons at Patricia Bay and Tofino later evolved into sections of fighters at immediate readiness, 2 sections at 30 minutes, and 3 sections at 60 minutes, initially with 2 Kittyhawk fighters per section, or with a single Mosquito aircraft from April. Mosquitos were deployed as they could quickly climb up to the 40,000' altitude often required to intercept these balloons. Other squadrons and OTUs on the coast were ordered keep watch for balloons, and a Liberator was to be kept on readiness to track any sightings that could not be immediately brought down, say over populated areas, or remote regions where recovery would be difficult. Most of this would not be in place until after the Japanese had stopped launching the balloons, however (Joost).

USAAF General Curtis LeMay arrives in Marianas Islands from commanding B-29 operations in India and China, to take over command and to implement ordered night bombing campaign (Morgan, Oxford).

616 Sqn. RAF moves from England to Belgium with Meteor F.III jet fighters (wikipedia).

#3 Wireless School, , Manitoba and #4 Wireless School, Guelph, Ontario, closed on this date (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 20 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII MT688 lost on a bombing strike in Italy, F/O R. Edge killed. 20 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII MT659 lost on a bombing strike in Italy, F/L J. Waslyk killed. 20 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX NH380 hit by flak and damaged on a reconnaissance over Germany, F/O C.A.E. Ellement safe on his first operational sortie (6th Year). See April 21, below. 20 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ312 was shot down by flak over Holland, F/O W.J. Walken PoW. 20 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX ML277 was shot down by flak over Holland, F/L F.H. Richards evaded. 20 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PL186 was shot down by flak over Holland, F/L B.E. MacPherson PoW. 20 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PV352 was shot down by flak over Holland, F/O B.B. McPhee PoW. 20 420 Sqn. P/O G.A. Noble died in hospital in Germany of the injuries he sustained in the loss of Halifax MZ471 Jan. 5, above. 20 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB317 force landed in Holland after being hit by flak, F/O J.D. Sweeney RCAF (USA) PoW (Chris www.rafcommands.com). 20 739th BS, 454thwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca BG(H) B-24L 44-49343 missing from a bombing mission to , Capt. R.G. Darcy USAAF (Can.), SSgt W.B. Calhoun USAAF, TSgt C.L. Carnathan USAAF, TSgt C.P. Conklin USAAF, 1Lt J.C. Gaunt USAAF, 1Lt J.S. Maclean Jr USAAF, 1Lt A.L. Mandelzweig USAAF, 1Lt V.S. Martino USAAF, SSgt R.G. Morrow USAAF and SSgt E.L. Sanderson USAAF missing (R. Reid, R. McNeill and F. Willston at www.rafcommands.com; AAIR and J. Baugher). 20 #14 EFTS RAF, England, DH.82 Tiger Moth N6920 struck a tree in a snow storm and crashed, killing F/O G.M. MacLean and one crew. 20 #4 B&G School, Fingal, Ontario, Bolingbroke IV.T #10019 crashed near Inwood, Ontario, possibly after a mid air collision, F/O J.D. Allan, LAC(WAG) W.T.F. Neville RAAF and LAC(WAG) L.C.J. Watt RAAF killed (A. Storr). 20 #11 (BR) Sqn., Dartmouth, NS, Liberator GR.VI "B" #3711 was on a patrol when the depth charges and other weapons became detached and fell through the bomb bay doors. The aircraft returned to a safe landing (R.W.R. Walker). 20 unknown unit, F/S J.G.M.R. Vezina died in Canada, no details.

Sunday 21 Cold weather across northern England sets in, RCAF Eastmoor received a heavy snowfall on this day (J.H. McQuiston). 21 1842 Sqn., HMS Formidable, Corsair JT554 spun into the sea after colliding in mid air with another Corsair, Lt (A) E.D. Dunkley RNVR (Can.) missing (FAA Museum NAP Data). 21 USAAF 19th BS, 22nd BG(H) B-24J 44-40860 "Our Honey" crashed taking off in in the Philippines, pilot Capt. J.C. Hume USAAF (Can.) and 10 crewmen killed (AAIR, fdsplawn at http://forum.armyairforces.com, http://www.b24bestweb.com). 21 55 Sqn. Boston V BZ592 lost over Italy attacking road transportation, S/L R.H. Stringer DFC, Lt L.W. Douglass SAAF, F/O R.A. Horne RAF and WO E.H. Wheatley RAF killed (www.joebaugher.com). 21 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM201 shot down by an enemy fighter over Germany, P/O C.D. Beck killed. 21 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib PD601 was dive bombing a target when it exploded in the air just after releasing it's bombs, F/O P.H. Kearse killed. 21 #85 OTU Wellington X ME883 was on a BULLSEYE exercise and was over London when the controls failed. WO G.W. Barnard RAF managed to hold the aircraft for his crew to bail out then followed, he was injured along with F/O R.T. Shaw and one other crewman. 21 #15 SFTS Anson II #8627 was on a low level navigation exercise when it hit a cable over a river near Bassano, Alberta and crashed onto the ice below, killing instructor F/S L.J. Tame, Sgt K.L. Sutton RAF and LAC(P) I.R. Vidler RAF. 21 USAAF 7th Ferry Group P-38L 44-25088 damaged landing at Teslin, Yukon (AAIR).

21-22 Bomber Command had 80 Mosquito bombers over two targets in Germany, 23 RCM, 9 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 2 Hudsons on Special Operations, a total of 114 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 15 Army support patrols out on this night (6th Year). 21-22 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB463 4H-W lost without trace on a bombing sortie over Germany, F/O G.I. Allan DFC and his pilot S/L R.S. Don DFC RAF missing. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Monday 22 New Ledo Road bypass to China opened to military traffic (CJCA headline). This announcement was made despite the road route still being blocked for the last few miles due to rains. The bypass went into full operation 5 days later (D. Sommerville), and the first truck entered Kunming, China on February 4. Crossing 465 miles across mountains and rivers some 1,100 US military and thousands of local tribesman died during it's construction. In it's six months of operation some 129,000 tons of equipment and 29,000 trucks were delivered to China (wikipedia). Soviet forces enter East Prussia (CJCA headline).

German forces in Bulge forced to retreat (CJCA headline).

A column of 1,500 enemy vehicles trying to retreat from the Ardennes was discovered by US tactical aircraft, and in the course of the next 3 days air attacks destroyed or damaged most of these despite continuing bad weather (Zijlstra).

665 Sqn. RCAF formed as an AOP squadron in England on Auster AOP.IV and AOP.V aircraft (RCAF Sqns). 22 423 Sqn. Sunderland, F/L A.R. Pinder, attacked a schnorkeling U-boat with depth-charges and machine guns (6th Year). 22 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MP128 F3-X shot down by flak on a bombing sortie in Holland, F/O F.R.F. Skelly killed. 22 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MP134 shot down by flak over Holland, Squadron commanding officer S/L R.G. Crosby evaded (Kostenuk & Griffin list him as wounded in action on this date). 22 #22 OTU Wellington III HF609 overshot a single engined landing and was wrecked, WO1 B.D. Cathcart and his crew safe. W.R. Chorley notes that this aircraft was damaged in an accident in September of 1943, date unknown, with Sgt V.R. Hawkes at the controls. 22 #131 (Coastal) OTU F/L J.M. O'Leary died in hospital of natural causes in Northern Ireland. 22 #1694 Bomber (Defence) Training Flight Martinet I NR418 took off on a meteorological flight but turned back in a snow storm. Attempting to land it struck 169 Sqn. Mosquito NF.XIX MM644 before crashing into a hut. The pilot of the Martinet, WO T. Appleby RAF, was injured but in the hut radar mechanic Cpl C.R. Mason and Cpl J. Looker RAF were killed and LAC H.L. Brend, Cpl H. Parkinson RAF, LAC E.W. Cannings RAF, LAC L.D. Lewis RAF and ACW2 P.J. Carey WAAF were injured. 22 USAAF 4 B-17G aircraft 44-6945, 44-6947, 44-8772 and 43-3918 were damaged taking off from Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR).

22-23 418 Sqn. had 15 Mosquitos flying patrol/bombing sorties over northern Germany to support Army operations (6th Year). 22-23 358 Sqn. Liberator VI KH215 "K" missing on a Special Operation over French Indo-China, one of three aircraft lost of 11 on similar sorties on this date. These were the first direct aid flights from India in support of the growing Free French movement in French Indo-China. The policy ofwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca the USA, direct from President Roosevelt, was opposed to re-establishing France in Indo-China, it supported independence. As only Ho Chi-Minh's Viet-Minh organization was effective and had survived repression by the Vichy French and Japanese, it was the chosen instrument of this policy and received support from the US OSS for it's work via US agents dropped from China (Oxford). Access to these USAAF bases in China was denied to RAF aircraft supporting the in the region, forcing them to fly from India. Due to this policy disagreement the USAAF in China was not notified prior to the operation, and one Liberator was shot down in error by a USAAF P- 61 night fighter over French Indo-China, an incident that has always been controversial. The other two, including KH215, may or may not have been damaged by similar attacks, but both crashed in Burma in the Chin Hills in severe weather returning to India. On KH215 F/O W. Russell, F/L K.H. Brailsford RAF, WO G.A. O'Toole RAF, F/O L. Blick RAF, WO J.R. Swain RAF, Sgt J.C. Gibbs RAF, WO W. Lear RAF and F/O R.J. Wilson RAF were killed (M. Poole, R. Tebbutt). S/L A.S.M. Pim DFC RAF, who had previously flown operations with 408 Sqn, was one of those lost on KH277, also lost on this operation (Matt Poole www.rafcommands.com). See March 20-21, 1945 22-23 Bomber Command sent 286 Lancasters and 16 Mosquitos to attack an oil plant at Duisburg, but a nearby steel works was also badly damaged. A further 107 Halifax with 29 Lancaster and 16 Mosquito Pathfinders were sent to Gelsenkirchen, 48 Mosquitos to Hannover, 8 more to Dortmund, 50 RCM and 40 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 598 sorties with 2 losses (BC War Diaries). 22-23 153 Sqn. Lancaster I NG185 P4-A lost, probably just inside the German border, F/S G.B. Hamilton, F/O M.A. Smith, F/O K.W. Winder RAF, Sgt R. Evans RAF, Sgt D.B. George RAF, Sgt. T. O'Gorman RAF, Sgt. A.J. Rabin RAF killed. (TSGNO also states that an extra air gunner, P/O J. Toy RAF also lost on this aircraft, but he was lost on a 101 Sqn. aircraft March 14 below.)

Tuesday 23 Russians reach Oder river in Silesia (CJCA headline). soviet

The RAF airfield at Stapleford is struck by a V-2 for the second time in 2 months. The first made a very large crater in the landing area, but the second one destroyed a hangar and 4 other buildings, and killed 2 civilians and 13 airmen, injuring 1 civilian and 37 airmen (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html, wikipedia). Stapleford had been the base for 242 (Canadian) Sqn. for a period in 1941 (http://www.flysfc.com/our-history-stapleford-flight-centre.php).

Air Force, Army and Navy in Canada directed to work together to detect and destroy Balloon Bombs, and a committee is formed to work with RCMP, civil authorities and US for reporting them. Responsibility for recovery of Balloon Bombs given to the Army (Joost). 23 401 Sqn. Spitfires on a sweep near Osnabruck surprise a group of Ar 234 jet bombers practicing landings, and attack, claiming 3 destroyed (one each to F/O D.F Church and F/O G.M. Hardy, one shared by P/O M. Thomas and F/L W.C. Connel), 1 probably destroyed (F/L W.R. Tew), and 4 damaged (two to F/L F.T. Murray, one each to F/O F.E. Thayer and S/L W.T. Klersywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca) (H.A. Halliday). 23 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM203 hit by flak while attacking enemy transport, P/O R.C. Shannon wounded. 23 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PL433 shot down by an enemy fighter on a reconnaissance over Germany, P/O G.G. Harrison safe. 23 411 Sqn. Spitfire, F/L R.J. Audet DFC shot down an Me 262 jet fighter and destroyed another on the ground (P. Mossman). 23 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM393 crash landed with fuel problems on a reconnaissance to Germany, F/L E.S. Smith safe. 23 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB333 F3-R was attacking rail targets in Holland when it was hit by flak and blew up, F/O I.J.V. Wallace killed. See http://www.teunispats.net/fr-wwii.htm for details. 23 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB325 hit by flak during a dive bombing attack, F/L H. Byers killed. 23 441 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MK585 lost off the Shetland Islands on an exercise, P/O J.E. Bohemier missing. 23 R Depot, Warrington, England, service police Cpl J.H. Cook died of natural causes. 23 USAAF 413th Fighter Sqn. P-47D 44-32881 crashed near Dutton, Ontario, 2Lt G.H. Love USAAF killed. 23 USAAF 7th Ferry Group at Whitehorse, Yukon, P-63A 42-69984 and P-38L 44-25089 both damaged taking off (AAIR).

23-24 409 Sqn. Mosquito NF.XIII, W/C J.D. Somerville DFC and P/O A.C. Hardy, shoot down a Ju 188 (F.J. Hatch). 23-24 409 Sqn. Mosquito NF.XIII, F/O M.G. Kent and F/O J. Simpson, shoot down a Ju 88 night fighter (F.J. Hatch).

Wednesday 24 Soviet armoured forces reach the Oder River (Polsson).

Off Sumatra 4 RN carriers launch a major attack, Operation MERIDIAN I, against Japanese oil targets on the Island. 24 820 Sqn. HMS Indefatigable, Avenger II JZ379 shot down by anti-aircraft fire on an attack on oil facilities at Pladjoe in Indonesia, CPO Pilot H.G.C. Mitchell RN (Can.), Leading Airman C.L. Harris RN and Sub Lt(A) A. Hemington RNVR killed (FAA Museum NAP Data, Sturtivant, R.). 24 1836 Sqn. FAA, HMS Victorious, Corsair JT410 T8-H, Sub Lt(A) D.J. Sheppard RCNVR claims a Japanese Ki-44 fighter shot down over Palembang in Indonesia on a RN carrier strike (C. Shores). 24 1830 Sqn. FAA RN, HMS Illustrious, Corsair II JT593 aircraft was hit by flak on it's third strafing run on an airfield in Java and set on fire at low altitude. The pilot, Lt(A) A.W. Sutton RCNVR, aimed his crippled aircraft at a hangar and destroyed it with all the aircraft inside. He was recommended for a posthumous Victoria Cross, but it was reduced to an MiD. 24 79 Sqn. Thunderbolt II had its canopy shattered when bombing targets at Meiktila, Burma, F/O H.M. Ives slightly injured (H.A. Halliday). 24 36 Sqn. Wellington lost on a patrol over the North Sea, F/L S. Walton RAF (Can.) missing, 4 crew missing/killed.www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca F/L W.G.E. Becker RAF, F/O H.E. Hastings RAF, WO H.T. Large RAF, F/S J.M.S. Ritchie RAF and Sgt J.D. Thornton RAF are listed as missing from 36 Squadron on this date (CWGC). 24 183 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MN452 HF-W lost over Holland, F/L P.W. d'Albenas evaded with the assistance of Jan Voges, Aart Kiest, Bert Monster and Kees Otto (RAF Escaping Society letter, Airforce Magazine, Dec. 1978). 24 411 Sqn. Spitfire, F/L R.J. Audet DFC attacked and damaged a Me 262 jet fighter (P. Mossman). 24 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PV154 was shot down by flak over Germany attacking a train on a reconnaissance, F/O N.A. Burns PoW (442 SH). 24 #52 Mobile Field Hospital, LAC J.E.R. Cloutier was found drowned in the cab of a service vehicle immersed in a canal in Holland.

Thursday 25 150 B-29 bombers from Saipan attack Tokyo with incendiaries from high level, setting a fire that burns out over a square mile of the city (Oxford).

Germans report East Prussia surrounded by Soviet Army; Clark Field on Luzon re-captured by US Forces; Soviet Ambassador Oumansky dies in plane crash (CJCA headline) [Ambassador C. Oumansky had been USSR Ambassador to the USA and then to Mexico. He had been appointed Ambassador to Costa Rica and was killed in Mexico City in the crash of a Mexican Air Force aircraft taking him to that country (wikipedia)]

In London the Joint Intelligence Committee recommends supporting the Soviet offensive with bombing of Berlin and eastern German cities that are communications hubs, as the USSR does not possess a force (Polsson). This is the basis for Operation THUNDERCLAP, a joint USAAF/RAF campaign to provide direct support to the Russian army. This would include day and night attacks on Berlin and other cities in eastern Germany to disrupt German communications and transport behind the lines (Oxford). See http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/02118.php for a discussion of the decisions behind Operation THUNDERCLAP. 25 #168 (HT) Sqn. Dakota IV #978 crashed at Biggin Hill in England while being used to deliver mail in Europe, and was destroyed by fire (R.W.R. Walker). 25 #1 Repatriation Depot, Lachine, Quebec, Cpl N.G.L. Urich died of natural causes.

Friday 26 As part of Operation THUNDERCLAP British seeks approval from SHAEF for large scale attacks on Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz to disrupt German troop movements in eastern Germany (Polsson).

First flight of the McDonnell XFD-1, later in service as the FH Phantom, the first purpose designed naval jet fighter (wikipedia). 26 148 Sqn. Halifax II JP281 "Q" flew into Mount Kamesnica in Yugoslavia in fog and snow returning from operation ICARUS MINOR 117, Sgt J.W. Holmes RAF (Can.), F/L G.B. Strang RAF,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca F/L H.E. Horsefall RNZAF, F/O W.H. Wilson RAF, F/O R. Howarth RAF, F/O H.O. Mason RAAF, Sgt D.P. Burns RAF and Sgt G. Diffey RAF killed (yucrashes, A. Storr, R. Tebbutt). 26 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB803 SE-N crash landed in England after losing power on a training flight, F/O J.F. Morton and his crew safe. 26 578 Sqn. Halifax III NA574 LK-D was on a fighter affiliation flight when it had an engine fire, which spread out of control. The aircraft crashed, F/S I.L. Johns, F/L N. Garforth RAF, F/S J. Sweet RAF, Sgt R.J. Horton RAF and Sgt T.C. House RAF killed, P/O J.B. Curtis RAF and F/S R.D. Walker RAF parachuted out safely. Saturday 27 SHAEF approves Operation THUNDERCLAP for USAAF and Bomber Command to bomb eastern German cities to assist advancing Soviet forces (Polsson).

Russian army captures Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps (wikipedia). soviet

Snow in England continues to disrupt air operations. On this day continuous snow was recorded at Middleton St. George (419 SH). 27 405 Sqn. pilot F/O H.A. Hannah CG (Fr.) died in hospital in England during surgery due to wounds received when his Lancaster was damaged by flak over Germany Nov. 2-3, 1944. 27 #18 OTU Wellington X HE687 ditched in the Irish Sea after engine problems that ended in an engine fire, F/O D.G. Marshall and his crew were rescued. This was the last #18 OTU aircraft lost before it disbanded at the end of the month. 27 #4 RC (Repatriation Centre?) LAC(BA) C.W. Hendershot died of natural causes in hospital in London, Ontario. 27 USAAF C-54A 42-107468 operated by Pan American Airlines belly landed at Harmon Field, Stephenville, Nfld. (AAIR).

Sunday 28 First supplies cross the Chinese border over the re-opened Burma Road via the Ledo bypass (wikipedia).

Due to advancing Soviet troops Stalag Luft III was evacuated, 2,000 airmen PoWs being marched deeper into Germany (Wee Gerry www.rafcommands.com). See April 10, below.

Allied positions held before the German offensive in the Ardennes reoccupied, eliminating the "Bulge" (Oxford).

Two V-2s landed in West Ham, London, killing 46, injuring 28, destroying 17 homes. One of these landed near the present site of the West Ham United football stadium (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html, wikipedia).

Railway yards at Cologne were attacked by 153 Lancasters with the loss of 3 bombers and 1 down in France (BC War Diaries). 28 405 Sqn. Betweenwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, 1945 S/L E.W. Blenkinsop DFC, CG (Bel.) died of tuberculosis at the Belsen Concentration Camp after working as a forced labourer in a factory at Hamburg, Germany. S/L Blenkinsop was shot down April 27-28, 1944 and evaded, joining the Belgian underground for which he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre for his work there. He was seized with 70 Belgians and sent to forced labour work with them, only 4 of the party survived. S/L Blenkinsop could have avoided this if he had identified himself as an Air Force officer, but he would not do this as it would mean the death of other members of the underground. He has no known grave. A road in North Victoria, BC, is named for him. 28 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB763 NA-S "SS Nan" struck the ground on descending through clouds from a training exercise, F/S J.H. Carter, P/O H.L. Clark, F/S S. Filipchuk, F/S J.W. Ross and Sgt P.H. Morris RAF killed, F/S B. Crabb injured (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). 28 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB157, (ex-USAAF F-8 43-34951) crashed in the landing circuit after an engine cut out, F/L J.M. Richardson RAAF and F/L L.A. Butcher DFC RAF killed. 28 #1659 HCU Halifax III LW645 was taking off on a night cross country when an engine backfired and lost power, causing it to swing and it lost it's undercarriage on a snow bank, slide on it's belly and stopped just short of the bomb storage area, P/O A.T. Wilkinson and his crew safe (Lancaster, C. et al). See April 13-14, below. 28 #1664 HCU RCAF Halifax III LL576 was climbing out on a night navigation exercise when an engine failed. Attempting to return to base it's H2S radar being used to give position (in or over cloud?) then failed. While working GEE to establish it's position it flew into high ground, Sgt E.M. Bowman, F/S K.I. Gove, F/O M.F. Stevens and F/S W.C. Watts killed, F/O H. Hustwitt, Sgt F.G. Wright, Sgt G.T. Watson and Sgt R.A. McIntyre injured (R. Allenby). 28 #4 Construction Maintenance Unit construction hand LAC G.J. Smith died in hospital in Calgary of natural causes.

28-29 Two different attacks were made on targets in the area of Stuttgart by 574 bombers and 28 Mosquitos, which made a scattered attack through cloud, the last Main Force attack on this city in the war. Other operations include 67 LNSF bombers bombing Berlin, and 8 making a spoof attack on Mainz in support of the main attack on Stuttgart, 51 RCM, 36 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 6 GARDENING sorties, a total of 770 for the night with the loss of 12 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. dispatched 17 Mosquito aircraft to the region around Cologne to bomb and strafe targets of opportunity (6th Year). The 419 Squadron history notes that bombers taking off at Middleton St. George were briefly delayed by blizzard-like snow fall, and R. Koval notes that most of #6 Group RCAF landed at alternate airfields on return due to bad weather. 28-29 156 Sqn. Lancaster III PB186 GT-A lost over the target in Germany, F/L J.H. Freeman, P/O J.F. Kaviza, F/O D. Watson, Sgt R. Breaks RAF, F/O N.P. Hibbert DFC RAF, F/S J.G. Shaw RAF and F/S J.R. Wood RAF killed. F/L Freeman and P/O Kaviza were just beginning their second tour of operations. 28-29 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB650 LQ-U lost over Germany after a night fighter atack, F/O F.H. Cummer RCAF (USA), F/S J.M. Rae, F/S E.R. Savage, F/S G.A. Smith, F/O W.B. Turner and Sgt W. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caMcCabrey RAF killed, F/S D.A. MacDougall PoW (6th Year). 28-29 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/O A.T. Sherrett and F/L K. Mackenzie, claimed a Ju 188 shot down after a long stalk. The made an emergency landing at an Allied airfield in France low on fuel (6th Year). 28-29 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP743 EQ-K lost over Germany, F/O N.G. Baily, P/O F. Henry, P/O B.E. House, F/O C.L. Johnston, P/O J.C. Mortley, F/O J.A. O'Brien and Sgt T.H. Chandler RAF killed. P/O Johnston, P/O Mortley, F/S Henry, F/S House and Sgt Chandler were involved in a crash Oct. 17, 1944. On the www.rafcommands.com website dfuller52, researching those killed in the war from Malvern High School in Toronto, noted that P/O Johnston, P/O Mortley, F/S Henry and Sgt Chandler RAF had all had lived in the same neighbourhood in Toronto, and Johnston and Mortley attended Malvern. 28-29 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP746 EQ-E lost over Germany after several night fighter attacks, P/O L.J. Collinson, F/O T.B. Little, P/O T.P. Quinn, P/O R.L. Siewert, F/O R.M. Wallis and F/S P. Myerson RAAF killed, F/O H.T. McGovern PoW (6th Year). 28-29 415 Sqn. Halifax III NR172 6U-V, S/L W.F. Brown, claimed a night fighter that attacked them destroyed by rear gunner F/O W.F. Griffiths (R. Koval; Awards; 6th Year). 28-29 415 Sqn. Halifax III 6U-M, W/C F.W. Ball (squadron commanding officer), was hit and damaged by flak in the tail that started a fire. The fire was attacked by the crew that fought it for an hour and were close to bailing out before it was extinguished. They landed safely in England (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). A hydraulic leak also had to be resolved with 'all available liquids' to lower the flaps and undercarriage (J.H. McQuiston). 28-29 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O R.W. Millar, could not bomb as the bomb load hung up over the target (R. Koval). See March 20-21, below. 28-29 424 Sqn. Halifax III LW164 QB-C (or -S, R. Koval) swung and crashed on take-off in England, then exploded, P/O R.E. Chatfield, P/O G.J. Doyle, F/O W. Fleming, P/O R.J. Nicolls, W/C E.M. Williams AFC and Sgt L. Tongue RAF killed, rear gunner F/O J.E.H.B. Tremblay was thrown clear of the wreck by the explosion and survived although he was badly injured. Sgt Tongue, P/O Nicolls, P/O Chatfield and P/O Doyle had been in a crash Oct. 14-15, 1944. The wreckage prevented 11 other bombers from taking off (Motiuk). This was the last Halifax lost by 424 Squadron. 28-29 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O G. Perrier, was unable to bomb as it's navigation instruments were unserviceable (R. Koval). Possibly the same as F/L J.G.F. Perrier DFC (Awards). 28-29 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J.B. MacHale RCAF (USA), was damaged in the nose and bomb doors by flak (R. Koval). Hugh Halliday in his RCAF Personnel - Honours And Awards - 1939-1949 notes that F/O MacHale had formerly served in the US Marine . 28-29 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP768 OW-Q attacked by a night fighter over Germany. Rear gunner F/O P. Hyde was killed in the attack, mid-upper gunner F/O A.L. Evans was last seen heading toward the main door to bail out, and navigator P/O S.G. Rundle was seen to bail out, but they did not survive (Motiuk). W/C F.C. Carling-Kelly (who had just been appointed the new Squadron commanding officer), F/O H.J. Dales, F/O D.J. Bird and Sgt J.A. Bromley RAF PoW. 28-29 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB770 NA-D "P for Panic" lost over Germany, P/O J.W. Blades, P/O F.L. Jolicouer, S/L H.L. Kay, F/O G.J. Liney and Sgt R.W. Gullick RAF killed, F/O R.V. Stapleford and F/S E.P. Ossington PoW (http://www.lancaster-archive.com), both wounded (6th Year). The survivors reported that the aircraft seemed to be struck by "hundreds" of cannon shellswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca which set the engines on fire. Possibly hit by Schrage Musick guns from a night fighter. 28-29 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L A. Googe, returned early as the rudders and some instruments were not working (R. Koval). 28-29 429 Sqn. Halifax III MZ872 AL-Z, P/O W. Fikis, was unable to bomb as they could not see any TI markers. On the return flight they were attacked by a Bf 109, but were undamaged (R. Koval). 28-29 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O J.W. Lourie, did not see any target markers and did not bomb (R. Koval, W.E. Heron). See March 31, below. 28-29 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP694 QO-R, F/O L. Maguire, claimed a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them as damaged (R. Koval). 28-29 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O R. Prime, was forced to return early after the wireless operator F/S J. Hough, passed out from lack of oxygen (R. Koval).

Monday 29 Bomber Command sent 148 Lancasters to attack the rail yard at Krefeld without loss (BC War Diaries).

Soviet, French, US and Canadian army PoWs at Stalag IId in eastern Germany begin a 9 day forced march through blizzard conditions to another camp farther west (wikipedia). 29 #5 Lancaster Finishing School, Lancaster III LM308 returned to base from a cross country flight and acknowledged landing instructions then suddenly crashed and exploded, F/S J.A. Emerson, Sgt J.F. Fitzgibbon RCAF (Nfld.), F/S H.M. MacKenzie, WO2 R.B. Rathbone, F/S J.H. Reid, Sgt A. Mercer RAF and Sgt J. Martin RAF killed. This is one of two #5 LFS accidents that occurred on nearly the same spot within a few weeks, the other Lancaster III JB125 was lost Jan. 12, 1944. They are described in detail in the book "The Courage of the Small Hours" by Helen Nall. Two memorials to these accidents were dedicated near the crash sites May 30, 2010 (http://www.hoveringham.org.uk/lancaster.html).

29-30 Berlin was targeted by 59 Mosquitos of the LNSF on this night without loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. sent 4 further bombing and strafing patrols to attack targets around Cologne (6th Year).

Tuesday 30 The first of the operations to rescue Allied prisoners in the Philippines begins with the seizure and evacuation of Camp Cabanatuan. US military and Philippine guerillas rescued 464 US, 22 British and 3 Dutch soldiers and 33 civilians (including 1 Canadian) (wikipedia). See February 3, below.

The German passenger Wilhelm Gustloff with an estimated 10,000 German military and civilian refugees from Danzig (Gdansk) is torpedoed and sunk by a Soviet , as many as 9,400 are believed to have died, the highest loss of life in a single ship sinking (wikipedia).

On the twelfth anniversarywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca of his coming to power Hitler makes his last speech on the radio to Germany, stating that he believes Germany will still win the war (wikipedia). In the past month over 400,000 German soldiers have been killed, most trying to stop the Soviet forces advancing on Berlin (A. Beevor).

Malta Conference, President Roosevelt and PM Churchill meet with military leaders for several days to plan the final advance into Germany, prior to meeting Stalin in Yalta (LoN). 30 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII MT546 hit by flak that wounded F/O T.R. Wilson in the face, blinding him in one eye. He managed to return to the Squadrons base but the undercarriage failed to lower and he had to crash land. He was awarded a DFC for this flight (6th Year; www.spitfires.ukf.net). 30 #19 SFTS, Vulcan, Alberta, Anson II #7399 crashed, F/S J.A. Clarke RAF and LAC B.D. Mays RAF killed. 30 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB540 was damaged beyond repair when it ground looped at Oakes Field, Bahamas (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Wednesday 31 #19 OTU Wellington X LP786 crashed into the sea on a training flight, F/O D.L. Dewart, F/O W.M. Howard, F/S G.D. O'Connor, F/O D.A. Spice, Sgt E.A. Wilson and Sgt J. Stevenson RAF missing.

31-1 Bomber Command had 14 Mosquitos over two targets in Germany with 1 loss (BC War Diaries).

February 1945 434 Sqn. operates Lancaster B.I and B.III aircraft mixed with Lancaster X aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). 441 Sqn. re-equips with Spitfire F.IX, LF.IX and HF.IX (ie, standard, low level and high level fighters) (RCAF Sqns.).

In early February a meeting is held in BC to brief civilian pilots operating on the Pacific coast on the Balloon Bomb threat, so that they can report any sightings and not spread rumours. A Ventura GR.V was based at Princeton, BC, to track and report any Balloon Bombs in that area using it's radar. There had been 5 scrambles to intercept Balloon Bombs in BC in January (Joost).

In Greece after the visit by Churchill, the armed partisans leave Athens. See February 12, below.

125 (Newfoundland) Sqn. begins to receive Mosquito NF.30 night fighters (www.historyofwar.org).

USAAF heavy bombers in Europe reached the final development of their formation, flying in groups of 36 bombers made up of four 9 plane units, which with fighter support gave them www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.camore flexibility in changing course while maintaining a protective formation (Oxford). Zijlstra, however, disputes this stating by the end of February the formation groups had changed from 36 to smaller 27 aircraft units for the same reason.

Thursday 1 Bomber Command sent 160 Lancasters with 1 RCM flight to bomb Mönchengladbach using GEE-H, 1 bomber lost (BC War Diaries). 700 USAAF bombers attacked railway targets and bridges using (Zijlstra). Soviet forces are 50 miles from Berlin (Times). 1 190 Sqn. Stirling IV "LJ943" (LJ948?) had it's controls ice up over England, causing three of the crew to bail out. One of these, P/O R.E. MacDonald, was killed on landing. 1 622 Sqn. Lancaster I HK617 GI-Q was abandoned over France on a daylight operation to Germany after an uncontrolled fire broke out, Sgt E. Baxter RAF was killed when his parachute canopy caught fire, F/O R.G.A. Conacher, Sgt F.J. Hogan RAF, Sgt E.O. Thompson RAF, Sgt J. Green RAF, F/S H.A. Edwards RAF, Sgt A.D. Falconer RAF and Sgt J. Marlborough RAF safe. 1 #56 OTU, Typhoon RB343 crashed on take-off following an engine failure on a ferry flight, F/O N.L. Gordon killed (www.milfield.org.uk). The previous December on operations F/O Gordon had stayed and escorted a friend whose aircraft had been damaged and attacked several flak sites to protect him even though he was out of ammunition. It is possible that this is the same person as F/S N.L. Gordon who safely bailed out of a 440 Sqn. Typhoon over Normandy July 26, 1944 and force landed after an engine problem, Sept. 9, 1944. 1 #1659 HCU Halifax III LW368 was making a 3 engined approach but landed poorly and was wrecked, P/O C.W. Berg and his crew safe. 1 #45 Group, RAF Ferry Command, Dakota IV KK194 flew into high ground in Scotland, F/O F. Bishop RAF, King's Courier S/L A. Alderton RAF and F/O H. Ellis RAF killed, WO1 G. Nichols, P/O T.B.M. Alexander RAF, S/L D.B. Auchinvole RAF, F/L B. Miller RAF and F/L J.D.L. Gammie RAF injured (www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk & www.aircrashsites- scotland.co.uk). 1 unknown unit, F/O A.S. Davidson RAF (Can.) died, no details. 1 USAAF 1st Air Search & Rescue Sqn. C-47A 42-23794 damaged landing at Stephenville, Nfld. (AAIR).

1-2 Bomber Command had 382 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos over Ludwigshafen, plus 293 Halifax, 40 Lancaster and 8 Mosquitos to Mainz, and 271 Lancasters with 11 Mosquitos to Seigen, all of which made scattered attacks through cloud cover. Other operations included 122 Mosquitos of the LNSF over Berlin, 18 to other targets and 4 making two spoof attacks, 64 RCM and 47 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 1,273 sorties with the loss of 10 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 17 Mosquitos making harassing sorties in the area of Zwolle-Osnabrück (6th Year).

USAAF 9th Airforcewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 410th Group made it's first night bombing (INTRUDER) sortie using A-20 Havoc aircraft after a month of instruction in technique by an unidentified RCAF Squadron Leader. Due to weather only 3 of 25 bombers reached the target, the communications centre at Hildesheim (Zijlstra). 1-2 76 Sqn. Halifax III MZ516 MP-V "Vera the Virgin" was over England homeward bound from a sortie when one of it's engines began a severe vibration. Unable to feather or control the engine the bail out order was given. F/S F.A. Farley RAF, F/O R.W. Wheatley RAF and F/S K. Rogers RAF successfully got out before the aircraft crashed, killing P/O R.J. Cowie RCAF (USA), P/O J.P. Ellingson, F/S P.J. McBrinn, F/O H.R. Mock RAF and F/O K.W. Oddy RAF. This aircraft had completed 77 operations before it's loss. F/S McBrinn had been involved in an accident at #1658 HCU June 30, 1944. 1-2 101 Sqn. ABC equipped Lancaster I ME863 SR-K crashed after a mid-air collision with another ABC 101 Sqn. Lancaster III JA715 SR-C over France, F/O K.G. Fenske (special operator), F/S D.H. Widdows RAF, Sgt J.W. Hodder RAF, Sgt J.M. Johnston RAF, Sgt K.R. Moore RAF, Sgt J. O'Donnell RAF, F/L R.D. Boyd RAAF and F/S E.T. Summerson RAAF were killed in ME863, Sgt J.B. Breare RAF, F/S R.J.F. Swain RAF, F/S G.H. Hillman RAF, Sgt F. Smith RAF, F/S D.J. MacKay RAF and Sgt J. Squire RAF killed, F/L R.A.W. Harrison RAF and special operator Sgt R. Whiteford RAF safe from JA715. 1-2 101 Sqn. ABC equipped Lancaster III PB256 SR-P lost over the target in Germany, P/O J. Kenny RCAF (USA) (the special operator), F/O R.J. Clark RNZAF, F/S J.M.M. McGinn RNZAF, F/S K.R. Hendren RAAF, Sgt G.W. Higginson RAF, F/S L.R. Ironmonger RAF, Sgt N.C. Gordon RAF and Sgt R.R. Therton RAF killed. 1-2 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB498 overshot the runway landing from a sortie over Berlin and was wrecked, F/L M.H. Wallis RAF and F/O F.W. Crawley DFC RAF safe. 1-2 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB509 CR-Z swung landing from a sortie over Berlin and took off it's undercarriage, P/O B.A.J. Way RAF and Sgt K.A.P. Fossitt RAF safe. 1-2 166 Sqn. Lancaster I ME648 AS-J2 lost over Germany, F/S J.P. Brown, P/O F.A. Coombs, F/L E. Spankie DFC, Sgt R. Stennett RAF, F/L J.E. Shannon DFC RAF, F/S H.H. Teggart RAF and F/S A. McIvor RAF killed. 1-2 170 Sqn. Lancaster NG202 collided over Germany with a 550 Sqn Lancaster I RA502 BQ-Z. The aircraft lost the port side fin and rudder, and the starboard fin and rudder were badly damaged, but the crew managed to regain control and return England, however rear gunner P/O V.J. Fernquist was killed in the collision. On RA502 Sgt N. Tinsley RAF and Sgt A. James RAF were killed in the collision but the pilot F/O A.W.L. Lohrey RNZAF managed to reach France where the bomber was abandoned, F/O Lohrey, Sgt V.B. Cassapi RAF, F/S E.C. Wethorpe RAF, Sgt W.G. Anderson RAF and Sgt A. Jarnell RAF safe. In Flypast magazine December 1998 is a mention that the wreckage of the Lancaster had been re-discovered and excavated (espacedememoire.fr). 1-2 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, P/O D. MacDonald an WO S.T. Drury, destroyed a Ju 188 near Saarbrücken, while S/L S.E. Murray and F/L J.L. Ireland attacked a truck convoy (6th Year). 1-2 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O G.A. Hyland, lost an engine outbound but bombed on 3 engines and returned safely (R. Koval). See February 27, below. 1-2 419 Sqn. Lancaster X VR-T was attacked by a night fighter on the bomb run, pilot F/L A. Halket closed the bombwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca bay doors and made a power dive to avoid it. Recovering, a second attack was made on the bomber, mid-upper gunner P/O D.W. Storms DFM set the night fighter on fire and it was seen to crash. The aircraft then returned to the target and completed it's bomb run (419 SH). F/L A. Halket may be the same as F/S A.M. Halkett DFM who completed a tour on 15 Sqn. in 1942. 1-2 425 Sqn. Halifax III NA518 KW-I lost an engine outbound, pilot F/O E. Baillie and crew continued to the target, bombed, and returned to make a safe landing at an emergency airfield (R. Koval). See March 2, below. This was the bomber landed by it's bomb aimer after it's pilot had been killed, June 16-17, 1944. 1-2 425 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O W.D. Corbett, lost an engine outbound, but still bombed the target. Returning on 3 engines a second engine began to cause problems, but they managed a safe landing at an emergency airfield (R. Koval). See March 7-8, below 1-2 427 Sqn. had two Halifax III bombers return early, flown by F/L R.J. Garvin and F/O G.M. Tegerdine, due to engine failures (R. Koval). See February 21-22, below. 1-2 433 Sqn. Lancaster I NG460 BM-A suffered a failure of it's navigation equipment, which led to them being late over the target and was damaged by flak and also attacked by a night fighter. The pilot dove to a low altitude and flew the damaged and difficult to control bomber back to England where it went out of control in thunderstorm and crashed before it could land, F/O D.J. McMillan, P/O J.T. McShane, P/O R. Pierson, S/L H.K. Stinson DFC and P/O E.H. Thompson RAF killed, F/O A.W. Belles and P/O R.J. Thompson bailed out and were safe (Lancaster, C. et al). This was the first Lancaster lost by 433 Sqn. 1-2 434 Sqn. Lancaster, F/L L.E. Coulter, lost an engine outbound but continued to the target. On the bomb run there was an electrical short circuit and fire in the bomb aimers position which was put out and the bomb load dropped. On the return flight a night fighter was evaded before the crew landed safely at its base (6th Year). 1-2 627 Sqn. Mosquito FB.IV DZ637 AZ-X lost over Germany, possibly shot down by flak, F/L R. Baker RAF (Can.) and Sgt D.G. Betts RAF killed (not recorded in TSGNO, but confirmed by CWGC).

Friday 2 In London V-2s killed 47 and injured 327 in 4 explosions (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

#7 Bombing & Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba, closed on this date (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 2 #1 Communications Unit RAAF Canadian built Norseman A71-9 (ex-USAAF 43-5268) destroyed by fire in (J. Baugher, http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 2 unknown unit, administration S/L J.M. Rutherford died of injuries from a shark attack while part of a bathing party at Freetown, Sierra Leone. 2 109 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI MM155 attempted an overshoot landing from a training exercise but lost an engine and clipped a parked Lancaster NG443 before stopping, F/L L.A. Bolin injured. 2 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib PD493 I8-F shot down by flak attacking rail lines, F/O G.L. Passmore bailed out. See Feb. 8 below. 2 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB470 swung taking off from Oakes Field in the Bahamaswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 2 USAAF 2517th Base Unit, Chanute Field, Illinois, USA, BT-13A 41-11431 was involved in a ground collision, 2Lt E.R. Gribble USAAF (Can.) killed (Powell River's Unsung Heros Of World War II, Powell River Museum, AAIR).

2-3 Wiesbaden, a spa town now being used for recuperation of German soldiers, received it's only attack of the war, 495 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos which bombed through cloud, hitting the town but missing the industrial section. As well 277 Halifax, 27 Lancasters and 19 Mosquitos attacked the oil plant at Wanne-Eickel but cloud also interfered with the bombing. A further attack by 250 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos on Karlsruhe was completely disrupted by cloud. Other operations included 43 Mosquitos to Magdeburg and 20 to Mannheim, plus 54 RCM and 44 SERRATE/INTRUDER sorties, a total of 1,252 sorties with the loss of 21 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. sent 14 Mosquitos to the area of Hengelo to make harassing attacks (6th Year). 2-3 44 Sqn. Lancaster I SW251 KM-X lost over Germany, F/O O.W. Armstrong, F/S L.H. Beaumont, F/S E.C. Dufresne, F/L T.E. Gallivan, F/S D.W. Johnson, Sgt S.J. Bowden RAF and Sgt A. Balloch RAF (Rhodesia) killed. 2-3 50 Sqn. Lancaster I PA223 VN-D exploded over France, P/O J. Leeming, WO2 F.C. Wrynn, F/O E. Harrop RAF, F/S R.D. Heppenstall RAF, F/S J.L. Russell RAF and Sgt R. MacGowan RAF killed, F/S J.E. Tolson safe. 2-3 90 Sqn. Lancaster I HK610 WP-Z collided in mid-air with another 90 Sqn. Lancaster PD336 and crashed in England. The second aircraft recovered safely but on HK610 WO2 J. Train, W/C W.G. Bannister RAF, Sgt R. Swan RAF, F/L H.A.W. Williams RAF, Sgt A. Moore RAF, Sgt J.J. Chidwick RAF, Sgt G.L. Webb RAF and Sgt D.F. Luxford RAF were killed. W.R. Chorley notes that W/C Bannister was a career officer, a graduate of and RAF Cranwell, had previously served in the Middle East and in Canada, and had competed for England in the 1936 Olympic Games. 2-3 158 Sqn. Halifax III MZ403 NP-G returned early from an operation to Germany and was damaged in a heavy landing, F/O H.R.H. Meredith, P/O D.H. Budreau, F/S A.M. Murray, WO1 H.W. Harper, F/S G. Springham, F/S A.A. Bower and Sgt D.A.G. Boyden RAF safe 2-3 189 Sqn. Lancaster I PB840 CA-K lost over Germany, F/O R.J. Webb, F/O W.D. Kelly RAAF, Sgt J. Howarth RAF, F/S A.L. James RAF, WO J.H. Grubb RAF and F/S F.A. Fox RAF killed, Sgt R.F. Dyson GM RAF PoW. Sgt Dyson was found, injured, by a German civilian who took him to the authorities where he was hospitalized. He had been previously injured and was awarded the George Medal following the loss of a 189 Squadron Lancaster Nov. 26-27, 1944. 2-3 189 Sqn. Lancaster I PB848 CA-Q lost over Germany, F/L N.P. Blain, WO2 R.E. Fulcher, F/S F.T.J. Nicholls RAF, F/O K.S. Porter RAF, Sgt K.C.R. Alder RAF and F/S A.E. Smith RAF killed, F/S D.F. Clement PoW. 2-3 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP757 EQ-B abandoned over England due to engine problems after setting out on an operation to Germany, F/O J.D. Baird, F/O J.M. Black, F/O E.A. Kapanauik, WO2 W.G. Hudson, F/S R.G. Hughes, F/S W.J. Baty and Sgt P.J.A. O'Connell RAF safe, although W.R. Chorley notes 3 were injured, two badly. 2-3 415 Sqn. Halifax III had been attacked twice by night fighters before reaching the target. Returning theywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca were hit by flak that damaged the wing and the mid-upper turret, wounding F/O W.C. Broad. The pilot, WO J.S. McKenzie, maintained control and the bomber evaded 3 more night fighter attacks before making an emergency landing in England (W.R. Chorley). See February 14-15, below. 2-3 415 Sqn. Halifax III, WO1 I.A.F. McDiarmid, was badly shot up by flak (R. Koval). See February 13-14, below. 2-3 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB750 VR-N shot down by flak over Germany, P/O P.F. English, F/O R.W. Hodgson, F/O B.W. Martin, F/O J.A.F. McDonald, P/O R.A. Nisbet and Sgt J. McAfee RAF killed, F/S W.J. McTaggart PoW. 2-3 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O J. Fache, was forced to return early after it ran into heavy icing, making a safe landing on 3 engines (R. Koval). 2-3 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP819 OW-B very badly damaged by flak hits, including damage to the right aileron and elevator controls. Diverted to the emergency airfield at Manston in fog. FIDO may have been in operation (G. Williams), but not available when he arrived. The pilot overshot his first approach and on his second lost control at 600 feet and dived into the ground. L. Motuik states they ran into the slipstream of another aircraft (5 bombers landed safely at Manston on this night, three battle damaged). Wireless operator air gunner WO2 S.E. McAllister managed to parachute clear before the crash, and assisted rescue personnel on the ground trying to find the crash site in the fog, but it was not until daylight that it was discovered, F/O S.G. Arlotte, F/S A.G. Bradley, F/S J.A. Chisamore, F/O J.M. Styles, F/O J.P. Talocka and Sgt G. Needham RAF killed. 2-3 427 Sqn. Halifax III swung taking off on an operation and sustained light damage, F/L A. Lock and crew safe (R. Koval). See February 13-14, below. 2-3 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB725 NA-L ran into difficulties and aborted it's sortie to return to England. Approaching with no flaps, one engine out and three failing the pilot overshot the landing and crashed (R. Koval). P/O J.A. Keating and P/O R. Playter killed, pilot F/L V.M. Gadkin injured, the rest of the crew was slightly injured. 2-3 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB792 NA-I exploded over it's target in Germany, F/L D.E. Berry AFC, P/O K.M. Hammond, P/O F.E. Hogan, F/L C.I. Ordin, F/O C. Walford, P/O J.C. Harris MiD RAF killed, rear gunner P/O C.M. Roche PoW. 2-3 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP704 QO-L lost over Germany, P/O H. Bloch, P/O W.H. Haryett, P/O A.M. Jones, F/O J.T. Robinson, P/O R.G.E. Silver, F/L G.H. Thomson and Sgt R.R. Vallier killed. 2-3 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O R. Proud, damaged in a wing and fuselage by flak (R. Koval). 2-3 460 Sqn. RAAF Lancaster I PB807 AR-H lost over Germany, P/O D.G. Russell, F/O J. Maquire RAAF, F/S N.W. Everett RAAF, WO D.B. May RAAF, Sgt R.B. Newton RAF and Sgt W.G. Potter RAF killed, F/S R.H. Whiticar RAF PoW. 2-3 514 Sqn. Lancaster I NN772 JI-C2 was shot down by flak over Germany, F/O W.E. McLean, Sgt F.G. Maunder RAF, F/S N.W. Nightingale RAF, Sgt A.T. Blackshaw RAF and Sgt W. Harvey RAF killed, Sgt S.W. Moore RAF and Sgt G.H. Berridge RAF PoW. F/O McLean was recommended for a Victoria Cross but this was not awarded (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). 2-3 576 Sqn. Lancaster I PD312 UL-R2 abandoned over France following an engine fire, Sgt R.E. Laverty, Sgt F.V. Snanton, F/L S.T. Boullier RAF, Sgt D. Barclay RAF, Sgt J. McVey RAF, F/O P.J. Smith RAF and Sgt E. Ashley RAF safe. 2-3 619 Sqn. Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca III PB210 PG-V lost over Germany, P/O D.C. McNie, Sgt H. Bowden RAF, F/S E.A. Rex RAF, F/O E.J. Mortis RAF, F/S P. Turner RAF and Sgt J.R.A. Ramsay RAF killed, F/L E.J.F. Smith RAF PoW. 2-3 Night Fighter Development Wing, Mosquito FB.VI RS520 lost off the Danish coast on a RANGER sortie to Germany, F/L C.A. Walker and F/O S. Humblestone RAF missing. F/L Walker had been shot down and evaded March 22-23, 1944.

Saturday 3 US Forces enter in the Philippines, beginning a drawn out battle with Japanese forces there (wikipedia). To protect the mostly civilian internees (including Canadians) at the University of Santo Tomas a force was rushed to the camp, arriving that evening, although not all internees were freed until negotiations with the remaining guards allowed them to leave for their own lines under escort. Another force reached the New Bilibid Prison the next day (wikipedia). See February 23, below.

Sustained period of foggy conditions sets in to England hampering flying operations over the next 7 days. (G. Williams).

First THUNDERCLAP mission, USAAF 8th Air Force attacks Berlin with 1,003 B-17 bombers, attacking rail yards, train stations and government buildings with the loss of 21 bombers, and Magdeburg with over 400 B-24 bombers attacking oil and railway targets (Oxford, Zijlstra).

Bomber Command sent 36 TALLBOY Lancasters of 9 and 617 Squadrons with 1 RCM Halifax to bomb U-boat pens at Ijmuiden which were believed to shelter midget , no losses (BC War Diaries).

#1 GRS, Summerside, PEI, ceases operations (Chris www.rafcommands.com). 3 USAAF 325th Ferry Squadron, 31st Air Transport Group, 2Lt R.C. Rowe USAAF (Can.) died, no details. He is buried in France. 3 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM483 was on a reconnaissance and was over the city of Brussels when his engine cut and force landed on the roof of an apartment building, F/O R.M. Tegerdine safe. See Feb. 22, below. 3 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib PD497 believed shot down by flak attacking railway targets in Germany, F/O J.F. Warrell was seen to abandon the aircraft but did not survive. 3 #55 OTU Typhoon Ib JP382 crashed in England on a practice dive bombing flight, F/L C.T.H. MacIntosh killed. 3 #1402 Meteorological Flight Hurricane PZ805 missing from a meteorological sortie from Northern Ireland, WO1 W.C. Whitney missing (www.coflein.gov.uk). 3 #1695 (Bomber) Target Towing Flight RCAF Spitfire Vb EP558 swerved and flipped over on the pilot's first landing on the type, S/L M.S. Strange safe. 3 #145 (BR) Sqn. Ventura GR.V #2266 crashed near the convoy it was escorting in the Altantic, Sgt J.M. McColman, Sgt J.M. Northgrave RCAF (USA), F/O R.E. O'Connell and F/O J.M. Smith missing. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 3-4 Oil targets at Bottrop and Dortmund were targeted by 341 Lancasters and 18 Mosquitos, plus 42 LNSF Mosquitos over Wiesbaden and 20 more over Osnabrück, 42 RCM, 28 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 19 GARDENING sorties, a total of 510 with 12 losses (BC War Diaries). The area around Cologne was patrolled by 15 Mosquitos (6th Year).

USAAF 410th group makes it second night bombing attack on a vehicle depot at Mechernich, using 8 B-26 Marauder and 2 A-26 Invader aircraft as pathfinders for 26 A-20 Havoc bombers, 8 of which bombed other targets when they arrived too late (Zijlstra). 3-4 90 Sqn. Lancaster I PA158 WP-S "Green Goddess" lost over Germany, F/O S.B.S. Bishop, P/O H.S. Nickless RAAF, F/L J.J. Buning RAF (Neth.), Sgt M.J.F.P. Goddard RAF, Sgt A.H. Edwards RAF, Sgt E.E. Bemrose RAF and Sgt J.G. Brown RAF killed (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). This crew had come through a crash landing Dec. 21, 1944. 3-4 153 Sqn. Lancaster I PD378 P4-L attacked by a Ju 88 night fighter, killing the navigator F/O W.A. Brodie (another source reports he bailed out but his parachute did not open). The remainder of the crew, F/O D.B. Freeborn DFC, Sgt D.A.R. Morley RAF, F/S H.V. Constable RAF, F/S J.A. Eastman RAF, Sgt J.L. Stalley RAF and Sgt T.O. McNamara RAF, bailed out later over liberated Holland and were safe, F/O Freeborn being awarded a Bar to his DFC and rear gunner Sgt McNamara a DFM for their combined actions against the night fighter, which was claimed as destroyed. A Guinea Pig, and now a member of the Caterpillar Club, postwar F/O Freeborn stayed in the RCAF and was involved in the Canadian Velvet Glove air-to-air missile program before becoming a test pilot for (R. Donovan). 3-4 410 Sqn Mosquito NF.30 NT281, F/L B.N. Plumer and F/L E.H. Collis RAF, shot down a He 219 night fighter over Germany (R.P. Bateson; 6th Year). 3-4 514 Sqn. Lancaster III LM685 JI-B2 lost over Germany, F/O A.Q. Downward, F/O W.J.K. Fisher, Sgt A.R. McWhinney, P/O A.H. Morrison, F/O D.E. Stephens, F/S R. Hardy RAAF and F/S W.B. Warr RAF killed. 3-4 550 Sqn. Lancaster PD221 BQ-R shot down by a night fighter over Holland, F/S W.H. Cook, F/S L.C. Taerum, Sgt J. Holding RAF, Sgt J.F. Moyle RAF, Sgt C. Stuart RAF, WO W.J. Howson RAF and F/O R.G. Nye RAF killed (Hans Ooms at www.rafcommands.com).

Sunday 4 Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at Yalta. soviet

Soviets request bomber support for their offensive into Germany, which is what Operation THUNDERCLAP was designed to do, RAF requested to make heavy attacks on Dresden, Chemnitz and Leipzig (BC War Diaries). 4 RAF Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.VII KB313 was transferred to the USAAF as F-8 43-34925 but shed a wing recovering from a dive at Amherst, NS, Ferry J.F. Bradley and Radio Officer/Navigator J.D. McIntyre killed (J. Baugher). 4 #5 OTU Boundary Bay, BC, Liberator B.VI EW210 crashed into Thorn Hill near Whonnock, BC, S/L C.H. Carscadden, F/L W.G. Deveson, F/L R.E. Maynard, Sgt H.J. Niemi, F/O W. Schneebergerwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca, P/O J.J.L. Therien and P/O H.S. Weiss killed (J. Baugher). 4-5 Bomber Command sent 202 Halifax with 20 Lancaster and 16 Mosquito Pathfinders to Bonn, 100 Halifax, 11 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos to the oil plant at Osterfeld, and 96 Halifax, 12 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos to a synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen, all of which made scattered attacks (due to cloud?). Other operations included 50 LNSF Mosquitos to Hannover, 12 to Dortmund, and 7 to two other German targets, 59 RCM, 42 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 27 GARDENING sorties off the German coast and on the River for a total of 678 sorties with 5 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos making harassing patrols between Munster and Osnabrück, losing one (6th Year). 4-5 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L H.D. Bracken, lost an engine outbound but bombed and returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 18-19, below. 4-5 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ235 TH-M was attacking a site in Holland when it was shot down, killing F/L M. Ewaschuk and F/O R.M.M. Strattan RAF. 4-5 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB787 VR-M collided over Belgium in cloud with 433 Sqn. Lancaster I PA219 (below) and crashed in the Ardennes, F/L J.P. Barlow, F/L D.J.A. Buchanan DFC, F/O J.A. Gibbs, F/L W.R. Kearns, P/O D.W. Spence and F/O L.F. Edmonds RAF killed, P/O C.T. Sutter safe, slightly injured, found by US soldiers (dfuller52 at www.rafcommands.com). 4-5 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/L J.F. Thomas, lost an engine just before the target, but bombed from a lower altitude and returned on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). This incident was cited in the award of a DFC to F/L Thomas (Awards). 4-5 424 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O K. MacDonald, ME456 QB-K had 3 engines fail while outbound, but managed to restart them and avoid an attack by a Bf 109 Wilde Sau fighter (R. Koval). See March 11, below. 4-5 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP740 OW-P, F/O R.N. Swift, fought off a Bf 109 that attacked them (R. Koval). 4-5 429 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L J.E. Creeper, lost an engine outbound, but bombed and returned on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 4-5 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L G.W. Percival, was unable to bomb when the bomb load hung up over the target (R. Koval, Awards). 4-5 433 Sqn. Lancaster I BM-M PA219 crashed in Belgium after colliding with 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB787 (above), F/O C.H. Howald, P/O N.A. Hurst, F/L N.D. Mara DFC, F/O W.L. Melbourne, P/O B.T. Sheeran, F/O A.J. Tyrell, F/O W.G. Whitton and Sgt L.J. Sims RAF killed.

Monday 5 To handle it's increasing Transport commitments RCAF #9 (Transport) Group was formed at Rockcliffe. 5 USAAF 433rd TCS Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5176 crashed into the sea off Papua, 2Lt J.L. Riche and 3 passengers missing (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 5 437 Sqn Dakota aircraft, F/O J.H. Phillips, flew through trees making an approach to land under low cloud on a flight from France. Unable to land due to damage the aircraft climbed and was abandoned with no casualties (6th Year). 5 #16 OTU Canadianwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca built Mosquito B.25 KB469 was taking off on a solo flight when it swung and lost it's undercarriage, F/L J.F. Marshall DFC AFC RAF safe. 5 unknown unit, bomb aimer P/O J.L. Foreman was returning to Canada when he fell off a troopship in mid-ocean. He has no known grave. 5 #16 SFTS, Hagersville, Ontario, Harvard II #3782 crashed and written off (R.W.R. Walker).

5-6 The LNSF sent 63 Mosquito sorties to Berlin, 7 to Magdeburg and 6 to Würzburg plus 1 RCM sortie with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). Harassing patrols ahead of the Allied armies were made by eleven 418 Sqn. Mosquitos in the area of Cologne (6th Year). Tuesday 6 Chemnitz and Magdeburg attacked by USAAF as part of THUNDERCLAP plan (Oxford).

Soviet forces cross the Oder river upstream of Breslau (Times). Allied airmen held at Stalag Luft IV are ordered to begin a forced march to the west that lasted until near the end of the war. Further camps are also put on the road in the next 24 days (wikipedia). 6 575 Sqn. Dakota III KG630 was flying in cloud to a destination in Europe when it struck a hill top and crashed in England, crew F/S R.A. Brock, F/O K.G. Forseth, P/O P.M. Oleinikoff RAAF, F/S E.A. Barsby RAAF and passengers, radar mechanic LAC S.M. Smith, F/O E.W. Curtis RAF, P/O C.A. Rattray RAF, Cpl C. Gibson RAF, Cpl G.E.N.D. Lee RAF, Cpl W.G. Blair RNZAF, Cpl E.B. Chadd RAF, Cpl D. Cooper RAF, LAC F. Bainbridge RAF, LAC R.G. Baldry RAF, LAC S.A. Bamber RAF, LAC T.H. Floody RAF, LAC J. Neale RAF, LAC W. Nerden RAF, LAC R. Smith RAF, LAC G. Stevens RAF, LAC A.E.D. Wilkes RAF and LAC G. Wilson RAF killed (A. Storr, Peter Clare at www.ww2talk.com). 6 RAF Ferry Command Dakota IV KN271 missing between Greenland and Iceland, F/L H.B. Clarke RAF (Nfld.), F/S W.R. Gregory RAF, P/O D. Washer RAF and S/L Z.W. Hirsz PAF missing. 6 #45 Delivery Group, Ferry Command, Liberator B.VI KL386 crashed and burned in shallow water taking off from Kindley Field, Bermuda, F/O W.A. Coott, F/S A.C.A. Grace RAF, Ferry Captain E.C. Talbot, Ferry Captain H.M. Martin, Radio Officer J-P. Lagadec (Can.) killed (J. Baugher).

Wednesday 7 Paraguay declares war on Germany and Japan (wikipedia).

Bomber Command sent 100 Lancasters to attack the oil plant at Wanne-Eickel, but only three quarters of the force was able to bomb due to the weather, 1 Lancaster lost (BC War Diaries).

A USAAF force of 300 B-17s targeting was recalled due to weather, but one bomber did not receive the recall and made a lone attack on the City, returning safely (Zijlstra)!

Parts of a Balloon Bomb were recovered near Provost, Alberta (Mikesh). Two men were injured by thiswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca device (www.schudak.de). 7 #1668 HCU Lancaster III JA684 was practicing 3 engined overshoots when the trainee pilot raised the flaps too early in error and the aircraft crashed, F/O F.G. Wilkinson, F/O J.L. Walker DFC RAF and Sgt C.M.L. Thomson RAF injured, Sgt Mullen RAF, F/S McLean RAF, Sgt Roper RAF and Sgt Munro RAF safe. 7 RAF North Creake Station Flight Oxford I NJ292 was blown off the landing area by a cross wind when landing and was wrecked, F/O D.N. Shefler safe. 7 unknown USAAF unit, Canadian built AT-16 43-12977 (ex RAF Harvard IIb FT236) written off after a crash landing in England (J. Baugher). 7 #13 EFTS, St. Eugene, Ontario, Cornell II #14552 crashed at Pointe Fortune, Quebec, F/O J.C. Jackman and Leading Airman G. Hunter RN killed. 7 #15 SFTS Claresholm, Alberta, Anson II FP845 caught fire and crashed killing WO1 V.G.H. Archibald and P/O A.J. Goldie RAF. 7 USAAF UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70527 on a ferry flight damaged taking off in Montreal, Quebec (AAIR). 7 USAAF P-63A 42-70134 damaged and belly landed at Calgary, Alberta (AAIR).

7-8 436 Sqn. Dakota, part of a re-deployment of a Spitfire squadron in Burma, became lost returning that night. Running short of fuel the crew bailed out over the Chindwin River, S/L R.L. Denison, F/O E.G. Lee, F/L W.D. Lindsay, LAC L.J. Van Nes and Sgt T.F. Laffey RAAF landed safely and were returned to the Squadron by L-5 aircraft after assistance of locals and the civil District Commissioner. Sgt Laffey had bailed out before into the jungle and his experience and actions on the ground contributed to the crews survival. This flight was cited in the award of a DFC to S/L Denison and the events were detailed in The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year. Most of this crew were involved in the "Brick Bomber" incident in April, below. 7-8 To support the planned advance of the British and Canadian Armies the towns of Goch and Kleve were attacked by 292 Halifax, 451 Lancaster and 26 Mosquitos. At Goch the bombing was halted when smoke obscured the target, but at Kleve the full attack went in which caused damage that actually hampered the advance, possibly due to misunderstanding the requirements of the Army (by this point Bomber Command had become so effective it was difficult to limit the damage of an attack). As well 177 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos attacked the repaired Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen, but missed the aiming point. Other operations included 38 LNSF Mosquitos to Magdeburg, 16 to Mainz and 41 to other targets in Germany, 63 RCM, 45 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 45 GARDENING sorties, a total of 1,205 sorties with 10 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 16 Mosquitos making harassing patrols around Geldern on this night (6th Year). 7-8 12 Sqn. Lancaster I NF925 PH-T lost over Holland, F/O J.T. Collins, F/O H.J. MacMillan, F/L J.H. Somerville, P/O W.C. Wilson, P/O G.A. Wood RCAF (USA), Sgt J.L. Fryer RAF and F/S D.H. Phillips RAF killed. 7-8 97 Sqn. Lancaster III ND961 OF-U believed to have collided in mid-air over Holland with an 83 Sqn. Lancaster III PB181 OL-C and both crashed, F/O R.C. Smalley, F/S R.H. Cheatle RAAF, Lt C.W. McGregor SAAF, Sgt J. Shield RAF, F/O A.J. Norton RAF, F/L G.S. Johnson DFC & Bar RAF, F/S P.G. Cannon RAF and Sgt D.S. Lennie RAF killed in ND961, and F/S G. Summerswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca RAF, F/S E.S. Thorn RAF, F/S G.H. Lonsdale RAF, F/S J.D. Lauther RAF, F/S L.F.F. Scull RAF, F/S R.J.H. Jackson RAF and F/S J.W. Stazaker RAF were killed and F/L A.P. Weber RAF survived, injured, on PB181. 7-8 158 Sqn. Halifax III NP973 NP-P was leaving Goch after the bombing was suspended when it collided in mid-air with 77 Sqn. Halifax III MZ689 KN-Z, both aircraft crashing. On NP973 F/O J.L. Beeson RAAF, P/O W.G. Bennett RAF, P/O R.E. Jones RAF and P/O L.J. Nichols RAAF were killed, Sgt A. McQuilkin RAF (Can.), F/S P.A. Murphy RAF and F/S L.A.E. Papworth RAF bailed out and were PoW (O. Clutton-Brock), and on MZ689 F/S D.W. Muggeridge RAF, Sgt W.B. Keal RAF, Sgt A.H. Croll RAF, P/O H. Wright RAF, Sgt W. Forbes RAF, WO C.E. Foster RAF, WO J. Stuart RAF and Sgt M.E. Taylor RAF were killed. A brief description of this loss by Sgt McQuilkin was published in Airforce magazine, Fall, 1990. [Sgt McQuilken possibly recorded as P/O A. McKibben RCAF in PoW lists, needs confirmation]. 7-8 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, evading searchlights at low level, struck an unidentified obstacle and lost 3 feet of their right wing, P/O E.A. Oswald and F/S K.B. Hicks returned safely (6th Year). 7-8 408 Sqn. had 6 Halifax VII ordered not to bomb due to the target being obscured by dust and smoke (R. Koval). 7-8 415 Sqn. had all it's Halifax III bombers ordered not to bomb due to smoke and dust (R. Koval). One flown by F/L W. Goodwin evaded 6 attacks by single and twin engined night fighters without damage (R. Koval). 7-8 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB761 VR-H, F/L F. Bruyns, claimed damage to a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval, Awards). 7-8 420 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O E. Cole, damaged in a wing by flak (R. Koval). See February 14-15, below. 7-8 425 Sqn. had all it's bombers ordered to return without bombing (R. Koval). 7-8 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ419 KW-E, F/O A.R. Lowe, was attacked 4 times by a Fw 190, finally claiming it shot down by gunners F/O P. Hall and F/S J.W. Hyde (R. Koval; 6th Year). See March 2, below. 7-8 427 Sqn. Halifax III MZ823 ZL-A, F/L E.H. Shaw, was attacked and damaged by a Ju 88 night fighter (R. Koval). 7-8 427 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O N. Roberts, claimed a Fw 190 that attacked them destroyed (R. Koval). 7-8 427 Sqn. Halifax III NP941 ZL-X, F/L W.B. Brittain, attacked by a Me 163 rocket fighter which was claimed destroyed (R. Koval). See February 14-15, below 7-8 427 Sqn. Halifax III NP956 ZL-J, F/L J.L. Storms, also claimed a Me 163 rocket fighter destroyed (R. Koval). 7-8 429 Sqn. had all it's bombers ordered not to bomb due to smoke and dust obscuring the target (R. Koval). 7-8 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB818 SE-G lost 2 engines soon after taking off and was wrecked making a landing at an emergency airfield, F/O S.P. Sorensen, F/O D. Bowdiggin, P/O N. Larman, P/O J. Cerveth, P/O J. Fanset, P/O I. Stewart, F/S A. Johnston and Sgt C. Garbutt safe (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 7-8 433 Sqn. had all it's bombers ordered not to bomb (R. Koval). 7-8 467 Sqn. RAAF Lancaster I NG455 PO-H lost over Germany, probably by a night fighter making a Schragewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Musik attack (description of attack in A. Storr), W/C J.K. Douglas DFC AFC RAAF was killed on his 125th operational sortie, along with P/O H.M.S. Stuart RAAF and WO J.B. Nanscawen RAAF. F/O L.W.E. Baines, Sgt B.H. Parker RAF, F/S B.O. Bean RAAF and F/S M.G. Thompson RAAF were taken PoW, F/O J.A. Strichland RAAF evaded.

Thursday 8 Canadian 1st Army [composed of Canadian, British, Dutch and Polish units] opens offensive in Nijmegen [] (CJCA headline). The 2nd TAF flew over 1,200 sorties in support of British and Canadian forces involved in VERITABLE on this day (Zijlstra).

2nd TAF begins using Mobile Radar Control stations to guide tactical bombers (Typhoons, Spitfires, Mitchells and Mosquitos) to attack small targets close to the front lines from above cloud cover (P. Cornwell; T. Copp, Cinderella Army: The Canadians In Northwest Europe, 1944-1945, University of Toronto Press, 2007).

Eight V-2 hits on London killed 50 and injured 544 people on this day (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). 8 211 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X LZ399 "V" lost attacking targets in Burma, pilot WO2 J.E. Fitzpatrick and F/S S. Lock RAF missing (C. Shores). 8 3 Sqn. Tempest V EJ895 force landed in Holland with engine trouble, F/L R.W. Jones evaded (www.conscript-heroes.com IS-9 files). 8 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PL430 was hit by flak on a RHUBARB over Twente, Holland, F/L R.J. Audet DFC returned to his base but bailed out of his damaged aircraft and safe. See March 3, below. 8 430 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV RM823 G9-O lost over Germany on a reconnaissance flight due to engine trouble, F/O G.S. Taylor killed (R.W.R. Walker www.rafcommands.com). 8 440 Sqn. F/O G.L. Passmore, shot down Feb. 2, was last seen in custody as a PoW and being escorted to a PoW camp. He was not seen alive again, and is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Germany. 8 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX discovered five Ju 87 dive bombers near Wesel and shot down all five as well as 3 locomotives and several vehicles (6th Year). 8 #6 (BR) Sqn., Coal Harbour, Canso A #11007 crashed at Tofino on take-off, 12 crew & passengers, F/O R.J. Scholes, F/O L.C. Laker, F/O L. Knechtel, P/O C.C. Sartouris, WO2 L.H. Malcomston, WO2 J.B. Campbell, WO2 C.H. Henningsen, F/S R.W. Hacker, Sgt. R.F. Bell, Sgt. W.A. Hooge, Air Woman 1st class R.J. Pike and Mr. D.F. Marlett, safe. This aircraft wreck is still at the crash site, now in Pacific Rim National Park (www.pacificwrecks.com). Several videos of this aircraft can be seen on Youtube.

8-9 The synthetic oil plant at Pölitz was attacked by 475 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos which ended all further production of oil from this facility. The oil refinery at Wanne-Eickel, attacked by 200 Halifax with 8 Lancaster and 20 Mosquito Pathfinders, escaped with little damage from scattered bombing. The railway yards at Krefeld were also attacked by 151 Lancasters, and 9 LNSF Mosquitos carried out a spoof raid in support of www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.cathe Pölitz operation, 47 more over Berlin and 4 over Nüremberg, plus 47 RCM, 42 SERRATE/INTRUDER, and 10 GARDENING sorties for a total 1,020 sorties with 17 lost (BC War Diaries). 8-9 15 Sqn. Lancaster I HK620 LS-W lost over Belgium, F/L J.H. Cowie, F/O P.J. Day RAF, F/S G.C. Dickinson RAF, F/S M.E. Hathaway RAF, Sgt J. Gregory RAF, Sgt J.W. Hall RAF, Sgt J. Malcolm RAF and F/L A.N.L. McQueen RAF killed, Sgt A.T. Dobson RAF missing. In 2000 the Belgian Aviation History Association examined the crash site which is on private land. They found many parts of the aircraft, including sections of the flaps, still imbedded in the trees 100' off the ground, and rounds of .50 cal. ammunition which indicates that this aircraft was probably equipped with a Rose tail turret. 8-9 405 Sqn. Lancaster III ND912 LQ-X lost without trace on an operation to Germany, P/O A.M. Fostey, F/O L.H. Mahler, F/O M.J. Martin, F/O H.B. McIntyre, P/O A.L.J. St. Pierre, P/O T.A. Stone and F/S A.E.S. Kiff RAF missing. 8-9 415 Sqn. Halifax III NR249 6U-J shot down by flak over Dunkirk, which was still held by German forces, pilot F/O G.K. Grier killed, F/S J.N. Aiken, F/O P. Mikcalchuk, F/S J.A. Marshall, F/S J.B. Horrigan and F/S W.G. Johnston landed in the German lines and were made PoW., Sgt J.M. Andrews RAF landed safe in Allied lines. 8-9 415 Sqn. Halifax III, WO1 L.A. Russell, lost an engine after taking off. When they tried to feather the propellor it detached in flight and the engine burst into flames. After controlling the fire they landed back at their base on 3 engines (R. Koval). See February 24, below. 8-9 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O B. Cowieson, was unable to bomb as the bomb load hung up over the target (R. Koval). 8-9 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L J.H. McQuiston, was damaged in the tail by flak (R. Koval). 8-9 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O D.G. Hill, was damaged in the fuselage by flak (R. Koval, Awards). See March 5-6, below. 8-9 425 Sqn. Halifax III LW394 KW-Z abandoned over Belgium due to an engine fire after bombing, P/O R.F. Daniels and F/S W.H. Ketcham injured, F/O W.M. Mark, F/O W. Wotherspoon, P/O A.C. McLean, F/S H.A. Sanderson, F/S A.A. Alger and Sgt J.J. Whyte RAF safe. A whimsical account of F/S Sanderson's bailout and "evasion" can be found in Lancaster, C. et al. 8-9 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L R.F. Archambault, made a landing from it's sortie at an emergency airfield with no hydraulics (R. Koval). 8-9 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP682 OW-R crashed after taking off due to an engine fire, after which the bomb load exploded, F/O G.A. Cahoon, F/O J.D. Campbell, P/O G.H. Fetherston, P/O C.E. Houston and P/O J.C. Laing killed, F/O J.D. Wadleigh and F/S M.K. Grant injured (R. Koval). 8-9 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O A.C. Davies, was forced to return early due to ice building up on the inside of the windshield and exhaust fumes in the cockpit (R. Koval, Awards). 8-9 619 Sqn. Lancaster III ME314 PG-W lost, P/O J.F.E. Moyle killed, F/S J.L. MacDonald, F/O H.T. Hesketh RAAF, Sgt T.H. Fullwood, F/O R.A. Hudson RAF and Sgt A.C. St. Leger RAF missing, rear gunner F/S L.E. Marsh PoW.

Friday 9 US and French armies complete reduction of the Colmar Pocket west of the Rhine (Oxford). Again Hitler refuses tactical withdrawals to be made and again German units suffer high casualties.www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Operation VERITABLE, British XXX Corps breaks through the Westwall (), but poor weather and intentional flooding are slowing the advance (Oxford).

Magdeburg bombed by USAAF as third THUNDERCLAP mission (Oxford).

Partial Japanese Balloon Bomb recovered near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Mikesh). Co- ordination of domestic balloon releases (weather, test, etc) made in western Canada to eliminate false reports, but this is not always successful (Joost). 9 159 Sqn. Liberator VI KH255 "C" was hit by flak attacking targets in Thailand, and crashed in flames, P/O F.J. Conway, F/O K.G. Johnson, F/O R.L. McMillan, F/L W.G. Schroeder, F/O R. Talbot, F/O N. Zakow, Sgt R.B. Bright RAF and Sgt D.C.N. Burton RAF killed. F/O Zakow had changed his name from Zaiczkowski. 9 404 Sqn. lost six Beaufighter TF.Xc aircraft lost off Norway, part of 9 Beaufighters and a Mustang shot down by fighters on a shipping strike of 31 Beaufighters attacking a and other escort seeking shelter in a fjord. Two more Beaufighters crash landed in Scotland. Five Fw 190 fighters were lost as well, with 2 German pilots killed. A monument to this loss was erected near the combat area at the town of Forde, Norway, in May 1985 (wikipedia, www.404squadron.com).

The aircraft lost were were:

9 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X NT890 EO-F, F/O C. Smerneos killed and F/O N.D. Cochrane missing. 9 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X NT922 EO-V, P/O W.E. Blunderfield killed and P/O W.J. Jackson missing. 9 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X NV422 EO-C, F/O O.W. Knight killed and F/O H.C. Lynch missing. 9 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X NE761 EO-W, P/O C.G. Berges missing and P/O P. Myrick killed. 9 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X RD136 EO-Q, F/O H. Smook and P/O A.M. Duckworth missing. 9 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X EO-O was shot down by fighters, belly landed on ice, but flipped over, F/O J.R. Savard and P/O J. Middleton RAF were pulled out by German soldiers, but P/O Middleton died of his injuries (www.404squadron.com; R.C. Nesbit, , Aeroplane Monthly, July & August, 1984). 9 298 Sqn. Halifax III MZ980 8A-U was on a navigation exercise when it ran into bad weather and ditched in Donegal Bay off Eire, Sgt J.A. McKaine RAF killed, F/L J. Carr died of injuries, F/O D.R. McGillivray, WO J.E. Bunn, F/S J.B. Walker RAF and F/O G. Dixon RAF were briefly interned (R. Tebbutt, D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com). See March 24, below. 9 #1695 (Bomber) Target Towing Flight RCAF Hurricane IIc LF535 lost control and crashed on approach to land from a night flying test, F/L A.B. Summers killed. 9 #1 SFTS, Camp Borden, Ontario, Harvard II #2987 crashed at Big Bay Point, Lake Simcoe, Ontario, killing F/O J.D.H. Martin and LAC G.J. Powell RAAF. 9 unknown unit, LAC A.F. Hepher RAF died in North America, no details.

9-10 Seven Stirlings www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.cawere out on Special Operations with 1 RCM Mosquito, but without being able to complete their tasks, and 1 Stirling was lost (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 15 Mosquitos making harassment patrols in the Ruhr on this night with 1 loss (6th Year). 9-10 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR151 TH-F lost on an Army support sortie over Germany, F/L W.C. Charde and Sgt S. Rosenthal RAF killed.

Saturday 10 Planned advance by US 9th Army operating in co-ordination with the Canadian Army in Operation VERITABLE stopped when German defenders open the Ruhr dams upstream, flooding the crossings (Zijlstra). This leaves Canadian and British forces engaged in the clearing of the Reichswald with a tougher fight through often flooded conditions. Bad weather prevented USAAF and RAF daylight operations (Zijlstra).

As Soviet forces approached Hammerfest, the largest community in Arctic Norway, German units systematically destroyed every building and service in the city before retreating, except a chapel in a graveyard. Over the area of the over 70,000 were left homeless as a result of Hitlers orders to leave nothing for the Russians to capture (S. Zimmerman, Hammerfest, Norway: Phoenix of the Far North, http://www.historynet.com). Free Norwegian troops with Norwegian Militiamen (Resistance) and assisted in evacuating many of these to safety. Many found shelter in mines and caves. About 300 died of exposure (wikipedia).

The German passenger ship General von Steuben carrying wounded German military and hospital staff is torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic by a Soviet submarine with the loss of between 3,000 and 4,000 people (wikipedia). 10 21 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR345 lost F/L E.D. Brown RCAF (USA) and his navigator F/S A.G. Grieve RAF killed. 10 98 Sqn. Mitchell III HD365 was hit by flak over the target and crashed, P/O J.A.T. Dick, WO2 J.E. Gallop, F/S C.J. Bridgett RAF and F/O D.E.G. Williams RAF killed. 10 #1666 HCU Lancaster I ME750 QY-T was on a navigation exercise and broke out of clouds in a spin on fire and crashed, probably due to icing, F/O H.G. Christie DFC & Bar, Sgt A.W. Heard, F/O W.H. Matheson, F/O K.M. Pridham, F/O A.J. Snetsinger, F/O E.D. Tait and Sgt D.G. MacKenzie RAF killed. 10 #45 Group Transport Command Liberator VIII KK295 force landed on a beach in Eire where it was written off when the tide came in, F/O W. Wright, F/O W.H. Scott, Ferry Captain L.R. Rawlings, Ferry Captain G.R. Pigeon and F/S L.W. Smith RAF safe (D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com).

10-11 Bomber Command had 82 Mosquitos over Hannover and 11 over Essen on bombing sorties, 24 RCM and 22 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 14 harassing patrols over northern Germany (6th Year).

Sunday 11 Big Three (Stalin, Churchillwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca and Roosevelt) meeting in Yalta ends (CJCA headline). Among other decisions eastern Poland was to be taken by the USSR, giving them most of the territory they had seized in 1939 under the secret provisions of the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact with Germany. Poland was given former Prussian and eastern territory of Germany. Secret agreement between Roosevelt and Stalin for Japanese occupied territory in Sakhalin Island and the Japanese Kurile Islands to become Russian, with other concessions in Mongolia, in return for to attack Japan. Britain and China were not informed of this (Oxford).

Budapest surrenders to encircling Soviet forces after a 7 week siege (H.W. Neulen). Soviet army force a crossing over the Oder downstream of Breslau (Times).

Kleve captured by 1st Canadian Army (Zijlstra).

F/L R.G. White RAF (Nfld.) promoted to Squadron Leader, the highest rank achieved by a Newfoundlander in the RAF in the war (www.heritage.nf.ca). 11 #3 Ferry Unit, , Boston aircraft crashed when landing in Sicily after it's tires were damaged taking off from Algeria. Wireless air gunner P/O B.H. McLellan killed. 11 274 Sqn. Tempest, S/L D.C. Fairbanks DFC and Bar RCAF (USA) shot down an Me 262 jet fighter (H.A. Halliday). [Postwar this was discovered to be an Ar 234 jet bomber, damaged (http://acesofww2.com)]. See Feb. 14, below. 11 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe RN114 (?) crashed into a swamp in Holland on return from a reconnaissance, F/L W.G. Hodges killed. 11 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIV RM846 hit power lines attacking a train, F/O W.D. Wittaker safe. 11 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PT535 suffered an engine failure on an evening reconnaissance, F/O A.T. Gibbs bailed out and safe, having landed in an area just captured by Allied soldiers (6th Year). 11 423 Sqn. Sunderland III crashed in Ireland following a fire in an engine nacelle, WO2 C.E. Cruikshank, P/O J. Gingrich, F/O T.R. Hailstone, WO2 E.F. Knibbs, F/O J.A. McLennan, F/L J.D. Ross, F/O J.R. Seeger, WO1 J.M. Soucie, F/O M. Wilbee, F/S C. Ramsden RAF and F/S P. Woollatt RAF killed. In 1995 a Mr. MacFarlane examined the crash site and found a silver identification bracelet belonging to F/O Hailstone. It was returned to his sister, Josephine Hailstone, in Canada (CBC Morningside interview Feb. 22, 1996). He also told her that the aircraft had made several take-offs for this patrol and had had to return each time due to mechanical problems before departing on the final flight. 11 #45 Delivery Group, Ferry Command, Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB370 lost between Greenland and Ireland, F/O G.M. Maxon and F/O J.M. Squance RAF missing.

12-13 There were 72 LNSF Mosquitos sent to Stuttgart, 11 to Misburg, 4 to Würzburg and 12 to 4 other targets, plus 1 RCM Mosquito without loss (BC War Diaries).

Monday 12 Peru declares war on Germany and Japan (wikipedia).

Canadian 1st Armywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca takes Kleve (CJCA headline). Bad weather cancels planned USAAF daylight bombing (Zijlstra).

Political settlement reached in Greece. However this did not resolve the problems between the government and communist controlled partisans, and fighting in Greece would again break out in a Civil War from 1946 to 1949 (Oxford). Greece was the only European country where the Allies supported the restoration of a pro-Fascist government, and supported it's actions against the partisans who had fought for the Allies (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/30/athens-1944-britains-dirty- secret). 12 123 Sqn. Thunderbolt II KJ263 lost attacking an aerodrome in far east, F/L J.L.A. Bellisle missing (Note: J. Baugher states lost when it stalled flying in cloud this date in India, H.A. Halliday notes F/L J.L.A.R. Bellisle took off as part of Squadron attack with a long range drop and 2 500 lb. bombs, and he stalled and spun shortly after taking off). 12 435 Sqn. Dakota III FD915 lost dropping supplies to 14th Army in Burma, P/O T.G. Burton, P/O W.D. Coulson, P/O S.M. Duncan, F/O W.A. Eden, P/O R.H. Holtan missing. 12 622 Sqn. P/O T.J. Lothian died in England due to an accidental fall. 12 #11 (BR) Sqn. Liberator GR.VI #3728 "J" encountered engine icing on a patrol and landed in a snow storm in a fresh water pond on Sable Island. The crew were safe, but they had to rescue an Islander who attempted to swim out to the wreck (R.W.R. Walker). 12 #13 SFTS, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Harvard II #2699 crashed near Tramping Lake, Saskatchewan, while practicing low-level cross country flying, F/S J.D.M. Douglas and LAC(P) P.J. Haley RAAF killed. 12 #3 OTU Patricia Bay, BC, Canso A #9701 crashed on landing at after a bombing exercise, P/O A.B. Crawford RCAF (USA), P/O R.B. Fraser, P/O G.T. Kingswood killed, Sgt F.E. Boalch missing, 4 survived, Sgt W.B. Harris, Sgt L. Desjardine, Sgt H.E. Golis and Sgt A.L. MacLean, all badly injured (BC Times Colonist Patricia Bay Aircrash List 2009). The wreck of the aircraft was discovered by chance in June 2005 by a Canadian Coast Guard vessel testing equipment (BC Times Colonist, quoted on www.rafcommands.com). 12 USAAF C-54A 42-72235 belly landed taking off from Gander, Nfld. (AAIR).

Tuesday 13 Planned daylight bombing of Dresden by USAAF as part of THUNDERCLAP plan cancelled by poor weather (Oxford).

Soviet forces capture Budapest (Polsson).

A V-2 that hit an apartment building in West Ham, London, left 28 people dead and 119 injured (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

Fragments of a Balloon Bomb found near Marie River (Jean-Marie River?), NWT (Mikesh). 13 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV NC835 ditched off England on an air test, F/O S.A.W. Hepburn, F/L J.W. Hobbs killed, F/O R. Kukurski, P/O G.L. Mulhall missing, F/O R.D. Kenning survived, picked up by Air-Sea Rescue (407 SH). 13 412 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe RM819 attacked a Bf 110 aircraft but was hit and shot down by the rear gunner, F/L www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caR.P. Harding PoW. 13 #1659 HCU RCAF, a Halifax III LW414 aircraft that had landed wheels up Feb. 7, had been jacked up for a technical inspection. Without warning the jacks slipped and the aircraft fell, striking and killing air frame mechanic LAC V.G. Mattson. This aircraft had flown operations with 425 Sqn. where it was named "Easy Does It" (R. Koval). 13 unknown unit, S/L A.A. Cameron died in Canada. 13 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB340 bounced on landing and lost it's undercarriage at Oakes Field in the Bahamas (www. dehavilland.ukf.net). 13 B-17G 44-8843 damaged at Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR). 13-14 Bombing of Dresden, first RAF attack in THUNDERCLAP plan. Bomber Command sent an attack in 2 waves, the first of 244 Lancasters dropped 800 tons of bombs through cloud with no special effect. Three hours later 529 Lancasters with 9 Mosquitos dropped over 1,800 tons of bombs accurately in clear weather on well placed markers. Within minutes a firestorm was ignited and from 40,000 to 50,000 or more people in the city, packed with refugees, were killed. See Feb. 16, below. The Halifax force of 368 aircraft with 34 Lancaster and 8 Mosquito Pathfinders were sent to the synthetic oil plant at Böhlen which made a scattered attack through cloud. Other operations included 71 LNSF Mosquitos to Magdeburg, 16 to Bonn, 22 others to 3 other targets, 65 RCM sorties and 59 SERRATE/INTRUDER Mosquitos, a total of 1,406 sorties with 9 losses (BC War Diaries). #6 Group sent 66 Lancaster bombers to Dresden, the Halifax units bombing Böhlen (405 SH). See February 16, below. 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquito harassing sorties over northern Germany (6th Year). 13-14 115 Sqn. Lancaster I PB686 KO-D returning to England abandoned over France due to an engine fire, Sgt G. Preston RAF killed, F/O L. Willson, F/O A.H. Dick RAF, Sgt C.D. Rickard RAF, F/S D.R. Copland RAF, F/O S.W. Berwick RAF and Sgt R. Whittle safe. 13-14 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB183 LQ-C lost over Germany, F/O E.W. Connolly, F/O R.A. French, F/O F.M. Gordon, F/O J.A. Kaucharik killed, F/L J. Armitt, F/L J.K. Knights DFC, F/O D.B. Olsen missing, F/O M.O. Fredrick survived as a PoW. F/O French, F/O Kaucharik and F/L Knights were on their second tour of operations. 13-14 415 Sqn. Halifax III, WO1 I.A.F. McDiarmid, damaged in the fuselage by flak over Böhlen that also knocked out an engine, landing safely in France on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 8-9, below. 13-14 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O R.S. Evans, returned to England after being damaged by flak in the fuselage and one wing over Böhlen (R. Koval). See February 27, below. 13-14 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O E.R. Millbank, lost an engine returning from Böhlen and landed safe on 3 engines (R. Koval). 13-14 420 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O R.F. Sollie, lost an engine on return from Böhlen but landed safe in England (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 13-14 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L N. McHolm, landed in France due to a fuel shortage (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 13-14 426 Sqn. Halifax VII LW203 OW-F, F/O C.B. Benton, claimed hits on a Bf 109 night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval, Awards). 13-14 427 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L A. Lock, landed in France due to a fuel shortage (R. Koval). See March 24, below. 13-14 429 Sqn. Halifaxwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca III, F/L H.W. MacDonald, claimed damage to a night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). 13-14 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB811 SE-T, F/O G.W. Glaholt evaded three attacks by a Ju 88 night fighter, claiming it damaged on it's last attack (R. Koval). 13-14 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O J. Kinniburgh, landed in Belgium short of fuel (R. Koval). See March 2, below. 13-14 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L E.S. Maguire, landed in France due to a fuel shortage (R. Koval). See February 20-21, below. Wednesday 14 Operation THUNDERCLAP, USAAF daylight attack on Dresden marshalling yards by 311 B- 17s, a further 294 B-17s bombed Chemnitz (Polsson). As part of the disruption of communications escorting fighters were also ordered to strafe roads in the area (BC War Diaries). A TALLBOY attack on viaducts in Germany was called off due to bad weather (BC War Diaries).

For the second day in a row a V-2 struck an apartment block in London, killing 29 and injuring 115. In Antwerp an oil storage site was hit by another rocket, killing 14 and setting two oil storage on fire (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

Clearing weather allowed heavy air support over the advancing Canadian and British soldiers in the Reichswald, some 9,000 sorties were flown by 2nd Tactical Air Force, the most since D-Day (M. Zuehlke).

Last pre-war Northrup Delta bomber/photo mapping aircraft struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). 14 117 Sqn. Dakota III FD820 lost in India, F/O D.A. Bayley, F/O L.E. Long, P/O E.E. Newell, F/L J.W. Slater and F/O W.R. Thomson killed. 14 9 Sqn. Lancaster I NF937 WS-E carrying a TALLBOY bomb was shot down on a daylight operation against a railway viaduct in Germany, P/O J.T. Rose, F/L J.J. Dunne DFC RAAF, Sgt H.J. Ockerby RAF, P/O M.J. Thain RAF, F/O C.L. Philpott RAF, F/S J.W. Knight RAF and F/S J.F. Jordan RAF killed. 14 274 Sqn. Tempest, S/L D.C. Fairbanks DFC and Bar RCAF (USA) shot down his second Me 262 jet fighter (H.A. Halliday). 14 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX F/L J.J. Boyle destroyed 2 and damaged 1 He 177 bombers on the ground, F/S J.O.A. Watt damaged 2 more at Handorf airfield (6th Year). 14 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM347 force landed in Belgium after an engine failure (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 14 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB226 F3-H crashed, possibly due to flak, F/O F.A. Nixon safe. 14 439 Sqn., 4 Typhoon Ib fighters attack 2 Me 262 jet fighters, destroying both, credited to F/L L.C. Shaver and F/O A.H. Fraser (H.A. Halliday). 14 613 Sqn. Mosquito RS614(?) lost, F/O W.P. Fryer RAF (Can.) and F/L R.H. Fossett RAF killed. 14 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB296 was damaged beyond repair at Dorval, Quebec,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca when an air bottle exploded while being filled. 14 USAAF P-63A 42-70159 crashed near Onaway, Alberta, Flight Officer P.S. Taylor killed. 14 USAAF B-24M 44-42169 crashed near Gander, Nfld., Col W.C. Dolan and 9 crew killed (AAIR). A USAAF OA-10 43-3260 was also damaged landing at Gander on this date, possibly related (AAIR). Dr. L. Daly, who later did an archeological survey of the B-24 site, notes it was equipped with a new secret radar (http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/03/).

14-15 The second RAF THUNDERCLAP operation was flown to Chemnitz by 499 Lancasters and 218 Halifax bombers, which made an attack similar to the attack on Dresden, but bombing was scattered by cloud. The oil refinery at Rositz was targeted by 224 Lancasters with 8 Mosquitos. A diversionary sweep was made by 95 Main Force and HCU bombers over the sea, plus 46 LNSF Mosquito bombers to Berlin, 64 more to 5 other targets, 21 RCM, 87 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 54 GARDENING sorties, a total of 1,316 sorties with the loss of 23 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquito harassment sorties attacking road and rail communications in front of the (6th Year). 14-15 78 Sqn. Halifax III MZ799 EY-X lost without trace on a GARDENING sortie, P/O M. Schwartz, F/L R.S. Cumming RAF, P/O J.S. Rice RAF, P/O J.S. Thompson RAF, P/O S.A.W. Tressider RAF, F/S E.P. Yates RAF and F/S I. Williams RAF missing. 14-15 153 Sqn. Lancaster I NN803 P4-O lost over Germany, F/S C.J.A. Caryi, F/O L.A. MacDonald, F/S J.H. Wilson killed, F/L C.R. Mills, F/O R.S. Stanzel, Sgt J.J.O'B. Heady RAF and Sgt W.H. Wicks RAF missing. 14-15 166 Sqn. Lancaster I PD394 AS-P lost over Germany, F/O D.S. Kemp, F/S J. McCreadie RAF, F/O E.C. Hill RAF, F/O M.A. O'Callaghan RAF, WO A.G. Flack RAF, Sgt H.W. Oates RAF and Sgt F.W. Wakefield RAF killed. 14-15 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 claimed a He 219 shot down (F/L R.S. Croome and F/O H.A. Johnston) and a second aircraft damaged on the ground (F/L D.K. Wedderspoon and F/L A.R.W. Lasser) in Germany, but a third aircraft was hit by flak over Luxembourg, F/L D.A. Gillis and F/O H.J. Watt returning to make a one wheeled landing where the remaining undercarriage collapsed, crew safe (6th Year). 14-15 408 Sqn. Halifax VII PN223 EQ-X, P/O L.E. Clarahan, evaded an attack by a Bf 110 night fighter and claimed damage to a Wilde Sau Bf 109 that attacked them (R. Koval, Awards). 14-15 415 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O J.S. McKenzie, were unable to raise the undercarriage after taking off and returned early (R. Koval). See March 2, below. 14-15 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O L. Minkler, landed short of fuel in Belgium (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 14-15 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB814 VR-N, F/O C. Widdecombe, claimed a twin engined night fighter probably destroyed (R. Koval). 14-15 420 Sqn. Halifax III NA179 PT-B turned back with engine trouble and attempted a landing with 3 engines, but lost control and crashed short of the runway, killing F/O W.S. Anderson, F/O S.A. Hay, F/O L.I. Jones, P/O E.A.H. Sills, F/O J.C. Sinden and Sgt H. Evans RAF, F/O W.H. Giles survived, injured. 14-15 420 Sqn. Halifax III NP951 PT-Y, P/O E. Cole was hit by flak that knocked out an engine. Returning on 3 engines they evaded an attack by Wilde Sau Fw 190 before landing safe in France short of fuel (R. Koval). See April 8-9, below. 14-15 424 Sqn. Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca I PB899 QB-A lost without trace on a GARDENING sortie off Germany, F/L F.C. Aldworth, P/O G.S. Guthrie, F/S K.C. McMurchy, P/O K.A. Miller, F/O E.E. Reaney, P/O V.B. Smith and P/O L.F. Davis RAF missing. This was the first Lancaster lost by 424 Sqn. 14-15 427 Sqn. Halifax III MZ355 ZL-W shot down by flak in Denmark on a GARDENING sortie, P/O E.M. Ford and P/O J.F. Peak were killed, S/L W.B. Brittain, F/O C.J. Driscoll, F/O H. McKay, F/O R.V. Dallin and Sgt P. de RAF PoW (6th Year). This was the crews first operation (R. Koval). 14-15 427 Sqn. Halifax III MZ422 ZL-N set on fire by a night fighter and exploded over Germany, F/S A.J. Cybulskie, F/S H. Gallagher, F/O V.S. Roy, F/S A.N. Scorah killed, Sgt A.L. Morrison, Sgt H.L.C. Mayer and F/S A.R. Williams PoW (6th Year). TSGNO notes this crew was on it's first operation. 14-15 429 Sqn. Halifax III MZ865 AL-V was on a GARDENING sortie in the Baltic when it flew into Swedish air space. It was shot down by Swedish anti-aircraft fire and crashed in the sea off the coast, F/S G.J.L. Barnes, F/S S.E. Bostwick RCAF (USA), F/L R.C. Charlton, P/O W. Fedorchuk, F/O K.W. Rainford and F/O R.A. Thorne killed, P/O R.J. McCallum missing. F/O Thorne and P/O McCallum had survived the ditching of another 429 Sqn. Halifax Sept. 12-13, 1944. 14-15 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB741 WL-C2, borrowed from 434 Sqn., exploded over Germany just after bombing, F/O G.M.B. Barlow, P/O B. Granka, F/O D.A. Magrath, F/O J.J. McElhone RCAF (USA), F/O L. Medynski, P/O G.E. Robertson killed, Sgt G.A. McLarty PoW (6th Year). 14-15 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O D.L.H. Murray, was forced to return with 3 engines giving problems, landing safely (R. Koval). 14-15 432 Sqn. Halifax VII RG449 QO-S shot down by a Ju 88 night fighter over Germany, flight engineer Sgt G.L. Sorrell RAF killed, S/L J.H. Thompson, F/O J.J. Serne, F/O A.R.A. Borland, F/O S.A. Harrison, F/S R.J. Stringer and P/O R.J. Thomson PoW. S/L Thompson maybe the same as F/L J. Thompson, cited January 5-6, above. 14-15 625 Sqn. Lancaster I NF996 CF-J2 lost over Germany, F/L R. Cunliffe RAF, Sgt D.W. Hayes RAF, F/O E.J. Lowther RAF, Sgt W.P. Pass RAF and Sgt T.H. Hatton RAF killed, F/O A.G. Slocum and Sgt D. Williams RAF missing. 14-15 640 Sqn. Halifax III NP953 C8-G lost, P/O N.R. Lamphear RCAF (USA), F/O K. Weber RAAF, F/S W.S.H. Strong DFM RAF, F/S G.D. Stean RAF and F/S R.H. Lock RAAF killed, Sgt S.J. Price RAF murdered, F/S R.S. Hall RAF PoW (O. Clutton-Brock).

Thursday 15 Venezuela and Uruguay declare war on Germany and Japan (wikipedia).

The USAAF sent 1,100 heavy bombers to various oil targets, but most were covered by cloud, so about 400 bombers dropped on the synthetic oil plant at Magdeburg while another 435 made a blind bombing (H2X?) attack on rail yards at Cottbus. A further blind bombing was undertaken by 210 B-17s on Dresden, bombing through overcast (Zijlstra).

Breslau surrounded by Soviet Army (Times). 15 USAAF Headquarterswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Squadron, 13th Air Force C-47A # 42-100455 lost in the Philippines on a flight from Leyte, 2Lt E.H. Franks USAAF (Can.) missing, 5 aircrew missing or killed. The wreckage was discovered in 1989, having crashed just after taking off, but only one set of remains has been identified (AAIR, J. Baugher, http://www.pacificwrecks.com). 15 #116 (BR) Sqn. RCAF, , , Canso aircraft exploded in a hangar, killing armourers LAC H.W. Collins, Sgt W.J.A. Dunning, LAC H.F. Hicks and LAC R. Whiteside. 15 RCAF Station Bella Bella, BC, fire fighter Sgt H. Dynes was accidentally killed while on duty in the base fire hall. 15 #1 TTS, St. Thomas, Ontario, LAC(FE) C. Bury died of natural causes. 15 USAAF B-17G 43-39256 and B-24M 44-50717 damaged at Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR). 15-16 Bomber Command had 55 GARDENING sorties off southern Norway and the Kattegat, 2 RCM and 6 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols with the loss of 1 Mosquito (BC War Diaries).

Friday 16 US Forces re-take Bataan (CJCA headline).

First of 4 consecutive daylight attacks on the rail yards at Wesel, in front of advancing Allied armies (W.R. Chorley). Bomber Command sent 100 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito on this operation without loss (BC War Diaries).

USAAF medium bombers make their first attack on targets in the Ruhr at medium altitude, losing 7 of a mixed flight of 104 A-26 Intruder, B-26 Marauder and A-20 Havoc aircraft (Zijlstra).

A V-2 that exploded in London killed 25 and injured 47. In return a V-2 unit was destroyed by bombing in Germany (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). #143 Wing of Typhoon fighter bombers attacked a V-1 site in Holland which caused a large explosion (6th Year).

In Paris at a SHAEF briefing an "off the record" comment about the Allied bombing of Dresden and the aims of Operation THUNDERCLAP, ie, that attacking the cities would block the flow of supplies, leads to a US press release that states that these attacks heralded a decision to begin "deliberate terror bombing of German population centres as a ruthless expedient to hastening Hitler’s doom". This receives wide publicity in the USA and despite later statements that the attack was strategic and had been requested by the Soviet Union to support their tactical operations, leads to heavy criticism of the entire Offensive (P. Gray, Oxford). Thus, postwar, this one devastating RAF/USAAF operation became the symbol of the entire RAF and RCAF offensive in Europe. 16 198 Sqn. Typhoon MN847 TP-H lost making a rocket attack on flak emplacements in the Reichswald Forest killing P/O D.J. Campbell. 16 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS516 was hit by flak and set on fire over Germany on a day RANGER, both crew bailed out and were seen to have landed safely, but F/O J.D. Sharples DFCwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca was killed while his pilot F/O K.V. Panter RAF became PoW (aviation- safety.net). Prior to being shot down F/O Panter and F/O Sharples claimed 3 Bf 109 aircraft shot down, as well as 4 aircraft destroyed on the ground and damage to a train, while his wingman (who returned) claimed 2 fighters shot down, an aircraft destroyed on the ground and 2 motor vehicles attacked and probably destroyed (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). F/O Sharples had been in a 418 Sqn. Mosquito hit by flak March 13-14, 1944. 16 #1674 HCU (Coastal Command) Liberator VI EV954 was engaged on a bombing exercise and was circling for a radar homing signal when it flew into high ground in Ireland, P/O A.L. Whitney, Sgt J.E. Morgan RAF, F/L K.D. Faulkner DFC RAF, F/O E.R. Matthews RAF, F/O P.G. Sim MiD RAF and Sgt H.E. Benwell RAF killed, F/O Cox RAF, F/O G.J. Fenwick RAAF and Sgt K. Howden RAF survived (rafb24.com, H. Welting at www.rafcommands.com). 16 #10 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mount Pleasant, PEI, LAC J.L. Buttsworth RAAF accidentally walked into propellor boarding a Bolingbroke aircraft and was killed (R.J. Annis, CONTACT Vol. 31, No. 2, May 2014, CATP Museum, Brandon, Man.). 16 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB562 crashed making a force landing in Sierra Leone (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Saturday 17 In an effort to stimulate a panic in North America Japan begins a propaganda campaign by making a broadcast in English revealing the existence of the Balloon Bombs and claiming to have caused heavy civilian casualties and damage in the USA (Mikesh). They also hoped to provoke the Allies into releasing denials that would contain information on the effectiveness of the campaign. Instead they remained silent.

Cloud over the Rhineland battle area prevents air support to Canadian and British troops engaged with an increasingly aggressive German force as they continue their advance into Germany (M. Zuehlke).

The rail yards at Wesel were attacked by 247 Halifax bombers with 27 Lancaster and 24 Mosquito Pathfinders, but cloud cover stopped the attack after only a handful of bombers had attacked. Three bombers crashed in England (BC War Diaries). #6 Group dispatched 110 Halifax bombers, but only 2 were able to bomb (R. Koval).

#1 Bombing & Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ontario, #3 B&G School, MacDonald, Manitoba, #4 B&G School, Fingal, Ontario, #5 B&G School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan and #31 ANS, Port Albert, Ontario, ceased operations on this day (Chris www.rafcommands.com and http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 17 408 Sqn. had all it's bombers ordered not to bomb due to cloud cover (R. Koval). 17 415 Sqn. had 14 bombers return without bombing, all but one landing at diversion airfields (R. Koval). 17 420 Sqn. had only 1 bomber drop it's bombs before cloud obscured the target (R. Koval). See February 18, below. 17 425 Sqn. had 1 bomber slightly damaged by flak, and none of their bombers were able to bomb (R. Koval).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 17 426 Sqn. had only 1 bomber drop before the Master Bomber halted the attack (R. Koval). 17 427 Sqn. was ordered not to bomb due to cloud (R. Koval). 17 429 Sqn. was unable to bomb due to clouds (R. Koval). 17 432 Sqn. had all 10 bombers dispatched ordered not to bomb due to clouds (R. Koval). 17 #2 SFTS, Uplands, Ontario, Harvard IIb #3083 crashed turning for approach to land, Sgt N.A. Timmins killed.

17-18 A shipyard at was attacked through ground fog by 6 Mosquitos without loss using new OBOE base stations established in liberated Europe (BC War Diaries).

Sunday 18 Bomber Command returned to the rail yards at Wesel to make a GEE-H attack through cloud by 160 Lancasters (BC War Diaries). 18 #63 Staging Post, Corsica, navigator F/L F.W. Hall killed in a motor vehicle accident. 18 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR126 PT-X flew into a hill descending to land returning from a diversion airfield where they landed the previous day, F/O R.A.O. Floripe RCAF (USA), F/O D.L. Neil RCAF (Nfld.), P/O T.L. O'Kane, F/O M.B. Stock, F/O R.B. Trout and Sgt B.C. Crollie RAF killed, F/S J.A. Beasom injured (R. Koval). 18 #62 Base, Linton-on-Ouse, RCAF, aero engine fitter LAC R.C. Healy drowned accidentally in the River Ouse, Yorkshire. 18 unknown unit, AOP, Capt. E.W. Pickel RCA killed in England, no details (Parham & Belfield). 18 #11 (BR) Sqn. Liberator GR.VI "E" sighted and attacked a schnorkelling U-boat off Halifax, NS, without result (R.W.R. Walker).

18-19 The LNSF sent 32 Mosquitos to attack Mannheim, 6 to Berlin, 6 more to Bremen, and 3 making the tour of various cities to trigger their alarms, plus 34 RCM, 18 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 25 GARDENING sorties, a total of 124 sorties with 2 losses (BC War Diaries). 18-19 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM735 lost over the sea near Heligoland on an evening INTRUDER, F/O C.E.S. Hamlyn-Lovis and F/L R.J. Radcliffe killed. F/O Hamlyn-Lovis is also recorded on the Runnymede Memorial. 18-19 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM697 returned to Manston from an INTRUDER operation but swung on landing and was destroyed by fire, crew injured (6th Year; http://www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Monday 19 US Marines land on Iwo Jima in the Pacific (Polsson). The invasion of this small volcanic island after weeks of bomb attacks and a heavy shelling by naval ships was expected to last 14 days (Oxford).

Wesel was bombed for the fourth time by 168 Lancasters and 1 Halifax RCM aircraft which made a concentrated attack on the rail yards with the loss of 1 bomber (BC War Diaries). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca A Balloon Bomb was found still partially inflated near Takla Lake, BC (Mikesh). In 13 aircraft are scrambled after a Balloon Bomb that later turns out to have been the planet Venus, reported in error (Joost). 19 27 Sqn. Beaufighter X KW329 crashed in India after an engine failure, WO2 F.P. Buck killed. 19 28 Sqn. Hurricane "JZ670" (KZ670?) lost on an operation to Myingyh, Burma, F/L R.H. Hunter DFC missing. According Ethel Wood (pers. comm.) Hunter Mountain near Lake Louise is named in remembrance of this pilot. 19 unknown unit, Burma, F/L E. Fockler, F/O J. Anderson, P/O W. Thompson, P/O H.H. Mitchell and 2 RAF pilots were credited with the destruction of several Japanese tanks, no details (reference, Vapour Trails, Airforce Monthly, Vol. 8, No. 4, 1985). Possibly related to above loss? 19 90 Sqn. Lancaster I PD336 WP-P exploded in mid-air near it's target, possibly due to flak, and crashed into the Rhine River, Squadron commanding officer W/C P.F. Dunham DFC RAF, Sgt J.E. Bennett RAF, Sgt J.E. Bozeat RAF and P/O F.A. Cresswell RAF killed, F/O T. Metcalfe, F/O H.F.J. Carlton RAF and Sgt L.A. Page RAF missing. 19 658 Sqn., Auster AOP flown by Capt. C.C. Ballyn DFC RA in support of the Canadian Army was engaged by rifle fire. One bullet hit Capt. Ballyn and severely wounded him. Rather than crash land in the front area he flew back to his forward landing ground and safely landed his aircraft, thus saving it, before seeking medical help. For this he was awarded a Bar to his DFC, but sadly died of his wound just a month later (Parham & Belfield). 19 unknown unit, AOP, Lt W.J. Burke RCA killed in England, no details (Parham & Belfield). Possibly related to loss of Capt. Pickel the day before. 19 #107 OTU Dakota III TS436 crashed in England after striking a tree on a hill practicing a glider pick up, F/O G.J. Guay, F/L J.C. Howden, F/L R.T. Hyde, F/O M.E. Scovell, F/S L.D. Slipper RAF, F/L T.A. Evans RAF, F/L A.J. Roberts RAF, F/O S.G. Williams RAF, F/S D. Grant RAF, F/S M.V. Gilder RAF, F/S J. Ross RAF, F/S R.E. Jelfs RAF, F/L D.E. Turnbull RAF, F/L J. Heywood RAF, Cpl K.S. Anderson RAF, AC2 R.E. Suggars RAF, AC2 W.J. Colby RAF, Sgt J.O. Allen RAAF, Sgt A.G. Shaddick RAAF and F/O F.J. Plant RAF killed (Peter Clare www.ww2talk.com, A. Storr). A memorial was placed at the crash site in 1999 (cyperus forum.keypublishing.com). 19 unknown unit, Cpl J. Aylwin died of natural causes at Lachine, Quebec

19-20 Bomber Command sent 254 Lancasters and 6 Mosquitos to Böhlen, but the loss of the Master Bomber (see below) disrupted the attack and only light damage was caused. As well 82 LNSF Mosquitos attacked Erfurt, plus 24 to other cities, 9 RCM and 29 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 404 sorties with the loss of 1 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 19-20 #54 Base Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB401 AZ-E borrowed from 627 Sqn. to act as Master Bomber over Böhlen hit by flak and crashed near the target, W/C E.A. Benjamin DFC & Bar RAF killed, F/O J.E. Heath DFM RAF missing. 19-20 #11 (BR) Sqn. RCAF Dartmouth, NS, Liberator GR.VI #3715 "F" lost over the Atlantic, F/L G.F.R. Apps, P/O W.R. Grant, F/L D. Hogan, F/L E.C. Ireland, F/S D.A. MacLellan, F/O D. Murphy, WO1 H.L. Teasdale missing. Some wreckage identified from this aircraft was later found washed up on Sable Island (R.W.R. Walker). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Tuesday 20 USAAF B-29 operations against Japan from the Marianas Islands come under close scrutiny. Since the previous November over 2,000 sorties had been made at high altitude with very limited results. Most technical problems with the aircraft had been solved, but small bomb loads, high winds and clouds had made accurate bombing of individual targets less than effective. Pressure was being applied to end the bombing and divert operations to mine-laying and to support operations in Philippines (Morgan). In Europe USAAF heavy bombers attacked the rail yards at Nürnberg (Zijlstra).

On this date Soviet forces are 30 miles from Berlin (LoN). Here, as with Warsaw, Stalin orders the advance to stop, believing that the Allied armies would not be able to advance, and possibly hoping for an uprising in Germany. 20 358 Sqn. Liberator VI KH282 "G" lost in SE Asia, Sgt G.M. Pumphrey RAF (Nfld.), F/L T.A. Brown RAF, F/O H.J.A. Johnson RAF, Sgt L.W. Hazelwood RAF, F/O P.P. Parker RAF, F/O J.B. Smart RAF, Sgt W.W. Smith RAF, F/O J.E.M. Wilson RAF and Sgt J.R. Wise RAF killed (R. Quirk) 20 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB855 NA-F lost power suddenly on a training flight and was wrecked when it overran the runway, Squadron commanding officer W/C M.W. Gall and his crew safe. 20 #4 Armament Practice Camp Martinet I MS690 crashed in England after a mid-air collision, F/L J.N. Punshon and F/O L.C. Davies RAF killed (H. Welting www.rafcommands.com). TSGNO notes F/L Punshon had been injured August 19, 1943 in a #2 (Coastal) OTU Beaufighter accident. 20 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB365 swung on take off and lost it's undercarriage, F/O M.P. Floyd RAF safe. 20 #1669 HCU Lancaster I HK729 was approaching to land from a night cross country exercise when a flash-bomb broke lose in the bomb bay, slid to the front and exploded when it hit the forward bulkhead, setting the aircraft on fire and stopping two engines. The burning bomber crash landed, Sgt R.F. Luck RAF killed, F/S W. Jakubowski, F/S A.N.H. Davis RAAF, Sgt F.L. Dean RAF, Sgt A.T. Dunn RAF, Sgt A. Hawkes RAF and Sgt D. Llewelyn RAF injured. 20 #7 OTU Debert, NS, Bolingbroke IV #9179 crashed shortly after take-off from Bagotville, Quebec on a transportation flight, aero engine mechanic LAC W.R. Clark, G/C V.B. Corbett DFC, meteorologist Sgt J.A. Fisher, air frame mechanic LAC W.C. Warrell killed, LAC L. Gobell injured (Dakota www.rafcommands.com). G/C Corbett had been shot down and wounded during the , Aug. 31, 1940, while flying with #1 (F) Sqn. RCAF. 20 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB475 crashed taking off from Lagens in the , F/L J.M. Goldhaar PAF and F/O T.H. Monson RNZAF killed (www.dehavilland.ukf.net, archive.warbirdinformationexchange.org). 20 USAAF B-24M 44-50427 crashed taking off from Gander, Nfld, D.K. McCallum USAAF killed (AAIR).

20-21 Bomber Commandwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca sent 514 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos to attack Dortmund, 156 Halifax with 6 Lancaster and 11 Mosquito Pathfinders to bomb an oil refinery at Düsseldorf, another 112 Halifax, 6 Lancaster and 10 Mosquito bombers to a refinery in Monheim, and 154 Lancasters with 11 Mosquitos to try to breach the Mittelland Canal near Gravenhorst. The two refineries were knocked out of further production, but the attack on the Canal was called off by the Master Bomber due to heavy cloud. As well 91 HCU aircraft made a diversion over the sea, 66 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 16 to Mannheim, 65 RCM, 45 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 6 Special Operations, a total of 1,283 sorties with 22 losses (BC War Diaries). The Light Night Strike Force Mosquitos over Berlin were making the first attack in a string of 35 consecutive nights of attacks on that city. 20-21 101 Sqn. Lancaster I PB671 SR-M lost over Germany, F/O G.L. Halsall, F/O D.W. Weston DFC RAF and Sgt S.J. Stephens RAF killed, S/L T.J. Warner RAF, Sgt W. Hartell RAF, F/O A. Jeffcoat RAF, WO J.A.M. Bird RAF and Sgt E.C. Roberts RAF PoW. F/O Halsall had been injured Nov. 20, 1944 in the loss of a #1656 HCU Halifax. 20-21 153 Sqn. Lancaster I NN785 P4-D lost over Germany, P/O E.S. Neil, P/O P. Thorne RAF, Sgt A. Martin RAF and F/S H.J. Burton RAF killed, F/L W. Holman, WO2 V.S. Reynolds, F/O R.C. Taylor and F/S A.D. Kall were taken PoW. P/O Neil may be the same as Sgt E.S. Neil who was injured June 8-9, 1944 in the crash of a Halifax of 426 Sqn. 20-21 156 Sqn. Lancaster PB701 GT-Q lost over Germany, F/O D.F. Sinfield DFC RAF, F/S E.C. Bangs RAF and F/S T.S. Carr RAF killed, F/O A.J. MacLeod, F/L A.D. Pelly RAF, F/S R. Morgan RAF, Sgt J.D. Routledge RAF and WO W.G. Pearce RAAF PoW. 20-21 158 Sqn. Halifax III LV920 NP-D "Git Up Them Stairs" lost over Germany on it's 94th sortie, F/O C.J.P. Ramsey and F/S F.W. Grant RAF killed, F/O A.M. Lang, F/S H.J. Bailey, F/S H.F. Tyler, Sgt W.M. Philpotts RAF and P/O G. Pond PoW. 20-21 166 Sqn. Lancaster I NG183 AS-D lost over Germany, F/S W.J. Doherty, F/L D.W. Hill, F/S R.E. Kearney, F/S H.A. Neal, F/O S.A. Tafler, Sgt E. Haines RAF and F/S F.H.J. Harris RAF killed. F/L Hill had force landed a #83 OTU Wellington Sept. 12, 1944. 20-21 223 Sqn. Liberator VI TS520 6G-J shot down by a night fighter over Germany on a Bomber Support sortie dropping WINDOW, F/O J.W. Thompson, F/S R.M. Wood, F/S J.H. Kendall RAF, F/S R. Wynn RAF, F/S D. Bryant RAF and Sgt E.E. Whittaker RAF killed, F/S B. Maxwell, F/S G.R. Graham, F/O R.W. Johnson RAF, WO W.F. Baker RAF and WO R.A. Palmer RAF PoW (O. Clutten-Brock). 20-21 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB530 LQ-Q abandoned over the target in Germany, F/S G.E. Bolland DFM RAF was killed when descending in his parachute, but S/L H.F. Marcou AFC RAF (Can.), F/O J.T. Ross, F/O T.W. Downey RAF, F/O R.O. Norse RNZAF, F/O B.G. Smoker RAF, F/O J.A. Lewis RAF and TSgt J.W. Verner USAAF safe as PoWs 20-21 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB804 VR-E was hit by flak and set on fire over the target, pilot F/O L.A. Blaney ordered the bailout but was killed when he stayed at the controls, P/O D. Hanna died when his parachute failed, F/O P.H. Owen, P/O A. Kindret (descending on a parachute attached by only 1 clip, 419 SH), F/S R. Althan, F/S L.J. Nozzolillo and Sgt T.S. Instone RAF PoW. 20-21 424 Sqn. Lancaster I ME456 QB-K hit by flak over the target and was then attacked by a night fighter. With two engines out the crew managed to reach the Allied lines where 5 bailed out before F/Swww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca W.J.G. Cozens made a forced landing and was safe. P/O J.R. Kubin has no known grave, Sgt J. Butler and Sgt A.T. Skett drifted back into occupied territory and were made PoW, F/O G.D. Ree, F/O J. Rubenstein and Sgt E.J. Rhodes landed safe on the Allied side. F/S Cozens was awarded a DFM for his efforts on this sortie (Awards). This loss is described in detail in 424 Squadron History. See March 31, below. 20-21 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG280 QB-U, P/O W. Church, evaded an attack by a night fighter but received damage to the tail by flak (R. Koval). 20-21 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ845 KW-J, F/O G. Lareau, claimed damage on a night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). 20-21 427 Sqn. Halifax III NP942 ZL-T lost over Germany, F/O E. Essenberg and P/O J.M. Wallace killed, WO E.A. Perdue, F/O G.F. Mann, F/O A.J. Breault, F/L J.M. Murphy and Sgt G.B. Tate RAF PoW (O. Clutton-Brock). 20-21 427 Sqn. Halifax III NP941 ZL-X, pilot F/L W.M. Walker, mid-upper gunner F/S A.C. Watson shot a Bf 110 down in flames when it attacked them (R. Koval, Awards). See March 15-16, below. 20-21 429 Sqn. Halifax III PN367 AL-J, F/O L. Morrison, claimed some hits on a night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). 20-21 429 Sqn. Halifax III MZ318 AL-F, F/O W. McSween, evaded two attacks by a Bf 109 fighter (R. Koval). 20-21 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB809 SE-Q lost over Germany, P/O W.S. Dickson, P/O L.E. Hoffman, P/O J.W. Kopp, P/O F.E. Newman killed, F/O I.C. MacCugan, WO2 F.E. Lehman and F/S H.R. Dailey PoW. 20-21 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L B.M. Kaplansky, claimed two Ju 88 night fighters destroyed on this operation (R. Koval). See February 23-24, below. 20-21 432 Sqn. Halifax VII RG455 QO-X lost over Germany, F/S W.G. Mendenhall, F/O E.F. Patzer and Sgt C.I. Grant RAF killed, F/O G.B. Henson, F/O A.H. May, P/O F.S. Daley and F/S J.W.B. McIntosh PoW. F/O Patzer had been a semi-pro hockey player, and on Sept. 13, 1996 CBC reported that his daughter, Paula McKinley, was invited to Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to attend the dedication of a High School Student Centre named for her father. 20-21 432 Sqn. Halifax RG451 QO-D, F/L E.S. Maguire, claimed damage on a fighter that attacked them, possibly rocket powered (R. Koval). See February 21-22, below. 20-21 434 Sqn. Lancaster I NG497 WL-P was attacked and badly damaged by a night fighter that hit a wing, nearly destroyed the mid-upper turret, damaged the radios, intercom, hydraulics, 3 fuel tanks, and shot off an elevator as well as wounding wireless operator air gunner P/O H.A. Davey RCAF (USA) and mid-upper gunner F/S J.H. Taggart. They returned to England and landed at an emergency airfield to get their injured crew to a hospital, but P/O Davey died of his wounds. The rest of the crew, F/O D.J. Cameron, ___ S.J. Weaver, ___ J.G. Ennis, ___ D.F. Sutton and ___ J. Stanfield safe (Alan434 www.rafcommands.com, R. Koval). A photo of the damaged mid-upper turret can be seen at http://www.menintheshed.com/harder/434squadron/ and at http://rcaf434squadron.squarespace.com/combat/. 20-21 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB880 WL-N, F/L I. Andres, evaded attacks by 3 Ju 88 night fighters (or possibly three attacks by a single Ju 88), claiming strikes on each attack (R. Koval). 20-21 578 Sqn. Halifax III NA618 LK-N was shot down over Germany by a night fighter, Sgt W. Bean RAF and F/Swww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca C.G. Jerram RAF killed, F/S J.A. Cahill, F/O I. Denley RAAF, F/S F.E. Mayer RAF, F/S D.J. Ford RAAF, WO J. Mason RAF and Sgt J.F. Maguire RAF PoW. 20-21 625 Sqn. Lancaster I NG267 CF-Y lost over Germany, F/S O. Harding, F/O W.P. Maloney DFC, F/S B.S. Thompson and P/O W.G. Pearce RAF killed, F/O H.R. Dart, WO2 J.A. Dickson, F/O G.H.P. Shephard missing. 20-21 626 Sqn. Lancaster III LM726 UM-P2 lost over Germany, F/O A.J. Beck, Sgt A.T. Dixon RAF, Sgt K.J. Etherington RAF and Sgt H.D. Rutt RAF killed, F/O W.N. Patterson and F/O J. Crawford RAF missing, Sgt T. Whitby RAF PoW. Wednesday 21 #133 (F) Sqn. Kittyhawk I #866 "R", P/O E.E. Maxwell, intercepts and destroys a Japanese Balloon Bomb at 21,000' over Sumas Mountain, near Chilliwack, BC (Joost). (Mikesh notes this incorrectly shot down near Sumas, Washington).

Three more reports turn out to be Venus yet again, resulting in co-ordination of the planets path being taken into account by military reports. This did not, however, eliminate the problem entirely (Joost).

The Republic of San Marino declares war on Germany (wikipedia).

Operation VERITABLE, clearing skies over the Rhineland battlefield allows 2nd Tactical Air Force aircraft to give support to the Canadian Army attack on German positions which had held them back for the last several days. By evening these had been cleared at heavy cost (M. Zuehlke).

USAAF heavy bombers attack rail yards at Nüremberg for the second day (Zijlstra).

#143 Wing of bomber Typhoons with an RAF Wing of rocket Typhoons attacked 2 V-1 sites in Holland (6th Year).

413 Sqn. arrives in England and becomes part of 6 Group for conversion to a Bomber Unit, but this is now not seen as necessary.

First flight of the Hawker Sea Fury fighter, a naval fighter based on the Tempest (wikipedia). 21 VMSB-245 USMC Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21298 lost to unknown cause at Ulithi in the Philippines (J. Baugher). 21 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe RM839 was shot down attacking a train, F/L L.G. Barnes bailed out behind enemy lines but reported safe (possibly unrecorded PoW). 21 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIV RM758 was hit and damaged by flak on an armed reconnaissance, returned to it's base but crashed when landing, F/L J.C. McAllister killed. F/L McAllister had been injured April 25, 1942 in the crash of #11 EFTS Finch #4656. 21 412 Sqn. Spitfire, F/L L.A. Stewart damaged an Me 262 jet fighter (H.A. Halliday). 21 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM365 landed in Belgium on 1 wheel and written off (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 21 438 Sqn. Typhoonwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Ib PD476 F3-E hit by flak and abandoned over Germany, WO G.R. Errington PoW. 21 196 Sqn. Stirling LK196 attacked over England by a night fighter, rear gunner WO1 J.B. McGovern killed (Hugh Halliday, www.rafcommands.com).

21-22 Bomber Command sent 362 Lancasters with 11 Mosquitos to Duisburg, and 288 Halifax to Worms with 36 Lancasters and 25 Mosquitos as markers on the towns only attack of the war which destroyed or damaged much of the industry in Worms at the cost of most of the old buildings in it's centre, and 239 killed. As well 165 Lancasters with 12 Mosquitos returned to the Mittelland Canal and breached it's banks again. Other operations include 77 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin and 5 more to Bremen, 66 RCM, 35 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 28 Special Operations for a total of 1,110 sorties with 34 losses (BC War Diaries). 21-22 49 Sqn. Lancaster I NG327 EA-K lost over Germany, P/O R.J. Simpson, F/O E.P. Smith RNZAF, F/S J. Newby RAF, Sgt E.J.F. McCarthy RAF and Sgt C.F.P. Burridge RAF killed, Sgt J. Corbett RAF and F/O E.F. Hook RAF PoW. F/O Hook was killed April 4, 1945 when the column of prisoners he was in was strafed in error by Allied fighters. 21-22 49 Sqn. Lancaster III PB568 EA-Y lost over Germany, F/S J.P. Gascoyne RAF killed, F/O R. Mallinson RAF, Sgt E. Stansill RAF, F/S J.F. Le Marquand RAF and P/O F.E. Grimsdale RAF PoW, P/O H. Eberley and F/S M.H. Makofski RAF evaded. 21-22 50 Sqn. Lancaster I LL741 VN-X lost over Holland, F/O P.G. Anderson, P/O R. Campbell, P/O D.A. McFayden, P/O W.R. Southcott, F/S D.A. McCauley RAF and Sgt F.S. Langton RAF killed, Sgt D.W. Laws RAF safe. 21-22 76 Sqn. Halifax III NR121 MP-E lost over Germany, P/O H.L. Ball, F/O W.B. Mallen, F/S J.J. McNeil, P/O J. Pennington, F/O W.J. Phillips, Sgt J. Faulkner RAF and WO E. Boydell RAF killed. P/O Ball and possibly several of this crew had come through a mid-air collision Jan. 5-6, above. 21-22 77 Sqn. Halifax III NP967 KN-Z shot down over Germany, F/O M.N. Firth killed, P/O K.C. McKeown missing, F/O W.T. Brennan, F/O K.W. Joy, Sgt J.W. Talbot RAF, Sgt W. Haile RAF and Sgt A. Robinson RAF PoW. 21-22 158 Sqn. Halifax III NR177 NP-W was lost over Germany, F/O J.L. Hackman, F/O S.A. Hearst, F/O J.F. Coghlan, F/S J.D. Edgar, F/O R.R. Anweiler, Sgt J. Crane RAF and WO G.W. Culham RAF PoW. F/O Hearst and F/O Anweiler were soon repatriated with injuries. 21-22 161 Sqn. Hudson III T9405 MA-K hit by flak and crashed in Germany on Operation CROC, F/O J.M. Hartman RAF and W/C G. Watson DFM RAF killed, F/L O.H. Morgan, F/L F.M. Jarman RAAF and F/L D.T. Oliver RAF PoW. 21-22 170 Sqn. Lancaster III PB573 TC-H was hit by flak over Germany and was being abandoned when it was attacked by a night fighter, F/S F.H. Paterson missing, F/L M.A. Coderre, F/O R.W. Cooper, F/O K.A. Flanagan, F/S F.R. MacInnes, Sgt H.P. Morrison RAF and F/S A.V. Lewis RAF safe. 21-22 207 Sqn. Lancaster I PB814 EM-T lost over Germany, F/S J.B. Davey, F/O T.B. Phelan, Sgt H. Winning RAF, P/O E. Grundy RAF, F/S A.A. Oak RAF and Sgt F.C.J. O'Shea RAF killed, Sgt J.A. Holmes RAF PoW. 21-22 207 Sqn. Lancaster III PB295 EM-I lost over Germany, WO2 J. Gardiner, WO2 M.E. Granbois, F/S R.C. MacNicoll, F/S A.A. Swihura RCAF (USA) and Sgt J.T. Lupton RAF killed, Sgt J.W. Spencewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca PoW, and WO1 C.O. Huntley evaded. 21-22 227 Sqn. Lancaster III PB666 9J-J lost over Holland, F/O P.I. Green RAF, Sgt H.R. Piper RAF and Sgt F.G. Edwards RAF killed, WO1 A.F. Dales, WO1 D.E. Cassidy, Sgt H. Roberts RAF and Sgt W. Lancaster RAF PoW. 21-22 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP711 EQ-O lost over Germany, P/O N.P. Andersen, F/O W.J. Gilmore RCAF (USA), F/L D.M. Sanderson, P/O D.E. Sherman, F/O R.B. Smith, P/O W.W. Wagner and Sgt J. Wilson RAF killed. 21-22 408 Sqn. Halifax VII RG477 EQ-N lost on a sortie to Germany due to a Schrage Musik attack that exploded the oxygen supply tanks, F/L R.H. Fleming, F/O H.O. Hinson, F/O G.M. Keech, F/S J. Gazo, F/S A.R. Olsen, F/S D. Steele and Sgt S.A. Powell RAF PoW (6th Year). 21-22 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR290 PT-K, P/O R.E. Bagnell, claimed a single engined night fighter that attacked them as probably destroyed (R. Koval, Awards). See March 15, below. 21-22 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NN780 QB-Y, P/O D.R. Saunders, claimed some hits on a single engined night fighter that tried to attack them (R. Koval, Awards). See April 22, below. 21-22 424 Sqn. Lancaster I RA507 QB-S, F/L D.E. Sillers, were attacked by a Ju 88 night fighter that slightly wounded the wireless operator, WO2 G. Smith (R. Koval, Awards). See March 5-6, below. 21-22 427 Sqn. Halifax III NR288 ZL-F hit and exploded on the bomb run over Germany, F/S L.O. Foisy, P/O D.A. Henderson, P/O A.J. McLeod, P/O R.R. Stuart, F/O L. Webster and Sgt J.F.W. Taylor RAF killed, P/O W.R. Wilson PoW (6th Year). This was the last crew lost by 427 Sqn. which now began to convert to Lancasters. 21-22 427 Sqn. Halifax III MZ452 ZL-E, F/L G.M. Tegerdine, claimed damage on a Bf 110 night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). 21-22 427 Sqn. Halifax III MZ755 ZL-R, pilot F/O F. Kaye, were attacked by a single engined night fighter that the gunners Sgt J.S. Dalling and Sgt M.E. Thompson shot down in flames (R. Koval). See March 25, below. 21-22 427 Sqn. Halifax III RG347 ZL-G "Gutsy Girty", pilot F/L W. Towne, rear gunner F/S P.A. Bradbury shot down a night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). See April 16-17, below. 21-22 429 Sqn. Halifax III NR230 AL-H, F/L C.S. Pope, shot down a Fw 190 Wilde Sau fighter that attacked then, the pilot was seen to bail out (R. Koval, Awards). 21-22 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP803 QO-I lost on an operation to Germany due to a Schrage Musik attack, F/O R.I. Bradley, Sgt J.W. Reid, F/O J.A. Fraser, F/O R.H. Mueller, P/O J.G. Stephen, Sgt V.L. Shulz and Sgt D.C. Duffy PoW. It is believed that Sgt. Shulz flew under the name Smith (W.R. Chorley; 6th Year). 21-22 432 Sqn. Halifax VII RG451 QO-D lost over Germany to a night fighter attack, F/L E.S. Maguire, F/L J.G. Maguire, P/O E.J. McClarty, F/O C.W. McMillan, F/L C.S. Moir and Sgt A.A. McDonald RAF killed, F/S F.T. McLachlan PoW. W.R. Chorley notes that it is singular that all the crews names began with the same letter. TSGNO also notes that F/L Moir had been slightly injured July 9, 1943 in the crash of a Hudson in Charlottetown, PEI. 21-22 432 Sqn. Halifax VII RG476 QO-T lost over Germany after multiple night fighter attacks, F/O J.A. Bleich, F/O G.E. Creswell, P/O A.J. Hunter and P/O A.C. Hogg RAF killed, F/O F.O. Baxter, F/S G.E. Armstrong and F/S S.E. Waterbury PoW (6th Year). 21-22 433 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O W.G.R. Simpson, lost an engine outbound, but bombed late and returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 21-22 576 Sqn. Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca I ME735 UL-B2 lost over Germany, F/L C.H. Living, P/O J.A. Russell, Sgt J.F.A. Mooney RAF, F/O R.C. Hill RAF, F/S G.L.V. Tabor RAF, Sgt H. Burrows RAF and Sgt H. Peach RAF killed. 21-22 576 Sqn. Lancaster I NG464 UL-O2 abandoned over France after being hit by flak over Germany, F/L K. Halnan, F/O E.N. Weldon, F/O G.T. Shepherd, Sgt W.G. Young RAF, Sgt F.R. Lait RAF, F/S H.G.C. Farey RAF and Sgt R.M. Gray RAF safe. 21-22 578 Sqn. Halifax III RG353 LK-E shot down by flak over Germany, F/L P. Brown RAF and F/S H. Mann RAF killed, F/O A.J. Combaz, F/O G.T. McCauley, Sgt J. Grindlay RAF, F/S W.J. Hunter RAF and F/S C.J.T. Watt RAF have no known grave. 21-22 582 Sqn. Lancaster III PB652 6O-L was written off by damage after returning from an operation over Germany, WO2 C.M. Hutton, F/O J. Gale RAF, Sgt J. Buxton RAF, F/S A. MacDougall RAF, F/S N.P. Smith RAF, Sgt G.T. Everett RAF and Sgt C.A.H. Dixon RAF safe. 21-22 626 Sqn. Lancaster I LM105 UM-T2 lost over Germany, F/O T.J. O'Neill, WO1 R.S. Pyatt, F/O D. Rodger RAF, Sgt H.B. King RAF, F/O R.W. Donner RAF, F/S C.R. Badger RAF and Sgt R. Thomson RAF killed.

Thursday 22 Oil refineries at Gelsenkirchen and Osterfeld were accurately attacked by 167 Lancasters with the loss of 1 bomber (BC War Diaries).

Operation CLARION against German communication targets by RAF and USAAF begins. Large scale operations by tactical bombers, fighters and fighter bombers as well as 1,411 heavy bombers attack 202 targets at medium altitude all over Germany with massive fighter protection from bases in Italy, England and liberated Europe, a total of 8,688 sorties, losing 87 aircraft (G. Williams, Zijlstra, H.A. Halliday at www.rafcommnds.com). The RAF lost 21 of 143 Mosquitos and some 40 damaged due to flak on the CLARION attacks, the highest loss rate for these aircraft which usually operated at night or at low level (Dick, Dakota and H.A. Halliday, www.rafcommands.com). 418 Sqn. provided 20 sorties on this day, the highest of any Mosquito squadron involved, losing 4 (possibly 1 more damaged), see below.

Brazilian troops in Italy force through German defences, allowing British forces to advance to Bologna (wikipedia).

Near Berlin 16 P-51s were jumped by 16 Me 262 jet fighters and both groups fought without result until the P-51s had to break off due to low fuel, the jets did not follow, possibly also low on fuel. This shows that in experienced hands propellor fighters could hold off the jets if the latter stayed to fight on the slower fighters terms, but could not achieve much beyond survival without an advantage such as surprise.

Balloon Bombs were discovered at Chase BC, Manyberries Alberta and Porcupine Plains Saskatchewan (Mikesh). 22 125 (Newfoundland) Sqn. Mosquito NF.XVII HK262 failed to return from an evening interception sortie over the North Sea, WO M. Woodthorpe RAF and F/S D.J. Long RAF missing (John Larder, rafcommands.com). 22 401 Sqn. Spitfirewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca LF.IX MJ851 hit by flak attacking enemy transport and force landed in Holland, F/L F.T. Murray safe. 22 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM338 suffered an engine failure, F/O R.M. Tegerdine bailed out and was injured (PoW or evaded). See Feb. 3, above. 22 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXe PL252 was hit on a dive bombing attack in Holland, F/O W. Cowan bailed out but was killed when he struck the tailplane. 22 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS569 TH-V lost on a patrol over Germany, F/L H.E. Miller RAF and F/S W. Hooper RAF killed. 22 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS604 TH-M lost on a patrol over Germany, F/L G. Hackett and F/O L.A. Brittain RAF safe (possibly unrecorded PoW?) (418 SH). 22 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ388 TH-R lost on a patrol over Germany, F/L H.M. Hope and F/O L.A. Thorpe RAF killed. 22 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ397 TH-X lost on a patrol over Germany, squadron commanding officer W/C J.C. Wickett and F/O W. Jessop PoW. 22 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ416 missing on an INTRUDER patrol (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 22 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MP151 hit by flak attacking ground targets in Germany and crashed, F/L B.P. Swingler has no known grave. He had just begun his second operational tour (6th Year). 22 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PT725 was hit and damaged by ricocheting bullets attacking enemy transport in Germany, Squadron commanding officer S/L M.E. Jowsey DFC evaded. 22 464 Sqn. RAAF Mosquito FB.VI NT177 shot down over Germany by a USAAF P-51 while attacking enemy communications targets, F/O R.W.A. Rankin killed, his navigator P/O D.S. Judd RAF PoW (A. Storr). 22 487 Sqn. RNZAF Mosquito FB.VI HP933 EG-N lost over Germany, shot down by flak, F/O P.H. Burne and F/L A.J. Vickers killed. 22 613 Sqn. Mosquito lost, F/L A.E. Arnold RAF (Can.) and F/O A.W. Higginson RAF killed. Aircraft FB.VI NS899? 22 USAAF 504th FS, 339th FG P-51D [Mustang] 44-14153 5Q-J was shot down by flak attacking an airfield in Germany, Capt. R.T. Wood DFC(US) USAAF (Can.) killed (AAIR, J. Baugher). 22 #83 Group Service Unit Spitfire LF.IX MJ405 dove into the ground on a daylight training exercise, killing WO1 R.P. Keaist. 22 #1658 HCU Halifax III LL611 landed long when practicing circuits and ran off the runway, collapsing it's undercarriage, Sgt A.E. Gamble, P/O J.A. Phillips RAF and their crew safe. 22 unknown unit, pilot F/O G.W. Rowe RAF killed in England, no details. TSGNO lists him as a Canadian in the RAF and states he died Feb. 23, but CWGC states Feb.22, and that F/O Rowe may have been English, married to a Canadian, confirmed by C. Charland at www.rafcommands.com. 22 USAAF 7th Ferry Group P-38L 44-25407 damaged at the new USAAF Airfield built at Namao, Alberta (AAIR).

22-23 Bomber Command sent out 73 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 6 to Bremen, 4 to Erfurt and 3 making circuits of various German cities, 35 Lancasters attacking railway viaducts, 48 RCM, 23 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 19 Special Operations, a nights total of 211 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries).

Friday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 23 Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima captured (Polsson).

In the last of the special operations on prisoner camps on Luzon, Philippine and US forces seized the perimeter of the Los Baños internment camp and marked a landing zone for US Paratroopers who landed and assisted in eliminating the guard force. This allowed amphibious vehicles to land from the nearby Lake Laguna de Bay. The force then evacuated 2,147 Allied civilians and military prisoners (including Canadians) across the lake to Allied lines. Local civilians were told to leave the area in case of reprisals but many did not, and some 1,500 Philippine civilians were killed by Japanese and pro-Japanese Philippinos after the attack (wikipedia).

Turkey declares war on Germany (Polsson). No Turkish forces served in combat in the war but this gave them a seat at the World Security Conference. Many other countries were following the same path.

Second day of Operation CLARION (Oxford), 1,193 USAAF bombers from England and 455 from Italy head to attack communication and railway targets across Germany with every available fighter to protect them against expected heavy German fighter attacks, but none occurred (Zijlstra).

The Krupps works at Essen was accurately bombed through cloud on sky markers by 297 Halifax bombers with 27 Lancaster and 18 Mosquito Pathfinders. Another force of 133 Lancasters made a GEE-H attack on the oil target at Gelsenkirchen, plus 1 RCM sortie, a total of 476 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). Over 100 RAF and USAAF aircraft use FIDO to land in England due to bad weather (G. Williams).

Canadian Army reaches the Rhine (Oxford). Flood conditions in front of the US 9th Army finally ease, allowing it to pivot on the Canadian breakthrough in the Reischswald and cross the Roer River (). German commanders had not expected this, and most of their forces were still engaged against the Canadian and British forces in the Rhineland (M. Zuehlke).

In the Arctic a Ju 88 attacks convoy RA-64, sinking a freighter, the last Allied ship lost to German air attack (D. Sommerville).

413 Sqn. disbanded in England (RCAF Sqns.), the first Article 15 squadron to be withdrawn. 23 Ground Attack Training Unit, RAF Ranchi, India, Canadian built Hurricane IIc PJ721 was practicing on the ranges when it's engine failed and it belly landed (aviation-safety.net). 23 158 Sqn. Halifax III PN380 NP-M lost without trace on an operation to Germany, F/O D.W. Bateman, F/S W.R. Cookson, F/O C.W. Hall, F/O G.A. Hoggard, F/S W.G. Roberts, Sgt W.A. Frost RAF and Sgt M. Sills RAF missing. 23 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L D.L. Buchanan, was unable to raise it's undercarriage and had to return early (R. Koval, Awards). 23 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L R.R. Flynn, returned early when it lost sight of the other bombers in the stream in cloudwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca (R. Koval, Awards). 23 420 Sqn. Halifax III, S/L F.S. McCarthy, was damaged in a wing and lost an aerial to flak (R. Koval, Awards). 23 423 Sqn. Sunderland, F/L F.J. Grant, dropped 6 depth-charges on a schnorkeling U-boat. When turning to assess the attack a second schnorkel was sited which was attacked with the remaining 2 depth-charges, and air and ships were called to the area without result (6th Year). 23 429 Sqn. Halifax III LW139 AL-P was on a training flight, and was making a 3-engined landing when another engine failed and it crashed. F/L P.F. Robb was killed in the crash, F/O F.E. Casher, F/S H.H. Hockley and F/L D.S. MacNabb died later of injuries, F/S C.S. Hopf, F/O D.M. McMurchy and Sgt A.E. Lowthwaite RAF survived with injuries. 23 #111 OTU, Bahamas, Liberator V BZ746 and Liberator III FL994 collided over Windsor airfield. FL994 managed to make a safe landing, but BZ746 crashed, killing F/O A.E. Hayes, Sgt J.R. Birch RAF, Sgt C. Jackson RAF, F/O L.A. Birkett RAF, Sgt G.D. Cribbes RAF, Sgt B.W. Hutchings RAF, Sgt A.I. Tomlinson RAF and F/S A. Holland RAF.

23-24 The town of Pforzheim was attacked by a force of 367 Lancasters with 13 Mosquitos which made a very accurate attack. Over 1,800 tons of bombs were dropped in 22 minutes. Within minutes a firestorm was started and over 17,000 people died, a third of it's then population and the third highest loss of German citizens and forced workers in a bombing during the war. Some 83% of the towns buildings were destroyed, bringing a halt to the manufacture of anti-aircraft shells and fuzes, timepieces and other precision instruments made here (wikipedia). 418 Sqn. had 8 Mosquitos making harassing attacks around Grevenboch, losing 1 (6th Year).

An additional attack was made on what was thought to be a U-boat base at the shipyard at Horten in Norway, which demolished the towns shipyard. As well 70 Mosquitos of the LNSF were over Berlin, 18 to other targets, 54 RCM, 25 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, 22 GARDENING and 13 Special Operations, a total of 666 sorties with 17 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries). 23-24 97 Sqn. Lancaster III PB588 OF-E shot down over Norway by a night fighter, F/S M.R. McQuillan, F/L B.J. Hines RAF, F/L J. Ray RAF, F/S A.J. Marrable RAF, F/S C.W. Palmer RAF, Sgt J.M. Sinclair RAF killed, Sgt D. Moroney RAF missing. 23-24 101 Sqn. ABC equipped Lancaster I RA523 SR-I lost over Germany, F/L W.A. McLenaghan, F/O J.K. Balcombe, F/O N.W. Ingeberg, WO1 L.F. Kennedy, F/S F.R. Boyd, F/S F.R. Fletcher, F/S W.R. Searle RAAF and Sgt C.G. Vicary DFM RAF PoW. 23-24 170 Sqn. Lancaster III PB595 TC-J "Jane on the Job" lost over Germany, F/L W.M. Constable, F/S R.J.H. Johnstone and F/S D.E. Leliever killed, F/O R.R. Summers, F/S D. Peletz, WO2 S. Hart and Sgt L. Aston RAF PoW, F/S Peletz with a broken leg (http://www.lancaster- archive.com). 23-24 192 Sqn. Halifax III NA241 DT-O lost over Germany on bomber support sortie, F/S T.G. Campbell, F/L W.H.P. Mitchell RAAF, F/S J.L. Kerr RAF (Brazil), Sgt F. Parkins RAF, Sgt A.K. Goodall RAF, F/O A.W. Clark RAF and Sgt R.N. Seager RAF killed, P/O R. Powell RAF (the special operator) PoW. This Squadron at this time was involved in many activities, including jamming, WINDOW spoofs, and investigations into German airborne . It iswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca not known what this aircraft's task was. 23-24 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR342 TH-N lost over Germany, F/O L.H. McLeod and F/O G.D. Morrison RAF killed (6th Year). 23-24 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB866 VR-M, F/L M.W. McLaughlin, rear gunner F/O J.D.M.R. Charbonnéau claimed a Ju 88 that attacked them shot down (R. Koval). See March 15-16, below (6th Year). 23-24 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB773 SE-P, F/L B.M. Kaplansky, lost an engine after taking off, and then the rear turret went unserviceable. They continued to the target, bombed, and returned, evading 6 attacks by a Ju 88 night fighter which was claimed as damaged by the mid-upper gunner F/S M.S. Jowett (R. Koval; 6th Year). 23-24 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB824 WL-E, F/L T.W. Buttle, witnessed a night fighter shoot down another Lancaster before it turned and attacked them, gunners F/S J. McAlpine and Sgt G. Fleming returned fire. In the exchange the night fighter hit the bombers right wing, taking off a 6' section and setting an engine on fire. The tail turret and elevators were also hit, while the night fighter was claimed as damaged. They returned safely to their base (R. Koval; Awards; 6th Year). See March 31, below. 23-24 550 Sqn. Lancaster I LM273 BQ-O lost over Germany, WO2 R.T. Sowter, Sgt E. MacKenzie RAF and Sgt E.C. Jarvis RAF killed, F/O D.H. Grundy, WO2 R.C. McLauchlan, Sgt E.W. King RAF and F/S L.F. Figg RAF PoW. 23-24 550 Sqn. Lancaster I NF998 BQ-D crashed making an emergency landing in England after being struck by bombs over it's target in Germany, F/O R.D. Harris, F/S D.J. Yemen, F/O G.J. Nicol, Sgt M.T. Ditson, Sgt D.J. Hicks, Sgt K.J.B. Smith RAF and Sgt G.P. Kelleher RAF safe. See March 7-8, below. 23-24 582 Sqn. Lancaster III PB583 6O-M acting as Master Bomber at Pforzheim was attacked on the initial bomb run by a night fighter. The pilot, Capt. E. Swales DFC SAAF, held the bomber straight to make an accurate marking drop. Despite having one engine out, the rear turret disabled, and with fuel leaking out of damaged tanks, Capt. Swales then began orbiting the city and started his control duties as Master Bomber. The Lancaster was attacked for a second time which took out another engine and destroyed the instrument panel, but Capt. Swales continued his control duties until the operation was well under way. Attempting to return the bomber became increasingly hard to control until, at a low altitude, a control rod broke and Capt. Swales ordered a bail out, P/O N. Bourne, F/S G.W. Bennington DFM RAF, S/L D.P.D. Archer DSO DFC RAF, P/O R.A. Wheaton RAAF, F/L C. Dodson DSO DFC RAF, P/O A.V. Goodacre RAAF and F/S B. Leach RAF survived, but Capt. Swales was unable to get out and was killed. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. 23-24 608 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB350 6T-B lost without trace on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/O R.A.A. Doherty DFC RAF and F/O L. Moore RAF missing. 23-24 625 Sqn. Lancaster I PB815 CF-O abandoned over France after being damaged by falling bombs over it's target in Germany, WO2 J.P. Sullivan slightly injured, F/O D.R. Paige, F/S K.E. Campbell, F/S J.K. McRorie, Sgt R.B. Bennett RAF, F/S J.A. Puttick RAF and F/S J. Bettany RAF safe.

Saturday 24 Egypt declares war on Germany and Japan (Oxford). Immediately after making this declarationwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca the Premier, Ahmed Maher Pasha, was shot and killed in the Egyptian assembly by an assassin believed to be a member of the Moslem Brotherhood (wikipedia, K. Farrington).

Although Egyptian units had been involved in the war in North Africa (especially anti- aircraft units), no Egyptian units saw combat after the declaration (http://homepages.force9.net/rothwell/Egypt.htm). Syria and Lebanon also declare war on Germany and Japan (wikipedia).

A synthetic oil plant at Bergkamen was attacked by 290 Halifax, 26 Lancaster and 24 Mosquito bombers and markers making an attack through cloud using OBOE and H2S which strayed into the neighbouring town of Kamen. Cloud obscured the Dortmund-Ems Canal from a force of 166 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos which abandoned their operation to breach it. Only 1 of the 510 bombers was lost (BC War Diaries).

Various targets across northern Germany were attacked by 1,090 USAAF heavy bombers, which were forced to drop through heavy cloud using H2X (Zijlstra).

With the advance of the US Ninth Army towards the Rhine, German command requested they be allowed to withdraw their soldiers across the river, but Hitler refused, insisting the positions on the west bank be held (M. Zuehlke).

An Ar 234 is forced down by USAAF P-47 fighters and the largely intact wreck is later captured by ground troops. The first example to fall into Allied hands, it is dismantled and sent to England for examination (Bateson). 24 436 Sqn., Burma, F/L H.W. Hingston and F/L H.E. McNeil landed their Dakotas under fire to deliver supplies needed by the Army units advancing on Meiktila, for which they both received DFCs (6th Year). 24 274 Sqn. Tempest, F/L R.C. Kennedy damaged a Me 262 jet fighter (H.A. Halliday). 24 415 Sqn. Halifax III NP936 6U-P lost over Germany, P/O R.C. Brown, P/O C.C.B. Craigie RCAF (USA), P/O J. Gallagher, P/O W.H. Jones, F/O P. Pokryfka, P/O L.A. Russell and F/S L. Trowsdale RAF killed. 24 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L A.S. Cruikshank, slightly damaged by an exploding bomber [possibly NP936 above] (R. Koval, Awards). 24 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM238 abandoned on fire on a fighter sweep, F/L W.F. PoW (421 SH). 24 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O J. MacFarland, damaged in the tail and a wing by flak (R. Koval). 24 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O L.R. Deryckere, hit by flak that slightly wounded the navigator, F/L P.K. Deane (R. Koval, Awards). F/L Deane was struck over the heart by shrapnel which was stopped by a watch in his pocket but still broke a rib (6th Year). F/O Deryckere was awarded a DFC on the completion of his tour, and his navigator F/L Deane was MiD (Awards). 24 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L J.M. Wallace MiD AM(US), had flak damage to it's fuselage (R. Koval, Awards). 24 432 Sqn. Halifaxwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca VII, F/L W.E. Miller, had damage to it's cockpit by flak (R. Koval, Awards). See April 8-9, below. 24 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L W. Mennie, made a safe landing without hydraulics at an emergency airfield (R. Koval). 24 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib PD592 was hit by flak over Germany attacking rail lines and force landed, F/O J. Flintoft evaded (www.conscript-heroes.com MI-9 files; 6th Year). 24 442 Sqn. Spitfires LF.IXe NH489 and MJ464 were on an armed reconnaissance over a German airfield. F/L J.G. Doyle in MJ464 was last heard on the R/T saying "Lets do it again, this time line abreast.", possibly referring to a strafing attack. F/O J.A.E.T. Cousineau in NH489 reported being under attack by 10 enemy fighters in the Rhine area of Germany. Both were shot down and killed. 24 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM478 was hit by flak, F/L D.M. Walz bailed out and was taken PoW (H. Welting www.rafcommands.com) 24 RCAF Station Gander, Newfoundland, tractor operator Cpl E.W. Hearn died of carbon monoxide poisoning (from TSGNO, CWGC states this occurred Feb. 24, 1946). 24 #135 (F) Sqn. (?) Kittyhawk IV #849 written off after a crash in , BC (R.W.R. Walker).

24-25 A diversion was flown by 74 training aircraft over France to fool German night fighters into launching, as well as 63 LNSF Mosquitos over Berlin, 18 to Neuss and 3 touring various German cities, 37 RCM, 23 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 35 GARDENING sorties, a total of 253 sorties. The diversion worked well, all 5 of the bombers lost were on RCM sorties with the sweep (BC War Diaries). The USAAF 410th Group was also active, attacking the rail yards at Hildesheim using a Master Bomber, B-26 Marauders dropping flares to illuminate the target, A-26 Intruders using Target Indicators to mark the aiming point for the main force of A-20 Havocs to drop 51 tons of bombs without loss (Zijlstra). The area between the Rhine and the Maas rivers was patrolled by 11 Mosquitos of 418 Sqn. (6th Year).

Sunday 25 The oil plant at Kamen (Bergkamen) was again attacked by GEE-H by 153 Lancasters with the loss of 1 bomber. In the two towns 199 were killed in Kamen and 33 in Bergkamen in these two attacks (BC War Diaries).

A V-1 site in Holland was attacked by #143 Wing with RAF rocket Typhoons in support (6th Year).

USAAF sent 1,177 escorted heavy bombers to various targets in southern Germany, losing 5 bombers and 5 fighters (Zijlstra). 25 358 Sqn. Liberator EW188 "H" was on a supply drop to agents in Indo-China and was last heard from on radio over the Chin Hills, Burma, F/O L.P. Cloutier, F/S R.G. Pryor RAAF, WO G.E. Foster RAF, F/O D.J. Boston RAF, F/S M.R. Vagg RAAF, F/S E.F. Warmer RAAF, Sgt G.W. Mount RAF and Sgt J.P.J. Power RAF killed. Postwar the wreck and the remains of the crew were found in French Indo-China (later South Vietnam) (A. Storr). 25 435 Sqn. Dakotas flew 10 aircraft making a combat drop to Army units engaged in clearing Japanese airfields near Meiktila (6th Year). 25 402 Sqn. Spitfirewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca XIV RM906 was hit by flak and F/L W.S. Harvey bailed out and was made PoW. He escaped and was found by Allied soldiers in April. 25 402 Sqn. Spitfires, F/L B.E. Innes and F/L K.S. Sleep claim a Me 262 damaged (H.A. Halliday). 25 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PK992 DB-W was hit attacking a target over Germany, P/O R.V. Watson bailed out in enemy territory but is listed as safe (possibly unrecorded PoW?) (JohnE www.rafcommands.com). 25 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM227 force landed in enemy territory after an engine failure in a fight with enemy fighters, F/O J.J. Menard PoW (416 SH). 25 416 Sqn. Spitfire, P/O L.E. Spurr claimed a Me 262 damaged. P/O Spurr later flew on exchange in Korea where he destroyed a MiG-15 (H.A. Halliday). 25-26 Bomber Command sent 63 LNSF Mosquitos to bomb Erfurt, 10 to Berlin, 10 to Mainz and 6 to Bremen with 8 RCM, 23 SERRATE/INTRUDER, 20 Special Operations and 10 GARDENING sorties off Norway, total 150 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries).

Operation BLOCKBUSTER begins, with Canadian Army units advancing toward the US Ninth Army (M. Zuehlke). 25-26 58 Sqn. Halifax GR.II HX224 lost in the Skagerak off Denmark, F/O H.J.A. McLean RAAF killed, P/O H.J. Arnold, P/O H.R. Hammerton, WO2 G.W. Lee, S/L R.G.R. Frazer RAF, F/S J.E. Lomas RAF, F/S J. Duncan RAF and F/S R.W. Brett RAF missing (A. Storr). The remains of F/O McLean were recovered in his turret by a fishing boat dredge in November 1979 (www.flensted.eu.com). 25-26 298 Sqn. Halifax III NA103 "T-M" was on a sortie to drop supplies to agents in Norway when it took a direct hit by flak and crashed on fire into the sea, F/O R.S. Edick RCAF (USA), P/O C.A. Holmlund, F/O E.A. Innes, F/O A. Kotyk, P/O H. Lochhead and F/S W.G. Godfrey RAF missing. In 1988 a cairn was dedicated on Hisoy Island, near the crash site, to honour this crew (R. Tebbutt). 25-26 429 Sqn. Halifax III MZ452 ZL-E "Enemy Exterminator" (borrowed from 427 Sqn.) lost without trace on a GARDENING sortie off Norway, F/S E.R. Alm, P/O J.G.R. Buchanan, F/L I.B. Benson, WO2 W.R. Fields, F/O V.B. Fleming, F/S R.F. Piercy and Sgt J.C. Baker RAF missing.

Monday 26 The Hoesch oil plant at Dortmund was attacked through cloud using GEE-H by 149 Lancasters without loss (BC War Diaries).

USAAF sent 1,102 bombers to bomb targets in Berlin, losing 5 bombers and 5 fighters (Zijlstra). 26 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5208 damaged beyond repair in an accident in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 26 224 Sqn. Liberator GR.VIII KG964 XB-P lost on an anti-submarine patrol off Norway, F/S J.L. Gallipeau killed, P/O L.A. Chadwick, F/S T.E. Murphy, F/O R.W. Ponting RAF, F/S R. Hadlow RAF, F/S J.J. Williams RAF, F/L C. Mapletoft RAAF, F/S C. Jackson RAF, Sgt M.G. Bliss RAF, F/S D.C. Davies RAF and Sgt G.W. Carter RAF missing (A. Storr, R. McNeill & COL BRUGGY rafcommands.com). 26 #1668 HCU Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca II DS838 left the taxiway when the brakes failed due to over use, and was damaged when the pilot, F/O K.J. Mackenzie, tried to power his way out of soft ground. 26 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB575 crashed in French Guiana (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

26-27 The LNSF sent 38 Mosquitos to Berlin, 38 more to Nüremberg, 3 on tours to various cities, 1 RCM, 6 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 18 Special Operations with the loss of 1 aircraft (BC War Diaries). Areas near the Rhine were patrolled by 13 418 Sqn. Mosquitos (6th Year). 26-27 138 Sqn. Stirling IV LK272 NF-P was sent to drop 4 agents into Norway in Operation CRUPPER 37 and was shot down into the North Sea, F/S S.S. Hagerty, F/O L.J. Gornall DFC RAF, F/O J.E. Stanton RAAF, WO B.D. Tovey RAAF, F/L P.B. Cornwallis RAF, Sgt J.E. Cory RAF and P/O S.A. Pepworth DFM RAF missing, the names and fates of the agents is unknown (R. Tebbutt). 26-27 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.Xc, P/O C.N. Moe and WO W.A. Wade RAF on a night patrol off Norway sighted a group of 4 enemy ships near and attacked an escort with rockets, scoring some hits. A second Beaufighter, F/O J.M. Coyne, attacked a merchant ship also claiming hits, while a third flown by F/O R.A. Wallace DFC was forced away by flak (6th Year).

Tuesday 27 Bomber Command sent 311 Halifax, 131 Lancaster and 16 Mosquitos to make an OBOE attack on sky markers through cloud on Mainz, which suffered it's worst bombing of the war. A further 149 Lancasters made a GEE-H attack on an oil target at Gelsenkirchen, a total of 607 sorties with 3 losses (BC War Diaries). R. Koval notes that USAAF bombers were also in the target area, and at least one flight flew through the #6 Group stream, disrupting their bomb runs (see below).

Attacks on THUNDERCLAP targets continued as the USAAF sent 1,100 heavy bombers with escort to attack targets in the Halle, Liepzig and Chemnitz areas.

As an aside, the RAF bomber formation from Mainz crossed beneath a returning USAAF formation on the border of France and Germany, one of the few times both forces crossed paths in strength (419 SH). 27 32 Sqn. Spitfire lost near Athens, Greece, W/C P.H. Woodruff DSO DFC MiD RAF (Can.) killed. W/C Woodruff was on his third tour of operations and had previously been the first Commanding officer of 404 Sqn. RCAF. Two Spitfire IX aircraft MA507 and NH397 were lost on this date near Salonika, Greece, which may be part of this loss. 27 417 Sqn. aero engine mechanic LAC J.M. Belanger died in a motor cycle accident in Italy. 27 76 Sqn. Halifax III LL579 MP-L lost over it's target in Germany on a daylight operation, F/O R.J.L. Boucher, P/O H. Osbourn RAF, F/S L.E. Cannock RAF, F/S F.W. Heron RAF and F/S H.B. Tennant RAF killed, F/L R.J.P. Barrell RAF and F/S G.F. Terry RAF PoW. 27 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O A.K. Brown, was unable to bomb the main target due to the number of aircraft present, and turned away to bomb an alternate (R. Koval, Awards). See April 4- 5, below. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 27 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O G.A. Hyland, was unable to raise it's undercarriage and returned early (R. Koval). See March 12, below. 27 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O R.S. Evans, lost a part of one of it's aileron when it was struck by falling incendiaries over the target (R. Koval). See March 15, below. 27 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O J. Smith, lost an engine to flak, but returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 27 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O D. Nichols, landed safely on three engines after losing one to flak (R. Koval). 27 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/L H. Taylor, lost an engine returning from Germany, but landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 27 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O S.G.E. Chabot, was forced to return early due to hydraulic failure, but landed safely (R. Koval). 27 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, squadron commanding officer W/C C.M. Black, lost a wing tip to falling bombs over the target (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). 27 429 Sqn. Halifax III RG347 ZL-G or P, borrowed from from 427 Sqn., crashed on take-off after a tire blew out, the bomb load then exploding, F/S M.J. Brewer, F/O S.T. Carson, F/S F.G. Fisher, P/O A. Mackie, F/O R.M. Scott and F/O K.F. Whitehouse killed, rear gunner F/S J.H. MacEachern seriously injured. T. Palmer noted this aircraft had been ZL-G "Gutsy Girty". 27 464 Sqn. RAAF Mosquito FB.VI PZ309 SB-Z crashed in Belgium on a night INTRUDER over northwest Germany, pilot F/L J.F. Filteau killed, F/O H.I. Storen injured (A. Storr, H. Welting www.rafcommands.com). 27 #21 AFU Oxford LW955 collided in mid air with a Harvard and crashed in England, F/O J.B. Stoehr killed in the Oxford, the pilot of the Harvard was injured. 27 #1409 (Meteorological) Flight Mosquito PR.XVI NS731 shot down on a observation flight of a Bomber Command operation at Mainz, Germany, pilot S/L R.D. McLaren DFC RAF (Can.) killed, observer F/L J.A.L. Lymburner PoW, injured. This Flight began operations April 2, 1943, flying at high speed over Europe to provide weather information for Bomber Command and the USAAF bomber forces. Middlebrook notes that they lost only 3 Mosquitos out of nearly 1,400 operational flights during the war (BC War Diaries). 27 ?? OTU, England [Scotland?] pilot F/O D.S. McGregor RAF (Can.) killed, no details.

27-28 Bomber Command sent a diversion sweep of 82 training aircraft over the North Sea, plus 96 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 6 to Bremen, 62 RCM and 32 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos making harassment patrols between Venlo and Essen (6th Year).

Wednesday 28 Another synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen was attacked using GEE-H by 156 Lancasters without loss (BC War Diaries). An attack on Neuss was recalled after taking off (R. Koval).

Balloon Bomb scrambles in Western Air Command totalled 18 in February (Joost). 28 91 Sqn. Spitfire IX ML341 DL-G crash landed in Belgium due to an engine problem, F/L J.W.P. Draper DFCwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca badly injured (Roy Nixon and COL BRUGGY at www.rafcommands.com). 28 274 Sqn. Tempest V NV943 shot down by an enemy fighter, S/L D.C. "Foob" Fairbanks DFC and Bar RCAF (USA), the Squadron commanding officer, taken PoW. He had a score of 15 victories (including 2 Me 262 aircraft) and was the highest scoring Tempest pilot of the war. He later received a second Bar to his DFC (H.A. Halliday). Postwar he remained in the RCAF, became a Canadian citizen, and was later a test pilot with (http://acesofww2.com). 28 414 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MK265 was hit by flak on a reconnaissance sortie and crash landed on return to base, F/L D.I. Hall safe. 28 440 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB338 was hit by flak attacking rail lines in Germany and was last seen descending through cloud at low level on fire, F/O W.R. Gibbs missing (6th Year). 28 #20 AFU RAF England Oxford MP466 crashed on a night training flight killing F/O E.A. Paterson and F/O J.W. Collins RAF (albertess www.rafcommands.com). 28 unknown unit, aero engine mechanic Sgt M.E. Balcom RCAF (Nfld.) died of natural causes (in Canada?). 28 unknown unit, pilot F/L C.D. Cross died "on service" in Canada, no details. It is possible this is the same officer injured in a low bail out April 27, 1944. 28 unknown unit, AC2 P.E. Gordon RAF died in North America, no details. 28 USAAF AT-7B (Expeditor) 42-43478 damaged landing at Fort Nelson, BC (AAIR).

28-1 Bomber Command had another diversionary sweep over the sea by 98 training aircraft, 74 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 8 more to Nüremberg, 4 over Munich, 44 RCM, 31 SERRATE/INTRUDER, 5 Mosquitos GARDENING in the Kiel Canal and 20 aircraft on Special Operations, a total of 284 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos making patrols over the border areas of Germany (6th Year). 28-1 128 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI PF451 M5-C crashed in England on return from a bomber sortie over Berlin when an engine failed in the circuit on a go-around, F/L J.R.A. MaConachie and F/O N.M. McNulty RAAF killed. 28-1 608 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB273 6T-E lost on a sortie to Berlin, Sgt H.J. Erben RAF (Czech.) injured and PoW, F/O H.W. Tyrrell RAF (Neth.) evaded. F/O Tyrrell's actual name was Guijt (H. Welting www.rafcommands.com), Tyrrell being his nom de guerre to protect him as he had been arrested earlier attempting to escape occupied Holland.

March 1945 404 Sqn. re-equips with rocket armed Mosquito PR.VIc aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). 427 Sqn. and 429 Sqn. begin to re-equip with Lancaster B.I & B.III aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). 442 Sqn. begins to re-equip with Mustang IV aircraft (442 SH).

Sometime during March Anne Frank dies in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp after 7 months of imprisonment, 3 months short of her 16th birthday (wikipedia).

After debate on France's postwar colonial policy General de Gaulle rules France would continue with it's policies unchanged from pre-war. In this they would be opposing the US Policy of Roosevelt that European colonies would become independent after the war. It alsowww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca failed to take into account the feelings of it's ex-Soldiers from Africa who had played a major role in re-establishing France as a power in Europe, and the nationalist feelings in Indo-China, where seeing Japanese forces in command of the former colonies had inspired the people to seek independence (M. Hastings). See May 8 and August 20, below.

Separate task groups formed within the , one to modify B-29 bombers to carry the nuclear bombs (Project SILVERPLATE) and one to produce workable casings for the atomic bombs which would fit the modified B-29 aircraft, protect the bombs mechanism and allow them to function when dropped (Project ALBERTA) (wikipedia, http://www.alternatewars.com/Bomb_Loading/Bomb_Guide.htm).

Thursday 1 Bomber Command sent 372 Lancaster, 90 Halifax and 16 Mosquito bombers to Mannheim which dropped on sky markers, some bombs also landed in the neighbouring city of Ludwigshafen. Another force of 151 Lancasters made an attack on the oil facilities at Kamen. Total daylight sorties were 629 with 3 losses (BC War Diaries).

USAAF sent 1,219 heavy bombers to various railway targets across Germany (Zijlstra). 1 103 Sqn. Lancaster I PD272 PM-K lost over Germany, F/S J.L. Rochester, F/S J.W. Grice RAAF, F/O A.S. Thomson RAF, F/O F.J. Brickman RAF, F/S W.H. Tromp RAF, P/O J.M. Peace RAF and F/S A.J. Crampin RAF killed, Sgt R.C. Pain RAF PoW. 1 153 Sqn. Lancaster I NG184 P4-U lost over the sea, F/O J. Rhodes RAF and F/S J.E. Livick RAF killed, F/S H. Cuthbertson, Sgt M.F. Kingdom RAF, F/O P.C.H. Clark RAF, F/O D.G. Webb RAF and F/S T.J. Bicknell RAF missing. F/S Cuthbertson had survived the loss of a 153 Sqn. Lancaster Dec. 17-18, 1944. 1 401 Sqn. flight of 12 aircraft on an armed reconnaissance attacked by 40+ German fighters, claim 4 destroyed and 1 probable for the lost of 2 aircraft and 1 pilot. S/L W.T. Klersy (Spitfire IXb MH847 YO-H) claimed 2 Bf 109s and a Fw 190, the Squadrons 4th triple victory (RCAF Sqns.). With these claims 401 Squadron become the first Squadron in the 2nd TAF to record 300 enemy aircraft destroyed (6th Year). 1 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX EN569 shot down by enemy fighters, F/L H.P.M. Furniss PoW. 1 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX crash landed returning from an operation, F/O O.E. Thorpe safe on the last sortie of his tour (6th Year). 1 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L W. Armstrong, was damaged in the tail by flak (R. Koval). See March 25, below. 1 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, S/L D. Hunter, lost an engine on the return flight but landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 24, below. 1 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J. Howard, was unable to bomb when the bomb bay doors could not be opened (R. Koval). 1 420 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O R.P. MacMillan, had it's canopy damaged by flak (R. Koval, Awards). 1 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O J. MacFarlane, had damage to a wing and fuel tanks by flak (R. Koval). 1 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L J. Baillie, lost an engine on the return from Germany, making a safe landing on threewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca engines (R. Koval). 1 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O J.N. MacDougall, suffered damage to the mid-upper turret and it's aerials when it was struck by an unopened packet of leaflets (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 1 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, S/L J. Hudson, lost one engine on return, but landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 25, below. 1 429 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L E. Warrington, had damage to it's mid-upper turret from flak (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 1 433 Sqn. Lancaster, S/L D. Cleland, made a safe 3 engined landing at an emergency airfield after losing an engine on the return flight (R. Koval). 1 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O C. Ferris DFC, was hit by flak that damaged the navigation astrodome and wounded the wireless operator P/O R. Sibbald (R. Koval, Awards). 1 613 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI NS859 lost attacking a railroad in Germany, F/L G.F. Coward and WO F.S. Wilsher RAF killed. 1 665 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF Auster V TJ412 was on a night training flight when it was hit from behind by #60 OTU Mosquito FB.VI HP853. Both aircraft crashed killing Captain G.A. 'Tony' Eaton MC RCA in the Auster and F/O J.H. Wilde RAF in the Mosquito. The pilot of the Mosquito, P/O P.A. Barker RAF, survived with injuries. Capt. Eaton was about to be promoted to Major to take command of 665 (AOP) Sqn., the second of 3 RCAF AOP units formed (D. Knight). 1 #24 OTU Wellington X MF538 crashed in England after a control failure, Sgt E.J. Cooper, F/O W.A. Leslie, WO1 G.D. McVicar, F/O F. Scott RCAF (Bermuda) and Sgt A.C. Thoms killed. 1 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35375 involved in an accident in England, no details (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 1 USAAF Search & Rescue Section L-1E 40-3140 crashed taking off from Namao, Alberta (AAIR). 1 USAAF B-24M 44-50380 crash landed at Gander, Nfld. (AAIR).

1-2 The LNSF had 55 Mosquitos over Berlin, 40 more to Erfurt and 3 making tours of German cities, plus 32 RCM and 13 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). This was the 10th consecutive night that Mosquitos had bombed Berlin. 418 Sqn. had 10 harassment patrols in the area of (6th Year).

Friday 2 Canadian artist Emily Carr dies in Victoria, BC (wikipedia).

Bomber Command bombed Cologne ahead of advancing US troops. The first attack was by 376 Lancaster, 303 Halifax and 24 Mosquitos which made a devastating attack in clear weather. A follow up attack by 155 Lancasters using GEE-H was ended after only 15 had dropped due to problems with the GEE-H station. The target was the bridges over the Rhine and their approaches (419 SH) (some of these bridges had been crossed by the Canadian Army after the surrender of Germany in the First World War). Nevertheless many in the city were killed and military units preparing defences were affected. Nine bombers were lost and the City fell to the US Army 4 days later (BC War Diaries). A USAAF B-17 which replaced another with an engine problemwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca was unable to find it's formation and joined the RAF attack instead, which earned it the name "RAFAAF" (Zijlstra). R. Koval produced a list of all 182 of the #6 Group RCAF bombers and pilots who flew on this operation, see http://www.6bombergroup.ca/March45/45030200.html.

Operation GRENADE, US 9th Army reaches the Rhine River (Oxford).

USAAF sent 1,210 heavy bombers to 3 oil plants and the rail yards at Dresden and Chemnitz as part of THUNDERCLAP, where they were engaged over Dresden by jet fighters. When the jets withdrew due to low fuel after shooting down 6 B-17s the escorting USAAF fighters strafed roads and an airfield in the area (Zijlstra).

Fleet Fort trainer struck from service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). Intended as an advanced trainer the Fort was used primarily as a wireless training aircraft. It is unique in RCAF history in that it was designed, put into production, used and retired from service all during wartime. 2 VMSB-245 USMC Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21411 lost to unknown cause at Ulithi, 1Lt L.C. Walsh USMC (and his gunner?) safe (J. Baugher, AAIR). 2 408 Sqn. Halifax VII RG472 EQ-T hit by flak on a daylight operation over Germany killing P/O J.G. Paxton and P/O J. Street. The remaining crew bailed out just before the aircraft exploded, F/O H.R. Sproule RCAF (USA), F/O J.E. Moran, F/O V.D.J. Mousseau, F/S V.T. Hunt and Sgt A.D. Dennis were taken PoW (K. Maclean www.rafcommnds.com). 2 415 Sqn. Halifax III NR172 6U-V, W/C F.W. Ball (squadron commanding officer), was hit in a rudder by flak (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). 2 415 Sqn. Halifax III MZ922 6U-C, P/O J.S. McKenzie, sustained damage to a wing by flak (R. Koval). 2 415 Sqn. Halifax III NR228 6U-Z, F/O J. Hechter, was damaged in both wings by flak (R. Koval, Awards). See March 21, below. 2 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB866 VR-M, F/O C.L. Reitlo, had an engine damaged by flak (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 2 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB865 VR-E, F/L H. Cave, suffered damage to it's bomb bay doors by flak (R. Koval). 2 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB854 VR-T, F/O D. Lambroughton, spotted a damaged Lancaster flying on 2 engines and escorted it back to England (R. Koval). See March 15-16, below. 2 422 Sqn. Sunderland, F/O D. Denroche, sited a schnorkel and periscope. Unable to attack due to inoperable bomb systems the crew called surface ships to the area and shadowed the contact until they arrived (6th Year). 2 424 Sqn. Lancaster I ME458 QB-T, F/L C. Walker, had holes in it's fuselage due to flak (R. Koval). 2 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG458 QB-H, F/L D.A. Ross, was forced to make emergency evasive manoeuvres over the target to avoid falling bombs (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 2 425 Sqn. Halifax III bombers flown by F/O R. Lafreniere (NR147 KW-L) and F/O E. Baillie (NR134 KW-Z) had to return early after losing an engine (R. Koval). F/O LaFreniere possibly the same as F/O J.R.H. Lafreniere DFC. 2 425 Sqn. Halifax III PN172 KW-G, P/O C.B. Racicot, returned without bombing as no markers could be seenwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca (R. Koval). See March 18-19, below. 2 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ454 KW-S, F/O A.R. Lowe, sustained damage to it's flaps, fin and rudder due to flak (R. Koval). See March 4-5, below. 2 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP799 OW-J, P/O E. Parcher, returned early after losing an engine and landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 2 426 Sqn. Halifax VII PN227 OW-Z, P/O D.R. Black, lost an engine after taking off but proceeded to the target. There they bombed from a lower altitude, where flak damaged wing fuel tanks. They returned and landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). This sortie was cited in the award of a DFC to F/O Black (Awards). 2 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB838 NA-O, F/L C. Pratt, was hit by flak that damaged the fuselage and a wing (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 2 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB820 NA-M, F/L C.W. Conquist, lost an engine just short of the target, but bombed and returned to land safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 2 429 Sqn. Halifax III LV994 AL-L, F/L D.T. Magee, was hit in a wing by flak (R. Koval, Awards). See March 7-8, below. 2 429 Sqn. Halifax III LV860 AL-T, F/O H. Humphries, was hit by flak that damaged both wings, flaps and the tail turret (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 2 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB774 SE-D, F/L J.C. Henry, made a safe emergency landing in England with no brakes (R. Koval, Awards). 2 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP805 QO-J, F/O G.T. Sherlock, was hit in both wings by flak (R. Koval, Awards). 2 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP708 QO-E, P/O J. Kinniburgh, was damaged in 1 wing by flak (R. Koval). See March 15-16, below. 2 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP705 QO-Y, F/O W. Gregory, was hit by flak that damaged a wing (R. Koval). 2 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB285 F3-Z shot down by flak over Holland, F/L D.J. Heard PoW. 2 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib shot down by flak returning from attacking railroad targets in Germany, F/L C.L. Shaver killed (6th Year). 2 622 Sqn. Lancaster I HK769 GI-D shot down by flak over it's target in Germany, P/O E.B. Boyce, F/O C.P. Boyle, F/O M.E.M. Ray RAF, Sgt P.S. Armitage RAF, Sgt W.F. Heywood RAF, Sgt W.J. Ormshaw RAF, F/S D.G. Lewis RAF and F/S G.R. Conley RAAF killed. 2 #16 OTU Mosquito T.III RR281 crash landed practicing single engine landings, F/O L.J. Porter RNZAF injured, F/L H.A.P. Payntg safe. 2 #3 SFTS, Calgary, Alberta Crane I #7887 crashed SW of Rossfield, Alberta, killing Cpl(P) V.A. Haglund on a solo night cross-country flight. See #12 SFTS loss July 25, 1942. Cpl Haglund had been an air frame mechanic before re-mustering to aircrew.

2-3 Bomber Command sent 69 training aircraft on a diversion sweep, 67 LNSF Mosquitos to Kassel and 3 to Berlin, 48 RCM, 31 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, 10 GARDENING aircraft off Norway, 6 Mosquitos GARDENING in the Kiel Canal and 21 Special Operations, a total of 255 sorties without loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. operated 9 sorties in the area of Osnabrück and Munster (6th Year). 2-3 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB268 was badly damaged by flak on a bombing sortie to Berlin and was written off on return, F/O G. Coleman DFM RAF and F/L R. Cooper DFC RAF safe. 2-3 644 Sqn. Halifaxwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca NA127 "U-D" went down at sea returning from a special operation EARS 2 over Norway. The area was searched but no trace of the aircraft or crew was found. WO2 J. Corman, F/L J.A. Miller, P/O S.T. Wells AM (US) RAF, F/S R.H. Brown RAF, P/O F.G. Grey RAAF, F/S J.R. Weaver RAF missing (R. Tebbutt).

Saturday 3 The Battle for Manila ends with the city virtually destroyed. An estimated 100,000 Philippine civilians were killed, either in the fighting or deliberately by Japanese forces. This was probably the most intense incident of urban fighting of the war after Stalingrad and Warsaw. In Burma Indian and British armoured units surprise and seize Meiktila, cutting the Japanese supply line to the north. This was accomplished in part by having an entire Army group travel through the jungle from Imphal to Meiktila under radio silence, using a fleet of light aircraft to the advance, pick up reports and distribute daily orders (I. Frimston). Japanese forces counterattack in force, and cut off the advance units temporarily, who are re-supplied and reinforced by air (Oxford).

US 9th Army links up with Canadian Army at Geldern (Oxford). US 12th Army begins it's offensive, pivoting on the gains made by the US 9th Army. British 2nd Army and Canadian 1st Army continue to advance (Oxford).

Daylight attack on V-2 storage area in Holland hits the neighbourhood of Bezuidenhout, in , Holland, in error. German forces refuse help to put out fires, 500 Dutch civilians killed (Polsson). Ground launched V-1 attacks on London, using a longer ranged version, resume from The (Oxford).

USAAF had 1,048 heavy bombers attacking many oil, industrial and rail targets across Germany (Zijlstra).

A Balloon Bomb still carrying it's bombs recovered at Nanaimo, BC (Mikesh).

Finland declares war on Germany (wikipedia).

#16 SFTS, Hagersville, Ontario, closed (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 3 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXe MK950 was shot down by flak near Munster attacking a train, the aircraft dove into a wooded area, F/L R.J. Audet DFC & Bar missing (P. Mossman). On Dec. 29, 1944 F/L Audet had destroyed his first 5 aircraft in 2 minutes. His final score was 11½ aircraft destroyed, including 2 Me 262 jet fighters destroyed, and 1 Me 262 damaged. He had had to bail out of his Spitfire Feb. 8, above. 3 426 Sqn. Halifax VII PN231 had it's undercarriage collapse while doing engine runs, injuring Cpl C.S. Forrest. 3 442 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX NH369 force landed after an engine failure in Holland (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 3 PFNTU Canadianwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca built Mosquito B.XX KB206 broke up in the air and crashed while on a high level night exercise, F/L A.I. Albertson AFC RAF (Rhod.) and F/S R.J. Eaton RAAF killed. 3 #20 OTU Oxford V4260 went out of control and crashed practicing a beam approach in England, F/O J.W. Coyle and 1 crew killed. 3 #54 OTU Beaufighter VIf KV976 crashed into the sea, F/O F.E. Larkman and F/S R.M. Wedgewood RAF killed, F/O J.A. Paterson and WO P.J. O'Malley RAF survived, injured (Keith Bryers www.rafcommands.com). 3 unknown unit, Sgt R. Johnson RAF died in North America, no details.

3-4 Middlebrook and Everitt point out that this was the 2,000th night of the war for Bomber Command.

Bomber Command sent 201 Halifax with 21 Lancaster and 12 Mosquito Pathfinders which made an accurate attack on the synthetic oil plant at Kamen, putting it out of production for the rest of the war. A further 212 Lancasters with 10 Mosquitos breached the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Ladbergen again. These were supported by 95 training aircraft making a diversion, and other operations included 64 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 32 more to Würzburg, 61 RCM, 29 SERRATE/INTRUDER, 31 GARDENING and 17 Special Operations for a total of 785 sorties with 8 losses. On return to England, however, the bombers ran into Operation GISELA, a mass attack by German night fighter Intruders flying in the , which caught RAF night fighter defences off-guard and shot down 20 bombers and 5 HCU aircraft over England and damaged 8-10 more, at the cost of 25 Ju 88G night fighters (BC War Diaries). For a description of this nights flying see L. Morrison's account in Airforce, December, 1983. 418 Sqn. returned to the area of Munster and Osnabrück with 9 harassment patrols (6th Year). 3-4 10 Sqn. Halifax III HX332 ZA-V shot down by an Intruder over England when returning from an operation over Germany, F/L J.G.L. (Jack) Laffoley, P/O L.A. Thorndycraft, Sgt C.H. Finch RAF, F/S P.H. Field RAF and Sgt E.W. Bradshaw RAF killed, P/O K.H.V. Palmer RAF, F/S S. Hamilton RAF and P/O W. Kay RAF badly injured. There is a stain glass window dedicated to the memory of F/L Laffoley in the Dominion Douglas United Church, Westmount, Quebec (Pers. Comm. Adrienne Bode, great niece, Jan. 25, 2005). 3-4 76 Sqn. Halifax III NA584 MP-E shot up in the landing circuit by a German Ju 88 Intruder and diverted to another airfield. On landing the aircraft swung into a parked aircraft and a steam roller due to damage to it's tyres from the attack, P/O W.T. Maltby killed, P/O P.P. Oleynik, WO2 J.D. Menard, Sgt H.S. Firmin RAF, F/S D.G. MacMillan RAF, F/S R.J. Freeman RAF and F/S R.C. MacDougal RAF safe. 3-4 153 Sqn. Lancaster III LM750 P4-R lost without trace on a GARDENING sortie between Denmark and Sweden, F/O L.J.R. Gregoire DFC, WO2 K.L.D. McCoy RCAF (USA), Sgt W.L. James RAF and WO D.S. McGregor RAF killed, F/S J.E. Sabine, WO2 M.M. Sandomirsky and P/O W.W. Webber missing. WO2 McCoy had been the sole survivor and evader from a 626 Sqn. Lancaster lost May 21, 1944. 3-4 189 Sqn. Lancaster I NG325 CA-H was returning from an operation to Germany but was shot down over England by a German Intruder, F/S M.R. Bullock, F/S G.F. Caley, F/O T.J. Nelson, F/O S.J. Reid, Sgt F.N. Benson RAF, F/O H.G. Harrison RAF and F/S R.W. McCormackwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca RAF killed. 3-4 192 Sqn. Halifax III LV955 DT-G was on an electronic data gathering mission seeking information on German airborne radar frequencies when it was shot down on return by a German Intruder, F/O W. Darlington, Sgt J.C. Anderson RAF, F/S R.G. Holmes, WO W.S. Clementson and Sgt R.T. Grapes RAF killed, F/O E.D. Roberts RAF and Sgt K.A. Sutcliffe RAF were rescued, injured, from the wreckage before it was consumed by fire, and F/O R.G. Todd RAF, the special operator, was able to parachute safely before the aircraft crashed and was safe. 3-4 207 Sqn. Lancaster I NG204 EM-M lost over Germany, F/S A. Johnston, F/S G.J. Phillips, F/O H.V. Miller RAF, Sgt A.C. Fox RAF, P/O C.M. Leisk RAF, F/O A.N. Lacey RAF and Sgt J.J. Samuels RAF killed. 3-4 227 Sqn. Lancaster I NG170 9J-S shot down by a night fighter over Germany, P/O P.D. Ross- Ross, F/O J.M. Johnston RAAF, WO P.J. Buckman RAAF and F/S V.H. Binch RAF killed, Sgt P. Mahon RAF, F/S G.A. Jeans RAF and F/S J.B. Gayland RAF PoW. 3-4 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 NT444 scrambled to intercept a radar contact, probably one of the GISELA intruders. and was last heard from with a routine acknowledgement when the contact was broken, last plotted on radar 47 miles off Dunkirk, F/O R.W. Donovan and F/O V.M. Grant RAF missing. 3-4 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 INTRUDERs over Germany shot down a Ju 88, destroyed a locomotive, damaged a landed aircraft and a train on 4 separate sorties (6th Year). 3-4 608 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB411 6T-M force landed at an emergency airfield in England returning from a bomber sortie over Berlin, S/L E.S. Few DFC AFC RAF and P/O S.S. Campbell RAF safe. 3-4 #1664 HCU RCAF Halifax III NA612 "S" shot down by a German Intruder over England returning from a diversion, F/S L. Boardman, WO2 J.W. Buttery, WO2 L.T. Chevrier, F/S J.E. Fielder, P/O K.W. Griffey, F/O G.H. Lloyd and Sgt S. Forster RAF killed.

Sunday 4 The USAAF had just under 1,000 bombers over Germany on this day, most of whom had to divert from planned targets to targets of opportunity due to heavy cloud. Two groups of B-24 bombers totalling 16 aircraft attack Basle and Zurich on the border of Switzerland in error (Zijlstra).

Bomber Command sent 128 Lancasters to make a GEE-H attack on the oil target at Wanne- Eickel without loss (BC War Diaries).

A Balloon Bomb with attached bomb reported to have landed near Big Creek, BC, later recovered (Mikesh). 4 2nd Rescue Squadron Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-33885, 1Lt F. Rauschkolb, landed offshore of an island in the Philippines where three B-25J aircraft had crash landed after being hit on a low level bombing and strafing attack. The island was a planned site for damaged bombers to land for pick up on this mission. Under fire from Japanese on other islands, 1Lt Rauschkolb taxied from point to point, picking up the survivors as they emerged from the jungle, before taking off again. One of those rescued was navigator 2Lt R.D. Johnson, later an actor and best know as "The Professor" on the TV show Gilligans Island (ttp://s217.photobucket.com/user/SHAEF1944).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca See June 22, below. 4 524 Sqn. Wellington XIV HF361 "T" missing over the sea near England on a sortie to Holland, WO1 B.R. Nelson missing and six crew missing/killed. P/O A.J. Bezant RAF, P/O C.W. Bowers RAF, F/L A. Crabtree, F/S M. Jones, WO J.D.G. Pugsley RAF and WO F. Wilkinson RAF are listed as missing from this Squadron on this date (D. Burke www.rafcommands.com, CWGC). 4 #56 OTU Tempest EJ924 crashed, P/O P.N. Bernhart killed. 4 unknown unit, F/O H.K. Billingsley died in Canada. 4 USAAF P-59A 44-22610 "Smokey Stover" damaged by fire in a ground accident at Edmonton, Alberta. Several of these early US jet fighters staged through Edmonton to Alaska via the North West Staging Route for cold weather testing (AAIR, J. Baugher). B.W. Smith points out the early flights through Edmonton received armed guards on the ground. Another secret aircraft that was also guarded in Edmonton on it's way North was a re-conditioned captured Japanese A6M 'Zero' fighter. 4 USAAF UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5119 damaged at Nelson Forks, BC, in a take-off accident (AAIR).

4-5 Bomber Command sent 31 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 24 to Essen and 28 to other targets in Germany, 6 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, 12 GARDENING and 16 Special Operations with 2 losses (BC War Diaries). For the third night 418 Sqn. sent 9 patrols into the area of Osnabrück and Munster, one crew shooting down a V-1 (6th Year). 4-5 169 Sqn. Mosquito NFXIX MM640 V1-H crashed in England returning from an operational flight, believed to have been shot down by an Intruder, S/L V.J. Fenwick RAF (Can.) and F/O J.W. Pierce RAF killed (G-ASEA forum.keypublishing.com). 4-5 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 INTRUDER to Czechoslovakia, F/L D.A. MacFayden DFC and F/L V.G. Shail discovered a disbursed factory with several Fw 190 aircraft visible on the snow covered runway, the attacked them and claimed 1 destroyed and 3 damaged (6th Year).

Monday 5 666 Sqn. RCAF formed in England as an AOP Squadron on Auster AOP.IV and AOP.V aircraft (RCAF Sqns.).

A force of 170 Lancasters attacked an oil plant at Gelsenkirchen using GEE-H with 1 loss (BC War Diaries).

USAAF launched 500 bombers which were unable to attack planned oil targets due to cloud, and dropped on other targets using H2X (Zijlstra).

Fragments of a Balloon Bomb found near Stuart Lake, BC (Mikesh). 5 102 Sqn. WO1 A.F. Turner, shot down Jan. 27-28, 1943 in Halifax W7918, died as a PoW in Germany. 5 125 (Newfoundland) Sqn. Mosquito NF.XVII HK287 belly landed in England after an undercarriage failure (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 5 163 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB619 taxied into a ditch and was damaged beyond repair, F/L J.www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Watson RAF safe. 5 423 Sqn. Sunderland, F/L F.J. Grant, sited and attacked a schnorkeling U-boat, then marked the spot and called a Liberator to the scene. They patrolled the area and noted oil patches on the water before being relieved by surface ships (6th Year). 5 #1662 HCU Lancaster I PD437 hit a tree and crashed on a night navigation exercise, F/S J.H. Skinner, F/S A. Wilson RAAF, Sgt P.E.W. Moore RAF, Sgt A. Bligh RAF, Sgt R.H. Page RAF, Sgt F.W. Ward RAF and Sgt H.A. Warman RAF killed.

5-6 Operation THUNDERCLAP continued with 498 Lancaster, 256 Halifax and 6 Mosquito bombers attacking Chemnitz. Sudden severe icing conditions in Yorkshire brought down 9 of #6 Group RCAF bombers just after taking off. Many returned to make landings at diversion airfields as the poor weather continued. A further force of 248 Lancasters with 10 Mosquitos attacked the synthetic oil plant at Böhlen through cloud. As well the LNSF had 75 Mosquitos over Berlin, 15 to Gelsenkirchen and 36 to 6 other targets, 52 RCM, 27 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 1,223 sorties with 31 lost and 10 more crashed in England (BC War Diaries). A detailed account of the navigators preparation and flying on this operation by 405 Sqn. navigator F/O Russell Steer DFC can be found in Aeroplane Monthly, June & July, 1997. 418 Sqn. again dispatched 9 harassment patrols (6th Year). 5-6 10 Sqn. Halifax III MZ948 ZA-E lost over Germany, WO2 L.W. Webster, Sgt L.L. Hall RAAF, Sgt H.W. Tasker RAF, F/S R.E. Davenport RAF and F/S F. Fearnley RAF killed, F/L F.D. Moss RAF, F/S R.C. Fowler RAF and F/S S. Hodgson RAF PoW. 5-6 10 Sqn. Halifax III NR131 ZA-N crashed in Germany near Stalag IXc Prisoner of War Camp at Mülhausen, P/O C.J. Roberts, F/O H.C. Maria RNZAF, F/L A.D. Stephen RAF, Sgt T.T. Elliott RAF, F/S K.V. Rees RAF and F/O R.E. Heap DFM RAF killed. A clandestine funeral service for this crew was conducted by the PoWs in the camp after an official service was forbidden. 5-6 76 Sqn. Halifax III NA219 MP-D, F/L G.E. Peterson, struck Halifax III MZ905 MP-H, F/L H.V. Perry RAF, when taxiing out to take off on a sortie to Germany, there were no injuries but MZ905 was written off. 5-6 103 Sqn. Lancaster III ME392 PM-Y lost over Germany, pilot F/O G.W. Exel held control until his crew could escape but was killed in the crash. He and F/O M.F. Griffin both have no known grave, F/O J.H. McKenna, F/S J.L. Cooke, Sgt G.H. Wilson RAF, F/S F.P. Monaghan RAF and WO D. King RAF PoW. 5-6 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB271 XD-T overshot it's landing and was wrecked returning from a bombing sortie over Berlin, F/L A. O'Grady RAAF and F/L L.D. Groome DFC RAF safe. 5-6 170 Sqn. Lancaster III ME320 TC-L lost over Germany, WO J.J. McNally RAAF killed, F/O W.A. Brydon, F/O W.E. Weber, F/L E.R. Thornton RAF, Sgt J.P. Plant RAF, Sgt D. Wager RAF and Sgt C.A. Ebbs RAF (Eire) missing. 5-6 192 Sqn. Halifax III NR180 DT-S was on a Bomber Support sortie when it was attacked by a night fighter and while taking avoiding action hit the tail of an unidentified Lancaster which is believed to have crashed (or possibly 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB842, below). The crew then flew east hoping to reach Russian occupied territory before having to abandon the bomber, F/L N. Irvine, F/O D.E. Banks, F/S W.J. McCullough, F/S A.C. Searle, WO J.A. Martin RAAFwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca and Sgt L.A. Howard RAF PoW, F/L J.E. Nixon and special operator WO R.F. Young RAF were found by Soviet soldiers and evaded. It is also reported that F/S McCullough was shot by a Russian sentry and spent time in hospital in Poland, (O. Clutton-Brock). 5-6 199 Sqn. Stirling III LJ617 EX-E was on a Bomber Support sortie, and was circling over France using it's MANDREL jammer when it was shot down in error by US Army anti-aircraft fire. The pilot F/L J.A. Thurlow kept the aircraft in the air until all the crew had bailed out but was lost and has no known grave. F/O R.G. Noon-Ward, P/O T.R. Nichols, F/O A.A. Twaddle RNZAF, Sgt A. Plumtree RAF, F/S E.A. Evans RAF, F/L F. Fenning RAF and F/S W.J. Phillips RAF survived but all were injured. F/O Noon-Ward was badly burned, and his story as a Guinea Pig can be found in R. Donovan's As For The Canadians. F/L Thurlow, F/O Noon-Ward, F/O Nichols, Sgt Plumtree, F/O Twaddle and F/S Phillips had survived an uncontrolled dive over England Dec. 6-7, 1944. 5-6 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 INTRUDER to Bavaria, F/L D.A. MacFayden DFC and F/L V.G. Shail shot down a Ju 88 (6th Year). 5-6 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O K.K. Blyth, returned from an operation and landed safely on 2 engines (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 5-6 408 Sqn. Halifax VII RG474 EQ-L, W/C E. Evans, claimed some hits on a Fw 190 that attacked them (R. Koval). 5-6 415 Sqn. Halifax III NA204 6U-J lost on an operation to Germany, F/L W.R. Mitchell, F/O R.C. Barteaux, F/O R.D. Loveridge, P/O F.T. Mudry, P/O W.D. Mosey, F/S W.B. Gill, P/O J.R. Gendron and F/S A.E. Ridley RAF PoW. P/O Mudry had been interned in Sweden Dec. 16-17, 1943. 5-6 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O L. Minkler, landed in France due to low fuel and bad weather over England (R. Koval). 5-6 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB845 VR-L crashed in England returning from operations over Germany, possibly due to icing, F/O W.N. DeWitt, P/O J.E. Hanley, F/O G.J. Hollinger, P/O J.A.S. King, P/O F.R. Leet, P/O N.R. Poole, F/O C.L. Reitlo killed. P/O Poole had been slightly injured when 419 Lancaster X KB722 VR-A made a forced landing in France Jan. 5, 1945. 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III NA184 PT-W broke up in the air and crashed in England after taking off on an operational sortie, probably due to icing, F/O E.W. Clark, P/O J.A. Epoch, F/O W.H. Oakes and Sgt J.B. Kirby RAF killed, F/O D.V. Freed, F/S R.J. Arnold and WO1 H.M. O'Connor bailed out and survived injured. 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III NA190 PT-U was heading out on an operation when it crashed and exploded in England due to icing, P/O R.O. Battler, P/O W. Gaba, F/O E.S. Kaechele, F/O R.G. Smith, P/O R.F. Sollie and Sgt R.L. Dinnen RAF (Eire) killed, F/S J.H. Waugh safe. The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year states that F/S Waugh was saved from a low altitude bailout by the blast from the crashing bomber exploding which carried him to a height where his parachute landed him safely (see 426 Sqn. LW210 OW-Y entry below). 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III NP959 PT-N shot down by a night fighter over Germany, F/S J.J.M. Kastner was wounded and died in a German hospital, F/L V.R. Glover, F/O J.R. Gordon, F/O D.M. Mettrick, F/O V.L. McKinnon, WO2 D.F. Broadfoot, F/S H.E. MacKenzie and Sgt H.W. Skipper RAF all taken PoW (K. Maclean www.rafcommands.com; 6th Year).). 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR144 PT-H ran short of fuel on an operation over Germany and diverted to an airfieldwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca in France. Approaching the airfield it struck an obstruction on high ground in misty conditions and crash landed, F/S R.A. Nicol and F/S D. McClellan slightly injured, P/O J.H. Menary, Sgt J.G. Johnston, F/S A.A. Rich, F/S R.M. Stirling and F/S D.H. Goodwin safe. 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L N. McHolm, was forced to return early due to heavy icing that raised fuel consumption. The bomber stalled 3 times before landing safely (R. Koval). 5-6 420 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O L. Callahan, was hit by flak that removed it's astrodome (R. Koval). 5-6 420 Sqn. two Halifax III aircraft flown by F/O D.G. Hill and F/O R. Lepp landed safely in France due to a fuel shortage (R. Koval, Awards). See April 8-9, below. 5-6 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG458 QB-H lost over Germany, P/O J.M. Atchison and F/O F.E. Seaby killed, F/O A.V. Cash RCAF (USA), F/L D.A. Ross, F/O H.M. Weaver and Sgt A.K. Rayner RAF missing, F/S C.J. Antonek PoW. 5-6 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG400 QB-R, pilot F/L D.E. Sillers, mid-upper gunner Sgt D.A. Brown claimed some hits on a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them when they were holding course after bomb release to obtain a target photograph (R. Koval; Awards; 6th Year). 5-6 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ454 KW-S "Spook 'n Droop" encountered icing just after take-off. The crew was ordered to bail out (T. Palmer). The aircraft crashed in the village of Little Ouseburn, Yorkshire, where the bomb load exploded, damaging the church and other buildings. F/O P.J. Hall RCAF (Nfld.), P/O J.W. Hyde, F/O A.R. Lowe and Sgt J.L. Lynch killed, F/O E.S. Brabbins, F/O J.F. Brownell and F/S K.J.S. McCuaig safe. A memorial porch on the Church now commemorates this incident. F/O Lowe is listed as from Toronto but his remains now rest in the USA. The survivors re-crewed and began training on Lancaster X aircraft with the squadron, but did not fly further operations (pers. comm. E.S. Brabbins 2002). 5-6 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ845 KW-J collided in mid-air with 426 Sqn. Halifax VII PN228 just after taking off on an operation to Germany (see below). Icing conditions may have been involved. P/O M.S.H. Anderson, P/O J.E.R. Beaudry, F/O R.E.O. Charron, P/O J.L.G. Pelletier, P/O J.D.F.E. Roy, F/S J.L.P. Seguin killed, F/S A.J. de Cruyenaere managed to bail out and survived. 5-6 425 Sqn. Halifax III PN173 KW-Q lost over Germany, P/O H.J.M.J. D'Avril, F/O J.J.A.L. Desbiens and P/O A.E. Minguet killed, F/O J.A. Parent, F/S G.E.J. Tremblay, F/S L.P. Lamontagne and F/S G.L.J. Langvine PoW (O. Clutton-Buck). 5-6 425 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O J.T.E.P. Giguere, landed in France short of fuel (R. Koval). See March 18-19, below. 5-6 426 Sqn. Halifax VII LW210 OW-Y encountered severe icing minutes after take-off for an operation to Germany and broke up in the air. The wreckage fell into the city of York killing 2 civilians (Mrs. Laura Thompson and Mrs. Lydia Helstrip), 2 British soldiers and an Italian PoW on the ground, and injuring 18 more people. Of the crew F/O T.M. Campbell, F/L I. Emerson RCAF (USA), F/O A.M. Hutchison, P/O J.N. MacDougall, Sgt R.H. Turner and Sgt W.T. Symes RAF killed and P/O J. Low injured. J.H. McQuiston states that P/O Low bailed out too low, but he was saved by the blast of the exploding bomb load which threw him back upward and deployed his parachute (see also 420 Sqn. NA120 PT-U entry above). 5-6 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP793 OW-H crashed in England after taking off on an operation probably due to icing in a snowstorm, P/O R.A. Biggerstaff, P/O M.W. Coones, P/O B.J. McCarthy, F/Owww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca F.M. Myers, F/O H.S. Watts, P/O W.A. Way and P/O W.A. Togwell RAF killed. See R. Allenby for details. 5-6 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP799 OW-J shot down over Germany by a night fighter, F/O R.E. Fennell, P/O R.B. Gunderson, F/L J.G. Kirkpatrick, P/O J.A.H. Larson and P/O R.E. Stillinger killed, Sgt I. Giles RAF missing, F/S W.H. Denison PoW. 5-6 426 Sqn. Halifax VII PN228 OW-A collided with 425 Sqn. Halifax MZ845 (above) ten minutes after taking off, both aircraft crashing. Icing may have been a factor. F/O J.L. Atkinson, S/L E.T. Garrett, WO2 J.B. Linstead, WO2 H.D. McLeod, WO2 W.G. Miller, F/O K.G. Parker and Sgt E.S. Jerome RAF killed. WO2 Linstead and WO2 McLeod had both come through a crash landing in a 429 Sqn. Halifax Oct. 9-10, 1944 and a bailout Oct. 14, 1944. 5-6 426 Sqn. Halifax VII LW201 OW-D. P/O J.A. Whipple, lost a propellor outbound. Over the target they were hit by flak that hit the mid-upper turret, and were attacked by a Me 163 rocket fighter which was seen to crash in flames. They returned to make a safe landing at an emergency airfield in England on 3 engines (R. Koval). See April 18, below. 5-6 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB778 NA-Y lost over Belgium due to icing which forced it down to low altitude where it hit trees and crashed in the Ardennes, P/O W.R. Ashdown, F/O D.A. Wade and Sgt C.R. Hazelby RAF killed, F/O W. Mytruk injured, P/O E.J. Snell, F/S T.J. Chevrier and F/S E.L. Schofield safe (R. Koval). 5-6 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB838 NA-O, F/L C. Pratt, claimed a Me 262 night fighter that attacked them destroyed (R. Koval). 5-6 429 Sqn. Halifax III LV996 AL-K crashed in England returning from an operation, F/S A.G. Caldwell, F/S P.F. Gonroski, P/O A.S. Leroux, P/O J.P. Nault, P/O H.N. Prince, F/L M.W. Sanderson, P/O W.R. Strand killed. This was the last 429 Sqn. Halifax lost. This aircraft had flown 63 sorties with 427 Sqn. and 3 with 429 before it's destruction. It was damaged twice in combat (Chorley). 5-6 429 Sqn. had 2 Halifax III bombers, flown by F/L E. Warrington and WO2 K. Weld, land in France short of fuel (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 5-6 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB858 SE-G lost over Germany, F/O H.J. Beaton, F/O H.J. Feldhans, P/O H. Guttormson, P/O H.R. Harris, P/O C.B. MacDonald, F/O S.A. Reid and Sgt W.A. Salisbury RAF killed. 5-6 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB741 SE-C, F/L D.C. Gonyea, evaded an attack by a night fighter before being hit by flak that wounded the pilot (R. Koval; Awards; 6th Year). 5-6 432 Sqn. Halifax VII RG475 QO-L shot down in error over the English coast by British anti- aircraft fire when returning from operations over Germany, F/L J.G. Clothier, F/L G.R. Harris MiD, F/O C.M. Hay DSO, S/L E.A. Hayes, P/O M.B. Nielson, P/O G.M. Orser, P/O J.D. Ringrose and P/O D.E. Cooke RAF killed. F/L Clothier had completed two tours as an air gunner before re-mustering as a pilot. He had previously crash landed #24 OTU Wellington aircraft Sept.13 and 26, 1944. His brother, also a pilot and a DFC recipient, was the actor Robert Clothier, who had been injured December 23, 1944. This Halifax's crash site is also referenced in the book "One Hurricane, One Raid" by G. Rayner. 5-6 432 Sqn. Halifax VII RG450 QO-Q, P/O J.K. Bain, evaded two attacks by night fighters without damage but after landing at a diversion airfield were hit by another landing Halifax that damaged their rudders and elevators (R. Koval, Awards). See March 8-9, below. 5-6 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB842 WL-L had just bombed the target in Germany when it was struck by a Halifax under attack by a night fighter. The night fighter then attacked this bomber, but was drivenwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca off. The bomber returned to England where it made an emergency landing with damage to the rear turret, an elevator, a wing, an engine nacelle, aileron, fuel tanks, undercarriage, and hydraulic system, P/O J. Kitchen and his crew Sgt C. Corbett, F/S F. Reid, F/O G. Fiori, P/O J. Rebman, F/S G. Heisler and F/S R. Higgs safe (R. Koval). 5-6 460 Sqn. RAAF Lancaster III PB557 AR-A2 shot down by flak over Germany, F/S R.E. Hayward RAF (Nfld.), Sgt J. Young RAF, F/L J.C. Holmes DFC RAAF, F/S T.T. Clarke RAAF, F/O D.G. Hudspeth RAAF, F/O I.S. Baudinette RAAF, F/L T.E.V. Morgan DFM RAAF and WO E.O.T. Mayne RAAF killed. 5-6 576 Sqn. Lancaster I PD403 UL-F2 lost over Germany, F/S D.H. Hadlow RAF killed, P/O R.W. Abrams, F/S W.W. Dewar, P/O J.T.J. Magee, F/O C.J. Rouse, F/S K.R. Marston RAF and Sgt R.H. Twin RAF have no known grave. 5-6 578 Sqn. Halifax III NA173 LK-K was wrecked after landing short on fuel from an operation over Germany, when it was struck by another 578 Sqn. Halifax III LL559 LK-U, F/O J.W. Howard, F/O C.F. Wilschke, F/O F.E. Smith, F/S H.R. McNeal, F/S H.F. Jepson, WO A.L. Francis RAAF and Sgt J. Watts RAF had left NA173 before the collision, and F/O E. Dawson RAF, Sgt H.A. Naris RAF, F/S R.J.B. Capon RAF, F/S W.F. Willcox RAF, P/O E.A. Calcutt RAF, Sgt J.G. Marshall RAF and Sgt N.H. Sellers RAF safe in LL559. 5-6 608 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB197 6T-A lost over France on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/L M.H.M. MacLean DFC RAAF and Sgt R. Todd RAF killed. 5-6 625 Sqn. Lancaster I NG240 CF-F2 "Freddie Firkyn" lost over Germany, F/O J.W. Alexander, F/O W. Petrashenko, F/O F.R. Chapman, Sgt O.C. Lear RAF, F/S C.W. Morgan RAF, Sgt R. Pyett RAF and Sgt J.V. Williams RAF PoW (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). 5-6 625 Sqn. Lancaster I PD375 CF-R "Himself Roger" lost over Germany, Sgt C.H. Bartlett RAF and Sgt J.H. Porter RAF killed, Sgt T.H. Scowcroft, F/L A.D. Cook RAF, Sgt S.L. Lowe RAF, F/S F.W. Brooks RAF and Sgt W. Allen RAF PoW (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). 5-6 635 Sqn. Lancaster PB921 F2-N lost on an operation to Germany, F/O R.S. Goddard, F/S G. Williams DFM RAF, F/L K. Usher DFC RAF, F/L D.L. Venning DFC RAF, F/S G.W. Hatton DFM RAF and F/S D.D. Adam DFM RAF missing, F/L K.A. Beattie RNZAF PoW. 5-6 #1 AFU Anson I LV153 flew into a hill in Northern Ireland on a night navigation exercise, F/O I.L. MacFadyen, F/S R.H. Gillian RAAF, WO I.J. Pennack RAF and Sgt R.A. Button RAF killed, Sgt T.M.D. Shaxson badly injured (A. Storr).

Tuesday 6 Bomber Command sent a force of 119 Lancasters which made a GEE-H attack through cloud on an oil refinery at Salzbergen, plus 48 Mosquitos making a Oboe attack on German troop concentrations at Wesel, with 2 losses (BC War Diaries). USAAF bombers were grounded by weather (Zijlstra).

A V-2 landed on a military hospital in Antwerp, 17 civilians and 19 Allied military killed, 43 civilians and 23 military injured, and 27 houses destroyed (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

In Vancouver, BC, the Canadian Park Ship Green Hill Park was loading cargo bound for Australia including overproof whiskey in drums, military flares and 98 tons (99.5 metric tons) of sodium chlorate fertilizer. Apparently longshoremen tapped some of the whiskeywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca barrels, spilling some of the highly volatile spirits. The fumes caught fire, and just before noon the sodium chlorate exploded, blowing out the side of the ship and setting it on fire. There was substantial damage to the area around, especially broken windows, but only 8 fatalities. Tugs pulled the burning vessel away from the dock and tried to ground it off Stanley Park to burn out, but it was pulled off by the tide. It was then towed under the Lion's Gate Bridge to Siwash Rock. The fire was put out and later the ship was later sold "as is", and re-built to enter service as a general cargo freighter (wikipedia; https://thetyee.ca/news/2020.08/07/Vancouver-Port-Fueled-By-Sodium-Chlorate- Whiskey/). 6 436 Sqn. begin landings at the captured airstrip at Meiktila. Captured 3 days ago and declared operational the day before, but ownership of the airstrip is still contested by Japanese (reference, Vapour Trails, Airforce Monthly, Vol. 8, No. 4, 1985). See March 21, below. 6 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII MT625 crashed from a high speed stall after strafing a barge in Italy, killing P/O R.W. McKinnon. 6 107 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS533 was returning from an army support mission when it crashed in France, F/L V.R. Bell and F/S C.G. Davidson killed. 6 163 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB512 damaged and written off, no details (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 6 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.Xc RD242 crashed into the sea off Scotland on a fighter affiliation exercise. Despite a search the crew, F/O W.A. Tustin and P/O J.W. Wettlaufer were not found and remain missing. 6 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM788 crashed in Holland when both engines failed after take-off, WO2 A.G. Cole and F/O S.I. Lees killed. 6 514 Sqn. Lancaster III ME365 JI-T exploded over the target on a daylight operation over Germany, F/O L. Flack, F/O R.A. Young, F/S P.F. O'Donohue RAAF, Sgt W.J. Watson RAF, F/S F.A. Wall RAF, Sgt A. Reilly RAF and Sgt D. Heeley RAF killed. 6 RAF Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB593 lost between Gander and the Azores, Ferry Captain W. Walden and Radio Officer/Navigator T. Scotland (UK) missing. 6 #1 Instrument Flying School, Deseronto, Ontario, flying control F/L R.H. Ellard died in the officer quarters on station. 6 RCAF Marine Squadron, Western Air Command, Vancouver, BC, LAC A.G. Smith died in hospital of natural causes.

6-7 The port of Sassnitz on the island of Rügen in the Baltic was bombed by 191 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos. Wesel was attacked again in two waves by 87 Lancasters and 51 Mosquitos. Other operations included 42 LNSF Mosquitos over Berlin (it's 15th consecutive night of bombing), 2 RCM, 5 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 15 GARDENING sorties off Sassnitz, a total of 400 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 6-7 44 Sqn. Lancaster I NG396 KM-G believed to have been lost over the Baltic, Sgt W.C. Thornton RAF (Eire) killed, F/O B.F. Boyle, F/S J. Pickup RAF, F/S W.J.C. Turner RAF, F/S T.W. Doggart RAF, F/S J.C. Smith RAF and Sgt C.J. Hance RAF missing.

Wednesday 7 US First Army capture a bridge over the Rhine at Remagen near Bonn and establish a bridgeheadwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca across the river. Cologne falls to Allies (Polsson). Over the next weeks the US forces held the crossing at Remagen against very strong German attacks.

USAAF sends 926 bombers to oil and rail targets in the Ruhr where cloud forces them to drop by radar with damage to the oil facilities (Zijlstra).

414 Sqn. and 430 Sqn. deploy from Holland to Belgium (RCAF Sqns.).

In London 80 people were killed in 3 V-2 explosions, injured not recorded (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). Last of the Northrup Nomad /army co-operation aircraft, taken over from French orders and used as trainers and target tugs, retired from service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). 7 245 (N. Rhodesia) Sqn. Typhoon Ib JP936 hit high tension power lines while attacking a train in Germany and crashed, killing F/L H.T. Mossip DFC. 7 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV NC848 C1-P aircraft had an engine fail on take-off for a training flight. F/L E.V. Duckworth steered the aircraft away from the village of Bideford and crash landed, but struck a stone wall killing him, F/O J.K. Andrews and F/O C.J. Butler. F/O A. Izenburg badly injured (407 SH). 7 Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 swung on landing and lost it's undercarriage landing at Oakes Field, Bahamas (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 7 unknown USAAF unit, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-34018 was damaged when it was hit by a taxiing B-17 aircraft (J. Baugher, www.accident-report.com).

7-8 Bomber Command sent 526 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos to the city of Dessau in eastern Germany (part of the THUNDERCLAP operation?), as well as 256 Halifax with 25 Lancaster Pathfinders to an oil refinery at Hemmingstedt, which missed, and 234 Lancasters with 7 Mosquitos to another at Harburg, which was hit accurately. Other operations included 80 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 10 to Frankfurt, 9 to Münster and 5 to Hannover, 56 RCM, 43 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 20 GARDENING sorties, totalling 1,276 for the loss of 41 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 7-8 35 Sqn. Lancaster III ME361 TL-H was acting as the Master Bomber aircraft when it was shot down over the target area, F/L C.G. Mitchell DFC, F/O J.M. Aylieff DFC RAF, F/O A.H.J. Pidgeon RAF, F/O R.M. Weller DFC RAF, F/L R.C. Chapman RAF, F/L C.O. Russell DFC RAF, S/L D.B. Everett DFC & 2 Bars RAF and P/O K.G. Munro RAAF killed. 7-8 101 Sqn. ABC equipped Lancaster I PD268 SR-O lost without trace on an operation to Germany, P/O R.W. Mahr, S/L M.V. Gibbon AFC RAF, WO I.H. Bond RAF, F/O R.T. Cawthorp RAF, Sgt W. Canning RAF, Sgt L.F. Tyrrell RAF, Sgt A.F. Matthews RAF and Sgt C.E. Preston RAF missing. P/O Mahr was the special operator. 7-8 103 Sqn. Lancaster I NF913 PM-H lost over Germany, F/O S.L. Saxe, F/O M. Shatzky, F/S R.L. Leavers RAF and F/S K.C. McGinn RAAF killed, WO2 A.D. Cruikshank, F/S R.C. Snell and Sgt J.J. Bent RAF PoW. 7-8 103 Sqn. Lancaster I RA500 PM-B was damaged over the target by a night fighter, the crew bailed out over Allied territory but F/O W.E. Nightingale RCAF (UK) did not open his parachute andwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca was killed, F/S R.B. Mayahay and F/S J.A. Goldie wounded, F/S R.H. Almas, F/S M. Hawreliak, Sgt H.S. Simpson RAF and Sgt D. Strickland RAF safe. 7-8 103 Sqn. Lancaster III JA857 PM-M shot down over Germany, F/O W.J. Havell RAF (Can.), F/S J. Roy RAF, Sgt N.G. Mayo RAF, Sgt J.G. Smith RAF, Sgt G.H. Burch RAF and Sgt A.H. Whyte RAF missing, Sgt A.G. Fry RAF landed safe and was taken PoW but was murdered by his captors March 8. 7-8 128 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI RV305 M5-U overshot the runway and crashed in Holland making a single engined landing from a bombing sortie to Berlin, S/L J.D. Armstrong and F/O W.E. Whyte killed. 7-8 171 Sqn. MANDREL and WINDOW equipped Halifax III NA111 6Y-Y was on a bomber support operation when it was lost over Germany, F/O H.A. Coutts, F/O K.G. Thomas, F/S S. Stuart RAF, F/S J. Wyatt RAF, F/O D.C. Biggar RAF (special operator), F/S N.P. Baker RAF and F/S A.W. Ferme RAF killed, F/L J.M. Stone RAF PoW. 7-8 195 Sqn. Lancaster I NG186 A4-O lost over Germany, crew bailed out. F/O T.M. Draper, F/L P. Scott RAF, Sgt A.K. Robinson RAF, F/O R. Appleyard DFM RAF, Sgt D.H. Sheppard RAF and Sgt K. Woodburn RAF rounded up and murdered by SS on landing, WO R.S. Howe RAF injured and protected by a German civilian, K. Stiebritz, but died of his injuries March 15. Brief account of this loss in Aeroplane Monthly, July, 2001, states it collided with 103 Sqn. Lancaster JA857, above. 7-8 214 Sqn. JOSTLE equipped Fortress III KJ106 BU-G lost on a Bomber Support sortie, P/O H.L. Henderson, F/O N. Peters, F/O G. Stewart RNZAF, WO R.M. Bairnsfather RAAF, F/S H.M. McClymont RAF and P/O J.W. Winstone RNZAF killed, Sgt K.C. Phelan, Sgt W.P. Mulhall RAF, F/S J.V. Mathews RAAF, Sgt A.J. Goldson RAF and WO J. Henderson RAF PoW. 7-8 405 Sqn. Lancaster, pilot F/O L.E. Larson, was attacked in the target area by a Ju 88 which rear gunner WO R.W. Hainsworth DFM RAF shot down in flames. A second Ju 88 attack was hit by the mid-upper gunner, WO H. Robb RAF, also crashing in flames. A third attack by another Ju 88 hit WO Hainsworth and set fire to his turret. WO Robb and wireless operator P/O R.B. Van Metre put out the fire and pulled WO Hainsworth from the turret, but he was dead. P/O Van Metre, although having burns to his hands, returned to his duties until they landed, he was awarded a DFC while WO Robb received a CGM (6th Year; 405 SH). 7-8 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 NT418 lost on an INTRUDER over Germany, F/O E.A. Oswald killed, P/O K.B. Hicks missing. See http://www.teunispats.net/fr-wwii.htm for details. 7-8 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/O A.T. Sherrett and F/L K. Mackenzie, damaged a Ju 88 over Germany (6th Year). 7-8 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP718 EQ-B shot down by flak and night fighter attack over Germany, P/O A.G. Allen, WO2 N.G. Baird, P/O G.D. Daughters and P/O R.G. McManus killed, WO2 B.C. Patterson, F/O S. Lasko and Sgt J. Huspeka PoW. 7-8 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L C.L. Pitu, lost an engine outbound but completed the operation and returned to land safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 7-8 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB797 VR-K lost over Germany, P/O E.V. Beach, F/O B.T. MacNeill, P/O R.L. Mitchell, F/O W.E. Short and P/O R.T. Wilson missing, F/S H.O. Cole and F/S D.C. Jamieson PoW. 7-8 419 Sqn. had 14 Lancaster X bombers land at diversion airfields due to fuel shortages (R. Koval). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 7-8 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG346 QB-N lost over Germany, F/S J.W. Allan, P/O J.A. Bellamy, F/S D. Bellatino, F/S P.W. Davies, F/S G.W. Laut and F/S P.Y. Yanal RAF killed, F/O D.W. Lighthall POW. 7-8 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG457 QB-C lost over Germany, F/O T.L. Foley, Sgt J. Klem, F/O T.S. Lawrence, F/O D.W.B. Robinson, F/S S. Rosu, F/O D.A. Standfield killed, Sgt K.F. Seaman PoW. F/O Lawrence is believed to have bailed out safely, his death is unexplained. 7-8 424 Sqn. had 10 Lancaster I bombers land short of fuel at diversion airfields (R. Koval). 7-8 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ815 KW-C lost without trace on an operation to Germany, F/L W.D. Corbett DFC, P/O J.W. Hickson, F/O V.P. McAllister, P/O J.R. Morin, P/O L.J. Parent, P/O G.N. Ware and P/O J.G. Forsyth RAF missing. F/L Corbett had crashed a Halifax taking off Oct. 4, 1944. 7-8 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L J.F. Hadley, lost an engine outbound and recovered safely in France on three engines after bombing (R. Koval). See March 22, below. 7-8 428 Sqn. had 12 Lancaster X bombers land at a diversion field due to shortage of fuel (R. Koval). 7-8 429 Sqn. Halifax III LV942 AL-Q, F/O M. Ages, was attacked by a twin engined night fighter that damaged the fuselage and broke the pilot's side window before being driven off with hits from the gunners (R. Koval). 7-8 429 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L D.T. Magee, made a landing with no brakes at an emergency airfield on return from operations (R. Koval, Awards). See April 13-14, below. 7-8 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB802 SE-V, F/L J.P. Duggan, was attacked by a Fw 190 Wilde Sau night fighter that damaged an inner engine nacelle and undercarriage doors, but was driven off damaged itself (R. Koval, W.E. Heron). See March 22, below. 7-8 431 Sqn. had 15 additional Lancaster X bombers land short of fuel at a diversion airfield (R. Koval). 7-8 433 Sqn. had 9 Lancaster I bombers land short of fuel at a diversion airfield (R. Koval). 7-8 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB834 WL-Y, F/L R.J. Fern, claimed damage to a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them (R. Koval). See March 11, below. 7-8 434 Sqn. also had 16 Lancaster I bombers land short of fuel at diversion airfields (R. Koval). 7-8 550 Sqn. Lancaster III ME428 BQ-O lost over Germany, Sgt K.J.B. Smith RAF and Sgt E.R. Robinson RAF killed, F/O R.D. Harris missing, F/S D.J. Yemen, F/S D.J. Hicks, P/O G.J. Nicol and Sgt G.P. Kelleher RAF PoW. Sgt Hicks was badly burned and was later a member of the Guinea Pig Club. F/O Harris, F/S Yemen, F/O Nicol, Sgt Hicks, Sgt Smith RAF and Sgt Kelleher RAF had had a crash landing in a Lancaster Feb. 23-24, above. 7-8 550 Sqn. Lancaster III PA995 BQ-V "The Vulture Strikes" shot down over Germany by a night fighter, P/O L.W. Harvey killed, F/O J. Buckmaster and F/O C.J. Jones missing, Sgt S.J. Webb RAF, Sgt F.M. Main RAF, Sgt S. Pelham RAF and Sgt M.B. Smith RAF PoW. This aircraft had completed over 100 sorties before it was lost. F/O Buckmaster had been a member of the 1942 Grey Cup winning RCAF Hurricanes football team (wikipedia). 7-8 619 Sqn. Lancaster I NG286 PG-Y lost, F/L G.M.S. McMorran, F/S V.W. Lambert RAF and Sgt J.J. Maton RAF missing, F/O H.E. Hanson, F/O T. Turner, Sgt K. Phillips RAF and F/S E. Dellow RAF PoW. See also April 11, below.

Thursday 8 Col. The Honourablewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Colin Gibson MC appointed Minister of National Defence for Air. In Burma Allied soldiers entered Mandalay, beginning a battle to force Japanese troops from fortified positions (6th Year).

USAAF sent 1,340 heavy bombers from England to many oil and railway targets in Germany as well as 300 more from Italy on rail, road and other communications targets (Zijlstra).

V-2 rocket hits the Smithfield Market in London, killing 110 and injuring 366 (Polsson, http://www.dailymail.co.uk). One city block was destroyed, gas and water pipes were broken, and there was damage to the Tube tracks underground. Other V-2s killed 17 more Londoners and 20 people in Antwerp (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). 8 283 Sqn. Warwick I BV522 crashed in Algeria on an air test, F/L R.C. O'Connor, Cpl J.B. Bailey RAF (Can.), F/S J.K. Etheridge RAF, Cpl R.H. Moore RAF and F/S J. Whittham RAF killed. 8 36 Sqn. Wellington XIII NB915 "V" crashed off the Hebrides, passenger radar mechanic Sgt W.G. Anderson, FO J.E. Betton RAF, Sgt D.B. Godden RAF, F/S G.R. Archbold RAF, Sgt A.M. Forbes RAF, Sgt S.M.E. Fraser RAF, Sgt W.T. Lowman RAF and LACW Jean Penelope Metherell WAAF among the missing (H. Welting www.rafcommands.com). 8 220 Sqn. Liberator GR.VI KG913 swung and crashed taking off in the Azores for an ASR sortie, killing F/O H.D. Laronde, WO N.V. Ryan RAAF, F/S L.J. Bence RAF, Sgt A.D. Dodd RAF, Sgt R.G. Herring RAF, Sgt G.A. Reeve RAF, P/O I.L. Munce RAF, P/O J.E. Yarnell RAF and F/S F.C.D. Evans RAF killed, F/S H.R. Dobbie and F/S E.E. Smith RAF badly injured (A. Storr). 8 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.Xc NV427 EO-L shot down by flak near Norway, F/L R.C. Ridge DFC and his navigator P/O P. McCartney RAF missing (T. Higgins), part of an attack on 6 vessels anchored to cliffs by 35 strike aircraft with an escort of 14 Mustangs (6th Year). 8 #56 OTU Typhoon Ib MP187 spun and crashed in England, F/O R.F.D. Smith killed. 8 RCAF Station Goose Bay, Labrador, engineer Cpl J.S.M. Glover died of natural causes.

8-9 Shipyards in Hamburg engaged in production of the new high technology Type XXI U- boats were the main target of Bomber Command which attacked through cloud with 241 Halifax, 62 Lancaster and 9 Mosquitos. The city of Kassel was also attacked by 262 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos, while the LNSF sent 39 Mosquitos to Berlin, 33 to Hannover, 17 to other targets, 50 RCM, 36 SERRATE/INTRUDER, 37 GARDENING sorties in rivers, 5 Special Operations, a total of 805 sorties with the loss of 3 aircraft (BC War Diaries). This was the last night that Bomber Command operations would include Special Operations in it's daily summaries. 418 Sqn. had 8 Mosquitos over the German Dutch frontier on harassment patrols (6th Year). 8-9 163 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB568 "V" lost over Germany on a bomber sortie to Kassel, F/S A.E. Gillespie RAAF killed, his pilot F/L F.W. Cooper RAF safe (A. Storr). 8-9 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O W.E. Tunis, returned to land at an emergency airfield due to low brake pressure (R. Koval, Awards). See March 13, below. 8-9 415 Sqn. Halifax III NA186 6U-U hit by flak and lost over Germany, WO1 I.A.F. McDiarmid, F/S W.L. Mracekwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca, F/S A.R. Hibben, F/S F.E. Adams, F/S N. Tonello, F/S G.M. Roberts and Sgt W.J.R. Gale RAF PoW. 8-9 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O J.K. Bain, lost an engine after taking off. Less than an hour later a second engine died, forcing the crew to return early on 2 engines (R. Koval, Awards). See April 8-9, below. 8-9 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/S W. Gelineau, lost an engine on the return flight and landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 8-9 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, W/C K.A. France, squadron commanding officer, was hit by flak that knocked out their brakes, but returned to an emergency airfield in England where a safe landing was made (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). 8-9 464 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ259 lost from a sortie to harass road and rail communications ahead of an advance of US troops, pilot F/L A.C. Stark RAF (married to M.G. Stark of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) and Sgt S.A. Ancell RAF killed. (B. Barry et al, A. Storr, www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 8-9 608 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB406 6T-K lost on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/L L.N. Hobbs RAF and F/O R. Dennis RAAF safe.

Friday 9 The Japanese in French Indo-China had been content to allow the Vichy French Administration to hold the facade of power as long as they controlled the economic assets of the region. At the same time they forced agreement after agreement on the French which Vichy allowed, making the French rule a mockery in the eyes of the people. With the re-occupation of France, and growing influence of the Free French into the colony, of which the Japanese were fully aware, they acted, delivering an ultimatum to the French Governor to place his troops under their command. When he refused the Japanese immediately mobilized, taking over the country, killing or executing some 1,700 French officers and soldiers, and decapitating the Free French movement (Oxford).

Bomber Command sent 159 Lancasters to oil plants at Datteln, as well as 21 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos to the Bielefeld Viaduct which did not bomb due to cloud, 1 bomber was lost (BC War Diaries).

USAAF sent over 1,000 bombers to a tank production facility at Kassel, which was then abandoned due to damage. Other attacks were made to production facilities and rail yards (Zijlstra). 9 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35341 damaged in an accident in the SW Pacific (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 9 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM787 crashed in Germany making a night interception, F/L D.T. Steele and F/O C. Horne RAF killed. 9 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM229 crash landed in Germany due to engine problems on an escort sortie, P/O E.D. Downer PoW (416 SH). 9 605 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ349 lost over Germany, F/L W.G. Oldham and Sgt J.F. Fry RAF killed. 9 #1665 CU Halifax NA317 collided in mid-air with a Tiger Moth DE473, both aircraft crashing. F/O J.W. Cairnswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca, P/O A.G. Hemmings RAF, P/O K. Millard RAF, Sgt P. Richman RAF, Sgt J. Forbes RAF, Sgt G. Dinsdale RAF killed in the Halifax, and F/S A.R. Edwards RAF and his pupil, AC2 A.J.M. Keay RAF killed in the Tiger Moth (www.dehavilland.ukf.net, www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk). 9 #12 SFTS, Brandon, Man., Anson II FP879 crashed near Rivers, Man., F/O A.T. Phillips killed. 9 USAAF B-25J 44-30806 damaged taking off at Fort Nelson, BC (AAIR). 9 USAAF B-24M 44-50807 damaged landing at Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR).

9-10 US B-29 aircraft from Saipan attack Tokyo at night with incendiaries and napalm using new tactics developed by General LeMay, partially based on RAF Bomber Command tactics. Aircraft would fly at very low level in a bomber stream of 279 aircraft with increased bomb load achieved by the smaller fuel load required for low operations (that is, not requiring climbing to higher altitudes and being operating at the most economical fuel height and speed), and by stripping off most defensive guns and turrets (reducing crew size, weight and ). Pathfinders were used to mark the target area. The B-29s, previously unpainted, were painted with black undersurfaces for camouflage. This effectively acknowledges that the B-29 systems, while revolutionary, are too complex for the task at hand, and that the unforeseen high winds encountered over Japan cannot be compensated for accurately when bombing from high altitude. This change in tactics is based on the bombers strong points, it's very long range and ability to carry very large bomb loads.

The incendiary weapons used had been developed and tested against mock Japanese and German "cities" built in the western US and were highly effective.

On the ground Japanese civil protection was poor as most citizens ignored bomber alerts due to their experience of prior poor day bombing from high altitude, not going into shelters. Despite early warnings the volunteer fire defence organizations and standing fire crews were overwhelmed. A firestorm was created and one quarter of the city, 16 square miles (over 40 sq. km.) was burned out, 297,000 buildings (including factories) destroyed, 83,700 killed and over 40,000 injured. Over 1 million were left homeless. (In comparison during the from November 1943 to March 1944 the RAF dropped 25,000 tons of bombs and incendiaries on Berlin which destroyed 9 sq. km, killed over 6,000, and injured 18,400 (ww2total.com Chronology/1943), and the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima destroyed 13 sq. km in one explosion). This represented a major change in USAAF bombing tactics, and the decision to continue the large scale expansion of B-29 forces based in the Marianas for attacks on Japan was confirmed (Morgan, Oxford).

The LNSF sent 92 Mosquitos to Berlin and 16 more doing tours to various cities in Germany, as well as 29 RCM, 12 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 21 GARDENING sorties without loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. sent 10 Mosquitos on patrols over the German Dutch frontier with 1 loss (6th Year). 9-10 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS561 TH-F crashed into a house in Holland during a patrol over Germany, F/Owww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca F.J. Klapkiw and F/L G.I. Sheldrick killed. 9-10 429 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O A. Cook, lost an engine on a GARDENING sortie, returning safe on 3 engines (R. Koval).

Saturday 10 Bomber Command sent 155 Lancasters to make a GEE-H attack at Scholven/Buer, which made a very accurate attack without loss (BC War Diaries).

USAAF sends 1,358 heavy bombers to rail yards across Germany (Zijlstra). #133 (F) Sqn. Kittyhawk I #858 "F", P/O G.J. Patten, shoots down a Japanese Balloon Bomb near Galiano and Saltspring islands, BC (Joost, H.A. Halliday). A second balloon spotted could not be intercepted, possibly due to the high altitude (30,000 feet) and/or the speed of these devices when in the jet stream (Mikesh) or it might have been the planet Venus. Other balloons and fragments were recovered at Nicola, BC and Nelson House, Manitoba.

The only damage done to the US war effort by a Balloon Bomb was on this date when one drifted into the high-tension power lines (possibly at Toppenish, Washington State) feeding the Hanford, Washington, nuclear facility, shorting them out. This power failure resulted in an automated shut down of the three reactors there (believed to be the first emergency SCRAM), which took three days to re-start, and caused a slight delay in the production of plutonium for the FAT MAN nuclear bomb (Mikesh). 10 72 Sqn. Spitfire HF.IX RK916 was hit by flak and blew up attacking a ground target in Italy, killing P/O P.S. Jennings. 10 107 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR254 lost over Germany, F/L R.J. O'Sullivan and F/O E.T. Harris RAF killed. 10 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR123 PT-F landed from a check flight with brake problems, swung off the runway into trees and wrecked, F/O M. Tederan and crew safe. 10 441 Sqn. Spitfire HF.IX ML216 disappeared off Scotland on a practice interception, F/L E.W. Martin missing. 10 USAAF 394th SRS, 85th SRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70265 damaged in a ground loop in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 10 USAAF P-63C 43-11175 damaged in a take off accident at Fort Nelson, BC, possibly involving P-63C 42-70147 which was damaged on this date when parked at the same location (AAIR).

10-11 USAAF B-29s again attack Japan at night using bomber stream tactics, targeting Nagoya.

As a result of these new attacks evacuation of Japanese school children above grade 2 from cities was made compulsory, and evacuation of younger children urged, most of these being evacuated from major cities in the next month. Volunteer civil defence organizations were crippled as more people evacuated the cities for the country side (Oxford), and industrial production was also affected. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Bomber Command's LNSF sent 60 Mosquitos to Berlin and 12 to other targets, plus 35 RCM and 10 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries).

Sunday 11 In French Indo-China Japan begins the dismantling of the colony. They persuade the Emperor of Annam to declare the independence of Annam and Tongkin, the foundation of modern Vietnam (Oxford).

Bomber Command sent 750 Lancaster, 293 Halifax and 36 Mosquitos, a total of 1,079, to Essen to aid 2 attacks by the USAAF, dropping 4,661 tons of bombs through clouds on OBOE sky markers which made an accurate attack, virtually ending wartime production by Krupps and other industries in the city (6th Year). This cost 3 bombers (BC War Diaries).

USAAF bombers were also active attacking 3 U-boat targets and an oil plant, all by H2X (Zijlstra).

A Balloon Bomb was reported in the water near Kunghit Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, BC, and another landed near Edson, Alberta (Mikesh). 11 27 Sqn., Beaufighter flown by F/L H. Hope and WO J. Pettifer RAF was returning from a RHUBARB attacking river transport on the Irrawaddy when they spotted a downed Spitfire and pilot behind Japanese lines. After indications the paddy it was in was safe to land in, they did, picked up the pilot and returned him to his base (Lancaster, C. et al). 11 132 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII JG568 crashed in Ceylon, F/O A.K. Paton RAF (Can.) killed (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 11 354 Sqn. Liberator VI KG850 "Y" lost on a shipping strike in the Mergut Archipelago, Burma, F/O E.L. Easton and 8 crew killed. F/O D.G.M. McCreesh RAF, F/O C.E. Leese RAF, Sgt R.S. Wilkins RAF, Sgt N. Stringfield RAF, Sgt A. Agnew RAF, Sgt J. Lennane RAF, Sgt G. Green RAF, Sgt D.L. Mould RAF and Sgt F. Maxted RAF are listed as missing from 354 Sqn. on this date (R. Quirk, CWGC). 11 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L W.R. Austin lost an engine due to an oil leak close to the target but bombed from a lower altitude and returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). This was cited in the award of a DFC to F/L Austin (Awards). 11 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, Squadron commanding officer W/C F.R. Sharp, lost an engine outbound but dropped altitude and returned safe on 3 engines (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). 11 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O G. Smith, made a 3 engined landing at an emergency airfield after an engine packed up on the return flight (R. Koval). 11 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L R. Close, landed safe at base on 3 engines after losing one on the return flight (R. Koval). 11 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI RK910 crashed in Belgium after an engine failure, F/O D.A. Fawthrop killed (421 SH). 11 424 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O K. MacDonald, was forced to evade falling bombs over the target (R. Koval). 11 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB853 SE-A lost over the target in Germany on a daylight operation, P/O H.G. Bishopwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca DFC, Squadron commanding officer W/C R.F. Davenport, P/O C.W. Fraser, F/O D.K.J. Hector, P/O C.R. Lecky, P/O A.C. Pettifor, F/O W. Rink killed. 11 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB834 WL-Y shot down by flak over the target in Germany on a daylight operation, F/O T.D. Copeland, F/L R.J. Fern, F/O J.R. Latremouille, F/L A.G. Rowe DFC, F/O G. Scott and P/O W.T. Jones RAF killed, F/O J.A.H.B. Marceau badly injured and taken PoW. His experiences and the story of his recovery can be found in R. Donavan's book As For The Canadians. Three of this crew had survived the loss of a 425 Sqn. Wellington Oct. 13-14, 1942. 11 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O J.O. Stewart, lost an engine outbound, but bombed and returned safe on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 15-16, below. 11 619 Sqn. Lancaster I LM207 PG-E was on an operation to Germany when it had to divert to Belgium due to technical problems. Attempting to land it overshot the runway and was wrecked, WO2 M.S. Reside, F/S F.V. Verney, F/O E.H. Hooker RAF, Sgt G.P.T. Pullen RAF, F/S R.K. Appleton RAF, Sgt J. Schofield RAF and Sgt W.H.P. Barnett RAF safe. 11 USAAF 358th FS, 366th FG, P-47D 42-24404 shot down over Germany by flak, 1Lt E.W. Poscavage USAAF, killed. Lt Poscavage had been trained as a pilot with the RCAF, was married to a Canadian, and was a member of the 1942 Grey Cup winning RCAF Hurricanes football team (wikipedia, www.usaafdata.com, www.rep-am.com & p- 47.database.pagesperso-orange.fr).

11-12 Bomber Command sent 90 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin and 18 to other targets, plus 4 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 22 GARDENING sorties without loss. This was 20th consecutive night of bombing by Mosquitos (BC War Diaries).

Monday 12 Dortmund was attacked by 1,108 bombers (748 Lancasters, 292 Halifax and 68 Mosquitos), the largest number of RAF bombers sent to a single target of the war, dropping 4,851 tons of bombs, effectively ending all war production in the city. This followed a USAAF attack on the same target (6th Year). Two Lancasters were lost (BC War Diaries). This was the largest weight of bombs dropped on a single target in one operation in the war (Zijlstra).

On the request of the advancing Soviet forces the port of Swinemünde was attacked by 671 USAAF heavy bombers dropping by H2X through dense cloud (Zijlstra). Other attacks were made on communications supporting the German attacks on the Remagen bridgehead (Zijlstra).

Balloon Bombs were recovered at Coal Harbour, BC and Oxford House, Manitoba, near the border with Ontario, the farthest east Canadian wartime report (Mikesh). The Coal Harbour balloon was spotted at low level and shot down by a Canso aircraft, the last of three confirmed RCAF Balloon victories (Joost). 12 103 Sqn. Lancaster I LM131 PM-V was hit by a bomb which jammed into the wing over the target in Germany on a daylight operation, and was abandoned over England, Sgt F.E. Carter RAF was killed when his parachute failed but F/O B.F. Wright, F/S G.R. Tracey, F/S A.J. Bocinfuso, WO J. Coulson RAF, Sgt B. Heath RAF and F/S K. Coleman RAF safe. 12 106 Sqn. Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca I RA503 ZN-B lost without trace on a daylight operation to Germany, F/S H. Gillender, F/S G.J.P. O'Brien RAAF, WO F.E. Baker RAF, Sgt D.Y. Carter RAF, F/S H.G. Cooper RAF and Sgt K.R. Haw RAF missing. 12 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB214 burnt out accidentally in England during maintenance. 12 401 Sqn. Spitfire F/L L.N. Watt claimed a Me 262 jet fighter destroyed (H.A. Halliday). 12 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O G.A. Hyland, was damaged in the fuselage by flak that also wounded the flight engineer. They landed in Belgium to get him medical attention (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 12 424 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O H.H. Cowan, lost an engine just after taking off, but continued to the target, bombed at a lower altitude, and returned to an emergency airfield on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). This sortie was cited in the award of a DFC to F/O Cowan (Awards). 12 #2 Canadian Army film unit Auster shot down over Holland, Sgt H.A. Burnett (Canadian Army pilot?) safe (S. Heppenstall www.rafcommands.com). 12 #80 OTU Spitfire PR.XI EN652 became lost on a training flight and crashed at sea, WO1 G.W. Stairs missing.

12-13 Bomber Command sent 81 LNSF Mosquito bombers to Berlin and 9 to other targets, 2 RCM and 19 GARDENING sorties with the loss of 3 (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. returned to Osnabrück and Munster with 9 patrols (6th Year). 12-13 433 Sqn. Lancaster I NG233 BM-E lost over the sea on a GARDENING sortie off Denmark, F/O A.V. Plante killed, P/O J.P. Farrell, P/O D.W. Hodge, P/O G.A. Kennedy, P/O T.C. Pierson, F/S J.H. Wilson and Sgt T. Orr RAF missing.

Tuesday 13 In French Indo-China Cambodia is declared independent from France (Oxford).

Bomber Command sent 310 Halifax with 24 Lancaster and 20 Mosquito Pathfinders to the bordering towns of Wuppertal and Barmen. No aircraft were lost. In the last three day period Bomber Command had sent 2,541 sorties to targets in the Ruhr valley which had taken the industries of 2 cities and 1 town out of the war (BC War Diaries).

Another attempt was made on the railway viaducts at Arnsberg and Bielefeld, but was prevented by clouds (BC War Diaries).

F/O R.B. Gray, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, awarded George Medal (CJCA headline). The award was posthumous, see August 27, 1944.

At Port Hardy, BC, a Balloon Bomb was sighted by two aircraft but was not intercepted (Joost), while another was recovered at Baril Lake, Alberta (Mikesh). 13 215 Sqn. Argus II FZ786 attempted a forced landing along a railroad line in Burma but crashed on a bend, killing F/L M.M. Gardner, F/O E.F. Gilbert and F/O J. Williams RAF (Can.) (J. Baugher). TSGNO notes F/O Williams had been an engine mechanic with 242 (Canada) Sqn. before re-mustering to air crew and was also a Biggs' Boy (K. Stofer, Allison & Hayward). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 13 19 Sqn. Mustang III FB359 crashed on an air test, killing F/L R.A. Haywood. 13 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MK888 abandoned after engine problems on a fighter sweep, F/O A.R.W. McKay PoW (F. Williston www.rafcommands.com). 13 402 Sqn. Spitfire, F/O H.C. Nicholson claimed an Ar 234 jet bomber destroyed (H.A. Halliday). 13 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O W.E. Tunis, was hit by flak that knocked out an engine, landing safely in France on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 13 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J. Gillespie, lost an engine after bombing, but landed back at base safe on 3 engines (R. Koval). 13 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O W.D. McLeod, was hit by flak that knocked out an engine and damaged the rear turret. They returned safely to their base on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 13 #45 Delivery Group, Ferry Command, Dakota IV KN345 crashed in the Los Padres National Forest, California, enroute from Texas to Sacramento, California, USA, killing WO2 F.E. George, F/S P. Antrobus RAF, F/S F.S. Holmes RAF, F/S E. Watkins RAF and a USAAF Aviation Cadet M.K. Nelson. The wreckage was not located until May 13, 1945. (http://aircraftwrecks.com/pages/mk iv kn345.htm) 13 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB591 swung landing at Windsor Field in the Bahamas and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

13-14 Osaka Japan attacked by B-29 bomber stream at night, dropping over 1,700 tons of incendiaries and napalm bombs using radar, over 8 sq. miles of the city and 119 factories destroyed.

Bomber Command sent 195 Lancasters and 32 Mosquitos to two oil targets in Herne and Gelsenkirchen. The former missed but the Gelsenkirchen plant was hit. Other operations include 50 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 26 to Bremen, 6 to Erfurt, 58 RCM and 37 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 404 sorties with 2 losses (BC War Diaries).

In Italy 8 Wellington bombers with a larger group of Liberators attacked a rail yard at Treviso. This was the last bombing operation by Wellington bombers in Europe (Datafile: , Aeroplane Monthly, September, 2001). 13-14 163 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB476 "W" crash landed in Holland on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/O Harris and F/O Wynes safe.

Wednesday 14 Bomber Command sent 169 Lancasters to make GEE-H attacks on oil targets at Datteln and Hattingen. The railway viaducts at Bielefeld and Arnsberg were targeted by 32 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito which dropped 28 TALLBOY and the first 22,000 lb. "earthquake" bombs. The latter bomb took out the Bielefeld viaduct, but the Arnsberg one remained standing. This important communication link had been targeted without success by both RAF and the USAAF in the last several months (Zijlstra). One bomber was lost from the GEE-H attack (BC War Diaries).

With clearing weatherwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca USAAF sent 1,246 bombers to a multitude of oil, industrial, rail and road targets in Germany (Zijlstra).

In the week since it's capture the US held bridge at Remagen had been attacked by some 370 German bomber sorties, including jet powered Ar 234 and Me 262 bombers. Many had been shot down, most by very heavy concentrations of US anti-aircraft guns now surrounding this important site (Zijlstra). See March 17, below.

Parts of Balloon Bombs were recovered at Gambier Island, BC and Hay Lake, Alberta (Mikesh). As part of RCAF research into using television to guide remote controlled bombs an Anson V aircraft equipped with a television camera is flown by F/L Cowan and F/L Winkler (ex-dambusters?) over Ottawa at low level using the Peace Tower as a target. After 2 passes and complaints from MPs in committee meetings they are instructed by radio to find another test target (they then "attack" the Alexandria Bridge in west Ottawa). (B. Ricketts).

418 Sqn. moves from England to Belgium (RCAF Sqns.). 14 VB-17 USS Hornet Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21414 lost to unknown cause off Honshu, Japan (J. Baugher, AAIR). 14 436 Sqn. had 2 Dakota aircraft near the airfield at Akyab hit by a Beaufighter making an emergency landing. One Dakota was destroyed by fire, F/S E.O. England RNZAF was badly injured and died several days later, F/L G.S.L. Anderson and F/L T.W. Farquhar slightly injured (6th Year). 14 436 Sqn. aero engine mechanic LAC L. Blondeau killed in a swimming accident in India (6th Year). 14 USAAF 443rd TCG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5321 was damaged beyond repair in a ground loop at Ledo, India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 14 101 Sqn. ABC equipped Lancaster III DV298 SR-J lost over Germany, F/O G.W. Hess RCAF (USA), Sgt F.W. Hughes RAF, Sgt R. Hurley RAF, Sgt F. Milton RAF, S/L I. MacLeod- Selkirk RAF, F/O R.C. Pitman RAF, F/S A. Pringle RAF and Sgt J. Toy RAF killed. Sgt Toy was the special operator. 14 201 Sqn. Sunderland III ML743 "A" crashed into a mountain in Ireland after taking off on an anti-submarine patrol, P/O R.D.A. Becker, F/O E.N. Cave RAF, F/S N. Davison, F/S S.B. Frith RAF, F/S G.R. Kennedy RAF, F/L D.R. Hatton MiD RAF, F/L V. Howkins RAF, F/L J.G. Robinson, F/S F.N.G. Ford, Sgt J. McAvoy, F/S D.J.T. Twist and F/L J.P. Garrard RAAF killed (D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com). 14 246 Sqn., RAF Ferry Command, Liberator C.VII (C-87) EW626 crashed into high ground just after take-off from RAF Station Lagens in the Azores, F/L L.F. Jarvis, LAC W. Bridgen RAF, LAC C.S. Hubbard RAF, F/O J. Vaclav RAF (Czech.), LAC D. Lindsay RAF, WO D. Brochard RAF, S/L A.J. Davey DSO RAF, Cpl F. Jeckells RAF, F/S L. Kondziolka RAF (Czech.), F/O C.G. Montgomery RAF, Sgt G.A. Cain RAF, Sgt J.H. Lawrence RAF, F/L A.K. Murdoch DFC RAF, F/L J.E. Yarnell RAF, F/L A.J. Volek RAF, F/O A.P.R. Walker RAF, Cpl W. McKenzie RAF and possibly LAC E. Jones RAF killed. 14 #45 Group Ferrywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB383 swung on landing at Dorval, Quebec, and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 14 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB503 swung on landing at Dorval, Quebec, and ended up on it's back (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

14-15 Bomber Command sent 244 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos to a synthetic oil plant at Lützkendorf, as well as 121 Lancaster, 98 Halifax and 11 Mosquitos to Zweibrüken to demolish the town as a roadblock to defending German troops. The same task was undertaken at Homberg by 127 Halifax, 23 Lancaster and 11 Mosquito aircraft. Other operations were 75 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 6 to Bremen and 6 to Brunswick, 52 RCM and 27 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols. The last Bomber Command sortie by a Stirling bomber was an RCM MANDREL sortie by 199 Sqn. on this night. Sorties flown on this night totalled 812 with the loss of 23 aircraft.

In the 1950's Zweibrüken became an RCAF NATO base, and several of the aircrew who flew on this operation later served there (405 SH). 14-15 49 Sqn. Lancaster I RF153 EA-K lost over Germany, F/L J.N. McPhee, F/S E.G.C. "Ted" Richards, F/O G.A. Robinson, F/O R.F. Thompson, Sgt P.F. Ivett RAF and F/S T.G.W. Dew RAF killed, F/S G.L. Corrigan evaded. There is an account of this loss by survivor Terry Corrigan in "How Papa Won the War" by G. Wagner. F/S Richards was a poet, some of his letters and poems can be found on the www.canadianletters.ca Canadian Letters and Poems website (CBC Nov. 11, 2002). 14-15 50 Sqn. Lancaster I NG177 VN-L lost without trace on an operation to Germany, P/O A.W. Holmes, F/L F.J. Ling, P/O R.B. Millman, F/O B.W. Rutland, WO2 R.L. Thompson, Sgt H.C. Lomax RAF and F/S E.L. Howard RAF missing. 14-15 227 Sqn. Lancaster I RA546 9J-J lost over Germany, WO1 W.A. Johnson and F/O W.F. Possee DFC RAF killed, F/L M.L. Hunt RNZAF died of injuries March 18 and F/S R. Nesbit RAF died of injuries April 8. The remainder of crew, P/O A.T. Harvey RNZAF, F/S A.T. Bell RAAF, F/S S.H.H. Jobson RAF and F/S J.W. Harrison RAF PoW. 14-15 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NN777 QB-F crash landed out of fuel returning from an operation over Germany, F/O R.W. Walker and WO2 B.W. Pearson were slightly injured, P/O R.A.R. McInroy, Sgt E. Walker, Sgt D.W. Cotte, Sgt M.J. Menzie and Sgt E.J. Philip safe. 14-15 429 Sqn. Halifax III LV993 AL-M, P/O C.E. Anadahl and crew make the 96th sortie with this aircraft on the Squadron, before it was sent to #1664 HCU (Airforce Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 3, 1985). This was the highest number of sorties completed by a #6 Group RCAF bomber. 14-15 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O J. Daly, received damage to a wing from flak (R. Koval). 14-15 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O R. Jenkins, lost an engine after taking off, but bombed and returned to base safe on 3 engines (R. Koval). 14-15 #4 (Coastal) OTU Sunderland III DP178 missing on an anti-submarine patrol. Despite a search the aircraft and crew were not found, WO1 S.G. Campbell, F/S E. Dwyer RCAF (Nfld.), WO1 W. Gill, WO1 E.W. McCready, F/O A.B.S. McElroy, F/L J.M.J. Powell, F/L A.G. Rawland, F/S W.M. Richmond, F/S E.W. Sivell, F/O P.W. Berry RAF and WO D.E. Hunt RAAF missing (R. McNeil, DaveB, www.ww2talk.com).

At around this time Yugoslavian Partisan forces under Tito invade the area around Trieste, demandingwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca that the port, ceded to Italy from Austro-Hungary after the First World War, become part of Yugoslavia (Oxford).

Thursday 15 Oil targets at Bottrop and Castrop-Rauxel were attacked by 150 Halifax, 14 Lancaster and 24 Mosquito bombers which made successful attacks. The Arnsberg viaduct was attacked by 16 TALLBOY and 2 GRAND SLAM Lancasters, but still survived. One Halifax was lost from the oil attacks (BC War Diaries).

USAAF sent 1,340 heavy bombers to two targets in the Berlin area, the German High Command headquarters at Zossen and the rail yards and town of Oranienburg (Zijlstra).

A Balloon Bomb envelope is reported to have landed near Williams Lake, BC, and another was recovered near Chase, BC, plus fragments of a third at Baker Creek, BC (Mikesh). 15 159 Sqn. Liberator VI KH256 "G" lost in SE Asia while bombing railway bridges, F/O W.G. Cunningham, P/O G.F. Greenlee, F/S D.L. Haberthur, F/S J.W. Paterson, F/O T.C. Reeve, F/O W.F. Stafford, F/L W.M. Tree and Sgt J.M. Fletcher RAF missing. 15 207 Sqn. Lancaster I LL902 EM-A flew into the ground in poor visibility returning from an operation over Germany, P/O H.B. Boddy, F/O M.J.H. Cooke RAF, P/O R. Fairclough RAF, F/S J.W. Laing RAF, F/S R.G.A. Breach RAF, F/S F.R. Stead RAF and P/O J. D'Arcy RAF killed. 15 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM313 crash landed in enemy territory escorting Mitchell bombers, WO G.V. Boudreau PoW. 15 415 Sqn. had 4 Halifax III bombers damaged by flak, flown by W/C F.W. Ball, F/O R.S. Evans, F/O A. Galley and F/O E.C.S. Wilkinson (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns., Awards). See April 10, below. 15 420 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O R.E. Bagnell, was damaged in the tail by flak (R. Koval, Awards). See March 21, below. 15 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J.A. Brassard, landed at base safe on 3 engines after losing one on the return flight (R. Koval, Awards). 15 429 Sqn. had 3 bombers hit by flak, flown by P/O C. Andahl, F/O R. Jones and F/L K.O. Powell (R. Koval, Awards). See April 4-5, below. 15 #41 OTU Spitfire Vb BM636 crashed in Wales practising aerobatics, F/O J.L. Wright killed. 15 #3 SFTS, Calgary, Alberta, LAC(P) J.A. Robinson RAAF died in hospital in Australia after being repatriated home following being diagnosed with tuberculosis (A. Storr).

15-16 Bomber Command sent 134 Lancasters, 122 Halifax and 11 Mosquitos to Hagen and 257 Lancasters with 8 Mosquitos to the oil refinery at Misburg, as well as 54 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 27 to Erfurt, 16 to Mannheim, 5 to Jena and 5 to , 53 RCM and 37 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 729 sorties with 14 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries). Me 262 jet night fighters were encountered over Hagen (419 SH). 15-16 153 Sqn. Lancaster I NG488 P4-A lost over Germany, F/S A.W. Preston, F/O G.H. Small, P/O R. Taylor DFC, F/O H.J. Lodge RAF, Sgt L. Williams RAF and P/O J.J. Nevens RAF killed, P/O E.J. Parkerwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca RAF PoW. P/O Taylor had survived the loss of a 153 Sqn. Lancaster Dec. 17-18, 1944. 15-16 405 Sqn. Lancaster III NE119 LQ-P shot down over Germany. All the crew, F/L L.N. Laing, F/S F.J. Marsh, F/O D.G. Smith, F/O I.W. Bonter, F/O R.M. Hyde, F/S J.R. Crisp and Sgt R. Morris RAF bailed out, however F/S Marsh and Sgt Morris were taken prisoner near the crash site and murdered, it is believed by Gestapo. See March 17 and 19. 15-16 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB516 LQ-T lost over Germany, F/O C.A. Boulton, P/O D.I. Galbraith AM (US), F/S D.A. Holliday, P/O R.B. Jones, P/O F.J. Miller, F/L K.E. Parkhurst, F/O H.E. Wort and Sgt L. Dovaston RAF killed. 15-16 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB814 VR-N "Nuts-2-U" believed to have been shot down over Germany by a night fighter, P/O M.W. Bredin, F/O H.R.J. Hennessey, F/S C.W. Parrish and P/O C.H. Vickery killed, Sgt P.V. Bowman, F/S C. Ginter and Sgt T.J. Bristow evaded (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). 15-16 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB870 VR-K was over Allied territory when it was attacked by a night fighter and exploded, F/O E.B. Carleton DFM, F/O H.L. Garriock and P/O A. Sutherland killed, the remainder of the crew, F/O B.V. Saunders, F/L M.W. McLaughlin, F/O B.V. Charbonneau and F/S W.W. Lightfoot managed to land safe by parachute, injured, the latter three being hospitalized. F/O Garriock had been previously interned in Sweden Dec. 16-17, 1943. 15-16 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB851 VR-W, F/O D. Lambroughton, evaded two attacks by Me 262 night fighters (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 15-16 424 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O J.L. Mould, lost an engine over it's base but continued to the target, bombed, and returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 15-16 425 Sqn. crew in a borrowed 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR172 PT-Y shot down over Allied territory, P/O J.V.L.A. Patry killed, P/O A.M. Fournier missing, Sgt J.J.R. Lanctot, WO1 J.A. Paiement, F/S C.J. Panneton, F/S J.D. Goupil and Sgt G.R. Odell RAF safe. P/O Fournier is reported to have successfully left the aircraft with the rest of the crew. 15-16 425 Sqn. Halifax III PN172 KW-G was hit by flak over the target but was not seriously damaged. On the return flight over Belgium they were suddenly attacked by a twin engined night fighter that shot off it's nose (perspex?), and set fire to an engine and the fuselage (possibly a Schrage Musick attack?). The flight engineer, P/O J.J.R. Arcand was trying to put out the fire when a second attack set another engine on fire. When a wing began to break up a bail-out was ordered. P/O Arcand did not leave the aircraft and was killed, but F/L J.R. Laporte, F/O J.A.L.P. Rodrigue, F/O J.H. Foley, WO1 J.P. Lamontagne, F/S J.L. Veronneau and F/S J.R.R. St. Onge were safe (Richard.K and Hugh Halliday at www.rafcommands.com; and R. Koval). 15-16 426 Sqn. had two Halifax VII bombers flown by P/O R.A. Reith (NP814 OW-U) and F/O D. Weicker (RG456 OW-R "Zombie") evade attacks by Me 163 rocket fighters (R. Koval, T. Palmer). See April 10, below. 15-16 427 Sqn. Lancaster I PA271 ZL-W, F/L W.M. Walker, evaded an attack by a twin engined night fighter (R. Koval, Awards). 15-16 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB846 NA-I was shot down by a Ju 88 night fighter over Holland that made 9 attacks on the bomber, F/O E.R. Evans DFC, F/O D.C. Graham, F/L R.C. Hamill, P/O G.T. Llewellin and F/L R.W. Newton were killed, F/L J.D.C. Craton (injured) and F/L B.B. Gray returned safe. The night fighter was also claimed as destroyed (R. Koval). 15-16 431 Sqn. Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca X KB815 SE-K lost over Belgium, F/O G.H. Davis, F/L A.G. Edwards, F/L R.R. Haw, P/O R.E. Horne, F/O J.L.V. Morin, P/O P.P. Repsys and P/O A.C. Harris RAF killed. 15-16 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP689 QO-M (or -K, R. Koval) "Moonlight Mermaid" lost over Germany, F/O S.M. Bonter and Sgt D.C. Lawton killed, Sgt D. Colquhoun RAF was murdered by Gestapo, F/O H.E. Vachon, F/O A.T. Hinchcliffe and WO2 E.E.V. Anderson PoW (R. Koval; O. Clutton-Brock). Sgt T.D. Scott also bailed out but fell into the hands of the Gestapo, see April 3, below. This was this bombers 84th or 85th sortie (letter, Airforce, Sept. 1983, which also gives the name as "Moonlight Maiden"). 15-16 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O J. Kinniburgh, had an aileron damaged by flak (R. Koval). See April 10, below. 15-16 433 Sqn. Lancaster I RA511 BM-Q, F/L A. Strelchuk, was attacked by a twin engined night fighter that was shot down in flames. A few minutes later another twin engined night fighter attacked, which was driven off damaged (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 15-16 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB835 WL-J lost over Belgium, shot down by a night fighter, F/O L.W. Armstrong, F/O J.D. Ball, P/O T.C. Kossatz, F/O J.O. Stewart DFC, P/O W.G.S. White killed, P/O J.A. Whitehead missing, F/O J.H. Ayotte slightly injured but safe (R. Koval). 15-16 434 Sqn. Lancaster I PA226 WL-X, F/O J. Wagman, claimed some hits on a fighter that attacked them (R. Koval, Awards). 15-16 550 Sqn. Lancaster I NG287 BQ-Q lost over Germany, P/O I.F. Tait, F/O R.F. Wallace RNZAF, Sgt H.J. Brownett RAF, Sgt W. Field RAF and F/O R.W. Stephens RAF killed, Sgt R.H. Laney RAF PoW and Sgt G.B.C. Capon RAF evaded. 15-16 #1664 HCU RCAF Halifax III MZ481 missing on a cross country exercise, an extensive search did not find any trace of the aircraft. F/L F.E. Connors, F/S J. Graham, F/S J.H.J. Grahame, F/S A.H. Jones, F/L J.M. Fowlie, F/O J.C. Pearson and Sgt K.J. Parrish RAF missing. This was the last loss of #1664 HCU in almost 2 years of operations.

Friday 16 616 Sqn. begins ground attack operations in Belgium using Meteor F.III jet fighters (Franks).

Shortage of rocket fuel for V-2s begins to curtail launches as the German transportation system begins to break down, and further rocket groups were diverted to make an attack the US bridgehead at Remagen (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). 16 VB-6 USN Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21286 lost to unknown cause near Japan, Lt(jg) Grehan USN (and his gunner?) safe (J. Baugher AAIR). 16 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII MT770 lost on a dive bombing sortie in Italy, F/O J.W.R. Weekes PoW (www.spitfires.ukf.net, 417 SH). 16 409 Sqn. Mosquito NF.XIII HK382 flew into ground on a test flight in France, killing P/O K.S. Brenton and F/O R.H. Long. 16 544 Sqn. Mosquito PR.XVI NS795 was making a photo flight over Liepzig when it was intercepted and damaged at high altitude by several Me 163 fighters. The pilot F/O R.M. Hays RCAF (USA) and his navigator F/S Phillips, dived to low level. Returning on one engine a Bf 109 was avoided. The aircraft was further damaged when the undercarriage collapsed onwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca landing (P. Renier www.rafcommands.com). 16 #8 OTU, Greenwood, NS, Mosquito B.XX KB338 lost, F/O R.L. Corcoran RNZAF and Sgt D.C.A. Gillespie RNZAF killed (#36 OTU Roll of Honour). 16 #10 SFTS, Dauphin, Man., Crane I #8015 crashed, LAC R.R.W. Stephens RAF killed. See #12 SFTS loss July 25, 1942. 16 USAAF C-47B 44-76496 damaged taking off from Ottawa, Ontario (AAIR). 16 USAAF B-25J 44-30822 damaged taking off from Nelson, BC (AAIR).

16-17 Fourth USAAF B-29 night incendiary attack, on Kobe, Japan. Bomber Command sent 231 Lancasters of the Main Force with a further 46 Lancaster and 16 Mosquito Pathfinders to Nüremberg. German night fighters engaged the bomber stream and Nüremburg again took it's toll of bombers. As well as 225 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos were sent to Würzberg which made a devastating attack that killed between 4,000 and 5,000 of it's citizens. Each year on the anniversary of this attack all the church bells in the city are rung for the 19 minutes the attack took in remembrance of those killed. Other operations included 56 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin (the 25th consecutive night of attacks on the City), 24 to Hanau, and 12 to other targets, 32 RCM, 40 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 24 GARDENING sorties, a total of 717 sorties with the loss of 30 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 16-17 12 Sqn. Lancaster I PD275 PH-K lost over Germany, F/L K.W. Daymond, F/O B.C. Kerr, P/O W.J. Malyon, Sgt A.W. Hathaway RAF, P/O H. Woffenden RAF and Sgt M. McNicol RAF were killed, F/O J.H. Clarke PoW. Only two men surnamed Malyon died in RCAF service, both in 12 Sqn. Lancasters. See April 23, 1944. 16-17 12 Sqn. Lancaster I RF181 PH-G was attacked by a night fighter over Germany and exploded, P/O W.G. Brown, Sgt W.J. Charles RAF, F/S C.H. Irving RAAF, WO W.A. Neill RAAF and Sgt J.T. Nicholls RAF killed, pilot F/O D.O.R. Dickey RAF and bomb aimer F/S A. Henry RAF PoW (A. Storr). 16-17 12 Sqn. Lancaster I RF188 PH-U lost over Germany, P/O M.M. Barker, F/O K.W. Mabee, P/O L.E. Rae, Sgt D.W. Debonnaire RAF and Sgt G.A. Clarke RAF killed; F/O A.R. Hovis and F/S T.K. Imperious PoW. 16-17 100 Sqn. Lancaster III ND644 HW-N "Naughty Nan" shot down over Germany, F/S L.E. Bedell, F/O G.A.O. Dauphinee, F/S W.H. Johnson, F/O W.R. Vale and F/S M.R. Jeffery RAF killed, F/O D.B. Douglas and P/O R.S. Bailey RAF injured and taken PoW (http://www.lancaster- archive.com). F/O Douglas was later repatriated. 16-17 100 Sqn. Lancaster III PB117 HW-D lost over Germany, F/S R.J. O'Reilly, F/S C.H. Weicker, F/O C.J. Cooper RAF, F/S D.C. Stevens RAF, F/S J.P. Edmondson RAF and Sgt J. Mitchell RAF killed, F/S G.F. Hersey PoW. 16-17 103 Sqn. Lancaster I ME848 PM-E lost over Germany, Sgt W.H. Fox RAF killed, F/O E.W. Armour, F/S S.H. McRoberts, F/O A.R. Mackenzie, F/S J.B. McCormick, F/S E. Young RAF and F/S J.D. Smith RAF PoW. W.R. Chorley notes that most of the survivors were badly injured. 16-17 103 Sqn. Lancaster I NG492 PM-D lost over Germany, P/O R.I. Parks, F/L A.L. Stepharnoff, Sgt J. Grant RAF, P/O H.K. Stott RAF, F/S A. Davies RAF, F/S W. Whitehead RAF and F/O R. Wilkinson RAF killed. 16-17 103 Sqn. Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca I NN758 PM-S lost over Germany, F/S W.H. Fetherston, F/L A.C. Watt, P/O A. Wotherspoon, Sgt J.F. Jackson RAF, F/S G.W. Blackshaw RAF and F/S J.S. Hickey RAF killed, F/S A.C. Bellisle PoW. 16-17 166 Sqn. Lancaster I PA234 AS-M lost over Germany, F/S W.C.J. Reynolds, Sgt V. Jones RAF, F/S J. Paterson RAF and F/O J.V. Gardner RAF killed, F/O R.G. Buckland RAF missing, F/O K.P. Muncer DFC RAF and F/O W.H. Gerrard RAF PoW. Chorley notes that F/O Muncer lost his left arm in the loss and was found in this condition by a German woman who tended him on her farm and arranged his transfer to a hospital. After the war he was able in turn to arrange the early release of her son, who was also a PoW. 16-17 166 Sqn. Lancaster I RF154 AS-B lost over Germany, Sgt J. Goldstein RAF killed, F/O H.F. Churchward, F/O L.F. Etherington, F/O J.L. Goddard, Sgt E.W. Hull RAF, F/S A.V. White RAF and Sgt R.T. Green RAF PoW. 16-17 170 Sqn. Lancaster III ME307 TC-O lost over Germany, Sgt T. Tomlinson RAF killed, F/O F.T. Rowan, Sgt A.R. Gernon RAF, F/L R.L. Rogers RAF, F/S C.W. Stewart RNZAF and F/S B.D. Searson RAF PoW, P/O A.H. Young DFC RAF evaded. 16-17 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 aircraft claimed a Bf 110 and a second aircraft damaged in two INTRUDER sorties over Germany (6th Year). 16-17 550 Sqn. Lancaster RA547 BQ-D, F/S Jamieson, was hit by a night fighter which damaged the aircraft and badly wounded rear gunner F/S W.J. Klementoski (Greg and RodM at www.rafcommands.com). See March 21, below. 16-17 576 Sqn. Lancaster I PA265 UL-O2 lost over Germany, P/O A.W. Garnet, F/S J.F. Ryan RAAF, Sgt J.E. Taylor RAF, F/S K.L. Challis RAF, Sgt D.W.E. Swift RAF and Sgt J. Symonds killed, Sgt H.A. Hall RAF PoW. 16-17 576 Sqn. Lancaster I PD785 UL-L2 lost over Germany, F/L F.E. Dotten, P/O J.S.M. Gibb, F/O W.F. Nicol, P/O E.J. Peverley, F/O D.S. Quinn, F/S R.J. Saundercock and Sgt J. Eve RAF killed. 16-17 619 Sqn. Lancaster I NG503 PG-W lost over Germany, F/O T.E. Farrow, F/O J.D. Johnston, F/L C.W. McBride, F/S H. Mino, F/O L. Tilley, F/S E.K. Ireland RAF and Sgt J. MacPherson RAF killed. 16-17 625 Sqn. Lancaster I NG169 CF-B2 lost over Germany, Sgt J.F. Logan RAF (Can.) whose parents lived in Windsor Ontario (not found in TSGNO), F/O E.F. Seear RAF, Sgt E.G. Wilson RAF, Sgt G.J.A. Kenvin RAF, Sgt K.J. Holmes RAF, Sgt H. Smither RAF and Sgt E.K. Day RAF killed (CWGC). 16-17 626 Sqn. Lancaster I PD393 UN-N2 lost over Germany, Sgt R. Owen RAF, F/S J.W. Williams RAF and F/S D.R. Egan RAF killed, F/O G.C. Warren RAF has no known grave, F/O S.S. Quinn, F/L J. Cox RAF and Sgt R.I. Noessen RAF PoW.

Saturday 17 Iwo Jima captured (CJCA headline) This was accomplished at heavy cost after 36 days of bitter fighting. The island provided a fighter base for P-51 aircraft to escort B-29 attacks on Japan. The island also provided an emergency strip for B-29s damaged over Japan, some 800 landing there safely during the war saving many lives (Morgan).

Oil targets at Dortmund and Hüls were attacked by 167 bombers using GEE-H without loss (BC War Diaries).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca

The damaged bridge at Remagen collapses, but pontoon bridges built by US engineers were already in operation to supply the forces on the east side of the Rhine (Oxford). A total of 11 V-2 rockets were also aimed at the bridge and bridgehead on this date, killing 6 US soldiers and 6 civilians (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). This was the only tactical use of the rocket during the war (Oxford). USAAF bomber attacks on oil targets were hampered by unexpected bad weather (Zijlstra).

HMCS Guysborough sunk by U-878, the last RCN ship lost in the war (Legion Magazine, March/April 2021).

Parts of a Japanese Balloon Bomb were recovered at Fort Babine, BC (Mikesh). 17 436 Sqn. was in the process of moving it's base of operations from Imphal to Akyab Island. A Dakota loaded with tents, bamboo to erect them, personal items and the Squadrons mess supplies (ie, booze) was flying to Akyab when it lost an engine. The order to lighten the aircraft was given, but the bamboo poles obstructed the fuselage and cargo. After throwing out all possible emergency and fixed equipment the mess supplies were thrown out, enabling the aircraft to land safely at the nearest airstrip. There the crew (pilots R. Conrade and Snydur, navigator Hodgins and WAG Bowen) were later picked up by another Squadron aircraft. According to the article 'Decisions! Decisions!', by G. Penfold in Airforce Magazine, Vol. 8, No. 3, 1984, the crew were saved being murdered by the rest of the Squadron by pointing out they had thrown their parachutes out first, and so were unable to sacrifice a crewman or two to save the booze. 17 USAAF 166 LSC, 1st Air Commando, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5359 damaged taking off at Ledo, India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 17 405 Sqn. F/O D.G. Smith, shot down March 15, was captured and murdered by Gestapo on this date. See March 19, below. 17 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM404 was shot down by US anti-aircraft in error, F/L N.G. Russell bailed out and safe. It was his last flight with the Squadron to finish his tour (416 SH). 17* #75 OTU, Egypt, Baltimore V FW589 lost on a gunnery exercise over the Gulf of Suez, S/L G.H. Finch DFC among the missing.

17-18 Bomber Command sent 95 training bombers on a diversion over France, 39 LNSF Mosquitos to Nuremburg, 38 to Berlin, 4 to other targets, 6 RCM and 15 SERRATE/INTRUDER sorties, a total of 197 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 11 Mosquitos on patrol over Germany on this night (6th Year). 17-18 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB455 4H-H was taking off on a bombing sortie to Berlin when an engine failed. Unable to avoid overrunning the runway the pilot, F/L R.M. Williams RAF, retracted the undercarriage to stop the Mosquito, saving him and his navigator F/S I.C. McLeod RAAF from injury, but wrecking the aircraft.

Sunday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 18 Oil targets at Hattingen and Langendreer were targeted by 100 Lancasters using GEE-H without loss (BC War Diaries).

The largest single bomber attack of the war was made when the USAAF sent 1,327 heavy bombers to Berlin escorted by 700 fighters in support of advancing Russian forces. Heavy fighter attacks were made by propellor and jet fighters. The force lost 13 bombers and 6 P-51 fighters shot down while 16 made force landings behind Russian lines. Bombing was made through cloud by H2X (Zijlstra). soviet The new Belgian base of 418 Sqn. at Coxyde was shelled by German long range artillery in the Dunkirk enclave on this day which damaged several aircraft (6th Year).

A Balloon Bomb is reported to have landed near Alexis Creek, BC, parts later recovered (Mikesh).

First flight of the Douglas AD Skyraider carrier borne attack aircraft (wikipedia). Developed after the war it would see use in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scores a record setting 50th goal in 50 games (www.schudak.de). 18 VB-6 USS Hancock Canadian built SBW-3 Helldivers 21348 and 21390 shot down over Japan by anti-aircraft fire, Lt(jg) R.L. Somerville USN (and his gunner?) safe from 21348 and Lt(jg) R.E. Gardiner USN (and his gunner?) safe from 21390 (J. Baugher AAIR). 18 VB-6 USN Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21332 lost to unknown cause over Japan, Lt R.E. Moore USN (and his gunner?) missing (J. Baugher, AAIR). 18 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM399 crash landed in the circuit at a landing ground in Belgium on an operational flight due to engine failure, F/O G.R. Weber safe. F/O Weber had bailed out of a Spitfire hit by flak near Falaise in Normandy Aug. 17, 1944. 18 #62 Base RCAF, Linton-on-Ouse, England, aero engine mechanic Cpl R.C. Stenhouse died in hospital of injuries received March 16 when he was struck by a bus. 18 USAAF 2 B-24M bombers, 44-50883 and 44-50898, were damaged landing at Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR).

18-19 Bomber Command sent 259 Halifax, 45 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos to bomb Witten, and 277 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to Hanau, plus a diversion of 70 aircraft over France, 30 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 24 to Kassel, 18 to Nüremberg, 40 RCM and 53 SERRATE/INTRUDER, a total of 844 sorties with 9 losses (BC War Diaries). Despite the shelling of their airfield 418 had 11 Mosquitos attacking railway and road targets in Germany on this night (6th Year). 18-19 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB191 CR-L suffered damage after bombing Berlin which resulted in radio failure and the undercarriage collapsing on landing, F/L D.W. Skillman RAF and F/O F.J. Tempest RAF safe. 18-19 405 Sqn. Lancaster III PB451 LQ-G lost over Germany, P/O J.P.H. Adam, WO2 R.M. Baker, F/O R.S. Butterworth, F/O E. Hayes, F/O G.E. Peaker, F/S E.F. Perrault, Sgt A. Kirkcaldy RAF and Sgtwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca R.P. Smith RAF killed. This was the last operational loss by 405 Sqn. 18-19 408 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L H.D. Bracken, had it's canopy damaged by flak (R. Koval). 18-19 415 Sqn. Halifax III NP938 6U-T (or 'Y-York', T. Palmer) lost two engines and force landed in France returning from a sortie to Germany, F/O J.S. McGuire, F/O N.H. Dalziel, WO2 T.A.J. Barnett, F/O P. Donlan, F/S J.D. Renaud, F/S A. Begin and Sgt B. Howard RAF safe (W.R. Chorley, R. Koval). 18-19 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI NS991 TH-E crashed, no details (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). Possibly damaged by long range shelling? 18-19 420 Sqn. Halifax III MZ910 PT-Q (or -Y, R. Koval) lost on engine outbound but continued to the target were it was hit by flak, and losing fuel from all tanks, was abandoned over Germany, but F/O D.M. Armstrong's parachute failed to open and he was killed, F/O G.J. Keeper, P/O A.V. Padgham, F/O R.G. Reid, Sgt A.F. Domke, F/S A.H. Butler and F/O W.G. Bridgeman buried F/O Armstrong and were then taken PoW. 18-19 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR138 PT-T, P/O E. Trudell, claimed damage to two twin engined night fighters that attacked them (R. Koval). 18-19 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ482 KW-G collided in mid-air over Belgium with a 515 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI NS957 and crashed, F/S A. Banks, P/O L.G. Hinch, F/O F.H. Irwin, F/O J.G.N. Lejambe, P/O A.J.G. Temple, P/O J.S. Wilson killed, rear gunner F/S G.A. Balyx was thrown clear and survived. TSGNO states that F/O Irwin was from Edmonton, Alberta, but W.R. Chorley states he was from Beverly Hills, Calif., USA. F/L A.W. Hirons DFC RAF and F/S P.C. Williams RAF were killed in the Mosquito. 18-19 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ495 KW-R crashed near the target in Germany, Sgt P. Panasuk killed, P/O C.B. Racicot, F/O R. Marc-Aurele, F/S J.A.P. Demouchel, F/S M.H. Depot, F/S E.G. Gregory and F/S R.S. Le Boeuf bailed out and were taken PoW. This sortie was detailed in The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year. 18-19 425 Sqn. Halifax III, S/L J.E.G. St. Jean, landed with no hydraulics (R. Koval, Awards). See March 21, below. 18-19 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ418 KW-C, P/O L. Paquette, claimed a Ju 88 that attacked them as damaged (R. Koval). 18-19 425 Sqn. Halifax III NP939 KM-V lost an engine after releasing their bombs. A second engine was hit by flak and finally failed just over the coast of England, which led to a forced landing, P/O J.T.E.P. Giguere and his crew safe but WAG F/S R.M. Kelusky suffered a slight injury. 18-19 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O F.L. Alward, lost an engine on the return flight but landed safe at it's base on 3 engines (R. Koval). See March 25, below. 18-19 640 Sqn. Lancaster III MZ494 C8-B lost over Germany, F/L A.W. Huckle DFC RAF, P/O W.E.C. Ralph RAF, F/S S. McKaig RAF, F/S W.G. Allingham RAF and F/S M. Barrett RAF killed, F/L W.A. Walton missing and F/O J.B. Willoughby PoW, possibly injured.

Monday 19 Commonwealth forces re-capture Mandalay (CJCA headline).

Bomber Command sent 79 Lancasters to attack an oil plant at Gelsenkirchen, and a force of 37 Lancasters to the railway bridge at Vlotho and the viaduct at Arnsberg. The former was left standing, but 6 GRAND SLAM bombs finally took out the viaduct. No aircraft www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.cawere lost (BC War Diaries). USAAF sent over 1,000 bombers to various targets in Germany (Zijlstra).

Yugoslav forces begin open advance down coast towards Trieste with Allied air, sea and special forces assistance (Oxford).

Hitler orders a "" policy, demanding all factories, buildings and food in areas threatened by capture in Germany be destroyed (D. Sommerville). This is fortunately ignored by most of his army commanders as it would have lead to widespread famine and death for German civilians.

On this day three Balloon Bombs were recovered, from Cedarvale BC, Marie Lake Manitoba and Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico (Mikesh). 19 355 Sqn. Liberator VI EW180 "A" shot down by anti aircraft fire over Prome, Burma, F/O R.M. Botting, WO M.J. Dunn RAF, F/S A.H.E. Floyd RAF, WO W.P. Tugwell RAF, F/S T. Higginbotham RAF, F/O M. Morrison RAF, F/S J.L. Richardson RAF, F/S G.B. Breachmore RAF and F/S K.H. Choak RAF missing. 19 225 Sqn. Spitfire IX MA311 (?) on a tactical reconnaissance over Italy reported an engine failure, possibly due to flak, and crashed, killing F/O A.E. Joynt. 19 218 Sqn. WO1 J.S. McDonald, shot down June 21-22, 1943, died in a PoW camp in Germany. 19 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM208 suffered engine problems and crashed in Germany, F/O H.C. Byrd RCAF (USA) killed. 19 405 Sqn. F/O L.N. Laing MiD, shot down on the 15th, had had his parachute tangle in a tree. At an unknown time when trying to release himself he fell 30 feet to the ground, breaking both legs. Unable to move from this location he died of exposure (however O. Clutton- Brock states he was shot by Gestapo on this date). Even though this entire crew had bailed out safely only F/O I.W. Bonter, F/O R.M. Hyde and F/S J.R. Crisp survived as PoWs. 19 414 Spitfire LF.IX MJ351 was shot down by flak on a PR sortie, F/O W.A. Glaister was taken PoW, he later escaped and returned to the Squadron in April (6th Year). 19 571 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI PF387 crashed in England on an air test attempting a landing with a failed engine, F/O W.E.H. O'Bryan and P/O A.F. Creeley RAF killed. 19 #1674 HCU Liberator VI KG896 "F" flew into Black Mountain near Belfast, F/O R.H. Appleyard, F/O W.I. Holmes RNZAF, F/O C.A.J. Honey RAF, F/O A.J. Pryde RAAF, P/O S.F.B. Sargent RAF, F/O W.D. Cheyne RAF, Sgt P. McNeilly RAF, Sgt R.S.P. Hook RAF, Sgt D.A. Bates, Sgt R.J. Edge RAF and Sgt O. Aston RAF killed (rafb24.com, A. Storr). 19 #162 (BR) Sqn. Canso A #11076 was over Quebec enroute to Iceland with 9 crew on board when it ran into severe icing, and then had an engine fail (6th Year). The aircraft came down on a tree covered hill, 130 miles from Goose Bay (B. Petite). When the crew were removing emergency supplies it exploded and burned, injuring the pilot P/O B. Lahey and flight engineer P/O W.R. Baggett (6th Year). See April 21, below. 19 USAAF UC-64A (Norseman) "47-365" (probably 44-70365) damaged at Edmonton or Namao, Alberta (AAIR). 19 USAAF C-45B (Expeditor) damaged at Stephenville, Nfld. (AAIR). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 19-20 Fifth B-29 night incendiary attack on Japan, targeting Nagoya. This series of attacks had exhausted the supplies of incendiaries available at Saipan as logistics co- ordinators had not believed General LeMay when he said he would be needing greater quantities to support the changed tactics.

The LNSF sent 34 Mosquitos to Berlin without loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. was patrolling the same area of Germany with 9 Mosquitos (6th Year). Tuesday 20 German resistance west of the Rhine is wiped out (CJCA headline).

Bomber Command sent 125 Halifax with 16 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos to bomb the rail yards at Recklinghausen, but cloud and strong winds scattered the marking and bombing. Rail yards at Hamm were targeted by 99 Lancasters and a railway bridge at Arnsberg by a further 14 (TALLBOY?) Lancasters. No losses (BC War Diaries).

Due to heavy cloud USAAF bombers attacked diversion targets of U-boat yards in coastal ports (Zijlstra).

Balloon Bombs were reported to have landed or were recovered near Denman Island BC, Fort Chipewyan, Olds, Wimborne, Foremost and Delburne in Alberta, and William Lake Manitoba (Mikesh). 20 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70320, 44-70321, 44-70329, 44-70330 and 44- 70356 destroyed by a tornado in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 20 417 Sqn. in Italy, Spitfire LF.VIII aircraft flown by F/L A.J.A. Bryan and Sgt M.J. Carroll on an air search found a dinghy and survivor who was picked up while they strafed shore batteries that were firing on the rescue (6th Year). 20 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB125 landed heavily on an air test and was written off, WO D. Little RAF safe. 20 #8 Repair Depot, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Norseman IV #3530 was reported damaged beyond repair on this date, but after disposal was put back into service as CF-FUU (now C-FFUU), and was still in service as a bush plane in 2014 (R.W.R. Walker). 20 unknown unit, LAC T.S.B. Bracey died of natural causes in Canada.

20-21 203 Sqn. Liberator VI KG986 "F" shot down by anti-aircraft fire on an anti-shipping strike over North Sumatra, F/O L.M.J. Grant RAF, F/O A.P. Smith RAAF, Sgt A.M. Lang RAF, F/S W.A. Collins RAF, F/S E.E. Leftwich RAF, F/S J.D. Silkstone RAF, Sgt A.F. Herd RAF and Sgt D.C. Oakden missing. Three airmen, F/L S.W. Morris, F/S E. Peters RAF and an unidentified member of the crew, were reported to have swum to shore where the unidentified man died and was buried in an unknown grave. F/L Morris and F/S Peters were then captured by the Japanese and are believed to have been sent to Singapore, then Palembang, Sumatra, but despite an investigation after the war their fate is unknown and they are missing (M. Poole). 20-21 Bomber Commandwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca sent 244 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos to attack the synthetic oil plant at Böhlen, which was put out of action for the remainder of the war, and 166 Lancasters to an oil refinery at Hemmingstedt, with similar results. As well 70 training aircraft made a diversion sweep across France, 38 LNSF Mosquitos went to Berlin, 27 to Bremen and 16 to Kassel while 12 Lancasters made a spoof raid on Halle to co-ordinate with the diversion. These were supported by 47 RCM, 55 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 9 GARDENING sorties for a total of 675 with the loss of 13 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. again sent 9 Mosquitos attacking transport targets in Germany (6th Year). 20-21 161 Sqn. Hudson III AE505 MA-L shot down on a special operation WALNUT over Germany, WO1 F.E. Gray, F/O G.S. Ragan, F/S C.A. Thomas RNZAF and F/S P. Bradley RAF killed. See below. 20-21 161 Sqn. Hudson III T9445 MA-O lost over Belgium on a special operation NORVIC to drop an agent over Germany, F/L A.N. (Bob) Ferris, WO1 R.G. Hutton, F/L A.F. Penhale and F/O J.E. Traill killed. It was later discovered that both these Hudsons and another (FK803 MA- N) had been shot down by USAAF P-61 fighters in error. 20-21 214 Sqn. Fortress III HB785 BU-A lost over Germany on a JOSTLE Bomber Support sortie, P/O H.M. Carter, F/O D.N. Donald, F/O R.V. Kingdon, P/O J.W. Pellant, P/O W.A. Routley, WO2 R.G. Wilson, Sgt W.D. Dale RAF, F/S D.F. Miller, Sgt W. Perkins RAF and Sgt D. Parker RAF killed. W.R. Chorley identifies F/O Donald as the special operator and from the USA, but TSGNO states he was from Ottawa. 20-21 227 Sqn. Lancaster I PA259 9J-Z attacked by 2 or more night fighters and exploded in the air over Germany, P/O L.E. Baxter, F/O W.H. Pitts RAAF, Sgt R.W. Fytton RAF and Sgt L. Marshall RAF killed, F/L R.D. King RAAF, F/S B.T. Long RAAF, F/O W.T. Neilson RAF and F/S W.A. Roots RAF PoW (A. Storr). Survivor P/O F/L King RAAF wrote book on his experiences including this loss called "We Flew, We Fell, We Survived", 1990 (Chorley). 20-21 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/O D.J. McConnell and F/L M. Kazakoff found a Ju 88 in the early morning and claimed it damaged (6th Year). 20-21 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB786 VR-P shot down by a night fighter over Germany and exploded in the air or when it crashed, F/O L.C. Croucher, P/O C.A. Elliott, F/O R.W. Millar, F/O A.J. Palanek, F/L H.B. Rubin DFC and Sgt S.D. Booth RAF killed, F/S J.W. Aitken was thrown clear and taken PoW. F/O Palanek had come safe through a harrowing daylight operation Nov. 1-2, 1944. 20-21 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/S F.G.K. Saunders was hit over the target by a 500 lb. bomb that punched a hole through a wing and damaged the main spar and an engine mount. The crew landed back at base safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). This sortie was cited in the award of a DFM to P/O Saunders (Awards). 20-21 620 Sqn. Stirling LK116 "A" shot down by an German intruder over England, WO1 A.P. Bell, S/L G.O.S. Whitty DFC RAF, P/O G.E. Ames RAF, F/S G.R. Douglas RAF, WO J.G.J. Williams RAF and SAS Liaison Officer Capt. G.F. Slater killed, F/S A. Cramp bailed out and safe (R. Tebbutt). WO Bell had returned from Italy after evading in France following the loss of a 190 Sqn. Stirling July 22-23, 1944 (wikipedia, C. Pointon at www.rafcommands.com).

Wednesday 21 664 (AOP) Sqn. RCAFwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca departs England for Holland (RCAF Sqns.). A precision attack by RAF, RAAF and USAAF fighter bombers is made on Axis shipping and warehouses in the commercial port of Venice, causing heavy damage and leaving the historic city, declared a protected area, undamaged. Venetian citizens enjoyed the attack from their roof tops (D. Newton).

Bomber Command sent 150 Halifax, 16 Lancaster and 12 Mosquito bombers to attack the rail yards at Rheine, 160 to attack rail yards and a bridge and 133 Lancasters and 6 Mosquitos to an oil refinery at Bremen. A railway bridge outside of Bremen was also targeted by 20 Lancasters of 617 Sqn. which dropped it. Total daylight sorties were 497 with 5 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries).

USAAF sent 1,300 bombers to 10 airfields in support of Allied forces encircling the Ruhr Valley, and to an industrial plant making armoured vehicles, as well as nearly 600 medium bombers to communications targets (Zijlstra).

An attack was also made on the Gestapo Headquarters in Copenhagen, at the request of the Danish Resistance, to destroy German records and attempt to free Resistance prisoners. The attack was successful and many prisoners were released, but an accident caused heavy civilian casualties (see below).

A direct hit by a V-2 on a factory in Heston killed 33 workers and wounded 98 more (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).

TIGER FORCE plans scaled back to 2 groups, one RAF and one RCAF, of 10 bomber squadrons to be built around #5 Group RAF and #6 Group RCAF (RCAF Sqns.). Training of crews to operate Lancaster air to air refuelling tankers is in progress (R.K. Smith).

A Balloon Bomb was found near Camsell Portage, Saskatchewan (Mikesh). Another is reported to have been shot down by an aircraft near Strathmore, Alberta, on this date (Joost) but this is unlikely, and may be related to the parts found a week later. 21 160 Sqn. Liberator BZ828 "P" was returning from a photo reconnaissance sortie over Burma when it ran out of fuel and was forced to ditch off Ceylon near a ship. P/O J.H. Dorsey and Sgt H. Grundy RAF injured, F/O S.D. Turner, F/O F.M. Yeomans, Sgt A. James and Sgt I. Hewitt, F/O R.K. McCreadie RAF and Sgt F. Smith RAF safe. F/O McCreadie was awarded a BEM for his efforts to remove P/O Dorsey and Sgt Grundy from the sinking wreck. The crew were picked up by the merchant ship after an hour in the water (R. Quirk and www.aircrew-saltire.org). 21 436 Sqn., Burma, 2 Dakota aircraft were hit by ground fire operating into the airstrip at Meiktila (reference, Vapour Trails, Airforce Monthly, Vol. 8, No. 4, 1985). 21 21 Sqn. was attacking the Gestapo Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. According to local Danish historian B. Hansen Mosquito FB.VI SZ977 flown by 21 Sqn.'s Commanding Officer W/C Kelboe DSO DFC AFC RAF and with F/O R.J.W. Hall as his navigator struck a flagpole mountedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca on the Karlsburg Brewery and crashed into a garage. The rest of their flight successfully attacked the Headquarters building, destroying their records on the Danish Resistance, killing many of the Gestapo and Danish collaborators as well as 7 Danish patriots inside while 18 others escaped. The second wave of Mosquitos mistook the the fire caused by the crashed Mosquito as the target and bombed a nearby convent school killing 123 students and teachers. Four Mosquito aircraft and 2 Mustang escorts were lost in this operation. See June 1, below. 21 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J. Hechter, was unable to retract it's undercarriage after taking off. Despite this they flew to the target and bombed, only to find then it could not close it's bomb bay doors. The crew recovered safely in Holland (R. Koval, Awards). This sortie was cited in the award of a DFC to F/O Hechter (Awards). 21 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/L D. McIntyre, was hit in the tail by flak (R. Koval). 21 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O R.G. Kane had a wing and the mid-upper turret damaged by flak (R. Koval, Awards). 21 420 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O R.E. Bagnell, was damaged in the fuselage and wings, and both engines on one side were losing oil and could not be feathered. One overspeeded and shed it's propellor, hitting and striking the other engine. The bomber landed safely in England on 2 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 21 425 Sqn. Halifax III, S/L J.E.G. St. Jean, was damaged in a wing by flak (R. Koval). 21 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O R. Martindale, suffered damage to the fuselage from 3 flak hits (R. Koval). See April 10, below. 21 550 Sqn. rear gunner F/S W.J. Klementoski died of wounds received March 16-17. 21 #162 (BR) Sqn. Canso A #11076, a party of three men from the crashed Canso, who were attempting to reach Goose Bay, were spotted by a USAAF C-54, which dropped supplies to the survivors and guided a Norseman to them, while a second C-54 located the crash site and guided another Norseman to the site with a doctor, which evacuated the two injured men to Goose Bay. The first Norseman landed on a lake to pick up the walking party, only to bog down in surface slush on the thawing lake and crash into trees. Parts were dropped to them and they repaired the Norseman and flew out during a cold spell a few days later, but only with the two pilots, leaving the 3 survivors and two of the Norseman crew to walk back to the crash site. Meanwhile, snow, rain and warm weather hampered rescue of the remaining men at the crash site, bogging the other Norseman in slush there (6th Year). It also managed to return during a cold spell, but with only it's crew. See April 30, below (6th Year, B. Petite). 21 RCAF Station, Pennfield Ridge, NB, LAC R.E. Levesque died of injuries from a vehicle accident when he was thrown from an RCAF truck. (#34 OTU Roll of Honour)

21-22 Bomber Command sent 151 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to attack an oil refinery at Hamburg, putting it out of action. Another oil target at Bochum was attacked by 131 Lancasters with 12 Mosquitos. The LNSF sent two attacks to Berlin totalling 142 Mosquitos (many making two trips on this the 30th consecutive night of bombing the City) plus 3 to Bremen, 26 RCM, 56 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 7 Mosquito GARDENING sorties, a total of 536 sorties with the loss of 7 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 11 Mosquitos attacking communications in front of Allied lines on this night (6th Year). 21-22 163 Sqn. Canadianwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca built Mosquito B.25 KB425 crashed in England short of the runway returning from a sortie over Berlin, F/O A.R.S. Drake RAF died of injuries, F/O J.D. Rees DFC RAF injured. 21-22 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 aircraft claimed an unidentified aircraft damaged on the ground in Vienna (W/C R. Bannock and F/L C.J. Kirkpatrick DFC), and 2 Ju 87 aircraft shot down in Czechoslovakia (S/L D.B. Freeman and F/L J.J. Greene) on INTRUDER sorties (6th Year).

Thursday 22 442 Sqn. moves from Holland back to England to re-equip. See April 9, below (RCAF Sqns.). In support of the planned crossing of the Rhine Bomber Command sent 227 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to destroy the rail yards at Hildesheim, which also destroyed much of this town in it's only major attack of the war that lasted just 14 minutes (6th Year). Dülmen was attacked by 106 Halifax bombers with 12 Lancaster and 12 Mosquito Pathfinders. A Luftwaffe fuel dump, railways and canals at Dorsten were attacked by 100 Halifax, 12 Lancaster and 12 Mosquito bombers. An attempt to disrupt communications was made by a GEE-H attack by 100 Lancasters on the town of Bocholt. A railway bridge at Bremen was attacked by 82 Lancasters, and 617 Sqn. sent 20 Lancasters to break the railway bridge at Nienburg. The daylight total of sorties was 708 with the loss of 4 aircraft (BC War Diaries).

USAAF bombers supported the same advance with 1,200 heavy bombers and 800 sorties to airfields, strong points, troop concentrations and depots (Zijlstra).

A Balloon Bomb was found near Ashcroft, BC (Mikesh). A Catalina of 6 (BR) Sqn. was scrambled to investigate a Balloon Bomb sighting near Coal Harbour (Joost). 22 1845 Sqn. FAA, HMS Formidable, Corsair II JT535 aircraft hit a ramp fitting on take-off, stalled and fell into the ocean off Sydney, Australia, Lt.(A) R.R. Sheppard RCNVR missing. He was the brother Lt(A) D.J. Sheppard RCNVR, Canada's only Naval ace (acesofww2.com, www.naval-history.net). 22 159 Sqn. Liberator "K" was hit and damaged by anti-aircraft fire while dropping mines in the river at Bangkok, Thailand. The aircraft returned to India but navigator P/O N.R. Orton died of wounds soon after. 22 USAAF 164th LSC, 1st Air Commando, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5207 damaged beyond repair in an accident in Burma (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 22 USAAF 164th LSC, 1st Air Commando, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5383 damaged in a landing accident in Burma (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 22 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.VIII aircraft using long range tanks flew a reconnaissance of the Brenner Pass between Italy and Austria (6th Year). 22 150 Sqn. Lancaster I ME451 IQ-D lost over Germany on a daylight sortie, Sgt A. Moore RAF (Nfld.), Sgt G. Brain RAF, Sgt V.J. Lawrence RAF, Sgt D.S. Fielding RAF, Sgt N.F. Scaife RAF and F/O I.H.S. Philcox RAF killed, Sgt T.B. Cook RAF safe. 22 166 Sqn. Lancaster I PD365 AS-X lost on a daylight operation over Germany, F/S C.T. Johnson, F/Swww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca R.E. Moore RAF, Sgt W. Cummins RAF, Sgt J. Hanlon RAF, F/S J. Marrinan RAF, WO L. Reed RAF and Sgt F. Hume RAF killed. 22 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O D. Rickert, bombed an alternate target after the bombs hung up over their primary, the rail yards at Hildesheim (R. Koval). 22 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L H. Collard, had to take evasive action over the target when another Lancaster above them dropped it's bombs (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 22 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB777 NA-V lost on a daylight operation over Hildesheim, Germany, it was last seen with one engine out and another on fire with an escort of USAAF fighters. F/O D. Frame, F/L J.F. Hadley and P/O J. Mackenzie killed, F/O W.J. Spence, F/O C.A. Goodier, F/S J.W. Bellamy and Sgt R.R. Duke PoW. F/L Hadley had made a force landing in a #82 OTU Wellington Aug. 14, 1944. 22 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB808 SE-Y was hit by flak and exploded over Hildesheim on a daylight operation over Germany, F/O J.W. Dorrell RCAF (USA), F/L J.P. Duggan DFC, P/O J.B. Ketchen, P/O G.D. McLean, F/S C.E. Root, P/O F.B. Trent, F/O G.A. Zuback and Sgt J.H. Bentley RAF killed. It is reported that this crew was to be screened after this operation. 23 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O H. Kearl, was 90 minutes from the target when it was hit by flak that damaged the fuselage, tail, a wing and knocked out an engine. The crew lost height but continued to bomb their target at Dorsten, landing at their base safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 22 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB832 WL-F was taking off for a sortie to Germany from #64 Base, RCAF Croft, when it veered off the runway. The pilot, F/O H. Payne, tried to regain control but then had a tire explode, and the bomber ran out of control into 431 Lancaster X KB811 SE-T "She's Trudy Terrific" (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). A fire soon started and the crew, F/O E. Bishop, F/O R. Pritchard, WO2 J. Johnson, F/S G. Hall, F/S W. Williams and Sgt J. Housely RAF, evacuated the aircraft (R. Koval). Just over half an hour later the bomb load exploded, but no one on the ground was hurt. The airfield was closed until the wreckage was declared safe later the same day. 22 664 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF Dispatch Rider Boyd died in Belgium of injuries received when his motorcycle was hit by a vehicle during the Squadron deployment into combat (D. Knight). [not found in CWGC] 22 #1663 HCU Halifax III MZ535 OO-C was taking off on the pilot's first solo on type but swung and hit an obstruction, removing the undercarriage, P/O D.N. Jones safe.

22-23 Taking advantage of a report that the opposite bank was lightly defended the US Third Army under General Patton crosses the Rhine at Oppenheim, pre-empting the planned main crossing of the river by 24 hours (W.R. Chorley).

The LNSF sent 56 Mosquitos to Berlin, 14 to other targets, as well as 39 RCM, 30 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 29 GARDENING sorties off Norway with the loss of 2 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. Mosquitos had 11 sorties bombing towns in the Rhine operations area (6th Year).

Friday 23 In Japan Peoples Volunteer Defence Units are formed to assist the military in event of an invasion (Oxford). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Bomber Command attacked two railway bridges with 128 Lancasters while a further 80 Lancasters attacked the town of Wesel, which was a being used as a concentration area for German soldiers to oppose the Rhine crossing, and was directly in front of the proposed advance. Two bombers were lost (BC War Diaries).

Rail targets around the projected Rhine crossing were attacked by 1,200 USAAF heavy bombers and 842 sorties by medium bombers (Zijlstra).

On this date a second Balloon Bomb was recovered near Delburne, Alberta, as well as one near Athabasca Alberta, Barrier Lake BC, two in Texas and one in Alaska (Mikesh). 23 101 Sqn. Lancaster I LL755 SR-U lost over Germany on a daylight operation, F/O W.H. Brooks, F/O J.G. Lee, F/O R.R. Little RCAF (USA), Sgt T. Churchill RAF, Sgt P.S. Nelson RAF, Sgt H. Woodards RAF and F/S A.J. Chilton RAF killed. 23 101 Sqn. Lancaster III DV245 SR-S "The Saint" was on it's 119th sortie, a daylight operation over Germany, when it was hit by flak and exploded, F/O M. Ornstein, F/O W.E. Thoroldson, F/S W.G. Yeomans RAF and Sgt A.W. Greenhough RAF killed, F/L R.P. Paterson, P/O K.D.S.J. Ward RAF and F/O S. Dillon RAF PoW (http://www.lancaster- archive.com). 23 141 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 NT456 suffered an engine failure on a training flight and overran the runway on landing, F/L E.D. Drew having to retract the undercarriage to stop, no injuries. 23 249 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA248 swung on take off and lost it's undercarriage, not repaired (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 23 425 Sqn. air gunner P/O E.B. Forsythe was struck by a truck and killed when cycling on the base at RCAF Station Tholthorpe, Yorkshire. 23 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MP138 dived into the sea off England on a dive-bombing practice, Squadron commanding officer S/L J.E. Hogg DFC missing. 23 USAAF 326th Ferry Sqn., 1st TPG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70342 damaged in a landing accident in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 23 RCAF Station Prince Rupert, BC, personnel counsellor F/O H. Leece and administration F/L A. Newman missing after their dinghy was overturned in heavy seas enroute to Langara Island. LAC H.H.H. Chapman, part of the dinghy crew, was awarded a BEM for his attempt to save F/L Newman (Awards, which dates this in 1943, but date confirmed by CWGC). Langara Island was the location of #26 RU(CHL) radar station (G.K. Grande et al).

23-24 Bomber Command attacks Wesel with 195 Lancasters and 23 Mosquitos just ahead of a Commando attack which seized the city as a bridgehead over the Rhine. This was supported by a diversion of 78 training aircraft over France and into Germany, 65 Mosquito bombers over Berlin, 23 more to Aschaffenberg, 41 RCM and 39 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols for a total of 464 sorties for the loss of 2 (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 11 Mosquitos bombing on instruments with unknown results (6th Year). 23-24 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB367 XD-D lost over Holland on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/L R.O. Day DFC RAF (S. Africa) and F/L T. Treby MiD RAF killed. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 23-24 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB390 XD-B lost over Germany on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/L N.C. Berrisford DFC & Bar RAF killed, his pilot F/L S.O. Searles DFC RAF missing. 23-24 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM740 lost over Holland on an night INTRUDER flight, F/O R.A.H. Allen and F/O W.F. Kilpatrick killed. 23-24 #1666 HCU RCAF Lancaster III ND656 was going through the shut down check list after landing from a night exercise when the flight engineer's parachute harness snagged the undercarriage lever and the wheels retracted, wrecking the bomber. P/O F.W. Cash, his crew and ground crew safe. This was the last major accident for #1666 HCU which would operate for another 5 months.

Saturday 24 US Navy Task Force arrives off Okinawa (Polsson).

Allies cross the Rhine (CJCA headline). , the largest single day airborne assault ever mounted. Canadian 1st Army crosses Rhine at Wesel. 2,029 USAAF and 832 RAF transports and gliders escorted by 1,800 USAAF and RAF fighters and fighter bombers began dropping airborne forces across the Rhine. German defences, artillery and flak guns in the landing areas had been photographed and identified in the months prior to the crossing in a program that heavily involved 400, 414 and 430 PR Squadrons, and were targeted and/or bypassed (6th Year). Some 150 Luftwaffe fighters were intercepted and none reached the drop zone (Zijlstra). 437 Sqn. takes part with 24 Dakota aircraft towing Horsa gliders (RCAF Sqns.). It should be noted that between use in airborne assaults Transport squadrons flew hundreds of flights supporting the operations in Europe, The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year has a detailed breakdown of the operations of 437 Sqn. in this period. See April 17, below.

Bomber Command's part in VARSITY included 155 Halifax, 16 Lancaster and 6 Mosquitos to the rail yards at Sterkrade and 153 Halifax, 16 Lancaster and 6 Mosquitos to Gladbeck. Oil targets at Dortmund and Bottrop were targeted by 173 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos. Total sorties for the day were 537 with the loss of 4 aircraft (BC War Diaries).

USAAF sent 1,400 heavy bombers to 16 airfields in range of the invasion (Zijlstra).

Parts of a Balloon Bomb were recovered near Britain River, BC (Mikesh). 24 46 Sqn. transport Stirling C.V PJ911 was on a training flight from Castel Benito, to England when it flew into a mountain in France, killing F/L G. Couldrey, P/O A.K. McMillan, F/S J.M. Coad RAF, F/S F.R. Jones RAF, F/S A.M. Ross RAF, F/L C. Cooper DFM RAF, Sgt A.R. Phipps RAF, F/O I.R. Cowan DFC RAAF and F/O F.W. Douglas RAAF (A. Storr). There is still wreckage at the crash site(www.smr46.co.uk). 24 10 Sqn. Halifax III RG438 ZA-N was taking off on a training flight when it veered off the runway and went through the piping of a FIDO system, WO2 D.C. Rogers and his crew safe. The bomber waswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca not repaired. 24 166 Sqn. Lancaster I NG114 AS-S lost on a daylight operation over Germany, F/S J.W. Inman, F/O S. Pascal, F/O C.A.H.F. Defraigne RAF (Belgium), F/O J.R. Mearns RAF, F/O T.H. Howell RAF and Sgt F.W. Mitchell RAF killed, Sgt R.D.R. Kendall PoW. 24 298 Sqn. Halifax NA311 "A-K" was shot down over Germany by flak just after releasing it's glider, WO2 J.E. Bunn, F/O D.R. McGillivray, F/O G. Dixon RAF, F/O E.M. Hales RAF, F/S J.B. Walker RAF and F/S A. Aherne RAF killed (R. Tebbutt). WO Bunn, F/O McGillivray, F/O Dixon and F/S Walker had survived a ditching off Ireland just a month before, see Feb. 24, above (D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com). 24 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM300 belly landed returning from an evening sortie, F/L R. Morris safe. 24 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.Xc NV428 EO-R hit by flak attacking shipping in Norway and ditched off the harbour of Egersund, S/L W.R. Christison DFC & Bar and F/L F.J. Toon DFC RAF missing (T. Higgins), part of a large strike on 3 cargo ships and 3 escorts in Egersund, southern Norway (6th Year). 24 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.Xc NE339 EO-U lost over the North Sea attacking shipping in Norway, P/O C. Orser killed and F/O L.R. Aljoe missing (T. Higgins). 24 404 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.Xc RD427 EO-O damaged attacking shipping off Norway. This aircraft was later one of 4 acquired by the Israeli Air Force in 1948 (T. Higgins, Alex Smart at rafcommands.com). 24 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J. Patterson, was damaged in the fuselage, tail and wings by flak (R. Koval). 24 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM248 ran out of fuel on approach and crash landed from a morning patrol, F/L B.E. Perry safe. 24 419 Sqn. had five Lancaster X bombers hit by flak, none seriously, flown by F/O R. Chambers, S/L D. Hunter, S/L G. McMurtrie, F/O G. Retallack (aircraft name "Rattleshack's Crew") and F/L P. Tulk (R. Koval, Lancaster, C. et al). 24 424 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O J. Stuart, was hit by flak that damaged 3 engines, 2 were shut down and the bomber recovered safely at it's base (R. Koval). See April 13-14, below. 24 427 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/L A. Lock, was damaged in a wing and the fuselage by flak (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 24 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/S D. Deseraux, was damaged in a wing by flak (R. Koval). 24 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, squadron commanding officer W/C M.W. Gall, had damage to a wing and fuel tanks by flak (R. Koval). 24 433 Sqn. Lancaster I, P/O B.H. Jensen, was hit hard by flak that knocked out the mid-upper and front turrets, the brakes, navigation gear and set both inner engines on fire as well as the fuselage. The engines were feathered by the pilot and flight engineer while the wireless operator and mid-upper gunner fought to put out the flames in the fuselage, finally succeeding. On reaching Allied territory the undercarriage and flaps were extended with the emergency systems and a landing was made at the first available airfield in Belgium, crew safe (R. Koval, Awards). See March 31, below. This sortie was referenced in the award of a DFC to P/O Jensen (Awards), wireless operator F/S F.G. Ridley received a DFM (6th Year). 24 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MN936 hit by flak over Oberhausen, Germany, attacking a suspected headquarters, F/O W. Anderson killed. Earlier on this day 439 Sqn. Typhoons attacked another suspectedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca German headquarters and among the casualties the local Army Commander was injured and hospitalized just before the Allied attack, F/O Anderson and F/O V.H.J. LeGear had led the sections involved on that attack and returned (6th Year). 24 550 Sqn. Lancaster I PD320 BQ-H lost on a daylight operation over Germany, F/L J.B. Barnes, F/S E. Lindsay, F/S W.E. MacDonald, Sgt J.W. Green RAF, F/S J. Stobbs RAF, F/S D.F. Reid RAF and F/S J.G. Day RAF killed. 24 #6 AFU, England, no details, pilot F/L H.D. Minton died in hospital in Calgary of natural causes after being re-patriated from a Canadian military hospital in England.

24-25 Bomber Command's LNSF sent 67 Mosquitos over Berlin, 8 to Nordheim and 2 more on a tour which also included Berlin, 38 RCM and 33 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos attacking communication targets in the Ruhr (6th Year). 24-25 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L D.A. MacFayden DFC and F/L V.G. Shail, attacked several aircraft on an airfield near Prague, claiming 1 He 111 destroyed and 4 damaged, which was cited in the award of a DSO to F/L MacFayfen (6th Year). 24-25 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L G.R. Leask and F/L J.W. Roff, shot down a Bf 110 (6th Year). 24-25 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 flown by S/L I.E. MacTavish and F/O A.M. Grant shot down a Ju 88 night fighter. They were then vectored to a Bf 110 but when they opened fire they were fired on by the rear gunner and a second aircraft behind them. They escaped by diving, but were again attacked when climbing back. Evading the second time flew flew back to their base (6th Year).

Sunday 25 Bomber Command continued to support VARSITY by attacking rail yards and targets used to bring German reinforcements to the battle zone, sending 267 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to Hannover, 151 Halifax, 14 Lancaster and 10 Mosquitos to Münster, and 132 Halifax, 14 Lancaster and 10 Mosquitos to Osnabrück, a total of 606 sorties with 4 losses (BC War Diaries). Poor weather forced many #6 Group bombers to land at alternate airfields (R. Koval).

Operation VOYAGE, the breakout of the US 1st Army from the Remagen bridgehead to encircle the Ruhr, begins (Oxford).

Two Balloon Bomb incidents were reported on this date, fragments were recovered at Hanson Island, BC, and parts of an incendiary bomb near Farmington, Michigan, USA, the farthest east any were reported. However on an unknown date another Balloon Bomb which was being tested in New Jersey quickly evaded the aircraft monitoring it and was last seen heading over the (Mikesh)! One wonders how far it got. 25 358 Sqn. Liberator VI KH397 "K" lost height after take-off from Jessore, India and crashed, killing P/O S.E. Hencher, WO W.R. Mills RAF, Sgt L.C. Loveless RAF, Sgt J.F.C. Hawkins RAF, Sgt G.D.T. Rowe RAF, Sgt J.L.J. Hulse RAF, F/O T.D. Taylor, Sgt C.C. Young RAF and Sgt D.S. Potter RAF (R. Quirk). 25 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe MV258 hit by flak or debris attacking a train in Germany and crashed killing their commandingwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca officer S/L L.A. Moore DFC AFC RCAF (USA) (6th Year). 25 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI force landed among gliders and airborne soldiers after being hit by flak, F/L F.B. Gillis safe (6th Year). 25 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP804 EQ-K hit by flak and exploded over Germany, F/O B.A. Burrows, P/O C.L. Cofield, F/O W.R. Lay, F/O J.P. Marchant, F/O F.W. Shantz and Sgt R. Hamilton RAF killed, F/S W.A. Dyer PoW. 25 415 Sqn. Halifax III MZ907 6U-P lost over Germany on a daylight operation, P/O J.M. Jones and F/O J.R. McCollum killed, P/O L.W. Brennan, P/O R.A. Paul and Sgt. S.W. Lowe RAF parachuted out safely but were murdered on the ground by their captors, F/O R.M. Aylsworth and F/S A.N. Knight PoW. 25 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L W. Armstrong, lost an engine close to the target, but bombed and returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 25 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O L.O. Simonson was damaged in the fuselage and a wing by flak (R. Koval, Awards). Nine other 420 bombers received light flak damage as well, 19 bombers landing at diversion airfields (R. Koval). 25 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM239 suffered an engine failure in the circuit on a patrol, F/L J.D. Cunningham slightly injured. 25 424 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/L J. Matheson, had an engine catch on fire just after taking off, and was forced to return early on 3 engines (R. Koval). See April 25, below. 25 425 Sqn. Halifax III NR194 KW-J had one engine running roughly, and lost a second on the return flight. They crashed making an overshoot from a bad landing and the bomber was wrecked, WO2 M.J.P. Lavoie and his crew safe. 25 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP811 OW-J hit by flak which destroyed the nose of the aircraft killing the bomb aimer P/O L.F. Branston. The remaining crew, F/O S.E. Levis, F/O W.I.B. Jarvis, F/S R.M. Eyre, Sgt J.W. Rattigan, Sgt S. Ross and Sgt K.M. Montagano bailed out and became PoW. 25 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP818 OW-M swung off the runway taking off for an operation over Germany at #62 Base, RCAF Linton-on-Ouse, and came to rest with it's undercarriage ripped off. The crew, F/O F.L. Alward, F/O M.W. Wright, Sgt O.H. Phillips, F/O F. Dickinson, F/S L.E. Peck, F/S J.H. Titus and Sgt N. Jackson RAF, evacuated the bomber which caught on fire and the bomb load exploded, which also damaged 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP684 nearby beyond repair. No injuries were reported on the ground. 25 427 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O F. Kaye, was struck by flak that seriously wounded the flight engineer, knocked out an engine and put a hole through it's windscreen, but managed to return safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). A detailed account of this flight can be found in Lancaster, C. et al by bomb aimer F/O W.G. Forrer. 25 427 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O W. Inch, had the bomb load hang up over the primary target, but was able to bomb an alternate target (R. Koval). See March 31, below. 25 428 Sqn. had 5 Lancaster X bombers receive light damage from flak, flown by S/L J. Hudson, F/O G. Johnson, F/O A. Mutch, F/O D.P. Varden and F/O D. Walsh (R. Koval, Awards). See March 31, below. 25 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB874 SE-C was hit by flak on a daylight operation over Germany, and was wrecked landing at an emergency airfield in England, P/O J.A. Keates and F/O J.O. Simmonds injured, Sgt A. Paige, F/S W. McLean, F/S D. Jardine, F/S G. Petrie and Sgt R. Westman RAF safe. 25 432 Sqn. Halifaxwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca VII, P/O S. Allen, had it's hydraulics knocked out by a flak hit (R. Koval). 25 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O J. Bigland, had damage to a wing and the fuselage from a flak hit (R. Koval). 25 433 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/O A. Heathcote, lost an engine over the target, but landed safely at it's base on 3 engines (R. Koval). 25 433 Sqn. Lancaster I, F/L D. Rogers, was badly hit by flak that damaged the nose and fuel tanks as well as knocking out an engine. Although ready to bail out they managed to return and land safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). See April 9-10, below. 25 440 Sqn. F/L D.E. Jenvey DFC MiD was shot and killed by German troops while trying to swim the Rhine River after being betrayed by a German agent. He had been evading since Dec. 29, 1944 when his Typhoon Ib was shot down by flak (Airforce Vol. 44, No. 2). 25 USAAF Air Search & Rescue C-64A (Norseman) 43-5141 damaged taking off from Fort Nelson, BC (AAIR).

25-26 Bomber Command had only 8 LNSF Mosquitos over Berlin on this night and a Lancaster making a NICKEL flight over occupied Holland, no losses (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. returned to attack communications targets in the Ruhr with 11 Mosquitos, 2 damaged (6th Year). 25-26 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS531 was hit by flak over Germany that severely wounded both the crew, F/O A. Nicol and F/O J.H. Wicken. Despite having only one useable arm F/O Nicol assisted F/O Wicken in his navigation and they managed to return to a safe landing, for which F/O Nicol was awarded a DFC (418 SH). F/O Wicken lost an eye in this incident and also received a DFC (Pat Wicken www.rafcommands.com; 6th Year). 25-26 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI, S/L F.A. Montgomery and his observer landed away from its base after being damaged by flak (6th Year).

Monday 26 Royal Navy carrier fleet designated Task Force 57, made up of the carriers HMS Indomitable, Victorious, Illustrious, and Indefatigable, goes into action in the Pacific attacking Japanese airfields in the Sakishima Gunto islands (wikipedia). Fast supply ships to support the task force were built in Canada, based on Park ships with larger engines and special gear for transferring material (S.C. Heal). 26 354 Sqn. Liberator GR.VI EW319 "A" was shot down in the Andaman Islands attacking a ship, F/S A.P. Campbell, F/O I. Lindzon, F/S J.S. McIvar, F/L W.G. McRae, F/O H. Parker, F/O W.A.B. Payne, F/O E.W. Pollard, Sgt G. Parker RAF and F/L C.J. Slater RAF missing, Sgt B.G. or R.G. Radford RAF and Sgt P. Roberts RAF survived and were picked up by a RN ship. The Japanese was reported sunk. (TSGNO notes F/S A. Peter also missing, but not listed in CWGC or J.R.W. Gynne-Timothy crew list. Possibly an erroneous double listing for F/S Alexander Peter Campbell.) 26 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ463 shot down attacking a train, F/O R.C. McCracken bailed out and reported safe (possibly unrecorded PoW?). 26 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ660 shot down by ground fire, F/L J.G. Burchill bailed out and evaded. 26 414 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MK924 was on a reconnaissance sortie when it suffered an engine failure, F/L W. Sawers DFC bailed out over the Allied zone. 26 418 Sqn. Mosquitowww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca FB.VI PZ458 caught fire and crashed in Holland on a transit flight killing pilot F/L R.E. Naylor, the sole occupant (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 26 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS531 damaged and written off, no details (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 26 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB523 force landed due to engine problems after taking off, F/O P.B. Jackson RAAF injured. 26 #10 (BR) Leigh-Light Liberator #592 GR.V (Can.) attacked a U-boat with unknown results, the 22nd and last attack by a #10 (BR) aircraft (R.W.R. Walker). 26 #1 Wireless School, Mount Hope, Ontario, Yale #3421 crashed into trees flying at low level during a radio exercise, F/O A.J. MacDonald killed. 26 unknown unit, LAC J.J.L. McIntyre died in the Station Hospital of #3 Repair Depot, Vancouver, BC, of natural causes.

26-27 Bomber Command sent 86 Mosquitos to Berlin, 4 to other targets, and 2 more on a tour that also included Berlin, no losses (BC War Diaries). 26-27 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L B.N. Plumer and F/L N.W. Bradford set a Bf 110 on fire which crashed (6th Year). 26-27 571 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI PF438 8K-M was landing at it's base returning from a bombing sortie over Berlin when it collided with another Mosquito that had failed to clear the runway, F/L K.C.A. Smith and his pilot F/L H.H. Tattersall DFC RAF safe.

Tuesday 27 Having temporarily exhausted their supply of incendiaries B-29 aircraft from Saipan begin to plant mines in the waters of Japan before the upcoming invasion of Okinawa. This effective campaign would eventually bring merchant shipping to and around Japan to a near stand still as the mines overwhelmed Japan's remaining mine clearing forces.

Operating in support of US Army forces fighting to surround the Ruhr Valley, Bomber Command sends 268 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to make an accurate attack through cloud on the armoured warfare testing centre of Paderborn. As well oil targets at Hamm and Farge are targeted by 150 and 95 Lancasters respectively. Also at Farge a newly constructed U-boat pen was demolished with 2 hits by GRAND SLAM bombs dropped by part of a 20 Lancaster attack by 617 Squadron. Total sorties during the day were 541 without loss (BC War Diaries).

A V-2 Rocket lands in Stepney, striking a housing estate called Hughes Mansions, levelling three apartment buildings, killing 134 and injuring 49. The site was never rebuilt and was turned into a children's play ground after the war (http://www.flyingbombsandrockets.com/V2_maintextc.html). This was the second last V-2 to land in England, the last one in the evening hits near Stepney killing 1 person, Mrs. I. Millichamp, the last victim of air attacks on England (http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html, http://www.historyextra.com). Of the 3,172 combat launches 1,403 missiles had been launched at England, 1,115 landed, killing 2,754 and injuring over 6,000 (Polsson, http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Attacks continue on targets in Europe.

The rebuilt, lengthened and incomplete Gneisenau was sunk in the approaches to Gydnia in Poland as a blockship. It was raised in 1951 and scrapped (wikipedia)

Argentina declares war on Germany and Japan (Oxford). 27 #71 OTU Spitfire Vc ER889 crashed in Egypt after a mid-air collision, F/O J.C. Simpson killed. 27 251 Sqn., Reykjavik, Iceland, Hudson IIIa AD-L FK743 took off on a MAGNUM Meteorological Reconnaissance, but crashed into high ground near Hafnarfjordhur while returning to base. Searches were made but the wreckage was not spotted until March 31. A recovery party reached the area the next day but could not recover the remains due to conditions, and it was not until April 9 that the bodies were recovered with the assistance of local Icelanders. P/O W. Edmondson, P/O T.M. Lincoln, F/O J.J. Yule, F/L N. Smith RAF and Sgt A.R. Simmonds RAF killed (details from Kington & Rackliff, code from Brian at www.rafcommands.com). 27 298 Sqn. Halifax III NA664 crashed in England, F/S S.G. Redknap, F/O H.E. Ackroyd RAF, Sgt J.R. Payne RAF, F/S G.C.M. Stewart RAF, Sgt A.H. Stinson RAF and F/O P.C. Williams RAF killed (www.ww2talk.com). 27 #56 OTU Typhoon Ib MN432 crashed in Scotland, F/O R.S. Bellis killed. 27 #56 OTU Typhoon Ib EK364 failed to pull out a dive and crashed in England, F/O G.A. Sullivan killed. 27 #45 Delivery Group, Ferry Command, Dorval, Quebec Liberator II (Modified) AL504 "Commando" lost on a flight from England to the Azores, W/C W.H. Biddell DFC OBE RAF (Can.), P/O D.J. Spence, F/L D. Buchanan, F/S A.N. Brodie RAF, F/L K.G. Shea RAAF, Radio Officer F.W. Williams (UK), Steward V.I.C.J. Bannister (UK), Cdr. R.A. Brabner, MP (British Under-Secretary of State for Air), Air Marshal Sir Peter R.M. Drummond KCB DSO CBE MC Twice MiD RAF (British Air Member for Training), Sir John B. Abraham (British Air Ministry), H.A. Jones (Air Ministry), E. Robinson (Private Secretary to Cdr. Brabner), E. Twentyman (British Ministry of Food) and S/L E.G. Plum (Air Ministry) missing. This was the aircraft often used as a VIP transport for British PM . It's history can be found in detail in the book "The Man Who Flew Churchill" by Bruce West. H.A. Jones was the author of "War in the Air", the official history of the RFC/RAF in the First World War. 27 #3 RD, Patricia Bay, BC, air frame mechanic F/S R.A. Carson died of natural causes.

27-28 Bomber Command had 82 Mosquitos bombing Berlin for the 35th consecutive night, 7 to Bremen, 4 to Erfurt and 6 to other targets plus 46 RCM, 23 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols and 8 Mosquitos GARDENING in the River Elbe, a total of 176 sorties with the loss of 4 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 9 Mosquitos attacking targets in Germany (6th Year). 27-28 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI MM131 XD-J shot down over Germany by a Me 262 night fighter on a bomber sortie to Berlin, F/L A.A.J. Van Amsterdam DFC Vliergerkruis RAF (Neth.) killed, S/L H.A. Forbes DFC PoW. W.R. Chorley points out that F/L Van Amsterdam was on what is believed to be his 101st sortie. This loss was the subject of the painting "Twowww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Minutes to Midnight" by Robert Bailey. 27-28 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB354 XD-C returned from a bombing sortie over Bremen with it's radio out and this may have contributed to it's landing fast and skidding off the runway into the bomb dump, F/O D.W. Rhys RAF and F/O F.J. Kennelly RAF injured. 27-28 571 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI RV326 8K-L lost over Holland on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/O M.G. Gant and his pilot F/O G.D. Hudson AFC RNZAF killed. 27-28 692 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI PF466 P3-C lost without trace on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/O F.J. Manning and his pilot F/L E.S. Vale MiD RAF missing. Wednesday 28 In Burma Japanese forces at Meiktila are forced to withdraw toward Rangoon (Oxford).

Last air launched V-1 flying bomb lands in England at Swanscombe, Kent (www.flyingbombsandrockets.com). V-1 flying bombs and V-2 rocket attacks on Antwerp ceased on this day as well (Zijlstra, http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html). This city had received the most of the V-2 attacks, some 1,610 being launched at the port, killing 1,736 civilian and military and injuring over 4,500 (wikipedia).

Last Air Raid Warning sounded in London (Times).

Gdynia captured by Soviet Army (Times).

USAAF made heavy bomber attacks on Berlin and Hannover using H2X on this date (Zijlstra).

Eisenhower unilaterally changes the plans for the advance into Germany, orders British and Canadian armies to abandon their drive east to Berlin and attack north to the coast to clear Holland while US forces will drive into Germany to prevent German forces from organizing a last ditch resistance in southern Germany (which US planners believed would happen but which Hitler had no intention of doing). This decision sidelines Commonwealth forces and Montgomery, who had argued that the political importance of capturing Berlin outweighed it's strategic value, in favour of operations by US armies. Part of this was due to Montgomery not giving the same value to the bridgehead established at Remagen that US Generals had, and that his plans to take Berlin depended on his getting US forces under his command, which besides being undesirable to the US public, to US generals was seen as using them to win British victories (B.Y. Cooper). Eisenhower also sends a message to Stalin proposing US forces would ignore Berlin and break across Germany in a column to the south to meet the Soviet forces at Dresden (Oxford). See March 31, below.

Canadian Parliament endorses participation in World Security Conference (CJCA headline).

Japanese Balloon Bombs or parts recovered near Whitewater, BC and Strathmore, Alberta, plus one shotwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca down in Mexico (Mikesh). 28 VB-17 USS Hornet Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21279 lost to unknown cause over Japan (J. Baugher, AAIR). 28 113 Sqn., Burma, Hurricane DE392 stalled at low level and crashed, killing F/O B.N. Reed. 28 135 Sqn., Burma, Thunderbolt I HD158 lost on a strafing attack, WO D.R. Whiskin RAF (Can.) missing (H.A. Halliday, J. Baugher, CWGC). 28 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM302 shot down by flak over Germany attacking enemy transport, F/O M. Reeves killed. 28 RAF Ferry Command, Dakota IV KN409 crashed approaching to land at Scotland, F/O J.W. Newman, F/S A.D.C. Jamieson RAF, WO P. Lavin RAF and F/L H.R. Hannaford RAAF missing. 28 #170 (Ferry) Sqn. Ventura GR.V #2276 crashed and written off, no details (R.W.R. Walker). 28 #2 Air Command, Hurricane XII #5589 crashed near North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Written off and sold the next month it was recovered from a farm in the 1970s and now flies in England as G-HURR (R.W.R. Walker). 28 unknown unit, LAC T.B. King RAF died in North America, no details. 28 USAAF 7th Ferry Group P-63C 43-11203 belly landed near Watson Lake, Yukon (AAIR).

Thursday 29 439 Sqn. and 440 Sqn. move to a base in Germany (RCAF Sqns.).

An oil target at Salzgitter was attacked by 130 Lancasters using GEE-H without loss (BC War Diaries). USAAF bombers were grounded by bad weather (Zijlstra).

A Balloon Bomb was recovered on the Yukon Territory portion of the CANOL Road (Mikesh). Balloon Bomb scrambles in BC totalled 37 for the month up to this date, followed by a lull until April 17 (Joost). 29 VMSB-15 USMC Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21408 lost to unknown cause at Eniwetok Atoll (J. Baugher). 29 519 (MET) Sqn. Fortress IIa FK213 was on a meteorological sortie in the Atlantic when it flew over an Allied convoy and was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. Wireless operator air gunner F/L M.F. Brunelle managed to repair his radios and obtain a navigation fix. When the electrical power failed he patched a manually powered transmitter (possibly a T1333 survival radio aka 'Gibson Girl') and produced a signal for 90 minutes which enabled his damaged aircraft to be tracked by rescue authorities until they landed safely. This was cited in the award of an AFC to F/L Brunelle (alieneyes www.rafcommands.com). 29 664 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF Auster V RT564, Capt. G.M. Henderson RCA and LAC R.S. Laye, flew the squadron's first operational flight (RCAF Sqns, Parham & Belfield). 29 #83 Group Service Unit Spitfire LF.IX MK355 crashed in England on a low-flying exercise killing F/O W.J. Chittenden. F/O Chittenden had flown a tour of operations in North Africa (W.B. Begy) 29 #4 RD metal worker Cpl J.C.E.G. Morneau died of carbon monoxide poisoning while part of a crew which had volunteered to work non-stop on an important modification to a Liberator. 29 #502 REMS, Cap de la Madeleine, Quebec, air frame mechanic LAC A.S.C. Jenkins died of natural causes in hospital. 29 USAAF B-17G 44-83473www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca damaged taking off from Goose Bay, Nfld. 29 USAAF C-54A 41-37281 operated by American Airlines belly landed at Gander, Nfld. (AAIR).

29-30 After a night off Berlin was again bombed by 48 Mosquitos of the LNSF, 7 to Harburg, 3 to Bremen and 3 to Hannover without loss (BC War Diaries).

Friday 30 416 Sqn. and 443 Sqn. move briefly to the Netherlands (RCAF Sqns.).

Danzig and Küstrin captured by Soviet forces (Times). Canadian First Army crosses into Holland (Times). First RCAF ground units cross the Rhine into Germany (6th Year).

USAAF heavy bombers attacked oil and U-boat targets through cloud (Zijlstra).

Fighter bomber attacks are made on German rocket units, retreating back into Germany from their launch positions in The Netherlands (D. Newton).

An intact Me 262 jet fighter was surrendered to US forces at Frankfurt by a defecting Luftwaffe pilot (Zijlstra).

Balloon Bomb parts were recovered near Consul, Saskatchewan and Waterhen Lake, Manitoba (Mikesh).

#1 Naval Air Gunner School, Yarmouth, NS, #4 SFTS, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, #9 SFTS, Centralia, Ontario, #12 SFTS, Brandon, Manitoba, #13 SFTS, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, #15 SFTS, Claresholm, Alberta, #17 SFTS, Souris, Manitoba and #18 SFTS, Gimli, Manitoba closed on this day (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 30 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXe MJ275 shot down by flak over Geildheim, Germany, killing F/L W.J. Anderson. 30 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX PT357 hit by flak, F/L W.R. James bailed out and made PoW. 30 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB435 shot down by flak in Germany attacking trucks, F/L W.G. Davis killed on what would of been the final sortie of his tour (6th Year). 30 544 Sqn. Mosquito PR.XVI MM396 crashed on take-off for a photo reconnaissance sortie killing F/O R.M. Hays RCAF (USA) and his navigator F/L D. South RAF (P. Renier www.rafcommands.com). 30 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron USAAF rescue unit Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44- 33915 'Miss Pick Up' landed in the North Sea to rescue a ditched , but was unable to take-off due to engine problems (J. Baugher). See March 31, below. 30 5th ERS USAAF Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-33917 was damaged and later sank attempting a rescue in the North Sea, the crew was later rescued by an ASR launch (J. Baugher). 30 #162 (BR) Sqn. Canso A #11076, a US Coast Guard HNS-1 (R-4B) 39045 was flown from New York to Goose Bay, Labrador, where it was re-assembled and flown to a forward base at Lake Morhiban, Labrador. From there Lt A. Kleisch USCG flew into the crash site and brought out the 9 survivors one at a time over the next 4 days, for which he received a US DFC andwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca the Commonwealth AFC (B. Petite). 30 unknown unit, Patricia Bay, BC, F/S R.J.H. Abell RCAF (UK) died of natural causes. (CWGC indicates this occurred March 30, 1946).

30-31 Bomber Command sent 43 Mosquitos to Berlin, 43 to Erfurt, and 10 to other targets, backed by 36 RCM and 31 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols as well as 6 Mosquito GARDENING sorties, for a total of 169 sorties with 1 loss. 30-31 298 Sqn. Halifax PN243 "T-S" lost off the Norwegian coast on special operation OSTLER 2, WO2 J.A. Buzza, F/O P. Ireland RAF, F/S C. Alexander RAF, F/S A.G. King RAF, Sgt T. Reynolds RAF and F/S K. Woodhart RAF missing (R. Tebbutt). 30-31 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, S/L D.B. Freeman and F/L J.J. Greene, attacked and damaged a Fw 190, 2 Me 323 transports, a locomotive and strafed a freight train on an INTRUDER near Prague in Czechoslovakia, returning with nearly empty tanks (6th Year). 30-31 692 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI RV341 P3-B lost without trace on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/S J. Rabiner and his pilot F/S W. Campey RAF missing.

Saturday 31 Eisenhower's message to Stalin on a planned meeting point of Russian-US armies reaches him. Until this point Stalin had been holding back Soviet advances into Germany for political reasons, believing western Allies could not defeat the German forces against them. The crossing of the Rhine and this proposal to have US forces in what had been designated as a Soviet operations zone changed the situation. He believes Eisenhower's message may also be a deception, so that US and British forces can take Berlin while Soviet forces turn south (D. Sommerville). Knowing the enormous political advantage of taking Berlin he began to quickly plan for a Soviet advance to the City while protesting to Roosevelt that the US and Britain were collaborating with Germany to keep Russian forces farther east. This forced Eisenhower to forego his planned breakthrough to join with the Russians and continue a broad advance to the Elbe River. soviet

Bomber Command sent 361 Lancaster, 100 Halifax and 8 Mosquito bombers to attack shipyards in Hamburg producing the new Type XXI U-boats, but results were scattered by cloud. The final group of bombers (gaggle, as opposed to a formation) was delayed, and arrived at the target after the leading two gaggles and without fighter protection (F/L G.W. Percival (431 Sqn.) diary entry, quoted by Jim Howey in www.rafcommands.com), and the Luftwaffe fighter force made an unexpected attack on this group with about 30 Me 262 jets, 11 bombers were lost, 8 from #6 Group RCAF, in an intense fight (BC War Diaries; 6th Year).

USAAF sent 1,338 heavy bombers to various targets in Germany (Zijlstra).

Near Ituna, Saskatchewan, a Balloon Bomb with an unexploded demolition charge was recovered (Mikesh).

In Canada the BCATP is terminated after graduating 131,552 aircrew (72,734 RCAF, 42,110 RAF and RN,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 9,706 RAAF and 7,002 RNZAF) (CCMA). RAF aircrew included Free French, Norwegian, Czechoslovakian, and other nations (www.canadianwings.com). At it's peak the Plan had 360 schools and support units at 261 locations in Canada, with a staff of over 104,000. See May 7, 1946.

#1 Flight Engineer School closed after only 5 months of operation (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). Also closed on this date were #6 B&G School, Mountain View, Ontario and #7 AOS, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (Chris www.rafcommands.com). 31 148 Sqn. pilot F/O J.C. Scorer died in hospital in Italy of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. 31 5th ERS USAAF, downed Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-33915 'Miss Pick Up' was strafed and sunk by Me 262 jet fighters, but crew and rescued pilot were unharmed (J. Baugher, http://www.arcticclub.org.uk/assets/documents/catalina-news-83). 31 156 Sqn. Lancaster III PB517 GT-O lost over Germany on a daylight operation, P/O R.C. Fletcher, P/O I.W. Kelly, F/L L.E. Munro DFC, F/S K. Antcliffe RAF, F/S E.H. Marlow RAF, F/O T.M. McCabe RAF, F/L G.A.J. Morrison RAF and F/L A.C. Pope RAF killed. 31 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TB831 hit by flak, F/L T.S. Todd bailed out and became PoW. 31 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TB737 was hit by flak and/or ran out of fuel and crashed, killing F/L E.G. Aitchison. 31 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP806 EQ-Q was shot down near it's target in Germany by a Me 262 jet fighter, F/O K.K. Blyth, Sgt D.G. Grey, F/O J.M. Taylor, F/O R.D. Atkinson, F/S A.A. Watson, F/S J.B. Folkersen and F/S R.J. Hughes PoW. F/O Blyth later wrote a book about his experiences, Cradle Crew, published by Sunflower University Press, Kansas, in 1997 (R. Koval). 31 415 Sqn. Halifax III MZ922 6U-C shot down by a Me 262 fighter on a daylight operation, P/O G. Anderson, F/O G.A. Hyland, F/O T.S. Lewis, P/O J.A. Neilson, P/O G.J. Peden, P/O G.J. Rude and F/O J.E. Suttack missing. W.R. Chorley reports that F/O Hyland was from the USA but TSGNO states he was from Winnipeg. 31 415 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O V. Clark, was damaged in the fuselage and engine nacelles by flak (R. Koval). 31 415 Sqn. Halifax III, P/O V. Clothier, had holes in an engine nacelle by flak (R. Koval). 31 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM232 was on a patrol and was shot down in error by a USAAF P-51, F/O S.A.R. Round bailed out wounded and burned, taken PoW. He was rescued by advancing soldiers in a few days and went to England for treatment (416 SH). 31 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM386 on a patrol was shot down in error by a USAAF P-51, F/O V.W. Mullens PoW. The same P-51 was involved in both losses. It was observed approaching but the attack was unexpected, catching the Spitfire pilots off-guard (416 SH). F/L F.G. Picard damaged the Mustang before it entered a cloud and vanished (6th Year). 31 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB761 VR-H was shot down by a Me 262 jet fighter on a daylight operation to Germany, F/O R.O. Johnson, P/O G. Matuszewski, F/L H.A. Metivier, P/O E.E. Morphy, P/O W.M. Sommerville, F/O J. Todd and F/S H.S. Tulk RCAF (Nfld.) missing. 31 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB869 VR-Q on a daylight operation to Germany was shot down by a German Me 262 jet fighter, F/O D.S.M. Bowes, F/O J.J. Gladish, P/O B. MacLennan and P/O J. Rea killed, F/S G.R. Berry, F/S W.H. Milne and F/S R.W. Rowlands PoW. 31 419 Sqn. Lancasterwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca X bombers flown by F/L H. Collard (KB878 VR-I), P/O J. Horner (KB783 VR-F), F/O D. Lambroughton (KB851 VR-W), F/L W. Manning (KB748 VR-O "Lady Oboe") and F/O M. Martin (KB857 VR-N) engaged Me 262 aircraft without claims or damage (R. Koval). 31 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O J. Fawcett, lost an engine returning to England and landed at it's base on 3 engines (R. Koval). See April 13-14, below. 31 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG281 QB-X, F/O J.W. Watson pilot, mid upper gunner F/S S.J.O. Robinson claimed an Me 262 jet fighter shot down, while rear gunner F/S C.K. Howes drove off another in combat over Hamburg (H.A. Halliday, R. Koval). See April 4-5, below. 31 424 Sqn. Lancaster I RF148 QB-A, F/L D. Sanders, claimed some strikes on a Me 262 that had just shot down another Lancaster beside them (R. Koval). 31 424 Sqn. Lancaster I NG451 QB-E, F/S W.J.G. Cozens DFM, claimed possible strikes on a Me 262 fighter that attacked it (R. Koval). 31 424 Sqn. Lancaster I aircraft flown by F/O W. Beckett (PB897 QB-B) and F/O G. Gracie (NG489 QB-L) each fought off 4 attacks by Me 262 fighters, the latter crew claiming some strikes on one (R. Koval). 31 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ418 KW-C lost on a daylight operation to Germany, pilot F/L C. Lesesne RCAF (USA) held his bomber to allow his crew to bail out but was killed before he could escape, F/S J.A.R. Hilliard, P/O R.J.H. Pigeon, F/O W.B. Cable, F/S F.H. King, WO R.G.J. Trudeau and Sgt J.P.A. Tame RAF PoW (O. Clutten-Brock). 31 426 Sqn. navigator F/L E.G. Wey, shot down March 31, 1944, died of natural causes as a PoW in Stalag Luft 1, Germany, just one year after being captured. 31 427 Sqn. Lancaster I NX550 ZL-V, F/O W. Inch, claimed a Me 262 fighter that attacked them as damaged (R. Koval). 31 427 Sqn. Lancaster III NX552 ZL-S, F/O D. McNeill, was hit and damaged in the rear tail and fuselage by attacks from a Ju 88, an Me 262 and an Me 163, claiming the latter destroyed by rear gunner WO J.G. Jarvis (R. Koval; 6th Year). 31 427 Sqn. Lancaster III PA271 ZL-W, F/O S. Matheson, was damaged in the cockpit, bomb bay, tail turret and fuel tanks by flak, and then evaded an attack by an Me 262 fighter (R. Koval). See April 13-14, below. 31 427 Sqn. Lancaster aircraft flown by F/L R.M. Gould (III ME393 ZL-D) and F/L A. Lock (I NX553 ZL-H) engaged Me 262 fighters without claims (R. Koval, Awards). 31 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O D.P. Varden, was damaged in a wing and the bomb bay by flak (R. Koval, Awards). See April 10, below. 31 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB791 NA-A, pilot F/O D. Payne, gunners shot down an Me 262 fighter, hit by both the mid-upper and tail gunners F/S E.R.C. Casey and F/S A.E. Vardy (R. Koval; 6th Year). See April 13-14, below. 31 428 Sqn. Lancaster X aircraft flown by F/O D. Brown (KB816 NA-E), F/S D. Desereux (KB764 NA-B), W/C M.W. Gall (KB838 NA-O), F/L R. Hay (KB794 NA-W), F/O G. Johnson (KB879 NA-Y), F/O A. Mutch (KB864 NA-S "Sugar's Blues"), WO2 R. Quinn (KB795 NA-Q) and F/O D. Walsh (KB843 NA-D) engaged by Me 262 fighters without damage or claims (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). See April 13-14, below. 31 429 Sqn. Lancaster I NG345 AL-V shot down by a German Me 262 on a daylight operation over Germany, F/S L.J.A. Campeau, F/O R.H. Fisher, WO2 E.M. Hooker, WO1 J.H.R.R. LeDoux and Sgt R.L. Bailey RAF killed, F/O R.R. Jones and P/O J.A.J.C. Rancourt PoW. This was thewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca first Lancaster lost by 429 Sqn. WO Hooker had been injured Aug. 31, 1944, in the loss of a #1659 HCU Halifax. 31 429 Sqn. Lancaster I PA226 AL-H came under heavy attack by 4 Me 262 jet fighters, pilot F/O S.F. Avis was directed by his gunners, F/S H. Ross and F/S J.D. Whitehead to avoid attacks, and managed to return to England with his bomber badly damaged by a large hole in one wing (H.A. Halliday, R. Koval). At one point this bomber bore the noseart "Xotic Angel", probably with 434 Sqn. when coded "X". It is not known if it still bore this name when damaged (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). 31 429 Sqn. Lancaster III ME536 AL-Q, pilot F/O H.A.M. Humphries, gunners F/S D.H. Lockhart and F/S R. Jones claimed an Me 262 fighter damaged, last seen in a spiral and shedding parts (R. Koval). 31 429 Sqn. Lancaster I PD209 AL-K, pilot F/O R. Pike, mid-upper gunner F/S J.O. Leprich claimed an Me 262 fighter damaged despite having to hand fire his guns due to an electrical failure. The jet fighter was last seen entering a cloud emitting black smoke with 3 Allied fighters chasing it. F/S Leprich was awarded a DFM for this (R. Koval; 6th Year). 31 429 Sqn. Lancaster aircraft flown by F/L R.K. Mitchell (I RF207 AL-S) and WO2 K. Weld (III RA571 AL-D) engaged Me 262 fighters without claim (R. Koval, Awards). 31 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB859 SE-U lost over Germany on a daylight operation, possibly due to a combination of flak and jet fighter attack, F/O F.R. Alty, F/O J.J. Casey, F/O P.B. Dennison, P/O A. Dorey, F/O M. Hartog and Sgt L.J. Mercer RAF killed, F/L P.J. Hurley PoW (Mosquito www.rafcommands.com). 31 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB801 SE-S "Simcoe Warrior II", F/O C.E.G. Heaven pilot, rear gunner F/S W. Kuchma claimed a Me 262 destroyed, and he and the mid-upper gunner F/S D. MacDonald damaged a second during the fight with the jet fighters over Hamburg (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). F/S Kuchma was later promoted to WO and was decorated with the DFC, and this sortie was cited in the award of a DFC to F/O Heaven (H.A. Halliday, Awards). 31 431 Sqn. Lancaster X bombers flown by F/O D. Bowdiggin (KB773 SE-P), F/L G.F. McNeill (KB812 SE-F) and F/O J.S. Patterson (KB872 SE-N "No! Not Now") engaged Me 262 fighters without claims (R. Koval, http://www.bombercrew.com/noseart/painted.htm, W.E. Heron). 31 431 Sqn. Lancaster X aircraft flown by F/L H.C. Granger and F/L J.W. Lourie were damaged by flak (R. Koval, W.E. Heron). 31 433 Sqn. Lancaster I RA511 BM-Q, F/L A. Strelchuk, claimed an Me 262 fighter damaged (R. Koval). 31 433 Sqn. Lancaster I RA513 BM-Y, F/O D. Pleiter, received some light damage from flak before fighting off 4 attacks by Me 262 fighters, claiming 1 damaged and 1 probably destroyed by gunners F/S C.H. Stokes and F/S M.A. Graham (R. Koval; 6th Year). 31 433 Sqn. Lancaster I ME375 BM-D, S/L P.D. Holmes, fought off 5 attacks by Me 262 fighters, claiming 1 destroyed by gunners WO E.J. Ash and WO V.M. Ruthig (R. Koval; Awards; 6th Year). 31 433 Sqn. Lancaster I bombers flown by P/O H. Batty (RF149 BM-A), P/O B.H. Jensen (PB908 BM-C), F/O W. Otton (RA509 BM-P) and WO2 M. Smith (PB893 BM-G) engaged Me 262 fighters without claims (R. Koval, Awards). 31 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB911 WL-U was attacked by a German jet fighter equipped with rockets, possiblywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca R4M unguided missiles. According to survivor Sgt J.M. Hanlin a rocket struck the cockpit killing the pilot F/O G.P. Haliburton, wireless air gunner P/O R.J. Green and navigator F/O D.G. Rathwell, the remaining crew, Sgt Hanlin, F/O C. Legaarden, F/O J.A. English and F/O R. Deane, bailed out and were made PoW (R. Koval). 31 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB852 WL-R, pilot F/O M. Isenberg, gunners P/O J. Baxter and P/O E. Cowlin claimed an Me 262 bomber that attacked them as damaged (R. Koval, Awards). 31 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB862 WL-M, F/O F. Hawes, was attacked by 2 Me 262 fighters, claiming one damaged by gunner F/S O. Lambert (R. Koval). 31 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB849 WL-T, F/O T. Dawson, was attacked by 3 Me 262 fighters, claiming one probably destroyed by gunners F/S R. Spratt and F/S R. Taylor (R. Koval; 6th Year). 31 434 Sqn. Lancaster X aircraft flown by F/L T.W. Buttle (KB824 WL-E), F/L T. Coghlan (KB844 WL-W), F/L J. Kitchen (KB880 WL-L) and F/L J.W. Rothenbush (KB836 WL-P) engaged Me 262 fighters without claims (R. Koval, Awards). 31 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM314 suffered an engine failure, F/O G.A. McDonald bailed out and made PoW.

31-1 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos patrolling in the area of Zwolle and Osnabrück with 1 loss (6th Year). 31-1 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI PZ394 TH-C crashed in Holland when on a night Army support patrol over northern Germany, F/L G.K. Graham and F/O R.T. Styles RAF killed.

April 1945 411 Sqn. adds clipped wing LF.IX aircraft to it's strength for low level combat (RCAF Sqns.). 414 Sqn. begins to receive Spitfire FR.XIV aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). In Italy 417 Sqn. begins to receive Spitfire IXb aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). 420 Sqn. begins to receive Lancaster X aircraft, but did not use them on operations (RCAF Sqns.). In Canada #133 (F) Sqn. begins to re-equip with Mosquito FB.26 aircraft specifically to intercept and destroy Japanese Balloon Bombs (RCAF Sqns.).

During the month 436 Squadron was ordered to Ramree Island, Burma, from Akyab Island. Dakota IV KN210 "O" was sent to pick up bricks for the construction of an oven. Soon after taking off (from Akyab?) it was found the aircraft was badly overloaded and could not gain height. Just then a beached Japanese floatplane was spotted and the pilot, S/L R. Denison DFC, made a low pass over it as the kickers pushed some of the excess bricks out of the parachute door. No damage was claimed and no return fire was seen, the crew of the "brick bomber", S/L Denison, F/O M. McLean, F/L W. Lindsay, F/O E. G. Lee, LAC A. Adams and Sgt T.F. Laffey RAAF, landed safely at Ramree despite the overload (http://www.spitcrazy.com/brickbombers.htm). In 2012 on the ww2talk.com forum it is stated that a 1996 Japanese magazine reported that the floatplane had been written off in this incident.

Sunday 1 US Forces land on www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caOkinawa (Polsson). Armoured deck aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable hit by kamikaze aircraft which kills 14 deck crew, but interrupts flight operations for only 1 hour (wikipedia).

Saudi Arabia declares war on Japan (wikipedia).

A Balloon Bomb is reported to have landed near Hay River, NWT (Mikesh). 1 357 Sqn. Liberator VI KH323 crashed taking off in India on a Special Operation sortie, P/O A.G. Brett, F/O J.N. Friesen, P/O R.J.S. Green, F/O K.M. Merriam, F/O J.B. Millar, P/O H.E. Rickert, P/O J.T. Steventon, F/O L.S. Stockwell, P/O G.J. Storkey and 6 passengers killed. Capt. G. Marchant, Intelligence Corps, Capt. P.C.H. Vickery, Royal Armoured Corps and Sgt P.M. Colvin, Royal Armoured Corps, may have been killed in this accident 1 #20 AFU Oxford BG574 crashed in England, F/O H.N. Skelton and 2 crew killed. 1 unknown unit, LAC R.M. McLeod died in Canada, no details.

1-2 Bomber Command had 4 INTRUDER Mosquitos operating from forward bases over southern Germany on this night with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 8 Mosquitos operating ahead of US forces (6th Year).

Monday 2 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MN581 force landed in Holland, F/O D.G. Cleghorn PoW. 2 #8 OTU, Greenwood, NS, Bolingbroke IV #9096 crashed in the Bay of Fundy near Fort George, NB, WO2 J.F. Waterhouse missing.

2-3 Bomber Command sent a diversion of 59 training bombers over the North Sea, as well as 54 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 50 to Magdeburg, 10 to other targets, 55 RCM and 26 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. switched to patrolling ahead of Canadian and British forces with 11 Mosquitos on this night (6th Year). 2-3 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB185 XD-R lost without trace on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/L G.A. Nicholls DFC RAF and F/L J.E. Davies DFC RAF missing. 2-3 210 Sqn. Catalina IVa JX257 "Q" was on an anti-submarine patrol in the North Atlantic when it ran into trouble and radioed an SOS. P/O J. McIlrath, WO2 K.L. Roth, F/S R.F. Harrison RAF, F/S K. Jeynes RAF, F/S A.W. Patterson RAF, WO A.G.W. Payne RAF, Sgt S.G. Perrett RAF, F/S J. Uher RAF and F/L N.W. Wraight RAF missing (Ragnar J. Ragnarsson www.rafcommands.com). 2-3 298 Sqn. Halifax III NA660 8A-X was shot down by flak over Norway on special operation STIRRUP 14, P/O E.F. Carlisle, F/S D.S.B. Derrett RAF, F/S G.B. Johnson RAF, W/C H. Law-Wright DSO DFC RAF, F/O J.C.B. Rae RAF and F/O T.M. Stonham RAF killed (R. Tebbutt, harringtonmuseum.org.uk). 2-3 299 Sqn. Stirling IV LJ942 X9-I was hit by flak and hit the water at high speed in shallows off Denmark on special operation TABLEJAM 283, P/O T.A. McBeath was killed, F/S H.J. Farmer RAF and WO (?) C.V. Laing RAF were injured and taken PoW, P/O C. Dillon RAF, WO H.J. Hartwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca RAF and WO A. Hills RAF evaded (R. Tebbutt). Tuesday 3 British forces enter Osnabruck (CJCA headline). Further German PoW camps are ordered to begin forced marches, this time to avoid being freed by advancing US, British and French forces (wikipedia).

Bomber Command sent 247 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to what was thought to be a military barracks at Nordhausen. The "barracks" were actually the prison for concentration camp workers being forced to build V-2 missiles in the underground factory on the site, and an unknown number died with no shelters from the bombing. Two bombers were lost (BC War Diaries). Production of the V-1 and V-2 weapons was done by slave labour overseen with great cruelty by the SS. It is thought that 20,000 labourers died from starvation, torture and at the hands of the SS, and those killed in error by Allied bombing. More people died making these weapons than were killed by their operational use (www.iwm.org.uk)!

438 Sqn. returns from an armament training camp in England to Germany (RCAF Sqns.). 3 273 Sqn., Burma, Spitfire LF.VIII JG322 was attacking a ground target in Burma when it was engulfed in an explosion on the ground which destroyed the aircraft, F/L E.E. Ettinger missing. 3 #162 (BR) Sqn. RCAF Canso A #11066 missing over the Atlantic in good weather on an anti- submarine patrol, suspected enemy action, Sgt L.S. Bentley, WO2 W.L. Greer, F/O J.W. Hart, F/L W.C. Jackson, F/S R.G. MacNeil, F/O L.C. Martin, F/S J.R. McConnell, F/O O.G. Solmundsen and F/L A.G. Thomson missing. 3 432 Sqn. air gunner Sgt T.D. Scott who bailed out of Halifax VII NP689 on March 15-16, 1945, murdered by Gestapo on this date, shot with 10 other prisoners (H. Welting www.rafcommands.com). 3 613 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HJ771 lost on a sortie over Germany, F/L J.A. Lukey killed, 1 RCAF safe. F/L Lukey is referenced by his friend R.H. Milne in his book. 3 626 Sqn. Lancaster I PA190 UM-G2 lost over the sea on a sortie to Germany, Sgt G.W.E. Keeble RAF killed, F/S L. Cockerham, F/S J.L. Cooke RCAF (Nfld.), WO2 E.J. O'Rourke, F/O L.K. Driver RNZAF, Sgt A.W. Scott RAF and F/O J.G. Hallowell RAF missing. 3 #76 OTU Wellington X LN900 crashed near Tobruk, Libya on a cross-country training flight, F/O A.D. Fraser DFC, Sgt S.O. Turley RAF, Sgt S.G. Stranks RAF, Sgt W. Wallwork RAF, Sgt I.J. Hitchens RAF, WO E.G. Turner RAF, Sgt W.J. Wilson RAF, Sgt H.J. Farrier RAF and Sgt D.H. Folwell RAF killed (COL BRUGGY www.rafcommands.com).

3-4 Bomber Command sent 95 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 8 to Plauen and 5 to Magdeburg with 17 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols. A force of 9 Lancasters on GARDENING sorties were recalled due to weather. 1 Mosquito bomber was lost (BC War Diaries). The area of Bremen and Hanover were patrolled by 12 Mosquitos (6th Year). 3-4 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB349 XD-F was lost over Germany on a bombing sortie to Berlin, S/L T.R.A. Dow DFC RAF (Can.) and F/L J.S. Endersby RAF killed. This www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.cawas believed to be S/L Dow's 65th operational flight. Wednesday 4 Soviet troops enter Vienna (CJCA headline). Mackenzie King announces Policy (CJCA headline). This policy, to come into effect after Germany was defeated, was that only volunteers would serve in the Pacific theatres of war. See May 7, below.

Soviet occupation of Hungary completed (H.W. Neulen).

Bomber Command returned to Nordhausen with 243 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos which also bombed the town as well as the "factory" (barracks), 1 bomber lost (BC War Diaries). 4 424 Sqn. Lancaster was over England and in a dive accidentally threw out the rear gunner, WO2 Broadwell, whose doors were open as he was strapping himself back into the turret and was thrown across the control unit, rotating the turret. He landed safely by parachute (424 SH). 4 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MP181 F3-F shot down by enemy fighters attacking transport in Germany, P/O W.J. Kinsella killed. 4 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB217 F3-J shot down by fighters over Germany, killing F/L E.J. McAlpine. 4 #63 Base RCAF, Leeming, Yorkshire, instrument mechanic LAC W.H. Smith died in hospital of natural causes. 4 #160 (BR) Sqn. RCAF, Torbay, Newfoundland, aero engine mechanic LAC J.L. McConnell died in hospital of natural causes.

4-5 Bomber Command sent 327 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos to a synthetic oil plant at Leuna which made a scattered attack through cloud, 277 Halifax, 36 Lancaster and 14 Mosquitos to an oil plant at Harburg which was heavily attacked, and 258 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos to an oil refinery at Lützkendorf, which claimed "moderate damage". Other operations included 35 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 31 to Magdeburg, 70 RCM, 66 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 30 Lancasters GARDENING off southern Norway and the Kattegat, for a total of 1,172 sorties with the loss of 16 aircraft (BC War Diaries). In addition 418 Sqn. was patrolling with 11 Mosquitos over Germany (6th Year). 4-5 7 Sqn. Lancaster I NG229 MG-S lost over Germany, P/O E.K. Coyne DFC, F/L B.S.H. Wadham DFC RAF, F/O S.C. Haralambides RAF (Cyprus), F/L R.C. Halkyard DFC RAAF, F/S H.W. Ellis RAF, F/O H.T. Evans RAAF and F/S H. Minns RAF killed. 4-5 12 Sqn. Lancaster I RF182 PH-P lost over Germany, F/L W. Kroeker, F/O C.E. Modeland, F/L W.D. Smith, F/S C. Brooks RAF, F/O J.F. Woodcherry RAF, F/O G.T. Wood RAF and F/O C.W.G. Biddlecombe RAF killed. All except F/O Biddlecombe had been interned in Sweden Jan. 5-6 1944 in the loss of a 12 Sqn. Lancaster. 4-5 115 Sqn. Lancaster I HK555 KO-E was in a mid-air collision with 186 Sqn. Lancaster I RA533 AP-P and crashed in Germany, the last aircraft lost by 115 Sqn in WWII. P/O E.L. Luxton, F/O A.E. Adams RAF, Sgt J.T. Buckley RAF, F/L T.A. O'Halloran RAF, F/S C.E. Marchant RAF, F/S W.G. Carr RAF, WO G.R. Saville RAAF and Sgt E. Sheavills RAF killed in HK555. Onwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca the 186 Sqn. Lancaster F/O J.A.G. Beck DFC RAAF, Sgt P. McNiven RAF, F/S W.G. Evans RAF, F/S S.R. Bacon RAAF, Sgt A.R. Baker RAF and Sgt G. Ballinger RAF killed, P/O A.E. Bartlett RAF survived with slight injuries. 4-5 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB481 4H-P lost without trace on a sortie to Magdeburg, F/L K. Pudsey DFM Twice MiD RAF and F/O J.R.D. Morgan DFC RAF missing. 4-5 153 Sqn. Lancaster I RA544 P4-U lost without trace on a GARDENING sortie, possibly by a night fighter, W/C F.S. Powley DFC AFC RAF (Can.), WO A.S. Dickson RAAF, Sgt C.F. Sadler RAF, F/S L.G. Sims RAF, F/S W. Higgins RAF, F/S C. Madden RAF and F/S R. Neal RAF missing. 4-5 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 NT495 lost from a patrol over Germany, F/L J.B. Kennedy and F/L T.W. Trewin missing. 4-5 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, W/C R. Bannock and F/L W.A. Boak were on their way to their assigned target airfield when they noticed activity at another. They damaged a Fw 190 making a landing. Staying over the airfield they found other aircraft that appeared to be acting as bait in a trap, which ended up with them chasing the hunter aircraft in the area at low level. Breaking off and loitering they were able to shoot down an aircraft trying to land before finally leaving for base (6th Year). 4-5 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP712 EQ-N lost an engine over the target of Harburg. Just after clearing the coast on return the other three engines quit and the crew turned back and bailed out, 3 falling into the sea but were rescued (R. Koval). P/O T.C. King, F/S J.B. Bennett and F/S K.G. Finn are listed as PoW, P/O A.K. Brown, F/O W.G. Burnett, P/O F.W. Trow and Sgt R.A. Hind RAF are also listed as a PoW by W.R. Chorley, but as evaders by www.conscript-heroes.com, IS-9 files. According to The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year pilot P/O Brown made a forced landing in a swamp with F/O Burnett, P/O Trow and Sgt Hind and all were met by advancing Allied soldiers in 5 days. This sortie was cited in the award of a DFC to P/O Brown (Awards). 4-5 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB. VI, F/L D.S. McLaughlin and F/O A. Tekela claimed damage to 2 parked single engined aircraft on a harassing patrol (6th Year). 4-5 424 Sqn. Lancaster I RF150 QB-W flew into a hill in England returning from an operation over Germany, P/O C.N. Armstrong, P/O E.T. Ashdown, P/O C.K. Howes, P/O S.J.O. Robinson, F/O J. Rochford, P/O S.M. Thomson and F/O J.W. Watson killed. 4-5 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/L E. Skene, lost an engine over the target but returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 4-5 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O E. Lewis, was unable to bomb at Leuna as no TIs were seen (R. Koval). 4-5 429 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O J. Martin, was damaged in a wing by flak (R. Koval). 4-5 429 Sqn. Lancaster I PD209 AL-K, F/O C. Andahl, was damaged slightly by flak and evaded attacks by 2 night fighters (R. Koval). 4-5 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP805 QO-J, pilot F/O R.F. Ritchie, was attacked by an Me 163 rocket fighter at Harburg which exploded under return fire of F/S J.B. Brooks and F/S W.N. Billard, claimed destroyed (R. Koval; 6th Year). 4-5 433 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O R. Christenson, was unable to bomb as the bomb load hung up over the target (R. Koval). 4-5 462 Sqn. RAAF ABC equipped Halifax III RG432 Z5-A was on a Bomber Support sortie when it had an enginewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca fail. Returning to England it overran the runway and the undercarriage collapsed, F/O V.J. Corbett, F/O J.W. O'Sullivan RAAF, Sgt T.A. Brown RAF, F/O J.M. Smith RAAF, F/S B.L. Mantton RAAF, special operator F/O A.H. Brown RAAF, F/S L.J. Mongan RAAF and F/S D.H. McLean RAAF safe. 4-5 626 Sqn. Lancaster III UM-Y2 lost over Germany, F/S J.W. Churms, F/O D.H. Johnson, F/O H.W. Reid, F/O W. Semeniuk, F/O M.F.E. Sergeant, F/S H.G. Reed RAF and F/O B.E.S. Stagg RAF killed. 4-5 635 Sqn. Lancaster I PB949 F2-T lost over Germany, WO2 I.J. Kinney, F/L P.E. Cawthorne DFC RAAF, WO T. Reid RAAF and F/S R.V. Moore RAF killed, F/S B.R. McMaster RAF, P/O B.G. Roberts RAF and F/O F.M. Williams RAF PoW and P/O G. Wilson RAF evaded. Thursday 5 In Japan PM Koiso resigns, having failed to reconcile the Army and Navy into a unified defence force. He is replaced by Admiral Suzuki, leading a government controlled by the navy faction and including more civilian political representation (Oxford).

USSR denounces Neutrality Pact with Japanese (CJCA headline). Soviets notify Japan they will not renew their Neutrality Pact when it expires in 1946 (Oxford).

Canadian Group of TIGER FORCE reduced to 8 bomber and 3 transport squadrons with RAF, RAAF and RNZAF fighter support (RCAF Sqns.).

USAAF sends heavy bombers to attack depots, rail yards and airfields in Germany (Zijlstra). 5 181 Sqn. Typhoon Ib SW552 was hit by flak on an armed reconnaissance over Germany and dove into the ground, F/L R.F. Galbraith AM (US) killed. F/L Galbraith had been awarded his Air Medal when he flew operations in Alaska. 5 #7 (O)AFU Anson I W1709 "42" landed at Dublin, Eire, with engine problems, after being repaired the crew Sgt D.J. McLeod, Sgt F. Fitzner, F/S A. Banks RAF, Sgt Bancutt RAF and Sgt D. Langley RAF were allowed to proceed back to Northern Ireland (D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com). 5 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB193 wrecked landing after an engine failure, F/L J. Stark safe. 5 #24 OTU Wellington X MF644 was on a cross country exercise and is believed to have gone down in the North Sea, F/S R.H. Bruce, P/O G.D. Dickie, F/O W.M. Hunt, F/S C.C. MacDonald, Sgt R.L. McCaskill and F/O E.W. Mitchell missing. 5 #1658 HCU Halifax III LW480 was taking off when an engine burst into flames, followed by a second. The pilot, F/O H.D. Melville RAF, force landed in a field where he, F/O M. Morse and their crew evacuated safely. 5 #1 (K) Sqn. RCAF, Torbay, Nfld., Harvard IIb FE624 crashed into a hill near St. John's, Nfld, while simulating an attack on an army cooperation exercise, F/S J.J. Kervin killed. 5 USAAF B-17G 44-83426 damaged taking off from Gander, Nfld. (AAIR).

5-6 On the Dutch island of Texel Russian soldiers from Georgia, forced into service in the German , rebelled and massacred almost all the German soldiers on the island. Theywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca expected Allied forces to land to support them, but this did not happen. German Marines were deployed and they began a campaign to exterminate the Georgians (wikipedia). See April 18, below.

418 Sqn. patrolled the area of Bremen, Hanover and Zwolle with 12 Mosquitos on this night (6th Year).

Friday 6 Japanese Navy and Army air forces launch 352 kamikaze attacks, the largest single such attack of the war, on the US and Commonwealth fleet off Okinawa, in support of an attack by the remaining Japanese Navy surface ships (Polsson). These were the first of nearly 2,000 kamikaze attacks on the Okinawa invasion fleet sent in the next 10 weeks, which would sink 36 ships and damage over 360, nearly 5,000 Allied seamen were killed in this offensive (Oxford).

Bomber Command ordered to cease area bombing unless ordered (Polsson). An attack force of 54 Lancasters and a Mosquito sent to attack ships in Holland attempting to return to Germany was called off by weather (BC War Diaries).

To prevent German forces from moving troops and supplies into southern Germany a campaign of attacks on rail yards was begun by 650 USAAF heavy bombers (Zijlstra). 6 50 Sqn. Lancaster I NG271 suffered an engine failure just after taking off on an operation to Holland. The bomber came down in the village of Waddington in England, fortunately without any casualties on the ground. F/S E.F.C. Heacock was injured, F/O R.W. Turrell, F/O A. Petts, F/S J.A. Edwards, F/S A.J. Gibbins RAF, P/O T. Illingworth RAF and Sgt A. Dobson RAF safe. 6 305 (Polish) Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR191 missing on a night INTRUDER sortie F/L G.A. Barker and Sgt. G.E. Arthur RAF killed. 6 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM670 was hit by flak on a weather reconnaissance over Germany and crashed, F/O S.E. Messum bailed out but did not survive. 6* #11 AFU Harvard crashed practising night circuits in England, F/L J.B. Thompson RCAF (USA) killed. 6 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB343 swung on take off and lost it's undercarriage, F/O H.M. George RAF safe. 6 #1 Central Navigation School, Rivers, Man., Anson V #12325 crashed, LAC B.W.D. Taylor RAF killed.

6-7 418 Sqn. had 12 harassment patrols attacking transport around Berlin on this night (6th Year). 6-7 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB795 NA-Q was landing from a training flight when it swung off the runway, F/L R.L. Turner pulled up the undercarriage to stop the bomber, he and his crew safe.

Saturday 7 US Navy air attackswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca begin on Japanese ships that had sortied to engage the invasion fleet off Okinawa, and sink several including super-battleship Yamato with the loss of 3,063 of her 3,332 crew (Polsson). The surviving Japanese ships are forced to turn back.

Daylight escort of B-29 bombers over Japan by Iwo Jima based P-51D aircraft begins (wikipedia).

Soviet Army enters Vienna. The ships believed attempting to leave occupied Holland were bombed at Ijmuiden by 15 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos (BC War Diaries).

The only German suicide air unit makes it's sole attack ramming USAAF bombers with 130 stripped down Bf 109 aircraft escorted by jet fighters, destroying 8 of the bombers (wikipedia, Zijlstra).

At about this time the Japanese Balloon Bomb campaign was suspended due to the effects of the USAAF bombing which interrupted supply. As Japan had not received reliable reports of any kind that they were even reaching North America the operation was not re-started. No confirmed reports of airborne Balloon Bombs were recorded in North America after mid-April, all subsequent reports were of balloons that had already landed (Mikesh).

Beech 18 leaves service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). The Expeditor version of the aircraft continued in service with the RCAF and other air forces for decades more. 7 VB-17 USN Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21438 lost to unknown cause at Okinawa (J. Baugher). 7 423 Sqn. Sunderland, F/O W.W. Moody, dropped depth-charges on a suspicious oil slick (6th Year). 7 #8 OTU, Spitfire PR.XI EN409 force landed in Eire, pilot F/O E.A. Miller returned, safe (D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com). 7 #1 SFTS, Camp Borden, Ontario, Harvard II BW202 spun and crashed near Stayner, Ontario, WO2 J.A.M. Rondau killed.

7-8 Bomber Command sent 175 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos to an oil target at Molbis, a benzol plant that was put out of action for the remainder of the war. Other operations included 6 RCM and 14 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, no losses (BC War Diaries). The areas around Bremen, Hanover, Berlin and Magdeburg were patrolled by 11 Mosquitos from 418 Sqn. (6th Year). 7-8 9 Sqn. Lancaster I HK788 WS-E was returning from an operation to Germany when it caught fire in the air and crashed in England, WO2 H.A. Fisher, F/O A.E. Jeffs RAF, Sgt C.V. Higgins RAF, F/S K.C. Mousley RAF, F/S C.M. McMillan RAF, F/S W. Thomas RAF and F/S G.J. Symonds RAF killed. 7-8 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L D.A. Gillis and F/O N. Hamer found an aircraft, possibly a He 111, which theywww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca overshot in attacking it. They lowered their undercarriage and opened their radiator flaps to slow down, and a second attack was successful. Parts of the burning aircraft were imbedded in the wing and radiator of the Mosquito that caused an engine fire but this was controlled and they landed safely (6th Year). 7-8 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI aircraft flown by F/L K.C. Mason / F/O W.R.K. Morris and F/L V.R. Cherry / F/L A.D. Birdsall attacked trains in Germany on this night (6th Year).

Sunday 8 The light HMCS Uganda arrives in the British Pacific Fleet. See May 7, below. A Balloon Bomb was recovered near Merritt, BC (Mikesh).

The last Kingdom of French Indo-China, Laos, is reluctantly forced to declare it's independence from France (Oxford). 8 #5 Ferry Unit, Beaufighter TF.X NV305 stalled on landing and crashed at Mauripur, India, F/O R.E. Featherstone and F/O R.J. Glazier killed. 8 417 Sqn. Spitfire IXb MK951 exploded during a attack in Italy, F/O R.L. Cotnam killed. 8 #1659 HCU RCAF Halifax III HX292 landed with an engine on fire on a day cross country exercise, F/O R.F. Pellen, F/O D.A. Cowman and their crew safe. 8 #1659 HCU RCAF Halifax III LV935 failed to return from a radar practice, F/O J.A.R.G. Heroux, F/S J.C.P.A. Laferriere, WO1 J.A.L. Potvin, F/O J.L.P. Routhier, P/O J.G.L.R. Sicotte, Sgt J. Steveson, F/O J.E. Stillings and F/S J.C. Valiquette missing.

8-9 Bomber Command followed a USAAF raid on the shipyards at Hamburg with an attack by 263 Halifax, 160 Lancaster and 17 Mosquito aircraft. Bombing slipped into the city as well, killing 292 people. The oil refinery at Lützkendorf was again attacked by 231 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos which knocked it out. Other operations included a diversion raid by 22 Halifax on Travemünde, 71 LNSF Mosquitos to Dessau, 28 Mosquitos making the first OBOE attack on Berlin, 8 more to Munich, 64 RCM and 43 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 918 sorties with the loss of 12 bombers (BC War Diaries). A number of #6 Group bombers were forced to land at diversion airfields due to bad weather (R. Koval). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos patrolling over Holland and Germany attacking transportation targets (6th Year). 8-9 10 Sqn. Halifax III LK753 ZA-V lost over Allied held Germany, Sgt J.R. Switzer, P/O J. Currie RNZAF, F/S J. Parkin RAF, Sgt L. Squire RAF and Sgt M.K. Fortin RAF killed, F/S J.E. Gallacher RAF and Sgt W.R. Sinnett RAF injured. O. Clutton-Brock identifies Sgt Sinnett as a Canadian. 8-9 49 Sqn. Lancaster III PB374 EA-N lost without trace on an operation to Germany, F/O M.R. McKay, F/S J.H. McGuigan RAAF, F/O R. Cluer RAF, Sgt P. Lipp RAF, Sgt P.F.C. Jackson RAF, Sgt G.A. McLennan RAF and F/S R.E. Wilkins RAF missing. 8-9 61 Sqn. Lancaster III ME385 QR-O shot down by flak over Germany, F/O J.A. MacFarlane, Sgt A.P. Moreton RAF, F/S W.G. Howitt RAF, F/S C. Plant RAF and Sgt H.A. Paterson RAF killed, F/S E.F. Coster PoW, F/S J. Chadwick RAF evaded. F/O MacFarlane and F/S Plant were both injured in the crash of a #14 OTU Wellington Nov. 30, 1943. 8-9 78 Sqn. Halifax www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caIII MZ361 EY-D flew into a hill in bad weather returning from a bombing sortie, WO2 T.W. Fry, F/O J.M. Pougnet and Sgt M.H. Steele RAF killed, F/L V.L. Jackson RAF, Sgt C.K. Gray RAF, F/O F.G. Jones RAF and F/S J. Sims RAF injured. 8-9 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP769 EQ-D lost over Germany, F/O J.C. Cunningham, P/O R.A. Duncan, P/O A.P. Jensen, F/O A.M. Taylor, P/O J.D. Walker and Sgt A. Thorp RAF killed, F/S R.I. Smylie PoW. P/O Jensen had had a crash in a #82 OTU Wellington Nov. 8, 1944. 8-9 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB752 VR-V was on an operation to Germany when it suffered an engine problem. The crew decided to continue the sortie and bombed the target before feathering the bad engine, but on returning a second engine caught fire and the aircraft was abandoned, Sgt E.K. McGrath landed behind enemy lines but evaded, F/O H.R. Cram, F/O W. Olenoski, F/O F.S. Crawford, WO2 C.S.A. Hanna, Sgt G.R. Hughes and F/S J.T.R.E. Case RAF safe (JDCAVE www.rafcommands.com for details). 8-9 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O E. Cole, was damaged in the tail by flak (R. Koval). 8-9 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O R. Lepp, suffered damage to it's bomb doors by flak (R. Koval). See March 5-6, below. 8-9 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O H. Bishop took some slight damage from flak, but also near-missed a Lancaster, returning with the other bombers trailing aerial wrapped around the propellors of 2 engines (R. Koval). 8-9 420 Sqn. Halifax III NR227 PT-V, F/O D.G. Hill, was attacked by 2 Ju 88 night fighters, one of which struck the bomber and damaged an elevator and bomb doors. In return one of the night fighters was claimed as probably destroyed (R. Koval, Awards). 8-9 425 Sqn. Halifax III, S/L R.D. Hemphill, had a propellor fly off on the run in to the target, but bombed and returned safely on three engines (R. Koval). 8-9 425 Sqn. Halifax III MZ419 KW-E, P/O S. Miller, was twice attacked by a Fw 190 Wilde Sau night fighter, claiming damage on it's second attack (R. Koval). 8-9 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L E.P. Acree, landed safely on three engines after losing one on the return flight (R. Koval). See June 4, below. 8-9 432 Sqn. had 3 Halifax VII bombers return early with engine and propellor problems, flown by P/O J.K. Bain, WO2 D. Brewer and S/L W.E. Miller, all landing safe on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 8-9 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/L A. Clarke, had an engine damaged by flak. It later seized and shed it's propellor, the crew making a safe landing on 3 engines (R. Koval). 8-9 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/S P. Neville, claimed damage to a Fw 190 that attacked them (R. Koval). 8-9 434 Sqn. Lancaster X KB826 WL-K, pilot F/L E. Yuill, gunners F/S L. Lawlor and F/S F. Saunders claimed a Ju 88 night fighter that attacked them as destroyed, exploded in flight (R. Koval). See April 16-17, below. 8-9 463 Sqn. RAAF Lancaster I NX584 JO-V was hit by flak on the run in to it's target in Germany and managed to bomb the target before the wing caught on fire. The pilot ordered the bailout, and rear gunner Sgt D. Broadhead RAF did so and reached Allied lines after a walk of 2 days, but the bomber and the remainder of the crew were lost without trace, F/O R.R.A. Adrian, WO1 J. Bomby, F/O T.H. Baulderstone RAAF, Sgt W.S. Philip RAF, F/S J.W. Hill RAAF and Sgt B. Blythe RAF missing.

Monday 9 Vienna falls to Sovietwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca troops (CJCA headline). Final Allied offensive in Italy begins. Request by German commander to stage delaying actions by retiring to defensive lines overruled by Hitler (Oxford).

In Dachau Concentration Camp Georg Elser, who had attempted to kill Hitler Nov. 8, 1939, was executed by the guards. He had been kept alive and subject to extreme torture and interrogation as the SS did not believe he had acted alone. They wanted to find evidence of a British conspiracy in the plot. His simple statement on his actions was "I wanted to prevent even greater bloodshed through my deed." (wikipedia). In return for it's declaration of war Allies recognize the Farrell/Peron government of Argentina (Oxford).

Bomber Command sends 40 Lancasters to Hamburg to destroy oil storage tanks, and 17 TALLBOY and GRAND SLAM equipped Lancasters of 617 Sqn. to attack U-boat pens in the city, 2 bombers lost (BC War Diaries). Re-equipped with Mustang IV aircraft 442 Sqn. begins long range escort operations of RAF bombers over Germany (442 SH).

Nearly 1,200 USAAF heavy bombers are targeting rail yards in southern Germany as part of plan to prevent reinforcement from the north (Zijlstra).

430 Sqn. deploys to Germany (RCAF Sqns.). 9 #56 OTU Tempest V EJ845 swung on take-off and struck a wind sock post, F/L I.W. Smith killed. F/L Smith may be the same as F/L I.W. Smith who force landed a 439 Sqn. Typhoon in France Aug. 8, 1944. 9 #57 OTU Spitfire Vb BL342 crashed practicing dive bombing, F/S H.C. Daer killed. 9* #8 OTU, Greenwood, NS, Mosquito (?) crashed, wireless operator air gunner F/O K.V. Dunning and his pilot killed (unit suspect, F/O Dunning buried in England). 9 #8 OTU, Greenwood, NS, Mosquito FB.VI HR495 had an engine burst into flames after take off. Instructor P/O J. Brydon took over and when the extinguisher failed to work turned back against regulations and belly landed at the airfield, he and his student safe. He was recommended for an AFC, but this was downgraded to a King's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air due to his decision to return to the airfield rather than landing straight ahead, which was the policy (H.A. Halliday, Not in the Face of the Enemy). 9 #111 OTU, Mitchell FV946 crashed onto the sea off the Bahamas, Sgt S.W. Hutchinson RAF, Sgt C.G. Acton RAF, F/O D.S. Dumble RAF, F/O D.P. Hallett RAF, Sgt T. Moule RAF, F/O E. Scott MiD RAF and F/S W. Wild RAF missing (H. Welting at www.rafcommands.com). 9 RAF Ferry Command Liberator C.I (LB.30) AM929 force landed at St. Simon De Bagot, Quebec, after an engine fire. The aircraft broke apart and most of the people on board, Ferry Captain G.I. Vorhees, Ferry Captain D. Mitchell, F/L H.M.S. Ferguson, Radio Officer E.A. Hunt, WO L.W. Smith RAF, F/O A.E. Colato RAF, LAC E.J. Ready RAF, Mr G.F. Wattier, Mr R. Hayes, Mr A.L. DeLisles, F/O A.D.C. Grimes-Graeme RAF, Sgt H.J. Lake RAF, Cpl L.H. Thomas RAF, Cpl F.G. Temlett RAF, LAC C.E. King RAF and F/S W.G. Forbes werewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca thrown clear with injuries, but two passengers, F/O J. Hall RAF and Mr. D.C. Morrison were killed. Sadly a fence which had been electrified by a downed power line later electrocuted a local civilian, Mr. R. Plouffe, who went to the scene to assist. This aircraft had been one of the initial LB-30 production batch and was one of those converted to a VLR (Very Long Range) anti-submarine patrol aircraft. With 120 Sqn. as aircraft "H" this Liberator was responsible for the sinking of 5 U-boats (U-597, U-661, U-132, U-194 and U-540), probably the most submarines sunk by a single aircraft (pepe34 www.rafweb.org, www.ww2talk.com).

9-10 Bomber Command sent 591 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to attack U-boat building yards and warships in Kiel. An accurate attack was made, the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer capsized, and the Admiral Hipper and Emden were badly damaged. Other operations include a diversionary raid by 22 Halifax aircraft as well as 44 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 37 to Plauen, 24 to Hamburg, 45 RCM, 37 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 98 GARDENING sorties off Kiel, a total of 906 sorties with 4 losses (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos on patrols over northern Europe (6th Year). 9-10 10 Sqn. Halifax III HX286 ZA-R was returning from an operation to Germany when it suffered an engine failure and an out of control propeller. When the engine caught on fire it was abandoned over Allied territory, Sgt F. Kristoff, F/S E.S. Beaumont RAF, Sgt R. Thomas RAF, Sgt T.V. Howell RAF, WO J.M. Vick RAAF, Sgt P. Paxton RAF and Sgt R.E. Howard RAF safe. 9-10 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L D.A. MacFayden DFC and F/L V.G. Shail on an INTRUDER sortie shot down 2 Ju 88 night fighters over their airfield in Germany (6th Year). 9-10 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O G.E. Reynolds, had the rear turret catch on fire on the return flight from a GARDENING sortie due to an electrical fault, but the fire was extinguished by the tail gunner F/S A.J. Horne and they landed safe at an emergency airfield (R. Koval, Awards). This action was cited in the award of a DFC to F/O Reynolds and a DFM to F/S Horne (Awards). 9-10 429 Sqn. Lancaster III PA272, F/L J. Brown, was struck by stray bullets that damaged the bomb bay and an engine, returning safe on 3 engines (R. Koval). 9-10 433 Sqn. Lancaster I NG441 BM-L, pilot F/L D.S. Rogers, gunners F/L Y.T. Ogle and F/S G.T. Watson claimed damage to a Fw 190 that attacked them (R. Koval). 9-10 622 Sqn. Lancaster I NG447 GI-U believed shot down by night fighter over Germany, F/O G.W. Gell, WO2 W.M.L. Green, F/L L.A.S. Hodge RAF, F/O A.S. Seymour RAF, Sgt W.A. Parsons RAF, Sgt S.G. Taylor RAF killed, Sgt W.E. Lewis RAF reported safe in hospital.

Tuesday 10 421 Sqn. moves from the to Germany (RCAF Sqns.). 414 Sqn. moves from Belgium to Germany (RCAF Sqns.).

Rail yards at Liepzig were targeted by 134 Lancasters, 90 Halifax and 6 Mosquitos with 2 losses (BC War Diaries).

Targets around Berlin were attacked by 1,232 heavy USAAF bombers, which lost 10 aircraft to Me 262 attacks,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca their highest loss to jet fighters in a single day (Zijlstra). An Ar 234 jet bomber flies a reconnaissance sortie from Norway over England and returns, the last Luftwaffe flight over England (wikipedia).

Mosquito B.IX LR503 GB-F "F for Freddie" makes it's 213th and final sortie (the previous night or this night?). Preparations are made to send this now famous aircraft to Canada for a War Bond drive (www.dunrobincastle.com).

Due to advancing Soviet forces the PoW camp at Westertimke is evacuated to Lubeck, including the airmen who had been marched from Stalag Luft III in January (Wee Gerry www.rafcommands.com). See April 19, below.

Portions of a Balloon Bomb were recovered near South Indian Lake, Manitoba (Mikesh). 10 47 Sqn. Beaufighter TF.X KW315 crashed out of control just after take-off at Kumbirgram, India, due to a problem with the tail trim (Litcham_Lad www.rafcpmmands.com). F/L H.D. Mackey and his navigator F/L A. Smith RAF were killed. 10 unknown unit (poss. assigned to Station Flight RAF Biggin Hill) Spitfire (possibly ML232) collided with a USAAF C-46 44-77604 aircraft over France and crashed, killing G/C G.L. Raphael DSO DFC with 2 Bars MiD RAF (Can.) and 4 USAAF personnel, 2Lt W. Blanton, 2Lt K.W. DeCourval, Sgt M.E. Warren and Cpl D.D. Dineen (P. McMillan & Leendert, forum.12oclockhigh.net). G/C Raphael had served in several squadrons in France and England, was a night fighter ace, and was AOC RAF Biggin Hill at the time of his loss. (note J. Baugher dates this incident occurring April 11th). 10 405 Sqn. Lancaster III ME315 LQ-K was attacked from below by a rocket propelled Me 163, either with cannons or rockets, which shot off the rear turret and wounded the mid-upper gunner. Air gunner F/L M.L. Mellstrom DFC was killed in the missing turret, he is buried in Germany. The Me 163 then dove to attack the bombers again, but was intercepted and shot down by a Mustang III KH557 SK-Z flown by F/O J. Haslope RAAF. It is reported he overstressed the airframe in the dive to catch the rocket fighter, and the Mustang was written off after landing. On the Halifax the pilot S/L C.H. Mussells managed to keep control of the badly damaged bomber, and he flew back to England where he ordered a partial bailout before making a successful landing at an emergency airfield with the wounded gunner, WO2 J.L. Larrimore, F/O J.P. Dooley RAF and P/O P. Young RAF bailed out safe, S/L Mussells, P/O E.L. Tempest RAF and P/O C. Ryan RAF safe with the wounded F/O R.T. Dale in the aircraft (H.A. Halliday and Steve B. at discussion page on this event at www.rafcommands.com). 10 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XI MK844 caught fire on a patrol over Holland, F/O V. Smith bailed out safe. 10 415 Sqn. Halifax III NA185 6U-B lost on a daylight operation over Germany, P/O M.J. Burns, P/O D.L. Lorenz, F/O L.M. Spry, F/S R.D. Teevin, F/O L.E. Veitch and Sgt J.M. Andrews RAF killed, F/O R.S. Evans missing. 10 419 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O J. MacNeil, damaged in the nose and a wing by flak (R. Koval). 10 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/S J. Beaudoin, was hit by flak that knocked out the oxygen system and punched a large hole in the wireless compartment (R. Koval). See April 18, below. 10 426 Sqn. Halifaxwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca VII, P/O R.A. Reith, was damaged in the bomb bay, tail and a wing by flak (R. Koval). 10 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O D.P. Varden, had damage to a wing and aileron by flak (R. Koval, Awards). See June 30, below. 10 429 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O D. Faulkner, was damaged by flak in one wing (R. Koval). 10 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, P/O A.M. McNeil, was damaged by flak in the tail and one wing (R. Koval). 10 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O R. Martindale, was damaged in the fuselage by flak (R. Koval). 10 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O J.S. Paul, received numerous holes from flak in the wings and fuselage (R. Koval). See April 16, below. 10 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O J. Kinniburgh, was hit in the fuselage by flak (R. Koval). 10 433 Sqn. Lancaster I PB903 BM-F shot down by flak over Germany on a daylight operation and crashed, F/O R.J. Grisdale, P/O J.M. Hirak, F/O W.G. McLeod, P/O D.W. Roberts, F/S F.G. Seeley, F/O I.B. Zierler and Sgt W.A.J. Thurston RAF killed. 10 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L D. Milloy, was unable to bomb as the bomb load hung up over the target (R. Koval). 10 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L H. Hooper, was damaged in the nose by flak that also wounded the bomb aimer, P/O W. Roothan (R. Koval). 10 USAAF 44 ADG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35386 damaged taking off from Merville, France (later an RCAF NATO base) (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 10 unknown unit, Cpl Galifreda Alice Petre Clark RCAF WD (UK) died in Canada.

10-11 Bomber Command sent 307 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos to attack the rail yards at Plauen, which also destroyed part of the town. A further 76 Lancasters and 19 Mosquitos attacked rail yards at Leipzig. Other sorties include 77 Mosquitos to Berlin, 21 to Chemnitz, 7 to Beyreuth, 53 RCM and 26 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 594 sorties with the loss of 9 aircraft (BC War Diaries). Only 5 Mosquito patrols were made by 418 Sqn. on this night (6th Year). 10-11 44 Sqn. Lancaster III ND631 KM-B lost over Germany, WO2 A.F.D. Turner, F/O P.W. Kennedy RAF, P/O G.C.R. Woodhouse RAF, Sgt E.P.P. Olson RAF, F/S J.E. Short RAF, F/S C. McBurney RAF and F/S A.E. Bull RAF killed, F/O W.J. Jones RAF PoW. 10-11 83 Sqn. Lancaster III ME423 OL-C was hit by flak and set on fire over Germany before being abandoned, F/O F.J. Naylor RAF is thought to have slipped from his parachute harness and was killed, P/O W.J. Ryekman, F/L D.W.R. Shand RAF, F/S W.J. Newling RAF, F/L W.W. Simpson RAF, F/O A. McDonald RAF, WO E.M. Annear RAAF and F/S P. McHale RAF safe. 10-11 207 Sqn. Lancaster III ME472 EM-O was hit by flak and badly damaged on the run-in to the target. The bomber turned away and then made another approach, dropping it's bombs but was again hit by flak. With damaged engines and the mid-upper turret out of operation F/L P.M. Anderson DFC kept the aircraft in the air for an hour until overheating engines forced a bailout. He then held the aircraft until his crew, Sgt E. Nichol RAF, F/O C.M. Hewett RAF, F/O K.A. Larcombe RAF, Sgt C.V. Collins RAF, Sgt E.J. Matthews RAF and Sgt J. Pearl RAF, had bailed out safely, but he was unable to get out in time and was killed. 10-11 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/O D.J. McConnell and F/L M. Kazakoff damaged an enemy aircraft on an INTRUDER over Germany on the last sortie of their tour (6th Year). 10-11 406 Sqn. Mosquitowww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca NF.30, F/L P.E. Etienne and F/L W.A. Boak on an INTRUDER shot down a He 111 and a Ju 88 (6th Year). 10-11 619 Sqn. Lancaster I SW254 PG-S lost over Germany, F/L A.E. McMorran, F/L B.A. Williamson, F/L F. Jackson RAF, F/O F.M. Jackson RAAF, P/O J.W. Chambers RAF and P/O C.T.W. Perring RAF killed, F/S H.J. Burke RAF PoW. F/L McMorran's brother, F/L G.M.S. McMorran, had been killed flying with the same squadron March 8, above. 10-11 625 Sqn. Lancaster I PD204 CF-P2 abandoned over France after engine failure and flak damage on an operation to Germany, F/O J.F. Mooney, F/O H.H. Harding, F/O D. Rutherford RAF, Sgt R.K. Colmand RAF, Sgt Fairhurst RAF, Sgt R.A. Skinner RAF, Sgt W.A. Trundle RAF and Sgt H. Morris RAF safe. 10-11 630 Sqn. LAncaster I ME739 LE-T lost over Germany, Sgt J.R. Dicken RAF killed when his parachute caught fire, Sgt J.R. Hogan, Sgt R.W. Beardwell RAF, F/O A.V. Cameron RAAF and Sgt G.W.S. Hooper RAF PoW, Sgt G.G.E. Bourner RAF and F/S G. Gould RAF evaded (O. Clutton-Brock). In TSGNO Sgt Hogan is listed as F/S J.R. Hogan, and in W.R. Chorley as an RAAF member, but Clutton-Brock corrects both these entries.

Wednesday 11 British carrier force flies strikes on Formosa (wikipedia).

Allied forces capture Buchenwald Concentration Camp (Oxford). Major General George Vanier DSO MC & Bar, Canadian Representative to and other Occupied European countries (and later Canada's Governor General) tours the camp after it's capture. A long time proponent of relaxing Canada's restrictive immigration laws, he later gives an interview on CBC expressing the shame he felt that Canada, like other countries, ignored the evidence of what had been going on in occupied Europe (wikipedia).

Chile declares war on Japan (wikipedia).

Bomber Command sent 129 Halifax and 14 Lancaster Pathfinders to attack the rail yards at Nuremburg, and 100 Halifax with 14 Lancaster and 8 Mosquito Pathfinders to the rail yards at Beyreuth, both making accurate attacks without loss (BC War Diaries).

Clear conditions allowed 1,300 B-17 and B-24 bombers to bomb numerous targets in Germany without loss (Zijlstra).

411 Sqn., 416 Sqn. and 443 Sqn. move from Holland to Germany (RCAF Sqns.).

At RCAF Station Trenton the planting of 150 oak trees, donated by the Marquess of Camden as a token of friendship between England and Canada, is begun, known now as the Trenton Oaks (E.A. Johnson et al). 11 203 Sqn. Liberator, F/L W. McKay, badly damaged attacking Japanese shipping off the Nicobar Islands. On return to Ceylon without brakes they used the recommended emergency braking system devised on the spur of the moment in a similar emergency by a USAAF crew in Europe, attaching parachutes to the waist gun mounts and deploying them as improvised "dragwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca chutes" to stop the bomber overrunning the runway. 11 144 Sqn Beaufighter X RD436, possibly PL-X, crashed in the sea outbound on an anti-shipping strike to Norway, F/O H.E.L. Chapman and 1 crew missing. F/O R.G. Lowen RAF is listed as missing from 144 Squadron on this date (www.britmodeller.com). 11 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe RM904 hit by flak and crashed in Holland, P/O G.F. Peterson killed. 11 USAAF C-47A 42-100498 damaged in a take off accident at Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR).

11-12 Bomber Command LNSF sent 107 Mosquitos to attack Berlin in three waves plus 8 more to Munich, with the loss of 1 bomber (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos attacking vehicles in the areas of Bremen, Hanover and Berlin (6th Year). 11-12 163 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB502 "U" lost over Germany on a bombing sortie to Berlin, F/O W. Houghton RAF and F/S L.A. Stegman RAAF killed. 11-12 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, Lt S.W. Filkosky (USAAF?) and F/L A.R.W. Lasser damaged an unidentified aircraft landing at an airstrip in Germany (6th Year). 11-12 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L R.D. Schultz DFC and F/O J.S. Christie DFC RAF, shot down a Ju 188 near Hanover (6th Year).

Thursday 12 US President Roosevelt dies, succeeded by Vice-President Truman.

US forces capture Schweinfurt (Zijlstra). Further eastern advance of US forces towards Dresden halted to await Soviet advance (Oxford).

412 Sqn. moves to a base in Germany (RCAF Sqns.). 12 #1672 Conversion Unit Mosquito FB.VI HR572 crashed off Cochin Harbour in India after an engine problem, F/L R.B. Ashley RCAF (USA) missing. 12 93 Sqn. Spitfire HF.IX PT929 lost attacking a field gun in Italy, P/O J.A. Allen killed. 12 241 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MK859 hit by flak and went into the sea off Italy, P/O P.J. McNair missing (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 12 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB148 XD-L damaged in an accident and written off, F/O T.L. Parsons RAAF and his crewman safe (www.dehavilland.ukf.net, www.aussiemossie.asn.au). 12 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TB327 was on an armed reconnaissance when it was hit by flak and crashed, F/O T.P. Dollery killed. 12 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TB273 was on an armed reconnaissance when it was hit by flak and damaged, F/O M.F. Scott managed to return and land safely. 12 #1 OADU Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB564 overshot a single engined landing in England following an engine failure and written off (www.dehavilland.ukf.net, www.rafdavidstowmoor.org).

12-13 Bomber Command sent 97 Mosquitos to bomb Berlin and 10 to Munich with 13 INTRUDER Mosquitos, without loss (BC War Diaries). A bridge was destroyed and vehicles attacked by 12 Mosquito patrols of 418 Sqn. from the north German coast to Berlin (6th Year). 12-13 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, S/L D.B. Freeman and F/L J.J. Greene carried out an Intruder over Czechoslovakiawww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca where they attacked aircraft on the ground, damaging what were thought to be 3 He 177 bombers (6th Year).

Friday 13 Second series of strikes on Formosa flown by RN carriers (wikipedia).

Bomber Command sent 34 TALLBOY Lancasters of 9 and 617 squadrons to Swinemünde to attack the cruisers Prinz Eugen and Lützow, but turn back due to cloud (BC War Diaries). 13 1840 Sqn., HMS Indomitable, Western Pacific, Hellcat II JX814 shot down in error by naval anti-aircraft guns when chasing a Japanese aircraft attacking naval ships just before sunrise, Lt.(A) R.C. Thurston RCNVR missing (www.naval-history.net). 13 238 Sqn. Dakota IV KN298 lost in India after breaking up in turbulence, F/O R.E.C. Edwards, 2 crew and 30 soldiers killed (J. Baugher). Cpl H.W. Leach RAF, LAC W.R. Fletcher RAF, LAC W. Bland RAF Regiment, LAC W. Langan RAF, Cpl W.E. Mead Royal Armoured Corps, Sgt B.G. Davies RA and Lance Cpl J.A. Sacker West African Engineers may also have been killed in this accident. 13 175 Sqn. Typhoon Ib SW475 shot down attacking guns in Germany, F/L L.H. Parker DFC killed. F/L Parker had been hit by flak in a Typhoon Aug. 7, 1944 attacking armoured vehicles in France with 184 Sqn. and evaded. 13 #10 B&G School, Mount Pleasant, PEI, Bolingbroke IV.T #9196 crashed offshore near Aylesbury, PEI, drogue operator LAC W.R. Eaton, LAC(AG) J.P. Lowney, LAC(AG) H.F. McBride and Sgt J.A. Thomson missing (R.W.R. Walker).

13-14 Bomber Command attacked U-boat production yards at Kiel with 377 Lancasters and 105 Halifax bombers, but they made a poor attack and bombs fell in the town, killing 50 people. Other operations included 20 Halifax and 8 Mosquitos making a diversionary attack, 87 Mosquitos to Hamburg, 20 to Stralsund and 12 to Reisa, 62 RCM, 55 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 109 GARDENING sorties off Kiel and in the Kattegat, a total of 855 sorties with 3 losses (BC War Diaries). Bad weather forced many #6 Group bombers to land at alternate airfields (R. Koval). 13-14 408 Sqn. Halifax VII PN225 EQ-J "Cradle Crew", F/O F.F.E. Reain, gunner F/S L. Morgan claimed damage on a Ju 88 that attacked them, last seen with an engine on fire (R. Koval, T. Palmer). F/O Reain possibly same as F/O F.F.E. Reain MiD who evaded after being shot down January 20-21, 1944. 13-14 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB866 VR-M lost without trace on an operation to Germany, P/O W. Henderson, P/O G.J. Jones, P/O G.A. Livingston, F/O C.R. Loft, P/O C.C. MacLaren, P/O E.R. Wightman and F/O D.W. Wincott missing. 13-14 420 Sqn. Halifax III, F/O H. Fawcett, lost an engine outbound but bombed and returned safely on three engines (R. Koval). 13-14 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O J. Stuart, was damaged in the fuselage and tail by flak on a GARDENING sortie of Germany (R. Koval). 13-14 426 Sqn. Halifax VII, P/O A.T. Wilkinson, found itself ahead of the bomber stream due to incorrect winds. Circling back to get on course an engine burst into flames and the intercom failed. The fire was controlled, and the intercom fixed before any crew bailed out. With one enginewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca out the bomber was at a lower altitude on the bomb run when it was "coned" by searchlights and had to take evasive action, which toppled the gyro-compass and forced them to circle the target for a second bomb run. The compass problem led to them being off course and after a long flight, landing at a diversion airfield on their second attempt, a long trip (Lancaster, C. et al). 13-14 427 Sqn. Lancaster I RA539 ZL-O, pilot F/O S. Matheson, were attacked by two Fw 190 fighters, gunners F/O E.R.J. Dupuis and F/O K. Reed shooting down one in flames (R. Koval). 13-14 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB784 NA-K was damaged by flak outbound, wounding the pilot, F/O D. Payne. The crew kept on and bombed the target, but were hit again on the way home. Over the sea the engines began to fail one after another and the aircraft was forced to ditch where P/O A.E. Vardy was lost and is missing. The rest of the crew, F/O Payne, F/O G.C. Riley, F/L V. Banks, Sgt T.F. Sinclair, WO E.V. Miller and F/S E.R.O. Casey, were able to get into their life rafts. Under the command of F/O Payne until he lost consciousness, and then F/O Riley, the crew survived for 12 days before drifting ashore in Germany and becoming PoW. F/O Payne was awarded the DFC and F/O Riley was awarded an MBE for working to save their crew. This sortie was detailed in The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year. 13-14 428 Sqn. Lancaster X, WO2 R. Quinn, had an engine knocked out by flak, but returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 13-14 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB816 NA-E was landing at a diversion airfield returning from an operation over Germany when it overshot the runway and was wrecked, F/L E.P. Acres and his crew safe. 13-14 429 Sqn. Lancaster, F/L D.T. Magee, was hit in a wing and engine by flak, returning safely on 3 engines (R. Koval, Awards). 13-14 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L D.A. Crawford, was landing at an alternate airfield when a tire blew, leaving the bomber blocking the runway until the tire could be replaced (R. Koval).

Saturday 14 Canadian First Army takes control of military operations in Holland (wikipedia). Canadian soldiers reach the Dutch North Sea coast and capture Leeuwarden (Times).

Having received new directives to support the ground offensive the USAAF sent 1,200 heavy bombers to Royan in France where German forces were still holding out. Flak was light but 2 B-24s were lost and 3 force landed after being hit by bombs (Zijlstra). Again many French civilians were killed in the bombing (wikipedia).

418 Sqn., two Mosquitos on a DAY RANGER attacked and destroyed 3 Ju 52/3m magnetic mine sweeping aircraft and a fourth Ju 52/3m transport over the Kattegat before destroying 3 more aircraft on the ground in Denmark (418 SH).

The German cruisers in Swinemünde are again saved from 20 TALLBOY Lancasters by cloud cover (BC War Diaries).

#2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, #2 SFTS, Ottawa, Ontario, #9 Bombing and Gunnery School, Montwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Joli, Quebec, #10 SFTS, Dauphin, Manitoba and #19 SFTS, Vulcan, Alberta ceased operations on this date (Chris www.rafcommands.com and http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 14 47 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR574 shot down in Burma attacking a petrol dump, S/L A.E. Scott was badly wounded and ordered his navigator F/O E. Fisher (RAF?) to bail out. He followed, but he was too low and was killed. 14 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIV RM932 (?) was hit by flak attacking enemy transport, Squadron commanding officer S/L D.C. Laubman DFC and Bar bailed out and was taken PoW. RCAF Sqns. states he evaded, and this was his last sortie before taking command of 421 Sqn. S/L Laubman returned to his squadron within a week in a Kubelwagen (a small German military utility vehicle based on the Volkswagen). He left the RCAF after the war, but re-joined later and retired as a Lt. General (Our Canada profile, 2017). 14 429 Sqn. F/O P.B. Crosswell, PoW, and an RAF PoW died after being shot trying to escape from Stalag Luft IIIA. He had been taken prisoner April 22-23, 1944. When the elderly guards were asked by other prisoners why they had shot at the two airmen with the war almost over, one of them broke into tears and pointed out if they hadn't fired they would have been shot instead (alieneyes www.rafcommands.com). 14 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MN989 returned from a bombing sortie and did a victory roll over the airfield. The aircraft crashed, killing F/O J.G.S.J. Livingstone. 14 #22 OTU bomb aimer F/S G.B. Stevens accidentally walked into a moving propellor when debarking from an aircraft and was killed. 14 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70260 had it's second accident in England. Repaired, it was later sold to the BATA Shoe Company in Czechoslovakia before flying for the Czechoslovakian State Airline, one of several Norseman to fly in that country (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

14-15 Bomber Command sent 500 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos to attack the rail yard and military barracks at Potsdam, outside of Berlin, the first attack of the war on this city. Both targets were hit, but bombs also fell in the town and in Berlin. Casualties on the ground are believed to have been high as the citizens of Potsdam had never been previously attacked, and were used to being spectators to attacks on Berlin. This was the last major attack of the war by Bomber Command. Other operations included 24 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos making a diversionary attack, 62 Mosquitos to Berlin, 10 to Wismar, 54 RCM and 50 SERRATE/INTRUDERS, a total of 716 sorties with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 22 Mosquitos harassing communications on the Dutch-German border areas (6th Year). 14-15 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L P.E. Etienne and F/L W.A. Boak on an INTRUDER sortie over Germany made attacks on 5 unidentified aircraft without result before shooting down a Ju 88 (6th Year). 14-15 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, S/L S.E. Murray and F/L J.L. Ireland witnessed F/L Etienne and F/L Boak's victory before attacking and damaging another aircraft in the same area (6th Year).

Sunday 15 Bergen-Belsen concentration camp liberated by British and Canadian units (wikipedia). It is believed 34,000 prisoners (including Anne Frank) had died in this camp since January, andwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca despite food and medical help another 13,000 freed inmates died here in the next 10 weeks (Oxford). Three Canadian War Artists, including Lt. D. Alex Colville, visited the camp after the liberation to document the horrors found there (Alex Colville CBC Obituary 2013, http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/850:alex-colville/). Members of #143 Wing (RCAF) Typhoon bombers, stationed nearby, also visited the camp during the month (6th Year).

Arnhem is captured by Canadian forces (wikipedia). British and US armies in Italy link up, German defences south of the shattered (Oxford). 15 208 Sqn., Italy, F/O R.M. English RCAF (USA) was on a tactical reconnaissance in Spitfire LF.IX MH423 when he reported on radio that he was landing in enemy territory. F/O English was killed, no details. 15 442 Sqn. Mustang IV KH764 was escorting bombers when it vanished in cloud, F/L J.N.G. Dick missing. F/L Dick had survived a crash landed a Spitfire in Holland after a mid-air collision Sept. 22, 1944. 15 613 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI HR220 lost over Germany on an INTRUDER sortie, P/O H.A. Mitchell and F/O R.E. Farrow DFC RAF killed (aviation-safety.net). 15 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35337 damaged taking off from an airfield in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 15 USAAF Base Namao, Alberta, Search & Rescue section Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70535 damaged taking off from Charlie Lake, Fort St. John, BC (AAIR).

15-16 Bomber Command had 106 Mosquito bombers over Berlin, 12 to other targets, 27 RCM and 19 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols with 1 loss (BC War Diaries). The area from Berlin to Kiel was patrolled by 12 Mosquitos of 418 Sqn. (6th Year).

Monday 16 Soviet army begins final offensive on Berlin on a 45 mile front. Over 7,000 aircraft used in support. Russian air traffic control set up to co-ordinate ground attack and dive bombers over the city, and dispatching aircraft to attack strong points from a "cab- rank" of available aircraft as required by radio (Passingham & Klepacki). Stalin's plans for the Russian offensive to occupy northern Germany and Denmark would be thwarted by unexpected German resistance in Berlin, allowing to occupy these zones at Churchill's urging (Oxford).

Soviet forces free Allied PoWs held at Colditz, while British forces liberate PoWs left behind at Stalag XI-B at Fallingbostel (most having been forced marched out 10 days before (wikipedia).

Swinemünde (now Swinoujscie, Poland) was finally attacked by 18 TALLBOY equipped Lancasters of 617 Sqn. which sank the cruiser Lützow at it's moorings for the loss of 1 Lancaster and 13 more damaged by flak (BC War Diaries). Escort for this attack was providedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca by Mustang fighters from 611 and 442 RCAF squadrons. On the way out 442 Squadron Mustangs investigated a group of aircraft that turned out to be Soviet Yak fighters escorting two Il-2 Sturmoviks, the first encounter between Russian and Commonwealth air forces (Adco and J. Melson at www.rafcommands.com). In 2020 one of the Tallboy bombs was discovered unexploded imbedded in the bottom of the canal where the ships had been moored, and it detonated during attempts to defuse it, fortunately without casualties (BBC Report WW2 'earthquake' bomb explodes in Poland during attempt to defuse it, October 13, 2020). Canadians capture Groningen, ending battle of north Holland (CJCA headline). Harlingen, Leeuwarden and Groningen in Holland occupied by Canadian Army (wikipedia).

USAAF declares an end to strategic bombing in Europe, and switches all operations in support of tactical objectives, mostly in eastern and southern Germany (Zijlstra).

German passenger ship Goya carrying wounded German military and civilian refugees torpedoed and sunk in Baltic with the loss of an estimated 7,000 people (wikipedia).

Off Halifax HMCS Esquimalt torpedoed and sunk, 44 killed (Polsson).

The Royal Norwegian Air Force base "Little Norway", at Muskoka, Ontario, closed on this date, having trained 677 aircrew and 2,646 other trades, all paid for by the Norwegian Merchant Marine ships operating with the Allies (G. Beauchamp). At the nearby recruit training camp a lodge built by these airmen for recreation is still in use as a summer camp (G. Ruickbie, CATP Museum Contact Newsletter Nov. 2012). 16 857 Sqn, FAA Avenger II JZ424 off HMS Indomitable hit by flak over Hegina airfield, in the in support of the invasion of Okinawa Sub Lt(A) S.C. Barnett RNVR killed, Lt(A) D.W. Baker MiD RCNVR and PO Airman L.A. Mellard RN missing (www.fleetairarmarchive.net, www.naval-history.net). 16 417 Sqn. Spitfire IXb MJ293 shot down by flak attacking trenches in Italy, F/O J.T. Rose killed. 16 53 Sqn. Liberator VI EW303 ditched just off the coast of Scotland, LACW Winifred Hutchinson WAAF killed, F/L T.B. Atkinson, F/S G.L. George, F/O D.J.M. Robertson, F/O H. Brown RAF, F/O H. Lewis RAF and WO W. Parry RAF missing, LACW M. MacLean WAAF was found badly injured by a rescue boat and survived (R. McNeill www.rafcommands.com). 16 #127 Wing RCAF (403, 416, 421 and 443 Squadrons) Spitfires flew 176 sorties over Germany on this date and attacked a number of targets including several parked locomotives and freight cars, 2 trains, a large amount of motorized and horse drawn vehicles, an airfield, an artillery position and some tanks, which is detailed in The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year, all without loss 16 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ390 crash landed in Germany due to engine failure, F/L L.W. Woods safe. 16 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX, F/L J. MacKay claimed damage on 3 Ar 234 aircraft taking off from an airfield in Germany before being driven off by flak (6th Year). 16 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe RM843 missing on a fighter sweep over Germany, F/L J.E. Maurice evaded or unrecordedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca PoW. 16 403 Sqn. Spitfires, S/L H.P.M. Zary, F/L R. Morris and F/L E.O. Doyale claim 3 Ar 234 jet bombers damaged (H.A. Halliday). See February 11, 1946. 16 408 Sqn. pilot F/L G.R. Large, taken PoW June 13, 1943, was last seen in hospital in Hamburg April 15, but reported dead on this date, died while being operated on for an appendectomy (O. Clutton-Brock; http://aircrewremembered.com). 16 432 Sqn. Halifax VII NP805 QO-J was taking off on a cross country exercise when the pilot F/O W.H. Porritt discovered the rudder and elevators control locks were still in place. The aircraft swung off the runway and one of the landing gear wheels cut through the roof of a small building where LAC J.D.M. Bedard and armorer LAC R.F. Charbonneau were sunbathing, killing them. F/O Porritt was killed in the aircraft, and F/S K. Davidson was badly burned trying to release him from the wreckage. The rest of the crew, F/O L. Jorgenson, F/S J. Gray, F/S S. Reid, F/S T. Cohen and P/O J. Burns, survived with injuries. F/S Davidson was in hospital for 2 years for treatment of his burns. TSGNO contains an account of this accident by F/O Jorgenson. 16 432 Sqn. Halifax VII PN235 QO-S was taking off on an air test when it veered off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed, F/O J.S. Paul and his crew safe. This occurred just 3 hours after the previous accident. 16 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MP192 F3-J hit by flak over Germany, F/O J.K. Brown bailed out and PoW. 16 #45 Group, RAF Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KA968 lost over the Atlantic, F/O W. Wielondek PAF and F/O M. Zajac PAF missing. 16 USAAF AT-11 (Kansan) 42-37648 of the Goose Bay station crash landed at Mingan, Quebec (AAIR).

16-17 Bomber Command sent 222 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos to attack the rail yards at Pilsen, and another 167 Lancasters with 8 Mosquitos to Schwandorf, both making accurate attacks. Other operations include 19 Halifax and 4 Mosquito Pathfinders to attack an airfield at Gablingen, 64 Mosquitos to Berlin, 23 to Munich, 57 RCM and 35 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 610 sorties with 5 losses (BC War Diaries). The airfield attack was the first in a series designed to prevent the escape of German military commanders and political leaders to other locations. These were the last night operations made by #6 Group RCAF (6th Year). 418 Sqn. had 12 Mosquitos on patrol over Germany (6th Year). 16-17 156 Sqn. Lancaster III PB403 ZN-K collided with 171 Sqn. Halifax (below) and crashed in Germany, P/O H.W. Elliott, F/O J. Jamieson RAF, Sgt F.J. Cuthill RAF, F/O F.W. O'Reilly RAF, P/O F.L.J. Ponting RAF, F/S D.E. Smith RAF and Sgt E. Wilson RAF killed. 16-17 171 Sqn. Halifax III LK874 6Y-C on a Bomber Support operation (MANDREL/WINDOW?) collided with 156 Sqn. Lancaster (above) and crashed in Germany, P/O R.A. Brown, F/L P.S. Jennings RNZAF, F/S G.V. Knowler RAF, F/S C.T. Jones RAF, Sgt A. Storey RAF, F/O E.G. Draper (special equipment operator), F/S F. Dyson RAF and Sgt R. Sperling RAF killed. 16-17 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI, S/L J.P. Coyne DFC and F/O D.L. Figgis attacked a train in northern Germany, leaving it on fire (6th Year). 16-17 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O H. Mann, was not able to bomb as the bombs hung up over the target (R. Koval). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 16-17 427 Sqn. Lancaster, F/L W. Towne, was forced to return early with one engine out. The bomber landed long and overran the runway, going through a fence before stopping (R. Koval). 16-17 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/O E. Norrington, was unable to release it's bombs over the target when they hung-up (R. Koval, W.E. Heron). 16-17 433 Sqn. Lancaster, P/O J. Forbes, had an engine catch fire on the return flight but landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 16-17 434 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L E. Yuill, lost an engine on the return flight but landed safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). Tuesday 17 Canadian 1st Army clears Apeldoorn (CJCA headline).

Beginning at 0900 on this day and finishing just after midnight of April 18th (41 hours) the 18 Dakotas of 437 Sqn. flew 205,000 lbs (93,000 kg) of fuel, 80,000 lbs (36,300 kg) of ammunition, 681 released PoWs, 76 wounded and 2 passengers to and from Europe, in 310 hours and 25 minutes of flying time, one crew (F/L J.W. McGregor, F/O L.E. Cox, WO T.W. Connolly and F/S E.S. Montgomery) flying 12 flights totalling 21 hours out of 37½ on duty (6th Year).

At RAF East Kirby in England a Lancaster bomber was being prepared for an operation when it caught on fire, then exploded which triggered more explosions. Five Lancasters were destroyed and 14 more were damaged, as well as buildings in the area. Four airmen were killed and several airmen and civilian fire fighters were injured in this accident which kept the station out of service for over a day while fires were put out and scattered bombs rendered safe.

After a few weeks of no activity RCAF scrambles for Balloon Bombs began again, with 9 from this date until the end of the month (Joost). A Balloon Bomb was reported at Boundary Bay, BC, and a nearly complete one with incendiaries was recovered at Mirica Lake, BC (Mikesh). Another was photographed down at sea near Sandspit, BC (Joost). 17 263 Sqn. Typhoon Ib MN705 or MN706 hit by flak attacking shipping in Holland, F/L N.P.C. Woodward missing. N.L.R. Franks notes that his father, Capt. N.P. Woodward Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps, also died on active service March 12, 1944, in England. 17 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXb ML342 or MJ794 was strafing a train in Germany and was engulfed in the blast when it exploded, F/O L.A. Dunn missing. 17 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM295 ran out of fuel and crash landed in Germany, F/O W.V.J. Burdis died of his injuries. 17 442 Sqn. Mustang IV aircraft flown by F/O L.H. Wilson and F/O R.J. Robillard shared a Fw 190 destroyed, and F/L W.V. Shenk claimed another probably destroyed near Berlin (6th Year). 17 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KA970 belly landed at Prestwick, Scotland after an internal explosion, Ferry Pilot A.G. Sims (UK) and his navigator safe (www.dehavilland.ukf.net, robstitt at www.rafcommands.com). 17 #10 (BR) Sqn. Liberatorwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca GR.VI #3710 was landing at Gander, Newfoundland, when a tire burst and the aircraft swung into a snowbank and was damaged beyond repair (R.W.R. Walker).

17-18 The rail yards at Cham were taken out by a force of 90 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos. Other operations included 61 Mosquitos to Berlin and 43 more to the airfield at Ingoldstadt, 28 RCM and 40 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, a total of 273 sorties with 2 Mosquitos lost over Berlin (BC War Diaries), which were the last Bomber Command bombers to be lost over the City (W.R. Chorley). Bremen and Lubeck were patrolled by 12 Mosquitos from 418 Sqn. (6th Year). 17-18 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB449 4H-V swung on take off for a bombing sortie over Germany, F/L S.A. Nolan RAF and P/O W.J.C. Green RAF evacuated the burning aircraft. The fire and later explosion of the bomb load held several other Mosquitos from taking off that night.

Wednesday 18 665 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF deploys from England to Holland (RCAF Sqns.).

German forces surrounded in the Ruhr surrender. US Army units cross the Czechoslovakian border (D. Sommerville). Canadian Army reaches the Zuider Zee in Holland (P. Cornwell). 2nd Tactical Air Force Typhoons were flying operations attacking German forces on the Dutch island of Texel, in support of Georgian soldiers who had rebelled against the Germans there (P. Cornwell). They also attacked and damaged a naval vessel anchored off Wilhelmshaven (6th Year). See May 7, below.

The naval port, airfield and town on the island of Heligoland were bombed by 617 Lancasters, 332 Halifax and 20 Mosquitos which largely destroyed the facilities with the loss of 3 bombers (BC War Diaries). 442 Squadron Mustangs were patrolling over the German/Danish border as part of the escort for this operation (6th Year). The following night the islands were evacuated (Skipper at http://www.ww2f.com). 18 76 Sqn. Halifax VI RG622 MP-I swung on take off and caught fire, F/S J. Krochak, WO R. Holmes RAF, Sgt W. Blatchford RAF, F/L F.A.J. Haskett RAF, Sgt J. Rutherford RAF, Sgt S.G. Potts RAF and Sgt G.M. Jones RAF managed to evacuate the bomber before the bomb load exploded and were safe. 18 408 Sqn. WO1 A.N. Pixley, captured July 10, 1943 in the loss of Halifax II JB922, died in hospital as a PoW. 18 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP776 EQ-R shot down by flak over the sea on a daylight sortie, F/L A.J. Cull and F/O D.M. Miller killed, F/O F.C. Hill, P/O C.H. White, P/O R.W. Williams, P/O H.R. Wood and Sgt E.E. Sykes RAF missing. 18 412 Sqn. Spitfire IX MK898 crash landed in the front lines due to a fuel problem, F/L R.B. Barker returned safe after an eventful meeting with escaping Polish PoWs (obit. Globe and Mail, Nov. 10, 2012). 18 420 Sqn. Halifax III NP946 PT-L crashed into the sea outbound on a daylight sortie. A USAAF Rescue Squadron OA-10 and an RAF Warwick were soon at the location, but despite aircraft dropped airborne lifeboats there were no survivors. F/S G.F. Montgomery, F/O D.F. Ross killed, www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caP/O W.J. Dunnigan, F/S R.A. McDonald, Sgt L.F. Murphy, F/O D.M. Neilson, F/S D.W. Newman missing. 18 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/S J. Beaudoin, lost an engine outbound, but continued to bomb the target and returned safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 18 426 Sqn. Halifax VII PN226 OW-N was heavily damaged over the target by an explosion (possibly from falling bombs colliding or an exploding aircraft), but managed to return to England and land, P/O J.A. Whipple, F/S E.W. Gaffray, F/O S.T. Pyke, F/S M.M. Johnson, F/S R.J. Murray, F/S H.F. West and Sgt E.H. Haughton RAF safe. 18 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/O S. Pepler, was damaged in a wing and the fuselage by flak (R. Koval). 18 442 Sqn. Mustang IV KH791 WH-C lost over Germany, Wing Leader Lt Col W.H. Christie RAF DSO DFC (Norway) bailed out after his engine failed and PoW (Stein Meum, www.rafcommands.com; 6th Year). 18 #7 OTU, Debert, NS Mosquito B.25 KA968? crashed near Truro, NS, F/L S.H. Balkwill DFM and passenger aero engine mechanic Cpl. J.R. Richard killed (#31 OTU/ #7 OTU Roll of Honour). F/L Balkwill had served a tour with 39 Sqn. on Beauforts and Beaufighters in the Mediterranean, and is credited by Roy Nesbitt as making the last operational torpedo attack of a Beaufort aircraft April 23, 1943 on the freighter Aquino (Armed Rovers, Pg. 139). He was awarded the DFM for returning to Malta from a strike in a severely damaged aircraft that had only partial control Feb. 21, 1943. (Most sources indicate this Mosquito aircraft was lost on a ferry flight to England April 16, 1945, but CWGC confirms this date. It is not listed as on RCAF service). 18 USAAF 26th FS, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70552 damaged taking off in Panama (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

18-19 Bomber Command sent 114 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos which made a successful attack on the rail yards at Komotau (now Chomutov) in Czechoslovakia. Other operations included 57 LNSF Mosquitos to Berlin, 36 to Schleissheim airfield near Munich, 35 RCM and 33 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols with the loss of 1 Mosquito (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. returned to the area of Lubeck and Bremen with 9 Mosquito patrols (6th Year). 18-19 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV, F/L O. Olson, illuminated and depth-charged a midget U-boat, and on the same patrol located a second which was engaged with the machine guns (6th Year).

Thursday 19 Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Carousel opens on Broadway (wikipedia).

Bomber Command sent 49 Lancasters to make a GEE-H attack on rail yards at Munich, and 36 Lancasters of 9 and 617 squadrons to attack coastal artillery emplacements on Heligoland with TALLBOY bombs, no losses (BC War Diaries). 19 14 Sqn. Wellington XIV NC419 CX-M crashed into cliffs on the coast of England attempting to land after experiencing fuel problems, crew possibly overcome by fuel vapours, F/O G.S. Smith and F/S L.C. Barker RAF killed, F/L M.C. Hogg MiD, F/L E. Pearson RAF, F/L L.A. Jackson RAAF and F/S R.D. Speak RAF missing (A. Storr; whisp & H. Welting at www.rafcommands.com).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 19 49 Sqn. Lancaster III ME357 EA-C flew into the sea on a training flight, F/S R.H. Williams, F/O D.I. Hytch RAF, Sgt J. Dodgson RAF, F/S T.M. Harrison RAF, Sgt K. Read RAF, Sgt K. Scott RAF, Sgt L. Broadbent RAF and LAC L.F. Tyler RAF were all rescued. 19 182 Sqn. Typhoon Ib SW412 was shot down attacking shipping in Germany on the River Elbe north of Berlin, F/O L.K. Jackson radioed he was bailing out but he was killed. 19 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe RN204 was shot down by Soviet anti-aircraft fire when the squadron pursued two German aircraft over an aerodrome occupied by Russian soldiers in Germany, F/L H. Cowan killed. F/L Cowan was originally from Germany but his family was forced to leave in 1938 as they were Jewish. 19 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI RR256 hit by flak and crashed in flames near Hamburg, F/L J.W.E. 'Webb' Harten killed (6th Year). 19 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM242 attempted to crash land in Germany after being hit by flak, but F/O A.G. Scott was killed. 19 442 Sqn. Mustang IV crashed on take-off for a bomber escort operation, F/O R.J. Robillard safe (6th Year). 19 442 Sqn. Mustang IV belly landed near Canterbury, England, returning from a bomber escort operation over Munich, F/O D.J. Jeffery safe (6th Year). 19 A column of Allied Prisoners of War was being marched west away from the invading Russian Army when it was strafed in error by Typhoons, 42 of the prisoners were killed or died of wounds, including WO1 R.G. Douglas (419 Sqn.), WO1 V.A. Fox (7 Sqn.), WO1 W.E. Mackenzie (419 Sqn.), Sgt D.J. Clayden RAF (405 Sqn.), Sgt J. Lord RAF (405 Sqn.), Sgt C.W. Heathman RAF (214 Sqn.), F/S K. Mortimer RAF (514 Sqn.), Sgt E. Bardsley RAF (576 Sqn.), Sgt S.J. Wheadon RAF (425 Sqn) and Sgt J.A. Gibbs RAF (578 Sqn), all referenced in this chronology. WO Douglas had been taken PoW March 28, 1943 when he bailed out of his out of control Halifax over France, the aircraft returning safely to England. WO Fox had been taken prisoner March 10, 1943 when his Stirling aircraft was shot down. WO Mackenzie had been taken PoW January 20-21, 1944 after he and his crew bailed out of a Halifax when it was shot down just off the target by a night fighter. Sgt Clayden was taken prisoner when his 405 Wellington was lost Sept. 10-20, 1941 with Sgt J. Lord (see April 22, below). Sgt Heathman had been taken prisoner Oct. 12-13, 1941 when his 214 Wellington was lost. F/S Mortimer was taken prisoner Jan. 30-31 when his Canadian skippered Lancaster was shot down. Sgt Bardsley was also taken PoW seriously injured after his Lancaster exploded Jan. 30-31. Sgt Wheadon was taken PoW Feb. 25-26, 1944. Sgt Gibbs was taken PoW April 22-23, 1944. 19* #5 (Coastal) OTU Beaufighter TF.X RD486 flew into the water after a mid air collision with another Beaufighter practicing a formation attack on a ship. F/L A.H. Nagley and one crew missing, the crew of the other Beaufighter survived uninjured. 19 #22 OTU Wellington X HZ363 lost an engine on take-off and the pilot, F/O J.F. Tees, managed to make a good forced landing, he and his crew safe. 19 #17 SFTS, Souris, Manitoba, aero engine mechanic LAC D.E.K. Lewis died in the Station Hospital while under anesthetic. 19 #8 OTU, Greenwood, NS, Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB277 crashed, F/O P.D. Kidd RNZAF and Sgt G.J. Nicholson RNZAF killed.

19-20 Bomber Commandwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca sent 79 Mosquitos to bomb Berlin, 35 to an airfield at Wittstock and 8 more to an airfield at Schleswig, plus 34 RCM and 40 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). For the third night 418 Sqn. sent patrols to the area of Bremen and Lubeck, 12 sorties without loss (6th Year).

Friday 20 Bomber Command sent 100 Lancasters to destroy fuel storage facilities at with the loss of 1 bomber. This was the last operation against oil targets of the war (BC War Diaries). #143 Wing (RCAF) advanced party at Hustedt, Germany, were attacked in the morning by a mixed flight of 6 Bf 109 and Fw 190 fighters that injured two airmen and damaged two vehicles for the loss of 1 fighter (6th Year).

Balloon Bombs were reported or recovered at Mount Vedder and Chilliwack, BC, as well as Watson Lake, Yukon Territory (Mikesh). 20 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXb MJ980 YO-M shot down near Schwerin, Germany, on a patrol, F/O R.W. Anderson missing. 20 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MK392 crashed and broke apart after it's engine caught fire taking off and it struck a pole trying to land, F/L B.B. Mossing injured with a broken leg (6th Year; www.spitfires.ukf.net). 20 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe RM875 was either hit by flak or flew into debris attacking a train in Germany, and crashed, WO V.E. Barber evaded. N.L.R. Franks states this was his second evasion, but does not give details. 20 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ334 DB-P was written off after it crashed following an engine failure on take-off, F/O F.R. Dennison badly injured (411 SH). 20 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB495 overshot a landing, the pilot, WO C.G. Johnson, raised the undercarriage to stop the aircraft and was uninjured (www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk). 20 #19 OTU Wellington X LP760 "H" disintegrated in the air and crashed in England, F/O R.E. Williams, Sgt W. Gourlay RAF, F/O A.G. Matthews RAF, F/O E. Rawlinson RAF, Sgt V.P. Dias RAF and Sgt J.D. Pulham RAF killed. F/O Williams was the last RCAF crewman killed in a Bomber Command OTU accident prior to VE-Day. 20 #1660 HCU Lancaster I HK598 crashed on a night practise bombing exercise, F/S R.T. Bridger, F/S G.P. Charlebois and F/S F.C.M. Robitaille killed, P/O J.B. Kram, Sgt C.E. Brenton, F/S F.T. Thompson and WO1 R.C. Fleming injured. 20 unknown unit, WO2 J.T. Venier died in Canada, no details. 20 USAAF three 7th Ferry Group P-63C fighters, 43-11578, 43-11498 and 43-11589, ran out of fuel and force landed in the Lesser Slave Lake area in Alberta (AAIR).

20-21 With Soviet forces on the verge of entering Berlin, Bomber Command's last attack on this City of the war was made by 76 LNSF Mosquitos in 6 separate waves. Other operations included 36 Mosquitos to an airfield at Schleissheim, 3 RCM and 2 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). The air battle over Berlin is now a tactical, not strategic, battle as the Soviet army entered it's outskirts. Total numberwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca of aircraft deployed in Eastern Europe by Soviet forces exceeds 17,000 (Oxford). 418 Sqn. had 12 communication patrols over northern Germany attacking trains and other targets (6th Year). 20-21 206 Sqn. Liberator GR.VIII KH410 crashed in Denmark while on an anti-submarine patrol, WO1 W.W. Spencer, WO1 T.K. Theaker, LtCdr N. Guilonard Royal Dutch Navy, F/O A.R.T. Smith RNZAF, P/O W.T.H. Gale RAF, P/O G.H. Topliff RAAF, F/O A.J. Harding RAF, F/L P.S.L. Laycock RAF, F/S F.R. Orritt RAF, WO G.C.K. Long RAF and WO K. Emery RAF killed (A. Storr, www.airmen.dk). There is a monument at the crash site, called "The Airmen's Stone", which includes a propellor from the aircraft. B. Barry et al notes that graves of the crew were not found until 1947. 20-21 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV, F/L O. Olsen, illuminated 2 midget U-boats travelling together which were machine gunned and hit by the front gun and rear turret, before a second attack was made with depth charges. On the same patrol a third contact was made, and another midget U-boat illuminated and depth charged (6th Year).

Saturday 21 664 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF moves into Germany (RCAF Sqns.).

A Fw 200 airliner, D-ASHH, from Berlin, is shot down, the last scheduled Lufthansa flight of the war (Aeroplane Monthly, May 2008).

In the evening a group of 18 Ju 88 and Ju 188 torpedo bombers was sent from Norway to attack Allied shipping off the coast of Scotland. Before reaching the coast they were overtaken by 42 Mosquitos of the Banff Wing returning from a shipping patrol off Norway that had found no targets. The Mosquitos attacked the German formation, destroying 9 of them and forcing the remainder to jettison their torpedos without loss. This was the last air combat in defence of England (S. Taylor, The Last Battle, Flypast, March 2019). 404 Squadron Mosquitos may have been part of this fight (needs confirmation). 21 411 Spitfire LF.IX PL283 was shot down by flak over Germany, F/O C.A.E. Ellement evaded and returned to the squadron May 3, 1945. He had walked back after his aircraft had been damaged by flak Jan. 20, above. 21 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM383 was hit by flak attacking a train in Germany, F/L R.D. March or Marsh bailed out and evaded (6th Year). 21 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM664 was shot down over Germany by enemy fighters on an armed reconnaissance, F/O H.R. Hanscom killed. 21 #83 Group Servicing Unit Spitfire XIV RM730 dived into the sea off England, F/O A.R. McCurdy missing. 21 #162 (BR) Sqn. RCAF, Reykjavik, Iceland, Canso A, F/L J.K. Guttormson, attacks a U-boat with no result (I. Wikene). 21 unknown unit (#111 OTU?), Sgt D.E. Beynon RAF, Sgt C.R. Hamlin RAF, Sgt R.A. Hanney RAF, Sgt D. Lunam RAF, Sgt R.F. McLean RAF and Sgt K.M. Smith RAF missing in North America, no details.

21-22 Bomber Command sent 107 Mosquitos to bomb Kiel. Other operations included 16 Mosquito bomberswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca to an airfield near Flensburg, 3 RCM, 10 SERRATE/INTRUDER and 20 GARDENING sorties, a total of 162 with the loss of 2 aircraft (BC War Diaries). Small towns, forested areas and roads were attacked in northern Germany by 12 Mosquitos of 418 Sqn. (6th Year). 21-22 163 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB529 "W" hit by flak that blew off the nose and one wing on the bomb run over Kiel, navigator bomb aimer, F/O A.A. Hawthorne, who was in the nose killed, his pilot F/L W.G. Baker RAF bailed out safe (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). Sunday 22 Canadian Army operations in Holland halt pending decision on supplying food to starving Dutch civilians.

Soviet forces liberate Stalag III-A in Luckenwalde, but those prisoners still in the camp were forced to remain (wikipedia). See May 12, below.

In preparation for a planned attack by the British Army on Bremen Bomber Command sends a force of 651 Lancasters, 100 Halifax and 16 Mosquitos to attack fortified positions on the approaches to the City. Cloud and smoke from the attack led to it being called off after only 195 bombers had attacked, 2 bombers were lost (BC War Diaries; 6th Year).

A 49 Sqn. Lancaster making a low pass over an airfield in England crashed into a parade of airmen, killing 16 and injuring 9 more. 22 354 Sqn. Far East, Liberator GR.VI EV863 "J" lost on an anti-shipping strike off the Andaman Islands in the after running out of fuel without warning, F/S J.R. Baril, F/L D.F. Grose, F/S R.J. Leonard, F/L L.E. Taylor, and F/S L.E. Whalan missing. P/O B. Bjarnason, P/O D. Tutton, F/S E. Vine RAF, Sgt M. Munro RAF and Sgt B. Beaton RAF survived the sudden ditching and managed to get into life rafts (R. Quirk). See April 24, below. 22 684 Sqn Mosquito PR.XVI NS675 crashed at Langkaw Island, India on a photo reconnaissance flight, F/L T. Bell and WO S.J. Plater RAF missing (www.warbirds.in). On March 10th, 1945, flown by F/L J. Irvine RNZAF and WO W.G. Bannister, this aircraft had completed a record 2,483 mile photo reconnaissance from India to Phuket Island in Thailand, in a flight time of 8 hours and 50 minutes (E. Martyn www.rafcommands.com). 22 417 Sqn. Spitfire shot down in Italy, F/O F.A. Doyle crash landed and evaded (417 SH). Possibly Spitfire LF.IX PT409 lost on this date (but from 87 Sqn.) (www.spitfires.ukf.net) 22 97 Sqn. wireless air gunner WO1 S.S. Ramsden died as PoW when an RAF fighter attacked the column he was being marched in. He had been taken PoW Aug. 11, 1943 22 153 Sqn. Lancaster III ME424 P4-N lost over Germany on a daylight sortie, F/S C.H. Booty, F/S K.F. Chapman, F/S D.F. Poore RAF, F/S F. Wood RAF, F/S K.L. Dutton RAF, F/O A.C. Cockcroft RAF and Sgt D.J. Philpot RAF killed. 22 404 Sqn. Mosquito PR.VI, F/O D.A. Catrano and F/L A.E. Foord, spotted and strafed an anchored Bv 138 and a He 115 off Norway, setting the flying boat on fire, on one of the first operations withwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca this new Squadron aircraft (6th Year). 22 405 Sqn, Sgt J. Lord RAF, taken PoW Sept. 19-20, 1941, died on this date due to wounds suffered when the column of PoWs he was in was strafed by Typhoons April 19, above. 22 424 Sqn. Lancaster was hit by flak that badly damaged a wing, the bomb bay doors and fuselage, and wounded the pilot, F/L D.R. Saunders, in one eye. The crew managed to return and land safely in England (R. Koval, Awards). 22 425 Sqn. Halifax III, F/S W. Jackson, lost an engine outbound, but continued to the target and landed in Holland short of fuel (R. Koval). 22 427 Sqn. pilot F/O W.A. Gunning RCAF (USA) was killed when he was thrown from a motorcycle near Leeming, Yorkshire. 22 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TD154 damaged on a patrol when struck by a 40mm flak shell, P/O P.C. Gomm flew back and landed safe (6th Year).

22-23 Bomber Command's LNSF sent 40 Mosquitos to Bremen and 11 to Kiel with the support of 56 RCM and 39 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, without loss (BC War Diaries). Over northern Germany towns and railway targets were attacked by 9 418 Sqn. Mosquitos (6th Year). 22-23 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L R.D. Schultz DFC and F/O J.S. Christie DFC RAF, shot down two Ju 88 bombers near Berlin (6th Year). 22-23 418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI, F/L W.L. Drake and F/O K. Gunning attacked a train in northern Germany causing the locomotive to explode (6th Year).

Monday 23 Soviet troops enter Berlin.

Bomber Command sent 148 Lancasters to attack rail yards and port facilities at Flensburg, but cloud forced the cancellation of the attack as the bombers were on the final bomb run, no aircraft lost (BC War Diaries).

Blackout restrictions in England removed (Times).

At the urging of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands permission was given to General Eisenhower to contact Reichkommissar Seyss-Inquart, in command of German forces in occupied Western Netherlands, to arrange for the supply of food to the Dutch civilians in the occupied zone, who were starving.

Portions of a Japanese rubberized Radio Balloon found at sea due west of the Queen Charlotte Islands, BC (Mikesh). 23 99 Sqn. Liberator B.VI KH217 crashed in the sea off Cox's Bazaar while on a training flight, F/O H.J. Gibbs RAAF, F/O B.D. Gulbert RAF, F/O E.R. Loton RAAF, F/S R.J. Dunn RAF, Sgt S. Duckles RAF, Sgt R.C. Bebe RAF, Sgt J.S. Steel RAF and F/S A. McIntosh RAF missing, F/S D.S.J. Bowman and F/L R.J. Sadlier RAF rescued (A. Storr, R. Quirk). 23 unknown unit, pilot S/L M.C. Corner RAF (Can.) died in India. S/L Corner had fought in the Battle of Britain (http://battleofbritain1940.net) 23 #3 Ferry Unit, Algiers, North Africa, Sgt D.S. Moore and F/S F.G. Barber RAF were killed when they were runwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca over by a truck while walking down a road. 23 21 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS532 crashed in Holland, both crew F/O G.R. Nowell and WO J.A. Haugh RAF bailed out too low and were killed. 23 403 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TB754 crash landed after the engine failed following a fight with enemy fighters near Bremen, F/O A.J. McLaren PoW. 23 419 Sqn. Lancaster X KB762 VR-J "J for Jiggs" suffered an undercarriage collapse while taxiing, F/L E.C. Peters and his crew safe (http://www.lancaster-archive.com). This bomber had completed 72 sorties, and carried the artwork of the character Jiggs from the cartoon strip 'Bringing up Father' (D. Birrell). 23 438 Sqn. Typhoon RB342 last seen flying into some clouds near Lüneberg, Germany, later found crashed in Germany, F/O T. Hartnett killed. 23 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib SW525 hit by flak and force landed in Germany, F/L J.H. McCullough PoW. 23 514 Sqn. Lancaster III ME523 A2-G force landed from a training flight after running through severe turbulence, F/O W.M. Wiseman and his crew safe. 23 644 Sqn. Halifax VIIa 2P-X NA337 lost on a special operation to drop supplies to resistance groups in Norway. The aircraft had completed it's drop when it flew over a flak position and was hit and set on fire. The aircraft ditched in Lake Mjosa and sank at a depth of 240 metres. F/L A. Turnbull DFC RAF, F/L W.R. Mitchell RAF, F/S G.R. Tuckett RAF and F/S A. Naylor RAF died of exposure, F/S G.A. Bassett RAF missing, and only the rear gunner F/S T.H. Weightman RAF survived as a PoW. This aircraft was salvaged in August-September 1995 for restoration and display at the National Air Force Museum of Canada at Trenton, Ontario, one of only 2 Halifax airframes on display in the world. 23 #4 RC (Repatriation Centre?) AC2 J.H. Carmichael died of a gunshot wound while absent without leave in Canada. 23 RCAF Station Mont Joli, Quebec, clerk AW2 Francis Noreen Schofield killed in a train wreck at Moncton, NB, while on leave.

23-24 Bomber Command sent 60 Mosquitos to Keil, 38 to Rendsburg, 38 to Travemünde and 8 to an airfield at Schleissheim, plus 45 RCM and 35 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols without loss (BC War Diaries). Trains were attacked in the areas of Hanover, Bremen and Berlin by 9 Mosquito patrols of 418 Sqn. (6th Year). 23-24 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, P/O W. Anaka and WO B.J. Weber on an INTRUDER over Germany made 2 attacks on parked aircraft damaging one before attacking and shooting down a Ju 188 (6th Year). 23-24 406 Sqn. Mosquito, W/C R. Bannock and F/L W.A. Boak on an INTRUDER made 3 approaches on aircraft that turned out to be other Mosquitos before finding and shooting down a Ju 88 (6th Year). 23-24 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV, F/L O. Olsen, illuminated and attacked a midget submarine which it engaged with the front gun, noting hits on the conning tower (6th Year). F/L Olsen later received a DFC for these attacks. 23-24 409 Sqn. Mosquito NF.XIII HK429 KP-D, F/O E. Hermanson and F/L Hamm, shoot down 3 aircraft (2 Ju 87 and a Fw 190) on one sortie (RCAF Sqns.). Other 409 crews shoot down 3 more (Ju 52s?), 2 to F/O J.H. Skelly and P/O P.J. Lim (on their first operational flight) and the last to P/O P.J. Leslie and P/O C.N. Thurgood (F.J. Hatch). See June 23, below. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Tuesday 24 Bomber Command sent 110 Lancasters to attack the rail yards at Bad Oldesloe without loss (BC War Diaries).

#125 Wing Spitfires led by G/C J.E. Johnson RAF and W/C C.G. Keefer DSO, DFC and Bar on a fighter sweep near Berlin were intercepted by Soviet Air Force fighters, which after identifying each other as friendly, jointly attacked retreating German motor and horse drawn vehicles. This was the first time Russian and Commonwealth had co- operated on a sortie over Germany (Stein Meum on www.rafcommands.com). Parts of a Balloon Bomb recovered near Kitchener, BC (Mikesh). 24 354 Sqn., P/O B. Bjarnason, P/O D. Tutton, F/S E. Vine RAF, Sgt M. Munro RAF and Sgt B. Beaton picked up by a Catalina of 191 Squadron after 2 days adrift in the Bay of Bengal, suffering from exposure and injuries from the crash of their Liberator (R. Quirk). 24 RAF Station Hal Far, Malta, F/L E.R. Newell, reported as absent without leave, later recorded as missing. 24 58 Sqn. Halifax GR.II JP336 BY-X was hit by flak attacking a convoy while patrolling the between Norway and Denmark and was forced to ditch with an engine on fire, F/O E.I. Ford, F/O M.A. Parker and Sgt E.N. Oddy RAF killed, P/O R.L. McKinney and Sgt G.G. Cockroft RAF missing, F/O J.V. Johnson, F/O L.B. Davey RAF, F/S T.E.P. Rosenthal and Sgt G.A. Guinane RAF managed to board a life raft, where F/S Rosenthal died of his injuries. The three survivors were spotted and rescued by a German fishing boat, becoming PoW, after 36 hours in the dinghy (www.flensted.eu.com). 24 414 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV NH813 suffered an engine failure on a reconnaissance near Hamburg, F/O F.R. Loveless bailed out and safe. 24 423 Sqn. Sunderland, F/L A.R. Pinder, dropped depth charges on a U-boat without result (6th Year). 24 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib aircraft attacking rail lines spotted a moored Bv 222 6 engined flying boat which was attacked and set on fire by F/O J. Brock, F/O M. Hallford and F/O W. Kubicki (6th Year). 24 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM294 hit by flak and damaged attacking a train, F/L H.C. Charlesworth was wounded, but made it back to his base safely. 24 #8 OTU, Greenwood, NS, Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB134 crashed near Waterville, NS, when an engine caught fire on an exercise, F/O J.N. Reedie RAAF and WO H.B. Uren RAAF killed (#36 OTU Roll of Honour, A. Storr).

24-25 Instruction leaflets were dropped to 8 PoW camps containing Commonwealth troops, and medical supplies to one camp, by a force of 30 Mosquitos and 7 Lancasters. Kiel was attacked by 17 Mosquitos while airfields at Schleissheim and Pasing were bombed by 40 and 38 Mosquitos respectively. These were supported by 27 RCM and 19 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols with the loss of 1 aircraft (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 7 Mosquitos bombing Bremen using ground control and 5 more attacking trains on patrols (6th Year). 24-25 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 NT453 HU-E "E for Easy" was hit by flak attacking the airfield at Flensburg andwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca crashed landed on fire, F/O C.B.L. Warwick RAF was injured and both he and his pilot P/O K.A. Norman were taken PoW. P/O Norman had been one of the original Air Cadets in #1601 Cadet Squadron in 1939. Post war he continued in the RCAF and CAF, retiring in 1970 (Lancaster, C. et al). 24-25 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/O J.H. Wyman and F/L J.J. Greene flew an INTRUDER over Denmark where they disrupted landing activities before moving to Germany where they attacked two aircraft identified as Fw 189s, destroying one, before damaging a parked Ju 290 (6th Year). 24-25 406 Sqn. had two Mosquito NF.30 INTRUDERs with flare dropping aircraft to illuminate a German airfield, F/O J.T. Caine DFC & Bar with F/O B.F. Tindall destroyed a Ju 88 and damaged 2 Fw 190 aircraft before being hit in the tail by an explosive shell and forced to return to England, while F/L D.A. MacFayden DFC and F/L V.G. Shail claimed a Ju 88 destroyed and another damaged (6th Year). 24-25 409 Sqn. Mosquitos destroyed 3 German airplanes on this night, a Ju 52 (P/O L. Fitchett and P/O A.C. Hardy), a Fw 190 on the ground (S/L B.E. Plumer and P/O H.G. Beynon), and a four engined Ju 290 (W/C R.C. Hatton DFC and F/L R. Rivers) (F.J. Hatch). P/O Fitchett and P/O Hardy were then attacked, possibly by another Mosquito, and crash landed on return (6th Year). 24-25 464 Sqn. RAAF Mosquito FB.VI NS943 lost on a night INTRUDER sortie over Germany, F/O P.J. Baker and F/O C.A. Lee killed (A. Storr).

Wednesday 25 Berlin is encircled by Russian troops (CJCA headline). US forces meet advancing Soviet Army at Torgau on the Elbe River. Eisenhower orders Allied forces to halt at the Elbe to allow Soviets to capture Berlin (Polsson).

Bomber Command sent 308 Halifax, 158 Lancaster and 16 Mosquitos to bomb the coastal forts on the Island of Wangerooge that controlled the approaches to Bremen. As well 359 Lancasters and 16 Mosquitos were sent to bomb Hitler's chalet and the military barracks at Berchtesgaden, where it was thought he might take refuge. Total sorties on this day were 857 with 9 aircraft lost (BC War Diaries). Six of these were lost to mid air collisions.

The attack on Wangerooge was the last bombing attack by #6 Group. 405 Sqn. participates with 4 bombers but also sends 9 aircraft to bomb Hitler's Berchtesgaden retreat, it's last bombing operation. Twelve Mustang IV aircraft from 442 Sqn. form part of the escort at Berchtesgaden (RCAF Sqns.).

Soon after the bombing the area is occupied by US Soldiers, many of whom took souvenirs. One soldier took a book from Hitlers personal library, Statistik, Presse und Organisationen des Judentums in den Vereinigten Staaten und Kanada (Statistics, Media, and Organizations of Jewry in the and Canada), 1944, one of a set of specially made summaries made for Hitler of the Nazi Party's detailed analysis of Jews in countries around the world, as part of their plans to destroy them once they had come under Nazi rule. The book listed Jewish owned businesses,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca newspapers and social organization in the USA and Canada, including listings of all synagogues and every city and town that had any known Jews, and the number of Jews in those communities. This book is now part of the collection of the Library and Archives of Canada (news release Jan. 23, 2019).

The US 8th Air Force heavy bombers in England made their last mission of the war, sending 307 bombers to attack the Skoda works at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia (Zijlstra).

418 Sqn. moves from Belgium to Holland (RCAF Sqns.). San Francisco World Security Conference opens (CJCA headline). 25 unknown unit, USAAF, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5179, pilot G.L. Baptie, missing in northern India (J. Baugher, AAIR). 25 417 Sqn., Italy, Spitfire HF.IX PT474 ground looped and written off after a tire burst taking off, F/O G.H. Slack safe (www.spitfires.ukf.net, 417 SH). 25 76 Sqn. Halifax VI RG591 MP-A collided with 76 Sqn. Halifax RG553 (below) over their target of Wangerooge Island and exploded, P/O J.L. Outerson, F/O J. Ramsay, F/S G. Gibson RAF, Sgt J.W. Burdall RAF, Sgt J. Nicholson RAF killed, P/O C.H. Livermore and F/S E.T. Sutton RAF missing. 25 76 Sqn. Halifax VI RG553 MP-T collided with 76 Sqn. Halifax RG591 over their target of Wangerooge island and crashed, F/O C.R.M. Morrison, P/O L.L. Slauenwhite, F/O M.C. Slaughter, P/O R.I. Sweet, Sgt D.B.N. Stanes RAF and F/S A.G. Artus RAF killed. Pilot P/O G.W. Lawson managed to free himself from below some falling wreckage and push himself clear before deploying his parachute and land safely where he was taken PoW.

Sadly three of the crewmen lost in the above two aircraft, Sgt Stanes RAF, P/O Sweet and F/S Livermore had brothers who had been killed in the Air Forces earlier in the war.

25 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB450 4H-E overshot a landing from an air test and lost it's undercarriage in an intentional ground loop, F/O D.R. Maquire RAF safe (http://www.156squadron.com). 25 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB613 crash landed and burnt out from an air test, for the second time this day F/O D.R. Maquire RAF emerged safely from the crash but was washed out of further Mosquito operations (http://www.156squadron.com). 25 163 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB624 had an undercarriage leg collapse in a heavy landing from an air test, F/O F. Langford RAAF safe. 25 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX ML141 was hit by flak attacking a train near Hamburg, F/L L.W. Woods bailed out and safe in captured territory (6th Year). 25 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP796 EQ-M collided in mid-air with 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP820 (below) over the sea. Although parachutes were seen rescue flights only found wreckage. F/O A.B. Boyd, P/O J.E. Brambleby, F/L A.B. Ely, P/O V.E. Hovey, P/O A.L. Rutter, F/O J.K. Stanley and Sgt J. Hughes RAF missing. 25 424 Sqn. Lancaster, F/O D. Mullin, lost an engine outbound but continued to the target and bombed, landing safely on 3 engines (R. Koval). 25 424 Sqn. Lancaster,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca W/C R.W. Norris, squadron commanding officer, was damaged in the fuselage by flak that slightly wounded his flight engineer P/O J. Duggan (R. Koval, RCAF Sqns.). 25 424 Sqn. Lancaster was struck by flak that wounded the pilot, F/L J.P. Matheson, in one eye. The bomber went out of control, but the crew recovered control and returned to a safe landing in England (R. Koval). 25 426 Sqn. Halifax VII NP820 OW-W "Willie the Wolf of the West" collided with 408 Sqn. Halifax VII NP796 EQ-M (above) and crashed into the sea, P/O D.R.H. Curzon, P/O E.W. Hicks, F/O J.D.C. Ross, P/O S.J. Teskey, P/O J.C. Tuplin, Sgt R. Roberts RAF and WO R.G. Evans RAF missing (R. Koval). 25 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB822 SE-W collided over the target with Lancaster X KB831 (see below) and crashed into the sea, F/O D.G. Baker and F/O J.D. Cruikshank killed, F/O L.H. Amos, WO2 P.E.A. Henrichon, F/S L.U.M. Hiatt, F/S J.J.P.R. Roy and Sgt F. Smith RAF missing. 25 431 Sqn. Lancaster X KB831 SE-E collided over the target with Lancaster X KB822 (see above) and crashed into the sea, F/L R.J. Stingle and Sgt J.N. Sims RAF killed, F/L B.D. Emmet, F/O W.E. Hanna, WO2 C.R.I. Mark, F/S R.J. Mellon and Sgt D.A. Faulkner RAF missing. 25 431 Sqn. Lancaster X, F/L J.M. Elliott, was unable to drop it's bombs when they hung up over the target (R. Koval). 25 432 Sqn. Halifax VII, F/S D. Jamer, was damaged in the fuselage by flak (R. Koval). 25 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB323 F3-V hit by flak and crashed, F/O T.M. Jones bailed out safely (6th Year; Network). 25 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TA739 was hit by flak on an armed reconnaissance in Germany and dove into the ground, F/L A.J. Dilworth missing. 25 619 Sqn. Lancaster III LM756 PG-F lost on a daylight operation over Germany, bombing Hitler's chalet at Berchtesgaden and the SS barracks there, F/O W.T. de Marco, P/O N.H. Johnston, WO2 G.V. Walker, and Sgt E.W. Norman RAF killed, F/S J.W. Speers, Sgt F.J. Cole RAF and F/S A.H. Shannon RAF PoW. In 2015 it was announced that the town of Adnet in Austria where this bomber crashed were planning on creating a monument to this crew (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/wilf-demarco-ww-ii-pilot-who-bombed-hitler-s- mountain-retreat-to-be-honoured-in-austria-1.3048425). 25 unknown unit, air gunner P/O J.R. Hammond dies in Canada of injuries received in a car accident. 25 unknown unit, electrician F/S E.J. Lee died of natural causes. 25 USAAF 7th Ferry Group P-63C 43-11203 belly landed at Watson Lake, Yukon (AAIR).

25-26 An oil refinery in Tonsburg, Norway, was attacked and severely damaged by 107 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos. Other operations included 82 Mosquitos to the airfield at Pasing, 18 to Kiel, 9 RCM, 35 SERRATE/INTRUDER patrols, 14 Lancasters GARDENING off , and 12 Pathfinder Mosquitos dropping leaflets to PoW camps in Germany, a total of 289 sorties with the loss of 1 Lancaster (BC War Diaries). 418 Sqn. had 9 Mosquitos attacking targets in northern Germany (6th Year).

In northern Italy Partisan forces begin operations which will liberate Genoa, Milan and Turin ahead of thewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca advancing Allied soldiers in the next 48 hours (Oxford). 25-26 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV, F/O W.G.H. Grant and crew, attacked 2 German midget submarines off the Dutch coast, sinking one of them (407 SH).

Thursday 26 Reichkommissar Seyss-Inquart agrees to the dropping of food for Dutch civilians in German occupied Netherlands, operations to begin the next day by aircraft of 1, 3 and 8 groups, Bomber Command, as Operation MANNA.

Bremen falls to British 2nd Army (CJCA headline). US Forces capture Verona. Milan taken by Italian partisans, Mussolini captured in Milan (Times).

Operation EXODUS, the evacuation of liberated Allied PoWs from Brussels to England by Bomber Command heavy bombers, begins on this date (BC War Diaries).

Flying a Me 262 General is shot down and made a PoW. 26 58 Sqn. Halifax GR.II JP330 lost on a night anti-shipping patrol in the Kattegat, F/L J.A. Burkitt, F/L E.L. Holden killed, F/S K.G.W. Henderson, F/S A.F. Juby, F/O J.M. Larkin, F/O J.R. Liddell, F/L T.C. Robson missing. 26 86 Sqn. Liberator VIII KH338 XQ-A missing from an anti-submarine patrol, in the Skagerrak area, F/S K.M. Rupert, F/O H.C. Tyas RAAF, F/S J. Thompson RAF, F/O A.J. Gudge RAF, P/O G.R. Bradfield RAF, F/L G.W.J. Fenwick RAAF, P/O O.E. Goddard RAAF, P/O R.B. Goodwin RAAF, F/S H.G. Yorke RAF, F/S G.E. Lewis RAF and F/S W.R. Harris missing (A. Storr, R. McNeill www.rafcommands.com). 26 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe aircraft flown by F/L B.E. Innes and F/L R.H. Roberts attacked moored He 115 floatplanes, destroying one and damaging a second (6th Year). 26 430 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV RM821 G9-B suffered an engine failure, pilot F/O L.P. Hedley bailed out but his parachute tangled in the tail and he was killed when the aircraft crashed. 26 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib RB429 F3-X was attacking enemy transport in Germany when it hit a tree and crashed, killing F/O E.D. Brydon. 26 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TB923 hit a pole making a ground attack and crash landed, F/O W.G. Conway safe (or unrecorded PoW?). 26 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM364 crash landed with a coolant leak after attacking enemy transport, F/L T.R. Watt badly injured (unrecorded PoW?). 26 R Depot, England, firefighter LAC G.E. Matikka died in hospital of natural causes. 26 USAAF 344th BG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35393 damaged landing at an airfield in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 26 #162 (BR) Sqn. RCAF, Reykjavik, Iceland, Canso A, F/O N.A. Chubb, sights a U-boat but loses it in a rain storm before an attack run can be made (I. Wikene). 26 #45 Group. RAF Ferry Command, Canadian built Mosquito B.26 KA153 stalled and crashed on a single engine approach to Reykjavik, Iceland, killing F/L K.H. Grist and F/O F.W. Clarke RAF.

26-27 Bomber Command had 99 Mosquito bombers attacking airfields in the Schleswig- Holstein province of Germany, 12 more over Kiel with 4 INTRUDER patrols, all without losswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca (BC War Diaries). 26-27 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30, F/L P.E. Etienne and F/L W.A. Boak on an INTRUDER over Czechoslovakia attacked several aircraft parked at airfields, claiming a He 111 destroyed and possibly a Ju 88 damaged (6th Year). 26-27 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV, F/O H.H. Hooker, sighted a midget U-boat which dived before they could attack it (6th Year).

Friday 27 Operation MANNA delayed 24 hours by weather. Genoa in Italy taken by Allies (Oxford). Last airstrip available for evacuation of Nazi party officials in Berlin destroyed by Pe-2 dive bombers (Passingham & Klepacki). 27 402 Sqn. Spitfire XVIe aircraft returned to the German floatplane base it had attacked the previous day and shot down a He 115, destroyed a second moored aircraft, and damaging a third (6th Year). 27 665 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF Auster V TJ342, Capt. B.R.H. Watch RCA, flew the squadron's first operational flight (RCAF Sqns). 27 unknown unit, WO G.H. Dixon RAF (Can.) killed in England, no details. TSGNO notes WO Dixon went missing in France in June 1940 but returned, no details. 27 #16 OTU Mosquito T.III LR531 force landed after an engine failed in the landing circuit, WO1 G.J.M. Robertson safe. 27 #28 RU (CHL), Cape St. James, BC, F/S R.S. Geddes went missing while fishing, and despite an extensive search he was not found.

Saturday 28 Operation MANNA again delayed 24 hours by weather.

German ports of Emden and Wihelmshaven captured by Canadian Army (wikipedia).

Mussolini killed (CJCA headline). Shot by Italian partisans in Milan.

US forces capture Regensburg (Zijlstra). 28 271 Sqn. Dakota III KG406 crashed into the Channel on a scheduled flight, P/O J.L. Ives MiD, F/S R.E. Reynolds, F/S J.R. Fife-Miller RAF, F/L R.C.J. Southey RAF and flight nurse LACW M.M. Walsh WAAF missing. P/O Ives had been shot down Aug. 19, 1941 in a 51 Sqn. Whitley, but evaded and returned via . 28 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ795 was abandoned after an engine fire, F/L L.A. Stewart safe. 28 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ504 force landed near the front lines after a fire in it's drop tanks, F/O G.M. Horter was injured when the aircraft overturned, and was trapped in his safety harness with a broken arm for nearly 2 days, hanging over a pool of water. A nearby Army unit witnessed the crash but did not investigate as it appeared fatal and they had already lost people to mortar fire in that area. F/O Horter was rescued by the Squadron medical officer and two pilots (6th Year). 28 #51 OTU Mosquito NF.XII HK129 crashed in England in a rain squall on a night navigation exercise, F/O B.D. McBride and F/S F.J. Simpson killed. 28 #1653 HCU Lancaster III LM719 H4-M flew into a severe snowstorm and crashed, out of control, on awww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca navigation exercise, F/S V.E. Cline RCAF (USA), F/L N.W. Guy, F/O R.K. Ourom, F/O J.D. Travis, F/L J.R. Williams, F/L D.R. Wilson and Sgt H.W. Jones RAF killed. 28 PFNTU Lancaster III ND928 crashed making an overshoot from a landing, F/O J.C. Boadway and P/O H.A.B. Brewington RAF injured, F/L Brown RAF, F/O Fallow RAF, F/O Reynolds RAF, F/S Graham RAF and F/S Stoddard RAF safe. 28 #45 Group RAF Ferry Command, Mitchell II FV987 crashed at North Bay, Ontario, F/O L.W.L. Davies RAF and F/S W. Gribbin RAF killed, two civilians on board survived (Christie).

Sunday 29 Operation MANNA begins, with over 500 short tons of food dropped by 264 Lancasters and Mosquito aircraft. Under the terms of the truce these aircraft were to fly at no more than 500' above ground, which required good navigation (J.P.R. Mason).

Milan captured and Allies reach Venice, German Army in Italy signs surrender, effective May 2 (Oxford).

US forces enter Dachau Concentration Camp (CJCA headline). 29 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX F/O C.D. Wilson claimed a Fw 190 damaged from a group the Squadron intercepted over the Elbe. On the same day in the early morning a Ju 52/3m landed at their airfield and the 5 man crew surrendered (6th Year). 29 #3 AFU Oxford II DF332 flew into a hill in a hailstorm while on a training exercise, F/O G.A. Aubrey DFC, P/O T. Gould RAF and Sgt H.B. Montgomery RAAF killed (aviation- safety.net, A. Storr). 29 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70268 damaged in an accident in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Monday 30 In Berlin Soviet Army captures Reichstag building after fierce fighting (Polsson). Munich is captured by US forces (Zijlstra). US Forces reach Turin (Times). Hitler commits suicide in his bunker in Berlin, succeeded as leader by Admiral Karl Dönitz.

Operation MANNA continues with some 1,000 short tons of food delivered by 500 aircraft. Reichkommissar Seyss-Inquart escorted through Canadian lines to a meeting with SHAEF personnel, agrees to allow the provision of further supplies of food by land and sea, but will not surrender occupied Netherlands.

USAAF and RAF declare end of Strategic Bombing Campaign in Europe (Polsson). Total of bombs dropped by #6 Group RCAF since formation on Jan. 1, 1943 is 12.5 % of Bomber Command's total for the war (Oxford).

In Holland a British bomb disposal unit was transporting an abandoned V-2 warhead when it exploded, 4 soldiers were killed and 1 missing, and 1 civilian also died (C. Ransted).

Dachau Concentration Camp is occupied by Allied forces (Oxford). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca #1 AOS, Malton, Ontario, #5 AOS, Winnipeg, Manitoba, #8 AOS at Ancienne Lorette, Quebec, #9 AOS, St. Jean, Quebec and #10 AOS, Chatham, NB closed, the last Air Observer Schools in the BCATP (Chris www.rafcommands.com, http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 30 356 Sqn., India, wireless operator F/S R.E. Fontaine died of natural causes. 30 402 Sqn. Spitfire XIV aircraft claimed 1 Ju 88 shot down plus 8 Fw 190 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 4 damaged on this date (6th Year). 30 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX aircraft F/O M.F. Doyle shot down a Fw 190 in flames, but F/L S.M. McClarty had an engine failure in RR201 and crash landed in Allied territory (6th Year; www.spitfires.ukf.net). See May 3, below. 30 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX aircraft claimed 4 Bf 109 fighters shot down and 2 damaged (6th Year). 30 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB879 NA-Y broke up in the air and crashed in England on a cross country exercise, F/S S. Berryman, F/L W.G. Campbell, Sgt J.H. Kay, WO2 T.D. Lawley, F/L J.L. Tweedy, F/L E.J. (Teddy) Wright and F/S W.G. Ward RAF killed (F. Williston www.rafcommands.com). Rear gunner F/S Wright was only 16 years old. 30 USAAF Namao, Alberta, Base Flight C-47 43-15740 damaged at Fort St. John, BC.

30-1 160 Sqn. Liberator V BZ868 was returning to Ceylon after a long range mine laying sortie off Burma when all the engines failed when it ran out of fuel and the aircraft ditched in the sea off Ceylon, P/O P.R. Arscott RAAF killed, S/L D.G.M. Joy died of injuries, F/O J.D.A. Robertson DFC RCAF (Jamaica) missing, F/O R.L. Freeman and F/S J.L. McDonald RAF injured, F/O C.M. Fisher, F/S G.P. Brown RAF and F/O F.L. Newby RAF safe. The survivors were rescued by a Catalina from 321 (Netherlands) Squadron, which had to use it's machine guns to drive off sharks surrounding the life rafts (A. Storr, L. King).

May 1945 401 Sqn. re-equips with Spitfire XIVe aircraft, 408 Sqn. and 425 Sqn. re-equip with Lancaster X aircraft and 441 Sqn. with Mustang III aircraft, but these new aircraft saw no operational service (RCAF Sqns.).

In China the Japanese offensive towards Chungking that had begun the previous April to occupy areas in bomber range of Japan ends as the bombing in Japan and invasion of Okinawa makes it unsustainable (Oxford).

#2 Missing Research and Enquiry Section set up in Belgium under the command of W/C J.A. McLean. Other units would follow to cover the rest of Europe, Norway, Soviet occupied Germany and Poland, North Africa, Italy, the Balkans and the Far East, each with volunteer officers from the RAF, RCAF, RAAF and RNZAF (S. Hadaway).

Tuesday 1 Operation DRACULA, the invasion of Rangoon, begins, with Allies unaware the Japanese have abandoned the City (wikipedia). 436 Sqn. flew 4 squadron operations from Akyab over 13 hours dropping paratroops outside the city (6th Year). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Death of Hitler and appointment of Dönitz as his successor announced, New Zealand troops meet at Monfalcone (Times).

Surviving U-boats in northern German ports are ordered to sail to Norway (D. Newton).

Operation MANNA continues, with USAAF bombers joining as Operation CHOWHOUND. 488 RAF bombers dropped 1,045 tons of supplies while 393 B-17 aircraft dropped 694 tons of US K-Rations over occupied Holland. 1 401 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX MJ854 was hit by flak on a patrol, F/L G.D. Cameron DFC bailed out but was injured. A German doctor treated him and brought him across the lines to Allied soldiers. 1 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX TA839 lost on a fighter sweep over Germany, F/O D.B. Young killed. 1 430 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV RM850 G9-D crashed near Hamburg on a tactical reconnaissance, killing F/O G.W. Bouck. 1 664 (AOP) Sqn. Capt. G.E. Nixon MiD RCA died of injuries sustained the day before when his vehicle drove over a mine, his driver Gnr D.R. Brown had minor injuries. They had been engaged in checking out an for the Squadron to use at the time (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com; 6th Year; Darrel Knight at www.rafcommands.com). 1 #1659 HCU RCAF Halifax III MZ585 was landing from a fighter affiliation sortie when it swung off the runway in a crosswind, skidded and shed it's undercarriage, F/O W.G. Wilson and his crew safe. 1 USAAF 325th Ferry Sqn., 31st TG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35338 damaged taking off from an airfield in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 1 RAF Ferry Command, Gander, Newfoundland, RAF Norseman FR405 crashed at Charlottetown, PEI, civilian pilot J.J. Gilmour (UK) and S/L F.L. Ratcliffe RAF, officer in charge of wireless at Gander, killed.

Wednesday 2 Allied Prisoners in Rangoon spell out "Japs Gone - Extract Digit" on roof of their prison, air force slang for "hurry up" or "get a move on". This is spotted by an RAF Mosquito, which then lands and investigates. Finding the Japanese gone, and unable to take off due to damage, the crew takes the information to the approaching by a commandeered boat. By evening the City had been occupied by Indian and British units (wikipedia).

Berlin falls to Soviet Army.

Operation MANNA/CHOWHOUND continues to provide food to occupied Netherlands with 1,723 tons dropped, while ground supply begins with 360 British and Canadian army vehicles delivering 1,000 tons of supplies, plus 200 trucks loaded with gasoline for use by civil authorities in delivering the food (Operation FAUST). One CHOWHOUND B-17 hit a radar mast in England in poor visibility but landed safely (BC1 www.rafcommands.com). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca German forces in northwest Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Italy surrender (Polsson). Many high ranking Germans use aircraft to attempt to reach Norway (D. Newton). British and Soviet soldiers link up near Wismar on the Baltic coast (Times).

Tito orders Allied forces out of Trieste region (Oxford).

404 Sqn. Mosquito VIc shares in the destruction of U-2359, a miniature coastal submarine, in the Kattegat, with Mosquitos of 143, 235, 248 and 333 (Norwegian) squadrons, the last RCAF U-boat kill of the war (uboat.net). 2 USN, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21395 lost to unknown cause in the Admiralty Islands (J. Baugher). 2 355 Sqn., Burma, Liberator VI KH210 "R" had an engine fire and crashed into the sea off the mouth of the Rangoon River during the invasion of the city, F/S S.A. Doherty killed, S/L G.A. De Souza RAF, P/O J. Spillard RAF, F/S D.T. Nicolson RAAF, F/S D.U. Cameron RAF, F/O B. Hill RAF, F/O J. Calland RAF, Sgt R.T. Bell RAF, Sgt L. Helsby RAF and passenger W/C J.B. Nicholson VC RAF missing, F/S M.H. Pullen RAAF and Sgt E.L. Knightley RAF were picked up injured by air-sea rescue (A. Storr). W/C Nicholson had been awarded the Victoria Cross during the Battle of Britain. 2 411 Sqn. Spitfire, F/L M. Bergen claimed a Me 262 jet fighter damaged (H.A. Halliday). 2 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TD293 was damaged by return fire from a Ju 88 which it shot down over Germany, F/L H.R. Finley safe. 2 #10 OTU Hurricane IIc LF700 force landed after an engine failure, F/O G.F. Ockenden safe. 2 #10 B&G School, Mount Pleasant, PEI, Bolingbroke IV.T #10098 aircraft crashed near Enmore, PEI, returning from a gunnery exercise, F/L C.W. Anderson, air frame mechanic LAC R.F. Jones, Sgt J.J. Shaw, Sgt J.D. Spears and Sgt S.A. Williams killed. 2 USAAF UC-64 (Norseman) 43-5132 damaged in a take-off accident at Goose Bay, Nfld (AAIR).

2-3 To prevent the transport of German troops from Kiel to Norway the final Bomber Command attack of the war was made on the port of Kiel. First 16 Mosquito bombers attacked airfields around Kiel, followed by 2 attacks with a total of 126 Mosquito bombers using H2S and OBOE to bomb the port through cloud. Some bombs fell in the City. These sorties were supported by 89 RCM aircraft, some of which also carried bombs. A Mosquito on airfield suppression was shot down and 2 RCM Halifax aircraft were lost in a collision, the last operational Bomber Command aircraft lost in the war (BC War Diaries). The city was then declared an undefended city and 36 hours after the attack British and Canadian soldiers began taking control of the port (BC War Diaries). Thus the first and last RAF bombing operations of the war in Europe were made by twin engined bombers attacking ships in a German port. 418 Sqn. flew its last offensive patrols on this night, dispatching 8 Mosquitos (6th Year). 2-3 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 aircraft in a dawn attack strafed transports in Germany, F/O J.H. Wyman and F/L J.J. Greene claimed 3 Ju 52/3m and a Ju 352 destroyed and 3 Ju 52/3m damaged, while F/O J.T. Caine DFC & Bar and F/O B.F. Tindall destroyed 2 more Ju 52/3m (6th Year).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 2-3 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV, F/L P.T. Pengelley, illuminated and attacked a midget U-boat with machine guns and depth charges. After 2 hours a second was located and attacked, which left air bubbles rising to the surface (6th Year).

Thursday 3 British and Indian forces re-capture Rangoon (CJCA headline?).

Canadian Paratroopers link up with Russian soldiers at Wismar. soviet Operation MANNA/CHOWHOUND delivers 1,062 tons of food to Holland.

With an escort of fighters Queen Wilhelmina returns to The Netherlands in a Dakota (D. Newton).

Mine clearing operations to open the port of Rotterdam begin.

Canadian 1st Army captures Oldenburg (CJCA headline).

German ships Cap Arcona, Thielbek and the liner Deutschland in Lubeck Bay, being used to hold concentration camp prisoners evacuated from eastern Germany, are attacked by Typhoons in the belief they may be used to evacuate SS soldiers to Norway, some 7,000 or more prisoners are killed. None of the ships displayed the red cross indicating they were being used as prisons. Other shipping in the bay was attacked by 2nd TAF and USAAF fighters. #143 Wing RCAF Typhoons were part of this attack (6th Year).

Himmler offers German surrender to western Allies, but not to Soviet Union (wikipedia). 3 402 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV NH835 was making a ground attack when it ran into it's own ricochets, F/L J.A. O'Brien bailed out and safe. 3 411 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX NH263 hit by flak strafing a train near Kiel, F/L S.M. McClarty DFC reported on the radio that he had been injured before the aircraft crashed, apparently out of control, killing him. 3 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IXe MK827 hit by ground fire over Germany, F/L D.M. Pieri DFC RCAF (USA) bailed out but was killed. F/L Pieri had replaced his friend F/L R.B. Barker, who had taken ill, on this flight (Barker obit., Globe and Mail, Nov. 10, 2012). 3 439 Sqn. Typhoon Ib SW443 shot down by flak over Germany, F/O G.F. Burden missing. 3 #83 Group Service Police Sgt J.E.A. Mugan killed in a motorcycle accident while on duty in Germany. 3 #1659 HCU RCAF Halifax III MZ600 was taxiing for take-off when it had to make a quick turn to avoid an overshooting aircraft and hit an obstruction, taking off it's undercarriage, F/L L.W. Krope injured, F/O S.R. Davies and the rest of the crew safe. 3 Bomber Command Instructors School Spitfire Vb BM474 was landing from an air test when it swung and lost it's landing gear, F/L Saunderson safe. 3 Service Police LAC E.E. Amlin died of natural causes in England. 3 Bandsman LACwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca F. MacIntosh died in Toronto of natural causes. 3-4 #6 Group sent 33 Lancasters on GARDENING in the Kattegut, but the bombers were recalled before placing their "Vegetables" (R. Koval). A single reconnaissance sortie was flown by a Mosquito of 418 Sqn., its last operation of the war (6th Year).

Friday 4 HMS Formidable hit by a kamikaze off the Sakishima Gunto islands that killed 8 crew and wounded over 50, but is back in operation within hours (wikipedia). German army in North-West Germany, Denmark and Holland surrenders, ending operations for most RCAF fighter squadrons.

Operation MANNA continues, dropping 412 tons of food.

Off Kiel 404 Sqn. Mosquitos escorted a strike against German ships that attacked a convoy of 7 ships (leaving 6 damaged), plus other targets. One Mosquito struck an escorts mast and returned with the mast top and German ensign caught in the wing. This was 404 Squadrons last operation in the war (6th Year).

411 Sqn. F/L D.F. Campbell and F/L T.L. O'Brien shoot down a He 111 aircraft over Flensberg, Germany, the RCAF's last fighter victory of the war (RCAF Sqns.). 4 402 Sqn. formation of 12 Spitfires was attacked by an Me 262 jet fighter which damaged the aircraft flown by F/O J.E. Rigby, pilot safe (H.A. Halliday). 4 421 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM293 landed short after an engine failure (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 4 125 (Newfoundland) Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 NT427 broke up in the air over England on an air test (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). F/L E.F. Higham RAF and Sgt K.H. Humphries RAF were listed as killed from 125 Squadron on this date (CWGC). 4 unknown unit, AC2 H. Bowley-Booth RAF and AC2 T.W. Calderhead RAF killed in the USA, no details.

Saturday 5 First Allied ships unload coal and other supplies in Rotterdam, Operation MANNA/CHOWHOUND continues with 1,062 tons of food delivered.

German forces in Norway surrender (Oxford).

US Third Army captures Karlsbad and Pilsen in Czechoslovakia. General Patton wanted to advance and occupy Prague and the rest of Czechoslovakia before Soviet forces could but Eisenhower, after Stalin's protest and claims regarding his March proposals, told Patton to hold his troops where they were (L. Olson). See May 8 and 11, below.

German representatives seek a separate peace with the US, to allow their forces engaged with Russians to retreat behind US lines, but are refused (Oxford). soviet www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Canadian 1st Army ceases offensive operations at 0800 (CJCA headline).

In Denmark most of the country is in control of the Resistance forces but the German Commandant on the Island of Bornholm refuses to recognize the surrender (Oxford).

Near Lakeview, Oregon, a group on a church outing discovered a Japanese Balloon Bomb, and while examining it the bomb exploded, killing a woman and 5 children aged 11 to 13. These were the only US citizens killed on US soil in the war by enemy action (Alaska being a territory of the USA at this time, not a state). Portions of another balloon were recovered near Stettler, Alberta the same day (Mikesh).

Over Japan a B-29 42-65305 of the 6th Bomb Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, was rammed by a Japanese fighter over Kyushu, Japan. All 11 crew bailed out. One was killed when his parachute cords were deliberately cut by another fighter. A second crewman shot at Japanese with his pistol after landing before committing suicide. The plane commander was taken to a PoW camp for interrogation and survived, but with poor health. The other 8 survivors were taken to Kyushu University where they died being used as live specimens for dissection (http://mansell.com, http://www.armyairforces.com/Prisoner-of-War-Camp-1-Fukuoka-Japan- m238564.aspx, other sources). Such was the level of hate and fear felt on both sides of the air war over Japan. 5 #126 Wing, RCAF, Wunstorf, Germany, acting wing leader W/C G.W. Northcott DSO DFC & Bar in Spitfire IX GW-N led 401 Sqn. Spitfire IX YO-K, S/L W.T. Klersy DSO DFC & Bar, 402 Spitfire XIV AE-G, S/L D.C. Gordon DFC & Bar and 412 Sqn. Spitfire IX VZ-F, F/L C.W. Fox DFC & Bar, on the last RCAF fighter patrol of the war, taking off at 06:30 and landing at 08:00, the moment hostilities in Europe ended (http://www.spitcrazy.com/lastpatrol.htm#northcott). See May 22, below. 5 547 Sqn. Liberator GR.VIII KK299 2V-E was one of 3 Liberators flying over surfaced U-boats in the Kattegat when one opened fire on it. The pilot, F/L Hill RAF, then attacked the U-boat but was shot down, witnessed by 86 Sqn. Liberator "G" who followed up and sank U-534, but F/L R.J. Allen RAF and WO A.J. Dale RAF killed, F/S C.A. Keown, F/S R.J. McLean, F/O V.D. Sweeney, F/L G.W. Hill RAF, F/O J.L. Howatson RAAF, Sgt P.D. Phelan RAF, F/S W.A. Devins RAF, WO H. Parks RAF and Sgt A.E. Tyrer RAF missing. U-534 was raised in 1993 and is on display in a museum in Liverpool, England. (A. Storr, www.airmen.dk, www.flensted.eu.com, uboat.net). 5 547 Sqn. Liberator, F/O A.A. Bruneau on his first operational flight, found 2 U-boats with radar and attacked, sinking U-2521, the last U-boat sunk by an RCAF pilot (H.A. Halliday). 5 627 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB625 AZ-L was taking off on a training flight when it swung, ground looped and lost it's undercarriage, F/L D.J. Moore safe. 5 664 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF Auster V RT515, Capt D.G. Rouse RCA and LAC M.L. Wright flew the squadron's last operational flight (RCAF Sqns). 5 #1695 (Bomber) Target Towing Flight RCAF Spitfire Vb AD571 lost power and undershot a landing, the undercarriage collapsing, F/O W. Kasper safe. 5 #2 TSU (Technicalwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Service Unit?) Detachment Edmonton, Alberta, wireless mechanic Sgt E.H.M. Johnstone was electrocuted working on a transmitter at RCAF Station Watson Lake, YT.

Sunday 6 RAF bombers in Operation MANNA grounded by weather, but USAAF B-17 aircraft in CHOWHOUND deliver 619 tons of K-Rations to Holland.

US Army units from Italy meet with US units from Austria at the Brenner Pass (Oxford). US armies in cease operations (Oxford). A second German request for a separate peace with the US refused, with the threat to close Allied lines to civilians fleeing to west (Oxford). 6 VS-66 USN, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21524 lost to unknown cause in the Marshall Islands (J. Baugher). 6 804 Sqn. FAA. HMS Ameer, Hellcat II JX803 aircraft ditched off the carrier due to anti-aircraft damage suffered when attacking the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, Sub Lt(A) J.A. Scott RNVR (Can.) missing (FAA Museum NAP Data). 6 Radio Branch Gibbett Hill RAF, a GEE station, USAAF C-46D 44-77839 Commando aircraft hit the aerials and crashed into a building, killing the 5 crew, 25 passengers (including 2Lt J.N. Boyce Jr. USAAF and 1Lt H.R. Chickering USAAF), and F/L E. Parish on the ground. 6 #410 Repair & Service Unit, Germany, air frame mechanic LAC A. Carreau and aero engine mechanic LAC W.J. Craig died of methyl hydrate poisoning.

6-7 PFNTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB233 was on a night cross country exercise when it disintegrated in a dive, S/L W.H. Corbet DFC RAF and Lt P.E.R. Brievik RNor.AF killed.

Monday 7 Off Okinawa, as part of the Canadian policy that only volunteers would serve in the Pacific War, the crew of HMCS Uganda is asked to volunteer to remain in the Pacific, but an overwhelming majority vote not to, and the ship returns to Canada where it is re- manned with volunteers. See July 16, below.

Germans surrender unilaterally at Rheims, France. For political status Stalin refuses to accept the surrender, demands a second surrender ceremony in Berlin (Oxford). The German campaign to kill all the Georgian soldiers who had rebelled on the island of Texel continued (wikipedia). See May 20, below. soviet

665 (AOP) Sqn. 'A' flight RCAF arrived at the Luftwaffe base of Jever near Wilhelmshaven, where Capt Scandrett RCA took the formal surrender of the airfield and established guards until relieved by the RAF Regiment (6th Year).

Soviet bombers attack the town of Rønne on Bornholm (Oxford). Soviet offensive opens in Czechoslovakia (Oxford).

Operation MANNA/CHOWHOUND continues as 1,545 tons of food delivered. 1 USAAF B-17 lost due to www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caengine fire, 11 of crew died, 2 survived. This was the only aircraft lost during the operation. CHOWHOUND ends.

405 Sqn. flies it's last mission, marking the aiming point for a night drop of food to the city of Rotterdam (RCAF Sqns.).

437 Sqn. moved from England to Belgium for transport duties in Europe (6th Year).

Prime Minister Mackenzie King addressed the country by radio from San Francisco, where he was attending the World Security Conference (CBC Ideas, Lost Innocence, Part 2 - War at a Distance). Across Canada cities celebrated the end of the war.

Life Magazine publishes the first news story with photographs of the liberation of concentration camps, including Buchenwald and Bergen-Belsen. Public reaction to the images galvanized the search for those responsible (A. Jacobsen).

#5 (BR) Sqn. RCAF re-deploys from Yarmouth, NS to Gaspe, Quebec (RCAF Sqns.).

Orders are sent out to various SFTS units to arm several Harvard trainers with a , one to be kept on readiness to bring down any low flying Japanese Balloon Bombs sighted in their areas (E.A. Johnson et al).

Victory riots in Halifax; call-ups for military service suspended (CJCA headlines). The Halifax VE-Day Riots culminated many years of dissatisfaction between the city, and the merchant sailors and naval forces there. The population of the city had greatly expanded during the war but the services available for housing and recreation had not. Servicemen felt they were being taken advantage of by locals especially for rent for their families. On VE-Day the port admiral allowed thousands of naval ratings to leave the base for the city to celebrate, but there was nowhere to do so, the movie theatres, bars, liquor stores and most restaurants having been closed by order of the city council. No other outlets for celebration were offered. Rioting broke out, as many servicemen decided to take what they wanted (wikipedia).

In the evening U-2336 attacked convoy EN-491 off England, sinking 2 ships, the Sneland I and the Avondale Park. Sinking 1 hour before the beginning of peace at midnight with the loss of 2 crew, the Canadian built and operated Avondale Park became last merchant ship sunk in the (wikipedia). 7 258 Sqn. Thunderbolt II HD217,was attempting to land with engine trouble after taking off on an army support sortie in Burma, but came down short of the runway, F/L S.W. Brown killed (H.A. Halliday). 7 665 (AOP) Sqn. 'B' Flight RCAF Auster TJ399 Capt. W.G. Milliken RCA, made the squadron's last operational flight after 12 days of deployment over the German held enclave at Dunkirk (RCAF Sqns; 6th Year).

Tuesday 8 Soviet-German surrenderwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca signed in Berlin. Official Victory in Europe (VE) Day for Western Allies. Canadian Army in Holland occupies Amsterdam following surrender (wikipedia).

Final Operation MANNA flights, 319 tons of food delivered to formerly occupied Netherlands. German surrender takes effect at 22:01 GMT.

In Denmark the town of Neks on Bornholm is bombed by Soviet aircraft (Oxford).

Soviet forces reach Dresden (Oxford). All German forces surrender except in Czechoslovakia where for political reasons Russian forces continue to advance towards Prague (Oxford).

Göring captured by US forces (CJCA headline). Oslo liberated (Times).

In Halifax rioting continued as more naval ratings were allowed to leave the base. When the extent of what was going on was realized the Navy took steps to control their men and return them to barracks but by that time most of the available liquor and beer in the city had been stolen and consumed by the rioters. Three men died (two of alcohol poisoning), and over $5 million dollars of damage was done to businesses in the city (wikipedia).

In Sétif, Algeria, a victory march by returned veterans of France's North African Army turns into a riot when French police attempt to confiscate pro-independence banners. Several marchers and police are killed, the violence spreading to the countryside where ethnic French farmers are attacked. After several days order is restored, but this is followed by repression and attacks on Moslems by military units, including bombing by aircraft and naval shelling, killing thousands of Algerians. The effect of this would be a growing anger against French rule which led to open rebellion 9 years later and an independent Algiers in 1962 (wikipedia).

443 Sqn. 6 Spitfire XIV aircraft provide escort for Dakotas bound for Copenhagen with relief supplies, the Squadrons last operation of the war (RCAF Sqns.). 8 unknown unit, AC2 G. McMillan died in Canada, no details.

Wednesday 9 Kamikaze attacks on the British carrier fleet operating off the Sakishima Gunto islands hit and damage HMS Formidable (for the second time) and HMS Victorious. Although the ships are still able to operate they have lost many aircraft on deck and the fleet retires to make better repairs and replenish aircraft, returning in 3 days (wikipedia).

Canadian Mutual Aid to USSR suspended. Official Soviet VE Day. Russian offensive in Czechoslovakia continues (Oxford).

Channel Islands liberated, 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 aircraft are part of the escort, their final wartime operationwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca (RCAF Sqns.). Dunkirk surrenders (M. Zuehlke).

Soviet soldiers land at Rønne in Denmark, the German commander of the Island of Bornholm surrenders to them. His refusal to surrender earlier led to heavy damage to the towns of Rønne and Neks with some loss of life. Soviet troops occupied Bornholm until April, 1946 (Oxford).

405 Sqn. begins at about this time to re-equip with Lancaster X aircraft prior to returning to Canada as part of TIGER FORCE (RCAF Sqns.). This includes the last production Lancaster from Victory Aircraft, KB999, christened "Malton Mike" in Canada and coded LQ-M in squadron service. Note that KB700 "Ruhr Express", the first Lancaster X, also first served with 405 Squadron. KB999 was lost on a flight in the Arctic in 1953.

Last Lockheed 12 communications aircraft struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). 9 unknown unit, accountant Cpl. F.H. Granger died on service in Bombay, India, no details. 9 400 Sqn. Spitfire PR.XI PM142 was shot down by German naval craft it was observing as they withdrew from Danish waters, F/L L. McMillan DFC AM (US) missing. A Danish researcher, B. Hansen of Copenhagen, quoted in TSGNO, states that these ships had been attacked by Soviet aircraft earlier in the day. He also states "strong retaliatory action" was taken against the ships for shooting down this Spitfire, but does not specify what this was. 9 433 Sqn. air gunner F/S K.E.C. Slack drowned as a prisoner of war attempting to save a German guard who had fallen in the Elbe River in Germany. He has no known grave. F/S Slack had been taken PoW when his Lancaster was shot down Nov. 21, 1944. Oliver Clutton-Brock's monumental book Footprints on the Sands of Time: RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 is dedicated to this airman. 9 514 Sqn. Lancaster III RF230 JI-B crashed on Operation EXODUS, the repatriation of Allied PoWs. The aircraft took off from Juvincourt, France with a crew of 6 and 24 repatriated PoWs. The pilot reported trouble with the controls and attempted to return but crashed short of the airfield. The crew of P/O O.C. Evers, F/O R.B. Hilchey, P/O R.M. Toms RCAF (Nfld.), F/L D. Beaton DSO RAF, F/S A. McMurrugh RAF and F/S J.G. Brittain RAF, and ex-PoW passengers Capt. R.W. Wheeler, Lt P.A.T.W.B. Campbell, Lt. E.T.T. Snowdon, Sgt R.A. Adams, Cpl E.L. Belshaw, Cpl A.G. Thompson, Lance-Cpl G.W. Franks, Fusilier H. Cummings, Fusilier O. Parkins, Guardsman J.A. Roe, Gunner A.J.S. Crowe, Gunner A.N. Labotske South African Artillery, Pioneer W.L. Lindheimer Polish Army of Liberation (PAL), Pioneer M. Maschit PAL, Private T. Anderson, Pvt W.L. Ball, Pvt S.J. Bayston, Pvt R.A. Betton, Pvt R.E. Clark, Pvt W. Croston, Pvt R. Danson, Pvt R. Turnbull, Pvt P. Yates and Rifleman T.J. Edwards killed. The bomb-aimer, F/O Joe Spear, was left behind in England as he was not needed on these flights (ref. Wendy Fleming, Edmonton). This was the only aircraft lost in the EXODUS operation. 9 unknown unit, Group Captain J.F. Griffiths DFC MC (Czech.) MiD RAF (Can.) struck by a truck and killed in Holland. G/C Griffiths had been the Squadron commanding officer of 99 Squadron onwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca their Dec. 14, 1939 operation over the Elbe River for which he was awarded the DFC Jan. 2, 1940, and shared the distinction of being awarded Canada's first DFC of the war with P/O S.R. Henderson RAF (Can). He had later served in the desert and possibly Malta (Malta Spitfire Yrs.). 9 #5 Equipment Depot laundryman Sgt M.A. Vail died of natural causes.

Thursday 10 After months of preparation a specially modified Lancaster I bomber, PD328 "Aries", from the Empire Air Navigation School, Shawbury, England, departs for USAAF Meeks Field, Reykjavik, Iceland to conduct various tests in the Arctic, among them to locate the North Magnetic Pole and test a new "Grid System" of Arctic Navigation developed by W/C K. Maclure, who is one of the crew. Because these flights are taking place in summer months with 24 hour daylight in the high north there is only a brief "window" where the sun and moon would be in positions to test the navigation accurately (Aeroplane Monthly?). Ground crew parties with spare parts have been pre-positioned in Iceland and North America to support them.

On a Victory Loan drive RAF Mosquito B.IX LR503 "F for Freddy", survivor of 213 LNSF sorties over Germany, hits a cable and crashes in Calgary, Alberta, doing a high speed low fly-past on a war bond drive visit, killing F/O J.C Baker DFC & Bar RAF and F/L J.M.W. Briggs DSO DFC DFM RAF. F/L Briggs had trained in Canada at Calgary and Bowden before returning to England for operations (www.dunrobincastle.com).

German forces in Czechoslovakia surrounded near Prague (Oxford). 10 190 Sqn. Stirling IV LK297 G5-G crashed in Norway while transporting airborne troops to Oslo, Operation DOOMSDAY, F/O L.E. Prowse, S/L D.R. Robertson DFC CG (Fr.), F/L N.L. Roseblade DFC, F/S R. Alderson RAF, F/S A.G. Davies RAF, WO G.E. Thompson DFM RAF, Air Vice Marshall J.R. Scarlett-Streatfield CBE RAF (AOC #38 Group RAF) and British Army passengers Sgt H.W. Woodward, Pvt F. Sainty, Pvt J. Shannon, Pvt C. Sutherland, Pvt F.G. Trainor, Pvt E. Waby, Pvt G. Walton, Cpl S.G. Rayner, Pvt D.W. Cooper, Pvt W.R. Lovett, Pvt W.W. Elliott, Pvt K.J. Watts, Pvt M.M. Wade, Pvt W. Rodger, Pvt E.C. Monk, Pvt F.G. McGlynn and Norwegian Liason Maj P.C. Juliebo were killed (R. Tebbutt). The wreckage was not found until June 22 (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). Two other Stirlings involved in DOOMSDAY crashed on the same day with the loss of 48 soldiers and airmen. In Lancaster, C. et al., it notes a poor weather forecast was blamed for these losses, and that most of the transport aircraft returned to England. Only 1 Dakota from 437 Squadron flown by S/L C.N. McVeigh managed to make a landing near Oslo. TSGNO notes that F/O Prowse, S/L Robertson and S/L Roseblade had been shot down September 20, 1944 in a 190 Stirling while dropping supplies over Holland during the Arnhem operation but managed to return to the squadron. 10 442 Sqn Mustang IV KH665 crashed during an authorized low flying exercise in England killing P/O S.H. Lorenz. 10 #162 (BR) Sqn., Reykjavik, Iceland, Canso A, F/L R.L. Clarke spotted a U-boat complying with the surrenderwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca orders and exchanged signals (I. Wikene). 10 #10 (BR) Sqn. RCAF, Gander, Newfoundland, F/S D.A. Cooke, armourer LAC W.B. Farrow and F/S S.S.J.H. Smith drowned on duty at the bombing range on Suleys Pond near Benton, Nfld. when their boat capsized in rough weather. 10 #5 RU (CHL), Queensport, NS, F/L B.J. McLaughlin died on service.

Friday 11 German forces at Prague allowed to surrender, Soviets declare "liberation" of Czechoslovakia, end of fighting in Europe (Oxford) although German forces are still engaged on the island of Texel searching for and killing rebel Georgian soldiers. First test of a Martin-Baker designed ejection seat installed in a Defiant aircraft (wikipedia). 11 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70355 destroyed by fire in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 11* 190 Sqn. Wellington NC489 crashed in Holland attempting to take-off, WO1 J.A. Hay, F/O J.H. Vanular, WO J. Coghlan RAF and F/S W. Dexter RAF killed, F/O Insley (RAF?) and F/S L.C. Sharp (RAF?) injured. 11 410 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM786 crashed in Holland on an air test, F/L T.H. Cameron DFC and LAC L.M. Thomas killed. 11 422 Sqn. Sunderland, F/L R.B. Duclos, sighted a U-boat complying with the surrender protocol (6th Year). 11 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB123 was wrecked in a high speed landing after being damaged by a sudden hailstorm, F/O G.E. Warriner safe. 11 #24 OTU Wellington X LP404 crashed into several buildings on a overshoot when attempting a single engine landing, F/O G.J. Hay killed, F/O M.A. East, F/L A.J. Allen, Sgt F.O. Coles, F/O R.J. Delderfield and F/S N.E. Brown injured. This was the last aircraft lost by this OTU before it was disbanded July 24, 1945. 11 #5 RS, Clinton, Ontario, chef Cpl. Dorothy Maria Wakefield was struck by a car while riding her bicycle off duty and killed. 11 #5 OTU, Boundary Bay, BC, Mitchell II HD314 crashed at the airport, Sgt F. Jackson RAF, Sgt J.A. Jones RAF and P/O D.R.L. Kitson RAF killed.

Saturday 12 Eighth Victory Loan raises $1,568,927,350 (CJCA headline).

In a telegram to President Truman referring to the actions taken by Tito in Trieste, Churchill describes the inability to get information from Communist controlled Europe as an "iron curtain" (Oxford). See March 5, 1946. After years of dispute the Trieste region would be divided by a treaty supervised by the between Italy and Yugoslavia (Oxford). 12 3 Sqn. Tempest lost over Germany, F/L W.R. Robertson RAF (Can.) killed. 12 422 Sqn. Sunderland, F/L J.G. Goldthorpe, sighted a surrendering U-boat (6th Year). 12 #56 OTU Tempest V EJ685 collided Tempest V NV759 on a formation flight over England, killing instructor F/L F.W. Mossing DFC in EJ685, F/S C.W. Powell RAF pilot of NV759 survived (www.milfield.org.uk). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Sunday 13 422 Sqn. flight engineer F/O B.C. Hunt run over and killed by a truck on the slipway at Pembroke Dock, Wales. 13 423 Sqn. Sunderland, F/L J.F. Magor, sighted U-516 and U-1010 travelling in company to surrender, while a third U-boat was sighted by the crew of F/L H.D. Hughes Sunderland (6th Year). 13 unknown unit, Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KA989 lost in an accident at Debert, NS, no details. 13 USAAF B-24M 44-42503 damaged landing at Gander, Nfld. Monday 14 capture Wewak, New Guinea.

USS Enterprise hit and damaged by a Kamikaze attack off Okinawa (wikipedia).

After supporting the invasion of Okinawa large scale attacks on Japanese cities from Saipan resume, using formations of up to 500 B-29s by day and night. Day attacks are protected by long-range P-51 escorts from Iwo Jima (Oxford).

German military in the Hel peninsula of Poland surrender to Soviet forces (wikipedia). 14 417 Sqn. Spitfire LF.IX lost it's undercarriage making an emergency landing in Italy after an engine failed (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 14 416 Sqn., pilot F/L W.N. Douglas accidentally shot and killed in Germany. 14 USAAF 669th BS, 416th BG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35361 damaged while taking off from an airfield in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 14 unknown unit, LAW Mariette Francois Yolande Claire Begin killed in a mail truck accident in Canada.

Tuesday 15 Parts of a Balloon Bomb found near Kelvington, Saskatchewan (Mikesh).

415 Sqn. and 432 Sqn. disbanded in England (RCAF Sqns.). 411 Sqn. and 412 Sqn. at about this time begin to receive Spitfire XVI aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). 15 354 Sqn. Liberator GR.VI EV945 "L" was shadowing a Japanese Navy cruiser and destroyer near the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal when it gave an SOS. F/S R.J. Krampp, P/O J.A. "Bud" Milne, F/O J. Hunter RAF, Sgt J. Thomad RAF and F/S G. Day RAF missing, P/O F.A. Casson, F/L R. Riffle, F/O G.A.Z. Sourisseau, Sgt E. Young RAF (injured and burned) and F/S P. Richards RAF (injured), were left afloat in a dinghy. They rowed to an island and contacted the natives, but were betrayed to the Japanese the next day. Sgt Young died June 17 due to gangrene and F/S Richards died about June 27 after his leg was amputated. P/O Casson died Aug. 9, below, of beriberi. Survivors were rescued Oct. 6 by an RIN ship. An affidavit of F/O Sourisseau's experiences as a prisoner can be found on R. Quirks web page (http://www.rquirk.com/354files/sourisseauaffdvtrev09.pdf). The Japanese cruiser they had been shadowing was sunk by RN making a torpedo attack the nightwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca after they had been shot down (C. Shores). 15 unknown unit, Canadian built Hurricane IIc PJ662 crashed in the Far East, no details (aviation- safety.net). Possibly F/O D.M. Engineer IAF, 7 Sqn. IAF, Peshawar, who was killed in a Hurricane crash on this date (CWGC, www.bharat-rakshak.com) 15 #64 Base RCAF Station Croft, England, LAC R. Easter died on service, no details.

Wednesday 16 After being held up by weather the Lancaster "Aries" departs from Reykjavik for the North Pole. The aircraft returns in 9 hours after encountering icing, refuels, and leaves again in two hours (Aeroplane). Cochin-China, the last remnant of French Indo-China, is ceded by Japan to Annam-Tongkin (now Vietnam) (Oxford). 16 unknown unit Cpl R.W. Pearce RAF died in England, no details. TSGNO notes from Canada, CWGC states married to a Canadian. 16 #8 AFU Anson I N9911 was attempting a landing in poor weather when it struck the ground and crashed, killing F/S S.R.B. Douglas, F/S H. Sorrell RAF and Sgt J. Blair (Amrit www.rafcommands.com). 16 #1659 HCU RCAF Halifax III MZ590 landed from a training flight after part of it's flaps tore off in flight, F/O J.M.C. Wade, P/O W. Edwards RAF and their crew safe. 16 #3 SFTS, Calgary, Alberta, Anson V #12478 disintegrated in the air and crashed near Ponoka, Alberta, killing F/L E.B. Allan, F/L L.L. Aide, F/L T.B. Akin, F/L R.G. Hodge, F/O G.J. Overend and Sgt I. Stacey RNZAF.

Thursday 17 Just after 0200 in the morning the Lancaster "Aries" circles the North Pole twice before returning to Reykjavik, flight time 19 hours. Three hours after landing the crew begins preparation for the next flight to locate the Magnetic North Pole, believed to be near the Boothia Peninsula of Baffin Island. They have two days remaining in the "window" for May (Aeroplane?).

First flight of the Lockheed P2V Neptune (wikipedia). 17 USN, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldivers 21263 and 21365 lost to unknown cause at (J. Baugher). 17 #1659 HCU RCAF Halifax III HX268 FD-V was seen to spin into the sea with 2 engines feathered while on a evening cross country flight, F/O H.A. Jones and Sgt T.A. Vincent killed, Sgt A.R. Armstrong, F/O O.R. Gillette, F/O W.J. Long, F/S A.F.W. Torbett, F/S B. Trymbulak and Sgt E.R. Lynn RAF missing. These were the last RCAF aircrew killed in the loss of an HCU aircraft. 17 USAAF TB-26C 41-35281 crashed taking off from St. John's, Nfld when an engine failed (AAIR).

Friday 18 Off Okinawa a fire breaks out on the hangar deck of HMS Formidable, caused by an accidental discharge of a fighters guns. The fire destroys 28 aircraft but is put out in an hour. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca The carrier is sent to Australia for repairs (wikipedia). Lancaster "Aries" departs from Reykjavik at 03:00 for Baffin Island, but past Greenland suffers a generator failure, and is forced to fly south to Goose Bay, Labrador for repairs, landing at 17:00 with just 35 hours left in the "window" (Aeroplane?). 18 VS-52 USN, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21533 lost to unknown cause in the Marshall Islands (J. Baugher). 18 408 Sqn. Lancaster X KB993 EQ-U flew into high ground in England on a night flying training exercise, WO2 M.C. Cameron, F/O A.A. Clifford, F/O D.A. Fehrman, F/S C.J. Halvorson, F/S L.C. Hellekson, P/O K.B. McIvor killed. These were the last fatalities in the loss of a #6 Group aircraft. There is a plaque now on the crash site. 18 #5 OTU, Boundary Bay, BC, Liberator B.VI #3719 destroyed by fire at Patricia Bay, BC (J. Baugher). 18 unknown unit, LAC G.E. Hardiman killed in Canada, no details.

Saturday 19 Lancaster "Aries" leaves Goose Bay in the early hours for Baffin Island. Arriving they were unable to fix the Magnetic North Pole, but were able to determine that it had moved and it's approximate direction. The aircraft then returned down the eastern shore of Hudson's Bay to land at Dorval, Quebec. This series of flights proved that the "Grid Navigation" system worked, and improved polar navigation by more accurately localizing the position of the Magnetic North Pole (Aeroplane Monthly?). See July 19, 1947 (below).

U-234, a U-boat modified for long range cargo carrying, surrendered at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with a cargo intended for Japan including supplies for U-boats operating in the Pacific, drawings for the production of the Me 262 fighter, various strategic metals and passengers including 2 Messerschmidt engineers and 2 Japanese military officers who chose to commit suicide rather than become PoW. Of particular interest was 560 kg of Uranium Oxide (www.uboat.net). nuclear 19 709 Sqn., HMS Vulture, RNAS St Merryn, FAA Seafire III NF564 crashed attempting a force landing in bad weather in England, Lt(A) J.A. Grogan RCNVR killed (www.spitfires.ukf.net, www.naval-history.net) 19 #5 Recruiting Centre, aero engine mechanic LAC C.R. Mooney died in hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan of natural causes. 19 Dartmouth, N.S., seaman AC1 B.L. Atwood died when he fell on a cement floor. 19 unknown unit, chef LAC M.J. Ferrier was drowned on Kathleen Lake near Smithers, BC, when his sailboat overturned.

Sunday 20 A nearly complete and fully armed Balloon Bomb was recovered near Chilliwack, BC (Mikesh).

RCAF Disarmament Wing begins operations at Oldenburg in Germany, examining captured German air force equipment there, at Jever, Aurich, Quakenbruck and the Frisian Islands, salvagingwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca secret equipment for examination in England and destroying ammunition dumps. They continued this work until April 1946 (6th Year).

Canadian Army lands unopposed on the island of Texel, stopping the campaign to exterminate the Georgian soldiers who had rebelled there six weeks before. Over 500 Georgians and 800 Germans had been killed, as well as 120 Dutch civilians who supported or hid the Georgians. Most of the farms on the island were destroyed in the fighting. Only 228 of the Georgian soldiers remained, and under the Potsdam Agreement they were returned to the Soviet Union where they were sent to the Gulags, where only a few survived. However the Soviet Ambassador to Holland made visits to the graveyard of the Georgians every year following the war, and before the dissolution of the USSR referred to them as "Heros of the Soviet Union" (wikipedia). 20 357 Sqn. Dakota IV KJ180 crashed making a supply landing in China, F/O W.B. Arnold and F/O C. Egerton-Eves RAF killed, WO G.C. Longbottom RAF and F/S J. Biggin RAF and one passenger injured (May 1945 Form 541, www.rquirk.com). 20 423 Sqn. Sunderland III NJ186 3-D took off from Northern Ireland for an escort and patrol of the Irish Sea. The weather was poor and forecast winds were off, putting the aircraft off course. An error in using radar to establish their position led them to descend early, and the flying boat skimmed the top of a mountain, ripping off it's lower belly, right wing tip, float and aileron, and injuring one of the gunners, F/O J. Miller, asleep on one of the crew bunks on the lower deck. The severely damaged aircraft continued out to sea in cloud where the crew found they could not jettison either the fuel or the load of depth charges, and the damaged right wing was showing signs of failure. Finding a hole in the clouds they found themselves near the Isle of Man, and (unable to land at sea) made an emergency landing on a paved runway, where the co-pilot F/L O. (?) Olsen was pinned in his seat. With the aircraft on fire he was freed, and the evacuating crew warned ambulance and fire crews away from the wreck minutes before it's depth charges exploded, causing heavy damage to the runway and surrounding buildings. F/O Miller, F/L Olsen, F/L G. Allen, F/L A.D.C. Washington, F/O P. Doyle, Sgt H. Jepson, Sgt L. Clausen, Sgt J. Walker and P/O? D. Taylor safe (A.D.C. Washington). 20 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB208 landed too high and broke it's undercarriage, F/L J.C. Crawford RAF safe. 20 unknown unit, WO2 J. Beattie died in Canada.

Monday 21 190 Sqn. Stirling IV LJ934 G5-Y made a forced landing in Eire, possibly due to bad weather, F/O J.J. McDowell, 2Lt C.C. Bliss USAAF, P/O G.W. Fairweather RAF and Cpl A.T.W. Chislett RAF safe (D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com). 21 #6 RC [Repatriation Centre?] LAC A. Graham died in hospital in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan of natural causes.

Tuesday 22 British Labour Party breaks with wartime coalition.

Public announcementwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca in Canada and the USA of Japanese Balloon Bombs (CJCA headline), due to the Lakeview incident, May 5, above, (Mikesh). This results in many reports from the public, most false, all of which had to be investigated (Joost). 22 401 Sqn. Spitfire XVIe RM785 was last seen entering a cloud. It was found later wrecked and burned, the pilot, Squadron Commanding Officer S/L W.T. Klersy DSO, DFC & Bar, an ace with 16½ victories, was killed. He was the second highest scoring pilot in the 2nd TAF since June 6, 1944 (RCAF Sqns.). 22 410 Sqn. aero engine mechanic LAC A.S. Friar died in Holland of injuries received in a motorcycle accident on May 20. 22 #9 Radio School, England, signals technician F/O R.C.E. Webb died of an accidental gunshot wound. 22 #7 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB144 crashed, Sgt I.A.N. MacDonald RAF killed. 22 RCAF Station Alliford Bay, BC, chef AC1 M.J.P.H. Lavoie died due to an adverse reaction to medication. 22 unknown unit, wireless mechanic Cpl M.E. Randall died in Canada, no details. 22 USAAF B-24J 44-10525 force landed near Port au Choix, Nfld. (AAIR).

Wednesday 23 #11 (BR) Sqn. RCAF Liberators redeployed from Eastern Air Command at Dartmouth, NS, to Western Air Command at Patricia Bay, BC (RCAF Sqns.).

Portions of a Balloon Bomb found near Milo, Alberta (Mikesh).

Britain's wartime coalition government ends, general Election called for July 5, below. 23 #23 EFTS, Davidson, Saskatchewan, Cornell III #14405 crashed, LAC J. Skinner RAF killed (B. Barry et al state he was a member of #11 SFTS, Yorkton, Saskatchewan). 23 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 45-41740 written off in a landing accident in Alaska Territory, USA (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Thursday 24 #135 (F) Sqn. RCAF, Patricia Bay, BC, Kittyhawk IV #861 crashed on Mount Newton after the pilot lost control at altitude, killing F/O T. Corme (BC Times Colonist Patricia Bay Aircrash List 2009).

24-25 An attack on airfields on Okinawa is made by 5 Ki-21 bombers carrying specially trained soldiers. Four are shot down but one crash lands on the airfield at Kadena were the 10 soldiers destroy or damage 33 aircraft and two fuel dumps before being killed (wikipedia).

Friday 25 Participation of Canadian 3rd in occupation forces announced (CJCA headline). Churchill re-organizes cabinet (CJCA headline).

404 Sqn. disbanded in Scotland. 405 Sqn. transferred to #6 Group RCAF prior to returning to Canada as part of TIGER FORCE (RCAF Sqns.). 426 Sqn. redesignated from Bomber to www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caTransport duties (RCAF Sqns.). #8 (BR) Sqn. disbanded at Patricia Bay, BC, after service on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada and in Alaska (RCAF Sqns.).

Date for the invasion of Kyushu, Japan, set for Nov. 1 (C.E. Hipperson). It would be the largest seaborne invasion ever, landing 1 million soldiers on the first of the Japanese Home Islands. Casualties were expected to be very heavy, on both sides.

The Arctic Lancaster "Aries" and it's crew, after having discussions with senior Air Force officers in Ottawa, attended a meteorological conference in Toronto and visited the RCAF School of Air Navigation in Rivers, Manitoba, decided to put their new method of "Grid Navigation" to use by returning to England between the North and Magnetic North poles. After having "Aries" checked out in Edmonton, Alberta, they flew to RCAF Station Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, where they left on the morning of May 25. Enroute they gathered further information on the location of the Magnetic Pole while correcting maps of Greenland. They landed at Shawbury, England just after noon local time May 26, having flown 110 hours in 16 days, flying 22,400 miles, almost half of these inside the Arctic Circle. All 11 crew members were recognized, W/C Maclure being awarded the Air Force Cross for his development of the "Grid Navigation" system (Aeroplane?). (A Photo of the crew and aircraft appeared on the July 1945 cover of Canadian Aviation magazine) 25 216 Sqn. pilot F/L J.W.B. Povah died in hospital in Khartoum, Sudan of natural causes. 25 271 Sqn. Dakota III KG500 crashed in France on a cargo flight from Brussels to , Austria, F/S T.R. Crawford, F/O N.H. Dixon, WO1 A.O. Scherbarth and WO1 T.S. Watson killed. 25 #6421 Service Echelon LAC S.H.R. Brown died of natural causes.

Saturday 26 Parts of a Balloon Bomb recovered near Vanderhoof, BC (Mikesh). 26 #2875 Sqn. RAF Regiment, LAC T.P. Green RAF (Nfld.) killed in action in Germany, no details. 26 unknown unit, LAC M.H. Anderson drowned on leave in Canada when his canoe capsized. 26 #10 (BR) Liberator GR.V (Can.) #599 "R" flew the Squadron's last wartime patrol, an escort of westbound convoy ONS-50 (R.W.R. Walker).

26-27 356 Sqn. Liberator VI KG381 "C" shot down just offshore of Moulmein, Burma, F/S J.W. Anderson, F/S R.R. Halford, F/S B.J. Johnston, F/L L.W. Koehl, F/O J. MacLeod, F/L P.A. McMaster, F/O J.W. Piercy, F/O J.L. Reid, Sgt W.L. Thornton-White missing.

Sunday 27 22 ships in a convoy collide in Atlantic (CJCA headline).

Singer and song writer Bruce Cockburn born in Ottawa, Ontario (wikipedia). 27 205 Sqn. Catalina IVb JX593 was lost over the Bay of Bengal on a meteorological flight, F/O A.S. Gibbon, WO C.G. Lewis RAF, F/S D.N. Hogg RAF, F/S F.W. Stewart RAF, F/S P.F. Doyle RAF, F/S T.W. Eckett RAF, Sgt R.E. White RAF, F/O G.W. Goodacre RAF and F/S C.S. Watler www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.camissing (C. Shores). [Note: Sgt R.E. White RAF, WO C.G. Lewis RAF, F/O G.W. Goodacre RAF and F/S C.S. Watler are listed as missing on the Singapore Memorial on this date from 805 Sqn., which may be a typo for 205. 805 is an FAA number and was inactive at this time, being re-activated in England in July (www.fleetairarmarchive.net). In support of this F/O Goodacre is listed as pilot in command of this Catalina by the Warbirds of India website, and WO Lewis as pilot of the same aircraft by C. Shores.] 27 761 Sqn. HMS Henstridge (or HMS McCaw in CWGC) Seafire III NN516 (or 518) entered a dive from a turn practicing landings and crashed in England, Sub Lt(A) W.A. Owen RNVR (Can.) killed (www.spitfires.ukf.net, FAA Museum NAP Data). 27 USAAF 2116th Base Unit, Napier Field, Alabama, USA, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70302 crashed, 7 killed (AAIR).

Monday 28 A Balloon Bomb was recovered near High River, Alberta (Mikesh).

Ships in convoy in Atlantic ordered to resume use of navigation lights (Polsson). This came into effect at midnight and was an impressive sight to escorting Coastal Command aircraft. See June 4, below. 28 #22 OTU Wellington X HE871 aircraft missing from a cross-country exercise, possibly due to icing, F/S W.E. Algar, WO1 J.W. Duncan, F/S F.T. Gidilevich, F/O A.H. Handley and Sgt J.R. Isabelle (who served in the RCAF under the name of Morin) missing. These were the last Canadians lost in an Bomber Command OTU aircraft. See June 8, below. 28 RCAF Station Goose Bay, Labrador, administration F/L F.A. Halpin accidentally drowned when inspecting gasoline lines on the pier at Goose Bay.

Tuesday 29 Gas and oil sales restrictions lifted (CJCA headline).

An armed Balloon Bomb recovered near Chilanko River, BC (Mikesh).

Government of Iran demands that Soviet and British forces vacate the country (wikipedia). 29 USAAF 4th Emergency Rescue Squadron Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-33908 had landed in the open sea to rescue the crew of a ditched B-29 bomber. On taking off it struck a wave and a propeller flew off, injuring the pilot. A US submarine later rescued both crews and sank the disabled aircraft, but the injured pilot died after the rescue (J. Baugher). 29 358 Sqn. Liberator VI EW174 "P" was on a flight to drop three OSS members in Thailand when it was intercepted by a formation of Japanese Army Air Force Ki-43 fighters. In the fight that followed 4 crewmen and a member of the OSS party were killed, and the aircraft force landed just north of the Thai border. F/S B.R. Pool RAF, F/S P.R. Brenchley RAF, Sgt W.J. Pinckney RAF, F/S J.H. Draper RAF and Cpl E. Napieralski (or Naparolski) OSS killed, F/O H.V. Smith, F/S C. Copley RAF, F/S F.J. Parsons RAF, F/S J.R. Roe RAF, Sgt R.S. Woods RAF, F/S W.A. Pugh RAF crew and 3 OSS members, Maj J. Gildee, SSgt McCarthy, Lt R. Moore survived (R. Tebbutt, harringtonmuseum.org.uk, R. Roe, R. Quirk). C. Shores notes that 5 of the survivors evaded while 5 who were injured remained at the wreck site and were internedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca (C. Shores).] 29 F/L J.D. Macdonald appeared in court in England on a charge of with a pistol. He was defended former PM (now Viscount) R.B. Bennett, a friend of the family, who managed to have him acquitted (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). 29 USAAF 10 FS, 50 FG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5389 damaged taking off from an airfield in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 29 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70543 damaged in a landing in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). Wednesday 30 428 Sqn. begins to fly from England back to Canada as part of TIGER FORCE (RCAF Sqns.). 30 #2853 Sqn., RAF Regiment, LAC F. Aylward RAF died in France. LAC Aylward is listed on the Newfoundland Roll of Honour, no details (http://ngb.chebucto.org/NFREG/WWII/ww2-hon- roll-raf.shtml). 30 unknown unit, LAC O.H.J. Gaudry died in hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan, of natural causes.

Thursday 31 #126 (F) Sqn., disbanded at Dartmouth, NS, #161 (BR) Sqn. disbanded at Yarmouth, NS (RCAF Sqns.). Manpower of the RCAF 33,916 officers and 130,930 airmen and women. 31 US Navy Canadian Built SBW-3 Helldiver 21238 lost at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, (J. Baugher from L. Milberry). 31 VB-88 USN, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21407 lost to unknown cause over Saipan (J. Baugher). 31 179 Sqn Warwick GR.V PN800 flew into the sea on a flight test, WO I.L. Baker RAAF killed, Sgt A.A.F. Morris RAF and fitter LAC R. Napier RAF missing, F/S E.A. Widdall RAF, F/O P.A. Boultwood RAF and WO H.J. Cooper RAAF injured, F/L G.M. Casselman and fitter LAC D. Bird RAF safe (A. Storr). 31 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV NC512 C1-J crashed in sea off the English coast returning from a patrol, F/L H.I. Malmas, P/O G.D. Bowes, F/L W.M. Bowlen and F/O L.J.M. Eisler killed, F/O J.E. Garrigan and F/O R.K. McGrath missing. F/O McGrath was the owner of Blackie (aka Digger), a Cocker Spaniel, who was the Squadron mascot, enlisted on squadron strength as "R.407 AC2 Demon Digger" (407 SH). R.H. Hamilton in Flights Into Yesterday notes that Blackie was a dog that loved to fly, had taught himself how to climb the nose access ladder into the Wellington aircraft, and had his own logbook which was endorsed monthly by the flight commanders. He was also fond of beer, and was an official member of both the Officer's and NCO's messes. After F/O McGrath's loss Blackie was taken care of by Hamilton and F/O Carruthers, but he never stopped looking for F/O McGrath. 31 RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS, pilot P/O J.A. Vogt drowned attempting to swim to shore from a capsized dinghy on Nanook Lake. 31 RCAF Station Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, telephone operator LAC P. McCanney was drowned when the small boat he was on was swept under a barge. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca June 1945 May-June 405 Sqn., 408 Sqn., 419 Sqn., 420 Sqn., 425 Sqn., 428 Sqn., 431 Sqn. and 434 Sqn., all now equipped with Canadian built Lancaster X aircraft, return across the Atlantic to Canada to begin re-forming as TIGER FORCE on planned Canadian built Lincoln bombers for the invasion of Japan. 401 Sqn. and 402 Sqn. receive Spitfire XVI aircraft (RCAF Sqns.). At around this time the RCAF resumes photo-mapping operations in the North that had been interrupted by the war, using aircrew returned from Europe to install survey points.

There had been 20 Balloon Bomb scrambles in BC the previous month, most if not all against false reports (Joost).

Friday 1 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70487 destroyed by a tornado in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 1 438 Sqn. Typhoon Ib SW393 crashed during a fly past and demonstration flight over Copenhagen, Denmark, killing S/L J.R. Beirnes DFC & Bar. This was part of an RAF display to raise money for the survivors of a convent school bombed in error March 21, above. 1 #16 SFTS Hagersville, Ontario Harvard II #2652 was struck when it turned out on the runway in front of Harvard II #2765 which was taking off, F/L J.H. Chandler was killed in #2652. 1 433 Sqn. pilot P/O G.F. Fielding died on service after his return to Canada following his escape from PoW camp in Germany. P/O Fielding was shot down in a 433 Sqn. Halifax February 24-25, 1944, and had also crashed a #24 OTU Whitley Sept. 21, 1943. He had escaped a German PoW column with F/S D.C. Fergusson April 7, 1945 (Lancaster, C. et al). 1 CGTAS Lancaster CF-CMS, originally the production pattern aircraft in Canada R5727 converted to passenger use, crashed on take-off and is burnt out at Dorval, Quebec testing new engines, with no casualties (http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca; J. Stroud). 1 #5 OTU, Boundary Bay, BC, Liberator KK241 crashed on Mount Welch, BC, Sgt S. Aldridge RAF, Sgt A.E. Broadbent RAF, Sgt J.R. Dale RAF, Sgt W.P. Drummond RAF, Sgt I. Gibbons RAF, Sgt J.L. Hammond RAF, F/O W.D. Hill RAF, Sgt D.R. Langlands RAF, P/O G.E. Long RAF, Sgt G. Murray RAF and Sgt W.T. Swatton RAF killed. They are buried at the crash site. (BC Times Colonist Other BC Crashes and Losses). 1 #45 Group Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA197 swung on take off at Reykjavik, Iceland, and was written off (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 1 unknown unit, Cpl W.O. Freele died in Canada of natural causes. 1 unknown unit, Cpl R.C. Stewart died on service in Canada, no details.

1-2 As part of the build up to planned seizing of airfield locations on the coast of China (for the invasion of Japan), and as part of the aerial mining of Japanese controlled ports in the Southwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca China Sea, RAAF Catalinas drop mines in Hong Kong harbour (D. Newton).

Saturday 2 428 Sqn. begins to arrive in Canada from England (RCAF Sqns.). 2 PoW Camp Raha Moena, Ambon Island, radar technician F/S R.C. Neal died. He had been taken PoW March 8, 1942 in Batavia by the Japanese and had managed to keep his radar trade secret from his captors. 2 79 Sqn. Thunderbolt II KL174 didn't recover from violent manoeuvres to avoid a collision when forming up with the rest of the Squadron for a napalm attack in Burma and crashed, F/O G.A. Stewart killed (C. Shores, H.A. Halliday). 2 407 Sqn. Leigh Light Wellington GR.XIV HF302 C1-J, F/L P.D. Henry, F/O W.H. Howard, F/O L. Goldbloom, F/O N.K. Bonner, F/O R.B. Poole and F/O R.P. Armes makes the squadrons last operational flight, a convoy escort (RCAF Sqns., 407 SH). 2 unknown unit, air gunner F/L I.P. Walker RCAF (USA) died in Canada on service, no details. 2 #3 Repair Depot, Sea Island, BC, hairdresser Cpl C.E. Pelkey died of natural causes. 2 USAAF unit, a taxiing UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70535 struck a parked C-47A 43-15732 at Edmonton, Alberta, damaging both (AAIR).

2-3 405 Sqn. Lancaster X KB985 LQ-B took off on a training flight but a tyre burst. The aircraft diverted to an emergency airfield but was written off there in a crash landing, F/O J.R. Hartley and his crew safe. 2-3 #111 OTU, Bahamas, Liberator GR.V BZ811 hit the sea off the Bahamas on a Leigh Light exercise, Sgt R.H. Franks RAF, WO G.R. Allbut RAF, F/S J.W. Brookes RAF, Sgt J.W. Burns RAF, P/O J.B. MacDonald RAF, F/L J. Neilson RAF, F/S K.G. Parker RAF and F/O J.H. Swinbanks RAF missing (J. Baugher).

Sunday 3 #34 OTU Pennfield Ridge, NB, Ventura GR.V #2144 lost 100 miles east of Halifax on a night training exercise, Sgt R.L. Bouch, Sgt R.E. Bough, F/S W.G. Davidson, F/O S.M. Harju missing. F/O Harju also listed as from Pennfield Ridge, but #34 OTU Roll of Honour states from Kashabowie, Ontario (married locally?).

Monday 4 Convoy system ends in Atlantic, ships in transit break convoy at midnight to proceed independently, marking the end of the Battle of the Atlantic (Polsson).

407 Sqn. disbanded in England (RCAF Sqns.).

In an English language propaganda broadcast Japan claims the Balloon Bombs sent so far were experimental, and that future flights would drop Japanese agents into the USA and Canada. Researchers discounted this although they conceded it was possible with a larger balloon (Mikesh). 4 428 Sqn. Lancaster X KB764 was approaching to land in the Azores on a return ferry flight to Canada when an engine failed and the bomber ditched off shore, F/L E.P. Acree RCAF (USA) and 8www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca crew and passengers rescued, safe (Amrit www.rafcommands.com). 4 #7 OTU, Debert, NS, Mosquito B.XX KB254 lost, P/O P.M. Cook RAF and P/O F.E.W. Stephenson RAF missing. 4 #10 RD, air frame mechanic F/S S.E. Wanvig drowned at Ocean Lake, Oregon while on leave pending discharge.

Tuesday 5 A typhoon off Okinawa damages 6 US Navy carriers (wikipedia).

422 Sqn. and 423 Sqn. redesignated from Coastal and Convoy patrols on Sunderland flying boats to Transport squadrons, to operate Liberator aircraft to the Pacific theatre in support of TIGER FORCE (RCAF Sqns.). 5 USAAF 5th Bomb Group, South Pacific, Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-34012 reported missing on an operational sortie (J. Baugher). 5 99 Sqn. Liberator VI KH389 "V" crashed into the sea enroute to attack railway targets in Burma, F/O F.V. Brennan, F/O R.R. Chappise, WO2 J.C. Ekeberg, F/S J.A. Farr, F/O W.E. Mittay, F/S M. Mostowy, F/S G.W. O'Connor and F/S B.F. Higgins RAF missing (C. Shores). 5 #8 Repair Depot, Winnipeg, Man., Cpl J.K. Wightman died of methyl alcohol poisoning. 5 #12 Equipment Depot LAC G.W. Oakes and carpenter LAC M.J. Staddon killed in Montreal in a truck train collision. 5 USAAF A-20K 44-403 was damaged near Kluane Lake in a mid air collision (AAIR).

Wednesday 6 431 Sqn. begins to fly from England to Canada (RCAF Sqns.).

#10 Bombing & Gunnery School, Mount Pleasant, PEI, closed (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 6 357 Sqn. Liberator VI KH326 "X" failed to return from a Special Operation over Malaya. The wreckage was discovered by a British Army patrol during the operations against Communists in northern Malaysia in 1955, which removed the remaining and still sealed cargo of weapons and medical supplies (Matt Poole www.rafcommands.com). A quick investigation by the RAF at the time declared the crew had bailed out before the crash, but members of the patrol recalled finding remains at the site. In 2009 the wreck was rediscovered and a research group managed to spend a very short time (3 hours) there in July 2010. They found the wreck, once nearly intact, has been cut up for aluminium scrap by others and they were not able to determine if human remains were or had been present. This has not yet been resolved. F/S H.H. Andrews, F/S D.L. Dellis RCAF (Dominican Republic), F/O G. Faulkner, F/S R. Giesbrecht, F/O W.P. McLeod, F/O J.J. Perron, P/O W.W. Reeve and F/L A.F. Timmermans are commemorated on the Singapore Memorial (R. Tebbutt harringtonmuseum.org.uk, M. Poole). An interesting précis of 357 Squadron operations by F/L A. Coy can be found in Lancaster, C. et al. 6 RAF Station Milltown, Scotland, wireless operator air gunner F/O L.J. Kelly killed in a motor cycle accident. 6 768 Sqn., HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Wildcat V JV356 spun into the sea on take off practicing deckwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca landings from HMS Ravager, Lt(A) H.M. Little RCNVR missing (www.fleetairarmarchive.netwww.naval-history.net).

Thursday 7 443 Sqn. pilot S/L T.J. de Courcy killed in a car accident near Hamburg, Germany. Ironically he had been injured in a car accident in England on Feb. 7, 1942. 7 #39 Wing Rest Camp, Germany, driver LAC J. Hutton accidentally drowned while on duty. 7 unknown unit, Cpl N. Taylor died on service in Canada, no details. 7 USAAF Search & Rescue C-64A (Norseman) 44-70533 damaged at Fort Nelson, BC (AAIR). At around this time Japanese fighters cease attacking B-29 daylight formations due to their losses from escorting P-51 fighters from Iwo Jima, choosing to build up their fighter force to attack any invasion of the islands. This allows attacks by daylight on smaller Japanese cities and precision attacks (at lower altitudes?) on Japan's oil refineries and oil storage sites (Oxford).

Friday 8 As part of operations on Bougainville an Australian landing meant to outflank Japanese positions is surrounded and comes under heavy fire. Despite air and artillery support the Australians are forced back to the beach where they are evacuated under fire June 10 (D. Newton). 8 31 Sqn. Dakota IV KK167 crashed in Burma in bad weather on a supply dropping mission, P/O D.D. Schurr, F/S J. Stevens RAF, F/S P.R. Condon RAF, F/S E.J. Furlong RAF and F/S L.R. Saunders RAF killed (J. Baugher). 8 #24 OTU, F/O J.P.F. Palleck was killed when he accidentally walked into a moving propellor. F/O Palleck was the last Canadian airmen to be killed in England serving in an OTU. 8 #6414 Servicing Echelon LAC L.H. Bauer died of methyl alcohol poisoning while on duty in Germany. 8 #6414 Servicing Echelon aero engine mechanic LAC H.R. Wallbridge died of methyl alcohol poisoning while on duty in the same incident that had killed LAC Bauer. 8 unknown unit, Cpl C.R. Porter died on service in Canada, no details.

Saturday 9 410 Sqn disbanded in Holland, with a total score of 75½ aircraft destroyed, 2 probably destroyed and 9 damaged (RCAF Sqns.). 434 Sqn. begins to leave England for Canada (RCAF Sqns.). 9 VMSB-245 USMC, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21421 lost to unknown cause at Ulithi, 1Lt R.L.W. Flavelle USMC (and his gunner?) safe (J. Baugher). 9 160 Sqn. Liberator III BZ950 "H" took off from Minneriya, Ceylon to fly to the secret airfield established in the Cocos Islands, but crashed attempting to return and land after only a few minutes of flight killing 19 passengers and crew, F/O W.L. Knight, F/S M.M. Smith, F/S A.R. Thomson, F/O J.P. Hynes RAAF, F/O H.W. Daniels RAF, F/O W. Sykes RAF, F/S D. Davenport RAF, F/S E.G. Wood RAF, Sgt D. Lumley RAF, Sgt J.P. Taylor RAF, Cpl R.W. Hubbard RAF, Cpl T.J. O'Riordon RAF, LAC J.C. Cameron RAF, LAC L.S. Holmes RAF, LAC J.V.H. Kitchener RAF, LAC E.J. Long RAF, LAC L.J. Schuler RAF, AC1 F.C.M. Sage RAF and AC1www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca W.C. Stewart RAF. 9 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70540 and 44-70542 written off after a ground accident in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 9 #83 GSU, England, Spitfire XIVe RM840 crashed while doing aerobatics, possibly due to structural failure, F/O D.M. Eastman killed. 9 #2 REMU Cornell II #16644 was being ferried to Mossbank, Saskatchewan, when it went into a spin, recovered with the engine off and glided to a crash landing which killed F/O N.J. MacLean. Sunday 10 Australians invade Borneo. This was part of the effort to establish airbases in support of the invasion of Japan (D. Newton).

#10 (BR) Sqn. RCAF moved from Gander to Torbay, Nfld. (RCAF Sqns.). 10 USAAF 677th Bomber Sqn., 444th BG, TSgt H.E. Halldorson DFC AM** USAAF (Can.) died of wounds in captivity in Japan. His B-29 42-24724 "Hollywood Commando" had been shot down May 25, 1945 with the loss of 1Lt C.J. Branlund Jr. USAAF, Capt H.M. Bright USAAF, TSgt W.R. Clem USAAF, 1Lt H.W. Dever USAAF, TSgt H.W. Doyle USAAF, 2Lt W.S. Harrison USAAF, 1Lt H.W. Heitmann III USAAF, SSgt E.F. Moore USAAF and SSgt J. Yazujian USAAF missing, 1 crewman E. O'Mara USAAF survived as a PoW (B. Barry et al, user.xmission.com, revhowe.proboards.com, AAIR). 10 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70300 crashed in India, 1 killed (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 10 412 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI SM414 crashed in England due to an engine failure when practising dive bombing, P/O J.E. Taylor killed. 10 RAF Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA237 lost between Goose Bay and Greenland, Ferry Captain H.S. Wright and Radio Officer/Navigator J.D. Woodyard missing. 10 RCAF Station Gander, Newfoundland, tractor operator F/S E.W.P. Rayner drowned accidentally.

Monday 11 The Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog, held by German SS, surrenders to Canadian soldiers, the last part of Europe to be liberated (S. Adams, Voices from War's End, Legion Magazine, May/June 2020).

Canadian General Election, Liberals returned to power with a minority government (CJCA headline). The CCF became the third party represented in Parliament with 28 seats (from 8), pushing the Social Credit party into the fourth position (wikipedia)

420 Sqn. departs England for Canada via the Azores (RCAF Sqns.).

Children's author Robert Munsch born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (wikipedia). 11 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB454 crashed after an engine cut on takeoff (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Sgt S. Turner RAF and F/O J.E. Timms RAF were recorded as killed from 162www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Squadron on this date (CWGC). 11 #13 SFTS St. Hubert, Quebec, Cpl W.R. Burns RCAF (USA) died of natural causes.

Tuesday 12 Legislation passed in Japan for compulsory enrolment of adult men and women in the Volunteer Defence Corps to fight invasion of the home islands. While the Japanese military wished to fight to the end powerful political forces were engaged behind the scenes trying to find a way for Japan to surrender (Oxford).

Commonwealth and US PoWs from the liberated Stalag III-A camp at Luckenwalde are brought through Soviet occupied Germany by the Red Cross to reception camps in western Germany (wikipedia).

World Security conference approves formation of UN Security Council (CJCA headline).

Second Japanese Balloon Bomb recovered near Hay River, NWT, with a rare data tag indicating where it was made (Mikesh).

425 Sqn. departs England for Canada as part of TIGER FORCE; 431 Sqn. begins arriving at Dartmouth, NS, from England as part of TIGER FORCE (RCAF Sqns.). 12 unknown USAAF unit, Hollandia, New Guinea, Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-34023 missing on an operational sortie over the South Pacific, at least 4 crew lost (J. Baugher, www.usaafdata.com). 12 356 Sqn. Liberator KH316 "C" lost in Burma attacking Japanese troop concentrations, F/O R.M. Clarke, F/O R.G.H. Fisher, F/S G.W. Hill, F/S J.C. Hodichak, F/S P.N. Humeniski, F/O F.R. Ross, F/S S.J. Veres, F/S J.C.H. Cunningham RAF and F/O D. Venning RAF, killed. On Dec. 4, 1995 there was a CBC radio show that referenced F/O Ross, an interview with a friend on finding his grave. 12 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB200 lost on a bombing exercise over England and crash landed on an island off Holland, F/L K.L. Kilner RAF and his crewman injured. 12 USAAF Whitehorse Search & Rescue unit L-1E 40-291 damaged landing (AAIR).

Wednesday 13 #162 (BR) Sqn. RCAF departs Reykjavik, Iceland for Sydney, NS (RCAF Sqns.). 13 #39 Wing Headquarters, Germany, assistant chef LAC P.E.A. Rawlings drowned in a boating accident.

Thursday 14 British Pacific Fleet launches an attack on the bypassed Japanese naval base at Truk, cruiser HMS Newfoundland part of the escort force (wikipedia). See Aug. 9, below. 14 194 Sqn. Dakota III KG694 crashed on a supply drop in Burma after an engine failed, WO2 J.M. Cox, F/L J.M. Rice, and 1 passenger (load dispatcher?) killed, navigator F/O J.J. Baillie was injured and knocked unconscious, but came to in the burning wreckage. Extracting himself, he heard others inside the aircraft screaming. He re-entered the burning wreckage three times and pulled out the wireless operator and two of the Indian Army load dispatchers.www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca In 1946 he was awarded the George Medal for this (D. Burke www.rafcommands.com). 14 417 Sqn. F/L J.A.H. McNally accidentally drowned near Port Colburne, Ontario, on disembarkation leave. 14 #9 B&G School Mont Joli, Quebec, P/O G.L. Capreol died as a result of injuries sustained in a motor cycle accident. 14 unknown unit, air gunner Sgt L.C. Robinson died at home in Regina of natural causes. 14 #5 RMB, Dartmouth, NS, equipment assistant Cpl A.W. Mailman died in hospital of injuries received in a car crash. Friday 15 405 Sqn. departs from England for Canada (RCAF Sqns.). 425 Sqn. arrives at Debert, NS (RCAF Sqns.). 434 Sqn. begins to re-assemble at Dartmouth, NS to train for TIGER FORCE operations (RCAF Sqns.). #5 (BR) Sqn. RCAF disbanded at Gaspe, Quebec, #160 (BR) Sqn. disbanded at Torbay, Nfld. (RCAF Sqns.).

Parts of two Balloon Bombs found near Skukuma Creek, BC and Whitecourt, Alberta (Mikesh). Another "Balloon Bomb" was intercepted and destroyed by a #135 (F) Sqn. Kittyhawk off the San Juan Islands, Washington, but it turned out to be a US radar calibration balloon (Joost). 15 232 Sqn., RAF Ferry Command, Liberator C.IX JT985 crashed in England after taking off enroute to India, crew F/L S.M. Cole, F/O G.E. McPherson RCAF (USA), F/O J.C. Todd, F/O D.A. Twaddle, F/S G.F. Wyke RAF and their passengers, Cpl L.G. Mason RAF, LAC A.G. George RAF, LAC F.D. Harrington RAF, Cpl D.L. Pratt RAF, LAC W.H. Blackburn RAF, Cpl W.H. Berrey RAF, Cpl D.W. Ellis RAF, LAC L.E. Hildrow RAF, LAC R. Williams RAF, LAC F.S. Yates RAF, Cpl C.F. Venables RAF, Cpl D.J. Brown RAF, LAC D.W. Wright RAF, LAC L. Williamson RAF, Cpl A.E. Deveson RAF, LAC K.W. Kilbank RAF, Cpl M. Moses RAF, LAC G. Parr RAF, F/S A.J. Cottier RAF, Cpl W.F.S. Riley RAF, LAC R. Branker RAF and LAC H.G. Evans RAF killed (H. Welting www.rafcommands.com).

Saturday 16 Parts of a Balloon Bomb found near Mayo, Yukon Territory (Mikesh).

420 Sqn. arrives at Debert, NS (RCAF Sqns.). 664 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF moves back to Holland from Germany (RCAF Sqns.). 16 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB465 belly landed with jammed undercarriage at Gardermoen in Norway (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 16 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB477 had it's undercarriage collapse landing in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 16 USAAF B-24J 42-50506 missing from Goose Bay, Nfld., R.L. Eckert USAAF (and crew?) killed (AAIR).

Sunday 17 437 Sqn. sets up a detachment in Oslo, Norway, for regular transportation flights to northern Norway (6th Year). 17 #1666 HCU air framewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca mechanic LAC R.K. Nicholson drowned accidentally in England. 17 #1 RC [Dartmouth, NS?] armourer Sgt S.H. Quinn died in hospital of natural causes. 17 RAF Ferry Command Canadian built Mosquito B.26 KA260 flew into high ground at Mount Joli, Quebec, Ferry Captain B.J. Duigan (NZ) and Radio Officer/Navigator J.S. Tegart killed (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Monday 18 US President Truman briefed on planned landings on Kyushu, Japan in November, by 776,000 US troops, with expected Allied casualties of over 100,000 in first 30 days (Polsson). Japanese casualties, military and civilian, were expected to be greater. Parts of a Balloon Bomb recovered near Mahood Lake, BC (Mikesh). 18 425 Sqn. Lancaster X KB934 was taxiing for take-off for the first leg of a return flight to Canada when it collided with another aircraft, killing F/S W. Holowaty, the only casualty. 18 442 Sqn. Mustang IV KH694 Y2-P crashed off the English coast, F/O V.F. McClung missing. 18 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70500 destroyed taking off from an airfield in Belgium (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 18 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70505 damaged in Germany when it ground looped on take-off (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday 19 #13 EFTS, St. Eugene, Ontario, closed (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 19 358 Sqn. Liberator VI EW124 "H" missing on Special Operation flight to Thailand. In November 1945 a search party located the crash site in western Burma, and recovered the remains of 4 of the crew, who were not identified. They were interred at the crash site. F/L A.E.F. Anderson, F/S W.G. Bond, F/O E. Elford, F/S A. Maxwell, F/O A.M. Silverthorn, Sgt. W.A. Vaudner, Sgt. K.H. Storrar RAF and Sgt. A.W. Robertson RAF have no known grave and are all commemorated on the Singapore Memorial (R. Tebbutt, harringtonmuseum.org.uk). 19 unknown unit, Sgt R.A. Thomas died on service in Canada, no details. 19 unknown unit, US Navy, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21710 crashed near Goose Lake, California, USA, cause unknown (J. Baugher from L. Milberry).

Wednesday 20 #116 (BR) Sqn. RCAF disbanded at Sydney, NS (RCAF Sqns.). 405 Sqn. arrives at Greenwood, NS, to prepare for operations over Japan (RCAF Sqns.).

Singer Anne Murray born in Springhill, NS (wikipedia). 20 194 Sqn. Dakota IV KK175 crashed into hill on Ramree Island, Burma, killing W/C R.C. Crawford DFC RAF (Can.), F/O F.M. Forrester RAF, F/O N.W. Neelands RAAF and WO A.O. Walkington RAAF (D. Williams, A. Storr). W/C Crawford was the Squadron commanding officer at the time. 20 #11 AFU RAF, England, pilot F/O G.W. Parliament was hit by an army vehicle while riding his bicycle and killed. 20 #14 SFTS, Kingston, Ontario, Harvard II #2869 was engaged in an Army Co-operation exercise GANANOQUEwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca and BROCKVILLE near Mallorytown Landing when it struck and killed an Army officer, Captain R.W. Hardy RCEME, who was standing on top of a vehicle. The Harvard subsequently crashed, killing F/L J.W. Frizelle, AC1 S. Kalzman survived (dfuller52 www.rafcommands.com)

Thursday 21 Okinawa Island captured (CJCA headline) 21 VS-66 USN, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21461 lost to unknown cause in the Marshall Islands (J. Baugher). 21 CASU(F) US Navy SBW-3 Helldiver 21351 lost off Saipan (J. Baugher from L. Milberry). 21 435 Sqn. Dakota IV KN563 lost in SEAC, F/O D.M. Cameron, WO1 S.J. Cox, aero engine mechanic LAC C.J. Kopp, P/O J.W. Kyle DFC & Bar, F/S C.P. McLaren and WO2 W.B. Rogers missing in Burma. The wreckage of this aircraft was discovered by a hunter in 1990, who found P/O Kyle's engraved watch. After several years of negotiation a Canadian Forces team was guided to the crash site in 1996 and the remains of the crew were recovered. The aircraft is believed to have been driven inverted into the ground by extreme weather conditions. A description of being caught in monsoon weather by a 436 Sqn. pilot was printed in The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year. 21 #63 Base (#6 Group) aero engine mechanic LAC A.W. Lefevre died of injuries received when he was caught between two colliding trucks. 21 unknown unit, bandsman Cpl L.J. Kight died in hospital in England of natural causes. 21 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70258 damaged in an accident in England. Later repaired it was sold to a company in Sweden in 1947, who sold it to the Greenland Commission of Government (Denmark) where it it flew for several years before ending it's career in Iceland in 1962 (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 21 #34 OTU, Pennfield Ridge, NB, Ventura GR.V #2235 landed short of the runway in soft ground, F/O T.E. Close, Sgt J.F.G. Charters, Sgt A.E.J. Belanger, Sgt W.E. Barrett and Sgt J.J.P. Couture all safe. (Dakota www.rafcommands.com).

Friday 22 Australians invade Borneo (CJCA headline). 22 USAAF 2nd Rescue Squadron Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-33885 crashed into a wave taking off from a rescue off Balikpapan, Borneo, 2Lt W.E. Thornton USAAF and two crew who had been rescued from a B-24, 2Lt D.S. Sorem USAAF and Flight Officer A.C. Lorenz USAAF, were lost in the crash, 11 others survived (J. Baugher, www.usaafdata.com). 22 #34 OTU RCAF, Pennfield Ridge, NB, Ventura GR.V #2199 crashed and exploded near the airfield, killing Sgt E.A. Balderston, F/O L.P. Gravel, F/S D.H. MacNeil and WO2 J.P. McQuarrie (#34 OTU Roll of Honour) 22 RCAF Station Tofino, BC, carpenter LAC R.E. Burse RCAF (USA) was on leave in Maine when he accidentally drowned. 22 #1 Wireless School, Mount Hope. Ontario, S/L E.M.J.U.V. Lecavalier died of natural causes. 22 unknown unit, AC2 W.A. Wenland died in Canada, no details.

Saturday 23 Having captured Brunei in Borneo, Australian ground forces begin moving south to re- capture to oilwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca fields there (D. Newton). In Japan People's Volunteer Combat Corps formed (by compulsion) from Defence Corps units, intended to be an armed militia of men and women, but few weapons are available to equip them (Oxford).

Parts of a Balloon Bomb reported at Yank, BC (Mikesh). 23 409 Sqn. Mosquito NF.XIII MM567 KP-E crashed in Holland, F/O P.J. Lim, F/L J.H. Skelly, F/L J.W. George RNZAF (485 Sqn.) and 2 civilians on the ground killed (E. Martyn www.rafcommands.com). 23 unknown unit, LAC C.H. Leigh died in Canada, no details. 23 unknown unit, Sgt J. Bennett RAF accidentally drowned in North America, no details.

Sunday 24 Parts of a Balloon Bomb were found near Old Crow, Yukon Territory (Mikesh). 24 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70508 damaged (possibly written off) in a ground loop in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Monday 25 World Security conference approves world charter text (CJCA headline). 25 62 Sqn. Dakota IV KJ901 "J" lost in South East Asia, F/O W.E. Besso RAF (Nfld.) and crew missing (C. Shores). Sgt A.E. Collingwood RAF, WO G.H. Lloyd RAF, F/S J.C.W. Williamson RAF, Sgt S.J. Riding RAF and F/S G. Firth DFM RAF were also listed as missing from 62 Sqn. on this date (CWGC). 25 614 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB531 dived into the sea near Malta, F/L W.E. Jay RNZAF and P/O H.C. Willis missing (www.dehavilland.ukf.net, http://aviation-safety.net, CWGC). [Many sources state this occurred on June 26, CWGC states June 25.] 25 #2 Construction Maintenance Unit, fitter F/S F.D. Wright died in hospital of natural causes. 25 #7 OTU, Debert, NS, Mosquito B.XX KB170 and B.VII KB303 collided in mid-air practicing low level formation flight, KB170 crashed near Hantsport, NS, F/S T.C.V.M Swift and F/O W.T. White killed. 25 RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, LAC N.K. Standing died in hospital of natural causes.

Tuesday 26 Fifty nations sign World Security Charter creating the United Nations. Conference closes (CJCA headline).

666 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF deploys from England to Holland (RCAF Sqns.). 26 117 Sqn. Dakota IV KN218 crashed during a supply drop in Burma, F/O W.S. Bradly, F/O M.A. Russell missing, 2 crew missing/killed. Sgt A.Y. Davies RAF was also listed as lost from 117 Sqn. on this date (CWGC). Note CWGC states F/O Bradly was with 155 Sqn. 26 429 Sqn. Lancaster III RF253 AL-W lost power and crash landed returning from a sortie to dispose of bombs by dropping them at sea, F/L L. Bawtree and his crew safe. 26 608 Sqn. Mosquito B.XVI RV358 6T-C crashed making a single engined landing from a training flight to Germany, F/O V.D. Poole and his navigator safe. 26 Group Service Unitwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Typhoon Ib EK432 was seen to lose an undercarriage door in a steep dive before crashing in England, F/L T.L. Lewis killed. 26 #6 OTU, Comox, BC, Dakota III FZ583 crashed on Sulphur Mountain, Washington State, USA, P/O J.C. Bayston RAF, Sgt D.V. Sorfleet RAF and Sgt C.A. Wilton RAF killed. BC Times Colonist Other BC Crashes and Losses notes that the crash site was not found until September, 1953. 26 #313 FTU Canadian built Mosquito T.22 KA896 overshot a landing at North Bay, Ontario (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Wednesday 27 A Japanese Balloon Bomb with an unexploded bomb was recovered near Dease Lake, BC (Mikesh). 27 117 Sqn. Dakota IV KN602 lost on a supply flight in very bad weather near Akayb, Burma, F/O H.M. O'Reilly, P/O E.A. Fahey RAAF, F/O A.C. Kent RAF, F/S R.B. Ball RAF, Sgt W.A. Cooper and 8 passenger (Army and/or Indian Army) missing. Alan Storr's listing of RAAF casualties notes that the wreck of the aircraft was reported found near the mouth of a river in Burma with 7 unidentified bodies nearby. 27 240 Sqn. Catalina IVb JX334 overshot a landing in the Cocos Islands, struck a reef, overturned and sank (R. McNeill www.rafcommands.com), P/O F.A. Marshall among those missing. F/S E. Benn RAF and F/S G. Sims RAF were listed as killed, and F/S E.G. Spearing RAF, F/S E.W.G. Denmark RAF, Cpl F. Haworth RAF, WO E.J. Freeman RAF and F/S D.J.J. Paramore RAF listed as missing from this Squadron on this date (CWGC). There may have been other passengers on board lost as well. 27 759 Sqn., HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton, Corsair III JS700 crashed in England practicing deck landings, Lt.(A) J.J. Feeney RCNVR killed. 27 #13 MU Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB610 overshot a landing and ran into a ditch in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 27 #313 FTU Canadian built Mosquito T.22 KA897 crashed taking off from North Bay, Ontario (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 27 unknown unit, navigator F/S D.R. Bates drowned in Canada. 27 unknown unit, ground wireless operator LAC C.A. Harvey died of natural causes in the USAAF Base Dispensary at RCAF Station Grande Prairie, Alberta. 27 unknown unit, F/O R.B. Hopkins died in Montreal between surgeries for the injuries suffered in January 1943.

Thursday 28 #45 Group RAF Ferry Command, Mosquito FB.26 KA317 made a night force landing in Ireland on a ferry flight, but hit a stone wall, F/L G.F. Ayton RAF killed. According to the Irish Air Corps report two brothers managed to help the seriously injured navigator/radio operator F/O H.R. Anderson from the burning wreck, but were unable to find the pilot (T. Kearns and M. Gleeson at www.rafcommands.com; D. Burke, www.ww2irishaviation.com). 28 RCAF Station Sea Island, BC, Sgt E.A. Andrewes died of natural causes.

Friday 29 VMSB-245 USMC,www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21368 lost to unknown cause at Ulithi, pilot 1Lt S. Bull USMC killed (gunner?) (J. Baugher, AAIR). 29 unknown unit, 2Lt E. McCoy Jr. AM** USMC (Can.) missing or buried at sea, no details. 29 Mosquito Servicing Section, Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB606 was landing on a delivery flight in England but one undercarriage unit folded, F/L R.L. Bartley DFC and Bar safe.

Saturday 30 417 Sqn. disbands in Italy (RCAF Sqns.). #145 (BR) Sqn. RCAF disbanded at Dartmouth, NS (RCAF Sqns.). #165 (T) Sqn. Detachment at Rivers, Manitoba, closes when paratroop training ends (RCAF Sqns.). 30 #45 Group RAF Ferry Command, Liberator B.VIII KN768 crashed taking off at Dorval, Quebec, when the undercarriage was retracted too early and the propellors hit the ground, causing a loss of control, Sgt A.T. Furness RAF (Can.), Sgt G.F. Buers RAF, Sgt G.E. Chappell RAF, F/O D.W. Southwell RAF, P/O J.A Winkley RAF and Sgt I.R. Platt RAF killed (C.A. Christie), 5 survived (from a quoted crew of 11; most sites list 4 killed from this accident). The Liberator crashed near the house where pilot F/L D.P. Varden was on leave from his station at Yarmouth, NS. He immediately entered the burning wreck and pulled out two crewmen who had been killed. A third attempt pulled out a survivor. A second survivor was pinned by wreckage that was too hot to handle. F/L Varden's wife brought him water which was used to cool the metal, but F/L Varden's hands were still burned releasing the trapped airmen. He ceased his rescue attempts when other people took over. For his efforts F/L D.P. Varden was awarded the George Medal (Awards).

July 1945 426 Sqn. begins working up on Liberator C.VI and C.VIII aircraft for transport flights from England to India (RCAF Sqns.).

Sunday 1 Australian and Dutch soldiers with RAAF and USN air and ship support invade Balikpapen in Dutch Borneo (Oxford).

409 Sqn. disbanded in Holland. From the Invasion of Normandy to VE day 409 was the top scoring Commonwealth night fighter squadron with 58 ½ aircraft and 12 V-1 flying bombs destroyed, for a Squadron total (Night Fighter/Intruder) of 65 ½ destroyed, 7 probably destroyed and 24 damaged plus the V-1s (RCAF Sqns.). 1 #45 Group, RAF Ferry Command, Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA316 crashed near Mont Joli, Quebec, when it struck a fence with it's tail wheel making a single engined approach to land, F/L V.J. Sopuck and WO S.G. Witherspoon RAF killed.

Monday 2 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB223 was wrecked when it swung on take off, F/O J. Howard RAF safe. 2 USAAF 919th AES, 501st SRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70349 destroyed in a ground loop in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 2 unknown unit, LACwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca A.W. Evans died in Canada, no details.

Tuesday 3 Allied governments agree to divide the occupation of Berlin into three areas, to be controlled by Soviet, US and British forces (LoN). Later part of the US zone was given to France. 3 627 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB416 AZ-P was on a training flight for deployment with TIGER FORCE when it suffered an engine failure and crashed badly when making a landing at it's base in England. Rescue Cpl S. Cogger RAF broke into the burning aircraft and rescued navigator/bomb aimer P/O J.D. Finlayson RAF. Although burned himself he then re-entered the burning aircraft and attempted to rescue the pilot, F/L D.N. Johnson RAF, but was unsuccessful. Cpl. Cogger was awarded a George Medal for his actions. 3 #5 OTU, Boundary Bay, BC, Liberator B.VI aircraft KG880 and KH107 collided and crashed, F/O A.K. Allan RAF, Sgt R.H. Avery RAF, F/O T. Batley DFC RAF, P/O P.F. Gunter RAF, F/O G.W. Morris RAF, Sgt J.W. Murphy RAF, F/L J.A. Sinclair RAF, Sgt A.C. Suggate RAF and Sgt J.E. Thomas RAF killed, Sgt D.F. Brandon RAF injured and 2 other airmen survived (C. Vincent; C. Charland at www.rafcommands.com).

Wednesday 4 Canadian troops arrive in Berlin; Canadian troops waiting repatriation riot in Aldershot (CJCA headline). In Aldershot over two days Canadian soldiers showed their impatience with slow repatriation by breaking the windows in 200 shops downtown. No looting occurred, however, and only £20 was reported stolen (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/aldershot-museum/local-history-aldershot/canadian- army-aldershot.htm). The Canadian Army cracked down on the soldiers, and replaced all the broken glass (not inconsequential given shortages in England), while ways of expediting the soldiers return to Canada were sought. See January, 1946

Brazilian light cruiser Bahia, on plane guard duties in the South Atlantic, accidentally shoots it's own depth charges during an anti-aircraft exercise, which causes an explosion that sinks the ship in minutes. About 30 survivors are found 4 days later when it's relief ship arrives in the area (wikipedia). 4 231 Sqn, #45 Transport Group, Ferry Command, Liberator C.IX (RY-3) JT982 missing over the Atlantic on a flight to the UK, navigator F/O R.H.M. Patterson, Steward LAC W.T. Keates RAF, Ferry Captain Evans (US), Ferry Captain J.W. Ross (US), Flight Engineer G.B. Swaney, Radio Officer C.P.J. Meagher, Col. D.C. Capel-Dunn (British Ministry of Defence), Sir William Malkin (British Foreign Office), Mr. R.T. Peel (British India Office), Miss P.M.S. Spurway (British Cabinet Office), Miss B. Hibberd (British India Office), Miss A.M. Collard (British Foreign Office), Miss J.M. Cole-Hamilton (British Foreign Office), Miss D. Smith (British Foreign Office) and Miss M.J.C. Scupham (British Foreign Office) missing. FE Swaney was on his 190th Trans Atlantic flight and had served in the RCMP prior to his joining Ferry Command (B. Barry et al). 4 RAF Ferry Command, Mitchell "FE203" lost, F/S R.A. Davies RAF missing. 4 unknown unit, (111www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca OTU?), WO S.J. Ford RAF, F/S L.G. Green RAF, F/L E. Lindsey RAF, F/O I.H. Mitch RAF, Sgt H.C. Richardson RAF, F/O J.P.G. Robinson RAF, Sgt J.E. Rowson RAF, Sgt J. Walker RAF and F/L A.R. Thompson RNZAF missing.

Thursday 5 Australian Prime Minister John Curtin dies; Philippines Islands liberated [see below]; British General Election held (CJCA headlines).

General McArthur declared the Philippines completely liberated despite thousands of Japanese soldiers still at large or even fighting in different areas. It was decided these would be handled by Philippine soldiers (D. Sommerville).

USA and Britain recognize the Communist government in Poland (Oxford).

Balloon Bomb with 2 unexploded bombs recovered near Alberni (Port Alberni?), BC (Mikesh). 5 #16 OTU Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB496 was wrecked landing from a cross country flight, WO S. Dennis RAF safe.

Friday 6 Australians take Balikpapen, Borneo (CJCA headline). Brazil declares war on Japan (wikipedia). 6 414 Sqn. two Spitfire FR.XIV aircraft lost in bad weather in NW Europe on a ferry flight, aircraft MV314 crashed in Germany killing F/L R.W.C. Davis, and the other, MV269, crashed in Holland killing F/O W.J. Hanna (www.spitfires.ukf.net). 6 #2 Air Command Ventura GR.V #2260 damaged in an accident and written off (R.W.R. Walker). 6 #10 (BR) Sqn. RCAF, Gander, Newfoundland, Liberator #595 "X" crashed due to a jammed rudder while searching for survivors from the missing Ferry Command Liberator JT982, F/O F.D. Gillis missing. The Atlantic Air Museum notes that an Airborne Lifeboat was dropped from a RCAF Hudson to this crew, the first use of this apparatus by the RCAF. 6 #7 Photo Wing, Rockcliffe, Ontario, navigator bomb-aimer F/L D.D. Shackleton RCAF (USA) and flight engineer P/O L.R. Wheatcroft died in a canoe accident at Nueltin Lake, NWT, while part of a photo mapping operation.

Saturday 7 #2 ANS, Charlottetown, PEI, ceased operations on this date (Chris www.rafcommands.com). 7 436 Sqn. Dakota IV KN208 was flying supplies to British Army forces in Burma but became trapped by cloud in a small valley and crashed into trees attempting to force land in a small clearing, F/O W.C. Campbell, F/O W.J. Friesen, F/O A.R.W. Harrison and F/S S.H.L. Smith were killed. 7 unknown unit, LAC F. Ellens died in Canada, no details.

Sunday 8 Canadian 3rd Divisionwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca starts occupation duties (CJCA headline). Monday 9 An RCAF Spitfire PR.VIIf X4492 aircraft is used to obtain the first aerial and first high altitude (34,000') photographs of a total solar eclipse, over Manitoba. Other photos are taken during the event by RCAF Mitchell #891 and an Anson aircraft, all operating from Rivers, Manitoba. The Mitchell had bright orange markings painted on it's upper wings and was used as the navigation aircraft for the operation, flying at 26,000' over the clouds, the Spitfire, flown by F/L Percival, then climbed above it, using the orange wings as a reference, and was guided into the circle of totality (R. Juniper) 9 42nd ADG, USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35376 destroyed in a landing accident at Innsbruck, Austria (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 9 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70291 suffered it's second accident in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 9 USAAF P-38L 44-26970 damaged taking off from Namao, Alberta (AAIR).

Tuesday 10 Japan attacked by over 2,000 aircraft (CJCA headline). Carrier aircraft of the USN and RN join USAAF operations against Japan with an attack in the Tokyo area (Oxford).

401 Sqn. disbanded in Germany, having the highest score (195 enemy aircraft destroyed) of RCAF Squadrons and the highest scoring squadron (112 air and 15 ground aircraft destroyed) in the 2nd TAF (RCAF Sqns.). 402 Sqn., 403 Sqn. and 421 Sqn. also disbanded in Germany (RCAF Sqns.). 665 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF disbands in Holland (RCAF Sqns.). 10 159 Sqn. Liberator B.VIII KL662 "V", F/L H.H. Marcou, was one of a group of 10 bombers sent on a combined GARDENING and bombing operation to Bangkok, Thailand, when it flew over a group of Japanese ships at low level off of the city. Anti-aircraft fire knocked out one engine, but the crew (including gunner F/O H. Kyle) managed to return to it's base in India. There a gear leg would not come down, and the aircraft dragged a wing and cartwheeled across the runway, crew safe with 2 minor injuries. Ironically F/O Kyle was injured and hospitalized the next day in a vehicle accident as the crew returned to the wreck to salvage material (Lancaster, C. et al, www.rquirk/159oper/, J. Baugher). 10 #10 Ferry Unit Mosquito FB.VI RF651 crashed in India when it flew into trees searching for a missing aircraft, killing F/L H.C. Morgan and his RAF navigator. 10 #14 SFTS, Kingston, Ontario, air gunner P/O M.R. Smyth killed in a car accident at Chatham, Ontario

Wednesday 11 Unarmed Balloon Bomb recovered near Aishihik [Lake?], Yukon Territory (Mikesh). 11 USAAF 387th FS, 365th FG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5393 crashed in Germany (J. Baugher). 11 #6 Flight [Photo Flight?], Edmonton, Alberta, Norseman IV #3528 crashed at Fort Simpson, NWT, F/O C.T. Wheeler missing. 11 unknown unit, F/Owww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca H.A. Brown died in hospital in BC. Thursday 12 #124 (Ferry) Sqn. RCAF Anson V #12504 crashed near North Bay, Ontario, F/L R.P. Foulds killed.

Friday 13 J.B. Chifley becomes Australian Prime Minister (CJCA headline). 13 62 Sqn. Dakota IV KN457 "F" crashed dropping supplies to British units in Burma, WO2 R.H. Jones, F/L S.W. Hamilton RNZAF, F/O W.O. Davison RAF, WO T.W. Binning RAAF and P/O J.R. Moore RAAF killed (A. Storr). 13 117 Sqn. Dakota IV KN562 crashed in India (now ) attempting a forced landing after an engine failure, WO1 G.M. Eason RAF (Nfld.), F/S A.A. Shallow RAF (Nfld.) among the missing. Also lost from 117 Squadron on this date were S/L R.N. Rowson RAF, AC1 C. Abel RAF and F/O B.B. Stansfield RAF (CWGC). 13 RCAF R Depot, Torquay, England, LAC L.L. Lamarche killed in a vehicle accident. 13 #11 (BR) Sqn. RCAF, Patricia Bay, BC, Liberator GR.VIII #11121 crashed on a mountain near , 15 miles from Bamfield, BC, on a passenger flight. Crew WO1 V.G. Crosson, F/O W.E. Davies, F/O H.A. Lowe RCAF (USA), F/S D.W. Hope, F/O R.J. Martello, F/O N.M. Popovitch, WO2 J.B.R. Presse and passengers dental assistant Sgt. Pamela Gladys Bennett, air frame mechanic Cpl W. Hrysko, meteorological observer Cpl Nora Johnson, Cpl N.M. Johnson, LAC R.V. Kitely, LAW Margaret Mann and aero engine mechanic LAC L.H. Tull killed. Cpl Nora Johnson and Cpl Norman M. Johnson were sister and brother. All are buried on the South-west shore of Barkley Sound and their names are also inscribed on the Ottawa War Memorial.

Saturday 14 US Fleet bombards Japan (CJCA headline). Carrier operations commence over the northern Island of Hokkaido for 2 days (Oxford).

Italy declares war on Japan (wikipedia).

#6 Group RCAF was transferred from RAF Bomber Command to RCAF Eastern Air Command for working up to deploy to the Pacific (RCAF Sqns.) 14 USAAF 13th PRS, 7th PRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70255 destroyed in a ground loop in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 14 #17 Wing Headquarters RCAF, attached to #8 RD in Winnipeg, LAC C.J. Roy had been repatriated due to illness to his home in Canada where he died of natural causes. 14 #16 SFTS, Hagersville, Ontario, F/L B.I. Hillman was struck by a train and killed while on leave. F/L Hillman had served a tour in Europe before his posting back to Canada. He had been shot down in a Mustang over Falaise Aug. 18, 1944. 14 #16 Depot, Canada, LAC J.D. MacMillan accidentally drowned while on leave in St. Stephen, NB.

Sunday 15 Scott Morrison Awardwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca of Minor Hockey Excellence awarded to 17 year old Gordie Howe (wikipedia). 15 #3 PRC, Bournemouth, England, F/O G.M. McCracken DFC died of injuries received while diving off the pier at Bournemouth. 15 #4 RC [Repatriation Centre?], F/S W.G. Dowling died of carbon monoxide poisoning at Hamilton, Ontario

Monday 16 Trinity Test, first Atomic Bomb, a plutonium device, detonated in New Mexico, at 5:30 am local time, with a yield of 20,000 tons of TNT. The cover story for the public was an explosion at a bomb storage dump. nuclear

On the same day the cruiser USS Indianapolis leaves the US for , carrying the parts and fissionable material for two atomic bombs (C.E. Hipperson). nuclear

Cruiser HMCS Uganda re-joins Pacific fleet off Japan (Polsson).

RCAF Fighter Wing formed as part of the British Forces of Occupation in Germany with 411 Sqn., 412 Sqn., 416 Sqn. and 443 squadrons (RCAF Sqns.).

Parts of a Balloon Bomb recovered near Salmo, BC (Mikesh). 16 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5300 believed to have been damaged in an accident in India, it's third. It was not repaired (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 16 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB458 swung on take off in Belgium and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 16 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM734 HU-K ran short of fuel on a cross country training flight and crashed attempting to land in England, F/S G.C. Moir and F/O R.J. Sloan killed.

Tuesday 17 Churchill, Stalin and Truman meet at Potsdam. During discussions Truman informs Stalin of the existence of the Atomic Bomb program (Stalin already knew through Soviet intelligence), and the successful Trinity Test. nuclear

1,500 Allied carrier aircraft attack Tokyo area (CJCA headline). Carrier operations continue with attacks on Tokyo for 2 days (Oxford). 17 VMSB-245 USMC, Canadian built SBW-3 Helldiver 21267 lost to unknown cause at Ulithi (J. Baugher). 17 358 Sqn. Liberator VI EW274 crashed after take-off in India, F/O W.P. Thomas, WO D.J. Sims RAF, Sgt L.J. Boase RAF, Sgt J.S. Freeman RAF, F/O G.C. Mayhew RAF, Sgt R.R.P. Bryson RAF and Sgt F.A. Cooper RAF killed (R. Quirk). 17 #133 (F) Sqn. RCAF, Patricia Bay, BC, Mosquito FB.26 KA109 lost between Tezada and Lusqueti islands, F/O C.G. Middleton and F/S W.M. Turnbull missing. 17 RCAF Station Torbay, Newfoundland, F/S E.G. Burton died of natural causes.

17-18 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB560 overshot a single engined landing on a training flight and waswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca wrecked, WO G.J. Frensham RAF safe. Wednesday 18 An ammunition barge explodes in Halifax Harbour, scattering shells and munitions around the harbour area, and setting a brushfire that sets off other explosions of stored ammunition throughout the night. Thousands of people spent the night in parks in case a major explosion occurred (B. Ricketts). Unexploded shells from this event were still being found as late as 2014 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/3- ww-ii-era-bombs-found-on-corrections-canada-site-1.2765049). 18 #1845 Sqn. FAA Corsair IV KD723 133-X from HMS Formidable was attacking an airfield near Tokyo when its overload tank was hit and burst into flames (www.fleetairarmarchive.net, www.naval-history.net). The aircraft crashed killing Lt(A) W.B. Asbridge RCNVR. 18 #14 SFTS, Kingston, Ontario, Harvard FE269 crashes on Wolfe Island practicing low flying, 2 injured (M.L. McIntyre).

Thursday 19 A Balloon Bomb was recovered near Lillooet, BC (Mikesh). This is the last Canadian wartime Balloon report recorded in Mikesh's book; 73 of the total of 285 reports from November, 1944 were in Canada. It is believed that most of the 9,000 released fell into the ocean, but many must have come down in remote areas and were undetected. Some continue to found. One was reported as a parachute in a tree in the 1950's near Hope, BC (pers. comm., Duke Dawes, circa 1994), and a fully armed one was reported and recovered in far NE Alaska in 1954 (Mikesh). As late as the 1990s a logger reported to the Comox Air Museum a near accident with a chainsaw when it kicked back after it hit the metal parts of one that had landed in a tree which then grew around it (pers. comm.). In 2014 a balloon bomb with an attached bomb was found at Lumby, BC near Vernon and was destroyed by a controlled explosion. The Comox Museum has the remains of a recovered Balloon Bomb on display.

Sole Blenheim IV in RCAF service struck off on this date (Griffin CMA). 19 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70483 damaged at Dum Dum in India in a landing accident (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 19 #1 Air Command Harvard II #3802 crashed and written off (R.W.R. Walker).

Friday 20 First of 6 practice atomic bomb missions flown over targets in Japan, dropping special bombs the same shape and weight as the nuclear bombs on industrial targets near the cities selected for atomic bombing (wikipedia). 20 139 (Jamaica) Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.XX KB217 XD-H was damaged beyond repair by an exploding air tank, no casualties. 20 #62 Base, RCAF, England, air frame mechanic LAC J.A.J.M. Mongrain died in hospital of natural causes. 20 unknown unit, Sgt L.H. Cameron died of natural causes in Canada. 20 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5247 damaged in a ground loop in Alaska Territory, USA. (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Saturday 21 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB492 belly landed at Dunino (in Scotland or Germany?) (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). 21 #4296 Servicing Echelon aero engine mechanic Cpl G.W. Beattie died in a bicycle accident in Essex, England. According to one reference, Cpl Beattie was a radar mechanic and had seen recent service in Africa and Norway (W.B. Begy).

Monday 23 Treason trial of Marshall Pétain begins (CJCA headline). 23 203 Sqn. Liberator GR.VI KG911-SNAKE "D" missing on a shipping strike in Sumatra, F/O J.V. Prosser RAF (Can.), F/L C.R.H. Elmes RAAF, F/S K.T. Cook RAAF, F/S C.H. Hamilton RAAF, F/S H.B. Francis RAAF, WO K.C. Pickering RAF, F/S J.F.D. Churchill RAF, Sgt R.K. Grainger RAF and Sgt F.H.H. Marchant RAF missing/killed (R. Quirk). F/O Prosser had flown with 242 (Canada) Sqn. in England as a Sergeant. The SNAKE suffix to the serial number was applied to aircraft specially modified for, and being ferried to, the Far East, and indicated high priority, not to be delayed or diverted enroute. 23 #162 (BR) Sqn. RCAF Canso A #11023 "F" was practicing water landings when a wing caught the water and the aircraft crashed into Lake Deschenes, Quebec, F/S S.W.R. Brown, WO1 R.L. Bulley, F/O R.G. Murphy, F/O S.M. Olson and WO2 L.M. Whitehead killed, F/O A.F. Gerding and F/L J. Beattie injured. F/O Olsen died trying to free F/O Murphy who was trapped in the sinking wreck, and was recommended for a George Cross, but no award was made (http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/peter-pigott-the-day-the-war-came-to- britanna-beach).

Tuesday 24 Japan's Inland Sea attacked by USN and RN carrier aircraft (Oxford, www.spitfires.ukf.net).

Rental Housing [rent?] frozen (CJCA headline) 24 801 Sqn., HMS Implacable, Sub Lt(A) G.E. Bedore RNVR was killed over Japan when his Seafire III aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. 24 441 Sqn. Mustang III KH569 crashed in England, killing F/O E.J. McCabe.

Wednesday 25 President Truman gives final approval for use of atomic bomb on Japan (Polsson). nuclear

#7 (BR) Sqn. RCAF disbanded at Alliford Bay, BC (RCAF Sqns.). 428 Sqn. is re-established at Yarmouth, NS, for training for TIGER FORCE (RCAF Sqns.).

Thursday 26 Churchill defeated in elections by Clement Atlee. Labour Government declared elected in UK (CJCA headline).

In London a meeting took place in the Air Ministry to discuss expanding the search for missing Commonwealth airmen in Europe. At this time besides the thousands of airmen recordedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca as prisoner or killed in the lists exchanged with Germany there were some 42,000 Commonwealth airmen missing in Europe, while no information had been received at all from Japan on Allied soldiers, sailors or airmen missing in the Far East (S. Hadaway).

Britain, China, and US leaders at Potsdam demand (CJCA headline). 26 #11 Equipment depot, driver LAC C.J. Ford was killed in Calgary, Alberta when his truck was struck by a passenger train. 26 #4 RC [Repatriation Centre?], F/S J.G. Gilchrist died on active service in Canada, no details. Friday 27 #3 SEHU [?] Sgt J.A. Vermette fell from an Air Force truck and died in Swift Current, Saskatchewan 27 unknown unit LAC J.P. Campbell drowned when a row boat overturned at Schooner Cove near Tofino, BC.

Saturday 28 Japan rejects Potsdam surrender ultimatum (CJCA headline). Carrier aircraft return to attack targets in Japan's Inland Sea (Oxford).

US Senate ratifies the United Nations Charter, allowing the USA to become a member (LoN).

In a USAAF B-25 aircraft that took off for a flight to another local airfield found itself trapped under low clouds over the downtown. It hits the Empire State Building on the 79th floor, killing 14 people and injuring others. Casualties were low as it was a Saturday and few people were working in the building at the time (Morgan). 28 1772 Sqn. RN FAA, HMS Indefatigable, Firefly I "??886" lost on a strike over Japan, Lt(A) C.P.R. Stevens RCNVR and Sub Lt(A) A.M. La Grange South African Naval Forces missing (www.fleetairarmarchive.net, www.naval-history.net). 28 #6 MFPS, Germany, LAC A.J.G.M. Elliot accidentally drowned when on a ride in a rubber dinghy at the Canada Club Rest Centre at Lubeck, Germany. 28 USAAF 14th MRRS, 1st SAD, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35369 damaged taking off in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Sunday 29 unknown unit, WO1 L.E. Brady was struck and killed by a car 2 miles south of his home town of Lancaster, Ontario. 29 unknown unit, LAW Shirley Isabel Wells died in hospital in Edmonton, Alberta of natural causes.

Monday 30 Kobe and Nagoya in Japan attacked by carrier aircraft (Oxford).

Cruiser USS Indianapoliswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca, having delivered atomic bombs to Tinian, is sunk by a Japanese submarine while running alone. It had just radioed clear of one operational zone and had not checked into it's new area of operations, and no one noticed it's absence. See August 2, below. 30 1842 Sqn. FAA, HMS Formidable, Corsair IV KD621 crashed on launch for a sortie to Japan when a wing folded, Lt.(A) J.F. Ross RCNVR MiD missing (www.fleetairarmarchive.net). 30 803 Sqn. HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Scotland, Seafire III NN324 flew into the sea on a low level formation exercise, Sub Lt(A) A.S. Forbes RNVR (Can.) missing (www.fleetairarmarchive.net). 30 USAAF 434th FS, 479th FG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70286 damaged in a ground loop in England (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday 31 #4 (BR) Canso A #11043 crashed off Holberg Inlet, BC, while assisting in moving #6 (BR) Detachment from Prince Rupert to Coal Harbour, F/O B.G. Hamilton killed. 31 #1 KTS, London, Ontario, postal clerk Cpl P.S. Price died in hospital of natural causes

August 1945 422 Sqn. and 423 Sqn. begin to receive Liberator transport aircraft (RCAF Sqns.).

Wednesday 1 Some 1 million leaflets are dropped on 35 Japanese cities, including the 17 targeted for atomic bombs, warning their citizens to leave "immediately" (C.E. Hipperson). nuclear 1 440 Sqn., S/L R.E. Coffey DFC & Bar RCAF (USA) died in a motor vehicle accident while on duty. 1 USAAF 7th Ferry Group A-20K 44-718 damaged in a mid air collision near , Yukon (AAIR). 1 unknown USAAF unit, Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-34096 crashed in New Mexico, USA, 1Lt W.T. Bartlett USAAF and 6 crew killed (J. Baugher, www.usaafdata.com).

Thursday 2 Four cities in Japan bombed; Potsdam conference ends (CJCA headline).

Survivors of the USS Indianapolis are spotted by accident by a US Navy PV-1 Ventura aircraft on patrol. An emergency rescue operation picks up some 321 (317 survivors) of the estimated 900 sailors who had got off the sinking ship (total crew was nearly 1,200). Many of those lost were killed by shark attacks (wikipedia). This incident is referenced in the book and movie "Jaws". 2 USAAF 407th SRS, 12th SRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70484 crashed in China, 2Lt D.L. Boyce killed (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/, AAIR). 2 RAF Ferry Command Liberator B.VIII KN826 flew into the ground after a night take-off in Palestine, F/O K.H.L. Houghton DFM and Bar RAF, F/O S.A. Bennett RAF (Can.), F/L J.A. Sprigge RAF, Sgt E.F. Rogers RAF, Sgt R.R. Gibson RAF, Sgt M.A. Hammond RAF, Sgt D.G. Longhurstwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca RAF, Sgt R.R. Milligan RAF, Sgt T.P. Pipe RAF, Sgt W.F. Weeks and Sgt R. Meanley RAF killed. Sgt L.R. Hollett RAF (Nfld.), F/L A. Maycock RAF and Lance Sgt F. Woolley of the North Staffordshire Regiment may also have been lost in this accident (J. Baugher). 2 #18 SFTS, Gimli, Man., Anson II aircraft #11257 and #8480 collided in mid air and crashed, LAC A.W.C. Davison RAF and LAC A.I. MacKenzie RAF were killed in #11257, LAC C.A. Leigh RAF was killed in #8480.

Friday 3 #3 Ferry Unit Boston IV BZ478 crashed in Libya following an in-flight explosion, WO1 J. Brown killed. Sgt E.S.G. Lambert RAF may have been killed in this loss as well.

Saturday 4 Japanese home ports blockaded by mine-laying B-29s (CJCA headline).

Sunday 5 #644 Wing (TIGER FORCE), Greenwood, Nova Scotia, armourer Cpl A.B. Hellard accidentally drowned. 5 #1 Wireless School, Mount Hope, Ontario, Harvard IIb FE515 and Norseman IV #2455 aircraft collided and crashed near the airfield. F/O A. Aitken, F/O H. Campbell were killed in the Harvard, P/O J.E. Foster and P/O W.M. Hazelton were killed in the Norseman. 5 unknown unit, LAC R.B. Powell RAF died in North America, no details.

Monday 6 Atomic bomb "LITTLE BOY" dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, at 08:15 local time, from an unopposed B-29. This uranium bomb weighing 4 tons exploded over the city with the explosive force of 12,500 tons of TNT, almost 3 times the total tonnage of bombs dropped in the largest bombing operation of the war. An area of the city of 5 square miles was destroyed instantly by blast and fire. One third of the cities population was killed or would die from the effects of the blast, especially radiation. The nature of air warfare changed with this weapon. No longer were mass formations of bombers needed to destroy their targets. nuclear 6 unknown unit, air frame mechanic LAC R.E. Petley died in England of natural causes. 6 USAAF 26th FS, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 45-41738 damaged in a landing in Panama (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). See August 18, below.

Tuesday 7 Japan formally requests Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov to act as an intermediary to Allies to negotiate a peace, unaware that Russia plans to attack Japan the next day (Oxford).

400, 414 and 430 Fighter Reconnaissance Squadrons, disbanded in Germany (RCAF Sqns.). 441 and 442 Fighter Squadrons disbanded in England (RCAF Sqns.). #4 (BR) Sqn., Tofino, BC, #6 (BR) Sqn., Coal Harbour, BC were disbanded, and the Air Force's mostwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca successful anti-submarine unit #162 (BR) Sqn. disbanded in Sydney, NS after its service in Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland, Iceland and Scotland (RCAF Sqns.). 7 356 Sqn. Liberator "F", F/L H. Bray, was hit by anti-aircraft fire making a low level attack on an airfield in Sumatra. This was the first attack to Indonesia from the new secret airfield built in the Cocos Islands. Navigator F/O J.L. McBride was hit and killed, he was the only casualty. The bomb aimer, F/O P.R. Hunting, navigated the aircraft back to it's remote base. F/L Bray had completed tours on Bolingbrokes with #8 (BR) Squadron, the first as a navigator in Nova Scotia, and a second as a pilot in Alaska before his tour in India (Lancaster, C. et al). 7 #2 Equipment Depot, Vancouver, BC, driver LAC J. Friesen died in Saskatchewan of injuries received August 5 in a car accident. 7 USAAF Edmonton (Namao?) base flight C-47A 43-15724 damaged taking off from Whitehorse, Yukon (AAIR).

Wednesday 8 Russia declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria. The Japanese Army in China was surprised as the treaty with the USSR would not expire until 1946. With overwhelming force and equipment the Soviet forces advanced quickly, some 80,000 Japanese soldiers were killed in the next two weeks.

Japanese Supreme War Council meets that night, and is split on whether to surrender unilaterally. After midnight Emperor Hirohito breaks the impasse by speaking [a rare and important act at these meetings], and instructs the Japanese Prime Minister that the war must be ended as soon as possible on the basis of the Potsdam Ultimatum (Polsson). soviet 8 USAAF 3rd CCG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70496 damaged in India in a ground loop. Later repaired and sold to an airline in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 8 USAAF 492nd FS, 48th FG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35440 damaged in a landing in Belgium (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 8 RCAF Station Greenwood, NS, LAC M.J. Oneson died in hospital of injuries from falling off a moving truck.

Thursday 9 Carrier aircraft begin 2 days of attacks on targets in northern Honshu (Oxford).

Royal Navy ships bombard the port of Kamaishi, HMS Newfoundland was one of the ships involved (wikipedia).

Atomic bomb "FAT MAN" dropped on Nagasaki by a B-29. This was the secondary target, the primary target city of Kokura was covered by cloud. This 4½ ton plutonium based device exploded with the equivalent power of 22,000 tons of TNT. Almost 74,000 people were killed in the blast, and 75,000 more were injured physically or by radiation (Oxford). 36 Sqn. PoW AC J.S. Ford RAF (Nfld.) was a witness to the bombing, and later suffered from skin cancers from the radiation (CBC Radio, 2013, Obituary). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caCanadian uranium used in the Manhattan Project that developed these weapons was about 12% of the total, but all of the uranium used went through the refinery in Port Hope, Ontario. nuclear 9 1841 Sqn, HMS Formidable, Corsair IV KD658 115-X, leading an attack on a Japanese escort vessel in Onagawa Bay, Japan, when it was struck by flak and set on fire (www.naval- history.net). Despite this the pilot Lt(A) R.H. Gray DSC MiD RCNVR continued his attack, bombing and sinking the ship before crashing to his death near the shore of the Bay. For this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He had been Mentioned in Dispatches for his actions covering a torpedo attack on the German battleship Tirpitz in Norway flying Barracuda aircraft, and his DSC was awarded for his actions in pressing attacks on Japanese targets the previous July. A memorial cairn is located on the shore of Onagawa Bay near where his aircraft crashed. It is the only memorial to an Allied serviceman in Japan. 9 1845 Sqn. HMS Formidable, attack on Onagawa Bay, Japan. Lt(A) G.A. Anderson RCNVR was hit by flak in his Corsair IV KD546 attacking the same target as Lt Gray. Injured, and with damage to his aircraft, he flew 150 miles back to HMS Formidable but hit the deck round down (edge) on landing, the aircraft breaking in two and falling into the sea (www.fleetairarmarchive.net). Lt(A) Anderson, missing, was the last Canadian airman to have died in combat on active service in WWII. 9 354 Sqn. wireless operator air gunner P/O F.A. Casson died as a PoW of beri-beri. He survived the loss of his Liberator with F/L R. Riffle and F/O G.A.Z. Sourisseau May 15, 1945. 9 406 Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 MM745/G was on a cross country training exercise in England when it overshot a single engine landing, stalled attempting to go around and crashed, WO2 J.M. Barker and WO2 J.L. Underwood killed. 9 #3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, England, motor transport LAC D.T. Huene died in hospital of natural causes. 9 unknown unit, LAW June Catherine Davies died of natural causes in Canada.

Friday 10 Soviet forces invade Korea (CJCA headline). Amphibious assault on northern and central Korean peninsula. Other amphibious invasions were made in the Kurile Islands and South Sakhalin Island (Oxford). Russian possession of the Kurile Islands remains an impediment to the signing of a peace treaty between the two nations to the present day, although both have diplomatic relations. 10 518 Sqn. Halifax Met III LW170 Y3-M on a BISMUTH Meteorological Reconnaissance sortie ditched out of fuel 140 nautical miles west of it's base in Tiree in Northern Ireland due to a fuel leak. On impact the aircraft caught fire briefly but the crew escaped into dinghies and were rescued. The aircraft stayed afloat for seven hours before sinking. This aircraft, a former RCAF #6 Group bomber, has been searched for, for possible recovery and preservation in Canada (CBC, Kington & Rackliff). 10 unknown unit, stationary engineer Sgt L.A. Ingram died of natural causes in Canada. 10 unknown unit, chef LAW Triffie Pearl Rowsell RCAF (Nfld.) died in Canada in hospital of complications following an operation. 10 USAAF AT-11 (Expeditor) 42-37659 damaged landing at Edmonton, Alberta (AAIR). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Saturday 11 356 Sqn. Squadron Commanding Officer W/C G.B.N. Sparks DSO died at the secret airfield on Cocos Island of infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis). 11 #662 Wing (TIGER FORCE) Dartmouth, NS, aero engine mechanic LAC E.G. Wagner and air frame mechanic LAC W.G. Walker drowned at Rainbow Haven, NS.

Sunday 12 #3 Ferry Unit, England, pilot F/L W.E. Thomas died in hospital of natural causes. 12 #16 SFTS, Hagersville, Ontario, LAC(P) N.G. Evans was killed while on leave in the crash of a civilian aircraft which crashed near St. Mary's, Ontario. 12 USAAF Goose Bay base flight OA-10A (Canadian built Canso) 44-34033 damaged taking off from Mecatina Lake, Quebec (AAIR). 12 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 45-41739 damaged in a take-off accident in Alaska Territory, USA (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Monday 13 Carrier aircraft again attack the Tokyo area (Oxford).

US supported Ho Chi-Minh forms the National Liberation Committee of Vietnam (Oxford). 13 436 Sqn., Burma, chef AC1 D.G. Farrar died in hospital in Bombay of natural causes. 13 142 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB400 4H-V lost it's undercarriage landing in a cross wind in England, WO R.G. Browne RAF safe. 13 USAAF HQ, 387th BS, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35420 damaged in a landing accident in Austria (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday 14 (Aug. 15, local date) Japan surrenders, accepting terms of the Potsdam Declaration of July 26. PM Suzuki resigns, Prince Higashikuni becomes Prime Minister (Oxford). To prevent unrest after decades of indoctrination it is broadcast that Japanese soldiers and sailors surrendering by order of the Emperor will not be regarded as PoWs in Japan (wikipedia).

In the NWT [now ] a party locating survey markers for aerial mapping with pilot F/L W.K. Carr DFC RCAF (Nfld.) (a veteran photo reconnaissance pilot), with surveyors Tom and Jackie Manning camped at a lake with their Norseman aircraft #2496, hear the news on the radio. The unnamed lake located at 62.6006° N Lat., 95.5171° W Long. is named Victory Lake to commemorate this (W.K. Carr; J. Gardam, "Ordinary Heros"). F/L Carr stayed in the RCAF, later flew Comet jet transports (including flying Queen Elizabeth II), and was the first commander of Air Command in the unified CAF, retiring as a Lt. General (http://www.vintagewings.ca). See also N. Polunin for details of F/L Carr and the Mannings.

#31 SFTS, Kingston, Ontario, ceased operations (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm).

In Vancouver, withoutwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca notice, Boeing Aircraft closed the Boing Canada plant, putting 7,000 employees out of work, and liquidated it's Canadian assets. was established in 1929, and was engaged in production of B-29 fuselage centre sections for US plants at the time (http://seaislandhome.org/boeing.html).

Wednesday 15 VJ-Day (CJCA headline). French Marshall Pétain convicted of treason and sentenced to death (CJCA headline) [later reduced to life in prison]. Gasoline rationing in Canada ends (CJCA headline). UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) begins operations (wikipedia).

#6 (BR) Sqn. (Coal Harbour, BC) and #10 (BR) Sqn. (Torbay, Nfld.) disbanded (RCAF Sqns.). 15 unknown unit, LAC L.M. Soubliere died in Europe, no details (CWGC). He is buried in Brussels, Belgium, the home of his wife.

Thursday 16 Russia and Poland sign border treaty (CJCA headline). soviet 16 unknown unit, LAC J.E. Werstine died in Europe, no details (CWGC). He is buried in Germany. 16 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB674 flew into high ground in Germany killing F/L R.T. Phillip RAF and F/O R.A. Sargeant RAF (www.dehavilland.ukf.net, http://aviation- safety.net).

Friday 17 Nationalists declare the independence of Indonesia from Dutch rule with assistance of surrendering Japanese forces. This began a war for independence that lasted until November 1949 (Oxford).

The last U-Boat at sea, U-977, surrenders in Argentina (wikipedia). 17 353 Sqn. Dakota III FL603 crashed in India after breaking up in flight, F/O S.D. Woodman, WO J.P. Shanahan RAAF, WO P.W. Williams RAF and their passengers, LAC J.J. Jones RAF, F/L J.M. Darlow RAF, F/S H. Wynne RAF (355 Sqn.), LAC A. Cafferty RAF, F/S G.E. Gazzard RAF (353 Sqn.) and F/L A.E. Leman RAF killed (A. Storr). 17 USAAF 343rd FS, 55th FG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70462 damaged in Germany ground-looping on take-off. Later repaired, this aircraft was sold to owners in Switzerland (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 17 #23 EFTS, LAC A.D.A. Campbell died (B. Barry et al; malcom_raf at www.rafcommands.com).

Saturday 18 Indian Nationalist Subhas Chandra Bose dies of burns after the Ki-21 aircraft taking him to China, where he hopes to continue his activities for Indian independence, crashes on take-off in Japan (Oxford).

The last aerial fight of the war occurs when two USAAF B-32 Dominator aircraft on a reconnaissance over Tokyo are fired on by anti-aircraft fire, then attacked by Japanese navalwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca A6M5 and N1K-J fighters. The bombers claim 2 fighters shot down but lose 1 crewman killed and a second wounded (wikipedia). 18 356 Sqn. Liberator KH218 "K" missing over the Bay of Bengal on supply dropping flight to Malaya, F/S R.H. Lacey, (listed as died Aug. 16), F/O R.H. McLeod, F/S S.S. Aarons RAF, F/S J. Stewart RAF, F/O E.A. Penfold RAF, F/S F.W. Gonsalves, P/O W.F.M. Skipworth RAF and F/S G.J.H. Snewing RAF missing (www.warbirds.in). Three Indian Army soldiers, Havildar K. Mohan Singh, Sepoy Ghulam Muhammad and Sepoy Husain Beg, are also listed as missing this date and may have been involved in this loss (CWGC). 18 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70395 damaged, possibly written off, in an accident in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 18 USAAF 26th FS, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 45-41738 suffered it's second accident in a month, landing in the Canal Zone. It was not repaired (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Monday 20 Soviet forces complete invasion of Manchuria (Polsson). With the surrender of Japanese forces there Soviets begin mass arrests of Japanese soldiers and civilians, sending a half a million into the Gulags in Russia where most would die before being repatriated, the last coming back to Japan in 1956, similar to the Soviet treatment of captured German soldiers (Oxford). As well, the entire industrial infrastructure of the region is uprooted and sent into Russia as reparations before the region is returned to China. Most of this industrial material is never used in Russia, but China's industrial power is severely damaged by this act.

Hanoi and Northern Vietnam occupied by Chinese forces, as demanded by the US, where Ho Chi-Minh's National Liberation Committee declares itself the government of Vietnam with US support and Japanese assistance (they turned over their arms to the Viet-Minh) (Oxford).

In the Malaysian region aviation resources were so short that the RAF impressed Japanese military aircraft and aircrew to provide logistic support, Taskforce GREMLIN, which was in operation for over a year (S. Hadaway), and may have been the last Japanese military aviation operations until the establishment of the Japanese Aviation Self- Defence Force (JASDF) in the 1950's.

Tuesday 21 US ends Lend-Lease (CJCA headline). 21 #1 AGS(I) (Air Gunnery School (India)?) RAF, Canadian built Hurricane IIc PJ850 had an engine fail and belly landed near Palmaner, Andhra Pradesh in India (aviation-safety.net). 21 unknown unit, F/S F.A. Duench died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday 22 USAAF Goose Bay base flight OA-10A (PBY) 43-3260 damaged taking off from Goose Bay (AAIR).

Thursday 23 #16 OTU Canadianwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca built Mosquito B.XX KB194 broke up in the air after entering clouds on a night navigation exercise, F/O G.M. Proctor DFM RNZAF and F/O K.L. Kelly DFC RNZAF killed. 23 USAAF RB-17E 41-2649 damaged landing at Goose Bay, Nfld. (AAIR).

Friday 24 436 Sqn. aircraft begin to leave India for England (RCAF Sqns.). Since January they had transported more than 25,000 tons of supplies, plus passengers and casualties, and taken part in the airborne assault on Rangoon (6th Year). 24 unknown unit, F/S C.J. O'Grady died in Europe (CWGC). He is buried in Germany. Sunday 26 438, 439 and 440 Fighter Bomber Squadrons disband in Germany (RCAF Sqns.).

Talks begin between Nationalist and Communist Chinese on the future of China, but they are unable to agree and by mid October a civil war had broken out in China (LoN). 26 #158 SP (Staging Post) RAF, Canadian built Hurricane IIc PJ860 belly landed SE of Jessore in India (now Bangladesh) after running out of fuel on a ferry flight (aviation-safety.net).

Monday 27 First US soldiers land in Japan (CJCA headline).

First 435 Sqn. aircraft leave India for England, surplus aircraft turned over to 233 Sqn. RAF (RCAF Sqns.). In nearly 30,000 hrs of flying since becoming operational the Squadron had delivered 27,500 tons of supplies, carried 14,440 passengers and evacuated 851 injured and wounded (6th Year).

Tuesday 28 Mosquito contract with De Havilland Canada canceled, last aircraft on assembly line completed, later part of 200 aircraft sold to Nationalist China (Paul Cabot, CAPA Presentation, 2017). 28 3 Sqn. IAF, Canadian built Hurricane IIc PJ672 belly landed at Mardan, India (now in Pakistan) after an engine failed (aviation-safety.net). 28 unknown unit, AC1 H.I. Rivkin died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday 29 Disbandment of Canadian Pacific forces announced.

Thursday 30 435 Sqn. flies it's last operation in India, dropping supplies to British guerrilla forces in Burma (RCAF Sqns.).

First contact is made with the Canadian PoWs remaining in Hong Kong by sailors from HMCS Prince Robert, the same ship that took them to Hong Kong in 1941. 30 unknown unit, LAC A. McDonald died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 30 unknown unit, LACwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca G.C. Thompson died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Friday 31 Reports that Japanese naval units in Hong Kong were still planning to use boats in suicide attacks on Allied ships entering the harbour led to air strikes on this date and September 1 to destroy these attack boats by carrier based FAA fighters and bombers (R. Sturtivant, Barracuda in Action, Aeroplane Monthly, April 1981).

435 Sqn. officially leaves India (RCAF Sqns.). Various Dates, as US forces are demobilized many projects and bases built and manned by the US military in Canada are turned over to the Canadian Government. Suspicious of possible future intentions of the US in Canada (fuelled by actions and statements made by US military and politicians during the war which may or may not have been tactful, see P. Berry for examples) the government made it a policy to pay full value for all installations and fixed assets built in Canada during the war to eliminate any possible claim of the USA on Canadian territory. This included (including anti-aircraft and radar sites built in Canada to defend Detroit), weather sites, air bases, the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway, the CANOL pipeline and it's bases and equipment and so on. There is no doubt, however, that the war had brought Canada and the USA closer together in many ways, economically and politically (Oxford).

There is no doubt that the war also pulled the USA and Canada out of the depression. In Canada the investment in manufacturing subsidized by the federal government would provide a basis for the countries economic growth in the 1950's and 1960's. Other things had changed as well. The number of women in permanent jobs in Canada had doubled from 600,000 to 1,200,000 by the end of the war (CATP Museum Contact newsletter Vol. 34, Issue 3, Summer 2016) and women now had the right to vote in provincial elections in all nine provinces.

Also concluded was the Canadian Mutual Aid program, the Canadian version of Lend- Lease. Goods produced in Canada for Allied countries under this scheme totalled $722.8 million, which Canada paid for. This did not include the 1942 gift to England of $1 billion dollars for the purchase of food in Canada. In all Canada provided $4 billion in economic aid to Allied countries during the war (Oxford). 31 unknown USAAF unit, Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-34024 damaged landing in the Netherlands East Indies (J. Baugher). 31 436 Sqn. Dakota was detailed for a special flight before leaving, taking off from India on a flight to Hong Kong to take medicine and Red Cross parcels to Canadian PoWs there. They were delayed by weather and an engine failure, reaching Bangkok, Thailand before being recalled as assistance had reached Hong Kong from Canada by sea (6th Year). This was the furthest East deployment of an RCAF aircraft during the war, the furthest West being deployment of Kittyhawk squadrons to the Aleutians.

www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca September 1945 In Europe 411, 412, 416, 443 Fighter Squadrons and 664 (AOP) Sqn. become part of the British Air Forces of Occupation in Germany, while 424, 427, 429 and 433 Squadrons remain as part of the Bomber Command strike force, being transferred to #1 Group RAF. They are mainly used on transport flights between England and Italy (Operation DODGE) carrying back Commonwealth soldiers for leave in England (6th Year). #61 (RCAF) Training Base Topcliffe and Wombleton closed in England.

435 and 436 Sqns. return from India to England, where they form #120 RCAF (Transport) Wing with 437 Sqn. 426 Sqn., converted from Bomber to Transport with Liberator aircraft, was in final preparation to operate independently on routes from England to India.

416 Sqn. begins to re-equip with Spitfire XIVe aircraft (RCAF Sqns.).

In Canada #6 Group RCAF is disbanded (RCAF Sqns.)

Saturday 1 406 Sqn. disbanded in England (RCAF Sqns.). In the period from Nov. 27, 1944 to the end of the war they were the highest scoring Intruder unit in Europe, with 23 aircraft destroyed, 1 probably destroyed and 13 damaged for a combined Night Fighter/Intruder total of 64/7/47. The highest scoring Intruder unit of the war was 418 Squadron, see Sept. 7, below (RCAF Sqns.).

Sunday 2 Japan signs surrender terms on a US battleship in Tokyo Bay. In Vietnam Ho Chi Minh's National Liberation Committee of Vietnam declares the creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Oxford).

Monday 3 422 Sqn., still converting to Liberator transports, disbands in England. 3 USAAF 596th AES, 380th SRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70454 destroyed in an accident taking off from Karachi, India (now Pakistan) (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 3 USAAF 374th BS, 308th BG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70455 damaged in an accident in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday 4 ZEEP Reactor completed at Chalk River, Ontario. nuclear

423 Sqn., still converting to Liberator transports, disbands in England. 4 unknown unit, Cpl H.H.A. Laventure died in Newfoundland, no details (CWGC). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Wednesday 5 RCAF TIGER FORCE bomber group disbanded, 405 Sqn. and 408 Sqn. in Greenwood, NS.; 419 Sqn. and 428 Sqn. in Yarmouth, NS; 420 Sqn. and 425 Sqn. at Debert, NS; 431 Sqn. and 434 Sqn. at Dartmouth, NS (RCAF Sqns.). Only 2 units, RAF 9 and 617 squadrons, had been deployed to the Far East from TIGER FORCE, both reaching India before the war ended (S. Hadaway).

Training of in-flight refuelling crews in England also ended. Flight Refuelling Limited continued its work and later purchased 4 ex-TCA Lancaster X.PP aircraft it converted as in-flight tankers in 1948 for flights across the Atlantic by BOAC Liberator aircraft. These aircraft were later used to deliver fuel to Berlin during the Airlift. Also in 1948 the USAF purchased the FRL system for use by Strategic Air Command bombers (R.K. Smith).

British and Indian troops re-occupy Singapore (CJCA headline).

In England the Canadian Wing of the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead is donated to the Hospital by the RCAF, with all it's equipment, and all supplies fully stocked (R. Donovan).

ZEEP Moderated Reactor, Chalk River, Ontario, the first atomic reactor outside of the USA, achieves criticality at 15:45 local time. It's first task is to convert uranium into plutonium for use in US weapons programs. It remained in operation until 1970. However at the time, with the end of the war, the departure of the TUBE ALLOYS scientists back to England and France, and the cancellation of all US participation of the MANHATTAN Project in Canada, it's future and the building of the larger NRX was seen as a waste of money. nuclear

Igor Gouzenko, a cipher clerk working for the Soviet Military Attache in Ottawa, defects with information on extensive Soviet spying activities in Canada, one of whose priorities is the gathering of atomic secrets. After over a day in hiding he is finally listened to by RCMP officers. This event is seen as marking the beginning of the "".

Thursday 6 Captured Fa 223 helicopter flown by a German crew makes first helicopter flight across the English Channel on delivery for test purposes in England. Postwar the Fa 223 was developed into the SE.3000 in France, but development ceased in 1949 as more advanced designs were introduced from the US (Sikorsky, Bell, Piasecki, Kaman, etc.). Other German aircraft designs under production postwar from disbursed production facilities in former occupied countries include the Ju 52/3m, Si 204 and Fi 156 transports in France, the Bf 109, Me 262 fighters and Si 204 anti-partisan patrol bomber (later developed into an airliner) in Czechoslovakia, the Bu 131, Bf 109, Ju 52/3m and He 111 in , and the V-1 and V-2 in the USA. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Canadian built Lysander II.TT #416, the first one built in Canada, struck off strength on this date. It had been taken on strength Sept. 1, 1939, the day the German Army invaded Poland (R.W.R. Walker). It was later the subject of a model kit by Hawk models, a die-cast model, and the flying Vintage Wings Lysander TT.IIIA #2365 in Gatineau, Quebec, is also painted to represent this aircraft in it's all silver delivery scheme. 6 unknown unit, Far East, Canadian built Hurricane XIIa PJ747 written off, no details (aviation- safety.net). 6 TCDU (Transport Command Development Unit) RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB687 was damaged beyond repair after the tailwheel broke when landing (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Friday 7 Allied forces arrive in Shanghai, China (Polsson).

418 Sqn. disbands in Holland, with 178 aircraft destroyed (105 in air, 73 on ground), plus 83 V-1 flying bombs, 9 aircraft probably destroyed and 103 damaged, plus ground targets. It was the highest scoring Intruder squadron of the war (RCAF Sqns.).

#14 SFTS, Kingston, Ontario, closed (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 7 357 Sqn. Dakota IV KN584 on a Special Duties operation to Burma flew into a mountain near their drop zone, crew WO1 H.W. Smith, F/S D. McLeman RAF, F/S R.M. Herdman RAF, F/S A.F. Calder, and their passengers (believed to be) F/S W.T.P. Davies RAF, F/S R. Napier RAF, LAC F.J. Bryant RAF, F/O B. Hobart RAF (28 Sqn.), F/S D.H. Wild RAF (28 Sqn.), Sgt A. Smith RAF #904 Wing Headquarters, Lt Col S.I. Wigginton OBE Sherwood Foresters Regiment, Capt. A.L. Goldsmith RE, Cpl S.S.H. Goodwin RE, Lt Col E.J. Kennedy OBE RCS, Sgt A.C.B. Sowden MM RCS and 2Lt S.McC. Little ex Gordon Highlanders killed (Oldduffer www.rafcommands.com). The wreckage was located a week after the crash and the bodies were buried at crash site, but today these men are listed on the Singapore Memorial. F/S Herdman died on his birthday, he had just turned 23 (Roy.Shute www.rafcommands.com).

Saturday 8 General MacArthur enters Tokyo (CJCA headline). Gen. MacArthur had been appointed to command the occupation forces in Japan.

Soviet and US forces occupy Korea, dividing their operations by agreement to the north and south of the 38th parallel of latitude for administrative purposes (wikipedia). This agreement on areas of operations inadvertently defines the borders of North and . 8 117 Sqn. Dakota (?) lost, W/C A.J. Samson DFC RAF missing in the Far East. W/C Samson was born in Newfoundland (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). F/O J.D. Lorimer RAF, F/O T.W. Humphreys DFC RAF, F/S K.H. Goad RAF, F/S B. Ellis MiD RAF, F/L J.F. Cuthbert DFC and Bar RAF, F/L B. Bridge RAF and F/S D. Bateman RAF also listed as missing from 117 Squadron on this date (CWGC). 8 416 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVIe TD245 stalled and crashed on landing in Germany (www.spitfires.ukf.net).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 8 768 Sqn. HMS Corncrake, RNAS Ballyhalbert, Corsair II JT357 was making a forced landing in Northern Ireland when it struck a wall (stone fence?) and crashed, Lt(A) F.W. McGarry RCNVR killed (www.fleetairarmarchive.net).

Monday 10 Canadian meat rationing resumed (CJCA headline). This was required to supply urgently needed food to Europe and Asia where large populations faced starvation without immediate aid. #133 (F) Sqn. and #135 (F) Sqns. disbanded at Patricia Bay, BC (RCAF Sqns.). 10 unknown unit, LAC J.C.A. Fleury died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday 11 Australian forces arrive to take control of the Batu Lintang prison camp in Borneo. Among those liberated was American born Agnes Newton Keith and her children, who wrote a best selling book of her time as a prisoner, (1947). 11 ex-418 Sqn. Mosquito FB.VI RS613 swung on landing in France to avoid another aircraft and the undercarriage collapsed (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Wednesday 12 Japanese forces in Singapore surrender to British units (wikipedia).

British and Indian soldiers are landed in Saigon where with the assistance of Japanese soldiers they remove appointed officials there and replace them with French colonial personnel freed from Prison (M. Hastings).

Thursday 13 Japanese forces in Rabaul surrender (D. Newton). Japanese forces remaining in Burma surrender (K. Farrington).

Friday 14 Mosquito Servicing Section RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB482 was written off in an overshoot landing in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Saturday 15 Japanese commander in Rabaul signs surrender documents aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Glory, ending the New Guinea and New England campaign (R. Hayward).

#11 (BR) Sqn. RCAF disbanded at Patricia Bay, BC (RCAF Sqns.). #23 EFTS, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the last operating Elementary Flying Training School in Canada, closes (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). #1 Central Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba closed (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm).

Fifth anniversary of the Battle of Britain celebrated with a flypast over London of 300 aircraft (http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Last 436 Sqn. Dakotas arrive in England, squadron now tasked to provide transport services to Canadian Army in Europe. Personnel who had served in India were repatriated and replaced with new crews from Canada (RCAF Sqns.).

Sunday 16 Japanese forces in Hong Kong surrender (K. Farrington). Tuesday 18 Typhoon Makurazaki kills 2,000 people in Japan (wikipedia). It struck the Hiroshima region with little warning as the Japanese meteorological observatory which tracked and gave warnings of typhoons, located in Hiroshima, had been destroyed in the atomic bomb attack the previous month (wikipedia). 18 unknown unit (possibly #1 Aircraft Receipt and Dispatch Unit, HMS Nuthatch, RNAS Anthorn), Lt(A) G.F. Clarke RCNVR (UK) killed in Scotland in the crash of Firebrand EK610 (www.fleetairarmarchive.net, www.naval-history.net, wikipedia, www.forgottenairfields.com). 18 unknown unit, Sgt S.E. Ley died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday 19 Last 435 Sqn. Dakotas arrive in England, squadron now tasked to provide transport services to Canadian Army in Europe. Personnel who had served in India were repatriated and replaced with new crews from Canada as per 436 Sqn. (RCAF Sqns.).

Thursday 20 Gandhi and Jewaharlal Nehru demand that British leave India (wikipedia).

First flight of a turbo-propellor engine, the Rolls-Royce Trent, in the propellor equipped Trent Meteor I EE227.

The US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) is terminated by Presidential Order and it's operational and research units disbanded (Oxford).

In Ottawa discussions on future research in nuclear physics was discussed. It was decided that Canada would not use it's knowledge to build nuclear weapons but would seek other uses for the new technology, especially production of power. See August 31, 1946. 20 unknown unit, LAC D. MacDonald RCAF (Eire) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday 21 USAAF 128th ACS, 62nd ACG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70470 written off in a crash landing in India after an engine failure (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Saturday 22 unknown unit, Cpl Margaret Frances McWilliam died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday 24 Indo-China Annamites [Vietnamese] revolt against re-imposition of French rule (CJCA headline) [beginning of Vietnam wars]. 24 USAAF HQ UC-45B (Expeditor) 43-35447 damaged landing at Winnipeg, Man. (AAIR). Tuesday 25 Soviet forces occupying the Arctic region of Norway return to Russia (wikipedia).

Wednesday 26 USAAF Edmonton (Namao?) base flight C-47A damaged by a west of Edmonton, Alberta (AAIR).

Thursday 27 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70521 damaged in India in a ground loop (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Friday 28 jet fighter EE311 enters service with the RCAF for cold weather testing, the RCAFs first jet fighter (Griffin CMA).

#3 SFTS, Calgary, Alberta, closes (Chris www.rafcommands.com).

Saturday 29 USAAF 166th LS, 1st ACG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70467 damaged taking-off in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Sunday 30 #121 (K) Sqn. reformed as #4 (Composite) Flight, #122 (K) Sqn. reformed as #3 (Composite) Flight (RCAF Sqns.).

426 Sqn. begins scheduled transportation flights to India on Liberator aircraft KL641 OLW- A (F/L K.L. Warner and crew outbound, F/O W.A. Craig and crew return) and KK341 OLW-P (F/L H.E. Miskiman outbound and F/L L. Grenburgh return) (RCAF Sqns.). Flights were usually England to Castel Benito, Libya, then Cairo, Habbaniya in Iraq, and ended at Karachi, returning via Lydda in Palestine, Castel Benito and England (426 SH). 30 unknown unit, LAC R.S. Ball died in England, no details (CWGC). 30 USAAF C-47B 43-49248 damaged taking off from Whitehorse, Yukon (AAIR).

October 1945 www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca In the magazine Wireless World, Arthur C. Clarke proposes the use of a rocket launched geosynchronous orbiting satellite for communications (wikipedia).

Early in the month French soldiers begin arriving in Saigon, where the Commonwealth force hands over the control of the south of the country, as well as Cambodia and Laos. The rest of the country remains under the control of the Viet Minh from it's base in Hanoi. Inadvertently this establishes North and South Vietnam. With equipment supplied by the USA France began a military build-up in the region, intent on returning it to French rule (M. Hastings).

Monday 1 formed, headquartered at Uplands, Ontario.

#170 (Ferry) Sqn. disbanded at Winnipeg, Man., becoming the Western Detachment of #124 (Ferry) Sqn. (RCAF Sqns.). #167 (Comm) Sqn. RCAF reorganized into Eastern Air Command Communications Flight (RCAF Sqns.). 1 USAAF 43rd ADG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70394 crashed in Germany, pilot killed (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 1 USAAF C-47A 43-15732 damaged taking off at Edmonton, Alberta (AAIR).

Tuesday 2 Big Five (USA, USSR, Britain, France and China) foreign ministers meeting ends in failure (CJCA headline). [unknown reference] soviet

Operation BACKFIRE, a British led operation with US assistance, reassembled 8 functioning V-2 rockets. On this day the first of 3 were launched by German technicians from Cuxhaven, on the Baltic coast, to train Allied servicemen in the launch operations (wikipedia). See February 13 and May 10, 1946. 2 803 Sqn., HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Seafire XV SR482 BC-H crashed in Northern Ireland after colliding with another Seafire XV SW850 BC-T in a formation flight, Sub Lt (A) L.P. Wade RCNVR killed in SR482 (www.fleetairarmarchive.net, www.spitfires.ukf.net, www.naval-history.net). 2 unknown unit, Sub Lt (A) L.A. Nash RCNVR killed on this date, no details (www.naval- history.net).

Friday 5 unknown unit, Cpl J.H.P. Packwood died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday 8 Palestine Jews stage five hour general strike (CJCA headline). 8 806 Sqn. Seafire III NN600 collides in mid-air with Seafire III NN132 while "beating up" fishing boats off England, Sub Lt. J.H. Johnston RNVR (Can.) and Sub Lt(A) P.L. Norton RNVR missing (FAA Museum NAP Data). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Tuesday 9 unknown unit, Sgt I.S. Fairley died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 9 unknown unit, Cpl Lesley Louise Perkin died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday 10 USAAF 111th TRS, 19th TRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70290 damaged beyond repair in a ground loop in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 10 unknown unit, LAC J. Armstrong died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Thursday 11 1835 Sqn. Wildcat V JV404 flew into high ground in Scotland, Sub Lt (A) T.A. Oliphant RNVR (Can.) killed (FAA Museum NAP Data). 11 436 Sqn. Dakota crashed at RCAF Station Down Ampney in England trying to land in fog, pilots F/L R.J. Blevins and F/L W.E. Hopkins RCAF (USA) killed, F/O E.H. Neufeld and F/O R.R. Harrison injured (CWGC; 6th Year). See Oct. 12 & 13 below 11 USAAF 893rd AES, 475th ASG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70386 badly damaged in a take-off accident in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Friday 12 Budget cuts income tax 16% (CJCA headline).

The Island of Guam was struck by Typhoon Louise that destroyed most of the military buildings built there since the invasion, destroyed 60 aircraft, sank 12 ships in the harbour and damaged or grounded over 200 ships and landing craft. Eighty-three people were killed or missing and over 100 injured during the storm (en.wikipilipinas.org). The ships and infrastructure located on the island had been part of the build-up for the invasion of Japan, and the effect of this storm on that operation [planned for November 1] would have been significant if the war had not ended. 12 436 Sqn. WAG F/O E.H. Neufeld died in England, no details (CWGC).

Saturday 13 Indonesians stage uprising in Java against re-imposition of Dutch rule.

Vice President Col. Juan Peron arrested in Argentina (wikipedia). 13 436 Sqn. navigator F/O R.R. Harrison died in England, no details (CWGC). 13 unknown unit, LAC N.A. Town died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 13 unknown unit, LAW Elizabeth Anne Shaw died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday 14 On this date British forces arrived to occupy the port city of Semarang in Indonesia, where there were several thousand Allied PoWs and internees. The Japanese commander guarding these prisoners had refused demands by Indonesian leader Sukarno to turn over his arms to Indonesian forces. In retaliation over 100 Japanese prisoners held by thewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Indonesians were murdered on this day. The Indonesians were then attacked by the armed Japanese units which largely re-captured the city before British forces took control on October 20, with the loss of 2,000 Indonesians and 500 Japanese (wikipedia).

Monday 15 424 Sqn. and 433 Sqn. bomber squadrons disband in England (RCAF Sqns.). 15 unknown unit, LAC A. Savoie died in England, no details (CWGC). 15 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5397 crash landed in Germany (J. Baugher). 15 USAAF 42nd ADG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70257 written off after a forced landing in Germany due to fuel starvation (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 15 #122 (K) Sqn. Norseman IV #3539 crashed in a forest on an island SW of Prince Rupert, BC, on a flight from Alliford Bay, F/O R.A. Kirkwood and 5 passengers slightly injured. The aircraft was written off (R.W.R. Walker).

Tuesday 16 761 Sqn. Seafire III PP997 G6-T spun and crashed in England after a mid-air collision, Sub Lt (A) D. Carlson RNVR (Can.) killed (FAA Museum NAP Data). 16 unknown unit, F/L T. Doubassoff RCAF (USA) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday 17 Mass demonstrations organized by his wife, Eva Peron, lead to the release of Col. Juan Peron and the beginning of Peronist era in Argentina (wikipedia). 17 512 Sqn., F/O P.B. Tonner died in Canada from complications of meningitis and tuberculosis contracted while PoW (CWGC, floyd williston www.rafcommands.com). He had been shot down in a Dakota in the .

Thursday 18 A coup in Venezuela overthrows the President (wikipedia). 18 59 Sqn. Liberator GR.VI KL676 was on a ferry flight from Libya to England when it ditched at sea, WO G. Smith RAF, F/S J.H. Jones RAF, F/O J.E.J. Gillard RAF, F/O B.J. Thomas RAF and F/S W.S. Paterson RAF (Can.) (220 Sqn.) missing.

Friday 19 #168 (HT) Fortress aircraft departs Canada for Warsaw, Poland, carrying urgently needed penicillin donated by the Canadian Red Cross. 19 435 Sqn. Dakota crashed at Croydon in England, pilot F/O G.A. McIntyre, pilot F/O F.H. Seaman and navigator F/O E.J. Shaw killed, (CWGC; 6th Year). 19 unknown unit, LAC G.E. Woodroffe died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 19 unknown unit, LAC G.H. White died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday 20 unknown unit, Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class R.A. Devlin USNR (Can.) died in the Pacific. 20 USAAF Search & Rescue AT-11 (Kansan) damaged landing at Edmonton, Alberta (AAIR).

Sunday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 21 For the first time women are allowed to vote in France (wikipedia). 21 USAAF 111th TRS, 10th PRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35377 damaged landing in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Monday 22 Citizenship Act introduced in Commons (CJCA headline).

Tuesday 23 Demobilized from the US Army, where he had been tried and acquitted for not moving to the back of a bus when ordered, 1Lt Jackie Robinson begins his professional baseball career with the Montreal Royals (wikipedia). At their long time training camp in Sanford, Florida, in 1946, the team was forced to leave town due to threats against his life. 23 USAAF 390th FS, 366th FG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35374 damaged in a landing accident in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Wednesday 24 International Court of Justice is created by the United Nations and based at The Hague, Netherlands (wikipedia).

Thursday 25 First and only Lincoln B.XV aircraft FM300 completed at Victory Aircraft, of a now cancelled plan for an initial order of 200 for use in the Pacific. This aircraft was scrapped in Canada in 1947. 25 109 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 swung on landing in England and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Saturday 27 unknown unit, LAC A.C. Archibald died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday 29 USAAF Canadian built F-8 (Mosquito B.XX) 43-34942 (formerly KB146) overshot a landing and written off in Italy (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Tuesday 30 India (then composed of modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) joins the United Nations (wikipedia). 30 125 (Newfoundland) Sqn. Mosquito NF.30 NT312 overshot a landing into a hedge and written off (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Wednesday 31 #165 (T) Sqn. Edmonton Detachment reabsorbed by #164 (T) Sqn. (RCAF Sqns.). #166 (Comm) Sqn. RCAF, the last squadron active on Canada's West Coast, reformed into Western Air Command Communications Flight (RCAF Sqns.). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca #1 Wireless School closed at Mount Hope, Ontario (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm). 31 USAAF HQ Squadron, 485th SRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70338 destroyed in a landing accident in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 31 unknown unit, WO1 F.L. Tomlinson died in Canada, no details (CWGC). November 1945 -- Irish Air Corps Canadian built Hurricane I #110 (ex Z7158), which had been delivered to Eire in February 1944 after service with #56 OTU RAF in England, crash landed and was written off (P.J. Cummins).

Thursday 1 666 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF disbanded in Holland (RCAF Sqns.). #165 (T) Sqn. disbanded at Sea Island, BC, and detachment at Winnipeg, Manitoba revert to #164 (T) Sqn. (RCAF Sqns.).

Friday 2 unknown unit, AC1 J.P.H.R. Picard died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday 3 unknown unit, LAC E.M. Jackson died in Canada, no details (B. Barry).

Sunday 4 #168 (HT) Sqn. Fortress IIIa #9202 crashes near Munster, Germany on the second Penicillin flight to Warsaw, F/L D.F. Caldwell, F/L N. Roche, F/L E.P. Harling, S/L A.E. Webster DFC and Sgt E. Phillips killed. A bronze plaque remembering this aircrew, made in Canada by the United Polish Relief Fund, was unveiled in Warsaw in a ceremony November 25, 1946 (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). 4 unknown unit, LAC W.M. Snyder died in Newfoundland, no details (CWGC). 4 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70443 damaged in a landing accident in Japan (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Monday 5 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70421 destroyed in a typhoon in the Philippines (J. Baugher). 5 429 Sqn. Lancaster I RA571 crashed on high ground on an air test in England, P/O W.F. Conley, F/O W.E. Lang, Cpl W.J. Ellis and F/S A.E. Stinson killed, Sgt J.P. Belanger, F/O A.P. Coleman, LAC R.E. Henderson, and F/S F.J. Moran injured. Sgt Belanger managed to walk to a nearby farm and get help for the survivors. There is a memorial to this loss located on a nearby survey marker (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bradford-west- yorkshire-54783808; myyorkshiredales.co.uk/trig-points/beamsley-beacon-trig-point). 5 803 Sqn., HMS www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.caCondor, RNAS Arbroath, Seafire XV SW849 "X" flew into a hill in Northern Ireland, Sub Lt(A) W.L. Nash RNVR (Can.) killed (www.fleetairarmarchive.net, www.naval- history.net). 5 USAAF C-47A 43-48162 damaged at Whitehorse, Yukon (AAIR).

Wednesday 7 Gloster Meteor F.4 jet fighter establishes a new official speed record of 976 km/h (606 mph). 7 unknown unit, LAC E. Zarowny died in England, no details (CWGC). 7 unknown unit, F/O W.D. Campbell died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Thursday 8 unknown unit, LAW Elizabeth Audrey Curtis died in England, no details (CWGC).

Friday 9 416 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe SM823 crashed after the engine cut on taking off, F/O A.K. Price killed (www.spitfires.ukf.net, 416 SH). 9 759 Sqn., RNAS Yeovilton, England, Corsair III JS852 crashed after a mid-air collision with Corsair JB703, Petty Officer (A) G.B. Hughes RN killed (FAA Museum NAP Data). 9 unknown unit, F/S R.H. Bird died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday 10 9th Victory Loan raises more than $1,500,000,000. In 1946 the Victory Loan program was re-developed into the Canadian Savings Bonds, allowing Canadians to re-invest in the Canadian economy. The Canadian Savings Bond program was ended in 2017 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-savings-bonds-analysis-1.4037857).

In England minimum wage is set at 10 shillings per day ($37.70 in 2020 Canadian dollars). This compares to a minimum wage in the USA of .75¢ per day ($13.64 in Canadian dollars in 2020) (K. Farrington).

Sunday 11 RAF aircraft attack Indonesian forces at Soerabaja [Surabaya] (CJCA headline). This may have been in support of Indian soldiers engaged in fighting Indonesian Nationalists (S. Raghavan).

The Victory Aircraft plant in Malton, Ontario is closed on this date, but the facility is soon purchased by of England and becomes A.V. Roe Canada Ltd. It's first contract is to refurbish and convert Ventura GR.V aircraft to serve as gunnery trainers for the RCAF. In 1946 they acquired the Federal Turbo Research company, which became , and also began design of a jet powered transport (C102 Jetliner, first flown in 1949) and a jet fighter (CF-100 Canuck, first flown in 1950). They later created a Special Projects and Research unit (SPAR), which evolved into the aerospace company that was part of the Alouette satellite program (launched in 1962, making Canada the 3rd country in space), built the landing gear for the Apollowww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca moon landers, and the Canadarm used on the Space Shuttles and the International Space Station.

Monday 12 US Secretary of State Cordell Hull awarded Nobel Peace Prize (CJCA headline)

Singer Neil Young born in Toronto, Ontario (wikipedia). 12 unknown unit, LAC A.P. Sword died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Tuesday 13 General de Gaulle elected interim president of France; Bevin announces new Palestine policy [for England] (CJCA headlines).

Wednesday 14 #1 LSU, Lancaster I ME439, took off on a test flight in Italy with unauthorized passengers but seems to have had difficulty climbing. It was seen to fly through hills before finally crashing at the end of a blind canyon, W/C H.H. Burnell DSO AFC RAF (Can.), F/O H.G. Duncan RAF, F/O R.W. Meager RAF, F/L P.E. Morris RAF, S/L N.D. Samuel DFC RAF, Sgt E.M.W. Smith RAF, LAC R.A.C. Springett RAF and WO F.J. Waldron RAF killed (E. Martyn at www.rafcommands.com). W/C Burnell had joined the RAF in 1936, had flown operations in the Western Desert in 1940-41 before forming and taking command of #33 SFTS at Carberry, Manitoba. He later returned to operations on RCM Liberators with 223 Sqn. (B. Barry et al, Halliday).

Thursday 15 Conference of US President Truman, British Prime Minister Attlee and Prime Minister Mackenzie King ends with Joint Declaration on Nuclear Weapons, noting that the technology could not be prevented from spreading, and urging the United Nations to prevent it's use for weapons but promote it's peaceful use. However, the development of Thorium powered reactors for power generation which did not produce fissionable materials for atomic bombs or the dangerous waste of Uranium reactors, proposed at the time, was not pursued by either of these countries due to the needs of the Cold War. 15 786 Sqn. HMS Merganser, RNAS Crail (?) in Scotland, Barracuda II LS926 stalled in a formation flight and crashed, flying instructor Sub Lt(A) J.L. Morelli RN (Can.) missing and 2 crew also missing/killed (possibly Midshipman(A) A. Culshaw and LA R.C. Hook, both listed as killed from this squadron on this date in CWGC). Sub Lt Morelli had re-enlisted in the RN after flying in the RCAF (B. Barry et al). 15 USAAF 12th TAC, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70383 crashed in Germany due to weather, 1Lt L.D. Kimborugh USAAF and 3 passengers killed (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Friday 16 Third and final emergency transport flight of Penicillin from Canada to Warsaw by an #168 (HT) Sqn. Fortresswww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca aircraft. De Gaulle elected president of France (wikipedia). 16 USAAF 111th TRS, 10th TRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-35409 destroyed in a forced landing in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). 16 unknown unit, LAC J.A.R. Levasseur died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday 17 unknown RCAF Sqn., Dakota KG310 written off after a hard landing at RAF Station Schwechat, Austria (B. Wheeler, Reich Wrecks & Russians, Aeroplane Monthly, October 2018).

Monday 19 162 Sqn. Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB468 swung on take off and lost it's undercarriage in Malta (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Tuesday 20 Trial of 22 top Nazis begins at Nurmberg; Eisenhower succeeds Marshall as US Army Chief (CJCA headlines).

In England an RAF pilot under training who had been found unqualified, started a Meteor III EE316, took off and disappeared over the sea (E. Martyn and Lauriebe at www.rafcommands.com).

125 (Newfoundland) Sqn. disbands in England (wikipedia). 20 416 Sqn. Spitfire XIVe SM823 crashed on taking off in Germany, F/O K.J. Williams slightly injured (www.spitfires.ukf.net, 416 SH). 20 unknown unit, LAC C.H. Gates died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 20 USAAF C-47A 43-15763 belly landed near Whitehorse, Yukon (AAIR).

Wednesday 21 unknown unit, Sgt J.D. Robertson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday 22 unknown unit, F/S T. Smith died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday 25 Sikorsky R-5 helicopter uses newly developed rescue hoist to save 2 seaman from a barge grounded in a storm in Long Island Sound.

Monday 26 USAAF 111th TRS, 10th PRG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70550 damaged in a crash landing near Caen in France (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday 27 US General Marshallwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca appointed US Ambassador to China. Wednesday 28 An earthquake off shore of India causes a tsunami that kills 4,000 people in what is now Pakistan (wikipedia). 28 416 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV NH932 crash landed in Germany after an engine failure(www.spitfires.ukf.net). 28 #13 MU Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 overshot a landing and was wrecked when it ran into a hedge in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Thursday 29 Commonwealth and Empire war casualties announced as 1,246,025; British occupy Soerbaja, Java (CJCA headline).

Worlds first general computer, ENIAC, is completed and it runs it's first calculations. The computer covers an area of 167 m² and weighs 30 tons (wikipedia).

Friday 30 In Canada tire rationing eased (CJCA headline).

December 1945 Saturday 1 411 Sqn. Spitfire FR.XIV NH899 DB-S dived into the sea off Romo Island, Denmark, F/L K.S. Sleep MiD killed (411 SH). 1 unknown unit, F/S W. Wooffindin MM died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday 2 Rebel democrats seize Azerbaijan, Iran (CJCA headline).

First flight of the Bristol 170 Freighter (wikipedia).

Monday 3 Communist demonstrations in Athens begin strife that will end in the Greek Civil War (wikipedia). 3 437 Sqn., WAG F/S H.A. Graham took his own life (H.A. Halliday www.rafcommands.com). He is buried in Belgium.

Tuesday 4 The first pure jet aircraft to operate from an aircraft carrier, a Sea Vampire F.5, lands and takes off from HMS Ocean (wikipedia).

US Senate votes to join the United Nations (wikipedia).

Neurologist and astronaut Roberta Bondar born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (wikipedia). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Wednesday 5 Five US Navy TBM (Avenger) aircraft on a training flight [] become lost and ditch off Florida with no survivors (wikipedia).

Thursday 6 Anglo-American loan agreement announced (CJCA headline). The US granted a loan to England of $3.75 billion to support the British economy. Canada later added $1.25 billion to the loan (LoN). Friday 7 USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5301 was destroyed by fire in an accident in India (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Saturday 8 First flight of the helicopter (M.J.H. Taylor). See June 26, 1946.

In England 436 Squadron Dakota aircraft take over responsibility for #168 (HT) Sqn. supporting the Canadian Army in Europe (6th Year).

Monday 10 Trial of Maj-Gen. Kurt Meyer for ordering shooting of Canadian prisoners in Normandy starts at Aurich, Germany (CJCA headline). 10 111th TRS, 10th PRG USAAF, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70499 damaged in a crash in Germany due to weather and fuel starvation (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday 11 USAAF C-54D 42-72745 damaged landing at Stephenville, Nfld. (AAIR).

Wednesday 12 Public announcement that 125 Canadian prisoners were murdered by Germans in Normandy (CJCA headline).

Thursday 13 British House of Commons accepts Anglo-American financial arrangement (CJCA headline). 13 168 (HT) Sqn. RCAF, Liberator #575, F/L A.G. McRae, lands at Rockcliffe, Ontario, having completed the Squadrons 500th crossing of the Atlantic (H.A. Halliday).

Friday 14 Butter ration cut (CJCA headline).

Saturday 15 #8 (Pathfinder) Group disbanded in England. 15 USAAF Canadianwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70502 written off in a landing accident in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday 18 435 Sqn. Dakota IV KN413 ODM-F flew into high ground after attempting a landing in Oslo, Norway, crew pilot F/O W.R. Fee, pilot F/L W.A. Young, WAG F/O R.J.M.J. Dagenais and navigator F/O K.F. Study and their passengers, F/O A.C. Mundy RAF, Cpl H.W. Curtis RAF, Cpl W.H. Connor RAF, Sgt C.E. Kerry RAF, LAC G. Knight RAF, LAC J. Ward RAF, Pte O.D. Kerry Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Sgt A.C. Langridge RASC, Pvt E. Rosenzweig Pioneer Corps, Lt M.N. Williamson-Noble RA and Cpl. H. Wright RASC killed (CWGC, discussion page, www.rafcommands.com). Guardsman F. Jukes of the Coldstream Guards was also killed on this date and buried the same location and may have been involved in this loss (CWGC). 18 unknown unit, F/O T.G. Munro died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday 19 unknown unit, Cpl D.R. Caloren died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday 20 unknown unit, LAC R.E. Gardiner died in England, no details (CWGC). 20 437 Sqn., P/O J.E.F. Wilkinson died in England, no details (CWGC).

Friday 21 US General Patton dies of injuries from a car accident in Germany (wikipedia). 21 unknown unit, Cpl H.P. Piche died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday 22 First flight of the Beechcraft Bonanza (wikipedia).

Sunday 23 unknown unit, Cpl G.M. Lester died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 23 unknown unit, F/L D.R. Brown DFC died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 23 unknown unit, LAC R.M. Kelly died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday 24 unknown unit, LAC R.W. Delong died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday 26 unknown unit, WO1 R.J. Shaw died in Canada, no details (CWGC). 26 unknown unit, F/L B.M. O'Connor died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday 27 unknown unit, Sgt F.E. McCready died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday 28 unknown unit, Cplwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca W.B. Cowan died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Saturday 29 426 Sqn. last Liberator service to India, KK265 OLW-O, returns to England (RCAF Sqns.).

Monday 31 Manpower of the RCAF 9,016 officers and 49,221 airmen and women, total of 51,047, of whom 18,533 were overseas. This compares to a total of 181,533 a year ago. 426 Transport Sqn. is preparing to disband in England, leaving 10 RCAF squadrons in Europe and 4 (#12 (Comm), #124 (Ferry), #168 (HT) and #164 (T)) in Canada. 1946 -- US Electric Boat Company, later General Dynamics, buys controlling interest in Federally owned Canadair Ltd. (wikipedia).

-- During the year the former TUBE ALLOYS Laboratory in Montreal is closed down and it's remaining staff and projects transferred to the new National Research Facility at Chalk River (wikipedia). nuclear

Tuesday Jan. 1, 1946, 426 Sqn. disbands in England, aircraft and some volunteer personnel assigned to RAF to continue England-India service (RCAF Sqns.).

Wednesday Jan. 2, 1946, last of the Stinson 105 communications aircraft taken over from French contracts struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Friday Jan. 4, 1946, unknown unit, navigator F/O E. Martin died in England, no details (B. Barry et al).

Sunday Jan. 6, 1946, USAAF 356th FS, 354th FG, Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70547 damaged taking off in Germany (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Tuesday Jan. 8, 1946, unknown unit, LAC E.M. Hammill died in Europe, no details (CWGC). He is buried in the Netherlands.

Thursday Jan. 10, 1946, first meeting of the United Nations held in London, England (LoN). Jan. 10, 1946, US Army Project DIANA bounces radar signals off the Moon, giving the first accurate measurement of it's distance from the Earth, and proving that radio communications are possible in space (wikipedia).

Saturday Jan. 12, 1946, unknownwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca unit, LAC R.G. Goodfellow died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday Jan. 13, 1946, unknown unit, LAC D.K. Blakney died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday Jan. 15, 1946, around this time airmen at RAF bases in India went on strike, requesting that their return to England be expedited. Many had been away from their homes for several years, and felt that their extended presence now the war was over was due to England maintaining a large overseas force as a negotiating factor when dealing with the USA, and that British transport resources were being used to re-patriate US military from Europe while they were left overseas. The strike spread along the transport corridor to Africa and to Singapore and involved thousands of airmen at dozens of bases. Airmen involved were polite to their officers, maintained all essential services on their bases, and caused no riots or violence, and aircraft were still serviced and fuelled, but they would not obey orders to parade or for inspections. The strike was reported in the press and questions were raised in Parliament, and the airmen were assured that their returns would be dealt with without delay, but no direct promises were made by the government although a "first in, first out" policy was adopted, and normal operations resumed within weeks (B. Shilling).

Wednesday Jan. 16, 1946, unknown unit, F/O E.G. Gall died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday Jan. 17, 1946, RCAF Air Council members agree that RCAF aircraft will in future have a distinctive red Maple Leaf in the centre of their roundels (CCMA). Jan. 17, 1946, 162 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB677 had it's undercarriage collapse after a tire burst on take off in Europe (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Jan. 17, 1946, a bill to end discrimination in the workplace is introduced in the US Senate, but is defeated by a filibuster (wikipedia).

Friday Jan. 18, 1946, 443 Sqn. Spitfire LF.XVI TB914 abandoned and crashed in mock combat with USAAF P-47 aircraft in Germany (www.spitfires.ukf.net).

Saturday Jan. 19, 1946, First flight of the Bell X-1 supersonic test aircraft (wikipedia). Jan. 19, 1946, Eastern Air Command RCAF Dakota III FL636 missing between Cranbrook, BC, and Lethbridge, Alberta. After a 5 day search the wreckage is located on Mount Ptolemy in the Crowsnest Pass, F/O R.H. Watt DFC, F/O J.L. Norris, F/L W.J. Wood DFC, F/L W.J. Sealey, Sgt V.R. Ducklow, LAC D. Levy and LAC R.B. Lowe killed (J.A. Griffin).

Sunday Jan. 20, 1946, Gen. de Gaulle resigns as President of France (wikipedia). Jan. 20, 1946, last RCAFwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Stranraer flying boat struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). Some were converted for use as civil aircraft with Queen Charlotte Airlines in BC, and the last of these CF-BXO (ex RCAF #920), was purchased by the RAF Museum in 1970 where it is displayed in it's RCAF markings.

Wednesday Jan. 23, 1946, USN freighter USS Brevard off Shanghai rescues 4,296 Japanese civilians from a sinking ship (wikipedia). Thursday Jan. 24, 1946, UN Resolution 1, United Nations Atomic Energy Commission formed to examine problems to be expected by the development of the atom, headed by ex-soldier and scientist General A.G.L. McNaughton CB CMG DSO. On relinquishing the post in 1948 he was appointed Canada's Ambassador to the UN (http://ieeecanadianfoundation.org). nuclear Jan. 24, 1946, unknown unit, F/S W.F. Morin died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday Jan. 26, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt C.J. Noren died in Europe, no details (CWGC). He is buried in the Netherlands. Jan. 26, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.A.M. Martineau died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Jan. 26, 1946, unknown unit, LAC W.T. Carpenter died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Jan. 26, 1946, unknown unit, LAC E.R. Gittins died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday Jan. 27, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt S.H. Bellamy died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday Jan. 28, 1946, The schooner Bluenose sinks on a reef off Haiti (wikipedia).

Tuesday Jan. 29, 1946, The US Central Intelligence Group is established (later the CIA) (wikipedia). Jan. 29, 1946, unknown unit, AC1 W.G. Ballantyne died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday Jan. 31, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl C.L. Bishop died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Feb. 1946, with the first of three supersonic Miles M.52 research aircraft completed the new Labour Government in England, as part of it's cost saving measures, cancels the program in favour of using scale models (wikipedia). The manned aircraft is never flown. See Oct. 8, 1947, below.

Friday Feb. 1, 1946, recruiting for RCAF resumed to fill vacancies (CCMA). Feb. 1, 1946, sole Lockheedwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca 212 gunnery trainer in the RCAF struck off service, the seminal aircraft for the Hudson/Ventura/Harpoon/Neptune/Orion and Aurora family of patrol aircraft (Griffin CMA).

Sunday Feb. 3, 1946, defection of Igor Gouzenko, and Soviet spy ring in Ottawa, becomes public news (wikipedia). Feb. 3, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl C.A. Ralph died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Possibly lost in a fire at the Operation MUSK OX base in Churchill on this date (K.M. Trasher) [needs confirmation]. Tuesday Feb. 5, 1946, first scheduled post-war commercial Transatlantic flight, New York to Paris (via Gander) by a TWA Constellation (wikipedia). Feb. 5, 1946, as a result of newspaper reports in Canada that most RCAF overseas were happy to be still in Europe, when in fact most wished to return home, airmen at the RCAF station at Odiham in England went on a sit-down strike, that spread to the station at Down Ampney the next day. Although mentioned in The R.C.A.F. Overseas - The Sixth Year, the reaction of the Air Force is not, but it states most had returned to work within 4 days, and normal routine was in place by February 11 (6th Year).

Thursday Feb. 7, 1946, unknown unit, P/O F.H. King died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday Feb. 8, 1946, Kim Il-Sung elected Chairman of Interim People's Committee of Soviet occupied Korea (wikipedia). Feb. 8, 1946, 753 Sqn., HMS Merganser, RNAS Crimond, Firefly crashed at RNAS Rattray, Sub Lt (A) R.A. Jacobs RCNVR died of injuries and Sub Lt (O) J.C. Philley RCNR missing (FAA Museum NAP Data, www.naval-history.net).

Saturday Feb. 9, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.A. Kelly died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Feb. 9, 1946, unknown unit, LAC A.S. Fahey died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday Feb. 11, 1946, Lincoln B.I Bomber RE258 taken on strength with the RCAF for cold weather testing (Griffin CMA). Feb. 11, 1946, unknown unit, S/L H.P.M. Zary DFC RCAF (USA) died in North America, no details (CWGC). S/L Zary had served in 421 Squadron, and commanded 403 Squadron in Europe (D. Clark www.rafcommands.com).

Wednesday Feb. 13, 1946, 435 Sqn. Dakota C.III KG397 aircraft crashed in England, flying into high ground on approach to Croydon, killing 8 with 14 injured and 2 safe, S/L R.G. Joyce AFC MiD (ex commanderwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca of 435 Sqn. in Burma), F/O A.J. Clark, LAC G.A. Doxey RAF, LAC D. Palmer RAF, Driver D.I. Glover , W/C S. Grodzicki PAF, G/C S.P. Brzezina PAF and civilian rocket scientist Dr John Brittain killed, Maj Wheeler British Army, Capt Braithwaite BA, Maj Fleming (BA?) and F/S A. Roberts RAF badly injured, W/C O.W. Durdin, F/L R.J. Mitchell, F/O A.W. Gallup, Maj Gen Chilton BA, Maj Howarth BA, Pvt Campbell BA, Sapper L.W.F. Bailey RE, Gunner N. Fenwick RA, Capt Francis BA and Pvt Jewell (BA?) slightly injured, Sgt Gerard BA and Sgt Jakubowicz BA uninjured (R. McNeill, H.A. Halliday, I.M. MacDonald, H. Welting and discussion page at www.rafcommands.com). S/L Joyce was the pilot and was held responsible for continuing the flight in deteriorating weather (B. Barry et al). W/C Durdin, a prosecutor for the RCAF in war crimes trials, left the crash site to attend a scheduled meeting at the RAF Air Ministry before his injuries could be attended too (ibid). Dr Brittain had been the lead British scientist involved in Operation BACKFIRE (http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk).

Thursday Feb. 14, 1946, 5 Communications Unit RAAF Canadian built Norseman A71-4 (formerly UC-64A 43- 5191), hit a tree and crashed while landing at a remote airstrip in Australia, F/O C.W. Law RAAF, F/S J.B. Crawford RAAF and F/S G.M. Giesel RAAF killed (J. Baugher, http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/, CWGC).

Friday Feb. 15, 1946, The ENIAC computer is publicly demonstrated at the University of Pennsylvania (wikipedia). Feb. 15, 1946, Fifteen people are indicted in Canada as Soviet agents, including Communist MP Fred Rose (wikipedia). Feb. 15, 1946, Operation MUSK-OX begins, an expedition by land across the Canadian Arctic to test new vehicles and equipment developed during the war. With heavy RCAF support including Dakota and Norseman transports as well as Hadrian gliders Lancaster and Liberator bombers, the force leaves Churchill, Manitoba for , NWT. Loran (GEE) and radar aids developed for airborne forces were used for navigation and pin- pointing drops by aircraft (Wilson, Col J.T., Appendix 7 from N. Polunin).

Saturday Feb. 16, 1946, RAF Ferry Command in Canada closes it's headquarters at Dorval, Quebec, returning the airfield to the Canadian Department of Transport. Rather than ship their records to England most are burned. From it's beginnings as ATFERO it had delivered 9,516 aircraft to England, the Middle East, and Australia (G.J. Powell).

Monday Feb. 18, 1946, Indian Naval Mutiny started in Bombay, sailors protested poor food and discrimination by British officers. This led to wider action in the Navy, and Army across India, and to civilian support with strikes in port towns before it ended when military units attacked the strikers in Bombay Feb. 23, over 200 were killed. This led the sailors to surrender to prevent more civilian deaths. Overall their actions were supported in India, and it indicated that British control of the Indian armed forces was slipping (S. Raghavan). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Wednesday Feb. 20, 1946, RAF Ferry Command Liberator LB-30 AL528/G-AGEM caught fire making a landing in icy conditions at Charlottetown, PEI, Ferry Captain D.W. Ray killed. He was the only casualty on this the last aircraft lost by Ferry Command.

Friday Feb. 22, 1946, Post-war plan of RCAF announced, to have regular force of 16,100, with an Auxiliary of 4,500 and a 10,000 man Reserve force. Plans for 8 Regular Force Squadrons and 15 Auxiliary Squadrons. Feb. 22, 1946, unknown unit, Honorary W.E. Cockram CBE RCAF (UK) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday Feb. 23, 1946, unknown unit, LAC D.J. Smalley died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday Feb. 24, 1946, Juan Peron is elected President of Argentina (wikipedia).

Monday Feb. 25, 1946, 109 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB419 damaged beyond repair when it swung on landing in England and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Feb. 25, 1946, 109 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB533 lost it's undercarriage when it swung on taking off in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Tuesday Feb. 26, 1946, First sighting of unidentified flying objects over Sweden, collectively called "Ghost Rockets". They may have been Soviet tests of captured German weapons from Peenemünde, but this has never been confirmed. Similar "Ghost Rockets" were later reported over , Greece and Belgium (wikipedia). Feb. 26, 1946, #1 Fighter Unit RAF Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 was written off at Cairo, Egypt, when it's undercarriage collapsed on take off (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Feb. 26, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl A.A.J. Hartleib died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

March, 1946, Sakurajima volcano in Japan erupts with a lava flow that buries 2 villages (various).

Saturday March 2, 1946, as per treaty British forces leave Iran, but Soviet forces do not (wikipedia). March 2, 1946, Ho Chi Minh is elected President of Vietnam (wikipedia).

Sunday March 3, 1946, unknown unit, F/O A.E. Ross died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday March 5, 1946, At a speech at Westminster College, Missouri (broadcast by radio), Winston Churchill refers to "anwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca iron curtain" dividing Soviet and Western spheres of influence in Europe (wikipedia). March 5, 1946, unknown unit, F/L F.H. Mahn RCAF (USA) died in England, no details (CWGC). F/L Mahn was a graduate of Harvard.

Wednesday March 6, 1946, Vietnam is recognized as an autonomous state within the French Union with Ho Chi Minh as President (wikipedia). March 6, 1946, 168 (HT) Sqn. RCAF, Liberator #575 completes the Squadrons final crossing of the Atlantic (H.A. Halliday). Thursday March 7, 1946, US delivers diplomatic note to USSR to remove it's troops from Iran (wikipedia).

Friday March 8, 1946, Bell 47 helicopter receives the first commercial helicopter certification in the USA (M.J.H. Taylor). March 8, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.V. Preece died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday March 11, 1946, 766 Sqn., HMS Macaw, RNAS Errol, Sub Lt (A) D.J.O. Shortt RCNVR died in an air crash, possibly at Bootle, England, no details (FAA Museum NAP Data, www.naval- history.net). March 11, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt J. Forsyth died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday March 12, 1946, unknown unit, F/S J.S. Elliott died in Canada, no details (CWGC). March 12, 1946, unknown unit, F/S W.E. Kew died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday March 14, 1946, Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB534 hit a building taxiing at night in England and was written off (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). March 14, 1946, Aircraft Carrier HMCS Warrior commissioned into the , Canada's third (but first RCN) aircraft carrier.

Friday March 15, 1946, RCAF Fighter Wing disbanded in Germany (RCAF Sqns.).

Saturday March 16, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt D.L. Mills died in Canada, no details (CWGC). March 16, 1946, unknown unit, LAC W. Ogilvie died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday March 17, 1946, Control tower at RCAF Torbay, Newfoundland, lost in a fire (St. John's, A History of the Airport). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Thursday March 21, 1946, USAAF establishes Strategic Air Command to operate nuclear armed bombers (www.apnewsarchive.com). March 21, 1946, 411 Sqn., 412 Sqn., 416 Sqn. and 443 Sqn. disbanded in Germany (RCAF Sqns.). March 21, 1946, #1 Fighter Unit RAF Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA181 had it's undercarriage collapse on take off and was burnt out at Malta (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). March 21, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.O. Cameron died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Friday March 22, 1946, unknown unit, F/S E.W. Buckingham died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday March 23, 1946, President Truman sends an ultimatum to Stalin to remove Soviet troops from Iran (wikipedia). March 23, 1946, unknown unit, S/L E.W. Tribe died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday March 24, 1946 #124 (Ferry) Sqn. relocates from St. Hubert, Quebec to Rockcliffe, Ontario (RCAF Sqns.).

Monday March 25, 1946, Radio Moscow announces the Soviet forces in Iran will withdraw in the next few weeks (wikipedia).

Wednesday March 27, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl N.A.E. McInnis died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday March 29, 1946, unknown unit, Dakota IV #986 destroyed in a crash at Goose Bay, Newfoundland (R.W.R. Walker).

Sunday March 31, 1946, #1 SFTS, Camp Borden, Ontario, the first Service Flying Training School opened in Canada, closes on this date, the last active SFTS (http://www.bombercrew.com/BCATP.htm).

Monday April 1, 1946, A tsunami kills 173 people in Hawaii (wikipedia). April 1, 1946, 435 Transport Sqn. disbands in England and it's Dakotas return to Canada, having been purchased from the USA under the terms of Lend-Lease (RCAF Sqns.). April 1, 1946, RCAF Torbay, Newfoundland, is turned over to Canadian Department of Transport as a civilian airfield although the USAAF (later USAF) continued operations there (St. John's, A History of the Airport). As well, the airport at Gander is returned to the Newfoundland Commissionwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca of Government. Improvements to the airfield made by the Canadian Government, including extending the runways, erecting 15 more hangars, and building facilities that had created a small town around the airport, were reimbursed by Newfoundland. At one point the RCAF Base, including Canadian Army, RAF and USAAF operations, totalled 15,000 people on a site that in 1930 had a population of 10, making Gander the largest airbase in the RCAF (C.F. Warren et al).

Tuesday April 2, 1946, 772 Sqn. FAA Canadian built Mosquito KA941 hit a balloon cable in England, no further details. Friday April 5, 1946, unknown unit, F/O L.M. McCormack died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday April 7, 1946, unknown unit, F/L D.E. Anderson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday April 10. 1946, Elections in Japan held, women allowed to vote for the first time (wikipedia). April 10, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.J. Heembrock died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday April 13, 1946, Soviet troops leave Manchuria (wikipedia). April 13, 1946, unknown unit, AC1 C.F. Acheson died in Canada, no details (CWGC). April 13, 1946, unknown unit, F/S G.H. Nicholson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday April 14, 1946, Chinese Communists declare war on Nationalist Chinese Government (wikipedia).

Monday April 15, 1946, Minute Maid frozen concentrated orange juice goes on sale (wikipedia). April 15, 1946, Production of first Nikon cameras begins in Japan (wikipedia). April 15, 1946, First Post War Auxiliary squadrons formed, using squadron numbers from the Article 15 block, 400 Sqn. (Toronto), 401 Sqn. (Montreal), 402 Sqn. (Winnipeg), 418 Sqn. (Edmonton), 424 Sqn. (Hamilton), 438 Sqn. (Montreal) and 442 Sqn. (Vancouver).

Wednesday April 17, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt A.B. Hart died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday April 18, 1946, Final meeting of the League of Nations. It transfers it's mandate to the United Nations and then votes to disband itself (wikipedia).

Friday April 19, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.J. Sutcliffe died in Canada, no details (CWGC). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Sunday April 21, 1946, #168 (HT) Sqn. disbands in Ottawa after completing 636 Trans-Atlantic flights carrying nearly 2¼ million pounds of mail (RCAF Sqns.).

Wednesday April 24, 1946, First flight of the MiG I-300, the first Russian jet (later in service as the MiG-9), and the Yak-15, the second Russian jet, the order determined by a coin toss (wikipedia). See August 3, 1947. Thursday April 25, 1946, RCAF Headquarters in Ottawa received 5,000 letters of commendation from England to be sent to the special RCAF radar technicians who had been seconded to the RAF during the war. As the RCAF had no records of where these airmen had served it was decided not to do this and the letters were destroyed except one copy which was filed. In 1996 this was found, and the letters were re-created and presented to as many surviving technicians as could be located (V. Johnson & R.F. Linden).

Sunday April 28, 1946, 162 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB643 undershot a landing in Germany (Buckeburg?) and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). April 28, 1946, unknown unit, WO2 J. Etchells died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday April 30, 1946, 39 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA407 broke up in the air over the Sudan (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). P/O E.H. Coe RAF and F/O A.F. Chesterfield RAF are listed as killed from 39 Squadron in Sudan on this date (CWGC).

Thursday May 2, 1946, last Lockheed 10 communications aircraft struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Sunday May 5, 1946, unknown unit, LAW Daisy L.W. Vallis RCAF (Bermuda) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday May 6, 1946, Operation MUSK-OX concludes when the force reaches Edmonton, Alberta, from Fort Churchill, Manitoba via Victoria Island, Fort Norman and Fort Liard NWT.

Tuesday May 7, 1946, Bill passed in Parliament to cancel remaining debt of $425 million owed to Canada by England for the BCATP training scheme (C. Simonsen). May 7, 1946, unknown unit, LAC K.N. Goodwin died in Canada, no details (CWGC). May 7, 1946, former Japanese Navy researchers found Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Company inwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Japan, now called Sony (wikipedia). Wednesday May 8, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt J.D. Chapman died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday May 9, 1946, unknown unit, S/L W.A. Garland died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday May 10, 1946, First V-2 rocket launched at the US Army White Sands Missile Range. Tuesday May 14, 1946, 162 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 crashed in an overshot landing in Italy (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Wednesday May 15, 1946, Royal Navy Ships traversing the Corfu Channel come under fire of Albanian Coastal Defence guns, who claim the British ships had illegally entered Albanian waters (wikipedia). See October 22, 1946.

Friday May 17, 1946, unknown unit, S/L J.S. MacDonald died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday May 19, 1946, first commercial airliner to land at Berlin since the war, an American Overseas Airlines C-54 (DC-4) service from New York, via Gander (Aeroplane Monthly May, 2008). May 19, 1946, unknown unit F/S W.G.H. Tyers died in Canada, no details (B. Barry et al).

Tuesday May 21, 1946, Los Alamos, Dr. Louis Slotin, top Canadian physicist on the Manhattan Project, accidentally causes a criticality accident which gives him a lethal dose of radiation when he separates the elements with his hands, saving 7 other physicists. He died May 30. This was the second similar accident using the same nuclear core, the first had injured Dr. H.K. Daglian Jr. Aug. 21, 1945 (died Sept. 15, 1945) (wikipedia)

Wednesday May 22, 1946, First flight of the De Havilland Canada DHC.1 Chipmunk trainer at Downsview, Ontario, DHC's first original design (M.J.H. Taylor). This aircraft was designed by W.J. Jakimiuk, who had worked in England and Poland before the war, and designed several aircraft including the PZL.24 fighter aircraft. The Chipmunk was later built in large numbers in England as their primary training aircraft. May 22, 1946, Heathrow Airport is opened as London's official airport (M.J.H. Taylor). May 22, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.D.J.R. Marceau died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday May 25, 1946, unknownwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca unit, possibly Royal Aircraft Establishment, S/L E.B. Gale AFC was part of a program testing aircraft at high Mach numbers in dives when he failed to pull out of a dive and crashed, possibly in a Mustang aircraft (CWGC; Letter from R. Rose in Skywriters section of Aeroplane Monthly, September, 1999).

Sunday May 26, 1946, 162 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB605 swung on landing and lost it's undercarriage in Italy (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). May 26, 1946, unknown unit, WO2 M.F. Lucier died in Canada, no details (CWGC). He is remembered on the Ottawa Memorial. Tuesday May 28, 1946, unknown unit, LAC L.L. Anstey RCAF (UK) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Summer months, RCAF Photographic program continues in Canadian Arctic. (See N. Polunin for details).

Saturday June 1, 1946, 427 Sqn. and 429 Sqn. disband in England, 664 (AOP) Sqn. RCAF disbands in Holland (RCAF Sqns.). June 1, 1946, and go into service with the RCN (Griffin CMA).

Sunday June 2, 1946, unknown unit, AC2 W. Penner died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday June 5, 1946, #10 MU RAF Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA265 crashed on approach in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). F/L C.R.R. Dwight DFC RAF killed (P. Clare www.ww2talk.com) June 5, 1946, unknown unit, F/S D.B. Hopkins died in England, no details (CWGC).

Thursday June 6, 1946, unknown unit, P/O S.O. Grant died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday June 9, 1946, Cpl G. Krasiun killed in an aircraft crash at William's Lake, BC, possibly on forest fire fighting duties (B. Barry et al). June 9, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl M.I. MacDonald died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday June 11, 1946, unknown unit, LAC H.I. Olson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday June 14, 1946, unknown unit, LAW Alice Lovina Anderson died in Canada, no details (CWGC). June 14, 1946, unknown unit, LAC H.D. Polson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca June 15, 1946, 437 Sqn. disbands and it's Dakotas return to Canada, the aircraft purchased under Lend-Lease for RCAF use (RCAF Sqns.). June 15, 1946, USAAF 771st BS, 462nd BG UC-64A (Norseman) 43-5229 written off in a ground- loop in India (J. Baugher, http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/).

Monday June 17, 1946, Detroit Michigan, Windsor, LaSalle and Tecumseh in Ontario are hit by an F4 strength tornado that kills 17 people (wikipedia). Thursday June 20, 1946, while searching for another missing aircraft the wreckage of #10 (BR) Sqn. Liberator #3701, missing since October 20, 1943, is found (wikipedia).

Sunday June 23, 1946, A 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurs on , with shocks felt from Portland, Oregon to Prince Rupert, causing heavy damage and 2 deaths (wikipedia). June 23, 1946, 436 Sqn. disbands and it's Dakotas are returned to Canada, the aircraft purchased under Lend-Lease for use by the RCAF (RCAF Sqns.). These Dakotas were used as transports, and to support the Canadian Army's airborne and glider units postwar, as well as training, research and Search and Rescue operations, serving into the 1980s. June 23, 1946, unknown unit, LAC L. Norwood died in Canada, no details (CWGC). June 23, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl J.W.R. Bosse died in Canada, no details (CWGC). June 23, 1946, unknown unit, LAC M.W. Kotanko died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday June 26, 1946, An early Bell 47 helicopter leased from for a mining survey by the International Nickel Co. (INCO) is borrowed by an Ontario Provincial Air Services fireboss to survey the Wanapitei Lake fire near Sudbury, the first time a helicopter is used in forest management. The resulting report on the performance of the aircraft leads to the adoption of helicopters by the OPAS and the wider use of helicopters for forest fire work (J.C. Dillon). June 26, 1946, The Air Cadets in Canada renamed the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

Thursday June 27, 1946, Canadian Citizenship Act of 1946 passed, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 1947, defining Canadian citizenship as separate from British citizenship (wikipedia). June 27, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl J.L. Kent died in Canada, no details (CWGC). June 27, 1946, unknown unit, F/S A. Tavener died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday July 1, 1946, at Bikini Atoll begins with the detonation of the Able air dropped atomic bomb (wikipedia). This and the Baker test (July 25, below) were broadcast on radio around the world (http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/15/bruce-conner-crossroads-1976- nuclear-test-film-rapture).www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca July 1, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.E. Byrne died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday July 2, 1946, Arctic biologist Dr. Nicholas Polunin arrives at McGill University in Montreal from England to take up the position of MacDonald Professor of Botany via CGTAS/TCA Lancastrian service. His diary of his trip and work that summer with field parties of #13 (P) Squadron were later published as a book, Arctic Unfolding, which gives a vivid picture of Trans-Atlantic flight, Canada, the RCAF and the Arctic at that time. Thursday July 4, 1946, The Philippines becomes an independent country (Oxford).

Friday July 5, 1946, Inspired by atomic testing new French two piece bathing suits are named Bikini's, and go on display in Paris (wikipedia).

Sunday July 7, 1946, Howard Hughes makes the first flight of the Hughes XF-11 photo reconnaissance aircraft. He extends his flight because he likes how it flies, and is nearly killed when a propellor seal fails causing the prototype to crash (wikipedia).

Monday July 8, 1946, unknown unit, LAW Lucelle Margaret Sparks RCAF (UK) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday July 9, 1946, 264 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito T.29 lost it's undercarriage in a ditch when it overshot a landing in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). July 9, 1946, Last light bomber/gunnery trainers struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Sunday July 14, 1946, unknown unit, LAC H.R. Scott died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday July 15, 1946, first flight of the Canadair DC-4M "North Star" aircraft, a license built DC-4/C-54 airframe modified to fly with 4 inline Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. Later further modified for pressurized flight.

Saturday July 20, 1946, unknown unit, LAC R.J. Bailey died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday July 22, 1946, King David Hotel Bombing in Jerusalem kills 91 people (wikipedia). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Thursday July 25, 1946, Operation CROSSROADS, underwater atomic device Baker is exploded (wikipedia). USN Canadian built SBF-4E Helldivers 31840, 31850, 31889 and 31894 destroyed aboard USS Saratoga as part of the CROSSROADS Baker nuclear bomb test (J. Baugher). The blast sank nine naval ships in the target fleet and severely damaged and irradiated 65 others. The effects of the underwater explosion was so immense it required 2 months of debate by scientists to come up with an agreed vocabulary to describe what they had witnessed (http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/15/bruce-conner- crossroads-1976-nuclear-test-film-rapture). These two nuclear explosions, the fourth and fifth in the world, were the first public demonstrations of the power of a nuclear bomb. The film of the Baker test has been used in dozens of movies to represent atomic explosions.

Sunday July 28, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl K.G. Hatt died in Canada, no details (CWGC). July 28, 1946, unknown unit, F/O T.A. Seeman died in Canada, no details (CWGC). F/O Seeman was a Link Trainer technician who had also served in aircrew (B. Barry et al).

Monday July 29, 1946, unknown unit, F/O P.L. Hayes died in Canada, no details (CWGC). July 29, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl H.J. died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday July 30, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt E.D. Hodgson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday July 31, 1946, unknown unit, F/O D.W. Saidler died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday August 1, 1946, #164 (T) Sqn. reorganized as 426 (T) Sqn. (Dartmouth, NS) and 435 (T) Sqn. (Edmonton, Alberta) (RCAF Sqns.).

Friday August 2, 1946, 249 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA370 was written off after it's undercarriage collapsed on landing at Habbaniya, Iraq (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). August 2, 1946, unknown unit, P/O A.M.J. Fox died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday August 3, 1946, Agreement reached in Canada to provide wheat to Britain at a price below market value (wikipedia).

Sunday August 4, 1946, 8.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami kills 100 people in the Dominican Republic (wikipedia). August 4, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl J.E. Grafam died in Labrador, no details (CWGC). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Monday August 5, 1946, US Defence committee analysis of Soviet Union military recommends deploying radar and anti-aircraft forces in Alaska and northern Canada (wikipedia). This is the initial step in the establishment of the DEW lines and NORAD.

Tuesday August 6, 1946, USAAF flies two unmanned B-17 bombers from Hawaii to California to test guidance systems for missiles (wikipedia). August 6, 1946, unknown unit, LAC T.J. Moreau died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Thursday August 8, 1946, USAAF Canadian built OA-10A (Canso) 44-33963 crashes off Hawaii, 8 killed (J. Baugher). August 8, 1946, First flight of the Convair XB-36 bomber, designed to fly intercontinental bombing sorties at very high altitudes.

Tuesday August 13, 1946, author H.G. Wells dies in London (wikipedia).

Sunday August 18, 1946, unknown unit, WO1 J.R. Duffy died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday August 21, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl H.J. Berry died in Canada, no details (CWGC). August 21, 1946, unknown unit, S/L H.L. Racicot died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday August 26, 1946, US Navy begins Operation HIGHJUMP, a return to the Antarctic continent. One of the aircraft sent on this operation was USN Canadian built JA-1 Norseman 57992 (ex- USAAF 43-7206) (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). At around the same time the Falklands Island Dependency Survey (now called the British Antarctic Survey) is set up by the UK government (wikipedia). August 26, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl J.M. Rowsell died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday August 27, 1946, an RAF Lancaster bomber, part of a flight returning to England after a goodwill visit to the USA, has an engine problem after taking off at night and returns to make an emergency landing without lights at Gander, Newfoundland. It comes down low over the approach to the runway and hits several civilians watching the bombers take off, killing Isola Clarke, A.R. Parsons, C. Brazil and S. Rideout, and injuring W.J. MacDonald (C.F. Warren et al). The aircraft remained in Gander for the inquiry and was later written off there by the RAF. Purchased by a civilian operator it was converted to an air fuel tanker and flew in support of the construction of the railway in Labrador.

Wednesday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca August 28, 1946, #13 (P) Sqn. Canso A #11079, F/L J.F. Drake, overfly Foxe Basin from Coral Harbour, NWT, and confirm that the Spicer Islands, not having been reported since 1897, do exist (N. Polunin). August 28, 1946, unknown unit, AC2 L.W. Crawford died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday August 30, 1946, unknown unit, S/L L.J. Taylor died in Canada, no details (CWGC). August 30, 1946, unknown unit, LAW Olive Madge Lewis died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Saturday August 31, 1946, Atomic Energy Control Act of 1946 passed in Parliament to create the Atomic Energy Control Board for the continued development of atomic energy in Canada, with General A.G.L. McNaughton CB CMG DSO as it's first president (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission; Beginnings: Creation of a Canadian nuclear regulator).

Sept., 1946, Trans-Canada Airlines makes a survey flight to Bermuda with a North Star aircraft. A regular service from Montreal and Toronto would begin May 1, 1948 (http://www.bermuda- online.org/aviation.htm).

Monday Sept. 2, 1946, Interim Government takes charge in India as Britain begins to withdraw from the country (wikipedia).

Tuesday Sept. 3, 1946, Air France DC-3 F-BAOB catches fire in the air and crashes in Denmark killing 22 crew and passengers (wikipedia).

Wednesday Sept. 4, 1946, Air France DC-3 F-BAXD failed to climb and crashed after hitting a building taking off in Paris killing 1 person on the ground and 19 on the aircraft, 7 survivors (wikipedia).

Thursday Sept. 5, 1946, A Trans-Luxury Air DC-3 NC57850 flew into a hill landing at Elko, Nevada, killing 21 of the 22 on board (wikipedia).

Saturday Sept. 7, 1946, Two jet fighters attempt to claim the World Speed Record for aircraft on this day, the developed Gloster Meteor making 615.65 mph, beating the Republic P-84 (later F-84) which achieved 611 mph (wikipedia). Sept. 7, 1946, British South American Airways G-AHEW "Star Leader" crashed after after taking off from Bathurst, West Africa (now Gambia), killing 24 crew and passengers (wikipedia).

Sunday Sept. 8, 1946, unknownwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca unit, Sgt J.C. Myers died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Friday Sept. 13, 1946, unknown unit, LAC L.B.E. Simpson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday Sept. 14, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl D.J. Kintrea died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday Sept. 15, 1946, #124 (Ferry) Sqn. Dakota III #962 crashed at Estevan, Saskatchewan, killing 21. The passengers were pilots who had just ferried RAF Cornell aircraft built in Canada with Lend- Lease funds to Minot, North Dakota, and were returning to Estevan for further ferry flights (Airforce, Vol. 11, #3). Apparently the aircraft took off from Minot with one of it's control gust locks still in place. Trying to land it at Estevan the pilot attempted a go around, lost control and crashed. One person on the ground was reported to have been killed (B. Barry et al). Air Force personnel killed on this date include F/L J.A.C. Bouchard DFC, F/O R.A. Brandser, F/L C.S. Coppin, F/O H.H. Cowan DFC, F/L M.C. Cuthbert, F/L W.M. Jackson, F/L J.P. Jessee DFC RCAF (USA), F/O N. Jordan DFC, LAC V.L. Kirko, F/L L.V. Kirsch DFC, F/L J.S. Lees DFC, F/L L.E.J. Murphy DFC, F/O R.J. McIntyre, F/L R.C. McRoberts DFC, F/O W.A. Perry, F/O S. Pond, F/L C.S.W. Proctor, F/L E.C. Stewart DFC DFM, F/O M. Thomas, F/L L.E Turtle and F/L W.J.L. Weicker DFC & Bar. F/L Kirsch had been a rocket Typhoon specialist during the invasion of France (B. Barry et al).

Tuesday Sept. 17, 1946, mass production of television sets by RCA begins in the USA (wikipedia).

Wednesday Sept. 18, 1946, DC-4 OO-CBG crashes attempting to land at Gander, Nfld., at night, flying into the ground at a remote location 22 miles from the airport. Twenty six of those on board were killed. Two local hunters in the area, A. Pelley and B. Shea, were spotted by search aircraft in the morning and directed to the crash scene to render what first aid they could until other rescue personnel could arrive at the remote site on the second day after the crash, having hiked in from a river where a Canso could land them. Eventually some 40 people were transported to the site to assist the 18 survivors. These took care of the injured in the wreckage for a week until a helicopter could be brought to Gander from the USA to bring them out to a lake where a Canso could take them back to the hospital in Gander, where one died of their injuries (F. Tibbo). Those killed in the crash were then buried in a cemetery at the crash site. The Gander Radio Centre provided circuits for interviews of members of the rescue party broadcast live across the USA (C.F. Warren et al). This event was part of the inspiration for Nevile Shute's 1948 novel No Highway, part of which takes place at Gander and part in Quebec.

Thursday Sept. 19, 1946, Speaking in Zurich, Switzerland, former British PM Winston Churchill proposes European countries co-operate to form a "kind of United States of Europe" (wikipedia). Sept. 19, 1946, The firstwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Cannes Film Festival, cancelled in 1939, opens (wikipedia). Wednesday Sept. 25, 1946, last North American Yale, taken over from French contracts, sold from service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Thursday Sept. 26, 1946, Curtiss Kittyhawk fighter struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). Friday Sept. 27, 1946, Test pilot and son of the founder of de Havilland aircraft Geoffrey de Havilland Jr. killed in an attempt at super-sonic flight in the DH.108 Swallow jet when it broke up in the air (wikipedia).

Sunday Sept. 29, 1946, 249 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA341 damaged beyond repair making a gear up landing [in the Middle East?] (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Sept. 29, 1946, unknown unit, WO2 A.E. Nicholson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 1946, USN P2V Neptune flies non stop from Perth, Australia to Columbus, Ohio, setting a new distance record of 18,081 km (11,236 miles) (M.J.H. Taylor).

Monday Sept. 30, 1946, #124 (Ferry) Sqn. disbanded at Rockcliffe, Ontario (RCAF Sqns.).

Tuesday Oct. 1, 1946, Nuremburg trial ends Oct. 1, 1946, RCAF returns to peace time operation, many remaining personnel of the Regular Force reverting from their war (or substantive) rank to lower, permanent, rank (called 'R Day' by those affected).

Wednesday Oct. 2, 1946, unknown unit, LAC H.H. McMillan died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday Oct. 3, 1946, American Overseas Airlines DC-4 NC90904 crashes taking off from Stephenville, Newfoundland, 39 killed, most dependants of US military in Germany. This is the worst air accident of a US airline at the time (wikipedia).

Friday Oct. 4, 1946, the newly formed Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service makes its first operational flight with Norseman CF-SAM to Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service was the first non-military medical aviation (medivac) unit in the world and continues to operate today (http://www.wdm.ca/artifact_articles/air_ambulance.html, wikipedia). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Sunday Oct. 6, 1946, USAAF B-29 bomber flies from Hawaii to Egypt non stop over the North Pole, 17,498 km (10,873 miles) (M.J.H. Taylor). See August 3, 1947.

Monday Oct. 7, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl J.G.W. Martel died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Oct. 7, 1946, In the Netherlands a Dutch Naval Pilot flying stunts over his parents house in a Fairey Firefly hit a building and crashed into a school gymnasium killing himself and 22 on the ground (wikipedia).

Thursday Oct. 10, 1946, V-2 launched at White Sands in New Mexico reaches 100 miles of altitude and recorded information on the sun, including ultraviolet photographs (wikipedia).

Thursday Oct. 17, 1946, Oxford T.I RR336, #12 MU RAF, collides in mid-air with Tiger Moth T.II T7615 of #12 EFTS RAF over England, Sub Lt(O) G.A. Greenwood RCN and F/L L.N. Empson RAF were killed in the Tiger Moth, and W/C E.C.C. Tomkins DFC RAF was killed in the Oxford (Dick and Amrit at www.rafcommands.com). Oct. 17, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl E.M. Winter died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday Oct. 18, 1946, unknown unit, Sgt F.E. Kelly died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday Oct. 22, 1946, destroyer HMS Saumarez hits a mine in the Corfu Channel between Corfu and Albania. A second destroyer, HMS Volage, takes the badly damaged ship in tow, but also strikes a mine. Some 12 RN personnel were killed, 32 were missing and 42 injured, and one destroyer is written off in this incident (wikipedia). See November 12-13, below.

Thursday Oct. 24, 1946, A US launched V-2 rocket took photographs of the Earth, the first images of our planet taken from space (wikipedia). Oct. 24, 1946, unknown unit, Cpl J.E. Thorogood died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday Oct. 30, 1946, unknown unit, F/S J.H. Ross died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

November 1946 to February 1947, exact date unknown, discovery of the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls (wikipedia).

Friday Nov. 1, 1946, first game of the new National Basketball Association is played in Toronto (where the game was invented)www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers. New York wins 68-66.

Saturday Nov. 2, 1946, unknown unit, AC1 J.J. MacDonald died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday Nov. 4, 1946, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is established (wikipedia). Friday Nov. 8, 1946, unknown unit, LAC J.T. Wells died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday Nov. 10, 1946, A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Peru kills 1,400 people (wikipedia).

Nov. 13-14, 1946, with strong support from the Mediterranean Fleet, RN clear the Corfu Channel of mines, including inside Albanian territorial waters (wikipedia).

Thursday Nov. 14, 1946, last Douglas Digby patrol bomber struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Friday Nov. 15, 1946, #13 (P) Sqn. and #14 (P) Sqn. RCAF formally designated as such, the last squadrons formed with pre-war numbers.

Saturday Nov. 23, 1946, several thousand are killed in a riot between Vietnamese and French soldiers in Haiphong when a French cruiser in the harbour opens fire and bombards the area (wikipedia, J. Dodd & M. Lewis "Vietnam"). Nov. 23, 1946, during the summer NRC scientist A.E. Covington, using surplused radar equipment, had established a rudimentary radio observatory near Ottawa. On this date during a partial solar eclipse the station had measurements that confirmed the suns solar activity (including sunspots) could be measured using radio waves. In early 1947 the NRC began making daily solar activity records using this method, which still continues today (Algonquin Radio Observatory, Lake Traverse, Ontario, Canada, by A.E. Covington, 1969 and The Early Years of Radio Astronomy, W.T. Sullivan, Cambridge University Press, 2005).

Sunday Nov. 24, 1946, unknown unit, F/S H. Lomax died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday Nov. 27, 1946, unknown unit, LAC A.J. Sophie died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Nov. 27, 1946, unknown unit, LAC D.L. Haining died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Nov. 27, 1946, unknownwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca unit, LAC E.L. Campbell died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Saturday Nov. 30, 1946, unknown unit, LAC R.F. North died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

December In England following test firings of V-2 rockets in Holland a detailed proposal to build an enlarged version that might have put a man into space on a ballistic (non-orbital) flight as soon as 1951, but the government did not have the means to fund the project and it was shelved (http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150824-how-a-nazi-rocket-could-have-put-a-briton-in- space, wikipedia).

Wednesday Dec. 4, 1946, unknown unit, WO1 H.H. McClatchey RCAF (N. Ireland) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday Dec. 11, 1946, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Emergency Fund) is established (wikipedia).

Thursday Dec. 12, 1946, the Army, Navy and Air Force united in one Department of Defence under the Honourable Brooke Claxton, KC. Dec. 12, 1946, unknown unit, LAC D.E. Westlake died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Dec. 12, 1946, unknown unit, F/S M.L. Sims RCAF (UK) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday Dec. 13, 1946, last Canadian built Lysander sold from service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). Some of these were used as crop dusters, but the aircraft proved to be too large and, compared to biplane Stearman aircraft, too unmanoeuvrable for this purpose.

Tuesday Dec. 17, 1946, on the 43rd anniversary of the flight at Kittyhawk, a US launched V-2 rocket reached 116 miles into space (wikipedia).

Wednesday Dec. 18, 1946, Four German PoWs are executed by hanging in Lethbridge, Alberta, for the murder of a fellow PoW during the war (www.schudak.de). Dec. 18, 1946, Last Consolidated Catalina flying boat in the RCAF struck off strength (Griffin CMA). The amphibious Canso version remained in service until 1962.

Dec. 18, 1946, unknown unit, F/O G. Bernhard died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday Dec. 19, 1946, the military commander of French forces in Vietnam orders the Viet Minh organization to dissolve itself (M. Hastings). In response the of Independence begins between Vietwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, and occupying French forces, with an insurrection against French rule in Hanoi (wikipedia; M. Hastings). This war would last until 1954, followed by independence for Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam, then directly to the US- Vietnam War of the 1960s and 1970s.

Dec. 19, 1946, unknown unit, AC2 R.K. Brown died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday Dec. 20, 1946, the film "It's a Wonderful Life" premieres in New York. A winter storm cuts the audience and poor reviews result (wikipedia). The movie is mostly forgotten until its copyright is left open and it becomes a Christmas staple on television. Dec. 20, 1946, 39 Sqn. RAF Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA282 overshot making an emergency landing after losing an engine taking off in England (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Saturday Dec. 21, 1946, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake followed by tsunami waves killed over 1,300 people in Japan (wikipedia).

Tuesday Dec. 24, 1946, unknown unit, S/L W.C. Goudie died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday Dec. 25, 1946, First nuclear reactor outside of North America, Soviet F-1, goes on line (wikipedia). Actor W.C. Fields dies (wikipedia). Fog causes the crash of three passenger planes near Shanghai, China, killing 62 with 15 survivors (wikipedia).

Friday Dec. 27, 1946, the 4 surviving Fortress II transport aircraft were struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). They were sold to a company in Argentina which went bankrupt, and after years of sitting unused they were scrapped.

Sunday Dec. 29, 1946, in Germany the closes the border between Allied and Soviet regions (Polsson).

Tuesday Dec. 31, 1946, Manpower of the RCAF 2,320 Officers and 10,415 airmen, total 12,735, with 73 serving overseas. This is one quarter the number enlisted a year ago. The Women's Division of the RCAF dissolved with the discharge of the last WDs in Canada (CCMA) except for 30 Nursing Sisters who volunteered to serve the Permanent RCAF (CATP Contact newsletter, Vol. 34, Issue 3, Summer 2016) (see February 7, 1947).

1947 Wednesday Jan. 1, 1947, Saskatchewan Hospitalization Insurance Plan is implemented, the first Public Health Insurance planwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca in Canada, which would lead to a national Health Care Program in Canada in 1966.

Thursday Jan. 2, 1947, switches from driving on the left to driving on the right side of the road (wikipedia). Jan. 2, 1947, Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment, England, Canadian built Mosquito FB.26 KA104 struck off charge (www.dehavilland.ukf.net). Jan. 2, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt J.H. Bourque died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Monday Jan. 6, 1947, Last Fleet Fawn struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Friday Jan. 10, 1947, United Nations takes control of the city of Trieste, claimed by Italy and Yugoslavia (wikipedia).

Saturday Jan. 11, 1947, unknown unit, F/O S.G. Szczuka died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday Jan. 15, 1947, "Black Dahlia" murder in (wikipedia). Jan. 15, 1947, RCAF Station Whitehorse, Expeditor II #1394 crashed in the Yukon Territory due to pilot error in a snowstorm, F/O A.H. Hartviksen, F/L R.L. Curtin, F/S J. Milner, S/L R.A. Buckham DFC & Bar DFC (USA), LAC C.C. Brooking and 1 civilian killed (CWGC, Awards, J.A. Griffin).

Sunday Jan. 19, 1947, unknown unit, LAC A.B. MacDonald died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday Jan. 20, 1947, Crown Corporation Federal Aircraft closed.

Tuesday Jan. 21, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt A.R. Franz died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday Jan. 24, 1947, unknown unit, LAC J.R.E.R. Dugas died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday Jan. 27, 1947, Federal Cabinet order for deportation of Japanese Canadians repealed after protests (wikipedia).

Tuesday Jan. 28, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt J.H. Foxton died in Canada, no details (CWGC). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Thursday Jan. 30, 1947, MP Fred Rose is expelled from Parliament following his conviction for passing official secrets to a foreign power, a charge he refuses to defend himself against (www.schudak.de).

Jan. 30-Feb. 8, 1947, Western Canada from Winnipeg to Calgary is buried in a blizzard (wikipedia).

Friday Jan. 31, 1947, 825 Sqn. RCN, HMCS Warrior, Firefly FR.I MB588 crashed off Saltspring Island, BC, Lt C.R. Gavel RCNR killed, LCdr(P) O.W. Tattersall RN (Can.?) missing (FAA Museum NAP Data, www.naval-history.net). Jan. 31, 1947, unknown unit, F/O R.H. Marritt died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Feb. 1947, private Finne Ronne Expedition leaves for the Antarctic where it will use one of the abandoned stations from the US Navy's 1939-41 expedition to map the last unexplored area of the Antarctic using light aircraft, including ex-USAAF Canadian built UC-64A (Norseman) 44-70369 (wikipedia, http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/). It is also the first expedition to have women over winter at their base (1947-48).

Feb. 1947 training course set up in Edmonton, Alberta to train "para-rescue jumpers" (now known as SAR Techs) (CCMA), building on the experience of the rescue parachute teams developed during the war by Wop May for use on the North West Staging Route.

Monday Feb. 3, 1947, lowest temperature recorded in North America, -63ºC (-81ºF), at Snag, Yukon (wikipedia).

Friday Feb. 7, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt T. Dombroski died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Feb. 7, 1947, unknown unit, Section Officer Ellen Jewel Twiss died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday Feb. 10, 1947, Peace treaties signed in Paris between Allies and Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Finland (Polsson). Feb. 10, 1947, unknown unit, LAC W.K. Daugherty died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Feb. 10, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt U.B. Lund died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday Feb. 11, 1947, unknown unit, Cpl W.E. Olson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday Feb. 13, 1947, Oil starts flowing through the Leduc No. 1 hole in Alberta, beginning a period of widespread oil development in the province. Feb. 13, 1947, unknown unit, Cpl W.R. Hollingshead died in Canada, no details (CWGC). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Thursday Feb. 20, 1947, the first living organisms (plants and fruit flies) are launched from Earth into space aboard the US Army V-2 rocket "Blossum I" (wikipedia).

Monday Feb. 24, 1947, unknown unit, F/O P.J.A.D. Carriere died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday Feb. 25, 1947, first Volkswagen "Beetle" arrives in the USA, private property of a returning US serviceman (wikipedia). Feb. 25, 1947, unknown unit, LAC R.E. Froud died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday Feb. 27, 1947, a seizure of cigarettes in Taipei, Taiwan, sparks a fight between Taiwanese fed-up with the corruption of the provisional Chinese government and the Government agents. One civilian is shot. The next day, Feb. 28 (or 2/28), larger protests lead to greater violence across the Island, now called the 228 Incident. This leads to marshal law on Taiwan which, following the expulsion of Nationalists from the Mainland, continues until 1987 (wikipedia).

March, 1947, sales begin of housing sites in what would become Levittown on Long Island in New York, the first planned "suburban development". In the first hour 1,400 sites were sold. Between 1947 and 1951 17,000 detached homes would be built in 4 estates using mass production techniques (http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/apr/28/levittown-america- prototypical-suburb-history-cities; wikipedia). Purchasing of the homes was restricted to 'white' families only.

Saturday March 1, 1947, Eastern Air Command, Western Air Command and other Commands reformed to Central Air Command (Headquartered at Trenton) and North West Air Command (Edmonton) (CCMA).

Wednesday March 5, 1947, unknown unit, F/L H.W. Briscoe RCAF (Eire) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday March 8, 1947, unknown unit, LAC E. McCann died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday March 10, 1947 TWA Constellation NC90814 ' Star of Hollywood' was east bound from Gander, Newfoundland when it suffered depressurization when the astrodome failed. The navigator was taking a star shot at the time and was sucked out of the aircraft, which returned to land at Gander (http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/06/).

Friday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca March 14, 1947, unknown unit, AC1 G.R. Lawrence died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday March 17, 1947, St. Hubert, Quebec, Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) begins operations. Founded by ex-RCAF member K.R. Patrick it signs a contract within a week to build and install radars in the Canadian Arctic to detect possible Soviet bombers (www.mysteriesofcanada.com). Mr. Patrick was the first commanding officer of the secret #5 Radar School at Clinton, Ontario (M. Hirschman). Tuesday March 18, 1947, unknown unit, Cpl W.A. Potter died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday March 21, 1947, unknown unit, LAC C.T. Mahon died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday March 22, 1947, unknown unit, S/L W.M.C. Graham died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday April 1, 1947, #12 (Comm.) Sqn. redesignated 412 (K) Composite Sqn. RCAF., #13 (P) Sqn. redesignated 413 (P) Sqn. RCAF, #14 (P) Sqn. redesignated 414 (P) Sqn. RCAF. 406 Auxiliary Squadron formed at Saskatoon.

Wednesday April 2, 1947, #5 FP (Flight?) RAF Canadian built Mosquito B.25 KB491 swung on landing and lost it's undercarriage (www.dehavilland.ukf.net).

Thursday April 3, 1947, unknown unit, LAC J.L.J.C. Fortin died in Canada, no details (CWGC). April 3, 1947, unknown unit, AC2 W.A. Zurkan died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday April 4, 1947, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) begins operations in Montreal.

Saturday April 5, 1947, First Sikorsky H-5 helicopter goes into service with the RCAF, for Search and Rescue work (Griffin CMA, CCMA).

Saturday April 12, 1947, unknown unit, Cpl A. Maxwell died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday April 15, 1947, BOAC begins weekly air service from London to Montreal using Lockheed Constellation aircraft via Gander (M.J.H. Taylor), the same route pioneered in 1939. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Wednesday April 16, 1947, a French ship loading ammonium nitrate fertilizer in Texas City, Texas, explodes, levelling over 1,000 buildings and spreading fires that result in an additional ship exploding hours later. Of the cities 29 man fire crew 28 were among the 468 killed and 113 missing, a further 5,000 were injured in the worst industrial accident in the USA (wikipedia). A light plane taking news photos of the fire has it's wings torn off by the blast [which is heard over 100 miles away], killing the pilot and photographer. Fires burned for a week after the explosions. April 16, 1947, unknown unit, Cpl J.J.C. MacDonald died in Canada, no details (CWGC). Friday April 18, 1947, in an attempt to destroy the fortified island of Heligoland in the North Sea 4,000 tons of surplus explosives are detonated by the Royal Navy. The fortifications were destroyed but the Island survived (wikipedia).

Sunday April 20, 1947, 733 Sqn., Seafire XV accident in Ceylon Sub Lt (A) F.G. McGonagle RNVR (Can.) killed (FAA Museum NAP Data).

Monday April 21, 1947, unknown unit, WO1 A.S. Davidson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday April 23, 1947, unknown unit, F/L E. Brant died in Canada, no details (CWGC). April 23, 1947, unknown unit, nurse Matron Nellie Josephine Enright, Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday April 24, 1947, unknown unit, F/L J.R.V. Tremaine died in Canada, no details (CWGC). April 24, 1947, unknown unit, Cpl J.G.B. Lalonde died in Canada, no details (CWGC). April 24, 1947, unknown unit, LAC W.J. Sturtevant died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday April 27, 1947, The Douglas DC-6 airliner goes into service (wikipedia). This is a larger version of the DC-4/C-54 with a pressurized passenger cabin. See October 24, 1947.

Monday April 28, 1947, the balsa raft "Kon-Tiki" is towed out of Callao harbour, Peru, in an attempt to prove possible connections between South America and the Polynesian islands by sailing across the Pacific (wikipedia). April 28, 1947, Trans-Canada Air Lines Lockheed 18 CF-TDF disappeared with 3 crew and 12 passengers after several attempts to land at Vancouver at night. After a large search it was believed the aircraft had crashed at sea, but the wreckage was discovered in the Seymour Reservewww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca municipal watershed in 1994 (wikipedia, http://www.metrovancouver.org).

Thursday May 1, 1947, Canadian Government Transatlantic Air Service (CGTAS) ends, it's operations being taken over by TCA as Trans-Canada Air Lines (Atlantic) Ltd. (http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca).

Friday May 2, 1947, film "Miracle on 34th Street" released (wikipedia). Saturday May 3, 1947, unknown unit, F/S H.B. Austin died in Canada, no details (CWGC). May 3, 1947, unknown unit, LAC D.G. Fraser died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday May 7, 1947, unknown unit, LAC D.C.A. Sugden died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday May 9, 1947, unknown unit, LAC G.A. Smith died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday May 14, 1947, The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, which limited immigration of ethnic Chinese into Canada, was repealed (wikipedia).

Tuesday May 20, 1947, unknown unit, WO2 G.W. Maley died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday May 28, 1947, British South American Airlines begins a series of trial flights, London, England to Bermuda direct with air-to-air refuelling from the Azores http://www.bermuda- online.org/aviation.htm

Thursday May 29, 1947, In separate incidents in Iceland (Flugfélag Islands DC-3), New York (United Airlines DC-4) and Japan (USAAF C-54) 108 people are killed and 6 injured in air accidents (wikipedia). See May 30, 1948. May 29, 1947, unknown unit, WO2 W. Seydor died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday May 30, 1947, Eastern Air Lines DC-4 aircraft breaks up in flight over Maryland, killing 53 crew and passengers. The two crashes in the USA killed 97 people, more than all those killed on commercial flights in the USA in the previous year combined (wikipedia).

Saturday May 31, 1947, unknownwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca unit, Cpl J.A. Konkle died in Canada, no details (CWGC). June, 1947, Training begins in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, of the first Smokejumper team in Canada. Smokejumpers are quick reaction forest fire fighters that would be parachuted in to small fires and attempt to put them out before they could get too big. The concept came from the USA and USSR developments in the 1930s (http://www.wdm.ca/artifact_articles/smokejumpers.html, wikipedia).

Thursday June 5, 1947, US Secretary of State George Marshall announced a European Recovery Program, known as the (Polsson) which includes keeping US military forces in Europe. This is a major blow to Stalin's ambitions as it signalled that the USA would keep it's interests in . He had hoped US military forces would leave Europe within 2 years of an Allied victory, as Roosevelt had stated at Yalta, leaving him with a free hand to expand Soviet influence (Oxford).

Saturday June 7, 1947, North American Mustang IV (P-51D) aircraft purchased surplus in the USA go into service with the RCAF to equip Reserve units (Griffin CMA).

Tuesday June 10, 1947, Last of three Halifax aircraft in service with the RCAF in Canada struck off service (Griffin CMA).

Wednesday June 11, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt P.P. Nisbet died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday June 12, 1947, unknown unit, AC2 G. Striez died in Canada, no details (CWGC). June 12, 1947, #1 Hangar, Blatchford Field (Municipal Airport) Edmonton, Alberta, caught fire and burned down, Norseman #2485 and #3527 destroyed in the Hangar (http://www.norsemanhistory.ca/), a USAAF F-82 aircraft parked outside for an airshow the next day was damaged. Note that this was USAAF Hangar #1, not the original Hangar 1 built at Blatchford Field before the war.

Sunday June 15, 1947, Canadian laws limiting immigration of Asians and denying them the right to vote are repealed (wikipedia).

Tuesday June 17, 1947, Pan American Airlines begins around-the-world service, by DC-4 from San Francisco to Calcutta, India following the 1930s route via Hawaii, Midway, Wake, Guam, Manila and Bangkok. There it met a Constellation that flew to New York via Karachi, Istanbul, London, Shannon and Gander (wikipedia).

Thursday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca June 19, 1947, Pan American Airlines Constellation NC88845 'Clipper Eclipse', flying from Pakistan to Turkey, suffers an engine failure followed by overheating engines and an engine fire which causes it to force land at night in the Syrian desert with the loss of seven crew and eight passengers. Nineteen passengers and 3 crew survived. The lost crew members (Captain, First Officer, Second Officer (Pilot/Navigator), 2 Flight Engineers and 2 Radio Officers), all at their flight stations, indicates how labour intensive these early long-distance flights were. Technical difficulties were large as well, the same aircraft had had to return to land in Gander with an engine problem less than a week before, which delayed them by two days east-bound (www.check-six.com). The only surviving flight officer was Third Officer (relief pilot) E.W. "Gene" Roddenberry, who was in the cabin assisting the two cabin staff (Purser and Stewardess). He was later better known as the creator of the 'Star Trek' TV series (wikipedia). June 19, 1947, Lockheed P-80R at Muroc Dry Lake (later Edwards Air Force Base) raises the world speed record to 1,004 km/h (624 mph) (M.J.H. Taylor).

Saturday June 21, 1947, report of 6 unidentified flying objects (UFO) seen over Puget Sound, Washington (wikipedia).

Tuesday June 24, 1947, civil pilot reports 9 UFOs flying at supersonic speeds over Mount Rainier, Washington. Newspaper reports begin to refer to them as "flying saucers" after the pilots description (wikipedia).

Wednesday June 25, 1947, unknown unit, WO1 A. Forrest died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday June 26, 1947, former Canadian PM R.B. Bennett dies in England (wikipedia). June 26, 1947, US President Truman creates the CIA, US Department of Defence, US Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Security Council (NSC) in the National Security Act of 1947 (wikipedia). Many see this as a major change in the foreign policies of the USA.

Saturday June 28, 1947, Last trainer struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). June 28, 1947, Charles Cain, editor of the British magazine The Aeroplane Spotter, published a one line description of 's work to develop a jet interceptor powered by Canadian engines after a visit to the factory, the first public information on what would be the CF-100 fighter. He was arrested in August on his return to England as the project was still secret at the time, but was let go with an admonition (A Remarkable Life, Aeroplane Monthly, February 2006).

Sunday June 29, 1947, unknown unit, F/L E.M. Smith died in Canada, no details (CWGC). www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Wednesday July 2, 1947, unknown unit, AC2 L.M.J.A. Perron died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday July 7, 1947, report of a crashed spacecraft near Roswell, New Mexico (wikipedia).

Tuesday July 8, 1947, First flight of the Boeing B.377 Stratocruiser, a pressurized airliner based on the B-29 bomber. Friday July 11, 1947, unknown unit, F/O P.T. Billett died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday July 12, 1947, Last Fairey Swordfish aircraft struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). The last airworthy Swordfish were flown from Nova Scotia to Naval Reserve units across Canada were they were used for ground training.

Monday July 14, 1947, unknown unit, W/C H.W. Coffin died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday July 15, 1947, Northwest Airlines begins scheduled service from Minneapolis to Shanghai, Tokyo and Manila, via Edmonton, Alberta, Anchorage and Shemya in Alaska (wikipedia). This follows the route proposed and pioneered by Grant McConachie in the 1930s.

Wednesday July 16, 1947, 617 Sqn. RAF Lincolns on a goodwill visit to the USA make a stop and display in Toronto and Trenton (K. MacLean & Ieemic www.rafcommands.com).

Thursday July 17, 1947, unknown unit, Lt (A) R.M. Gailbraith RCNR and Lt (A) J.M. Lamon RCN killed, no details (www.naval-history.net).

Saturday July 19, 1947, Operation POLCO, to accurately locate the magnetic North Pole, begins in the Canadian Arctic, with 413 Sqn. Canso #11060, F/L J.F. Drake, leaving Ottawa for Cambridge Bay, NWT, where it would be used to position Dominion Observatory crews to take magnetic observations. However ice was still covering the area and the operation was delayed (J.E. Goldsmith, CCMA).

Monday July 21, 1947, Last Canadian built Bolingbroke aircraft struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Tuesday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca July 22, 1947, NRX Reactor using heavy water as a moderator goes online at Chalk River, at that time the most powerful reactor in the world (wikipedia). It was shut down in 1993. nuclear

Saturday July 26, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt C. Jenkins died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday July 27, 1947, Last DH Tiger Moth trainer struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). Friday August 1, 1947, Operation POLCO, the first chosen observation site is reached by 413 Canso #11060 on Victoria Island, but ice began moving in suddenly, causing the party to evacuate the site in a hurry. The Canso scraped the ice edge on the take-off run. An alternate site on an unmapped lake on was then used (J.E. Goldsmith).

Saturday August 2, 1947, British South American Airways G-AGWH 'Star Dust' disappears over the Andes flying from Argentina to Chile. In 1998 it's wreckage was found emerging from glacial ice on Mount Tupungato in Argentina (wikipedia).

Sunday August 3, 1947, Soviet copy of the B-29, reverse engineered from damaged USAAF aircraft that landed or crashed in the USSR during the war, publicly unveiled as the Tu-4 at an Air Force flypast at Tushino (M.J.H. Taylor). This was a shock to western nations as it's existence was unknown, and it's completion gave the USSR a modern, strategic and nuclear capable bomber. As well no fewer than 6 different jet powered fighter designs were demonstrated, just 16 months after the first flight of a Soviet jet aircraft (wikipedia). Purchase and license production of jet engines from cash strapped Britain had facilitated their development.

Tuesday August 5, 1947, unknown unit, F/L R.F. Neill died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday August 7, 1947, the balsa raft "Kon-Tiki" came ashore on a reef at Raroia Atoll in the Tuamotu Islands (wikipedia).

Friday August 8, 1947, Operation POLCO, after flying to Calgary for repairs to it's hull 413 Canso #11060 returns to Cambridge Bay where it is storm bound for 3 days (J.E. Goldsmith).

Thursday August 14, 1947, unknown unit, F/O A.A. Stephenson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca August 15, 1947, India and Pakistan become independent countries (wikipedia). August 15, 1947, the GLEEP reactor using graphite as a moderator goes into operation in England, the first atomic reactor in western Europe (wikipedia). nuclear

Sunday August 17, 1947, unknown unit, F/S M.A. Wilkinson died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday August 20, 1947, rocket powered Douglas D-558-1 takes the World Speed Record for aircraft at 640.796 mph (1,031 km/h). This is the first aircraft to better the unofficial record of the Me 163 prototype set October 2, 1941 (wikipedia).

Friday August 22, 1947 Operation POLCO, after several flights looking for accessible sites a small lake on Prince of was selected and a landing made. The next morning the temperature had dropped and the lake was freezing over, forcing the Canso to leave in bad weather, where icing caused the aircraft to lose lift. Flying blind the Canso's crew managed to navigate through high ground in cloud to the coast where they found clear skies (J.E. Goldsmith). August 22, 1947, unknown unit, LAC L.C. Rogers died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday August 30, 1947, Douglas D-558-1 achieves 650 mph (1,046 km/h) (wikipedia).

Sunday August 31, 1947, unknown unit, Cpl J.A.A. Leger died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday September 2, 1947, freight and passenger trains collide at Dugald, Manitoba, nearly 30 killed (www3.gendisasters.com).

Thursday September 4, 1947, Canadair DC-4M North Star enters service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA).

Friday September 5, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt G.J. Carlin died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday September 8, 1947, Canadian Pacific Airlines makes it's first scheduled flight, from Vancouver to Penticton, BC (M.J.H. Taylor).

Tuesday September 9, 1947, unknown unit, AC1 J.E. Bjork died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca September 10, 1947, Operation POLCO, After flying 200 hours in the remote high Arctic, and managing to set up 6 observation stations, the Dominion Observatory and RCAF party with Canso #11060 returns to Ottawa. The location of the magnetic North Pole had been narrowed to Prince of Wales Island. It would take 2 further years of work until the location of the magnetic North Pole was pinned down on August 19, 1949 (J.E. Goldsmith).

Friday September 12, 1947, 426 (T) Sqn. takes delivery of it's first transport, a Canadian built version of the Douglas DC-4/C-54 transport with Merlin engines (426 SH). These would see heavy use in the , especially returning wounded soldiers to the USA, where it's high speed was an asset (L. Milberry, The Canadair North Star, CANAV Books). September 12, 1947, unknown unit, LAC A.J. McLaughlin died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

September 17-21, hurricane in Florida and Gulf coast kills 51 (wikipedia).

Thursday September 18, 1947, USAAF becomes the USAF, an independent service (M.J.H. Taylor). September 18, 1947, unknown unit, F/O K.L. Johnston died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday September 21, 1947, unknown unit, LAC D.J. Larkin died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday September 22, 1947, last Anson I, II, III and IV aircraft struck off service with the RCAF (Griffin CMA). The all wooden Canadian built Anson V continued in service until 1954. In England the Anson I was redesigned with a larger fuselage cabin and new aircraft were built that remained in service through the 1950's, and later as civil aircraft.

Thursday September 25, 1947, unknown unit, F/O S.H. Johnston died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Friday September 26, 1947, unknown unit, LAC F.R. Ward died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday September 28, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt J.A. Williams died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday September 30, 1947, last Canadian military on active War Service stood down (wikipedia). September 30, 1947, unknown unit, F/O A.G. Sims RCAF (USA) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday October 1, 1947, First flight of the XP-86, later developed into F-86 and built in Canada as the CL-13 Sabre (M.J.H.www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Taylor). Sonic boom produced when diving, but claim of exceeding Mach 1 disputed.

Thursday October 2, 1947, unknown unit, AC1 R.S.G. Boissonneault died in Canada, no details (CWGC). October 2, 1947, Joint Air Force-Army operation to reach and rescue Anglican missionary, Canon J.H. Turner, badly wounded in a firearm accident September 24, from his remote mission on northern Baffin Island begins when a Dakota aircraft leaves Winnipeg after 2 days of planning (Kenn Harper http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca). Saturday October 4, after stopping at Churchill the RCAF Dakota flew from Coral Harbour to Moffet Inlet, 65 miles NNW of the community of Arctic Bay, where the fog cleared enough to drop a team of a doctor and 3 paratroopers to the mission were they were able to treat Canon Turner. There were no landing sites nearby the mission (Kenn Harper http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca). See November 21, 1947.

Tuesday October 7, 1947, Operation LEA, French paratroops land at Viet Minh headquarters and nearly capture Ho Chi Minh and his military leader, Vo Nguyen Giap, in the beginning of a two month operation to destroy the Viet Minh. Although tactically a success, the operation failed to destroy the Communist opposition (wikipedia).

Wednesday October 8, 1947, Scale model of Miles M.52 supersonic test aircraft is launched from a Mosquito, but the rocket motor explodes. Just 1 year later a second model reached Mach 1.38 before disappearing over the Atlantic Ocean after the radio control fails (wikipedia). See October 14, below.

Friday October 10, 1947, unknown unit, F/S E.J. Howe RCAF (UK) died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday October 12, 1947, unknown unit, AC2 F.R. Poulton died in Canada, no details (CWGC). October 12, 1947, unknown unit, F/L R.G. Minshull died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday October 14, 1947 Boeing 314 flying boat NC18612 "Bermuda Sky Queen" on a charter flight ditches at sea attempting to fly the Atlantic Ocean from Europe, US Coast Guard rescues all 69 on board (rbogash.com, http://www.bermuda-online.org/aviation.htm). This brought an end to commercial trans-Atlantic flights by flying boats. October 14, 1947 Rocket powered Bell X-1 flown by USAF Capt. "Chuck" Yeager breaks Mach 1 in level flight, reaching Mach 1.02, and setting a new unofficial speed record of 670 mph (1,078 km/hr). Days later it sets an altitude record of over 70,000 ft. (wikipedia). Input from the design of the British Miles M.52 is not acknowledged. www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca Wednesday October 15, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt M.H. Brooks died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday October 16, 1947, unknown unit, Lt (A) A.L. Warren RCN killed, no details (www.naval-history.net).

Saturday October 18, 1947, 413 (P) Sqn. Mitchell III #894 missing in southern BC with 5 crew and 2 passengers. F/O B. Cook DFM, LAC B.E.S. Bowman, LAC W.H. Molyneaux, F/O A.G. Robertson, F/O G.Y. Lebel DFC, F/L J.L. MacLeod DFC and Cpl J.N. Sabourin killed (airforce.ca). The wreck was not found until 1952. All are listed on the Ottawa Memorial, which indicates the remains may have been interred at the crash site. Photos of the crash site can be found at http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/22416-b-25-mitchell-crash-site/. It is also the site of a geocache.

Monday October 20, fighting breaks out in Kashmir between India and Pakistan (wikipedia).

Tuesday October 21, 1947, first flight of the Northrup YB-49 flying wing jet bomber (wikipedia).

Friday October 24, 1947, United Airlines DC-6 NC37510 catches fire in the air and crashes attempting an emergency landing, killing 52 (wikipedia). This is the first crash of the new DC-6 design. See November 11, below. October 24, 1947, first flight of the Grumman XJRF-1, later the HU-16 Albatross amphibian (wikipedia). These were later flown by the RCAF as Search and Rescue aircraft.

Saturday October 25, 1947, India declares war on Pakistan (S. Raghavan)

Wednesday October 29, 1947, unknown unit, S/L H.A. Chaddock died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Thursday October 30, 1947, The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades (GATT) is completed, leading to the foundation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) (wikipedia).

November, 1947, prototype AK-47 assault rifle is tested in the USSR (wikipedia). November, 1947, Flight training resumes in the RCAF when the first postwar class of 21 cadets begin their training in Toronto (CCMA).

Sunday November 2, 1947, Howard Hughes flies the H-4 Hercules (aka the 'Spruce Goose') wooden flying boat, the largestwww.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca aircraft then flown, on it's only flight (wikipedia). November 2, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt C.F.D. McCrea died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday November 4, 1947, unknown unit, PO(A) J.W. MacDonald RCN killed, no details (www.naval- history.net).

Wednesday November 5, 1947, Netherlands Naval Air Service Canadian built Catalina IVb 16-93 (ex RAF JX359) burnt out at Balikpapan, Borneo (http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/neth/mld/types/catalina.htm).

Friday November 7, 1947, unknown unit, AC1 M.J. Pease died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday November 11, 1947, American Airlines DC-6 NC90741 catches fire in flight but makes an emergency landing, all crew and passengers safe. Investigation showed the fire was caused by a design flaw, a fuel tank air vent placed were the venting fuel could be sucked into the cabin heater air intake and ignite. This had caused the United Airlines flight to crash October 24, 1947 (wikipedia).

Saturday November 15, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt V.A. Le Moine died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday November 16, 1947, Britain begins withdrawing it's troops from Palestine (wikipedia).

Monday November 17, 1947, first flight of the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (wikipedia). Later widely used by the RCAF.

Thursday November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth marries Phillip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, in London (wikipedia).

Friday November 21, 1947, After searching the area around the Moffet Inlet Mission a lake 23 miles away was identified by local Inuit and the Army team as a landing site and prepared for the Dakota, now named "The Blizzard Belle". Canon Turner and his family were brought to the lake by dog team, and the ski equipped Dakota landed there on this day. After waiting for weather to clear the Dakota left for Coral Harbour, refuelled, and landed in Winnipeg November 22, where Canon Turner was admitted to hospital. Sadly he died December 12, 1947 (Kenn Harper http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca).

Sunday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca November 23, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt A. Bray died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Monday November 24, 1947, US Congress votes to approve contempt charges brought against the "Hollywood Ten" (wikipedia). November 24, 1947, unknown unit, F/L R.W. Murray died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday November 25, 1947, The "Hollywood Ten" are "blacklisted" from working by the film industry (wikipedia). November 25, 1947, New Zealand Parliament ratifies the Statute of Westminster, becoming an independent country (wikipedia). November 25, 1947, in Kashmir the city of Mirpur is captured by Pakistani soldiers and Pashtun tribesmen, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Hindus and Sikhs (wikipedia). November 25, 1947, unknown unit, LAC K.W. Deacon died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Saturday November 29, 1947, United Nations votes to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish regions; founding of the state of Israel (wikipedia). November 29, 1947, unknown unit, LAC J.J. Morris died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday December 3, 1947, Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire opens on broadway, starring Marlon Brando and Jessica Tandy (wikipedia).

Friday December 12, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt R. Town died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Wednesday December 17, 1947, first flight of the Boeing XB-47 swept wing jet bomber (wikipedia). One of these was later seconded to the RCAF to air test the Avro Orenda Iroquois engine designed to power the CF-105 Avro Arrow.

Saturday December 20, 1947, unknown unit, AC2 R.L. Seeley died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Sunday December 21, 1947, sparked by the fighting between Pakistan and India mass migrations of people from one state to the other have been ongoing. It is estimated that religious attacks of both sides killed 400,000 of these migrants (wikipedia).

Monday December 22, 1947, unknown unit, LAC J.W. Smith died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca December 23, 1947, AT & T Labs demonstrates the first electronic transistor (wikipedia). Up until this development electronic devices such as radios needed circuits sealed in fragile glass tubes to function.

Sunday December 28, 1947, unknown unit, Sgt R. Wells died in Canada, no details (CWGC).

Tuesday December 30, 1947, first flight of the MiG I-310, developed into the MiG-15 jet fighter (wikipedia). Wednesday December 31, 1947, RCAF strength is 11,569 officers and airmen in the Regular force, and 655 officers and men in the Auxiliary force (CCMA).

www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca