Category Archives: John E. C. Austin

Philip F. Plant’s Final Contribution – Epilogue… Part Two

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Philip F. Plant had written this epilogue.

I am greatly indebted to Pierre for all his work in publicising the thirty-seven operations in which John Austin was involved and to keep the memory of those brave men who fought for what they believed in, and particularly those who would pay the ultimate price, alive.

Initially I was in contact with Pierre with a few questions about John’s service and he offered to publish the details from his log book together with some other information I had discovered from earlier research on this site with a view to increase details of his life which had thus far remained a secret. I would still love to receive new information and photos of any of the extended crew who took part with John and the Plummer crew over this period. This information was all documented in a file and given to his grandsons and nephew this Christmas.

Although the thirty seventh mission was in fact John’s last operational mission with 420 Squadron, he would remain in the RAF until his demob in 1946. I have approached the Ministry of Defence for further details of his service record which due to COVID is taking an inordinate length of time but the family are aware that he would also be posted to India where he would contract malaria and eventually be invalided home. No other information about this period is known and there are no remarks about this service recorded in his log book. Following his death, the attached photos taken in India have emerged but the names of other than John are unknown.

John Austin left

John Austin (back row 4 from right)

This morning on Easter Day Philip wrote me again…

Hi Pierre

Just a short note to wish you a Happy Easter!

It seems strange not to wake up to notification for a new post on your site each Thursday, but it was most kind of you to remember John in this way. His grand-children and great grand-children are fascinated to see that “grandpa” now appears on the internet. We still await the “snail mail” from the Air Ministry with any additional details of John’s service with the RAF. If this shows anything interesting when it arrives, I will write something for your blog.

In the meantime keep safe during these still difficult times and if you fancy a chat online some time let me know. We can do it via gmail if you prefer it to zoom.

Kind regards

Philip

If you want to contact us, please leave a comment. We never know, we might one day have a zoom session and chat online. 

Philip F. Plant’s Final Contribution – Epilogue

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This is post No. 100 on this blog.

Philip F. Plant is writing it.

I am greatly indebted to Pierre for all his work in publicising the thirty-seven operations in which John Austin was involved and to keep the memory of those brave men who fought for what they believed in, and particularly those who would pay the ultimate price, alive.

Initially I was in contact with Pierre with a few questions about John’s service and he offered to publish the details from his log book together with some other information I had discovered from earlier research on this site with a view to increase details of his life which had thus far remained a secret. I would still love to receive new information and photos of any of the extended crew who took part with John and the Plummer crew over this period. This information was all documented in a file and given to his grandsons and nephew this Christmas.

Although the thirty seventh mission was in fact John’s last operational mission with 420 Squadron, he would remain in the RAF until his demob in 1946. I have approached the Ministry of Defence for further details of his service record which due to COVID is taking an inordinate length of time but the family are aware that he would also be posted to India where he would contract malaria and eventually be invalided home. No other information about this period is known and there are no remarks about this service recorded in his log book. Following his death, the attached photos taken in India have emerged but the names of other than John are unknown.

John Austin left

John Austin (back row 4 from right)

 

If you want to contact us, please leave a comment.

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirty-seventh operation

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John Austin will survive the war. The raid on Hagen will be his last operation of the war.

So many in Bomber Command did not survived.

This blog is also dedicated to them. 

JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

These are the crew members on his final operation:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Not in this operation Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Not in this operation Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Not in this operation Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)

Position unknown in this operation SGT Tipple F G R271562
Position unknown in this operation P/O Sherin W J J40782
Position unknown in this operation P/O Reid W R J89904

Thirty-seventh operation: 2 December 1944

PT-K

Plane serial number ?605 

Target: Hagen

Time up: 17:23

Time down: 00:11

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Dec44/Dec2~344.html

December 2/3, 1944

131 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 48 Lancasters from 419, 428 and 431 squadron on an attack at Hagen. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 1,424,000 lbs of high explosives and 262,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. A factory making batteries for U-Boats was completely destroyed. All crews commented on the severe icing to and from the target on this night.

F/O D. McTaggart from 415 squadron had the stbd outer u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O J. McGuire landed at Downham Market on return due to a fuel shortage. F/O L. Belcher landed at North Pickenham on return due to a fuel shortage.

F/O F. Dawson from 419 squadron had the port outer u/s due to icing on return. They landed safely at Mendlesham on return. F/O B. Hyndman had his Lancaster drop from 16,000 to 3,000 feet due to severe icing. F/Lt A. Warner and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-786 coded VR-P, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt H. Collard, F/O N. Vatne, F/Lt A. Bishop, and F/Lt W. Armstrong landed at Mendlesham on return.  F/O G. Begg landed at Horham on return.

F/Lt L. Brand from 420 squadron landed at Linton on Ouse on return.

F/Lt D. Ross from 424 squadron returned early due to severe icing and some instruments being u/s. F/O G. Reynolds returned early as they had a collision over base. There was damage to the nose of their Halifax. F/Lt J. Stalberger was hit by flak, not serious. P/O A. Mackie landed at Horham due to a fuel shortage.

P/O W. Corbett from 425 squadron returned early as they were unable to raise the under carriage. F/O G. Perrier was hit by flak, not serious.

F/O R. Laturner RCAF and crew from 428 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-766 coded NA-O, encountered severe icing outbound. They could not maintain height so the crew bailed out and F/O Laturner crash landed the Lancaster near Beauvais Tille. Sadly Sgt M. Hempseed RAF, the Flt/Engineer, and F/O M. Sucharov RCAF  , the navigator, were killed. The rest of the crew was uninjured. F/O R. Laturner RCAF and crew from 428 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-766 coded NA-O, encountered severe icing outbound. They could not maintain height so the crew bailed out and F/O Laturner crash landed the Lancaster near Beauvais Tille. Sadly Sgt M. Hempseed RAF  , the Flt/Engineer and F/O M. Sucharov RCAF  , the navigator, were killed. The rest of the crew was uninjured. F/Sgt L. Read, F/O R. Dench, F/O H. Walker, F/O N. Noel, F/O J. Lindsay, and S/Ldr M. Ferguson landed at Mendlesham on return.

F/Lt P. Robb from 429 squadron was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Skipton on Swale on return. F/O C. Pope landed at Woodbridge on return.

F/Lt F. Horan from 432 Squadron was hit by flak before the target. There were holes throughout the fuselage and F/O K. Lunny RCAF, the navigator, was slightly injured. They landed at Antwerp on return due to a fuel shortage. F/O D. Frost and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-817 coded QO-D, were attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt J. Sales landed at Rackheath on return.

F/O N. Mara from 433 squadron was attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage.
F/Lt W. Miller and F/Lt E. Barsby landed at Horham on return due to fuel shortages. F/Lt W. Cook RCAF  and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-807 coded BM-C, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt R. Ainsworth RAF

F/O J. Grant RCAF

F/O R. Shiells RCAF

F/O J. Pittman RCAF

F/Sgt L. Mallory RCAF– injured

P/O J. Ash RCAF

6 crew were killed and one injured.

F/Lt T. Coghlan from 434 Squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/Lt R. Henry and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-435 coded WL-D, were attacked by an unidentified single engine enemy aircraft, the was no claim or damage. F/Lt J. Rothenbush and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-913 coded WL-J, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. F/O G. Marlow landed at Linton on Ouse due to a fuel shortage.

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirty-sixth operation

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JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

Not all the original crew members are on this operation:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)

Thirty-sixth operation: 30 November 1944

PT-K

Plane serial number ??? 

Target: Duisberg

Time up: 16:45

Time down: 19:05

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Nov44/Nov3044.html

November 30/December 1, 1944

172 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 were joined by 52 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 squadrons on an attack at Duisberg. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 1,869,000 lbs of high explosives and 169,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered.

P/O L. Case and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-714 coded EQ-V, were attacked by a JU-88, many strikes were seen in the cockpit area and fuselage. It was seen to flip over and spin towards the ground and was claimed probably destroyed.

P/O A. Cruikshank and crew from 415 Squadron, flying Halifax III NR-156 coded 6U-H, were attacked by both an ME-109 and an ME-110. There were no damages, but they claimed the ME-109 as being damaged. F/O C. Chartier had the stbd inner go u/s over base. They bombed the target and had the port inner go u/s over the target. The turrets and navigation aids were also u/s. They landed safely at base on 2 engines.

F/O C. Williams from 419 squadron had a electrical problem. The load had to be released manually over the target.

S/Ldr. A. Plummer from 420 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O J. A.Sefton had the stbd inner go u/s over the target. The landed safely at base on 3 engines. All crews landed at Middleton St.George or Croft on return.

F/Lt. R. Green from 424 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O W. Beckett had the port outer propellor fly off on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O D. Sanders and crew, flying Halifax III NR-227 coded QB-A, were attacked by a JU-88, there were some strikes seen. The port outer was u/s on return. They landed safely at Woodbridge on 3 engines. F/O J. King and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-813 coded QB-B, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, some strikes were seen and the starboard inner engine was smoking.

F/O T. MacKinnon from 425 squadron had the stbd inner go u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O E. Baillie was hit by flak, the mid-upper turret was damaged. F/Lt H. Franks and crew, flying Halifax III LW-394 coded KW-Z, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.

F/Lt. T. Layman from 426 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the port aileron.
F/O R. Brodie and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-740 coded OW-P, were attacked by an ME-109, strikes were seen and pieces came off the fuselage.

F/O G. Archer from 427 squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O R. Gould and crew, flying Halifax III NR-257 coded ZL-Y, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft and a JU-88, there were no claims or damage.

F/Lt. K. Ellson from 428 squadron had the port outer go u/s after takeoff. They went to the target and returned safely on 3 engines. F/O H. Walker and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-770 coded NA-D, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.

F/O D. Bell RCAF  and crew, flying Halifax III  MZ-288 coded AL-O,  from 429 squadron failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. P. Bolderstone, RAF

F/O L. Watson, RCAF

P/O W. Streich, RCAF

P/O A. Thomson, RCAF

F/Sgt.G. McGregor, RCAF

F/Sgt. J. Kitchin, RCAF

All were killed.

F/O G. Clarke, RCAF , and crew, flying Halifax III  MZ-314 coded AL-W, failed to return from this operation. They were in a mid-air collision with a 578 squadron Halifax.

Sgt. L. Fry, RAF

P/O C. Short, RCAF

P/O F. Manchip, RCAF

P/O G. Pare, RCAF

P/O S. Ogilvie, RCAF

P/O R. Nimmo, RCAF

All were killed.

F/O E. Tuckey from 431 squadron returned early as they had a electrical failure. F/Lt R. W. Harrison RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-788 coded SE-C, was hit by flak, the Lancaster was seriously damaged and the hydraulics were u/s. They also were fired at by a Halifax III, the starboard inner engine was u/s and fuel tanks holed. They landed safely at Carnaby on return but their Lancaster was written off due to serious battle damage.

F/O A. Potter from 432 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.

F/O J. Kitchen from 434 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.F/O J. Hall was hit by flak, holes in the fuselage.

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirty-fifth operation

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JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

No indication of the crew.

This is most probably the crew:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)

Thirty-fifth operation: 18 November 1944

PT-I

Plane serial number 

Target: Munster

Time up: 12:40

Time down: 18:55

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Nov44/Nov1844.html

November 18, 1944

140 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadron were joined by 44 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 squadrons on an arrack at Munster. The crews were over the target between 15,000 and 17,000 feet, releasing 1,706,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports the attack was not concentrated with minimal damage throughout the town.

F/O R. Wallis and F/Lt R. Gall from 408 squadron landed at Middleton St.George due to a fuel shortage. P/O W. Tunis, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII  NP-770 coded EQ-G, bailed out over Belgium on return.

Sgt. K. Sumner, RAF

F/O H. Salisbury, RCAF

F/O D. McCuaig, RCAF

F/Lt. M. Anderson, RCAF

F/Sgt R. Smyth, RCAF

F/Sgt W. Scheer, RCAF

All crew returned within a few days.

F/O S. McFadden from 415 Squadron returned early as they could not raise the under carriage.
F/O J. McQuiston was unable to raise the under carriage and bombed low, from 13,500 feet. They landed safely at Boreham due to a fuel shortage.F/Lt J. McAllister, F/Lt J. Northrup, P/O S. Mooers, F/Lt H. Barnes, F/O D. McTaggart, and F/O L. Deryckere landed at Dishforth on return due to poor weather at base. S/Ldr J. Hovey, F/Lt C. Thompson, and F/O J. Britt landed at Crosby on Eden on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt A. Winmill landed at Leeming on return due to poor weather at base. P/O W. Lane landed at Croft on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O T. Donnelly landed at Great Orton due to poor weather at base.

F/Lt J. Barlow from 419 squadron landed at Charter Hall on return.

F/Lt F. McCarthy, P/O L. Simonson, F/Lt G. Jones, P/O W. MacDonald, S/Ldr A. Plummer, F/Lt H. Ledingham, F/O W. Shotton, F/O H. Asher, F/O R. Field, F/O E. Watson, P/O C. Reid, F/O M. Stock, P/O R. MacMillan, and F/O C. McKenzie from 420 Squadron landed at Thornaby due to poor weather at base.

F/Lt J. Thomas, F/O G. Hawthorn, W/Cdr C. Marshall, F/O D. McCullough, F/O H. Mitchell and F/O L. Wright from 424 Squadron landed at Great Orton on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O J. Lang, F/O H. Lefebvre and F/O H. Taylor landed at Crosby on Eden on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt R. Green landed at Leeming on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O A. Mackie landed at Silloth on return due to poor weather at base.F/O E. Smith landed at Downham Market due to poor weather at base.

F/O J. Brassard from 425 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O E. Baillie and F/Lt R. Heimpel landed at Middleton St. George on return due to poor weather at base. F/O J. Bellinger landed at Wombleton on return due to poor weather at base. P/O W. Corbett landed at Wendling on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O A. Martel, F/O J. Marcotte, F/O J. Poirier, F/O C. Dionne, P/O G. Chabot, F/O J. Sicotte, F/O A. Hutcheon, F/O G. Lareau, and F/Lt J. Gourdeau landed at Thornaby on return due to poor weather at base.

P/O C. Selfe from 426 squadron landed at Thornaby on return.

P/O I. Thomson from 427 squadron landed at Croft on return.

F/Lt W. Edmondson from 428 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.F/O J. Lindsay, F/O V. Gaskin, F/O R. Laturner, F/O B. Miller, F/O A. Carter, F/O E. Peacock, W/Cdr A. Hull, and F/O H. Walker landed at Oulton on return.

F/O B. Kaplansky from 431 Squadron returned early as the compasses were u/s. P/O W. Weitendorf, F/O H. Williamson, F/O J. Duggan, F/O J. Morton, F/O M. MacLeod, F/O D. Hagar, and F/O R. Tonnellier landed at Acklington on return.

F/O S. Dean from 432 Squadron returned early as the hydraulics were u/s. F/O D. Frost was directed by a marshaller back to the main runway were he was hit by F/O A. Clarke who was landing at Croft. There were no injuries. F/Lt F. Horan, F/O G. Barron, F/O C. Hemming, S/Ldr R. Jack, F/O J. Hamilton, F/O F. Jeffery, and F/O F. Baxter landed at Croft on return due to poor weather at base. F/O J. Mills, P/O G. Sherlock, and P/O A. Stedman landed at Leeming due to poor weather at base.

F/O D. Guy from 433 Squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. They landed safely at Silloth. F/O J. Egger, F/O G. O’Grady, F/Lt D. McGrath, F/O A. Heathcote, F/O R. Bertran, P/O W. Jensen, and P/O R. Saunders landed at Great Orton on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt W. Miller and F/O R. Simpson landed at Crosby on Eden on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt R. Patterson landed Leeming due to poor weather at base.

Photo:  432 Squadron over Munster. Graciously suppled by Ian-57 Rescue

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirty-fourth operation

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JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

This is the crew:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)

Thirty-fourth operation: 16 November 1944

PT-K

Plane serial number ?605

Target: Julich

Time up: 12:55

Time down: 18:11

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Nov44/Nov1644.html

 

November 16, 1944

159 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 45 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 squadrons on an attack at Julich in support of the American army. The crews were over the target between 15,000 and 17,000 feet, releasing 1,708,000 lbs of high explosives and 236, 000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this town was severely damaged.

F/Lt. J. Little from 415 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/Lt. C. Thompson was hit by flak, there were holes in the rear turret. F/O D. McTaggart was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd wing and fuselage.

F/Lt. J. Tees from 419 squadron returned early as they would have been late over the target.

F/Lt. T. Dailey from 420 squadron was hit by flak, not serious. P/O L. Simonson was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing. F/O E. Watson was hit by flak, there were holes in the bomb doors and the hydraulics were u/s. F/O S. Young landed at Linton on Ouse.

F/O D. McCullough from 424 squadron had the stbd outer go u/s outbound. They bombed from 13,500 feet and returned safely to base on 3 engines.
F/O A. MacKie was hit by flak, there were holes in the windscreen.
F/O H. LeFebvre was hit by flak, there were holes in both wings and the stbd rudder. F/O H. Cowan had a hydraulic line break on return. The under carriage and flaps came down. They landed safely at Woodbridge due to a fuel shortage.

F/O E. Baillie from 425 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. F/O J. Poirier was hit by flak, not serious.F/O J. Brassard had a 1000 lb bomb fall through the bomb doors on landing, damaging them.

P/O A. Hutchins, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII LW-205  coded OW-Y,  from 426 squadron returned early as they could not raise the under carriage.  Then they couldn’t get them locked down. They crash landed at base without injuries.

W/Cdr. V. Ganderton from 427 squadron did not bomb as there were late taking off and no T. I’s were seen.

F/Lt. D. Berry from 428 squadron returned early with a mechanical problem.

P/O W. Weitendorf from 431 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. W/O1 D. Murray was hit by flak over the target. Both the port outer and stbd outer were u/s, port aileron, mid-upper turret and port flap were holed. They landed safely at Woodbridge on 2 engines.

P/O G. Sherlock from 432 squadron returned early as the hydraulics were u/s. F/O F. Jeffery was hit by flak, not serious. F/O N. Patterson was hit by flak, the belly was damaged and port wing holed.

F/O J. Egger from 433 squadron had a 1000 lb bomb fall through the bomb doors, damaging them. F/O A. Heathcote had the stbd outer go u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.

F/Lt J. Parrott from 434 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. W/O1 C. Ferris returned without bombing as the load hung up over the target. P/O B. Peterson was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd wing. F/Lt. T. Buttle was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. F/O T. Kowalchuk had both the port outer and stbd inner go u/s on return. They landed safely at Woodbridge on 2 engines.

Photo: 432 Squadron over Julich West, 15,500 ft. Graciously supplied by Ian–57 Rescue

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirty-third operation

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Note
The log book says Cologne was the target on October 6, 1944, but there was no operation on Cologne on that date. There was an operation on October 9 and it was on Bochum which is about 90km north-east of the town of Cologne. Was the plane diverted to Cologne instead?

 

JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

This is the crew:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)

Thirty-third operation: 9 October 1944

PT-K

Plane serial number ?605

Target: Bochum (or Cologne?)

Time up: 15:40 

Time down: 22:10

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Oct44/Oct9~1044.html

October 9/10, 1944

179 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 30 lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons, on an attack at Bochum. The crews were over the target between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 928,000 lbs of high explosives and 544,000 lbs of incendiaries. The target was cloud covered and according to reports the attack was scattered.

F/O R. Stewart and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-776 coded EQ-U, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft. They were slightly damaged with a bullet hole in the fuselage and port wing, but there was no claim.

F/O J. Britt and crew from 415 Squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-947 coded 6U-C, were attacked by an unidentified single engine enemy aircraft. Some strikes were seen on the starboard wing, they claimed it damaged. F/O J. Kerr and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-586 coded 6U-Y, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft. The rear turret was slightly damaged, F/Sgt R. James was hit in the face by flying perspex splinters, there was no claim. F/O J. Weir was hit by flak outbound. The port outer had no power so the crew bombed from 13,000 feet. On return the port inner was u/s. On final approach the port outer quit, they landed safely at Manston on 2 engines.

F/Lt J. Anderson from 419 Squadron was hit by flak. The fuselage and oxygen system was damaged.
F/O F. Howe and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-712 coded VR-L, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt R. Swartz had the rear turret go u/s. P/O A. Cohen RCAF  and crew flying Lancaster X  KB-754 coded VR-C failed to return from this operation. 

P/O R. Campbell RCAF
F.O G. Murphy RCAF
P/O J. Goldfinch RCAF
P/O R. Emerson RCAF
F/Sgt L. O’Hara RCAF
W/O2 J. McQueen RCAF–POW

They were attacked by a JU-88. They blew up in mid-air with only the rear gunner surviving.

F/O J. Cox from 420 Squadron returned early as they were hit by flak short of the target. Holes were in the fuselage and most instruments were damaged. F/O J. A. Sefton and crew, flying Halifax III LL-580 coded PT-U, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage. F/O R. Field and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-595 coded PT-M, were attacked twice by an ME-109 and twice by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage but some strikes were seen on the starboard wing of the ME-110. 

F/O H. Cowan from 424 Squadron landed at Old Buckenham on return. F/Lt J. Hollinger and crew, flying Halifax III NP-947 coded QB-Y, were attacked by what they thought was an ME-262, there was no claim or damage. F/O W. Bonar and crew, flying Halifax III NP-945 coded QB-D, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. W/Cdr G. Roy RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-802 coded QB-G, failed to return from this operation.  

F/O R. Hunter RCAF
F/Lt G. Bumstead RCAF–POW
F/Lt McIlhagga RCAF–POW
F/O H. Grulkey RCAF–POW
P/O A. Harvey RCAF–POW
F/O M. Harding RCAF–POW

One crewmember was killed and 6 were POWs.

F/O W. Mark from 425 squadron had the stbd inner go u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.

P/O C. McInstry from 426 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. P/O R. Jones was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O W. Egan and crew, flying Halifax VII LW-203 coded OW-F, were attacked by an FW-190. Some strikes were seen on the starboard wing and fuselage. It was claimed damaged. W/O2 M. Fraser landed at Woodbridge on return due to a fuel shortage. F/Lt E. Garrett was hit by flak. There were holes throughout the fuselage. Sgt R. Scott RCAF , the mid-upper gunner was seriously injured. The crew landed at base but unfortunately this crewman died in hospital.

P/O H. Humber and crew from 428 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-791 coded NA-A, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. F/O K. Roulston and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-798 coded NA-G, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. F/O B. Miller was hit by flak. There were holes through out the fuselage, aileron controls and brakes damaged. The mid-upper gunner, P/O C. Males RCAF  was killed, and wireless operator, P/O C. Olsen RCAF, was injured. They landed safely at Carnaby without any further injuries. 

F/O W. Fikis and crew from 429 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-139 coded AL-X, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damages. P/O F. Augusta was hit by flak there were holes in the port fuel tanks. The crew landed at Old Buckenham due to a fuel shortage. After touchdown, the port outer would not throttle down resulting in the Halifax running off the runway and ground looping damaging the under carriage engines and propellors. The port outer engine caught fire and was put out by the ground crew. The crew was not injured.

F/O M. MacLeod from 431 squadron returned early as they were unable to raise the under carriage.
F/O D. Hagar was hit by flak, there were holes in the tail plane. F/O R. Tonnellier had one engine go u/s outbound. The crew bombed and returned safely on 3 engines.

P/O L. McGuire from 432 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O A. Potter had the stbd outer go u/s over the target. They bombed and returned safely on 3 engines. F/Sgt N. Franko and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-697 coded QO-F, were attacked by an unidentified single engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage. F/O S. Dean and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-721 coded QO-X, were attacked by an unidentified single and twin engine aircraft, there was no claims or damage. F/O R. Diamond RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-801 coded QO-N failed to return from this operation. 

Sgt. K. Hutchinson RAF–POW
F/Lt. W. Nicholson RCAF–POW
F/O W. Stohlberg RCAF–POW
W/O2 G. Sharpe RCAF–POW
W/O2 H. Graham RCAF–POW
F/Sgt M. Harrington RCAF–POW

Crews had seen that they had been hit by falling bombs. They were all POWs.

F/Lt. W. Miller from 433 squadron returned early due to the stbd outer being u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.

F/O G. Munroe from 434 Squadron was hit by flak. The rear turret was damaged and Sgt Power RCAF, the rear gunner injured, though not seriously. F/Lt C. Porter and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-921 coded WL-Q, were attacked by a FW-190, there was no claim or damage. F/O G. Eccelstone and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-358 coded WL-R, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage.

 

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirty-second operation

by

JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

This is the crew:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)
Second pilot ? F/L ? J8545

Thirty-second operation: 6 October 1944

PT-K

Plane serial number ?605

Target: Dortmund

Time up: ?

Time down: 22.10

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Oct44/Oct644.html

October 6, 1944
248 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 45 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack at Dortmund. This was the greatest effort that the 6 group would send out during the war. The crews were over the target between 17,000 and 20,500 feet releasing 1,510,000 lbs of high explosives and 383,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and the transportation and industrial sections were well hit.

P/O T. Barber and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-718 coded EQ-Z, were attacked by an ME-109, many strikes were seen and the enemy aircraft exploded in mid air. It was claimed destroyed. Crew landed at Chedburgh on return due to poor weather at base. S/Ldr G. Tambling, S/Ldr J. Easton, F/Lt J. Brown, P/O E. Patzer, P/O R. Harlow, F/O W. Shields, F/Lt H. Reeves, F/O H. Jones, F/O R. Bowhay, F/Lt H. Minhinnick, F/O R. Johnson, and F/O V. Gilson landed at Chedburgh on return due to poor weather at base. F/O E. Finch, F/O G. Frankling, F/Lt A. Scheelar, F/O H. Sokoloff, P/O G. Harpwood, and P/O R. Stewart landed at Stradishall on return due to poor weather at base. F/O E. Mowatt landed at  Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base. F/O B. Wallace landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base. F/O D. Kennedy landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return due to poor weather at base.

21 crews from 415 Squadron departed base between 15:57 and 16:30, they were over the target between 20:27 and 20:49, returning between 22:10 and 22:36. F/O J. Weir and crew flying Halifax III  MZ-654 coded 6U-L  returned without bombing as the load hung up. They landed at Rattlesden on return due to poor weather at base. F/O D. McTaggart, F/O S. McFadden, F/O C. Chartier, F/Lt T. Chapman, P/O W. MacNeil, F/O R. Gingrich, F/O B. Roberts and F/O J. Little landed at Knettishall on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt J. McAllister and F/O O. Lindquist and crews landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base. F/O W. Sherman, F/O R. Sierolawski, F/Lt H. Barnes and F/O J. Kerr and crews landed at Stradishall on return due to poor weather at base. F/O D. Stewart and crew flying Halifax III  LL-593 coded 6U-M  landed at Snetterton Heath on return due to poor weather weather at base. F/O H. Knobovitch and crew flying Halifax III  MZ-603 coded 6U-E  landed at Coltishall on return due to poor weather at base. F/O W. Regimbal and crew flying Halifax III  LL-575 coded 6U-A  landed at Mendlesham on return due to poor weather at base. P/O D. McNeill and crew flying Halifax III  MZ-585 coded 6U-Z  landed at Deopham Green on return due to poor weather at base.

F/Lt J. Errington from 419 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. P/O H. Cohen and F/O P. Griffith landed at Wyton on return. F/Lt J. Anderson and F/O G. Sheahan landed at Woodbridge on return. F/O A. Roy, F/Lt R. Swartz, F/Lt C. Black, F/O R. Millar, F/O W. Osborn, F/Lt H. Cave, P/O R. Mansfield, F/Lt W. Cameron, F/O N. Vatne, F/Lt J. Barlow, F/O J. Calder, F/Lt W. McGuffin, F/O E. Bruyns, F/Lt R. Kent, F/Lt A. Rokeby, F/O C. Williams, and F/Lt A. Bishop landed at Bourne do to poor weather at base.

F/O W. MacDonald from 420 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O C. McKenzie returned early as the port outer caught fire. They landed safely at Tuddenham on 3 engines. P/O J. Tease was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base. F/O G. Haslop had the port inner go u/s on return. They landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt J. S. Sefton landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt G. Jones landed at Bidwell on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt A. Plummer landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base. F/O A. Caine, F/Lt T. Ainslie, F/O J. Bonner, P/O R. Field, F/O H. Asher, F/O W. English, F/O J. A. Sefton, F/Sgt C. Reid, F/Lt V. Motherwell, F/O E. Johnston, F/O F. Beairsto, F/O D. McLellan, F/Lt G. Heron, F/O R. Gallen, F/O E. McKeown and F/O J. Cox landed at Market Harborough due to poor weather at base.

F/O W. Bonar from 424 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O H. Cowan returned early as the rear turret was u/s. F/O G. Hawthorn landed at Sandtoft due to poor weather at base. S/Ldr A. Fentamin landed at Cheburgh on return due to poor weather at base. F/O R. Earl, F/O E. Lefebvre, P/O J. Lang, F/O D. Chance, F/O L. Loving, F/Lt F. Aldworth, F/O R. Burns, F/Lt D. Brown, F/O E. Smith, F/O F. Pearson, F/Lt J. Dundas, F/Lt W. Anderson, F/Lt R. Guild, F/Lt R. Green, F/O L. Wright, F/Lt G. Arbuckle, and F/O J. Hollinger landed at Mendlesham due to poor weather at base.

P/O A. Martel from 425 Squadron returned early due to the stbd inner going u/s. Landed at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. Lareau returned early as they were unable to raise the under carriage. F/O T. MacKinnon and crewn flying Halifax III LW-381 coded KW-Bn were attacked by an ME-110, some strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged.

F/O J. Lowe from 426 Squadron returned early due to the port inner going u/s. Landed at Carnaby on 3 engines. P/O R. Goreham was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base. W/O2 M. Fraser was hit by flak, hydraulics u/s. They landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base. F/O S. Seaman landed at Carnaby on return due to poor weather at base. F/O J. Sheridan, P/O C. McKinstry, P/O G. Hamilton, P/O R. Jones, P/O N. Becker, F/O S. Simmons, F/O M. Casselman, and F/O P. Labelle landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base. F/O H. McLure and F/O W. Kent landed at Chedburgh due to poor weather at base. S/Ldr R. Cowans landed at  Stradishall on return due to poor weather at base. F/Lt. W. Scott, RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax VII  NP-739  coded OW-U failed to return from this operations.

P/O J. Wilson RAF
F/O W. Ames RCAF–POW
F/O A. Livingstone RCAF–POW
P/O J. Mack RCAF–POW
P/O G. Brooks RCAF
P/O J. Short, RCAF Three crew-members killed, 4 POWs after being shot down by flack.

F/O G. Plyley from 427 Squadron returned early due to the stbd outer going u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O G. Tegerdine and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-823 coded ZL-A, were attacked by a three unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return due to poor weather at base. W/Cdr F. Ball, F/Lt H. Woodruff, P/O G. Kirby, W/Cdr V. Ganderton, F/Lt B. Garvin, F/Lt G. Slocombe, F/O W. Brittain, F/O T. Wagar, F/O L. Ayers, F/O F. Wilsher, F/Sgt W. Wilson, F/O F. Brownell, F/O D. Hepburn, F/O E. Mayo, F/O J. Mulholland, F/O W. Ruffell, F/O J. Smart, and P/O I. Thomson landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return due to bad weather at base.

F/O N. Noel from 428 Squadron was hit by flak, holes in fuselage, port wing and rear turret. They landed at Warboys on return due to poor weather at base. F/O F. Raftery and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-737 coded NA-R, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Warboys on return due to poor weather at base. F/O G. Pauli and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-820 coded NA-T, were attacked by an FW-190 and  by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Wyton on return due to poor weather at base. F/O W. Mytruk, F/O A. Carter, and F/O W. Edmondson landed at Wyton on return due to poor weather at base. F/O R. Dench landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base. P/O H. Humber, F/O W. Tynan, F/Lt E. Graham, F/O L. Kagna, F/Lt G. Quinn, F/O H. Walker, S/Ldr G. Gonyou, F/Sgt D. Mackie, F/O B. Miller, S/Ldr G. Edwards, F/O J. Holtze, F/O L. Mossman, F/Lt T. Nichol-Carne, F/O J. Koresky, F/O S. Huston, and F/O K. Roulston landed at Warboys on return due to poor weather at base.

F/O W. Thomas from 429 Squadron landed at Deopham Green on return. F/O M. Lanin landed at Rackheath on return due to poor weather at base. F/O C. Gray, F/O J. Prentice, F/Lt A. Childs, F/O A. MacDonald, F/Lt R. Lawlor, P/O B. Drewery, F/O J. Barlow, F/O L. Keelan, F/Lt E. Hamm, F/O R. James, F/O J. Lasek, F/O C. Lee, F/Lt S. Mitchell, F/Lt A. Milner, F/Lt D. Hendrickson, P/O W. Fikis, S/Ldr R. Bolduc, F/O D. Gillis, F/Lt H. Brown, and F/O H. Hogarth landed at Snetterton Heath on return due to poor weather at base.

F/O T. Shore from 431 Squadron returned without bombing. They were hit by flak short of the target. Fuel tanks were holed and leaking, controls damaged. They landed safely at Woodbridge on return. F/O L. Laing and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-907 coded SE-F, were attacked by a JU-88, some strikes were seen. They landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base. F/O T. Rhodes landed at Stradishall on return due to poor weather at base. F/O R. Tonnellier, P/O A. Pitzek, F/O B. Kaplansky, F/O A. Huchala, F/O G. McNeill, F/Lt D. Borland, F/Lt M. Chisholm, F/O D. Hagar, F/O J. Patterson, F/O J. Lightbown, F/O B. Mawhinney, F/Lt N. MacLeod, F/O H. Williamson, F/O S. Sorenson, F/O R. Harrison, F/O J. Morton, and W/Cdr E. Mitchell landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base.

F/O J. Mills from 432 Squadron landed at Downham Market on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O D. Best, F/Lt W. Tobias, F/O G. Stunden, F/Sgt N. Franko, P/O L. McGuire, F/O A. Craig, P/O H. Britton, F/O J. Gault, F/O M. Krakowsky, F/O R. Diamond, F/O S. Dean, and S/Ldr G. Larson landed at Sudbury on return due to poor weather at base. F/O A. Bews and F/O A. Potter landed at Methwold on return due to poor weather at base. F/O G. McNicoll landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base. P/O J. Hamilton and F/O C. Hemming landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return due to poor weather at base. F/O W. Saye landed at Tuddenham on return due to poor weather at base. W/Cdr J. MacDonald landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base.

F/Sgt W. Jensen from 433 Squadron returned early due to the stbd inner going u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O S. McKellar was hit by flak, holes in wings. They landed safely at Lavenham on return.
S/Ldr E. Van Slyck was attacked by an enemy aircraft. There was no damage or claim. Landed at Lavenham on return. F/O T. Kelly and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-815 coded BM-X, were hit by falling incendiaries over the target, the nose was blown off and F/Sgt N. Dixon RCAF, the bomb aimer was injured. They were also attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. F/O R. Mountford and crew, flying Halifax III NR-120 coded BM-A, were attacked by a unidentified single engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Chedburgh on return due to poor weather at base. P/O J. Smale landed at Mildenhall on return due to poor weather at base. P/O A. Bond, F/Lt T. Prescott, F/O N. Mara, F/O J. Burch, F/O J. Nixon, F/Lt O. Orendorff, F/Lt D. McGrath, P/O G. Valentine, F/O R. Bertran, F/O D. Guy, F/O R. Russell, F/O R. Forbes, F/Lt W. Pierce, and F/O E. Smyth landed at Lavenham on return due poor weather at base. P/O G. Valentine RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III  LW-129  coded BMG, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. A. Dollery, RAF
W/O1 J. Lee, RCAF–POW
F/O H. English, RCAF–POW
P/O J. Tazuk, RCAF
P/O A. McGraw, RCAF
P/O W. Ritchie, RCAF 4 crew were killed and 3 POWs after being shot down by flak after bombing.

F/Lt L. Browning from 434 Squadron landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base.
F/Lt G. Halcro landed at Mildenhall on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O J. Moffatt and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-878 coded WL-E, were attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage.

 

 

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirty-first operation

by

JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

This is the crew:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)
Second pilot or Mid-under gunner? F/O Harris J T 155070

Twenty-thirty-first operation: 27 September 1944

PT-K

Plane serial number ?605

Target: Bottrop

Time up: 6.58

Time down: 12.09

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Sept44/Sept2744.html

September 27, 1944

239 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 44 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack of the oil plants at Bottrop and Sterkrade. The crews were over the targets at between 16,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 2,117,000 lbs of high explosives. There was thick cloud over the target and some crews bombed the alternate target at Duisberg.

F/Lt H. Reeves from 408 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O H. Minhinnick returned without bombing as they were late to the target. F/O D. Brown was hit by flak, not serious. F/O G. Frankling was hit by flak, holes in the port aileron.

F/O L. Bowerman from 419 Squadron returned without bombing as they didn’t see any T.I’s. F/O A. Roy was hit by flak. There were holes in the fuselage, tail, rudder and bomb doors. F/Lt A. Bishop was hit by flak. The rear turret was hit and stbd inner u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. W/O2 L. McDonald was hit by flak, holes in the wings. P/O A. Cohen was hit by flak, holes in the stbd wing, windscreen and bomb doors. F/O C. Williams was hit by flak, holes in port wing, fuel tanks were leaking and rear turret was damaged. F/O J. Anderson was hit by flak, port outer u/s and the stbd inner u/s. They landed safely at Woodbridge on 2 engines.

F/O E. Johnson from 420 Squadron returned early due to the port outer going u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O F. Bird returned early due to the port inner going u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O O. Austenson was hit by flak, stbd elevator and fuselage damaged. F/Lt T. Ainslie RCAF was hit by flak. The pilot and Sgt C. Gibbs RAF, the flt/engineer were slightly injured. They landed safely at Woodbridge.

P/O J. Lang from 424 squadron returned without bombing as the load hung up over the target. F/O L. Wright was hit by flak, holes in the fuselage.

F/O W. Forman from 425 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. F/O E. St. Jean was hit by flak, not serious.
F/O A. Hutcheon was hit by flak, holes in the rear turret. F/O P. Legault was hit by flak, holes in fuselage and port outer u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. 

P/O C. McKinstry from 426 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. F/O J. Lowe was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O N. Becker was hit by flak, not serious. P/O A. McKay was hit by flak, holes in fuselage and bomb doors.
F/O L. Mann was hit by flak, holes in port wing tip. 

F/Lt. A. Gilbert from 428 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.

F/Lt. E. Hawn from 429 squadron returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s.

P/O D. Rombough from 431 squadron returned without bombing was they were no T.I’s. F/O A. Huchala returned early as they could not raise the under carriage. F/O B. Mawhinney was hit by flak, holes in the fuselage and the navigator was injured.

F/Lt J. Woodward RCAF  and crew flying Halifax VII NP-692 coded QO-K from 432 Squadron was hit by flak. There were holes in the fuselage and the pilot was severely injured and the Halifax went into a steep dive. F/O C. Hay RCAF, the navigator was able to get the Halifax under control and the rest of the crew tended to the injured skipper. F/O Hay flew the damaged Halifax to England and arriving over Woodbridge, it was found that the pilot’s parachute was torn making it impossible for him the jump. F/O Hay then had to attempt a landing. Another aircraft came up to try to guide them in to a landing.  F/O Hay came in smoothly but after touch down, they bounced up and came down hard causing the under carriage to collapse. After they stopped the Halifax caught fire and burned, but not before the crew was safely out. Sadly F/Lt Woodward died of his injuries the following day.  F/O Hay was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for this brave action.

F/O J. Burch from 433 Squadron returned early due to the port outer going u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O W. Watson returned early as they didn’t see any T.I’s. F/O D. Guy was hit by flak, not serious. F/O W. Parker landed at Carnaby on return.

F/Lt G. Nickerson from 434 Squadron returned early as there were late getting away.
F/O G. Halcro was hit by flak, not serious.
 

Philip F. Plant’s Contribution – John Austin’s thirtieth operation

by

JEC Austin and Crew

John E. C. Austin’s crew

This is the crew:

Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)
Mid-under gunner F/S Spelling E (212560)

Twenty-thirtieth operation: 13 September 1944

PT-O

Plane serial number ?

Target: Osnabruck

Time up: 15.50

Time down: 21.14

Details taken from this source:

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Sept44/Sept1344.htm

September 13, 1944

100 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 431, and 432 squadrons were ordered on an attack at Osnabruck. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 19,500 feet, releasing 851,000 lbs of high explosives and 105,000 lbs. of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and damage was caused to the rail system. 

F/Lt J. Hovey from 415 squadron was hit by flak, the port tail plane, fuselage and rear turret were damaged.

F/O G. Jones from 420 squadron was hit by flak, the rear gunner was injured. they landed at Rackheath.

F/O H. Gregson and F/O N. Streight from 425 squadron were hit by flak, not serious. F/Lt J. Y. Coté was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing and stbd rudder. F/O A. Hutcheon was hit by flak. A fragment entered the port fuselage, hit an ammo box, ricocheted out through the fuselage and exploded outside.
 

7 Halifaxes from 429 squadron were sent on a sea search for F/O R. Kingsland.

F/Lt D. Hendrickson returned early, unsuccessful. F/Lt J. Morris and crew found the Kingsland crew in a dinghy and radioed the other crews for help. They were able to drop a lindholme boat, which the crew was able to get into. All the crews circled around the site until a launch came to rescue the down airmen. Only then did the crews return safely to base. 

Photo:  Sheridan crew over the rail yards at Osnabruck. Graciously supplied by N. Bodnar