6 Bomber Group December 24, 1944
98 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 squadrons were joined by 53 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431 and 434 squadrons on an attack of the Lohausen airfield at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between14,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 1,633,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the weather was good and severe damaged was caused in a concentrated attack. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
338 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes, 79 Lancasters, I I Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the airfields at Lohausen and Millheim (now Diisseldorf and Essen civil airports). The purpose of the raids was not recorded; it is possible that they were to hinder the movement of supplies by transport aircraft from the Ruhr to the Ardennes battle area. Both attacks took place in conditions of good visibility and the bombing was accurate. 6 aircraft lost - 2 Lancasters and I Halifax from the Lohausen raid and 3 Halifaxes from the Millheim raid
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 715 was hit by flak, set on fire, and three engines were knocked out during a daylight raid on the Lohausen aerodrome at Dusseldorf, Germany. The aircraft went out of control and the bomb load could not be dropped so Flying Officer Cowtan ordered the crew to bail out. Seven Canadians, F/Os T.H. Cowtan, J.L. Cartier, Hale, Pilot Officer J.V. Ranson, Sergeants C.W. Thompson, G. Little, and Hector were taken Prisoners of War. Flying Officer Hale was executed by the Gestapo the same day as the operation. He was initially buried in Neuss Cemetery. Reinterred 19 April 1947.
Sergeant Little RCAF and Sergeant Hector RCAF were captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf, part of Trupp 57. They arrived at Bankau on 9 January 1945. (The Long Road - Oliver Clutton-Brock)Pilot: J/29777 Fg Off Thomas Henry Cowtan RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf. PoW/Krefeld Airfield/Dulag Luft Oberursel Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number?
Flight Engineer: J/89040 Plt Off James Valentine Ranson RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf. PoW/Injured/Stalag VII J Krefeld/Dulag Luft Oberursel/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Oflag III Nuremberg/Marched to Stalag VIIA Moosburg 4 April 1945 - 18 April 1945.
Navigator: R/180068 Sergeant Colin Wray Thompson RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf. PoW/Krefeld Airfield/Dulag Luft Oberursel/Dulag Luft Wetzlar /Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number?
Bomb Aimer: J/39257 Fg Off Joseph Lionel Louis Cartier RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Krefeld. PoW/Injured/Krefeld Airfield/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number?
Sergeant Little RCAF and Sergeant Hector RCAF were captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf, part of Trupp 57. They arrived at Bankau on 9 January 1945. (The Long Road - Oliver Clutton-Brock)
Mid Upper Gunner: R/265557 Sergeant George Burten Little RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreuzburg Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1336.
Rear Gunner: R/114679 Sergeant Ferdinand Albert Hector RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreuzburg Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1327.source: John Jones
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