6 Bomber Group February 4/5, 1945
100 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and432 Squadrons were ordered to attack the Coking plant at Osterfeld. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 602,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the attack was scattered with little damage.
While some crews went to Osterfeld, 29 Halifaxes from 408,415, 420,425, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 71 Lancasters from 419, 424,428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Bonn. The crews were over the target at between 18,500 and 20,000 feet, releasing 312,000 lbs of high explosives and 568,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the attack was scattered with little damage.
12 Halifaxes from 427 and 429 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Wilhelmshaven. The crews were over the garden at 15,000 feet, sowing48@1800 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
238 aircraft- 202 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 16 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Lancasters lost. This was a poor attack, with most of the bombing falling to the south of the target or over the Rhine in the Beuel area. 19 people were killed.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Bonn, Germany. Lancaster KB 787 aircraft was enroute to the target and was flying in cloud when it collided in mid-air with a 433 Squadron Lancaster aircraft five miles south of VieIslam, Belgium. Flight Lieutenant D.J.A. Buchanan, Pilot Officer D.W. Spence, Flying Officer J.A. Gibbs, F/Ls W.R. Kearns, J.P. Barlow, and Flying Officer L.F. Edmonds (RAF) were killed. Pilot Officer C.T. Sutter was the only survivor and was taken Prisoner of War.
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
