Chemnitz February 14th 1945 Master Bomber

[Steve Smith]

Hi,

Following on from Dresden, Bomber command attacked Chemnitz the following night. I am trying to identify the Master / Deputy bombers on this raid.

TIA

Steve

[David Wallace]

The Master Bomber on the first attack on Chemnitz was Capt. Ted Swales VC DFC SAAF who was killed 9 days later acting as MB at Pforzheim for which he was awarded the VC. Deputy was F/L MJ Finlay. Both were 582 Squadron. 405 Squadron supplied the Master Bomber F/L DA McNaughton and Deputy S/L HF Marcou for the second attack.

[Steve Smith]

Hi David,

Thank you, away from books did not realise it was over two phases. The second attack, what squadrons did the M/B and D/M/B operate with?

Thanks again
Steve

[David Wallace]

Steve - I don’t know what squadrons made up the main force on the second attack, just that the PFF sent 35 Lancasters and the Master and Deputy were from 405 Squadron,

[JDCAVE]

The Master Bomber on the first attack on Chemnitz was Capt. Ted Swales VC DFC SAAF who was killed 9 days later acting as MB at Pforzheim for which he was awarded the VC. Deputy was F/L MJ Finlay. Both were 582 Squadron. 405 Squadron supplied the Master Bomber F/L DA McNaughton and Deputy S/L HF Marcou for the second attack.

Dave: I’ve just bumped into this now. Not certain why I missed this when it was posted. I have Group Captain (G/C) Bill Newson, DSO, DFC and bar of RCAF 405 Squadron as the Master Bomber assigned for the raid to Chemnitz on March 5/6, 1945 and his deputy was Flying Officer (F/O) Dix, also of 405 Squadron.

(405 Royal Canadian Air Force operations record book (ORB) for March 5/6, 1945. Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Reel C 12270.)

http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oo...70/698?r=0&s=3

Edit: I now understand that there were two attacks on Feb14/15, 1945. Sorry for any confusion.

Jim