Bomber Ops in November 1944

**Steve Brew** · 21st February 2009, 12:53

Would someone with Chorley's BCL or similar sources please provide me with some summarised information on the following seven operations to the Ruhr area in November 1944, which 41 Squadron provided escort to?

I am seeking the operation name, e.g. Ramrod X, names of the participating bomber squadrons, aircraft types and numbers, and particularly information on the aircraft lost. I do not need names of crew, rather, for example, Ramrod No., 218 Squadron, Lanc., No. of aircraft participating, No. and ID of aircraft lost, e.g. AB123, XY-Z. I looked at Tony Wood's data first, but his databases don't appear to cover 1944.

The ops are:

2 November 1944 – 184 Halifaxes from 3 Group to Homberg-Meerbeck oil plant

4 November 1944 – 176 Lancasters from 3 Group to Solingen (target?), four bombers lost

6 November 1944 – 738 aircraft, thereunder 31 Oboe Mosquitoes, 383 Halifaxes and 324 Lancasters to the Nordstern synthetic-oil plant, two Halifaxes and three Lancasters lost

9 November 1944 – 256 Lancasters and 21 Mosquitoes to Wanne-Eickel oil refinery, two bombers lost

16 November 1944 – Bomber Command tasked with bombing Düren, Jülich and Heinsburg with just under 1,200 bombers. Düren was attacked by 485 Lancasters and 13 Mosquitoes, Heinsberg by 182 Lancasters, and Jülich by 413 Halifaxes, 78 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitoes of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. Three Lancasters lost over Düren, one over Heinsberg, but none over Jülich.

21 November 1944 – Ramrod to Homberg-Meerbeck oil plant by 160 Lancasters from 3 Group, three Lancasters lost, one of which I understand was 514 Sqn Lanc PD265 JI-G

30 November 1944 – Ramrod to the Ruhr, Oberhausen bombed (no further info)

Lastly, when referring to Mosquitoes of the aircraft type - as opposed to the annoying, buzzing type - is it Mosquitoes (with OES at the end) or Mosquitos (with only OS at the end), as I have seen both versions and my spelling checker tells me OS is incorrect?

Thanks
Steve

**AlanW** · 21st February 2009, 13:39

Steve,
Solingen 4/11/44.
75sqdn Lanc, ND917, AA-O.
195sqdn Lancs, HK658 A4-C, HK689 A4-B, NG219 JE-T

6/11/44
101sqdn Lanc PB692 SR-K2.
300sqdn Lanc LM141 BH-D.
550sqdn Lanc PB562 BQ-M.
408sqdn Hali NP761 EQ-A.
432sqdn Hali NP815 QO-A.

9/11/44625sqdn Lancs NG239 CF-A, LM731 CF-N.

16/11/44 Duren.
156sqdn Lanc PB609.
166sqdn Lanc PB648 AS-B.
207sqdn Lanc NF979 EM-B.
625sqdn Lanc NG238 CF-E2.

21/11/44. Homberg
514sqdn Lancs NG121 JI-H, PD265 JI-G. LM684 JI-C.

30/11/44, Osterfeld.
75sqdn Lanc NF980 AA-F.
115sqdn Lanc PD367 KO-H.

**CZ_RAF** · 21st February 2009, 13:44

He Steve,

2.11. Ramrod 1357 but my source has Lancasters instead of Halifaxes, 310 Sq took part

4.11. Ramrod ???, Solingen in Germany - 312 Sq

16.11. Ramrod 1372 - Heinsberg by 182 Lancasters - 310, 313 Sq

21.11 Ramrod 1375 - 310, 312, 313 Sq

30.11. Ramrod 1384 - 60 Lancasters Bottrop - 310, 313 Sq
or Ramrod ???, 60 Lancasters to refinery Osterfeld - 312 Sq

Hope this helps a little

Pavel

**David Wallace** · 21st February 2009, 13:58

"6 November 1944 – 738 aircraft, thereunder 31 Oboe Mosquitoes, 383 Halifaxes and 324 Lancasters to the Nordstern synthetic-oil plant, two Halifaxes and three Lancasters lost" - 109 Squadron sent 16 Oboe Mosquitoes & 105 Squadron sent 14, 582 Squadron sent 12 Lancasters

"9 November 1944 – 256 Lancasters and 21 Mosquitoes to Wanne-Eickel oil refinery, two bombers lost" 109 Squadron sent 10 Oboe Mosquitoes & 105 Squadron sent 10, 582 Squadron sent 9 Lancasters

"16 November 1944 – Bomber Command tasked with bombing Düren, Jülich and Heinsburg with just under 1,200 bombers. Düren was attacked by 485 Lancasters and 13 Mosquitoes, Heinsberg by 182 Lancasters, and Jülich by 413 Halifaxes, 78 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitoes of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. Three Lancasters lost over Düren, one over Heinsberg, but none over Jülich." Julich - 109 Squadron sent 16 Oboe Mosquitoes, 582 Squadron sent 9 Lancasters. Duren - 105 Squadron sent 12 Oboe Mosquitoes.
Dave Wallace

**Steve Brew** · 21st February 2009, 15:59

Thanks Gents

This is just the type of info I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time to type it up.

Does anyone have the mission numbers for 4, 6, and 30 November: Solingen, Nordstern and Osterfeld, respectively? i.e. Ramrod 13XX?

Also, can anyone identify the actual target at Solingen on 4 November, please?

Thanks
Steve

**CZ_RAF** · 21st February 2009, 16:54

Hi Steve,

1944-11-04

ANDREWS FIELD

12.30. Squadron pilots – 12 in all – Took off Base and escorted 180 “Heavies” to SOLINGEN in Operation Ramrod 1359.

1944-11-06 - but not know the target if it was the same raid you are looking for...

ANDREWS FIELD

12.40. Seven pilots and aircraft of 306 Squadron, taking off from Base took part in Operation Ramrod No. 1361 and landed without incident at Base on their return at 15.45 hrs Full details of this Mission are given in Appendix “A”.

1944-11-30 - but not know the target if it was the same raid you are looking for...

ANDREWS FIELD

Squadron pilots took part in Operation Ramrod No. 1385 and landed without anything to report.
http://orb.polishaf.pl/306sqn/1944-7/1944-11-no-306-squadron-f540

Pavel

**Steve Smith** · 21st February 2009, 17:23

Steve,

No.3 Group efforts.

Thursday 2nd November 1944 :
Homberg Synthetic Oil Plant

Daylight

184 Avro Lancaster’s detailed.

115 Sqdn (16) 514 Sqdn (23) 75NZ Sqdn (20) 622 Sqdn (18) 15 Sqdn (14) 90 Sqdn (17) 218 Sqdn (17) 149 Sqdn (22) 186 Sqdn (18) 195 Sqdn (19)

Cancelled : 0
Abortive : 0
Missing : 4

Weather in target area 5/10th cloud, at the end of the attack black clouds and smoke could be seen coming up from the oil plant. This attack was meant as a G-H formation attack together with a large number of “extra” aircraft with no G-H. These bombed on Wanganua flares dropped by G-H aircraft.

Saturday 4th November 1944 : Solingen

Daylight

178 Avro Lancaster’s detailed.

115 Sqdn (16) 514 Sqdn (20) 75NZ Sqdn (21) 622 Sqdn (18) 15 Sqdn (14) 90 Sqdn (18) 218 Sqdn (17) 149 Sqdn (17) 186 Sqdn (18) 195 Sqdn (19)

Cancelled : 0
Abortive : 3
Missing : 4

The weather was 7/10th – 10/10th. G-H worked well and the flak was slight so attack was good from the planning point of view. In view of light flak it is difficult to account for our losses, however there is reports of our a/c being hit by our own bombs.

Tuesday 21st November 1944 : Homberg Oil Plant

Daylight

162 Avro Lancaster’s detailed.

115 Sqdn (15) 514 Sqdn (22) 75NZ Sqdn (20) 622 Sqdn (17) 15 Sqdn (16) 90 Sqdn (14) 218 Sqdn (12) 149 Sqdn (17) 186 Sqdn (17) 195 Sqdn (12)

Cancelled : 3
Abortive : 2
Missing : 3

This was judged to be a really good attack. There was a great deal of un serviceability amongst the G-H sets, and being clear at the target itself the flak was sufficiently accurate to upset the run of this aircraft with serviceable sets. Bombing scattered but some fires at the plant seen.

Mining

6 Avro Lancaster’s detailed.

75NZ Sqdn (3) 90 Sqdn (3)

1 aircraft missing. All other sorties successful.

Special Op’s

10 Aircraft detailed

138 Sqdn 161 Sqdn

Thursday 30th November 1944:

Oil Plant Oberhausen.

Daylight

60 Avro Lancaster’s detailed.

Synthetic Oil Plant, Bottrop
Daylight
60 Avro Lancaster’s detailed

115 Sqdn (15) 514 Sqdn (17) 75NZ Sqdn (18) 622 Sqdn (16) 15 Sqdn (16) 90 Sqdn (15) 218 Sqdn (4) 149 Sqdn (10) 186 Sqdn (9)

Both targets attacked in similar weather conditions with 10/10th clouds top up to 12,000ft. Good concentration of flares achieved over both targets. One base 7 minutes late on their target. Everyone seems to have achieved a satisfactory run. This tardiness at the target by one base did not allow the interval between the attacks, which had been, planned so formations tended to mingle. Moderate flak encountered for the two aircraft missing.

Specials Op’s

9 aircraft detailed.

16 missions attempted, 9 successful

If you want a more detailed list please email me.

Regards

Steve

**Steve Brew** · 22nd February 2009, 17:50

Thanks Pavel - Looks like I'll need to look up the 11 Group ORB next time at Kew, too, for a top level view of the fighter escort squadrons.

Hi Steve - Thanks very much for this information; it's very helpful.

I guess my outstanding questions, which I hope someone can help with, are:

- Which four bombers were lost on the 02 Nov 44 op; and

- Which four bombers were lost on the 04 Nov 44 op?

Thanks
Steve

**Dick** · 23rd February 2009, 12:42

Hi Steve
For 2/11/44 Chorley shows 6 Lancaster losses
15 Sqn HK612 andPB115
186 Sqn LM618
195 Sqn HK663 and LM473
622 Sqn LL803
4/11/44 4 Losses all Lancasters
75 Sqn ND917
195 Sqn HK658,HK689.and NG219
Regards
Dick