The 408 Sqdn left from an unknown RAF station at 1944-10-17 at an unknown time. Loc or duty Training

On Tuesday 17 October 1944, a member of the 408 Sqdn, Flight Sergeant J C Mortley, took off from an unknown RAF station in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on WW2 History Europe. You can find the other details of this mission by searching here. Training and cargo flights are not separately mentioned as a mission. The plane left at an unknown time .

He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type VII, serial NP745, code EQ-H).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

(Eighth Air Force): Mission 681: 1,338 bombers and 811 fighters are dispatched on PFF attacks in the Cologne, Germany area; 4 bombers and 1 fighter are lost:

1. 465 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Cologne/Eifeltor (216) and Cologne/Gremberg (34); targets of opportunity are Cologne/Kalk marshalling yard (151) and other (2); 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 263 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 6 WIA and 9 MIA.

Escort is provided by 274 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

2. 453 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Cologne/Gereon (295) and Cologne/Kalk (142); 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 150 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 10 WIA and 37 MIA.

Escort is provided by 271 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

3. 430 B-24s are dispatched to hit a chemical plant at Leverkusen but weather prevents the attack; targets of opportunity hit are the Cologne/ Gereon (231) and Cologne/Kalk (179) marshalling yards; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 73 damaged.

Escort is provided by 229 P-47s and P-51s.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS

(Ninth Air Force): All Rhine River rail and road bridges are cleared for attack; 2 days later Advance HQ prescribes bridges as having priority on the target list second only to rail lines.

In Germany, 35 B-26s hit rail bridge at Euskirchen; fighters escort the bombers, fly armed reconnaissance in the Strasbourg-Colmar-Mulhouse area, attack railroads in the Allendorf an der Lahn-Gemunden area, and marshalling yard at Dielkirchen.

In France, the 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons, 358th Fighter Group, move from Vitry-le-Francois to Mourmelon with P-47s.

Campaign report of the RAF:

16/17 October 1944

39 Mosquitos dispatched to Cologne without loss.

17 October 1944

47 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos of No 5 Group attacked the sea wall at Westkapelle on Walcheren. Bombing appeared to be accurate but no major result was observed. No aircraft lost.

5 RCM sorties, 4 Ranger patrols to Denmark, 4 Hudsons on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

17/18 October 1944

12 Mosquitos of No 100 Group flew anti-flying-bomb patrols. (The Germans were releasing flying bombs from aircraft over the North Sea.) No interceptions made.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

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