The 431 Sqdn left from Croft at 1944-12-01 at 16:37. Loc or duty Duisburg
On Friday 01 December 1944, a member of the 431 Sqdn, Flight Lieutenant R W Harrison, took off from Croft in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on Back to Normandy. 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 16:37.
He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type I, serial KB788, code SE-C).
KB-788 was a Canadian built Lancaster Mk. XIt was flown by Reg Harrison, J25826 who is 98 and currently living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.I was actually speaking with him yesterday about his November 30, 1944 operation to Duisburg.My Dad Robert J. Middleton, J37180 an RCAF Navigator was on that same operation. My dad is 97 and currently living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. My Dad’s biography “Luck is 33 Eggs” will be out in February.I was speaking with my Dad yesterday. The title is searchable.Both men flew with 431 Squadron and are both Honorary members of the CF Snowbirds Team who are also 431 Squadron.I have attached the story about that November 30 operation and others for Reg.His aborted trip 12A was to Biennais, France in Halifax MZ-657 on July 6, 1944.17 th operation to Brest, Germany in Halifax MZ-658 on August 25, 1944.The 19th operation to Duisburg, Germany in Lancaster Mk. X KB-788 on November 30, 1944.Reg Harrison did not receive a DFC for any of these trips even though he saved all their lives.https://www.backtonormandy.org/you-me/download/download/18-files/112-reg-harrisons.html
Campaign report of the USAAF:
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force): Mission 733: 7 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflet in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 134 B-26s and A-20s strike defended areas at Fraulautern, Ensdorf, and Saarlautern; fighters fly sweeps, armed reconnaissance, and bombing missions over W Germany and support US VII Corps elements at Inden and the Hurtgen Forest and the 8th Infantry Division of the V Corps at Tiefenbach Creek and Brandenberger Forest.
In France, HQ 354th Fighter Group and the 355th Fighter Squadron move from Orconte to Meurthe-et-Moselle and Rosieres-en-Haye respectively with P-47s (the 355th is operating from St Dizier); the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), moves from St Dizier to Giraumont with F-6s; the 72d Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF, moves from Epinal to Buhl with L-5s.
Campaign report of the RAF:
30 November/1 December 1944
Duisburg: 576 aircraft - 425 Halifaxes, 126 Lancasters, 25 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Halifaxes lost. The target area was completely cloud-covered and the attack was not concentrated but much fresh damage was still caused.
53 Mosquitos to Hamburg and 7 to Hallendorf, 88 aircraft of No 100 Group on RCM and Mosquito operations (separate figures not available), 9 aircraft on Resistance operations. 1 Intruder Mosquito lost.
Total effort for the night: 733 sorties, 4 aircraft (0.5 per cent) lost.
1/2 December
71 Mosquitos to Karlsruhe, 6 to Hallendorf and 4 to Duisburg, 24 RCM sorties, 22 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
This record can also be found on the maps of Back to Normandy with Google coordinates. You can find the maps by clicking on this link on this location.
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