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21 November, 1944; GRAVENHORST (MITTELLAND
CANAL):
Whilst a 5 Group force of 123 Lancasters attacked the Dortmund-Ems
Canal, 10 aircraft from 49 Squadron joined 128 other 5 Group
Lancasters in bombing the Mittelland Canal at Gravenhorst. The
Main Force, led by 6 Mosquitoes arrived in the target area shortly
before 21.00hrs. Orbiting the target, the Controller originally
ordered the forces to stay at pre-briefed bombing heights, but
at 20.58hrs, he then ordered the Main Force to attack from below
the cloud base which was given as 4,000ft. These instructions
were subjected to severe jamming of W/T which caused much confusion.
The controller next ordered the crews to bomb the southern red
T.I's as planned. Consequently some crews bombed through cloud
and others from below, with the markers being visible through
the cloud layers. In the light of photo flashes, some 49 crews
did obtain visual identification and despite the communication
problems, the canal was successfully breached. 49 Squadron de-briefs
show that the crew's of F/Lt Len Mellor (PB373), F/O Jock Galloway
and F/O Carlyle (PB484) bombed below the clouds, whilst five
other crews bombed red T.I's from above.
This just left the two aircraft being flown by F/O Maul (PB354)
and Grp/Cpt Weir - it has been speculated that one of these two
aircraft exploded after being hit by bombs or light flak, which
in turn caused the other aircraft nearby, to also explode.
Lancaster PB354 (EA-G)
F/O E.C. Maul Pilot (Killed)
Sgt W. Cooper F/E (Killed)
Sgt S.D.
Bolton NAV (Killed)
P/O I.G.
Williams W/AG (Killed)
Sgt E. Battye
A/G (Killed)
F/S
A.L. Jackson B/A (Killed)
Sgt J.
Houghton A/G (Killed)
Crew on their12th operation
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