The 578 Sqdn left from an unknown RAF station at 1945-01-26 at an unknown time. Loc or duty Training
He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type III, serial NA574, code LK-D).
Campaign report of the USAAF:
23 January 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force):: 2 missions are flown.
Mission 807: 209 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Neuss, Germany (169); 12 others hit the Neuss Bridge; the attacks are made using Gee-H and Micro H; 1 B-17 is lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 95 damaged; 5 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 10 MIA.
Escort is provided by 74 of 79 P-51s; 1 is damaged beyond repair.
Other operations are:
1. 68 of 75 P-51s fly a sweep over the Neuss area; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft without loss.
2. 16 of 17 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.
Mission 808: 5 B-24s drop leaflet in the Netherlands during the night.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): In Germany, a small B-26 force hits troop concentrations, a road bridge, and military transport targets at Blankenheim, Dasburg, and Arzfeld.
Fighters fly armed reconnaissance, alert flights, and patrols, and support the US III, VIII, and XII Corps and 4th, 94th, and 95th Infantry Divisions from S of Saint-Vith, Belgium, S and E along the battleline to just W of Saarlautern, Germany.
24 January 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force):: 67 of 70 P-51s based in Belgium are dispatched in 4 flights to fly sweeps over Wahn Airfield-Dorweiler area and Karlsruhe-Koblenz area in Germany, claiming 3 fighters downed; 1 P-51 is lost.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): 25 9th Bombardment Division bombers hit communications centers at Schleiden, Stadtkyll, and Pronsfeld, Germany; fighters fly armed reconnaissance, sweeps, airfield cover, and bomb 1 bridge; the XIX Tactical Air Command supports US III, VIII, XII, and XX Corps elements along the battlefront at several points from SW of Saint-Vith, Belgium to the Saarlautern, Germany area.
The 39th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Ninth AF, arrives at Valenciennes, France from the US with F-5s.
25 January 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force):: 111 of 121 P-51s based in Belgium fly a sweep over wide areas of SW Germany, claiming 2 Luftwaffe fighters NE of Mannheim and E of Kirrlach; 1 P-51 is lost.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): 170 A-20s and B-26s hit communications centers and railroad bridges, overpasses, and lines in W Germany with the aim of harassing and obstructing troop movement; fighters of the 3 Tactical Air Commands fly armed reconnaissance, alerts and night patrols, escort bombers, and attack numerous ground targets; the XIX Tactical Air Command supports the US 5th Infantry Division in the Echternach, Luxembourg area.
26 Janaury 1945
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force):: 31 of 32 P-51s based in Belgium, fly an uneventful fighter sweeps over the Heilbronn, Aschaffenburg, Giessen, and Trier, Germany areas.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 27 B-26s bomb the Euskirchen rail bridge to interdict rail traffic SW from Euskirchen, much of which comes from Cologne and Bonn.
The 3 Tactical Air Commands fly armed reconnaissance, alert flights, and patrols; the XIX Tactical Air Command supports US Third Army elements from S of Saint-Vith, Belgium to W of Saarlautern, Germany.
Campaign report of the RAF:
26/27 January 1945
8 Mosquitos bombed the Castrop-Rauxel synthetic-oil refinery without loss.
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.
There are several possibilities to investigate the flight records on Back to Normandy. All the flights are plotted on maps, sorted "day by day", "by squadron", "by type aircraft", "by year or month", "by location" and much more! Don't miss this!!!
If you have any information that you want to share, please add your comment at the bottom of this record. Or send your information to [email protected]. This information will be added to the record.
Your photos and your information are very welcome! The young do care and with your help we keep up the good work.