Wednesday
In England, Verne writes in his diary . . . .
02-14-45
Sure wish some film had come with camera.1 Part of the crew went up and slow timed a ship today, but I only loafed around camp.2 Took a bath and put in a lot of sack time. Left application for electrical course in orderly room to be signed. If the war should ever end hope to take a course in math and algebra. No mail today. Have eaten most of the stuff that Aileen sent. Sure wish there had been more of it. Signed payroll today for regular pay.
Verne does not mention it in his diary, but on February 14, eleven RCAF Halifaxes from 6th Group, East Moor, diverted to Station 153 after a raid on Germany.3 RAF East Moor4, located in North Yorkshire, housed two RAF Bomber Command No. 6 Group (RCAF) squadrons: No. 415 Squadron and No. 432 Squadron. Both squadrons were equipped with Handley Page Halifax four-engined heavy bombers. It is not known which RCAF squadron’s aircraft diverted to USAAF Station 153 on February 14, 1945 nor from what mission they were returning.5
Notes & Commentary
1 His wife may have thought he could buy the film locally.
2 The monotony must have been deadly.
3 “Flying Control Historical Report for the Month of February 1945”. 390th Bombardment Group (H) History, February 1945, Headquarters 390th Bombardment Group (H), 26 March 1945, microfilm B0426, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1973, frame 1373.
4 “East Moor.” Abandoned, Forgotten & Little Known Airfields in Europe. (http://www.forgottenairfields.com/united-kingdom/england/north-yorkshire/east-moor-s973.html : accessed 9 February 2015)
5 Could these 11 RCAF Halifaxes been returning from RAF Operation Thunderclap?
Wayne's Journal 
http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Feb45operations.html
http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Feb45/Feb13~1445.html
February 13/14, 1945
115 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the synthetic oil plant at Bohlen. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 588,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered.
F/O R. Hutcheon from 408 Squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O G. Daughters landed at Bungay on return..
W/O1 A. McDiarmid from 415 Squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage and the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at Cambrai on 3 engines.
F/O R. Evans was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd wing and fuselage. They landed at Framlingham on return.
F/O E. Millbank had the stbd outer u/s on return. They landed safely at Nivells on 3 engines.
F/O J. Hechter landed at Woodbridge on return.
F/O A. Galley, F/O L. Minkler, F/Lt O. Piper, F/Lt T. Mears, F/Lt A. Winmill, F/Lt J. McQuiston, F/Lt J. Northrup, F/Lt W. Goodwin, F/Lt J. McAllister, F/O D. Stewart, and F/O S. Mooers landed at Framlingham on return.
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Operation Thunderclap
http://ww2today.com/13-february-1945-operation-thunderclap-raf-start-firestorm-in-dresden
Aftermath
http://ww2today.com/14-february-1945-ash-wednesday-in-burning-dresden
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