Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Dear all, could you please let me (us) know whether you are familiar with missions of the 418th RCAF Squadron, particualrly those carried out in then Czechoslovakia?
Thanks. Regards, Filip

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

I am familiar with 418, City of Edmonton Squadron. Is there some specific date or location that you are interested in?

Mark Proulx

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Yes, Mark, I am interested in the mission on October 12, 1944. Your assistance would be welcome.
Regards, Filip

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Ranger to Caske-Rubojorice and Nemecky Brod. Sqn Ldr Gray/Flt Lt Gibbons destroyed 2 x Ju 34s and 4 x Ju 87s on ground and damaged 5 x Ju 87s and 1 x Ju 34. On same airfield, Fg Off Thomas/Flt Lt MacDonald) destroyed 1 x Ju 34 and 1 x Ju 87 and damaged 3 x Ju 87s and probably destroyed 1 x Ju 87

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Great, Chris, thank you! Do you know whether they strafed Ceske Budejovice or Nemecky Brod? Regards, Filip

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

The entry does not I am afraid but surely you will be able to work it out unless another Sqn was having a go that day? By the way, it should be listed as 418 Sqn RCAF

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

They strafed both airfields. Destroyed and damaged planes belonged to Stab and I./SG 102.

Strafer, if you would like to know more, contact me via e-mail.

Michal

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

I have the combat report (plus other documents) for this encounter flown by these two crews. That day the were flying HR148 (S/L Gray) and MM426 (F/O Thomas). Interestingly, due to weather, after the raid the crews had to make for Italy were they refueled and ate before returning to Hunsdon.

The crews originally departed from St. Dizier after staging from Hunsdon. They saw other targets of opportunity during the trip into Czechoslovakia put didn't attack so as to create as much surprise as possible at Budejovice and Nemecky Brod A/F. They opened fire at Budejovice at 0640. Nemecky Brod was attacked at 0715. Areas of patchy fog did hamper much of the raid

Clearly, 418 had some success on this Day Ranger!

Mark Proulx

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Mark,

I see you have backround for 418 Sqn RCAF. Any combat report or any possible data on Piestany Ranger mission on October 16, 1944? Onwe plane shot down, the other from Ranger couple lost next day...
I have some data...but looking for whether twose oct 16. survivors wrote any statement or report on what happened over PIestany...

Thanks

Peter

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Peter:

You may have to check your dates or identify another group. Only one aircraft from 418 took-off that day due to adverse weather. S/L Annan and F/O MacIntosh flew to Ahlhorn, Varrelbusch and encountered 10/10ths cloud cover and thunderstorms over the Dutch Coast and reported "uneventful". No other aircraft was dispatched on October 16th from 418.

HTH

Mark Proulx

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

HI Mark, I issed, It was one day later:
17.10.1944 418 RCAF DH-89 Mosquito FB Mk.VI NS857 F/Lt. Stuart N. May
and the second crew wit cotterhil should be lost next day...

Peter

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Peter:

The only entry for this flight comes from the ORB.

Oct 17th, 1944:

Crew

F/L S.H.R. Cotterill.
F/O C.G. Finlayson

F/L May
F/O Ritch

Duty

Day Ranger Vienna Area

Up Down

NYR

Details of Sortie or Flight

F/L May and F/O Ritch crash landed in enemy territory, crew safe.

Later in the month, when the ORB summary is complete it reads in part for Oct 17th:

F/L Cotterill after landing in Italy took off on another trip and is, unfortunately, missing from this.

I have no record of which aircraft was being flown by these crews. All my available documentation is rather silent on this event.

However, I do see from other records I maintain that there are records for NS857 to be flying into November, 1944. As far as these records go, the aircraft wasn't lost on the date you identify.

I do have a copy of the newspaper clipping printed Oct 18th, 1944 identifying the loss of Colin Finlayson where he was reported missing and presumed dead.

HTH

Mark Proulx

Re: Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron
 

Dear gentlemen, I took down some notes on the mission on October 12, 1944, which is based on two articles by Jiri Rajlich - but it is in Czech only...
Regards, Filip