[Jaap Woortman]

As promised here the information from no.411 Sqn. ORB.

PRO Air 26/186 no.126 Wing. 29.10.44. Sheet 540.

F/L G.B.Mercer again took off a section dive-bombing a rail cutting three miles East of Burgsteinfurt. All the bombs were dropped on a train of ten cars just East od the target. The whole train and the railway went up with much debris about. The railway was well cut, and the train destroyed. Another train standing at Meteten was straffed of which a locomotive and two cars were damaged. F/O F.F.Kinsler (J.35977) di not return from this mission. He was last seen just after dropping his bombs dead on the target. He reported his aircraft on fire and was told to set course for base, it is thought possibly he baled out.



PRO Air 27/1804 no.411 R.C.A.F. sqn. 29-10-1944. Sheet 540.

Weather was suitable for flying and the Squadron did its first operational flying in nearly three weeks. This consisted of bombing trains and rail targets in Germany. Our first casualty A.383. in nearly three months was sustained when the engine of F/O T.F.Kinsler’s kite packed up (probably due to enemy flak). He was instructed tp bale out but confirmation of this being complied with is not available. He is reported as being “Missing-particulars unknown.”
Casualties for October, 1944: J.35977 F/O T/F.Kinsler, Missing on operations on 29.10.44



PRO Air 27/1804 no.411 R.C.A.F. sqn. 29-10-1944. Sheet 541.
PI498 F/O T.F.Kinsler Duty: Dive-Bombing Up: 1215 Down: Missing.
Three 500 and 6 250’s were dropped on a train of 10 cars just east of a rail cutting(original target) east of Burgsteinfurt. The whole train standing in Meteten was strafed. F/O Kinsler did not return from this mission. He was last seen just after dropping his bombs and reporting his a/c was on fire.


Remark from J.W.: In the report of an earlier mission at that day to a target in the same area, a fly-over 1 mile east of Burgsteinfurt, it was mentioned that a Jet Job was seen but was to far to identify. This mission took place between 1115 up and 1215 down.