Missions (and victories) of the 418th RCAF Squadron

[Michal]

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

[Mark Proulx]

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

[Peter Kassak]

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

[Mark Proulx]

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

[Peter Kassak]

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

[Mark Proulx]

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

[strafer]

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