CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
BASSON |
First Name/s: |
Henry Leigh "Harry" |
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Service No/s: |
1676349 and 195477 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Navigator |
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Awards: |
1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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01 Jan 1940 |
Enlisted at No.3 Recruiting Centre (RC), Padgate, Warrington, Cheshire tbc. Date tbc |
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01 Jun 1944 |
No.11 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire; administrative Base for 1 Group heavy bomber conversions (precise date TBC) |
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02 Jun 1944 |
No.1656 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Lindholme, Yorkshire (precise date tbc) |
Halifax |
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27 Jul 1944 |
In the early hours of 27 July 1944, at 0119 hrs, Halifax MkII BB221 from No.1656 HCU suffered a failure of its port outer engine at 20,000ft and the port inner caught fire. An emergency approach was made at RAF Wrexham, but the approach speed was 130 kts and the aircraft landed halfway along the short runway. As a result, the Halifax overshot the runway and dropped 20 feet onto a golf course and caught fire. All the crew escaped without injury. They were: |
Halifax II BB221 |
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10 Aug 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School (LFS), Hemswell, Lincolnshire |
Lancaster |
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01 Sep 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Lancaster |
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02 Sep 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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31 Oct 1944 |
No.576 Squadron moves to Fiskerton, Lincolnshire |
Lancaster |
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14 Nov 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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29 Jan 1945 |
Promoted to Flt Sgt (precise date tbc) |
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15 Feb 1945 |
Discharged on appointment to a Commission |
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16 Feb 1945 |
Commissioned to the rank of Pilot Officer on probation (emergency) (London Gazette, 24 Apr 45) |
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19 Aug 1945 |
Promoted to the rank of Flying Officer (war substantive) (London Gazette, G 14 Sep 45, p4575) |
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576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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02 Sep 1944 |
LM227 |
U2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
4h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Cross-country navigation exercise with high-level bombing |
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04 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
4h40 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country navigation exercise with 9,000 lb bomb load |
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14 Sep 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
oh30 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation. Landed away at Blyton. |
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14 Sep 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
Elsham Wolds to Blyton |
nk |
nk |
0h30 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
W A Rainey flown to Blyton as P2 to the Crowther crew to commence duties at No.1662 HCU. |
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15 Sep 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2h35 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise |
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16 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2n45 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y'(H2S) cross-country navigation exercise |
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16 Sep 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
LEEUWARDEN |
0050 |
0420 |
3h30 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Luftwaffe airfield, and flown in support of Operation MARKET GARDEN. Did not drop bombs (reason unknown). |
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21 Sep 1944 |
LM122 |
UL-X2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2h20 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise |
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22 Sep 1944 |
LM122 |
UL-X2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2h40 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise |
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23 Sep 1944 |
PD232 |
UL-O2 |
NEUSS |
1845 |
0015 |
6h00 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards |
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24 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
CALAIS |
1600 |
2020 |
4h20 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy ground positions. Bombed from 1800 ft. Starboard outer engine was hit by flak and caught fire. Returned to base on three engines. |
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26 Sep 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h30 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
High level bombing. 6 bombs released. |
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27 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h10 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Night high-level bombing. 6 bombs released. |
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28 Sep 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h10 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air-to-air firing. |
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03 Oct 1944 |
PB635 |
UL-N2 |
WESTKAPPELL |
1310 |
1605 |
4h55 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Sea wall on Walcheren Island. Flown in support of Operation INFATUATE |
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05 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
SAARBRUCKEN |
1835 |
0235 |
6h00 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Diverted Wratting Common due to fog at base. |
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06 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
Wratting Common to Elsham Wolds |
nk |
nk |
0h45 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion |
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07 Oct 1944 |
NG183 |
UL-U2 |
EMMERICH |
1200 |
1635 |
4h35 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy positions in built-up area. Diverted Sandtoft due to low cloudbase at Elsham. |
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08 Oct 1944 |
NG183 |
UL-U2 |
Sandtoft to Elsham Wolds |
nk |
nk |
0h25 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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10 Oct 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h35 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air test and air-to-sea firing. Emergency landing made at Carnaby (reason unknown). |
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11 Oct 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
Carnaby to Elsham Wolds |
nk |
nk |
0h20 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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14 Oct 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
DUISBERG |
0630 |
1145 |
5h15 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation HURRICANE. Target: Four Aiming Points (APs) (mines and coke ovens) in the Hamborn area; this crew’s Aiming Point not ascertained. Bombed at 18,000 ft. Bomber Command’s largest daylight operation to date: 1050 aircraft. |
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14 Oct 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
DUISBERG |
2210 |
0355 |
6h05 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation HURRICANE. Target: Built-up area to N of docks. Bombed at 20,000 ft. |
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19 Oct 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
STUTTGART |
2140 |
0445 |
7h05 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Second wave. Target: Robert Bosche works. Bombed from 18,000 ft |
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23 Oct 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
ESSEN |
1630 |
2220 |
5h50 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Krupp works. Bombed from 23,000 ft |
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|
25 Oct 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
ESSEN |
1250 |
1755 |
5h05 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area around the Krupps works. Bombed from 19,000 ft. |
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28 Oct 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
COLOGNE |
nk |
nk |
0h00 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Mulheim and southern part of Cologne. Did not take off due to R/T and W/T failure. |
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30 Oct 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
COLOGNE |
1740 |
0000 |
6h20 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: North-western area of the city. |
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|
14 Nov 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
Air Test |
nk |
nk |
0h50 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air test |
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16 Nov 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
DUREN |
1250 |
1740 |
5h50 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy ground positions and lines of communication. Flown in support of the advance of the American 1st and 9th Armies. Bombed at 11,500 ft. |
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18 Nov 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
WANNE-EICHEL |
1555 |
2140 |
5h45 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Krupps synthetic oil plant. Bombed at 18,500 ft. Diverted Mepal due to poor visibility at Fiskerton. |
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19 Nov 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
Mepal to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
0h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion |
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21 Nov 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
ASCHAFFENBURG |
1545 |
2210 |
6h25 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Bombed at 12,500 ft. Flt Sgt Rink's brother Fg Off Wendelin Rink 431 Sqn flew as a passenger on this op. |
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|
22 Nov 1944 |
PD232 |
Ul-F2 |
Fiskerton to Great Ashfield |
nk |
nk |
0h35 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Transit to pick up diverted aircraft (UL-Q2) from Great Ashfield. |
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22 Nov 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
Great Ashfield to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
0h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Collect aircraft which had diverted to Great Ashfield on 18 Nov 44. |
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26 Nov 1944 |
NG273 |
UL-Z2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2h05 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
High-level practice bombing and air-to-sea firing |
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29 Nov 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
DORTMUND |
1220 |
1425 |
2h05 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Industrial and railway targets in the built-up area. Returned early due to failure of the port and starboard engine-driven generators. The bombs were jettisoned in the North Sea before landing at Fiskerton. |
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30 Nov 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
Air test |
nk |
nk |
0h25 |
P1 Fg Off R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air test |
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03 Dec 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
URFT DAM |
0750 |
1205 |
4h15 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Walled masonry dam. Master Bomber cancelled the attack due to low cloud over the target. Crew returned with full bomb load. |
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04 Dec 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
KARLSRUHE |
1640 |
2310 |
6h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Bombed at 17,500 ft. |
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06 Dec 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
LEUNA-MERSEBERG |
1645 |
0015 |
5h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: I G Farbenindustrie synthetic oil plant. Bombed at 19,500 ft. |
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|
11 Dec 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h20 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Training. Donna Nook range. High-level practice bombing |
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15 Dec 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
MANNHEIM-LUDWIGSHAFEN |
1455 |
2055 |
6h00 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: I G Farbenindustrie chemical works. Bombed at 19,000 ft. |
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29 Dec 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
SCHOLVEN / BUER (GELSENKIRCHEN) |
1525 |
2055 |
5h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Hydeierwerke Scholven synthetic oil refinery. Bombed at 19,000 ft. |
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|
01 Jan 1945 |
NG273 |
UL-Y2 |
Air test and training |
nk |
nk |
2h05 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air test, high level practice bombing and air-to-sea firing. |
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|
02 Jan 1945 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
NUREMBURG |
1505 |
2300 |
7h55 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards and built-up area. Lost starboard inner due to oil leak on the run in to the target and bombed on three engines. Unable to feather the engine. Bombed at 12,000 ft. Landed at Woodbridge. |
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03 Jan 1945 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
Woodbridge to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
0h50 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. Fg Off Sowerbutts and crew were passengers. |
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05 Jan 1945 |
PD232 |
UL-O2 |
ROYAN |
0215 |
0855 |
6h40 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy garrison and supply depot. Bombed at 9,000 ft. |
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20 Jan 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G2 |
Fiskerton to Down Ampney |
nk |
nk |
oh45 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Transit flight to pick up Fg Off Pegg and crew who had baled out of PD309 over Belgium on 16/17 Jan 45. |
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20 Jan 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G2 |
Down Ampney to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
0h40 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Transit flight to pick up Fg Off Pegg and crew who had baled out of PD309 over Belgium on 16/17 Jan 45. |
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28 Jan 1945 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
STUTTGART - ZUFFENHAUSEN |
1935 |
0245 |
5h10 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Hirth aero-engine factory and Bosch ignition works. Bombed at 19,500 ft. |
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01 Feb 1945 |
PD271 |
*UL-T2 |
Air test and training |
nk |
nk |
2h05 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air test and ‘Y’ (H2S) simulated bombing runs |
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03 Feb 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
BOTTROP |
1610 |
2205 |
5h55 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Prosper coking plant and benzol plant. Bombed at 17,500 ft. (ORB shows PB793 - incorrect) |
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05 Feb 1945 |
RA516 |
UL-Q2 |
Scampton to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
0h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Ferry flight to collect and deliver a new aircraft. Rink and Scarfe to be confirmed on flight. |
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18 Feb 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2h35 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Training. ‘Y’ runs over Cherbourg peninsula. |
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19 Feb 1945 |
NN806 |
UL-M2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h25 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Local flying |
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20 Feb 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
DORTMUND |
2140 |
0355 |
6h15 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Southern part of city. Bombed at 20,000 ft |
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21 Feb 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
DUISBERG |
1930 |
0120 |
5h50 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area and docks. Bombed at 16,000 ft. |
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23 Feb 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
PFORZHEIM |
1545 |
2325 |
7h40 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: town. Bombed at 7,500 ft |
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27 Feb 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
3h25 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
High-level practice bombing, ‘Y’ (H2S) simulated bombing runs and air-to-sea firing. |
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02 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
COLOGNE |
0700 |
1210 |
5h10 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Roads to west of the Rhine leading to the Hohenzollern Bridge. Bombed at 16,000 ft |
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|
05 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
CHEMNITZ |
1645 |
0200 |
7h15 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: Built-up area. Bombed at 17,000 ft. |
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07 Mar 1945 |
NG273 |
*UL-I2 |
DESSAU |
1700 |
0230 |
9h30 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Bombed at 15,000 ft. |
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|
09 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h40 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air test, high level practice bombing and fighter affiliation. |
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11 Mar 1945 |
LM594 |
UL-A |
ESSEN |
1140 |
1655 |
5h15 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area – flown in support of advancing Allied forces. Bombed at 16,000 ft. Flt Sgt Rink's brother Fg Off Wendelin Rink RCAF was killed on this operation flying with 431 Sqn. |
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|
12 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
DORTMUND |
1310 |
1820 |
5h10 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area – flown in support of advancing Allied forces. Bombed at 18,000 ft. |
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|
15 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
MISBURG |
1725 |
0050 |
7h25 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Deurag oil refinery. Bombed at 18,000 ft. |
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|
16 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
NUREMBURG |
1725 |
0125 |
8h00 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Bombed at 16,000 ft |
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|
21 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
BREMEN |
0745 |
1205 |
4h20 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Deutsche Vacuum oil refinery. Bombed at 15,000 ft. The aircraft was hit by flak which damaged the astrodome and flight engineer’s windscreen. |
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|
22 Mar 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
HILDESHEIM |
1115 |
1620 |
5h05 |
P1 Flt Lt R.M. Crowther RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Railway yards. Bombed at 15,000 ft. Operational tour completed and the crew were 'screened' from operations. |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
|
Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |
