CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
CHAPMAN |
First Name/s: |
Murray |
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Service No/s: |
21102 |
Service: |
RAAF |
Branch: |
Air Gunner |
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Awards: |
1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal, Australia Service Medal 1939-45, Returned from Active Service Badge. |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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13 Apr 1940 |
Enlisted at No.2B Mobile RAAF Recruiting Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, as Aircraftman First Class (AC1) (trainee mechanic). He was 19 years 11 months old. |
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13 May 1940 |
No.2 Recruit Depot, 84 Course, Richmond, New South Wales. |
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09 Jun 1940 |
No.1 Engineering School, 26 Flight Mechanics Course, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria |
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31 Aug 1940 |
Re-mustered as Flight Mechanic. |
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05 Sep 1940 |
No.14 Squadron, Pearce, Perth, Western Australia. |
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11 Dec 1940 |
No.9 Elementary Flying Training School, Cunderdin, Western Australia. |
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01 Jun 1941 |
Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC). |
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28 Feb 1942 |
No.35 (Transport) Squadron, Pearce, Perth, Western Australia. |
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23 Mar 1942 |
Interviewed and tested for Air Crew at 4 Recruiting Centre, Perth Western Australia |
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29 Mar 1942 |
Accepted by the Air Crew Selection Board and placed on the Reserve. |
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05 Dec 1942 |
Re-classified as Aircraftman Second Class (AC2) on re-mustering as Air Crew V. |
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06 Dec 1942 |
No. 5 Initial Training School, 35 (Pilot) and 38 (Pilot) Courses, Clontarf, Perth, Western Australia. |
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20 Apr 1943 |
Re-mustered as Air Crew V (Pilot) |
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22 May 1943 |
Promoted to LAC on completion of Initial Training School, re-mustering as Air Crew II (Pilot). |
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15 Jun 1943 |
No.8 Elementary Flying Training School, 38 (Pilot) course, Narrandera, New South Wales. |
Tiger Moth |
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01 Sep 1943 |
No.7 Service Flying Training School, 38 (Pilot) Course, Deniliquin, New South Wales. |
Wirraway |
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05 Oct 1943 |
Pilot training discontinued. |
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09 Oct 1943 |
No.1 Embarkation Depot, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria. |
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22 Nov 1943 |
No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School (renamed Air Gunnery School in December 1943), 40 Course, West Sale, Victoria. |
Anson |
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06 Jan 1944 |
Awarded Air Gunners Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant, re-mustering once more as Air Crew (Air Gunner). |
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07 Jan 1944 |
No.2 Embarkation Depot, Bradfield Park, Sydney, New South Wales. |
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27 Jan 1944 |
Embarked Sydney for the UK (probably via South Africa). |
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12 Mar 1944 |
Disembarked UK (port unknown) and posted to No.11 (RAAF) Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton, Sussex. |
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11 Apr 1944 |
No.27 Operational Training Unit, 63 Course, Lichfield, Staffordshire. |
Wellington |
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22 Jun 1944 |
No.1881 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight, 108B Course, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. |
Wellington |
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06 Jul 1944 |
Administrative posting to No.11 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire, responsible for No.1 Group heavy bomber conversion, and promoted to Flight Sergeant. |
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07 Jul 1944 |
No.1662 Heavy Conversion Unit, 108 Course, Blyton, Lincolnshire. |
Halifax |
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01 Sep 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, 30 Course, Hemswell, Lincolnshire (precise date tbc) |
Lancaster |
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13 Sep 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
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30 Oct 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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31 Oct 1944 |
No.576 Squadron relocated to Fiskerton Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
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22 Mar 1945 |
Bomber Command Instructors' School, Finningley, Yorkshire. |
Wellington, Halifax and Lancaster |
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06 Jul 1945 |
Promoted to Warrant Officer. |
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10 Oct 1945 |
No.9 Air Crew Holding Unit, Gamston, Nottinghamshire. |
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10 Nov 1945 |
No.11 (RAAF) Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton, Sussex. |
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14 Nov 1945 |
Attached to No.14 Air Crew Holding Unit, Millom, Cumberland. |
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01 Dec 1945 |
Embarked United Kingdom for Australia (port, vessel and precise date not known) |
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02 Jan 1946 |
Disembarked Melbourne, Victoria (port and precise date tbc) |
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03 Jan 1946 |
No.1 Personnel Depot, Melbourne, Victoria. |
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14 Feb 1946 |
No.2 Personnel Depot, Bradfield Park, Sydney, New South Wales. |
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27 Mar 1946 |
Discharged from the Service 'on demobilisation'. |
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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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27 Sep 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
CALAIS |
0910 |
1230 |
3h20 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy fortifications between marshalling yards and the Canal de Calais. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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28 Sep 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
CALAIS |
0805 |
1115 |
3h10 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy installations to the southeast of the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The target was obscured by cloud so the Master Bomber abandoned the attack and instructed crews to return to base with their bombs. |
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03 Oct 1944 |
UL-R2 |
WESTKAPELLE |
1310 |
1545 |
2h35 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
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NOTES: |
Target: Walcheren Island sea wall. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 8x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of Operation INFATUATE. The aircraft experienced electrical problems and landed at Methwold. |
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04 Oct 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-Q2 |
Methwold to Elsham Wolds |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. Date and time to be confirmed. |
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05 Oct 1944 |
NG183 |
UL-U2 |
SAARBRUCKEN |
1845 |
0150 |
7h05 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 14x 4lb incendiary clusters. Diverted on return due to fog at Elsham Wolds, diverted probably to Wratting Common (tbc). |
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06 Oct 1944 |
NG183 |
UL-U2 |
Wratting Common to Elsham Wolds |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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11 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
FORT FREDERIK HENDRIK, BRESKENS |
1435 |
1800 |
3h25 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal Battery of 5 x 4 ½” guns (2 aiming points) Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Flew the first wave of the attack (Battle Order ‘A’ - 8 aircraft) on the first aiming point. The target was obscured by cloud so the Master Bomber ordered all aircraft to return with their bombs. NOTE: The Hardman rear crew are listed in the ORB as flying with McClelland on this operation, however logbooks show they were flying with Hardman on a training sortie at that time. I therefore propose that McClelland was flying with his regular crew, as indicated here. |
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14 Oct 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-Y2 |
DUISBERG |
0705 |
1120 |
4h15 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Four Aiming Points (mines and coke ovens) in the Hamborn district of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. Flown in support of Operation HURRICANE. |
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14 Oct 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-Y2 |
DUISBERG |
2230 |
0405 |
5h35 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area to the north of the docks. Load: 12x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of Operation HURRICANE. |
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19 Oct 1944 |
LM651 |
UL-Z2 |
STUTTGART |
1655 |
0005 |
7h10 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Bad Constatt marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie' and 1,800x 4lb incendiaries. Flew first wave of the attack. |
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23 Oct 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
ESSEN |
1605 |
2200 |
5h55 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up and industrial areas, including the Krupps works. Load: 11x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs. |
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25 Oct 1944 |
PA173 |
UL-G2 |
ESSEN |
1250 |
1750 |
5h00 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Two Aiming Points in the Krupps works complex. Load: 11x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs. |
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28 Oct 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
COLOGNE |
1320 |
1850 |
5h30 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Second Aiming Point in the southwestern part of the city. Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘cookie’, 5x 1,000lb, and 6x 500lb bombs |
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30 Oct 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
COLOGNE |
1730 |
2345 |
6h15 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The northwestern area of the city. Load: : 1x 4,000lb ‘cookie’ and 2070x 4lb incendiaries. |
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31 Oct 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
Elsham Wolds to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Transit to 576 Squadron's new home at Fiskerton. Two mechanics were carried as passengers; 506 Draper, Flight Mechanic Airframes and 547 Fishpool, Flight Mechanic Engines. |
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02 Nov 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
DUSSELDORF |
1620 |
2150 |
5h30 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Northern built-up area of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb, and 6x 500lb bombs |
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06 Nov 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
1205 |
1630 |
4h25 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The Nordstern synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb, and 6 or 7x 500lb bombs. |
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09 Nov 1944 |
UL-R2 |
WANNE-EICKEL |
0830 |
1255 |
4h25 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
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NOTES: |
Target: Synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 16x 500lb bombs. |
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11 Nov 1944 |
LM651 |
UL-Z2 |
DORTMUND |
1600 |
2120 |
5h20 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The Hoesch Benzin GmbH synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb and 6x 500lb bombs. |
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21 Nov 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
ASCHAFFENBURG |
1545 |
2205 |
6h20 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 16x 500lb bombs. |
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27 Nov 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
FREIBURG |
1620 |
2240 |
6h20 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy troop concentrations in the built-up area of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 5x 1000lb and 6x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the French 1st Army. |
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29 Nov 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
DORTMUND |
1210 |
1715 |
5h05 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Industrial and rail targets within the built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 5x 1000lb and 7x 500lb bombs. FIDO in use to recover the aircraft to Fiskerton in poor visibility. |
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04 Dec 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
KARLSRUHE |
1645 |
2255 |
6h10 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 13x or 12x 1000lb bombs |
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06 Dec 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
MERSEBURG / LEUNA |
1645 |
0030 |
7h45 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 3x 1000lb and 6x 500lb bombs. |
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17 Dec 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
ULM |
1520 |
2250 |
7h30 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The marshalling yards and the Magirius-Deutz & Kassbohrer lorry factories. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x No.15 and 5x No.14 incendiary clusters, and 120x 4lb incendiaries. The crew's usual Navigator, Fg Off Courtis, was replaced on this trip by WO Lamprell (reason not known). |
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22 Dec 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
KOBLENZ |
1525 |
2215 |
6h50 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 13x 1000lb bombs. On return the Squadron was ordered to divert to Charterhall in Scotland due to poor weather across most of England. |
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23 Dec 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
Charterhall to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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28 Dec 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
BONN |
1535 |
2100 |
5h25 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb and 8x 500lb bombs. |
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31 Dec 1944 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
OSTERFELD |
1500 |
2055 |
5h55 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb, and 6x 500lb bombs. |
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14 Jan 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G2 |
MERSEBURG / LEUNA |
1920 |
0315 |
7h55 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 12x 500lb bombs. Three FW-190 enemy fighters were sighted but no combat ensued. |
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28 Jan 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
STUTTGART - ZUFFENHAUSEN |
1940 |
0240 |
7h00 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The Hirth aero-engine factory and Boash ignition works. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 12x 500lb bombs. |
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01 Feb 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
1610 |
2230 |
6h20 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards, factories and enemy troop positions. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 1620x 4lb incendiaries. |
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07 Feb 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
KLEVE |
1855 |
0010 |
5h15 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 16 x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the Canadian 1st Army and the 15th Scottish Division attacking the town. |
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08 Feb 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
POLITZ |
1930 |
0345 |
8h15 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The IG Farben synthetic oil plant at 5333.5N 01444.5E. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 10x 500lb bombs. |
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13 Feb 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
DRESDEN |
2120 |
0640 |
9h20 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 1180x 4lb incendiaries. Flown in support of Operation THUNDERCLAP. |
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20 Feb 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
DORTMUND |
2140 |
0345 |
6h05 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The Rhenania Ossag oil refinery in the Reisholz district of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 2220x 4lb incendiaries. Plt Off R Burnell accompanied the crew as his 'second dickie'. |
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21 Feb 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
DUISBERG |
1930 |
0125 |
5h55 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area and the docks. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie' and 1770x 4lb incendiaries. |
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02 Mar 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
COLOGNE |
0710 |
1215 |
5h05 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The road infrastructure to the west of the Rhine leading to the Hohenzollern Bridge. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 10x 500lb, 2x 500lb, and 4x 250lb bombs. |
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05 Mar 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
CHEMNITZ |
1640 |
0210 |
9h30 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x4000lb ‘cookie’ and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. Flown in support of Operation THUNDERCLAP. |
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08 Mar 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
KASSEL |
1700 |
0005 |
7h05 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 1470x 4lb incendiaries. The aircraft experienced problems with the port and starboard inner engines and diverted into Jouvincourt, France. |
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10 Mar 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
Jouvincourt to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
2h00 |
P1 Fg Off H.R. McClelland RAAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |
