CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
COOPER |
First Name/s: |
Alan Lorraine "Bob" |
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Service No/s: |
434120 |
Service: |
RAAF |
Branch: |
Air Bomber |
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Awards: |
Awards: 39-45 Star, Africa Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Aus Serv Medal 39-45, Returned from Active Service Badge |
SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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29 Oct 1942 |
1 RD, Shepparton, VIC; 833 Cse |
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23 Nov 1942 |
4 ED, N Adelaide, SA |
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04 Jan 1943 |
3 ITS, Kingaroy, QLD; 36 Cse |
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27 Mar 1943 |
Remustered as Aircrew (Navigator) |
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26 May 1943 |
2 AOS, Mt Gambier, SA; 38 Cse |
ANSON |
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23 Aug 1943 |
2 B&GS, Port Pirie, SA; 38 Cse |
BATTLE |
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14 Oct 1943 |
Awarded N Badge & promoted Sgt |
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17 Oct 1943 |
2 ANS, Nhill, VIC; 38(N) Cse - Qualified as Air Observer (Astro Nav.) |
ANSON |
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10 Nov 1943 |
Discharged on appointment to commission |
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11 Nov 1943 |
Commissioned as Plt Off |
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12 Nov 1943 |
4 ED, N Adelaide, SA |
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06 Dec 1943 |
2 ED, Bradfield Park, NSW |
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12 Dec 1943 |
Embarked Sydney |
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16 Jan 1944 |
Embarked New York |
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27 Jan 1944 |
11 PDRC |
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07 Mar 1944 |
2 (O) AFU, Millom |
ANSON |
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27 Apr 1944 |
27 OTU, Lichfield |
WELLINGTON |
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11 May 1944 |
Promoted Fg Off |
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12 Jul 1944 |
1667 HCU, Sandtoft |
HALIFAX |
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04 Sep 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, 'C' Flight, Hemswell. |
LANCASTER |
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10 Sep 1944 |
576 Sqn, Elsham & Fiskerton |
LANCASTER I & III |
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12 Sep 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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24 Sep 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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25 Sep 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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04 Nov 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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06 Nov 1944 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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03 Feb 1945 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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07 Feb 1945 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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15 Feb 1945 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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18 Feb 1945 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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08 Mar 1945 |
Crew screened |
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22 Mar 1945 |
29 OTU North Luffenham |
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19 May 1945 |
11 PDRC, XX |
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25 Jun 1945 |
Embarked UK |
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07 Jul 1945 |
2 PD, Bradfield Park, NSW |
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04 Sep 1945 |
4 PD, Springbank, SA for discharge |
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08 Sep 1945 |
Transferred to the Reserve |
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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12 Sep 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
Training |
1935 |
2350 |
4h15 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country. Route: Base - Scunthorpe - 5105N 00135W - Skomer Island - Skerries - 5300N 00220W - Birmingham - Luton - Scunthorpe - Base |
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13 Sep 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
Training |
1810 |
2210 |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country. Route: Base - Scunthorpe - 5350N 00200W - Maryport - Mull of Galloway - 5245N 00455W - 5249N 00407W - 5300N 00220W - Birmingham - Norwich - Scunthorpe - Base |
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24 Sep 1944 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
CALAIS |
1625 |
2015 |
3h50 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy fortifications and heavy gun positions. Load: 13x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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25 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
Training |
1505 |
1645 |
1h40 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation and air-to-air firing. |
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26 Sep 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
Training |
1500 |
1740 |
2h40 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country |
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27 Sep 1944 |
UL-W2 |
CALAIS |
0905 |
1245 |
3h40 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
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NOTES: |
Target: Enemy fortifications between marshalling yards and the Canal de Calais. Williams logged a flight time of 3h30. Load: 13x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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30 Sep 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
Training |
1445 |
1730 |
2h45 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Practice bombing exercise. |
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02 Oct 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
Training |
1505 |
1855 |
3h50 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' H2S cross-country |
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03 Oct 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
WESTKAPELLE |
1315 |
1620 |
3h05 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Walcheren Island sea wall at 5131.5N 00327E. Flown in support of Operation INFATUATE. Load: 1x 4000lb, 8x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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07 Oct 1944 |
UL-N2 |
EMMERICH |
1225 |
1630 |
4h05 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
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NOTES: |
Enemy strong point within the built-up area. Spitfire & Mustang escort. Damaged by flak. Some aircraft diverted on the return trip due to low cloud at base – only five aircraft landed at Elsham, the others landed at Sandtoft or Lindholme. PB635 landed at Sandtoft. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie' & 2520x 4lb incendiaries. |
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08 Oct 1944 |
PB635 |
UL-N2 |
Sandtoft to Elsham Wolds |
1420 |
1440 |
0h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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11 Oct 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
Training |
1425 |
1635 |
2h10 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country |
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12 Oct 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
FORT FREDERIK HENDRIK, BRESKENS |
0640 |
0950 |
3h10 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal battery of five 4 1/2 inch guns. Load: 13x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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14 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
DUISBERG |
0640 |
1150 |
5h10 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Operation HURRICANE. Target: Mines and coke ovens in the Hamborn area of the city. Hit by flak. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 108x 30lb & 1170x 4lb incendiaries |
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14 Oct 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
DUISBERG |
2245 |
0430 |
5h45 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area to the North of the docks. Load: 12x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs |
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19 Oct 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
STUTTGART |
1710 |
0010 |
7h00 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The marshalling yards in the Bad Constatt area of the city. Load: 9x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs. |
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23 Oct 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Q2 |
ESSEN |
1610 |
2205 |
nk |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up and industrial areas. This aircraft was tasked with hitting the huge Krupps complex. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs |
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25 Oct 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
ESSEN |
1250 |
1745 |
4h55 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Two aiming points in the vast Krupp Works. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs |
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28 Oct 1944 |
PD312 |
UL-R2 |
COLOGNE |
1330 |
1910 |
5h40 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area in the south-western part of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 5x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs |
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29 Oct 1944 |
ND521 |
UL-L2 |
WALCHEREN ISLAND |
1130 |
1425 |
2h55 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Gun batteries at Domberg (4133.5N 00329E). Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs |
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30 Oct 1944 |
UL-F2 |
COLOGNE |
1735 |
0005 |
6h30 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
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NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area in the north-western part of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 2070x 4lb incendiaries |
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31 Oct 1944 |
PD232 |
UL-F2 |
Elsham Wolds to Fiskerton |
1420 |
1440 |
0h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
The Squadron moves home from Elsham to Fiskerton. Two ground engineers were carried: 441 Anderson (Flight Mechanic Airframes) and 290 Elkington (Flight Mechanic Engines) |
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04 Nov 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
BOCHUM |
1725 |
2210 |
4h45 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Hit by flak. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs |
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06 Nov 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
1200 |
1620 |
4h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Nordstern synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x500 bombs. |
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16 Nov 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
DUREN |
1255 |
1745 |
4h50 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy positions and lines of communication. Flown in support of the advance of the American 1st and 9th Armies. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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18 Nov 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
WANNE-EICKEL |
1550 |
2055 |
5h05 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Krupps synthetic oil plant. Diverted to Bury St Edmunds (Rougham) due to poor visibility at Elsham. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. Williams reports sun spot activity and heavy W/T interference. |
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19 Nov 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
Bury St Edmunds to Elsham Wolds |
1325 |
1355 |
0h30 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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21 Nov 1944 |
NN750 |
UL-M2 |
Training |
1905 |
2155 |
2h50 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Air test and practice bombing. |
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27 Nov 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
FREIBURG |
1615 |
2255 |
6h40 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy troop concentrations in the built-up area of the city. Flown in support of the advancing French 1st Army. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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28 Nov 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
Training |
1905 |
2055 |
1h50 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Night practice bombing |
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03 Dec 1944 |
PD271 |
*UL-T2 |
URFT DAM |
0745 |
1220 |
4h35 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Walled masonry dam. The Master Bomber called off the attack due to low cloud over the target and the proximity of Allied troops. Load: 14x 1,000lb bombs, which were brought back. |
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04 Dec 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
KARLSRUHE |
1645 |
2305 |
6h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load 12x 1000lb bombs. |
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06 Dec 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
MERSEBURG / LEUNA |
1650 |
0045 |
7h55 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. COMBAT: an Me-410 was seen on the homeward leg. The gunners opened up but the fire was not returned. The enemy aircraft was observed on fire and descending through cloud and claimed as probably destroyed. Combat report included in record. Load: 1x 4000lb, 3x 1000lb, 5x 500lb bombs |
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09 Dec 1944 |
PD309 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
1615 |
1745 |
1h30 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Practice bombing. |
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12 Dec 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
ESSEN |
1615 |
2140 |
5h25 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Krupp munitions factory and rail centre at 5126.5N 00701E. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. |
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17 Dec 1944 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
ULM |
1525 |
2235 |
7h10 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards and the Magirius-Deutz & Kassbohrer lorry factories. The starboard mainframe was holed by bombs from above whilst on the bombing run. No-one injured. The Williams logbook states 'hit by flak'. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1604x 4lb incendiaries. |
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22 Dec 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Z2 |
KOBLENZ |
1550 |
2205 |
6h15 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Diverted Charterhall due to bad weather at base. Load 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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23 Dec 1944 |
NF976 |
UL-Z2 |
Charterhall to Fiskerton. |
nk |
nk |
0h55 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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13 Jan 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G2 |
Training |
1040 |
1115 |
0h35 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Logbook entry just states 'training' |
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14 Jan 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
MERSEBURG / LEUNA |
1915 |
0320 |
8h05 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs |
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16 Jan 1945 |
UL-P2 |
ZEITZ - TROGLITZ |
1740 |
0125 |
7h45 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
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NOTES: |
Target: Braunkohle-Benzin synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 12x 500lb bombs. |
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22 Jan 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
DUISBERG |
1640 |
2155 |
5h15 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Steelwork coking ovens & rolling mills in the Hamborn area and a benzol plant in Bruckhausen. Load: 1x 4000lb, 16x 500lb bombs |
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27 Jan 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
Training |
1255 |
1500 |
2h05 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Practice bombing and 'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing runs. |
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28 Jan 1945 |
ME801 |
UL-N2 |
Training |
1610 |
1630 |
0h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Air test. |
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03 Feb 1945 |
LM294 |
IL-P2 |
BOTTROP |
1610 |
2130 |
5h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Prosper coking plant and benzol refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. |
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07 Feb 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
KLEVE |
1900 |
2350 |
4h50 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints. Flown in support of 1st Canadian Army and 15th Scottish Division attacking the town. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16 x 500lb bombs. |
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08 Feb 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R2 |
Scampton to Fiskerton |
1600 |
1625 |
0h25 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Delivering a brand new aircraft. |
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13 Feb 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
DRESDEN |
2115 |
0655 |
9h40 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: built-up area. Load: 1x 2000lb, 1484x 4lb incendiaries. |
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15 Feb 1945 |
NN806 |
UL-M2 |
Scampton to Fiskerton |
1445 |
1605 |
1h20 |
P1 Wg Cdr F.H. Morton |
NOTES: |
Delivery and air test of new aircraft. |
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18 Feb 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
Training |
1435 |
1730 |
2h55 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Air test, 'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing runs, and air-to-sea firing |
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20 Feb 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
DORTMUND |
2130 |
0335 |
6h05 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Rhenania Ossag oil refinery in the Reisholz district of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1604x 4lb incendiaries |
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21 Feb 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
DUISBERG |
1930 |
0115 |
5h45 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area and docks. Load: 1x4,000lb 'cookie', 1,770x 4lb incendiaries. |
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02 Mar 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
COLOGNE |
0710 |
1215 |
5h05 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Roads to the west of the Rhine leading to the Hohenzollern Bridge. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 10x 500lb, 2x 500lb, 4x 250lb bombs |
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05 Mar 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
CHEMNITZ |
1640 |
0200 |
9h20 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: Built-up area. Possibly hit by flak. Load: 1x4000lb 'cookie', 1170x 4lb incendiaries |
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07 Mar 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P2 |
DESSAU |
1655 |
0220 |
9h25 |
P1 Fg Off G.H. Hardman RAAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 2000lb, 1650x 4lb incendiaries |
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 |