On November 16, 1944 Heinsberg was attacked by Bomber Command. Some sources speak about 182 Lancasters who attacked Heinsberg. Is there a possibility to know which squadrons took part on this attack, if so, where can i find this? Regards, Haspara
Page 11 on the link below mentions 15, 149 and 622 Sqns. http://www.xvsqnassociation.co.uk/archive/UPDATE-2014.pdf It would appear Heinsberg had been allocated to No. 3 Group Bomber Command, although I have been unable to find an order of battle for the group at the time of the raid to see what other squadrons may have been involved.
16 November 1944 Bomber Command was asked to bomb 3 towns near the German lines which were about to be attacked by the American First and Ninth Armies in the area between Aachen and the Rhine. 1,188 Bomber Command aircraft attacked Düren, Jülich and Heinsburg in order to cut communications behind the German lines. Düren was attacked by 485 Lancasters and 13 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 5 and 8 Groups, Jülich by 413 Halifaxes, 78 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitos of Nos 4, 6 and 8 Groups and Heinsberg by 182 Lancasters of No 3 Group. 3 Lancasters were lost on the Düren raid and 1 Lancaster on the Heinsberg raid. source: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070706011932/http:/www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/nov44.html 75(NZ) Squadron RAF 16/11/1944 – Attack Against Heinsberg Twenty five aircraft were detailed to attack an Oil Refinery target at Sterkrade but this operation was cancelled, and the 25 aircraft later took off to attack Heinsberg in support of the advancing American Army, carrying 8,000 lb, 4,000 lb, 1,000 lb and 500 lb bombs. All crews were successful in bombing the town which was identified visually. On leaving, the whole town appeared to be covered in a thick pall of smoke. Flak was fairly intense but only two of our aircraft received minor damage. Lancaster Mk.I HK562 AA-L ‘Lucy’ (48) Take Off 13:28 – Landed 17:34 Flight Time 04:06 source: https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/tag/bomber-command/page/2/ see also for further information: http://www.117thbattalion.com/Lancaster.htm http://www.lancaster-archive.com/pic-bombing-heinsberg.jpg http://www.wcnhistory.org.uk/tags-gallery-bombing.html cheers Olli
16 November 1944: Bomber Command was asked to bomb 3 towns near the German lines which were about to be attacked by the American First and Ninth Armies in the area between Aachen and the Rhine. https://web.archive.org/web/20130209165037/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/nov44.html See also: Operation Queen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Queen
It may be of interest to know that Heinsberg was captured by the 7th/9th Royal Scots and 4 KOSB on the night 24/25 January 1945. During the consolidation the next day I was wounded. Joe Brown.
good day jo brown ww2 veteran.yesterday.#6.03:55pm.re:heinsberg,as always.a very interesting post.great that you got over your wounds.glad to hear from you.regards bernard85
The raids were reported to be in support of the US Army with a plan for making ground, with as a first stage, the cutting of communications behind the German lines.In the end,it is recorded that the US advance was not a success,wet ground prevented the use of tanks and US artillery units were short of ammunition owing to supply difficulties. I remember George Stevens in his "D Day to Berlin" documentary stating that the weather in the winter of 1944/45 made progress a real hard slog.Then I note a news item 70 years ago released by the DT yesterday, reporting that the battle of the Siegfried Line was over and the enemy has been beaten. The report went on to say "To some extent the rapidity with which we and our Allies are able to deliver the final blows will depend upon the quality of the spring weather.A wet March and April will favour the Germans,dry windy weather is what our armies need.That is why it is worth watching the barometer during the next few weeks.Men's lives are going to depend on it".
The Roer front stretched from Dueren to Heinsberg. They were traffic + communication hubs. Especially Duren.
SRY SRY - War Diary - 24th January 1945 At dawn 4th K.O.S.B. went into HEINSBERG, A Sqn (SRY) had to cross 800 yards of open ground covered by SP’s before they could support the infantry in the built up area. They lost 3 tanks trying to get in but at last succeeded in getting the troop forward under Sgt Lanes*. HEINSBERG was utterly destroyed and derelict. * Sergeant James (aka Johnny) Lanes MM - "A" Squadron - SRY Recommendation for Award for Lanes, James Rank: Acting Serjeant Service No: ... | The National Archives https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...hK5vRmVVGxsY3nhSZgTgtEEqGl&id=100027305872126 SRY - War Diary - 25th January 1945 "B" Sqn moved forward from SELSTEN at 04.00 hrs and formed up north of HEINSBERG for an attack on KIRCHOVEN. There was no opposition in that village and the Germans appeared delighted to see us. Their houses were full of ammunition and rifles but there was no attempt to use them. RHQ moved up to LAFFELD and secured an undamaged house. See also... 7th Cameronians Heinsberg Germany 24th January 1945
Middlebrook records this was a 3-Group attack and was part of support by Bomber Command for the American Army. Duren, Julich and Heinsburg were attacked by 1,185 aircraft. 182 Lancasters from 3-Group attacked Heinsberg and one Lancaster was lost. 3-Group used G-H and undoubtedly, it would have been used in this situation. According to Wikipedia this was the Battle Order in April 1945: No. 3 Group RAF - Wikipedia So, you can use RAF Commands "Handy Dandy" Search engine and download the ORBs from TNA and have a look and see which of these squadrons were operational: AIR 27 Search (rafcommands.com) Jim
The following Squadrons were operational on the above noted 3-Group attack: 15, 75, 90, 115, 149, 186, 195, 218, 514 and 622. The 15 Squadron ORBs record the Squadron flew in formation to the target and provided the Master and Deputy Bombers for the attack. W/C Watkins (DSO, DFC, DFM), the Master Bomber was recorded as missing from the attack and S/L Payne (Deputy) is recorded as taking over as Master Bomber on failing to hear from the Master Bomber. The available records from 15 Squadron are thin on detail but records they bombed visually and on the "Master Bomber's" instructions and some record the Markers were misplaced (undershot). So it seems Watkins was the lone aircraft lost. I have only looked at the 15 Squadron ORBs. No indication from what I can see that G-H was used, but that may have been from another squadron, so more research is required from the ORBs from the other Squadrons. The strike photo referenced in post #3 above indicates clear conditions over the target so bombing may have been visually and certainly was assessed by the the DMB. 138 Squadron, (special duties), did not participate. Edit, Addendum: Interesting! W/C Watkins was the only survivor of the crew and was taken prisoner of war. Records indicate he was the Bomb Aimer. I have never heard of a Bomb Aimer as Master Bomber. His awards are listed here. Air Forces WW2 Details : Wg Cdr William David Gordon WATKINS (44828), RAF [RAFCommands] Photo: SERGEANT WILLIAM DAVID GORDON WATKINS | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk) Jim
