CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
RANCHUK |
First Name/s: |
Daniel "Danny or Dan" |
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Service No/s: |
R201420 |
Service: |
RCAF |
Branch: |
Air Gunner |
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Awards: |
1939-1945 Star, France & Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Bomber Command Bar, 1939-1945 War Medal. Received commemorative Operational Wings 08 Aug 1946. |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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01 Feb 1943 |
No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto, Ontario. |
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11 Mar 1943 |
No.1 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
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26 Mar 1943 |
No.31 Personnel Depot, Moncton, New Brunswick. |
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19 May 1943 |
Temporary duty at RCAF Station, Gander, Newfoundland. |
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10 Nov 1943 |
No.5 Manning Depot, Lachine, Quebec, for Air Crew training. |
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05 Dec 1943 |
No.23 Pre-Aircrew Education Detachment, University of Toronto, Ontario. |
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28 Jan 1944 |
No.10 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island. |
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13 Mar 1944 |
Promoted to Leading Aircraftsman (LAC). |
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21 Apr 1944 |
Awarded Air Gunner's flying badge and promoted to Sergeant. |
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06 May 1944 |
No.4 Air Gunners Training School, Valleyfield, Quebec. |
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04 Jun 1944 |
No.1 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
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16 Jun 1944 |
Embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia (vessel not known). |
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24 Jun 1944 |
Disembarked UK (port not known) |
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25 Jun 1944 |
No.3 (RCAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, Dorset. |
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18 Jul 1944 |
No.28 Operational Training Unit, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. O'Neill crew formed. |
Wellington |
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11 Oct 1944 |
No.11/71 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire; administrative base for 1 Group heavy bomber conversion. |
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18 Oct 1944 |
No.1481 Bombing and Gunnery Flight, 134 Course, Ingham, Lincolnshire (attached). (probably - with fellow gunner Alf George) |
Wellington |
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25 Oct 1944 |
No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, Sandtoft, Lincolnshire |
Halifax |
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03 Dec 1944 |
No.1667 Lancaster Finishing School, Sandtoft, Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
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11 Dec 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Fiskerton, Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
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21 Jan 1945 |
Promoted to Flight Sergeant tbc |
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18 Jul 1945 |
No.62 Base, Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire. |
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28 Aug 1945 |
No.8 Air Crew Holding Unit, Rufforth, Yorkshire. |
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30 Sep 1945 |
No.62 Base, Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire. |
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10 Oct 1945 |
RAF Station Tholthorpe, Yorkshire (unit and precise date not known) |
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06 Dec 1945 |
No.3 (RCAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, Dorset. |
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10 Jan 1946 |
No.1 Repatriation Depot, Tweedsmuir Camp, Thursley, Surrey. |
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12 Jan 1946 |
Embarked UK (exact date, port and ship not known) |
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16 Jan 1946 |
Disembarked Canada (exact date and port not known) |
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17 Jan 1946 |
No.4 Release Centre, Toronto, Otario; for disposal |
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25 Feb 1946 |
Honourably released and transferred to the Reserve, General Section, Class 'E'. |
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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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17 Dec 1944 |
NF975 |
UL-J2 |
Training |
1200 |
1705 |
5h05 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Pre-operational cross-country navigation exercise with practice bombing |
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18 Dec 1944 |
NF975 |
UL-J2 |
Training |
1135 |
1340 |
2h05 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing runs with full warload and practice bombing. |
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29 Dec 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
SCHOLVEN BUER |
1510 |
2125 |
6h15 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Hydeierwerke Scholven synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Hot - sticky flak'. |
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31 Dec 1944 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
OSTERFELD |
1505 |
2110 |
6h05 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Quiet'. |
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02 Jan 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-H2 |
NUREMBURG |
1500 |
2300 |
8h00 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x4000lb 'cookie', 14x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Target quiet. Fighters on homeward journey - 2 sighted'. Sighted FW190 - no combat |
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05 Jan 1945 |
NN749 |
UL-G2 |
Training |
1705 |
2120 |
4h15 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) night cross-country navigation exercise with practice bombing. Aircraft damaged at 2114 hrs on return. Bounced on touchdown and swung off runway. Undercarriage collapsed. Crew unhurt. |
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12 Jan 1945 |
PB785 |
UL-L2 |
Training |
1420 |
1735 |
3h15 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise, dual check, circuits & landings. |
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14 Jan 1945 |
PD403 |
UL-F2 |
MERSEBURG / LEUNA |
1925 |
0350 |
8h25 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Very sticky flak at target, otherwise quiet'. |
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16 Jan 1945 |
PD403 |
UL-F2 |
ZEITZ - TROGLITZ |
1740 |
0145 |
8h05 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Braunkohle-Benzin synthetic oil plant (low grade MT fuel). Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 12x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Clear target. Searchlights active. Hot flak. Good prang'. |
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22 Jan 1945 |
PD403 |
UL-F2 |
DUISBERG |
1700 |
2225 |
5h25 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Steelwork coking ovens & rolling mills in the Hamborn area of the city and a benzol plant in Bruckhausen. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Short trip. Searchlights active. Medium flak, Good prang'. |
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26 Jan 1945 |
PD403 |
UL-F2 |
Training |
1310 |
1605 |
2h55 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise; air-to-sea firing |
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01 Feb 1945 |
PD363 |
UL-K2 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
1605 |
2305 |
7h00 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards, factories & troop positions. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1620x 4lb incendiaries. Described by O'Neill as 'Quiet trip. Few searchlights. Little flak. No fighters, Bad weather'. |
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03 Feb 1945 |
PD403 |
UL-F2 |
BOTTROP |
1630 |
2220 |
5h50 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Prosper coking plant & benzol refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. The crew witnessed a bomber being shot down after being 'coned' by searchlights. Described by O'Neill as 'Short trip. Most searchlights ever!! Little flak. Good prang'. |
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07 Feb 1945 |
PB785 |
UL-L2 |
KLEVE |
1915 |
0030 |
5h15 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints. Flown in support of the 1st Canadian Army and 15th Scottish Division attacking the town. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16 x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Troop concentration. Army co-op. Short trip. Good prang'. |
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13 Feb 1945 |
NF975 |
UL-J2 |
DRESDEN |
2135 |
0715 |
9h40 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 2000lb, 1484x 4lb incendiaries. Described by O'Neill as 'Long tiresome trip. ASI froze up in cloud. Short of petrol'. |
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23 Feb 1945 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
PFORZHEIM |
1600 |
0000 |
8h00 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation THUNDERCLAP. Target: Built-up area around 4852N 00842E, and a ball-bearing factory. Load: 1x 4,000lb 'cookie', 2480x 4lb incendiaries. At 2020 the crew were attacked by a Ju-88 shortly after dropping their load and the port mainplane was damaged. The rear gunner, Ranchuk, opened fire and claimed hits on the enemy aircraft. Described by O'Neill as 'Long trip. Attacked twice by Ju-88 in target area. Slightly damaged'. The combat report can be seen below. |
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26 Feb 1945 |
PD403 |
UL-F2 |
Training |
1315 |
1755 |
4h40 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise into France. |
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02 Mar 1945 |
ME492 |
UL-J2 |
COLOGNE |
0710 |
1225 |
5h15 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
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. A note in George's logbook simply says, 'Oh happy daylight!!'. For an unknown reason, Haakstad was replaced as Air Bomber by Patterson. Described by O'Neill as 'Short trip. Flak slight but accurate. Good prang'. |
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08 Mar 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B2 |
KASSEL |
1710 |
0050 |
7h40 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1470x 4lb incendiaries. Described by O'Neill as 'Quiet trip. Defences light. No fighters, Fair prang'. |
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11 Mar 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G2 |
ESSEN |
1150 |
1650 |
5h00 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area; flown in support of the advancing Allied ground forces. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Short quiet trip. Little flak. No fighters. 10/10 cloud'. |
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12 Mar 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G2 |
DORTMUND |
1310 |
1830 |
5h20 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area; flown in support of the advancing allied forces. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. Described by O'Neill as 'Short quiet trip. Moderate flak. Fair prang'. |
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15 Mar 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B2 |
MISBURG |
1715 |
0050 |
7h35 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Deurag oil refinery. Load 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1320x 4lb incendiaries. Described by O'Neill as 'Fair trip. Clear target. Searchlights active. Moderate flak. Good prang'. |
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16 Mar 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B2 |
NUREMBURG |
1720 |
0145 |
8h25 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1470x 4lb incendiaries. Described by O'Neill as 'Long trip. Searchlights. Flak & fighters galore!! Many of our a/c seen going down'. |
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20 Mar 1945 |
JB410 |
UL-G2 |
Training |
1415 |
1640 |
2h25 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) practice bombing runs followed by bombing practice on the range. |
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21 Mar 1945 |
LM594 |
UL-A2 |
Air Test |
1145 |
1310 |
1h25 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Air test |
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22 Mar 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B2 |
HILDESHEIM |
1130 |
1620 |
4h50 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Railway yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1920x 4lb incendiaries. The aircraft's nose perspex was hit by flak and Haakstad received head injuries from the splinters - he did not return to flying duties until 29 April. Described by O'Neill as 'Short trip. Clear target. Good prang. Air Bomber injured by flak. Air Bomber u/s for 30 days'. |
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13 Apr 1945 |
NX576 |
UL-K |
Training |
1440 |
1735 |
2h55 |
P1 Flt Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Day low-level map-reading cross-country navigation exercise. Haakstad's place taken by Anderson. |
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14 Apr 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
CUXHAVEN |
1955 |
0025 |
4h30 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Harbour area. This was flown as a diversion to the main Bomber Command attack on Potsdam. Haakstad replaced by Anderson. Described by O'Neill as 'Rotten weather. Shakey trip. Flak over Heligoland. Poor show'. |
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18 Apr 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
HELIGOLAND |
0955 |
1450 |
4h55 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Naval base, submarine repair yards, airfield & built-up area. Load: 12x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Engine failure on the way out; the crew continued to the target and bombed from 12,000 ft. Haakstad (injured) and George were absent for this trip and were replaced by Anderson and Hiscocks. Described by O'Neill as 'Engine packed up 1 hr before target. Bombed from 12.000ft. Good prang'. |
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20 Apr 1945 |
UL-B |
Training |
1435 |
1725 |
2h50 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
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NOTES: |
Low-level map-reading cross-country navigation exercise. |
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22 Apr 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
BREMEN |
1535 |
2015 |
4h40 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: The Focke-Wulf aircraft factory and enemy troop concentrations. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 8x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the British XXX Corps attacking the city. The Master Bomber cancelled the mission due to cloud cover over the target and instructed crews to bring their bombs back. The less experienced crews jettisoned their bombload at sea. Described by O'Neill as 'Troop assistance. Bombs brought back. Target obscured by cloud'. |
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23 Apr 1945 |
NX576 |
UL-K |
Training |
1515 |
1540 |
0h25 |
P1 Fg Off B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Practice sack dropping in preparation for Operation MANNA. |
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25 Apr 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
BERCHTESGARTEN |
0515 |
1315 |
8h00 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest’ complex & SS barracks. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 4x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs. The aircraft was hit by flak and suffered slight damage to the mainplane. Described by O'Neill as 'Best trip yet!! Wonderful scenery. Very accurate bombing. Moderate accurate flak'. |
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29 Apr 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
VALKENBURG AIRFIELD |
1140 |
1420 |
2h40 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA: the dropping of supplies to the starving Dutch population. Load: 4x 'blocks'. The crew would have been pleased to welcome back Haakstad, who had recovered from his head injuries. |
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01 May 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
ROTTERDAM |
1445 |
1745 |
3h00 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA. Load: 4x 'blocks'. |
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02 May 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
ROTTERDAM |
1250 |
1535 |
2h45 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA. Load: 4x 'blocks'. The Squadron Armaments Officer, Flt Lt Mackenzie, came along as passenger. |
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03 May 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
VALKENBURG AIRFIELD |
1015 |
1305 |
2h50 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA supply drop. Load: 4 'blocks' |
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04 May 1945 |
LM594 |
UL-A |
VALKENBURG AIRFIELD |
1135 |
1420 |
2h45 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA supply drop. Load: 4 'blocks'. |
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08 May 1945 |
RA562 |
UL-B |
ROTTERDAM |
1205 |
1530 |
3h25 |
P1 Flt Lt B.H. O'Neill RCAF |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA on VE Day. Load: 4x 'blocks'. |
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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 |
