115 Squadron

6 October 1944

Lancaster Mk I - LL880 KO-D

T/O Witchford 1645 - target Dortmund, Germany.
Is thought to have been hit by flak in the target area.

Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.

523 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes, 247 Lancasters, 28 Mosquitos - of Nos 3, 6 and 8 Groups.
No 6 Group provided 293 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes and 45 Lancasters.

The greatest effort by the Canadian group in the war.
This raid opened a phase which some works refer to as 'The Second Battle of the Ruhr'.
The Pathfinder marking and the bombing were both accurate and severe damage was caused,
particularly to the industrial and transportation areas of the city, although residential areas also suffered badly.
Casualties on the ground were reported as 191 civilians killed, 38 missing with a further 418 injured.

5 aircraft - 2 Halifaxes (of No 6 Group), 2 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito - lost,
less than 1 per cent of the force raiding this Ruhr target on a clear night.

Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary October 1944 - Aircrew Remebered

ORB 6th Oct. 1944.
25 aircraft (7 fom "A" Flt., 10 from "B" Flt., 8 from "C" Flt.)
were detailed to attack DORTMUND and took off between 16.25 hours and 17.14 hours.
One aircraft failed to return from Operations - no news being received
(A/C. D.LL.880 - Captain W/C. ERICKSON, W.)
2 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie due to unserviceability of intercomminication
(L.HK.665 - Captain F/O. J. M. GASTON)
and unserviceability of C.S.U. on starboard outer engine
(S.ND.900 - Captain F/O. C. J. POTTER, over Beachy Head)
respectively and both returned to Base early.
The remainder identified the target by means of P.F. flares and visually and bombed
red & green indicator markers or fires from
heights ranging between 17,300 feet and 20,000 feet.
Bombing was well concentrated and target area was a mass of fires and explosions.
One large explosion with much smoke was seen in marshalling yards.
Photographs were attempted.