Page 12 - 576 Squadron History

During the rest of the month the Squadron was principally involved in Operation Hurricane. The
objective being to demonstrate to the Germans the overwhelming superiority of the Allied Air

Forces in this theatre of operations. The Squadron participated in a series of massive daylight and
night attacks, two on Duisburg, two on Essen and three on Cologne. All these targets were directly
in the line of advance of the ground forces at the time. The raids were devastating, particularly at
Essen and Duisburg. The Krupp’s industrial complex at Essen was almost completely destroyed.
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On the raid to Essen on the 23 October the Lancaster of Pilot Officer T. C. Dawson and crew
was lost without trace.
In October the Squadron had participated in 15 operations, 9 in daylight. 226 sorties were detailed
from which 1 failed to return. Flight Lieutenant David J. ‘Mickey’ Masters took over as ‘B’ Flight
commander from Squadron Leader Slater.

Flight Lieutenant Kettles was posted out of the Squadron and Flight Lieutenant Smith took over as
Navigation Leader.

Fiskerton

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On the 31 October the Squadron left Elsham Wolds for their new base at Fiskerton. The whole
unit was sorry to leave but the move was completed with great and speed efficiency. Operations
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were resumed from the new base on the 2 November 1944 when 19 Lancasters and crews were
detailed for a night attack on Dusseldorf. This caused much new damage to the city and it was not
raided again in force. Night fighters were active and many sightings were made. Flying Officer C.
F. Phipp R.C.A.F and crew and Flying Officer W. A. Stewart and crew were both involved in
combats and 2 Lancaster and crews failed to return, those of Flying Officer J. J. Mulrooney and
Flying Officer W. H. Hepburn. The Lancaster of Flying Officer Hepburn is believed to have been hit
by a bomb from another aircraft flying above. It is likely the aircraft flew on for some distance and
crashed West of the Rhine. 3 of the crew survived and 2 of those evaded capture, Sergeant
Hughes and Sergeant J. Reavey. Sergeant W. N. Rees was captured.

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A particularly good attack on Bochum followed on the 4/5 November which severely damaged
the industrial areas. This was also the last time that this city was raided in force. On this operation
the crews of Flight Lieutenant J. W. Acheson R.C.A.F and Flying Officer A. H. Dutton were both
involved in combats. In addition the Lancaster of Flying Officer G. Paley and crew was attacked 3
times by a night fighter and sustained considerable damage. The pilot managed to fly the
Lancaster back to base and made a good landing at Fiskerton in under difficult circumstances. On
the 16th November 15 Lancasters and crews were detailed by the Squadron for a daylight attack
on the town of Duren which was in the line of advance of the American Army. The attack was
carried out in almost perfect conditions and proved most successful.

The Wanne-Eickel oil plant was the target for the second time that month for a night raid on the
18/19 November and 576 Squadron detailed 18 Lancasters and crews for this operation. The
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attack was another success with large explosions erupting in the plant. A large coal mine nearby
was also destroyed. On the return flight a fast moving object was sighted flying at low level near
Brussels which was being engaged by searchlights and a considerable amount of tracer from the
ground. This was probably a V1 fired by the Germans against Brussels which had by then been
liberated by British and Commonwealth land forces. On return to England bad visibility at Fiskerton
and around Lincolnshire meant diversions to other airfields and 2 Lancasters sustained fractured
undercarriages on landing. No injuries to crew members was reported.