Fort Frederik Hendrik - 11 October 1944 and 12 October 1944.
These two important daylight attacks were part of the Battle of the River Schelde and targeted German gun batteries at Fort Frederik Hendrik on the south bank of the Scheldt estuary covering the approaches to the Belgian port of Antwerp.
Shortly after this raid the 2nd Canadian Corps fought a fierce battle to cross the Leopold canal and capture the Breskens pocket. Canadian and British units of the 1st Army sealed off and captured the South Breveland peninsula leaving Walcheren isolated but still in German control.
Both 103 and 576 Squadrons participated with their Lancasters.
103 Squadron
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - NF909 – F/O DA March RCAF
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM682 – S/L PP Hague
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - ME698 – F/O BE Smith RNZAF
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - JB655 – F/O RA Evans
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PB465 – F/O AG Frish
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - NF913 – F/O DR Pamplin RCAF
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD236 – F/O AVJ Vernieuwe
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM131 – P/O WE Baker RCAF
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM132 – F/O FG Durrant RCAF
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD281 – F/O T MacLetchie
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - ND381 – F/L DA Henry RAAF
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - ND861 – F/O RW Wright
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LL964 – F/O L Dale
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PB528 – P/O WA Skinner RCAF
12-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - NF909 – F/O DA March RCAF
12-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM682 – F/O JO Birch RCAF
12-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - ME698 – F/L AJ Henry RAAF
12-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM131 – F/O AVJ Vernieuwe
12-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PB465 – F/O PJR Cartwright
12-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PB528 – F/L AJD MacLachlan
12-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - NF913 – F/S JC Cooke RCAF
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576 Squadron
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM122 – F/O HL Hing
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PB467 – F/L JJ Mulrooney
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - NF975 – F/O N Layden
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD309 – F/O CR Pegg RAAF
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD312 – F/O SD Thompson RAAF
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD271 – F/O HR McLelland RAAF
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM294 – F/L M Green
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD232 – F/L AH Dutton
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD635 – F/O J MacDonald
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - ME735 – F/O WA Stewart
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - NF976 – F/O DC Smith RAAF
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - ND521 – F/O KF Mills RAAF
11/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - JB410 – F/O RA Boggiano
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM122 – F/O HL Hing
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PB467 – F/L JJ Mulrooney
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD271 – F/O AJL Ridge
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM294 – F/O CF Phripp RCAF
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD232 – F/L H Leyton-Brown
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM651 – F/O WH Hepburn
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - PD309 – F/O GH Hardman RAAF
12/10/1944 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - LM227 – F/O DE Till
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103 Squadron Record
11 October 44 – Fort Frederick Hendrik – Netherlands – Army support – Day
14 aircraft detailed to attack gun batteries in two waves in daylight. Took off safely in poor weather low cloud and drizzle which improved somewhat en route. On arrival at the target the first wave found 10/10ths cloud and they were ordered by the Master Bomber to abandon their mission
The second wave was ordered to descend to 4000 ft where they attacked successfully.
The defences were a little scattered heavy flak but otherwise no opposition. All aircraft returned safely. First up – S/L P P Hague and crew LM682 1430. First down – F/O R A Evans and crew JB655 1743
12 October 44 – Fort Frederick Hendrik – Netherlands – Army support – Day
7 aircraft detailed to attack gun batteries as a continuation of the previous day's mission. Took off safely in good weather. On arrival at the target was clear with good visibility and the crews were easily able to identify the aiming point. Bombing was very concentrated and it was believed to have been a successful attack. The defences were a little scattered heavy flak which was attacked at low level by the accompanying fighters.
All aircraft returned safely. First up – F/L A J Henry and crew ME698 0631. First down – F/L J O Birch and crew LM682 0925
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576 Squadron Record
11 October 44 – Fort Frederick Hendrik – Netherlands – Army support - Day.
13 aircraft detailed. 2 aiming points each attacked by a separate phase of the attack. 8 aircraft allocated to the first wave and 5 to the second.
Crews reported 10/10ths cloud over England gradually decreasing over the North Sea to 6/10ths at the target. Conditions on return were similar with low cloud down to 700 ft at base. The first aiming point was obscured by a thick bank of cloud and the Master Bomber instructed crews to return with their bombs. Crews in the second wave were instructed to descend to 4000 ft and the PFF dropped red TIs. The Master Bomber gave aiming instructions and bombing appeared well concentrated.
Slight heavy and light flak was encountered over the target.
F/O Mulrooney was unable to take off as his aircraft K2 was unserviceable.
All our aircraft returned safely.
12 October 44 – Fort Frederick Hendrik – Netherlands – Army support - Day.
8 aircraft detailed. Crews reported 10/10ths cloud at base for take off and these conditions persisted over England. Cloud gradually dispersed over the North Sea and weather at the target was clear.
Mosquitos dropped green TIs using “Musical” method and these were backed up by red TIs dropped by other PFF aircraft. Bombing was well concentrated.
Slight flak opposition was encountered but no enemy fighters were seen.
All aircraft returned safely.
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1 Group Record
11th October 1944 – Fort Frederick Hendrik. Daylight attack with two aiming points.
For aiming point “A” 75 Lancasters took off but layers of cloud were experienced en route thickening towards where there was 10/10ths cloud with base at 2500 ft and tops at 6000 ft. At 1659 hours the Master Bomber instructed the main force to orbit and from 1635. At 1640 he instructed them to abandon the mission and the aircraft, with one exception returned to base with their bombs. There was slight flak and heavy flak in the target area and from Flushing which crews did not find troublesome and no enemy fighters were seen. One aircraft on arrival at the target found a large gap in the clouds from which he was able to identify the aiming point visually and as he did not hear any instructions from the Master Bomber attacked.
Detailed 75 Lancasters. Took off 75 Lancasters. Successful “A” 1 Lancaster. Abortive 74 Lancasters.
For the “B” aiming point there was 7/10ths cloud with base between 1000 ft and 1500 ft and tops at 5-6000 ft en route and at the target there was 6/10ths cloud with base at about 4000 ft. At 1637 hours the Master Bomber gave basement as 6000 ft and brought the main force down in stages to 4000 ft by 1645 hrs from which height they found good visibility and were able to identify the aiming point easily. The first markers were accurate slightly over shooting to the east and the south east as the attack developed and the aiming point was quickly obscured by dust an smoke. There were reports of some overshooting to the east and south east as far as the village.
There was slight light flak and heavy flak in the target area and from Flushing and two of our aircraft sustained some damage. No enemy fighters were seen.
One aircraft “Y” of 101 Squadron failed to return.
Detailed 79 Lancasters. Took off 75. Successful “A” 71. Abortive NOET 3. Missing 1.
The following Squadrons provided the aircraft:-
460 Squadron – 15
625 Squadron – 15
100 Squadron – 10
103 Squadron – 14
576 Squadron – 12
166 Squadron - 13
153 Squadron – 5
550 Squadron – 18
101 Squadron – 20
12 Squadron – 11
626 Squadron – 11
300P Squadron – 6
12th October 1944 – Fort Frederick Hendrik. Daylight attack. Two attacks in daylight. In the first attack 40 Lancasters wee detailed and in the second 37 Lancasters. All claim to have bombed successfully.
For the first attack 8/10ths cloud with tops 10000 ft covered the route over this country. Cloud thinned over the sea and the target was free of cloud and the crews were able to identify visually. Red TIs were well placed within the fort area to the north west and south east of the aiming point. All the 40 aircraft attacked the primary and bombed as instructed by the Master Bomber. Bombing was well concentrated between the moats and only a few sticks undershot. There was much smoke from the western edge of the target area which gave the crews the impression of an improvised smoke screen. The smoke was blown clear as it formed and did not interfere with visual identification. Two sticks were seen to overshoot, one by 150 yards and one by 700 yards.
For the second attack some 15 minutes later similar conditions prevailed en route and over the target. All 37 aircraft detailed claim to have attacked the primary. 21 of them on visual identification. And 16 on the red TIs one of which at least was on the aiming point. Later the Master Bomber instructed the crews to overshoot the red TIs by two seconds. An excellent concentration of bombing was achieved in the target area. Throughout the attack opposition was confined to slight but accurate heavy flak. Three aircraft were damaged in the target area. No enemy aircraft were seen.
The following Squadrons provided the aircraft:-
460 Squadron – 15
625 Squadron – 15
100 Squadron – 10
103 Squadron – 7
576 Squadron – 8
166 Squadron – 8
153 Squadron - 3
550 Squadron - 11
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Fort Frederick Hendrik Summary
11th October 1944 - 180 aircraft attacked. This attack was aimed at the German gun batteries at Flushing on the north bank of the Schelde and Fort Frederick Hendrik on the south bank of the Schelde. The latter attack was hampered by smoke and dust over and around the aiming point.
12th October 1944 - 90 aircraft attacked. This was a follow up attack from the previous day and destroyed 2 of the 4 gun positions.
Compiled by David Fell mostly from 103 and 576 Squadron ORBs, 1 Group ORB, Middlebrook's Bomber Command War Diaries.
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