4/27 Combat Log
Select Combat Logs of 432 Squadron RCAF
Group 6, Bomber Command, RAF
These logs are for those missions in which Reg Miles F/E participated (his bio linked below). There were no air-to-air combat reports filed for 432 Squadron in April, the month Reg Miles joined the squadron, prior to the Montzen mission (or they were not preserved in the Archives).
Montzen 27/4/44
On the night of April 27-28, 423 Squadron was part of a 144 aircraft mission to bomb railway yards in Montzen, Belgium. This was one of three Bomber Command missions that day (Friedrichshafen and Aulnoye were the other two), not including a diversionary raid on Stuttgart, an OTU North Sea sweep, and numerous smaller patrols, resistance operations and other miscellaneous sorties.
Those aircraft striking the Montzen yards met resistance in the form of German night fighters which shot down 15 of the bomber force. Others were engaged but survived.
For encounters from which the bomber escaped, combat reports were filed. For 432 Squadron, three reports were filed, three by Halifax O, (Sgt Wright, Rear Gunner, and Sgt Ziomko, Mid-upper Gunner, both of whom had trained at 9 B&GS, 24 OUT and 1659 HCU, being mentioned as having engaged the enemy with their guns.
At 0147 hours Halifax O was at 14,000 feet on a heading of 100 degrees at pos. 50 degrees 43 minutes N, -5 degrees 57 minutes E in the target area. Visibility was good, with a halfmoon low on their port quarter and no clouds. There was, however, smoke, and marker glare. Prior to contact, there were no searchlights, but there were fighter flares being dropped all around.
At that time, per the report narrative, “On the bombing run, this aircraft turned off due to bomb door failure - to use emergency system, and had just turned back on track when it encountered the fighter. The crew had been warned by Master of Ceremonies to expect fighters from the Port. Monica was U/S*. The enemy aircraft was first sighted by the Mid-upper Gunner, appearing out of the smoke. The Mid-upper Gunner immediately instructed the Pilot to corkscrew starboard and both Gunners and the enemy aircraft opened fire at 200 yard range. Tracer from the Bomber was seen to enter the Starboard engine nacelle on the Me.110, and the fighter's fire was simultaneously entering the Bomber. The enemy aircraft used cannon and machine gun which damaged the Port aileron and Starboard wing. The bombs were released simultaneously to the Combat Maneuver, and a dent in the mid-under position suggest the Halifax struck one of its own bombs. The enemy aircraft ceased fire and dived almost vertically down and both Gunners continued firing at it until it went out of the field of fire. It was not seen to hit the ground as both Gunners continued to search for further attacks. The enemy aircraft was claimed as damaged. Shortly afterwards the Bomber was attacked again.” *Monica, a tail range finding radar, was Unserviceable.
Eight minutes later, at 0155 AM, Halifax O was homeward bound on a course of 236 degrees (T, turning?) at 14,000 feet, with the half moon low on the port bow, when another fighter twin engine German attacked at position 50 degrees 38 minutes North -05 degrees 44 minutes East.
“The second attack took place just after leaving target and came from the starboard quarter, up. The Rear Gunner saw an unidentified twin-engined aircraft and immediately instructed the pilot to corkscrew Starboard, and both Gunners opened fire. The enemy aircraft closed in from 400 yards to 200 yards range and then opened fire with a short burst of cannon and machine gun fire, which went to Port and below. The enemy aircraft broke off the attack at 700 yards range as was not seen again. Strikes were seen on the enemy aircraft but no damage could be definitely observed, as both Gunners continued to search for a third attack. This came approximately 23 minutes late.”
The logs noted are set forth below. Due to the large size of the paper these reports are reproduced upon, each page is presented in sections, with some overlap.
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