RCAF 420 Squadron

On November 24, 1944, S/L W.G. Phelan, J/24789, was promoted to 420 Squadron Commander, proving without a doubt he was highly competent. His crew followed him to 420 Squadron. Wing Commander Phelan was now in command of 420 Squadron.

The following excerpts were taken from Bomber Group 6 Website

November 27/28, 1944

173 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 53 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 Squadrons on an attack at Neuss. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 1,880,000 lbs of high explosives and 240,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports there was widespread damage with many industrial places damaged.

F/O M. Stock from 420 Squadron had both bomb doors bent by a 1000 lb bomb which fell through, they landed at Waddington on return due to poor weather at base. F/O J. Cox landed at Waddington on return due to poor weather at base. F/O W. Shotton, F/O G. Haslop, F/O M. Davidson, P/O R. MacMillan, F/O H. Asher, F/Lt D. Buchanan, F/O J. A. Sefton, F/Lt H. Ledingham, S/Ldr A. Plummer, P/O D. McLellan, F/O E. McKeown, F/O R. Field, F/O S. Young, and F/O E. Watson landed at Seething on return due to poor weather at base.

Note

More about Squadron Leader Plummer and his crew.

https://rcaf420snowyowl.wordpress.com/john-austin/

November 30/December 1, 1944

172 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 were joined by 52 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 squadrons on an attack at Duisberg. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 1,869,000 lbs of high explosives and 169,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered.

S/Ldr. A. Plummer from 420 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O J. A.Sefton had the stbd inner go u/s over the target. The landed safely at base on 3 engines. All crews landed at Middleton St.George or Croft on return.

December 2/3, 1944

131 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 48 Lancasters from 419, 428 and 431 squadrons on an attack at Hagen. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 1,424,000 lbs of high explosives and 262,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. A factory making batteries for U-Boats was completely destroyed.

All crews commented on the severe icing to and from the target on this night.

F/Lt L. Brand from 420 squadron landed at Linton on Ouse on return.

December 4/5, 1944

144 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were joined by 46 Lancasters from 419, 428 and 431 squadrons on an attack at Karlsruhe. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 854,000 lbs of high explosives and 678,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. Among the factories destroyed was the important Durlacher Machine-tool building.

December 5/6, 1944

152 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 42 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 squadrons on an attack at Soest. The crews were over the target between 17,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 1,348,000 lbs of high explosives and 335,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports there was severe damage in the northern part of the town that contained the rail yards.

F/O E. Watson from 420 squadron returned early as the hydraulics were u/s.

December 6, 1944

140 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons were joined by 59 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Osnabruck. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,310,000 lbs of high explosives and 193,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the attack was scattered but the railyards and a munitions factory were damaged.

F/O W. MacDonald from 420 Squadron returned early as they could not raise the undercarriage.

December 18, 1944

188 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 42 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 Squadrons on an attack at Duisberg. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,636,000 lbs of high explosives and 258,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damage was caused.

F/Lt V. Glover from 420 squadron returned early as the throttle linkage on the port outer was broken. F/Lt F. McCarthy did not bomb as they could not get the bomb doors opened. F/Lt H. Ledingham and crew, flying Halifax III NR-123 coded PT-F, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Bardney on return due to poor weather at base. P/O C. Reid, F/O G. Haslop, P/O R. MacMillan, F/Lt D. Buchanan, F/O S. Young, F/O J. Bonner, F/O J. A. Sefton, F/O R. Field, and S/Ldr V. Motherwell landed at Bardney on return due to poor weather at base. F/O W. MacDonald landed at Winthorpe on return due to poor weather at base. F/O O. Austenson landed at Tholthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.

December 24, 1944

98 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 squadrons were joined by 53 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431 and 434 squadrons on an attack of the Lohausen airfield at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 1,633,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the weather was good and severe damage was caused in a concentrated attack.

F/O E. Watson from 420 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Langham on return due to poor weather at base. S/Ldr V. Motherwell was hit by flak, there were holes in the wings and fuselage. They landed at Langham on return due to poor weather at base. F/O E. McCutcheon landed at Charterhall on return due to poor weather at base.

F/Lt G. Jones, F/O J. Bonner, F/O W. Shotton, F/O E. McKeown, F/Lt D. Buchanan, F/O J. A. Sefton, F/Lt V. Glover, P/O R. MacMillan, F/O M. Davidson, F/O O. Austenson, F/Lt H. Ledingham, F/O H. Asher, and P/O C. Reid landed at Langham on return due to poor weather at base.

December 28, 1944

105 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were joined by 45 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431 and 434 squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at Opladen. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,469,000 lbs of high explosives.

December 29/30, 1944

48 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the oil refinery at Scholven/Buer. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 540,000 lb of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered but the refinery was seriously damaged along with serious damage to the Hugo coal mines.

149 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Troisdorf. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,500 feet, releasing 1,168,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, much of the bombing missed the target.

P/O R. MacMillan from 420 squadron had the hydraulics go u/s on return.

December 30/31, 1944

151 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were joined by 49 lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadron s on an attack of the Kalk rail yards at Cologne. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 1,768,000 lbs of high explosives and 134,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports the rail yards were severely damaged and 2 ammunition trains blew up.

P/O R. MacMillan from 420 squadron landed at Woodbridge on return.

F/Lt. L. Brand and crew noticed many aircraft flying to the target with their navigation lights on.

January 6/7, 1945

132 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were joined by 57 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Hanau. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 to 20,000 feet, releasing 522,000 lbs of high explosives and 954,000 lbs of incendiaries. This attack was aimed at the important rail junction. This area was seriously damaged as well as a large portion of the built up area.

January 13/14, 1945

130 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were ordered on an attack on the rail yards at Saarbrucken. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 892,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

F/Lt. E. Watson from 420 squadron was attacked by a twin engine enemy aircraft. There was no claim or damage.

On January 25th Wing Commander Phelan leaves his command to S/L F.S. McCarthy seen on the left.

On the 28th Wing Commander Phelan is screened and S/L F.S. McCarthy is appointed as Commanding Officer.

Wing Commander Phelan

R.C.A.F. OPERATIONAL BADGE-DECLARATION BY C.O.

Wing Commander F.L. McCarthy signed the declaration on February 3, 1945.

W.G. Phelan, J.27718, Wing Commander, Squadron 420, flew 32 sorties from 8 May 1944 to 13 January 1945 (30 sorties with 425 Squadron and 2 with 420 Squadron).

Epilog

Shortly after Remembrance Day last year, I spent some time searching online for my grandfather William Gerald Phelan to see if any information was available about him. After sorting through various government sites I found Pierre’s blog about 420 Squadron, one of the two squadrons that he served with during his time with the RCAF. To my surprise and pleasure there were a few photos of him that I had never seen before. Over the next few days I spent hours going through the site reading about the history and missions, looking at photos and wondering about the people and the lives they lived.

My grandfather died in 1970 long before I was born, so we never got to meet. Most of what I know about him came from what my mom and other family members have told me. He studied philosophy in college, enjoyed singing in choir and playing the violin. He worked various sales-related jobs both before and after the war with cosmetics companies and at a car dealership. He liked playing sports like golf and hockey, and watching NHL games on television. Apart from facts and details like this, there isn’t much else I know. I get the impression the war took quite a toll on him, and his children only knew the person he was after returning from service.

It’s hard for me to imagine the sort of life he lived during this time period. Being stationed overseas with a wife and young child in Canada, not knowing if he would make it back, losing his younger brother Terence who didn’t return from a mission in February of 1945. Coming home and being expected to have a normal life, get a job, raise a family, all at a time when the diagnosis and treatment of war-related trauma was probably not very common. He never really talked about the war, but his experiences with the RCAF clearly stayed with him for many years after.

He had seven children, and just a few generations later his descendants number 61 and counting as great-grandchildren continue being born. Most of them live in Ontario where he spent most of his life, with others scattered coast to coast across Canada and elsewhere. It’s incredible to think that almost none of these people would exist had he not survived, if he had been sent on different missions on different nights. So many lives and family lines were cut short for those who were not so fortunate.

My family and I are incredibly grateful for the work Pierre has done with his blogs. They add a personal touch to the lives of people like my grandfather that does not exist in any government archives. These sites allow us to wonder about the human beings behind the names and dates, and what their experience during the war and life in general might have been like. I look forward to learning more about the details of my grandfather’s service as Pierre shares what he has been able to find out. Thanks to all the people who have shared the many fascinating and important photos, documents, and journals on these blogs. I hope they continue to serve as an important memorial and piece of history for interested readers, and descendants like myself who are lucky enough to find them.

Colin Cashin