Australia’s War Diary

January-March, 1945. 50 Years Ago…

January 1 – Western Front Europe

Operation Bodenplatte. Before dawn 900 Luftwaffe aircraft attack Allied airfields, mainly in the Second TAF area. The Allies are surprised, though some fighters are up on early patrols, and almost 150 aircraft are destroyed plus 80 damaged. Few pilots are lost. Within days most units will be returned to strength. The Luftwaffe suffers its second heaviest losses in a single day. Not only do Allied AA and fighters take their toll, but as the German aircraft return at low level, they are fired on by their own flak. Casualties total 255 aircrew, including 19 unit commanders. Aircraft losses are at least 300. East of Asch, F/Lt Tony Gaze DFC and bar from 610 (Spitfire) Squadron destroys an Fw 190.

Britain

102 Lancasters and two Mosquitoes attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Ladbergen. It is breached for the loss of two Lancasters, one being 467 Squadron’s F/O Merv Bache & crew. They have to bale out of their flak damaged aircraft after Bache coaxes it back over Allied lines.

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