F/O J. Butler in a No. 65 Squadron Mustang Mk III attacking a II/JG26 Focke-Wulf Fw 190D moments too late to protect one of seven Lancaster bomber shot down during a daylight raid on the Gremberg Marshalling Yards in Cologne on December 23rd 1944.
On December 16th 1944, German Panzers spearheaded a surprise attack in the Ardennes that smashed through thinly held Allied lines, catching Allied commanders completely off-guard.
The Germans not only had the element of surprise but also the weather on their side. Pathfinder crews from 582 Squadron (Little Staughton) and 35 Squadron (Graveley) were briefed to attack the railway marshalling yards in the Gremberg district of Cologne, yards that were critical to the German supply route, only to have their attack postponed.
On December 23rd, at the third time of asking and despite atrocious weather in the UK, the decision was finally made to go.
Heavy, predicted flak began to pepper the sky. Not a single aircraft in the first formation escaped undamaged. And then a squadron of German fighters appeared on the scene, led by one of Germany’s greatest ‘Experten’, Anton Hackl.
RAF Mustangs from 19, 65 and 122 Squadrons fought hard to keep the bombers safe, but despite their best efforts, it was still a slaughter.
Two of the Lancasters dispatched collided and crashed before reaching enemy territory and in total eight aircraft were lost from the thirty deployed on this mission.
