25 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 112 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at Noisy Le Sec. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing 1,450,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports there was severe damage to the rail yards, but the bombing also spilled into the town causing civilian casualties.
F/Lt F. Hales from 408 Squadron had the port outer u/s on return. They landed safely on 3 engines at Nuneaton on return.
Fifteen crews from 420 Squadron departed base at between 20:45 and 21:14, they were over the target at between 23:56 and 00:02, returning to base at between 01:30 and 02:36.
P/O J. Walker and crew, flying Halifax III LW-392 coded PT-S, were hit by a bomb over the target. The leading edge of the stbd wing was damaged. They landed safely at Ford on return.
<>This is the first time that 420 Squadron used Halifax IIIs euipped with the Preston Green mid-under gun mounting.F/Lt R. Lawlor and F/Lt N. Loudoun from 424 Squadron landed at Little Horwood on return.
P/O C. Jones from 425 Squadron landed at Wing on return.
F/Sgt J. Williamson from 426 Squadron was attacked by an enemy aircraft. There was no claim or damage.
Sgt W. Ellwood from 427 squadron was involved in a collision
with a
Halifax over the target. Six feet of the stbd wing was cut off. They
returned
safely to base.
W/O2 D. Foster was involved in a collision over the target with a
Halifax,
the port outer was u/s with a bent propeller. They landed safely at
base
on 3 engines.
W/O2 C. Coathup RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LV-789 coded ZL-U, failed to return from
this
operation.
-
Sgt G. Patterson RAF
F/O F. Mills RCAF
W/O2 F. Dennis RCAF
Sgt F. Edwards RAF
P/O J. Whittaker RCAF
P/O E. Eppler RCAF
W/O2 J. Gilson from 431 Squadron had the stbd inner u/s on
return. They
landed safely at Ford on 3 engines.
S/Ldr C. Higgins landed at Ford on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/O A. Mercer RCAF
and crew from 432 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-643 coded QO-E,
failed
to return from this operation.
-
P/O W. Kent RAF
P/O J. Bell RCAF
F/O A. Redman RAF
Sgt S. Pett RAF–POW
Sgt G. Shaugnessy RCAF–Evd
Sgt A. McCluskie RAF
P/O A. McGregor RCAF
F/Sgt F. Devine from 433 Squadron landed at Long Marston on
return.
P/O W. Sturmy RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III HX-287 coded BM-U, failed to return from
this
operation.
-
Sgt L. Morgan RAF
P/O G. Taylor RCAF
F/O A. Thrasher RCAF
Sgt J. Barron RAF
P/O I. McInnis RCAF
P/O S. Follows RCAF
F/Lt G. Edmonds RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LV-971 coded BM-N, failed to return from
this
operation.
-
Sgt A. Wilkinson RAF
P/O T. Ryan RCAF
P/O E. Lansdowne RCAF
F/Sgt H. Fox RAF
P/O H. Tole RCAF
P/O D. Carter RCAF
While part of the group went to Noisy Le Sec, 42 Halifaxes from 419, 428, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Rostock, Fakse Bay, and Kiel Bay. The crews were over the garden at 15,000 feet, sowing 86@1500 lb mines.
F/Lt J. Virtue from 419 Squadron was hit by flak from a
ship, there
were holes in the nose.
P/O J. Quinn RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax II JP-202 coded VR-T, failed to return from
this
operation.
-
F/Sgt M. Petrina RCAF
P/O E. Gares RCAF
F/O D. Lewis-Watts RCAF
F/Sgt F. Hickson RAF
P/O D. Weeks RCAF
P/O R. Dwyer RCAF
F/O W. Blake from 428 squadron was hit by flak, the astrodome was shot off and there were holes in the windscreen.
P/O F. Tandy from 434 returned to base early.
W/O2 M. Laffin was attacked by 3 ME-109s, there was no claim or damage.
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