April 27/28, 1944



    19 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Friedrichshafen. The crews were over the target at between 20,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 48,000 lbs of high explosives and 77,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was accurate with severe damage being caused. A factory making tank gearboxes was totally destroyed.

    F/Lt F. Hales from 408 Squadron landed at Tangmere due to a fuel shortage.
    W/O2 W. Kasper was hit by flak over the target. The port inner was damaged. They flew back to base and made a safe landing on 3 engines.

    W/O2 W. Thompson from 426 Squadron landed at Ford on return.
     

    While the Lancasters went to Freidrichshafen, 47 Halifaxes from 419, 431, 432, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 8 Lancasters from 419 Squadron on an attack of the rail yards at Montzen. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 591,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the attack was scattered and only half of the yards were damaged. This attack was intercepted by German Nightfighters and 10 crews failed to return.

    F/Lt J. Virtue from 419 Squadron returned early as Sgt L. Turner RCAF, the mid upper gunner, had a collapsed lung.
    P/O R. McIvor RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JN-954 coded VR-R, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt S. Ridgen RCAF
      W/O2 J. Bremner RCAF
      P/O S. Goulding RCAF
      W/O1 W. Claridge RCAF
      P/O K. Tucker RCAF
      P/O E. Dujay RCAF
    All were killed.

    This was the last operation in which 419 Squadron used the Halifax II. 

    1Lt J. Earman USAAF and crew from 431 Squadron, flying Halifax III LK-842 coded SE-N, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt J. Graham RAF
      F/O W. Dudley RCAF–POW
      F/O H. Pond RCAF
      F/O D. King RCAF–POW
      Sgt J. Perry RCAF–POW
      P/O J. Cooke RCAF
    4 crew were killed and 3 POWs after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Lt J. Hill RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-522 coded SE-U, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt J. Millar RCAF–Evd
      F/O J. Stoyko RCAF–POW
      P/O A. Donnell RCAF–Evd
      P/O G. Gage RCAF–Evd
      P/O J. Morison RCAF–POW
      F/O C. Rooks RCAF–Evd
      P/O J. Leyne RCAF–Evd
    6 crew evaded capture and 2 were POWs after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    P/O W. Woodrow RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-529 coded SE-E, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O D. Harrison RCAF–Evd
      F/O W. Knowlton RCAF–Evd
      P/O J. Lyng RCAF–POW
      F/O L. Anderson RCAF–POW
      P/O A. Gabel RCAF
      Sgt R. Aiano RAF
      P/O R. Hazael RCAF
    2 crew evaded capture, 2 were POWs and 4 were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    P/O J. Gilson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-536 coded SE-F, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt R. Wallace RAF
      F/O T. Forsyth RCAF
      F/O D. Loewen RCAF
      P/O R. Pratt RCAF
      P/O G. Greig RCAF
      F/Sgt G. Hansen RCAF
      P/O J. Wilson RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/O R. Lawrenson from 432 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O J. Webb was hit by flak inbound to the target, there were some large holes in the fuselage and the hydraulics were u/s. They had to orbit the target to finally get the bomb doors open and were attacked by a Nightfighter, without any damages. On the return flight they were attacked by another Nightfighter. The stbd wing and both stbd engines were damaged and u/s. They landed safely at Woodbridge on 2 engines. P/O Webb was awarded the DSO for his determined effort on this operation. 
    F/Sgt G. Millar RCAF–Evd  and crew, flying Halifax III LK-807 coded QO-J, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt S. Musgrove RAF–POW
      F/O A. Holmes RCAF–Evd
      Sgt D. McCaulay RCAF–POW
      W/O2 W. MacPherson RCAF–Evd
      Sgt G. Flather RAF–Evd
      Sgt R. Harmsworth RAF
    4 crew evaded capture, 2 were POWs and 1 was killed.

    P/O H. Whaley RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Halifax III LW-595 coded QO-A, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt A. Phillips RAF–POW
      F/O J. Burrows RCAF
      F/Sgt K. Doyle RCAF–Evd
      P/O D. MacDonald RCAF–Evd
      P/O D. McCoy RCAF–Evd
      P/O P. Driver RCAF
    4 crew evaded capture, 1 was a POW and 2 were killed.

    F/O L. Deloughry RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-588 coded QO-W, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt J. Shearer RAF
      F/O J. McLay RCAF
      F/O G. Parker RCAF
      F/Sgt R. Small RCAF–POW
      P/O H. Davis RCAF
      P/O J. Kerr RCAF
      Sgt G. Farrell RCAF–POW
    6 crew were killed and 2 were POWs.

    F/O W. Wright from 434 Squadron was attacked by a JU-88, it was claimed as a probably destroyed.
    F/Lt G. Maffre RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-243 coded WL-U, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt A. Fuller RAF–POW
      F/O A. Stacey RCAF–Evd
      F/O J. Arscott RAF–Evd
      P/O G. Snow RCAF
      F/Sgt R. Meek RCAF
      P/O V. Cownden RCAF
    2 crew evaded capture, 1 was a POW, and 4 were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    P/O E. Vigor RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-258 coded WL-W, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt A. Randall RAF
      F/O A. Young RCAF
      F/O W. Ellwood RCAF
      P/O H. Breeze RCAF
      P/O D. Pastorius RCAF
      F/Sgt C. Havill RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
     

    90 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, and 433 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Aulnoye. The crews were over the target at between 3,000 and 7,000 feet, releasing 942,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was accurately bombed with severe damage.

    W/Cdr G. McKenna from 420 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.

    F/O M. Sherwood from 424 Squadron was damaged after flak hit a falling bomb spraying fragments over their Halifax. The flaps, mid upper turret, and bomb bay were damaged. Sgt D. Gandler RCAF, the mid upper gunner, was also injured. The port outer engine also caught fire behind the bulkhead and could not be put out. The crew flew back for over an hour with this fire and landed safely at Manston. After landing Sgt G. Spackman, the bomb aimer ran out on the wing with every available fire extinguisher to put the fire out.

    F/O E. Kirk from 425 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.

    F/Lt J. Mawson from 427 Squadron did not bomb as the load hung up.
    P/O T. Kelly was attacked by 3 enemy aircraft, there were no claims or damages.
    S/Ldr G. Cribb was hit by flak, the port flap, and inner nacelle were damaged. The port tire was also flat. They landed safely at base with no injuries or damages.
     

    8 Halifaxes from 428 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Cherbourg. The crews were over the garden at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, sowing 16@1500 lb mines.

    W/O2 W. Gay from 428 Squadron had the stbd outer go u/s outbound. They mined and returned safely to base on 3 engines.
     
     

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