April 8/9, 1945
90 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined
by
100 Lancasters from 419, 424, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons
on an attack of the ship yards at Hamburg. The crews were over the target
at between 16,500 and 19,000 feet, releasing 1,661,000 lbs of high explosives.
According to reports, the weather was poor and the attack became scattered.
This was the last time 6 Group was to attack Hamburg.
W/O1 W. Craven from 408 Squadron landed at Husbands Bosworth on return
due to poor weather at base.
F/Sgt G. Roberts, S/Ldr W. Smith, F/O R. Chapman, F/O M. Monahan, F/Lt
F. Smith, F/O A. Clifford, P/O L. Clarahan, and F/Lt A. Bossenberry landed
at Bruntingthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O A. Jensen RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-769 coded EQ-D, failed to return from this
operation.
Sgt A. Thorpe RAF
F/O J. Cunningham RCAF
F/O A. Taylor RCAF
P/O J. Walker RCAF
F/Sgt R. Smylie RCAF–POW
P/O R. Duncan RCAF
6 crew were killed and 1 POW.
F/O J. Hechter and crew from 415 Squadron flying Halifax VII PN-240
coded 6U-W were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft,
there was no claim or damage. They landed at Chipping Warden on return
due to poor weather at base.
F/O J. Addison and crew flying Halifax III NR-156 coded 6U-H were attacked
by a ME-163, flying wing, there was no claim or damage. They landed at
Chipping Warden on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O J. McKenzie, F/O D. Falconer, F/O R. Jupp, F/Lt F. Cahill, F/O
E. Millbank, P/O V. Clothier, P/O L. Harker, F/O J. Patterson, F/O V. Clarke,
F/O C. Holter, F/O L. Minkler, F/Lt A. Winmill and F/O A. Galley landed
at Chipping Warden on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O D. Lambroughton and crew from 419 Squadron flying Lancaster X KB-839
coded VR-D were attacked by a ME-262, there was no claim or damage. They
landed at Wing on return due to poor weather at base.
S/Ldr G. McMurtrie and crew flying Lancaster X KB-746 coded VR-S were
attacked by a ME-262, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Wing
on return due to poor weather at base.
F/Sgt C. MacLaren, F/Sgt D. Cushman, F/O G. Retallack, F/O J. Smith,
F/Lt W. Manning, F/O C. Widdecombe, F/O R. Chambers, F/O B. Nichols, W/Cdr
M. Ferguson, and P/O J. MacNeil landed at Wing on return due to poor weather
at base.
F/O H. Cram RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-752 coded VR-V, crashed
on return.
F/Sgt J. Case RAF
F/O W. Olenski RCAF
F/O F. Crawford RCAF
W/O2 C. Hanna RCAF
Sgt E. McGrath RCAF
Sgt G. Hughes RCAF
All were safe after the stbd inner failed outbound, they continued to the
target and bombed. On return the stbd outer burst into flames and the crew
was forced to bail out over the continent.
F/O E. Cole from 420 Squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the
elevator. They landed at Desborough on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O R. Lepp was hit by flak, there were holes in the bomb doors. They
landed at Desborough on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O H. Bishop was hit by flak, not serious. There was also an aerial
from a Lancaster wrapped around the port propellers. They landed at Desborough
on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O D. Hill and crew flying Halifax III NR-227 coded PT-V were attacked
twice by JU-88's. One JU-88 was claimed a, probable as many strikes were
seen and it dove vertically through the cloud. They were hit by two cannon
shells, one through the starboard elevator and one through the bomb doors.
F/O T. Ford landed at Wittering on return due to poor weather at base.
W/Cdr F. McCarthy, F/Lt D. McIntyre, F/O M. Callahan, F/O L. Bond,
F/Sgt J. Bryan, F/O N. Toderan, F/Lt N. McHolm, F/Lt L. Rush and P/O R.
MacMillan landed at Desborough on return due to poor weather at base.
W/Cdr W. Norris from 424 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. They
landed at Little Horwood on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O M. Amm, F/O R. Morrison, F/O K. MacDonald, F/O D. Saunders, F/Lt
C. Moir, F/O H. Mann, F/O D. Mullin, F/Lt D. Sillers and F/Lt J. King landed
at Little Horwood due to poor weather at base.
S/Ldr R. Hemphill from 425 Squadron had the port outer propeller fly
off just before the target. They completed the operation and landed safely
at Manston on 3 engines.
P/O S. Miller and crew flying Halifax III MZ-419 coded KW-E were attacked
twice by a FW-190, some strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged. They
landed at Silverstone on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O J. Giguere and crew flying Halifax III NP-937 coded KW-T were attacked
by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, they was no damage or claim.
They landed at Silverstone on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O J. McMahon landed at Lichfield on return due to poor weather at
base.
F/Lt J. Brassard, F/O L. Paquette, F/O J. Rivet, F/O L. Dumas, F/O
A. Belanger, F/Lt D. Petrie, F/O S. Blunt, F/O W. Donkin, F/O J. Kolisnek,
F/O G. Buker and F/O A. McClemons landed at Silverstone due to poor weather
at base.
P/O R. Woodsworth and crew from 426 squadron flying Halifax VII LW-201
coded OW-D were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no
claim or damage. They landed at Husbands Bosworth due to poor weather at
base.
F/Lt C. Farrow landed at Harrington due to poor weather at base.
P/O T. Dodsworth, P/O A. Harvie, P/O R. Reith, F/O F. Alward, F/O W.
McLeod, P/O E. Parcher, F/Lt D. Hamilton, P/O H. Mercer, P/O D. Black,
W/O2 J. Tuplin, P/O A. Wilkinson, F/Lt G. Titus and F/O J. Boyle landed
at Husbands Bosworth due to poor weather at base.
F/O J. Jamieson and crew from 427 Squadron flying Lancaster I NX-553
coded ZL-H were attacked twice by an ME-262, there was no claim or damage.
They landed at Pershore on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O S. Matheson and crew flying Lancaster III PA-271 coded ZL-W were
attacked three times by ME-262s, there were no claims or damages. They
landed at Pershore on return due to poor weather at base
W/Cdr V. Ganderton, F/Lt W. Towne, F/Lt W. Kennedy, F/Lt E. Stewart,
F/O D. McNeill, F/Lt G. Archer, P/O R. Pearson, F/O F. Kaye and F/Lt J.
Bell landed at Pershore due to poor weather at base.
F/Lt E. Acree from 428 Squadron had the port outer u/s on return. They
landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O E. Martin and crew flying Lancaster X KB-791 coded NA-A were attacked
by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
P/O S. Eliosoff landed at Upper Heyford on return.
F/O W. Thomas, F/O J. Martin, F/O J. Nelson, F/O D. Faulkner, F/O C.
Andahl, F/Lt W. Fikis, F/O H. Humphries, and S/Ldr H. Hogarth from 429
Squadron landed at Moreton Valance on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O E. Norrington and crew from 431 Squadron flying Lancaster X KB-773
coded SE-P were attacked by a JU-88, they was no claim or damage. They
landed at Westcott due to poor weather at base.
F/Lt D. Crawford, F/Lt H. Granger, F/O A. Wilkinson, F/O A. Walker,
S/Ldr F. MacDonnell, F/O R. Taylor, F/Sgt W. Hodson, P/O A. McNeil, F/O
J. Patterson, F/Lt J. Aldred, F/Lt D. Murray, F/Lt J. Elliott and F/Lt
G. Percival landed at Westcott due to poor weather at base.
S/Ldr W. Miller from 432 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O J. Bain returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely
at base on 3 engines.
W/O2 D. Brewer returned early as the stbd outer kept feathering. They
landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt A. Clarke was hit by flak, the stbd inner was damaged, seized
up and the propeller flew off. They landed safely at Little Staughton on
3 engines.
F/Sgt P. Neville and crew flying Halifax VII NP-694 coded QO-R were
attacked by a FW-190, some strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged.
They landed at Market Harborough due to poor weather at base.
W/Cdr K. France, F/O L. Loppe, F/O J. Kinniburgh, P/O H. Kearl, P/O
S. Allen, F/O A. Smith, P/O J. Daly, F/Sgt D. Jamer, F/O J. Paul and F/O
A. Nicholson landed at Market Harborough on return due to poor weather
at base.
F/O W. Otton and crew from 433 Squadron flying Lancaster I RA-512 coded
BM-S were attacked by an unidentified twin engine aircraft, there was no
claim or damage. They landed at Little Staughton on return due to poor
weather at base.
P/O B. Jensen and crew flying Lancaster I RA-513 coded BM-Y were attacked
twice by unidentified twin engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
They landed at Tarrant Rushton on return due to poor weather at base.
P/O W. Harker landed at Silverstone on return due to poor weather at
base.
W/O2 M. Smyth, F/O W. Simpson, F/O G. Walton, F/O R. Johnstone, F/Lt
J. Brown, F/O R. Christenson, F/O D. Pleiter, and F/O R. Dahl landed at
Turweston on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O H. Wild and crew from 434 Squadron flying Lancaster X KB-845 coded
WL-T were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They landed
at Oakley on return due to poor weather at base.
F/Lt E. Yuill and crew flying Lancaster X KB-826 coded WL-K were attacked
by a JU-88, many strikes were seen and the JU-88 was seen to explode in
midair. This was claimed destroyed. They landed at Oakley on return due
to poor weather at base.
F/O H. Hooper, F/Lt R. Prime, F/Lt R. Purnell, F/O G. Marlow, F/Lt
J. Kitchen, S/Ldr J. Hudson, F/O J. Dawson, F/O H. Payne, F/O R. Jenkins
and F/O E. Dundas landed at Oakley on return due to poor weather at base.
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