August 23/24, 1943



    59 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, and 434 squadrons were joined by 8 Lancasters from 426 squadron on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 130,000 lbs of high explosives and 126,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was successful with serious damage being caused in some industrial areas.

    F/Lt W. Shaw RCAF and crew from 426 squadron, flying Lancaster II DS-676 coded OW-O, failed to return from this operation.

      F/O W. Hinchcliffe RCAF
      F/Sgt A. Lucas RAF
      P/O E. Farr RAF
      F/O A. Gibson RCAF
      P/O J. Williams RCAF
      P/O D. Du Boulay RCAF
      P/O L. Burnett RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Sgt J. Milton from 427 squadron returned early as the rear guns were u/s.
    F/O G. Baum RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V DK-184 coded ZL-G, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt D. Davies RAF–POW
      F/O R. Day RCAF
      F/O W. Bray RCAF
      Sgt P. Murphy RAF
      F/Sgt F. Painter RCAF
      F/Sgt E. McCullough RCAF
    6 crew were killed and 1 POW.

    P/O F. Cornelius RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V EB-243 coded ZL-H, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt P. Norreys RAF
      F/O G. Low RCAF
      F/Sgt R. Kirk RCAF
      Sgt H. Smith RAF
      F/Sgt R. Shortridge RCAF
      Sgt D. Phillips RCAF 
    All were killed.

    F/Lt A. Reilander from 428 squadron returned early with a fuel leak in the overload tank.
    P/O L. Williamson returned early due to severe icing.
    W/O2 A. Harrison returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
     W/O F. Edwards was attacked twice by an ME-109 and JU-88. The ME-109 was claimed destroyed. The stbd outer was u/s, there were holes in the stbd wing, fuel tanks and the stbd aileron was damaged. They landed safely at Little Snoring on 3 engines.
    F/Sgt H. Read RCAF--Int and crew, flying Halifax V DK-267 coded NA-M, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt G. Patterson RCAF–POW
      Sgt L. Bates RCAF–POW
      F/O J. McQuade RCAF–Int
      Sgt C. Crampton RAF
      Sgt J. Taylor RAF–POW
      Sgt W. Kerr RCAF–POW
    4 crew were POWs, 1 was killed and 2 interned in Sweden after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    Sgt O. Lytle from 434 squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at Coltishall on 3 engines.
    Lt J. Clary returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at Leeming on 3 engines.
    P/O S. Dunn returned early as some instruments were u/s.
    Sgt M. Flewelling returned early as there was no oil pressure on the stbd engines and the port inner.
    Sgt R. Pratt returned early due to severe icing.
    S/Ldr R. McLernon RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Halifax V DK-261 coded WL-V, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt F. Messenger RAF
      Sgt R. Walters RCAF–POW
      Sgt J. Plenderleith RCAF–POW
      Sgt M. Stevenson RAF
      F/Sgt R. Brooks RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt C. Snyder RCAF
    3 crew were killed, 3 were POWs and 1 evaded capture after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
     

    While most of the crews went to Berlin, 12 Wellingtons from 432 squadron were ordered on a mining operation to the Frisian Islands. The crews were over the garden between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, sowing 10@1500 lb mines.

    F/O A. Mercer, Sgt A. Slegg, Sgt R. Burgess, Sgt S. Atkinson, F/O C. Barrett, Sgt W. Meaden, and F/Lt W. Strachan returned early as their navigation aids were u/s.