August 2/3, 1943




    54 Halifaxes from 408, 419, 427 and 428 Squadrons were joined by 19 Wellingtons from 429 and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Hamburg. The crews were over the target at between 15,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 40,000 lbs of high explosives and 110,000 lbs of incendiaries. This attack was a failure due to severe icing and thunder storms to and from the target.

    Sgt R. Burns and Sgt R. Young from 408 Squadron returned early due to severe icing.
    Sgt K. Brager returned early as the rear turret was u/s.
    F/Lt C. Smith had the port outer and stbd inner engine go u/s. They returned safely to base on 2 engines.
    F/Sgt L. Morrison returned early as they encountered severe icing to 20,000 feet.
    Sgt D. Harvey returned due to severe icing. The Halifax went into a spin from 19,000 to 12,000 feet and Sgt R. Shire RAF, the wireless operator bailed out over Germany.

    Sgt F. Allan from 419 Squadron returned early as the port outer engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O H. Hewitt, F/Lt W. Keddie, Sgt J. Batterton, S/Ldr G. McMurdy, F/Sgt S. Pekin, F/O D. Laidlaw, Sgt W. Cameron, F/O S. Heard, Sgt C. Coutlee, and Sgt R. Metheral returned early due to severe icing and thunder storms.
    F/Sgt J. Sobin RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II DT-798 coded VR-T, failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt R. Horswill RAF
      P/O J. Sibalis RCAF–POW
      Sgt J. Mahoney RCAF–POW
      Sgt A. Farrow RAF–POW
      Sgt J. Sadeski RCAF
      F/Sgt D. McCarty RCAF
    4 crew were killed and 3 POWs.

    Sgt R. Henry, Capt C. Taylor, Sgt G. Wolton, F/Sgt W. Biggs, Sgt H. Holland, F/Lt C. Tubman, F/Lt V. Ganderton, F/Lt B. Crew, F/Sgt E. Champion, and Sgt D. Welch from 427 Squadron returned early due to severe icing and thunder storms.

    F/Sgt W. Kruse from 428 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O K. Jones was hit by flak, holes in fuselage and rudder.
    F/O G. Drimmie was hit by flak, holes in fuselage and rudder cables were shot off.
    F/Sgt H. Pattinson was attacked by 2 ME-109s, there was no claim or damage.
    F/Sgt W. Armour was hit by flak, holes in the fuselage.
    Sgt J. Sheridan, Sgt A. Mitchell, Sgt J. Harkins, W/O1 A. Harrison, and Sgt R. Borrowes returned early due to severe icing and thunder storms.
    F/Sgt G. Newton returned early as the compasses were u/s, severe icing and thunder storms.
    W/O2 M. Chepil RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V EB-274 coded NA-H, failed to return from this operation. 

      F/O F. Rogers RCAF
      Sgt S. Williams RAF
      P/O A. Garalick RCAF
      Sgt M. Spencer RAF
      Sgt M. Evans RAF
      Sgt J. Burfield RAF
      F/O E. Andrews RCAF
    All were killed.

    P/O V. Sylvester RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V EB-212 coded NA-U, failed to return from this operation. 

      F/O H. Funkhouser RCAF
      Sgt D. Charlesworth RAF
      Sgt J. Forde RAF
      F/Sgt G. Crighton-Kelly RAF
      Sgt T. Rose RAF
      Sgt J. Lunn RAF
      W/O2 E. Smith RCAF
    All were killed.

    Sgt G. Clark from 429 Squadron returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at Leconfield on one engine.
    F/O H. Malone returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at Swanton Morley on one engine.
    Sgt F. Hingston was hit by flak, holes in fuselage.
    Sgt D. Smith returned early due to severe icing.
    All crews stated that the weather was very poor with severe icing and thunder storms.


                                                                                                                                                       Sgt Sgt B. Sorge from 432 Squadron returned early after losing 10,000 feet in a spin due to severe icing.
    Sgt A. Erickson returned early due to severe icing.
    F/Sgt J. Gingles returned early as the stbd engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    Sgt D. Baker and Sgt W. Meaden returned early as their port engines were u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    Sgt T. Spink returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
    P/O D. McDonald RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-906 coded QO-H, failed to return from this operation. 

      P/O M. Balkam RCAF
      F/Sgt H. Gaudry RCAF
      Sgt L. Lythgoe RAF
      F/Sgt T. Kirkham RCAF
    All were killed.