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.