August 14, 1944



    165 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 59 Lancasters from 408, 419, 428, and 431 Squadrons on an attack of German troop positions at Falaise, Aisy, and Bons Tassilly. The crews were over the targets between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, releasing 2,131,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports the attack was going well and then some bombing started to fall back into Canadian army 3rd Division positions. This problem was made worse when ground troops started firing yellow flares, which happened to be the same colours as the Target Indicators, attracting more loads of explosives. This carried on for more than an hour and little could be done but for the troops to head for their slit trenches and wait the attack out. 13 army personnel were killed and many injured along with some equipment being destroyed. 

    F/Lt A. Plummer from 420 squadron returned early as the bomb sight and stbd inner were u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O E. McKeown returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.

    S/Ldr R. Lawlor from 424 squadron had G/Cpt F. Miller along as the second pilot.

    F/O J. Dargis from 425 Squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd tail plane.

    F/Lt H. Woodruff from 429 Squadron did not bomb as the stbd inner caught fire in the target area. They returned safely to base on 3 engines.

    P/O W. Hall from 428 Squadron returned early as the bomb sight was u/s.

    P/O R. Anthony from 432 Squadron returned early as the bomb sight was u/s.
    F/O V. Johnston had an engine go u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O L. Evenson had G/Cpt H. Rutledge along as a 2nd pilot.

    F/Lt W. Wright from 434 Squadron returned early as the stbd wheel was damaged on takeoff. The crew crash landed at Carnaby without injuries.