Daily Operations

August 16/17, 1944

144 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 434 squadron were ordered to attack the port city of Kiel. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 310,000 lbs of high explosives and 545,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports the dock area and ship-building firms were damaged.

F/O T. Barber from 408 Squadron was hit by flak, port outer was u/s. They returned safely to base on 3 engines.
F/O R. Johnson and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-714 coded EQ-V, was attacked by a FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
F/O H. Jones had the stbd inner and some electrical systems go u/s on return. They landed safely at Carnaby.

Sgt W. Lane and crew from 415 Squadron, flying Halifax III NA-587 coded 6U-Q, was attacked by a JU-88. Strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged.

F/O K. Kidd from 420 squadron was on the return flight when an aircraft cut in front of him. The pilot’s canopy was damaged, both port propellers were bent and the stbd fin holed. They landed safely at Carnaby.
F/O G. Pritchard RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-687 coded PT-L, failed to return from this operation.

F/O J. Keys and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-802 coded QB-G, was attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft. It was claimed probably destroyed as it broke away in flames over the water.

P/O N. Muir from 429 Squadron was hit by flak. There were holes in the fuselage and after landing, only then did Sgt E. Lefavre RCAF, the navigator admit that he had been injured by flak.
P/O C. Lee and crew, flying Halifax III LV-965 coded AL-J, was attacked by a JU-88 and a ME-109.there was no claim on the ME-109 but the JU-88 was claimed probably destroyed on the second attack as it was on fire.

F/O R. Tonnellier from 431 squadron returned early as the hydraulics were leaking.
F/O T. Dahle RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-372 coded SE-Y, failed to return from this operation.

F/O W. Saye from 432 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt G. Vann returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O V. Johnston had the stbd inner go u/s over the target. They returned safely on 3 engines.

F/O J. Wagman RCAF and crew from 434 squadron, flying Halifax III LK-786 coded WL-S, was hit by flak 5 miles short of the target. 2 fuel tanks were hit and leaking. About 28 miles short of Scarborough they ran out of fuel and ditched in the North Sea.

While some of the group was attacking Kiel, 419 and 428 sent 27 Lancasters on an attack at Stettin. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 50,000 lbs of high explosives and 150,000 lbs of incendiaries on the port and dock area. According to reports, it was an accurate attack.

F/O H. Witwer from 419 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.

F/O T. Nichol-Carne from 428 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O J. Koresky and crew flying Lancaster X KB-760 coded NA-P was attacked twice by an unidentified enemy aircraft. There was not claim or damage.
F/O W. Fairgrieve RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-751 coded NA-Q, failed to return from this operation.

While most of the group was off to Kiel and Stettin, 18 Halifaxes from 429 and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Kiel Bay. The crews were over the garden at 14,000 feet, sowing 54@1500 lb mines.

P/O M. Lanin from 429 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely on 3 engines.

F/O J. Hartley from 433 squadron returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
P/O J. Savard RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-899 coded BM-D, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt J.Valk RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-863 coded BM-I, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt J. Morgan RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-808 coded BM-P, failed to return from this operation.