Daily Operations

August 4, 1944

159 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 were joined by 42 Lancasters from 408, 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack on the V-1 storage site at Bois De Cassan. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing 1,856,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was damaged.

P/O G. Hartford, F/O J. Tees, S/Ldr D. Hagerman, F/O R. Kent, F/Lt W. Cameron, W/O2 I. Johnson, F/Sgt A. Weston, P/O G. Holmes, F/O J. Calder, P/O H. Speight, F/Lt G. Peck, F/O W. Milner, S/Ldr J. Stewart, F/O W. Dix, F/Lt W. Chalcraft, and W/O2 W. Krantz from 419 Squadron landed at Dishforth on return.

All crews from 420 squadron reported heavy flak over the target.

F/O G. Campbell from 424 squadron returned early as the port inner and outer were u/s. They landed safely at base on 2 engines.
S/Ldr J. Westland, F/Lt W. Anderson, and P/O W. Bonar were hit by flak, not serious.
F/O P. Cronin RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LV-959 coded QB-R, failed to return from this operation.

P/O S. Side from 428 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
F/Lt R. Anderson landed at Wombleton on return.

F/O R. Harrison from 431 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O H. McVicar and P/O M. McMillan were hit by flak, not serious.
Sgt G. Quinlan was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Dalton on return.

F/O R. Simpson RCAF and crew from 433 squadron, flying Halifax III HX-275 coded BM-S was hit by flak, F/O G. Dandy RCAF, the bomb-aimer was slightly injured and the rudder controls were shot off. The Halifax was brought back to England by operating the rudders manually from the rear of the aircraft.

F/O L. Browning, S/Ldr J. Hammond, W/Cdr F. Watkins, P/O N. Currie, F/O M. Harvie, F/O G. Moore, F/Lt D. Boyle, and F/O K. McGrath from 434 Squadron landed at Dalton on return.
F/O R. Lang RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Halifax III LW-436 coded WL-Y, failed to return from this operation.