December 3/4, 1943



    19 Lancasters from 408, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 78 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Leipzig. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 178,000 lbs of high explosives and 280,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and serious damage was caused.

    S/Ldr C. Smith from 408 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/Sgt N. Sutherland was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage and the oxygen system was damaged.

    F/O A. Byford and F/Sgt J. Parker from 419 Squadron returned early due to severe icing.
    P/O J. Hamilton returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O J. Turnbull had the hydraulics u/s on return.
    F/Sgt D. MacLeod was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing. They landed at Wratting Common on return.

    F/Lt T. Kneale from 426 Squadron returned early as some instruments were u/s.
    F/Sgt R. Sturley RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-733 coded OW-L, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt H. Booth RAF–POW
      P/O D. Clark RCAF–POW
      P/O D. Cooper RCAF–POW
      F/O W. Neale RCAF
      Sgt A. Wolkowski RCAF
      Sgt J. Legault RCAF
    4 crew were killed and 3 POWs.

    P/O W. Cozens RAF and crew from 427 Squadron, flying Halifax V DK-181 coded ZL-Z, returned early as the stbd inner quit and would not feather. A few minutes later the port outer quit. The crew was ordered to bail out as soon as the coast was crossed. At this point the stbd outer started acting up. The crew bailed out and as the pilot left his seat, he hit the throttle quadrant and the stbd outer ran smoothly again. 

      Sgt J. McGowan RAF
      F/O R. Carson RAF
      Sgt W. Stockford RAF
      Sgt H. Whittaker RAF
      Sgt R. Nairn RAF
      Sgt C. Hopper RAF
    The pilot stayed aboard and headed to Woodbridge where the stbd outer quit.  With one engine running, he crash landed in a field near the airport with little damage.
    P/O W. Stephen was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing and fuselage.
    P/O J. Dickenson landed at Chedburgh on return.

    F/Sgt W. Gay from 428 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at New Market on return.
    F/Lt W. McLeish landed at Stradishall on return.
    F/O A. Woolverton landed at Fiskerton on return.

    P/O G. Clark, F/Sgt E. Baker, and F/O J. Atkins from 429 Squadron returned early due to technical problems.
    P/O A. Merkley returned early as the controls iced up.
    F/O J. Keenan landed at Tholthorpe on return.
    F/O F. Hingston RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-361 coded AL-Y, failed to return from this operation.

      F/O W. Hampton RCAF
      Sgt D. Bruno RCAF–POW
      F/O H. Brown RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt J. Lochhead RAF
      Sgt J. Williams RAF
      Sgt G. Hooper RAF
      F/Sgt D. Hamilton RCAF
    6 crew were killed and 2 POWs.

    P/O S. Kelso RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-374 coded AL-M, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt R. Grant RCAF–POW
      P/O H. Schade RCAF
      F/Sgt F. Morro RCAF
      F/Sgt C. Schofield RAF–POW
      Sgt K. Buchholz RCAF–POW
      F/O J. Cabana RCAF
    4 crew were killed and 3 POWs.

    P/O R. Rubie from 431 squadron returned early as the port outer caught fire. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/Sgt W. Hewetson returned early as one fuel tank was u/s.
    F/Sgt W. Craig landed at New Market on return.
    F/Lt H. Dow landed at Lakenheath on return.
    F/Sgt F. Long RAF and crew, flying Halifax V EB-137 coded SE-N, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt G. Heider RCAF
      F/Sgt R. Steven RAF
      Sgt G. Brown RAF
      Sgt W. Burley RAF
      P/O G. Armstrong RCAF
      Sgt J. L’Argent RAF
    All were killed.

    W/O2 R. Ritchie RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-685 coded SE-C, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt B. Hornung RCAF–POW
      F/O J. Shannon RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt S. Fulham RCAF–POW
      Sgt V. Jenkins RAF–POW
      Sgt J. MacMullin RCAF–POW
      Sgt D. Lyford-Pike RAF–POW
    6 crew were POWs and 1 killed.

    S/Ldr R. Cook RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-898 coded SE-O, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt G. Wood RAF
      F/O M. Snow RCAF
      F/Lt E. Lister RAF
      Sgt H. Brookman RAF
      Sgt W. Rattigan RCAF
      Sgt J. Williamson RCAF
    All were killed.

    F/O A. Edgar RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-968 coded SE-P, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt N. Anderson RAF
      F/Sgt R. Henry RCAF–POW
      P/O A. Freeman RCAF–POW
      W/O2 M. Dechambeau RCAF–POW
      Sgt J. Arsenault RCAF–POW
      Sgt M. Phillips RAF
    3 crew were killed and 4 POWs.

    This was the last operation flown from Tholthorpe as the Squadron was now moving to Croft.

    F/O A. Mercer, F/O W. Fisher, and F/Sgt C. De Maria from 432 Squadron all returned early as their guns were frozen.
    P/O J. Esdale returned early as the controls were frozen.
    F/Sgt P. Dennis returned early as some of the instruments were u/s.

    F/O S. Dunn from 434 Squadron returned early as the pilot was sick.
    P/O J. Pollard returned early due to severe icing.
    F/O D. Evans returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at New Market on 3 engines.
    P/O A. Austin had one engine u/s on return. They landed safely at Dunsfold on 3 engines. 
    F/Sgt W. McQueen RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-683 coded WL-V, was hit by flak over the target, there were holes in the wings and fuel tanks. On return they ran out of fuel and successfully ditched in the English Channel. 

      Sgt W. Pearcey RAF
      F/Sgt D. McAllister RCAF
      F/Sgt P. Kingston RCAF
      Sgt A. Warrington RAF
      Sgt M. Habiluk RCAF
      Sgt C. Beech RAF
    They were later picked up by a launch after spending a little time in the dinghy.

    This was the last flight from Tholthorpe, the Squadron now moved to Croft.
     
     


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