February 25/26, 1944
19 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 44 Halifaxes
from 420, 424, 425, 427, 432, and 433 Squadrons, on an attack at Augsburg.
The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing
76,000 lbs of high explosives and 184,000 lbs of incendiaries. According
to reports, the weather was clear and severe damage was caused.
Sgt F. Smitton from 408 Squadron landed at Beaulieu on return due to
a fuel shortage.
P/O W. Phillips had the stbd inner go u/s over the target, they landed
safely at Ford on 3 engines due to a fuel shortage.
F/Lt W. Smith RCAF
and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-791 coded EQ-F, failed to return from
this operation.
Sgt F. Crofts RAF
F/O C. Ridgers RCAF
P/O L. Beer RCAF
F/Sgt R. Bowler RAF
P/O C. Draper RCAF
F/Sgt D. Mullock RCAF–POW
6 crew were killed and 1 POW.
F/Sgt P. Fillion RCAF–POW and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-845 coded
EQ-T, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt R. Gigg RAF–POW
F/Sgt E. Hetherington RCAF–POW
F/O R. Barnlund RCAF–Evd
F/O A. Bockus RCAF–POW
Sgt K. Lussier RCAF–Evd
Sgt S. Thorvardson RCAF–POW
6 crew were POWs and 2 evaded capture after the engines began to fail and
the crew bailed out.
F/O L. Blakeney RCAF
and crew from 420 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-420 coded PT-U, failed
to return from this operation.
F/Sgt G. Bessette RCAF
Sgt S. Eden RAF
F/O F. Arnston RCAF
F/O E. Patterson RCAF
W/O2 W. Bourdat RCAF–POW
Sgt P. Burgon RAF
Sgt H. Oswald RCAF
7 crew were killed and 1 POW.
F/Lt J. Turnbull from 424 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O P. Hamilton returned early as the oxygen system was u/s.
P/O R. Basson and crew flying Halifax III was attacked twice
by ME-210s, strikes were claimed on both and one was seen to burst into
flame and crash to the ground. They landed at Lasham on return due to poor
weather at base.
F/O D. Crosbie was hit by flak, not serious. They were also attacked
by an enemy aircraft, this was claimed destroyed. They landed at Lasham
on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O W. Krampe lost the pilot’s escape hatch out bound. This made the
trip very cold. They landed at Hartford Bridge on return due to poor weather
at base.
F/Lt N. Loudoun and crew flying Halifax III LW-385 coded QB-K were
attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Friston
on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/O W. Hugli landed at Lasham on return due to poor weather at base.
F/Lt A. Compton landed at Hartford Bridge due to poor weather at base.
F/Sgt C. Stowell RCAF–POW and crew from 425 Squadron, flying Halifax
III LW-431 coded KW-U, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt S. Wheadon RAF
F/Sgt R. Friskey RCAF–POW
Sgt G. Dinsmore RCAF–POW
W/O2 J. Fullum RCAF–POW
Sgt W. Skerik RCAF–POW
Sgt R. Curnock RAF–POW
6 crew were POWs and 1 was killed.
F/Sgt C. Coathup from 427 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt J. Milton RAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LK-759 coded ZL-Z, failed to return from this
operation.
Sgt F. Barker RAF
F/O A. Shirley RCAF
P/O K. Hignett RAF
F/O F. Thompson RAF–POW
Sgt M. Singer RAF
P/O A. Middleton RAF
6 crew were killed and 1 POW after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
F/Sgt D. Maddock from 432 Squadron returned early as they could not
climb.
F/Sgt J. Cooper and W/Cdr W. McKay landed at Middle Wallop on return
due to a fuel shortage.
1st/Lt A. Lubold USAAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III LW-597 coded
QO-C, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt L. Bean RAF–POW
F/O A. Turton RCAF–POW
F/O R. Richards RCAF–POW
Sgt J. Cannon RAF–POW
P/O G. Robineau RCAF
Sgt W. Thompson RAF
5 crew were POWs and 2 killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
P/O D. Brown from 433 Squadron returned early as there was a problem
with the throttles.
F/Sgt W. Sturmy returned early as they could not raise the under
carriage.
F/Lt G. Wolton returned early as they were using too much fuel. On
landing the stbd inner burst into flames.
F/O G. Burns and crew flying Halifax III HX-280 coded BM-O were attacked
by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Ford on return
due to a fuel shortage.
S/Ldr J. McNeill and F/Sgt F. Edmondson landed at Hartford Bridge on
return.
While the above crews went to Augsburg, 50 Halifaxes from 419, 428,
429, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Kiel
Bay. The crews were over the garden at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet,
sowing 78@1500 lb mines.
F/Sgt W. Krantz from 419 Squadron returned early as some instruments
were u/s.
F/O A. Warren RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax II JP-200 coded VR-G, failed to return from this
operation.
P/O E. Kent RCAF
F/Sgt S. Sutton RAF
F/O H. Sherman RCAF
Sgt W. King RAF
Sgt M. Minett RCAF
Sgt H. Crabtree RAF
All were lost without a trace.
P/O W. Kruse from 428 Squadron returned early was the stbd inner was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt C. Murphy had the port outer go u/s out bound, they mined and
returned safely to base on 3 engines.
F/Lt H. Heimbecker from 429 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt W. Anderson, F/O A. MacDonald and F/Sgt N. Thompson did not mine
as they could not find the pinpoint.
F/Lt R. Mead from 431 Squadron returned early as the navigation aids
were u/s.
F/Sgt F. Skeaff did not mine as they could not find the pinpoint.
F/Sgt J. Fetherston was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O E. Howey RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax V LK-705 coded SE-X, failed to return from this
operation.
Sgt E. Metcalf RAF
W/O2 G. Stevenson RCAF
Sgt A. MacGillivray RAF
Sgt R. Bates RAF
P/O A. Munro RCAF
Sgt L. Wardell RCAF
All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
P/O R. Pratt, P/O J. Snelgrove and F/Lt M. Flewelling from 434 Squadron
returned without mining as they could not find the pinpoint.
P/O P. Escaravage was hit by flak, F/O F. Huntley RCAF, the navigator
was injured. On return the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base
on 3 engines.
W/Cdr C. Bartlett was hit by flak, not serious.