33 Lancasters from 408, 426 and 432 squadrons were joined by 90 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 23,500 feet, releasing 280,000 lbs of high explosives and 359,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing caused serious damage as there was broken cloud and the target could be seen.
Sgt F. Smitton from 408 squadron returned early as the port inner was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
S/Ldr E. Hamber and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Halifax II HX-162
coded VR-X, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
Sgt J. Parrott RAF F/O F. Forrest RCAF F/O G. Lemerick RCAF F/Sgt F. Reilly RAF P/O E. Milner RCAF P/O R. Tarbet RCAF
F/Lt W. Spafford from 426 squadron was attacked by an enemy aircraft
outbound. The port outer was damaged and u/s. They bombed an enemy airfield
and returned safely to base on 3 engines.
F/O J. Matherley from 427 squadron returned early as the radio and navigation
aids were u/s.
P/O J. Sinclair from 428 Squadron returned early as some instruments
were u/s.
F/Sgt W. Byers from 429 squadron returned early with technical problems.
F/O W. Cook RCAF F/O A. McKenzie RCAF W/O2 E. Cornfield RCAF Sgt H. Howson RAF F/O K. Malcolm RCAF F/Sgt J. Wilkinson RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LK-746 coded AL-H, failed to return from this operation.
F/O W. Hicks RCAF F/Sgt J. Begg RAF Sgt J. Ward RAF Sgt R. Drewett RAF P/O H. Clay RCAF
W/O2 W. Woodrow, F/Sgt A. Tinmouth and P/O R. Hamby from 431 Squadron
all returned early as the could not climb.
Sgt J. Beech RAF F/Sgt A. Barnes RAF F/O O. Gilmore RAF Sgt P. Pym RAF Sgt J. Lemoureux RCAF Sgt I. Black RAF W/O2 J. Corriveau RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-150 coded SE-N, were hit by flak and the port outer was u/s due to a broken fuel line. On return they ran out of fuel and the crew bailed out into the English Channel.
P/O J. Barrie RCAF F/Sgt M. Charlebois RCAF Sgt S. Parker RAF Sgt J. Raymond RCAF Sgt R. Cole RAF F/Sgt J. Maher RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LK-963 coded SE-H, failed to return from this operation.
F/O M. Davis RCAF–POW P/O D. Bonokoski RCAF Sgt D. Lockyer RAF–POW Sgt B. Rowe RCAF Sgt J. Bothwell RAF P/O W. Hewetson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-181 coded SE-Q, failed to return from this operation.
F/O R. McLean RCAF P/O A. Thompson RCAF F/Sgt G. Moody RAF Sgt G. Carter RAF Sgt J. McIver RAF
S/Ldr J. McNeill from 433 squadron landed at Bungay on return. W/O2 W. Stiles RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III HX-285 coded BM-E, tried to land at Catfoss due to a fuel shortage. They crashed into trees and sadly the pilot was killed. F/Sgt J. Mitchell RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III HX-281 coded BM-H, were shot up by a JU-88 over the target. They had no rudder control as they were severely damaged. They returned safely to England where they all bailed out.
F/O J. Shedden RCAF F/O R. Wilson RCAF W/O2 S. McDougall RCAF Sgt J. McDonough RCAF F/O H. Cox RCAF F/O J. Gray RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III HX-265 coded BM-D, were
hit by flak over the target and attacked twice by an FW-190. The stbd fuel
tanks were holed. On return the crew ditched in the North Sea due to damage
and a fuel shortage.
F/Sgt W. McQueen from 434 squadron returned early as the compasses were
u/s.
Sgt R. Dobney RAF F/O D. Hutcheon RCAF P/O R. Brown RCAF Sgt S. Thompson RAF P/O J. Clayton RAF P/O J. Demers RCAF W/O2 R. Stanley RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-649 coded WL-X, failed to return from this operation.
F/O R. Compton RCAF F/Sgt D. Rose RCAF Sgt J. Olliffe RAF Sgt D. Silverman RAF Sgt J. Leduc RCAF S/Ldr L. Linnell RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-740 coded WL-V, failed to return from this operation.
P/O A. Heaton RCAF P/O A. Hornby RCAF P/O S. Taylor RAF Sgt P. Wicks RCAF Sgt O. Culverwell RAF P/O E. Devaney RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-916 coded WL-P, failed to return from this operation.
P/O C. Lee RCAF P/O W. Maxwell RCAF F/Sgt K. Scales RAF P/O V. McKeown RCAF P/O W. Martin RCAF S/Ldr J. Hockey RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LL-134 coded WL-U, failed to return from this operation.
P/O G. Borrett RAF–POW F/O J. Ferguson RCAF–POW F/O G. Poad RAF–POW P/O J. Acquier RAF–POW W/O2 S. Saprunoff RCAF–POW P/O F. Hearsey RCAF–POW
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