January 28/29, 1944


    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.
    W/O2 J. Harvey returned early as they received a faulty wind broadcast.
    2nd/Lt M. Humphery was hit by flak, not serious.

    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.
    P/O F. Palmer RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JP-119 coded VR-O, failed to return from this operation.

      F/O S. Gibson RCAF
      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
    All were killed.

    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 B. Hughes was hit by flak, the bomb doors were damaged.

    F/O J. Matherley from 427 squadron returned early as the radio and navigation aids were u/s.
    F/O J. Milton returned early as they were unable to climb.
    F/Lt G. Cribb returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They also blew a tire on landing.

    P/O J. Sinclair from 428 Squadron returned early as some instruments were u/s.
    P/O E. Sykes returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
    F/Lt J. Day-Winter returned early as they were using too much fuel.
    F/O M. Kogan and crew, flying Halifax II JP-127 coded NA-T, were attacked by an ME-109, there were some strikes seen.

    F/Sgt W. Byers from 429 squadron returned early with technical problems.
    F/O J. Atkins and crew, flying Halifax V LL-171 coded AL-U, were attacked by a JU-88, their stbd wing was severely damaged. The JU-88 was also claimed damaged.
    W/Cdr J. Pattison and crew, flying Halifax V LL-170 coded AL-N, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O T. Siltala RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-697 coded AL-D, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt E. Richards RAF
      F/O W. Cook RCAF
      F/O A. McKenzie RCAF
      W/O2 E. Cornfield RCAF
      Sgt H. Howson RAF
      F/O K. Malcolm RCAF
    All were killed.

    F/Sgt J. Wilkinson RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LK-746 coded AL-H, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt R. Green RAF–POW
      F/O W. Hicks RCAF
      F/Sgt J. Begg RAF
      Sgt J. Ward RAF
      Sgt R. Drewett RAF
      P/O H. Clay RCAF
    2 crew were POWs and 5 killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    W/O2 W. Woodrow, F/Sgt A. Tinmouth and P/O R. Hamby from 431 Squadron all returned early as the could not climb.
    P/O J. King RAAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-918 coded SE-F, were low on fuel and landed at Dishforth. They skidded off the runway and their Halifax was severely damaged. 

      F/Sgt J. Gustafson RCAF
      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
    The crew was uninjured.

    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.

      Sgt G. Webber RAF
      P/O J. Barrie RCAF
      F/Sgt M. Charlebois RCAF
      Sgt S. Parker RAF
      Sgt J. Raymond RCAF
      Sgt R. Cole RAF
    4 of the crew were rescued by the navy after 20 minutes in the water.

    F/Sgt J. Maher RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LK-963 coded SE-H, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt T. Boyd RAF–POW
      F/O M. Davis RCAF–POW
      P/O D. Bonokoski RCAF
      Sgt D. Lockyer RAF–POW
      Sgt B. Rowe RCAF
      Sgt J. Bothwell RAF
    3 crew were killed and 4 POWs after being shot down by flak.

    P/O W. Hewetson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-181 coded SE-Q, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt N. Bell RAF
      F/O R. McLean RCAF
      P/O A. Thompson RCAF
      F/Sgt G. Moody RAF
      Sgt G. Carter RAF
      Sgt J. McIver RAF
    All were killed.

    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.

      Sgt G. Lumsden RAF
      F/O J. Shedden RCAF
      F/O R. Wilson RCAF
      W/O2 S. McDougall RCAF
      Sgt J. McDonough RCAF
      F/O H. Cox RCAF
    All crew members landed safely except the rear gunner those chute got caught on the crashing Halifax.

    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.
    The crew was picked up after 2 to 3 hours in the water.
     

    F/Sgt W. McQueen from 434 squadron returned early as the compasses were u/s.
    P/O J. Snelgrove encountered very hot flak for 45 minutes.
    P/O M. Flewelling RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V EB-256 coded WL-S, had the port outer quit just before the target, they started to lose height and bombed from a lower altitude. Over the North Sea they were very short of fuel. They were able to make it to England where the stbd inner quit due to the lack of fuel. 

      F/Sgt E. Vigor RCAF
      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
    All bailed out safely except the rear gunner.

    W/O2 R. Stanley RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-649 coded WL-X, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt S. Groucott RAF
      F/O R. Compton RCAF
      F/Sgt D. Rose RCAF
      Sgt J. Olliffe RAF
      Sgt D. Silverman RAF
      Sgt J. Leduc RCAF
    All were killed.

    S/Ldr L. Linnell RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-740 coded WL-V, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O F. Elms RCAF
      P/O A. Heaton RCAF
      P/O A. Hornby RCAF
      P/O S. Taylor RAF
      Sgt P. Wicks RCAF
      Sgt O. Culverwell RAF
    All were killed.

    P/O E. Devaney RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-916 coded WL-P, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt E. Parker RAF
      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
    All were lost without a trace.

    S/Ldr J. Hockey RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LL-134 coded WL-U, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt L. Bannister RCAF–POW
      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
    All the crew were POWs after being shot down by a Nightfighter.