January 28/29, 1945



    124 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 squadrons were joined by 55 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack Stuttgart. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 774,000 lbs of high explosives and 483,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered.

    W/O1 R. Craven and F/O G. Daughters from 408 Squadron landed at Molesworth on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt R. Fleming, F/Lt E. Finch, W/Cdr E. Evans, F/O S. Dean, F/Lt E. Mowatt, P/O R. Stewart, F/Lt E. Heaven, F/Lt D. Brown, F/Lt D. Sanderson, F/O C. Pitu, and F/Lt A. Bossenberry landed at Thurleigh on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O R. Wallis RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-746 coded EQ-E, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O L. Collinson RCAF
      F/O T. Little RCAF
      F/O H. McGovern RCAF–POW
      P/O P. Myerson RAAF
      P/O T. Quinn RCAF
      P/O R. Siewart RCAF
    6 crew were killed and 1 POW.

    F/O C. Johnson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-743 coded EQ-K, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt T. Chandler RAF
      F/O N. Baily RCAF
      F/O J. O’Brien RCAF
      P/O J. Mortley RCAF
      P/O F. Henry RCAF
      P/O B. House RCAF
    All were killed.

    F/O L. Minkler from 415 Squadron returned early as the oxygen system was u/s.
    F/O G. Hyland was attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Grafton Underwood on return due to poor weather at base.
    S/Ldr W. Brown and crew, flying Halifax III NR-172 coded 6U-V, were attacked by a ME-210, the enemy aircraft was hit in the cockpit and engines. It was seen to go into a spin with smoke pouring out off the engines, it was claimed destroyed. They landed at Grafton Underwood on return due to poor weather at base.
    W/Cdr F. Ball was hit by flak, the rear fuselage was damaged and a fire was started. It took the crew over an hour to put the fire out and were ready to bail out. They landed safely at Grafton Underwood on return due to poor weather at base.
    W/O2 L. Russell landed at Deenthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O G. Grier landed at Wing on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt W. Goodwin landed at Stradishall on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O B. Cowieson, F/Lt W. Mitchell, F/Lt A. Cruikshank, F/Lt T. Mears, F/Lt J. Northrup, F/Lt C. Chartier, F/O A. Galley, and F/O D. Stewart landed at Grafton Underwood due to poor weather at base.

    F/O R. Millar from 419 Squadron did not bomb as the load hung up. They landed at Strubby on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O B. Martin landed at Oakley on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt F. Dawson, F/O B. Nichols, F/O P. Tulk, F/O E. Bruyns, F/Lt H. Metivier, S/Ldr C. Black, F/Lt A. Warner, F/Lt D. Bowes, F/Lt J. Watts, F/Lt G. Sheahan, F/Lt A. Halkett, F/O P. Griffith, and F/Lt W. Armstrong landed at Strubby due to poor weather at base.

    F/Sgt H. Bishop from 420 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at East Moor on 3 engines.
    P/O M. Callahan landed at Wing on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O S. Young landed at Watton on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O R. Bagnell landed at Ramsbury on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O R. Lepp, F/O W. Anderson, F/O O. Austenson, F/Lt R. Field, P/O R. MacMillan, F/Lt V. Glover, P/O C. Reid, F/O M. Stock, and F/O D. Hill landed at Chelveston on return due to poor weather at base.

    W/Cdr E. Williams RCAF and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-164 coded QB-S, had just started their takeoff roll when their Halifax swung off the runway, crashed and blew up.

      Sgt L. Tongue RAF
      P/O R. Nicolls RCAF
      P/O R. Chatfield RCAF
      P/O G. Doyle RCAF
      F/O W. Fleming RCAF
      F/O J. Tremblay RCAF 
    All were killed except the rear gunner, who was seriously injured.

    F/O G. Perrier from 425 Squadron returned without bombing as the navigation aids were u/s.
    F/O J. MacHale was hit by flak, there were holes in the nose and bomb doors.

    F/Lt E. Garrett from 426 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O R. Fuller landed at Chelveston on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Whipple and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-685 coded OW-L, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Ridgewell on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Talocka, F/Lt W. Bell, F/O R. Swift, F/Lt J. Kirkpatrick, F/O A. Davies, F/O W. McLeod, F/Lt C. Fyfe, F/Lt W. Egan, F/O D. Weicker, P/O D. Black, F/Lt G. Fidler, and F/O R. Brodie landed at Ridgewell due to poor weather at base.

    W/Cdr F. Carling-Kelly RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-768 coded OW-Q, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt J. Bromley RAF–POW
      P/O S. Rundle RCAF
      F/O D. Bird RCAF–POW
      F/O H. Dales RCAF–POW
      F/O A. Evans RCAF
      F/O P. Hyde RCAF
    3 crew were killed and 4 POWs after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    P/O D. Murray from 427 Squadron returned early at the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at Linton on Ouse on 3 engines.
    F/Lt W. Towne, F/O A. Lock, S/Ldr J. Mulvihill, F/Lt C. Collins, F/Lt E. Stewart, F/O G. Archer, F/Lt A. MacKay, F/Lt J. Murphy, F/O W. Mackercher, F/O T. Wagar, F/Lt R. Gould, F/Lt W. Walker, F/O W. Britton, P/O I. Thomson, and F/O R. Wall landed at Blackbushe on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt A. Googe from 428 Squadron returned early as the rudders were u/s along with some instruments. They landed at East Kirkby.
    F/Lt J. Goldie landed at Tangmere on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt D. Berry landed at Oakington on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt B. Miller, F/Lt J. Craton, F/O D. Walsh, F/O G. Pauli, F/O N. Noel, F/O R. Anderson, F/Lt G. Quinn, F/O G. Pearce, F/Lt K. Ellson, and F/O A. Mutch landed at East Kirkby on return due to poor weather at base.
    S/Ldr H. Kay RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-770 coded NA-D, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt R. Gullick RAF
      F/O R. Stapleford RCAF–POW
      F/O G. Liney RCAF
      F/O J. Blades RCAF
      P/O F. Jolicoeur RCAF
      F/Sgt E. Ossington RCAF–POW
    5 crew were killed and 2 were POWs after they were shot down by a Nightfighter.

    P/O W. Fikis and crew from 429 Squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-872 coded AL-Z, did not bomb as there were no T.I's. On return they were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage, although some strikes were seen. They landed at Deenthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt J. Creeper landed at Colerne on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Brown landed at Tangmere on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt P. Robb, F/O A. Cook, F/Lt R. Kingsland, W/O2 D. Williams, F/Lt D. Magee, F/O R. Jones, F/O L. Moffatt, W/Cdr R. Bolduc, F/O H. Humphries, F/Lt I. Benson, F/O J. Rowe, and F/Lt R. Charlton landed at Deenthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.

    P/O J. Lourie from 431 Squadron did not bomb as there were no T.Is. They landed at Metheringham on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt B. Kaplansky, F/O P. Hurley, F/Lt J. Henry, F/Lt R. Haw, F/Lt E. Tuckey, F/O W. Weitendorf, S/Ldr H. Smith, F/O J. Morton, F/O D. Hagar, W/Cdr E. Mitchell, and F/Lt J. Duggan landed at Metheringham on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/O L. Maguire and crew from 432 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-694 coded QO-R, were attacked by a JU-88, many strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged. They landed at Polebrook on return due to poor weather at base.
    S/Ldr S. Minhinnick landed at Tangmere on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt L. Kroft landed at Grafton Underwood on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O A. Clarke, P/O J. Kinniburgh, P/O R. Proud, F/Lt F. Horan, F/O J. Patterson, P/O E. Patzer, F/O A. Potter, F/Lt A. Bews, F/O J. Hamilton, F/Lt W. Mennie, P/O G. Sherlock, and F/O L. Loppe landed at Polebrook on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt J. Francis from 434 Squadron returned early as the navigation aids were u/s. They landed at Spilsby.
    F/O R. Prime returned early as F/Sgt J. Hough RCAF, the wireless operator, blacked out due to lack of oxygen.
    S/Lr G. Bennett, F/O G. Marlow, F/Lt R. Henry, F/O L. Coulter, P/O F. Hart, F/O J. Wagman, W/Cdr A. Blackburn, F/O I. Andres, F/Lt J. Rothenbush, F/O C. Alger, F/O V. Barr, and F/Lt T. Coghlan landed at Spilsby due to poor weather at base.