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    July 24/25, 1944



    40 Lancasters from 408, 419 and 428 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 268,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, this the first of 3 attacks severely damaged this city.

    F/Lt H. Chekaluck from 408 Squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O G. Frankling, F/O H. McKinley, W/O1 C. McLeod, W/O2 W. Cooke, F/O R. Clothier, P/O G. Boehmer, F/O D. Ryan, P/O C. Reid and F/O A. Quinlan landed at Lasham on return.

    F/O L. Sparling and crew from 419 Squadron flying Lancaster X KB-712 coded VR-L was attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no damage, but some strikes were seen.
    F/O H. Witwer was attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O W. Milner and crew flying Lancaster X KB-753 coded VR-B was attacked twice by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage, but some strikes were seen.
    F/Sgt J. Phillis RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-719 coded VR-T, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt J. Norman RAF
      F/Sgt W. Devine RCAF–POW
      Sgt R. MacKinnon RCAF–Evd
      P/O J. Spevak RCAF
      P/O J. Searson RCAF
      P/O J. Shortt RCAF
    4 crew were killed, 1 POW and 2 evaded capture after being shot down.

    P/O A. Gilbert and crew from 428 Squadron flying Lancaster X KB-739 coded NA-W was attacked by a ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
    W/O2 W. Tynan and crew flying Lancaster X KB-743 coded NA-I was attacked by a twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O R. Curtis from 428 Squadron was attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
    P/O S. Huston had the stbd inner catch fire over the target, it was put out and they returned safely to base on 3 engines.
    P/O C. Corbet RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-740 coded NA-V, returned early as they were involved in a mid-air collision over France. The bomb doors were torn off, stbd inner engine caught fire, all the propellers were bent, and the landing gear jammed. Sgt J.Sandulak RCAF, the rear gunner bailed out. They crew struggled back to a successful belly landing at Woodbridge. The crew was not injured.
     
     

    While the Lancasters went to Stuttgart, 100 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432 and 433 Squadrons were ordered on attacks of 2 V-1 sites at L’Hey and Ferfay. The crews were over the targets at between 12,000 and 13,000 feet, releasing lbs of high explosives. According to reports, most of the crews were sent home by the master bomber due to poor weather over the targets.

    Only 3 crews from 420 Squadron bombed, there was 10/10th cloud over the target.
    F/Lt D. Trickett RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-713 coded PT-U, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt E. Walton RAF
      F/Lt R. Knight RCAF
      F/O K. Heron RCAF
      F/O E. Monk RCAF
      P/O N. Cushman RCAF
      F/Sgt J. Sutherland RCAF
      F/Sgt H. Hebert RCAF
    All were killed when they crashed into the English Channel.

    Only 3 crews from 425 Squadron bombed the target due to bad weather.

    Only 3 crews from 426 Squadron bombed the target.

    P/O A. Sovran from 427 Squadron did not bomb, as they could not open the bomb doors.

    4 crews from 432 Squadron returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s.
     
     

    4 Halifaxes from 424 Squadron were also ordered on a mining operation to Brest and Lorient. The crews were over the garden at 12,000 feet, sowing 14@1500 lb mines.

    All crews returned safely to base.