July 25/26, 1944
37 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 squadrons were joined by 140
Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons
on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were over the target at between 16,000
and 21,000 feet, releasing 829,000 lbs of high explosives. According to
reports, this attack was successful and severe damage was caused.
F/O G. Frankling, F/O R. Clothier, P/O T. Bailey, F/O H. McKinley and
S/Ldr F. Hales from 408 Squadron landed at Odiham on return.
F/O D. Ryan and W/O2 W. Cooke landed at Hartford Bridge on return.
F/O J. Bell from 419 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s.
They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O C. Williams did not release their load on target. They were attacked
by enemy aircraft and chased back to the French coast.
F/O L. Bowerman and crew flying Lancaster X KB-720 coded VR-P was attacked
by an ME-210 and FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
F/Lt W. Anderson had the airspeed indicator go u/s on return. On landing
they overran the runway and hit the inner marker building, damaging the
bomb doors, flaps, tail, and propellers. The crew was not injured.
Sgt J. Tease from 420 squadron returned early as the transfer fuel pump
was u/s.
P/O F. Beairsto was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Beaulieu
on return.
F/O E. Aldred and crew flying Halifax III LW-676 coded PT-Y was attacked
by a JU-88, it was claimed destroyed. They landed at Beaulieu on return.
P/O J. Ward had the hydraulics go u/s on return. They landed safely
at Fairford.
P/O R. McKay landed at Plumetot on return due to damage and low fuel.
W/O2 W. McAdam, W/Cdr G. McKenna, F/O C. Bennett and P/O J. Sled landed
at Beaulieu on return.
F/Lt J. Walker landed at Ford on return.
P/O E. Johnston, P/O G. Wass and F/Lt R. Kalle landed at Tangmere on
return.
F/O G. Heron landed at Bourne on return.
F/Lt J. Zavitz landed at Fairford on return.
F/O J. Keys from 424 Squadron returned early due to severe weather.
F/O M. Sherwood returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed
safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O J. McDonald from 425 squadron returned early as the port inner was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O N. Streight and crew flying Halifax III LW-381 coded KW-B was attacked
by a unidentified single engine enemy aircraft, some strikes were seen.
P/O J. Henry landed at Upwood on return.
F/O C. McKinstry, P/O G. Hamilton, F/O J. Sheridan from 426 squadron
returned without bombing as they did not see any T.I.s.
F/O P. Buck and F/O A. North landed at Tangmere on return.
F/O J. Wilding and crew flying Halifax VII NP-681 coded OW-J was attacked
by a JU-88 and an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
W/O2 R. McKenney from 427 Squadron was hit by gunfire from another bomber,
was not serious. They landed at Silverston on return.
P/O A. MacLennen and crew flying Halifax III MZ-291 coded ZL-O was
attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
W/O2 A. Clibbery and crew flying Halifax III LW-161 coded ZL-V was
attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
P/O H. Egli RCAF and crew flying Halifax III MZ-316 coded ZL-J was
hit by flak, they were severely damaged with holes in the fuel tanks. The
crew bailed out on return over Normandy.
Sgt G. Briers RAF
F/O V. Sunstrum RCAF
F/O H. Campbell RCAF
Sgt T. Foy RCAF
F/Sgt M. Kotyk RCAF
Sgt P. Regimbal RCAF
All landed safely in Allied territory.
F/Lt W. Scott and F/O R. Penrose landed at Silverstone on return.
F/O O. Gorman landed at Tangmere on return.
W/O2 W. Tynan from 428 Squadron returned early as the port outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O A. Gilbert and crew flying Lancaster X KB-764 coded NA-B was attacked
by a ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
F/Lt D. Hall from 429 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O J. Lasek and crew flying Halifax III LV-965 coded AL-J was attacked
by a JU-88 and an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
They were also hit by flak, there was one starboard fuel tank was holed.
W/O2 J. Irish, F/Lt A. Childs, F/O D. McNaughton, F/Lt E. Hawn, F/O
A. Patterson and F/O L. DiMarco landed at Turweston on return.
F/O J. Wade landed at Barford St. John on return.
P/O M. Tracey RCAF–Evd and crew flying Halifax III MZ-362 coded AL-Y
failed to return from this operation.
Sgt T. Holmes RAF
Sgt R. Wasylkow RCAF–Evd
Sgt F. Elderton RCAF–Evd
P/O F. Van Droogenbroeck RCAF
Sgt D. Fairborn RCAF–Evd
Sgt R. Cowan RCAF–Evd
2 crew were killed and 4 evaded capture.
P/O H. McVicar and crew from 431 Squadron flying Halifax III MZ-597
coded SE-B was attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no
claim or damage.
W/Cdr H. Dow RCAF–POW and crew flying Halifax III MZ-858 coded SE-Y
failed to return from this operation.
F/Lt R. Martin RCAF–POW
F/O K. Jones RCAF–POW
F/O D. Frauts RCAF–POW
P/O H. Douglas RCAF–POW
P/O R. Carter RCAF
P/O E. Parker RCAF
2 crew were killed and 5 POWs after being hit by flak.
F/Lt D. Von Laufer from 432 squadron hit a pole on landing, the damage
was not serious.
W/Cdr J. MacDonald RCAF–Evd and crew flying Halifax VII NP-687 coded
QO-A failed to return from this operation.
F/O H. Chamberlain RAF–Evd
F/Lt H. Kenley RAF–Evd
F/O N. Gumsby RCAF–Evd
F/O W. Calderwood RCAF–Evd
F/O S. Wright RCAF
F/Sgt B. Gustafson RCAF–Evd
6 crew evaded capture and 1 was killed.
F/Lt D. Johnson RCAF
and crew flying Halifax VII NP-688 coded QO-X failed to return from this
operation.
Sgt F. Crawford RAF
F/O G. Ellis RCAF–POW
F/O K. Moss RCAF
F/O F. Wittmack RCAF
P/O J. Giles RCAF
P/O G. Martin RCAF
6 crew were killed and 1 POW.
F/O J. Hartley from 433 squadron returned without bombing as no T.I.s
were seen. They landed at Harwell due to a fuel shortage.
P/O F. Edmondson returned without bombing as they were lost, they landed
at Harwell on return due to a fuel shortage.
P/O W. Wright RCAF and crew flying Halifax III LV-911 coded BM-I crashed
on takeoff, the crew was not injured.
F/O W. Miller landed at Friston on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/Lt E. Van Slyck landed at Harwell on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/O O. Orendorff, W/Cdr A. Lewington and F/O J. Linklater landed at
Hampstead Norris on return due to fuel shortages.
P/O J. Stinson from 434 Squadron returned early as the radios were u/s.
F/O V. Woods returned without bombing as they over shot the target
in thick cloud.
P/O B. Peterson and crew flying Halifax III LK-886 coded WL-D was attacked
by a FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
F/O G. Moore and crew flying Halifax III LW-389 coded WL-F was attacked
twice by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They also had the stbd
outer u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.