June 11/12, 1943

    51 Halifaxes from 408, 419, and 427 Squadrons were joined by 63 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 145,000 lbs of high explosives and 275,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damage was caused to this target.

    Sgt S. Ells from 408 Squadron returned early with a technical problem.
    Sgt T. Thould returned early as the oxygen system was u/s.
    F/O A. Whiston was hit by flak, not serious.
    Sgt R. Burns had the port outer catch fire outbound. They put the fire out, bombed and returned safely to base on 3 engines.
    P/O A. Grant RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JB-972 coded EQ-Q, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt K. Stentiford RAF–POW
      P/O R. Carter RCAF–POW
      P/O T. Moore RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt M. Laloge RCAF–POW
      W/O2 A. Powell RCAF
      F/Sgt J. Lang RCAF
    3 crew were killed and 4 POWs after they were shot down by flak.

    Sgt R. Harrison from 419 Squadron returned early as the intercom was u/s.
    P/O M. Ludlow returned early as the intercom and rear turret were u/s.
    P/O B. Heintz, S/Ldr C. Harris, and Sgt A. Austin were hit by flak, not serious.
    Sgt B. Kirkham returned early as the pitot head was frozen.
    F/O F. Williams returned early due to severe icing.
    F/O J. Tyler returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O W. Boyce RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-143 coded VR-A, failed to return from this operation.

      W/O1 H. Tripp RCAF
      Sgt D. Stewart RAF–POW
      F/O D. Black RAF–POW
      F/O C. Buck RAF–POW
      Sgt D. Chambers RAF
      Sgt R. Hall RCAF–POW
      Sgt J. Gray RCAF–POW
    3 were killed and 5 POWs after being shot down by flak.

    Sgt L. Archibald from 426 Squadron was hit by flak, the fuel tanks were holed. They landed at Hardwick on return due to low fuel.
    Sgt W. Duerr returned early as an engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    P/O N. Hayes RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HZ-261 coded OW-L, failed to return from this operation.

      F/O J. Rawson RCAF
      F/Sgt D. Richardson RCAF
      F/Sgt C. Schamehorn RCAF
      F/Sgt D. MacKenzie RCAF
    All were lost without a trace.

    F/Sgt F. Higgins from 427 Squadron returned early as they were too late getting away.
    F/O L. Colquhoun was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Oulton where they were hit by a Wellington from 431 Squadron. The crew was not injured.

    Sgt W. Lachman RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-322 coded NA-J, from 428 Squadron crashed on takeoff. 

      F/Sgt J. Jette RCAF
      Sgt R. Askew RAF
      F/Sgt E. Marchand RCAF
      F/Sgt M. Scullion RCAF
    All were killed except the pilot.

    P/O W. Ross, Sgt A. Mitchell, and P/O J. Lambert landed at Croft on return.
    P/O D. McDonald landed at Coltishall on return.

    Sgt S. Bruce from 429 Squadron returned early as the port engine was u/s. They landed safely on one engine at Great Ashfield.
    Sgt E. Eames was hit by flak, the tail was damaged.
    F/O R. Davies RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HF-542 coded AL-O, failed to return from this operation.

      F/Sgt D. Campbell RCAF
      F/Sgt R. Zeidel RCAF
      W/O2 L. Taillefer RCAF
      F/Sgt A. MacLachlan RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Sgt R. Conroy RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Wellington X HE-593 coded AL-Z, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt G. Leitch RCAF
      P/O G. Densmore RCAF
      W/O2 G. Nelson RCAF
      Sgt J. Burns RCAF
    4 crew killed and one evaded after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Sgt R. Ellison RAF and crew, flying Wellington X HZ-355 coded AL-G, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt W. Bailey RCAF–Evd
      Sgt H. Horton RAF–POW
      Sgt E. Nicholson RAF–POW
      Sgt W. Mullaney RAF–POW
    3 crew were POWs, one evaded and one killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Sgt J. Morton from 431 Squadron returned early as the fuel cap blew off.
    Sgt H. Apperley and crew, flying Wellington X HF-543 coded SE-P collided with a 427 Squadron Halifax at Oulton ,writing off the Wellington. 

      F/O W. Coleman RAF
      P/O A Perman RAF
      Sgt B. Trew RAF
      Sgt G. Lilley RAF
    The crew was not hurt.

    Sgt W. Eaglesham RAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-184 coded SE-M, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O L. Long RAF
      F/Sgt H. McAusland RAF
      Sgt J. Burrow RAF
      Sgt B. Stepenson RAF
    All were killed when they crashed into the sea.

    S/Ldr W. Mulford RAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-392 coded SE-L, failed to return from this operation.

      F/O C. MacDougall RCAF
      W/O2 J. Breen RCAF
      Sgt J. Bell RAF
      F/Sgt E. Rheaume RCAF
    All were killed when they crashed into the sea.

    Sgt A. Steen from 432 Squadron returned early as the hydraulics were u/s.
    Sgt R. Burgess returned early as the pilot’s escape hatch blew off.
    Sgt J. McLeod landed at Newmarket on return.
    Sgt W. Meaden had just landed from this operation when the rear gunner, Sgt D. Kelly RCAF, came forward from the outside and was struck by the propeller. He was seriously injured and sadly died the following morning.
    F/Lt L. Bourgeois RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-729 coded QO-U, failed to return from this operation.

      F/Sgt J. Philpott RCAF
      F/O G. McClintock RCAF
      P/O H. Warner RCAF
      F/Sgt D. McRae RCAF
    All were lost without a trace.
     


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