June 28/29, 1943

    30 Halifaxes from 408, 419, and 427 Squadrons were joined by 29 Wellingtons from 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons, on an attack at Cologne. The crews were over the target between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 78,000 lbs of high explosives and 155,000 lbs of incendiaries. The target was cloud covered, but the crews were able to seriously damage large sectors of the city, with many industrial sites hit.

    Ten crews from 408 Squadron departed base at between 23:24 and 23:44, they were over the target at between 02:03 and 02:12, returning at between 04:10 and 05:45.

    <>Sgt E. Dungey and crew, flying Halifax II DT-769 coded EQ-J returned early as the stbd outer was u/s due to an oil leak.  They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O T. Mellish and crew flying Halifax II JB-922 coded EQ-H were hit by flak, flaps damaged. They landed at Coltishall on return.
    W/Cdr W. Ferris and crew flying Halifax II JD-164coded EQ-K landed at Upper Heyford on return due to poor weather at base.
    Sgt. R. Burns, F/Sgt J. Taylor, F/Lt H. Miles, F/Lt A. Mair, F/O H. Lancaster, F/O G. Benett, F/O A. Whiston and crews landed at Chipping Warden on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt G. McMurdy and crew flying Halifax II JD-256 coded VR-A of 419 Squadron returned early as the intercom was u/s.
    F/Lt A. Quaile and crew flying Halifax II JD-256 coded VR-A of419 Squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    Sgt W. Cameron and crew flying Halifax II JD-270 coded VR-P of 419 Squadron was attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim but there was some damage to their port aileron.They were also hit by flak, holes in the fuselage.
    All crews landed at Pershore on return due to poor weather at base.
    Sgt R. Metheral and crew flying Halifax II JB-965 coded VR-W of 419 Squadron were attacked by an unidentified twin engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Pershore on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt W. Keddie, F/O M. Ludlow, Sgt C. Coutlee, F/O C. MacIntosh, Sgt J. McIntosh and crews, all of 419 Squadron landed at Pershore on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O H. Fowler, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-215 coded VR-B, failed to return from this operation. 
      Sgt J. Dickson, RAF Flt/Engineer
      P/O W. Mayes, RCAF Navigator
      P/O D. Agnew, RCAF Bomb Aimer
      F/Lt A. Raine, RCAF Wireless Op
      Sgt W. Otterholm, RCAF Mid Upper Gunner
      Sgt W. Hood, RCAF Rear Gunner
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    Nine crews from 427 Squadron departed base at between 23:25 and 23:43, they were over the target at between 02:07 and 02:10, returning at between 04:05 and 05:20.
    P/O J. Morton and crew flying Halifax V DK-182 coded ZL-E returned early due to the port outer going u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    Sgt W. Schmitt and crew flying Halifax V DK-181 coded ZL-T was returning from this operation and the under carriage wouldn’t come down. The crew made a successful belly landing at base with no injuries.

    F/Lt V. Ganderton, flying Halifax V  EB-148 coded ZL-S,  was attacked by an enemy fighter over Holland. The port rudder and flap were severely damaged by cannon fire. They jettisoned the bomb load and turned for home.

      Sgt J. Morrison RAF Flt/Engineer
      P/O E. Soeder RCAF Navigator
      Sgt K. Hignett RAF Bomb Aimer
      Sgt F. Thompson RAF Wireless Operator
      Sgt F. Carlton RCAF Mid Upper Gunner
      F/Sgt W. Newcombe RCAF Rear Gunner
    They safely bailed out over England with minor injuries to 2 crew members. The Halifax crashed near Isleham.

    F/Lt C. Tubman and crew flying Halifax V DK-184 coded XL-G were hit by flak, stbd wing and bomb doors were damaged. They landed at Chipping Warden on return.
    P/O D. Arnot and crew flying Halifax V DK-189 coded SL-D were attacked by an ME-109. The hydraulics, radios, flaps, and controls were damaged plus many holes throughout the fuselage. They landed safely at Hunsdon.

    Sgt S. Bruce and crew flying Wellington X HE-991 of 429 Squadron returned early as the stbd engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    Sgt F. Hingston and crew flying Wellington X HF-514 coded AL-K returned early as the intercom was u/s.
    Sgt H. Floren and crew flying Wellington X HE-992 coded AL-S were hit by flak. There were holes in the fuselage and the aerial was shot off.
    All crews landed at Honeybourne (6), Upper Heyford (1), Wing (1), and Chipping Warden (1) on return due to poor weather at base.

    Eight crews from 431 Squadron departed base at between 23:20 and 23:30, returning at between 04:00 and 04:20.
    Sgt F. Long and crew flying Wellington X LN-284 coded SE-Q returned early at 00:35 as the rear turret was u/s.
    F/Sgt J. Parker, RAF and crew, flying Wellington X  HE-443 coded SE-O,  failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt G. Hacker, RAF Navigator
      P/O C. Ashworth, RAF Bomb aimer
      Sgt R. Willshire, RAF Wireless Operator
      Sgt D. Kelly, RAF Rear Gunner
    All were killed.

    Nine crews from 432 Squadron departed base at between 23:16 and 23:36, they wee ove the target at between 01:57 and 02:02, returning to base at between 03:51 and 04:46.
    Sgt D. Rae from and crew flying Wellington X HE 353 coded QO-R returned early at 01:15 from the English Coast as the port engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    F/Sgt J. Gingles and crew flying Wellington X HF-494 coded QO-S returned early at 02:26 from 51:50N-02:10E as they were last to take off and would have been too late over the target.
    Three crews landed at Syerston, Wing, and Upper Heyford on return due to poor weather at base.
     


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