June 12/13, 1944


    32 Lancaster from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60 Halifaxes from 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at Cambrai. The crews were over the target at between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, releasing 745,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, this attack was accurate with serious damage being done.

    P/O J. Brown from 408 squadron had both stbd engines catch fire on landing.
    F/Lt F. Brice RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-688 coded EQ-R, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O A. Mabon RAF
      F/O A. Glendenning RCAF
      P/O M. McDonald RCAF
      P/O H. Wilson RCAF
      P/O E. Todd RCAF
      F/O J. Gray RAF
      P/O J. Bergeron RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter. 

    F/Lt H. McIver RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-772 coded EQ-T, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt D. Russell RAF
      F/O J. Wyatt RAF
      P/O W. Goodwin RCAF
      F/Lt T. Pledger RCAF
      F/O C. Hanchar RAF
      F/O A. Dulait RAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    S/Ldr W. Stewart RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-726 coded EQ-Y, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O H. Varley RAF
      F/O G. Mallory RCAF
      F/O W. Burns RCAF–POW
      P/O J. Bray RAF
      P/O G. La Pierre RCAF–Evd
      P/O R. Ochsner RCAF
      W/O H. Murphy RCAF
    6 crew were killed, 1 POW and 1 evaded capture after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/O W. Lacey RCAF and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-731 coded VR-S, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt B. Wilson-Low RAF–Evd
      F/O E. Lowe RCAF
       F/O R. Frobes RCAF–Evd
      P/O D. Applin RCAF
      P/O M. Larkin RCAF
      P/O G. Carruthers RCAF
    5 crew were killed and 2 evaded capture after being shot down by flak.

    F/O R. Wilson RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-714 coded VR-Y, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt C. White RCAF
      F/O R. Pole RCAF
      F/O C. McOrmond RCAF
      F/O D. McMullen RCAF
      P/O M. Gates RCAF
      P/O R. Francis RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/O A. De Breyne RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-726 coded VR-A, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt R. Vigars RAF–POW
      F/O A. Bodie RCAF–Evd
      Sgt J. Friday RCAF–POW
      W/O2 W. Kelly RCAF–Evd
      P/O A. Mynarski RCAF
      F/O G. Brophy RCAF–Evd
    2 crew were POWs, 4 evaded capture and P/O A. Mynarski gave his life after being shot down by a Nightfighter. On the run in to the target they were attacked and severely damaged and set on fire by a Nightfighter. The order to abandon the Lancaster was given and P/O Mynarski was making his way back to the door when he saw the rear gunner, F/O Brophy, trapped in his turret. With total disregard for his safety, P/O Mynarski made his way through the flames to try and assist the rear gunner. Despite all his efforts, the turret could not be moved and P/O Brophy motioned Andrew away to save his own life. Back through the flames he crawled, with his lower clothing and parachute burning, he turned, saluted his friend and bailed out. Witnesses on the ground watched this man’s decent to the ground with his clothing and parachute still burning. Attempts were made to save Andrews life, but in the end, he died shortly after due to severe burns. The Lancaster hit the ground and F/O Brophy was thrown from his turret without injury. This act was brought to the attention of higher authorities, and P/O Andrew Mynarski was bestowed the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth’s highest award for bravery.

    Veterans Affairs Canada tribute to P/O A. Mynarski

    A. Mynarski, V.C. Park and Memorial, Winnipeg MB

    W/O2 J. Ward from 420 squadron returned early as all the engines were over revving.
    F/O J. Britt was attacked by an enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
    F/Sgt W. McAdam was attacked by an FW-190, they were hit in the stbd wing and the FW-190 was also claimed damaged.
    F/O E. Aldred was attacked 3 times by enemy aircraft, there was no claim on a JU-88 and Fw-190 but another FW-190 exploded in mid air and was claimed destroyed.

    P/O J. Henry from 425 Squadron was hit by flak, the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O C. Jones had the port outer u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    Sgt T. Barton was attacked by an ME-110, it was shot down before it fired a shot.
    F/O E. Kirk was attacked by an enemy aircraft, it was claimed destroyed.

    F/Lt P. Logan from 426 squadron returned early as they were unable to raise the under carriage.
    F/O J. Wilding had the astro-dome shot off by an enemy Nightfighter.
    P/O D. Dakin was hit by flak and attacked by an ME-110, there were holes in the stbd elevator, fuselage, bomb doors and stbd inner propellor.
    S/Ldr I. McRobie RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NA-510 coded OW-E, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt E. White RAF
      F/Sgt A. Hammond RAF–Evd
      F/O G. Bedford RCAF–POW
      W/O2 C. McLeod RCAF–Evd
      W/O2 M. Bzowy RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt M. Bemrose RAF–Evd
      P/O D. Murray RCAF–Evd
    2 crew were killed, 2 were POWs and 4 evaded capture after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/O V. Smith and F/O W. Tobias from 432 Squadron were attacked by FW-190s, there were no claims or damages.
    P/O L. Lauzon RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III LW-616 coded QO-R, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt J. Cakebread RAF–POW
      W/O1 H. Hodder RCAF–Evd
      W/O2 G. Wallis RCAF–POW
      W/O2 J. Oliver RCAF–POW
      Sgt C. Christoff RCAF–Evd
      Sgt J. Beattie RCAF–POW
    5 crew were POWs and 2 evaded capture.

    P/O J. McElheran RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-601 coded QO-A, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt A. Mellor RAF
      P/O R. Botsford RCAF
      P/O W. Blanchard RCAF
      P/O G. Dieno RCAF
      Sgt R. Irwin RAF–Evd
      Sgt P. Steers RAF
      Sgt J. Ludwig RCAF–POW
    6 crew were killed, 1 POW and 1 evaded capture.
     

    While some of the group went to Cambrai, 89 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, 431, 433 and 434 Squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Arras. The crews were over the target at between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, releasing 705,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, serious damage was caused.

    F/O J. Dundas from 424 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.

    F/O M. Strange from 427 Squadron was attacked by an enemy aircraft, the stbd elevator was shot off and there were holes in the fuselage. They landed safely at Woodbridge on return.
    F/O G. Plyley landed at base on 2 engines.
    F/O W. Proudfoot RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-165 coded ZL-M, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt M. Taylor RAF
      F/O J. Murphy RCAF
      F/O E. Pawlitza RCAF
      F/O E. Simonato RCAF
      F/O P. Koleda RCAF
      F/O A. Hall RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/O R. Pearson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-135 coded ZL-R, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt K. Bulow RAF–Evd
      F/O E. Beaton RCAF–POW
      F/O L. Cartwright RCAF
      P/O E. Duffin RCAF
      P/O E. Dubeau RCAF
      P/O G. Parsons RCAF
    5 crew were killed, 1 POW and 1 evaded capture.

    F/O J. Fulton RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Halifax III LV-995 coded ZL-Y, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt D. Bristow RAF
      P/O N. Fitton RCAF
      P/O E. Wilson RCAF–Evd
      F/O K. Patrick RCAF–Evd
      F/Lt L. Thistle RCAF
      F/O F. Lang RCAF
    4 crew were killed and 3 evaded capture.

    P/O F. Augusta from 429 Squadron returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s.
    F/O J. Weir was attacked by an ME-110, the gunners fired 1500 rounds with many hitting the ME-110.

    W/O2 F. Skeaff from 431 Squadron was attacked by an ME-110, it was claimed destroyed after the gunners fired 700 rounds.
    F/O J. Collver was attacked by an ME-210, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O N. MacLeod was attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
    Was attacked 3 times by ME-109s and a JU-88. The JU-88 was seen to hit the ground and explode.

    F/O R. Pratt from 434 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O H. Hawley was attacked by a JU-88, both stbd engines caught fire but were put out. The rear gunner was still able to shoot down the JU-88. They landed without further incident at West Raynham on 2 engines.
    W/Cdr C. Bartlett RAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-173 coded WL-K, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O C. Kyle RCAF
      F/O R. Kelso RCAF
      F/O J. Alexander RCAF
      F/Lt D. Crawford RCAF–POW
      P/O R. Campbell RCAF
      F/O R. Learn RCAF
    6 crew were killed and 1 POW after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    P/O F. Tandy RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-293 coded WL-S, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt T. Roberts RAF
      P/O A. Morgan RCAF
      P/O J. Swan RCAF
      P/O P. Legge RCAF
      F/O R. Hewitt RCAF
      P/O C. Dymond RCAF
    All were killed.

    P/O W. Wood RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-713 coded WL-P, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt T. Ely RAF–POW
      F/O D. Robertson RCAF–Evd
      P/O G. Ovenden RCAF–Evd
      Sgt R. Buckman RAF–POW
      Sgt J. Persche RCAF–Evd
      Sgt G. Nordin RCAF–Evd
    The pilot was killed, 2 crew were POWs and 4 evaded capture.
     

    4 Halifaxes from 428 squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Lorient and St. Nazaire. The crews were over the garden at 12,000 feet, sowing 8@1500 and 8@1850 lb mines.

    F/O G. Gonyou was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing and fuel tanks.
     
     


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