192 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadron were joined by 32 Lancasters from 408 and 419 squadron. All targets were coastal gun batteries protecting the Normandie beaches. All attacks were made from between 9,000 to 12,000 feet unloading 1,860,000 lbs. of high explosives on the coastal guns at Longues, Houlgate, and Merville-Franceville. These attacks were all made through 10/10 cloud cover.
F/Sgt. C. Reid from 408 squadron had his stbd
outer go u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
Crews of F/O W. Lacey, F/O R. Wilson and F/Lt. J. Hovey of 419 squadron returned without bombing as they didn’t observe any T. I’s
F/Sgt. R. Mckay from 420 squadron was hit by flak. It wasn’t serious and they returned safely to base.
P/O C. Jones of 425 squadron had the stbd inner
go u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. W. Webster of 426 squadron returned early
as the port outer went u/s after takeoff. They landed safely on 3 engines.
F/O R. Tranter, RCAF F/O R. Irvine, RCAF Sgt. G. Durning, RCAF P/O R. Carol, RCAF P/O M. Forsberg, RCAF W/O2 A. King, F/Lt. W. Stephen, and W/O2 D. Foster of 427 squadron returned without bombing as no T. I’s were seen over the target.
F/Sgt. H. Smith, F/Lt. F. Lynch, P/O K. Carter,
F/O E. Graham, P/O A. Gilbert, Sgt. W. Hall, F/Lt. R. Anderson and P/O
S. Side of 428 squadron returned without bombing as no T. I’s were seen
over the target.
F/O E. Townsend of 429 squadron returned without
bombing as no T. I’s were seen.
F/Lt. M. Johnstone of 431 squadron returned without bombing as no T. I’s were seen.
P/O R. Card of 432 squadron returned to base as the compasses were u/s.
F/O J. Morgan of 433 squadron was hit by flak.
It was not serious and the crew returned to base safely.
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