Daily Operations

March 15/16, 1944

29 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 101 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadron on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 64,000 lbs of high explosives and 402,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, some damage was caused.

F/O D. Ryan from 408 squadron landed at Wing on return.
W/O2 J. Harvey had the rear turret u/s on return.
2nd/Lt M. Humphrey landed at Burn on return.
F/O A. Colville RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-718 coded EQ-E, failed to return from this operation.

P/O N. Lumgair RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-637 coded EQ-P, failed to return from this operation.

6 crews from 420 squadron landed at Tangmere on return.
Sgt W. McAdam RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-418 coded PT-E, was hit by flak, the fuselage was severely damaged, Sgt W. Briggs RCAF, the navigator killed and pilot injured in the legs. They continued to the target and were hit again, this time losing 4,500 feet. On return, they ground looped due to the stbd tire being flat. The crew was uninjured and only then did the pilot inform the crew of his injuries.
F/O G. Calder RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-426 coded PT-Q, failed to return from this operation.

W/O2 W. Vornbrock from 424 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt H. Kirkby was attacked by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Thorney Island on return.
All other crews landed at Thorney Island, Leeming or Ford on return.

F/O J. Taylor from 425 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt J. Brisson returned early as the controls were not working correctly.
F/O E. Kirk RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-413 coded KW-Q, returned and tried to land at base. The weather was very poor and after some attempts and their fuel exhausted, the crew climbed to 4,000 feet and bailed out. The Halifax crashed at Brierley Hill destroying 3 houses, damaging 50 and killing a person on the ground.

F/Sgt N. Craig from 426 squadron landed at Westcott on return.
F/O S. Gerard landed at Tangmere on return due to a fuel shortage.
W/O2 D. Robertson was hit by flak, there were many holes through out the fuselage and F/O N. Sharer, the mid upper gunner, was injured. They landed at Ford on return.
W/O2 C. McIlwain RCAF–POW and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-829 coded OW-U, failed to return from this operation.

P/O A. Simard RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-771 coded OW-P, failed to return from this operation.

W/O2 A. King from 427 squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. Weldon was hit by flak, not serious.
4 crews landed at Middle Wallop, Thorney Island and Dunsfold on return.
F/O H. Steeves RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-558 coded ZL-A, failed to return from this operation.

F/O J. Milton RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III LW-559 coded ZL-F, failed to return from this operation.

P/O E. Giles from 429 squadron returned early as the fuel system was not working.
F/O A. MacDonald returned early as they were unable to raise the under carriage.
F/Sgt P. Cadegan returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
W/O2 N. Ross returned early as the throttle lock wasn’t working.
4 crews landed at Thorney Island, Burn and Ibsley on return.
F/Lt H. Heimbecker RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-690 coded AL-T, failed to return from this operation.

F/O J. Barker from 432 squadron returned early with a fuel leak.
F/Sgt G. Millar was attacked by an ME-210, there was no damage or claim.
9 crews landed at Silverstone, West Malling, Warmwell and Thorney Island on return.

S/Ldr H. Paterson from 433 squadron returned early as a fuel pump was u/s.
F/Sgt R. Thomas returned early as the pilot’s escape hatch blew off.
P/O J. Major returned early as the overload pump was u/s.
P/O D. Brown had the stbd inner u/s on return. They landed safely at Middle Wallop on 3 engines.
4 crews landed at Boscombe Down, Middle Wallop and Ford on return.

While most of the crews went to Stuttgart, 54 Halifaxes from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Amiens. The crews were over the target at between 8,000 and 13,000 feet, releasing 566,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

W/O2 H. Gouthreau from 428 squadron returned without bombing as they were hit by flak. The port outer was u/s, the stbd flap shot off and the fuselage holed. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt F. Lord had the stbd inner u/s outbound, they bombed and returned safely to base on 3 engines.

F/Sgt A. Tinmouth from 431 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at Church Lawford on 3 engines.
6 crews landed at Scorton and Leeming on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O G.Philbin RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-152 coded SE-U, had a 500 lb bomb load fall out after landing. P/O L. Barker RCAF and P/O I. Klein RCAF the two gunners, were killed. The rest of the crew were able to escape with minor injuries.

P/O A. Gardner from 434 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt M. Flewelling returned without bombing as they did not see any T.Is.
F/Sgt A. Hegseth landed at Scorton on return.
F/Sgt N. Goulet RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-696 coded WL- F, swung on landing and had the under carriage collapse. The crew was not injured.

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