March 18/19, 1944
25 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 94 Halifaxes
from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Frankfurt.
The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing
73,000 lbs of high explosives and 411,000 lbs of incendiaries. According
to reports, target marking was accurate and serious damage was caused
F/Sgt J. McCaffrey and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Lancaster II LL-723
coded EQ-H, were attacked by an ME-110, some strikes were seen. They landed
at Horham on return.
F/O A. Bryson, F/O W. Fulton, W/O2 W. Kasper, F/O D. Ryan, F/Sgt W.
Cooke, F/O E. Franklin, F/O S. Frankling, F/Sgt J. Pare, F/O J. White,
and W/O2 C. McLeod landed at Horham on return.
10 crews from 420 Squadron departed base at between 19:16 and 19:25,
they were over the target at between 21:58 and 22:11, returning to base
at between 00:34 and 02:00.
F/Sgt J. Coffey landed at Thorpe Abbots on return
16 crews from 424 Squadron departed base at between 18:52 and 19:44,
they were over the target at between 22:03 and 22:18, returning at between
00:12 and 01:28.
F/Sgt R. Burton returned early at 23:40 from 51:03N-03:42 as
the navigation aids were u/s.
F/Lt E. Mallett returned early at 22:12 from 51:30N-02:00E due to some
instruments being u/s due to severe icing.
F/O R. Bannihr and crew, flying Halifax III HX-314 coded QB-C, were
attacked by an ME-110, some strikes were seen.
F/Sgt R. Vanier and crew, flying Halifax III LW-554 coded QB-H, were
attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Framlingham
on return.
F/Lt N. Loudoun, F/O P. Hamilton, F/Lt R. Lawlor, F/O M. Sherwood,
F/O W. Hill, W/O2 A. Mather, and F/Sgt C. Stewart landed at Framlingham
on return.
S/Ldr J. Westland landed at Woodbridge on return.
P/O J. Dalgleish RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-460 coded QB-U,
failed to return from this operation.
Sgt D. Clouston RAF--flt/engineer
W/O2 J. Barry RCAF--navigator
W/O2 J. Dwyer RCAF--bomb aimer
Sgt W. Addison RCAF--wireless operator
Sgt J. Bedard RCAF--mid upper gunner
F/Sgt R. Turner RCAF--rear gunner
All crews from 425 squadron departed base at between 19:05 and 19:15,
returning at between 00:25 and 01:20.
F/O J. L'Abbe returned early at 21:20 as Sgt P. Whalen, the bomb
aimer was sick.
F/Lt W. Vanexan landed at Thorpe Abbots on return.
F/O J. A. Cote and crew, flying Halifax III LW-417 coded KW-G, were
attacked by a unidentified twin engine aircraft, there was no claim or
damage.
14 crews from 426 Squadron departed base at between 19:03 and 19:30,
they were over the target at between 22:03 and 22:12, returning at between
00:15 and 01:06.
P/O R. Jarman returned early at 22:33 from 51:01N-03:03E, as the hydraulic
line to the rear turret burst, making the turret u/s.
P/O A. Olsson was damaged by a 408 Squadron Lancaster after landing
at Horham on return due to poor weather at base.
1st/Lt J. Smith, W/Cdr W. Swetman, F/Lt I. McRobie, F/Sgt J. Jean,
F/Lt B. Hughes, F/Lt W. Cracknell, P/O D. Berry, and F/Sgt H. Wright landed
at Horham on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O S. Gerard and P/O J. Coulombe landed at Thorpe Abbots on return
due to poor weather at base.
S/Ldr A. Avant and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-707 coded OW-Z, were
attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Thorpe
Abbots on return due to poor weather at base.
F/Lt A. McAuley, F/Lt J. Mawson, F/Sgt S. Dowdell, F/Lt F. Murray, W/O2
W. Patrick, F/Sgt A. Clibbery, F/Lt W. Cory, W/O2 A. Yaworski, S/Ldr G.
Laird, F/O G. Weldon, and W/O1 M. Magdalinski from 427 Squadron landed
at Bury St. Edmonds on return.
F/Sgt C. Coathup and crew, flying Halifax III LW-575 coded ZL-Y, were
attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Bury
St. Edmonds on return.
F/Sgt W. Miller RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III HX-279
coded ZL-Z, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt G. Ritchie RAF
F/O A. Mildon RCAF
P/O R. Dumas RCAF
F/O R. O’Heare RCAF
Sgt E. Sawyer RAF–POW
P/O R. Gallaugher RCAF
5 crew were killed and 2 POWs.
F/O T. Cooper RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LW-551 coded ZL-G, failed to return from this
operation.
Sgt L. Preston RAF–POW
F/O W. Wright RCAF–POW
F/O C. Carson RCAF–POW
Sgt T. Muncaster RAF–POW
F/Sgt G. Dowker RCAF–POW
Sgt P. Clare RAF–POW
6 crew were POWs and 1 killed after they were shot down by a Nightfighter.
F/Lt W. Anderson from 429 Squadron returned early as the under carriage
would not retract. They crash landed at Woodbridge without injury.
F/O A. I. MacDonald and crew, flying Halifax III LW-688 coded AL-J,
were attacked by an ME-110, some strikes were seen. They landed at Bury
St. Edmonds on return.
W/O2 L. Mitchell and crew, flying Halifax III LK-804 coded AL-Q, were
attacked by an ME-109, it was claimed damaged. They landed at Bury St.
Edmonds on return.
F/Sgt P. Cadegan, T/Sgt H. Howland, S/Ldr J. Bell, F/Sgt N. Thompson,
P/O S. Wick, P/O T. Rawlinson, P/O K. Bowly, F/O J. Atkins, W/O2 M. Fernandez,
F/O A. MacDonald, F/Lt R. Hunt, and F/Sgt W. Stewart landed at Bury St.Edmonds
on return.
P/O E. Giles landed Great Ashfield on return.
F/Sgt R. Antony from 432 Squadron returned early as the compasses were
u/s.
F/O A. Mercer returned without bombing as there were no T.I.s. They
landed at Newmarket on return.
F/Lt M. Pettit and crew, flying Halifax III LW-596 coded QO-D, were
attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
F/Sgt W. Fernyhough, F/Lt M. Pettit, F/Sgt C. Narum, and F/Sgt E. Clarke
landed at Newmarket on return.
P/O J. Major from 433 Squadron returned early as they were unable to
climb.
F/O G. Burns was hit by flak, the port inner was u/s. They landed safely
at Framlingham on 3 engines.
F/O E. Van Slyck, F/Sgt R. Reinelt, W/O2 C. Neilson, F/O W. Canter,
F/Sgt J. Monahan, and F/Sgt J. James landed at Framlingham on return.
F/Sgt G. Hall landed at Woodbridge on return.
F/Sgt W. Sturmy landed at Thorpe Abbots on return.
F/Sgt W. Wright landed Bury St. Edmonds on return.
P/O D. James RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III HX-282 coded BM-K, failed to return from this
operation.
G/Cdr L. Wray RCAF–POW
Sgt R. Green RAF–POW
W/O2 G. Sharpe RCAF–POW
F/O S. Sinclair RCAF–POW
Sgt E. Pearce RAF–POW
P/O J. Levesque RCAF
Sgt R. Stinson RCAF–POW
6 crew were POWs and 2 were killed after being shot down by flak.
While the Frankfurt attack was taking place, 39 Halifaxes from 419,
428, 431 and 434 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Heligoland.
The crews were over the garden at between 11,000 and 12,000 feet, sowing
74@1500 lb mines.
F/Sgt C. Patterson from 419 squadron returned early as the stbd inner
was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt A. Tinmouth from 431 squadron returned early as the port outer
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt R. Saltzberry from 434 Squadron returned early as the navigation
aids were u/s.
F/Sgt E. Vigor and crew, flying Halifax V LL-168 coded WL-S, were attacked
by a JU-88 and an FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
W/O2 H. Frith and crew, flying Halifax V LL-285 coded WL-K, were attacked
by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
F/O D. Evans RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax V LL-178 coded WL-R, crashed on return near Thirsk.
P/O D. Thicke RCAF
P/O G. Hutt RAF
F/O E. Armour RCAF
P/O D. Jackson RCAF
Sgt W. Cotton RAF
P/O R. Ballentine RCAF
P/O J. Sleigher RCAF
All were killed.