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.