March 22/23, 1944


    27 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 73 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Frankfurt. The crews were over the target at between 20,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 54,000 lbs of high explosives and 408,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

    F/Lt W. Fulton RCAF and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Lancaster II DS-797 coded EQ-M, failed to return from this operation.

      W/O2 D. Ledrew RCAF
      Sgt R. Walmsley RAF
      W/O2 J. Gaboury RCAF
      F/O F. King RCAF
      F/Sgt R. Barr RCAF
      Sgt G. Thompson RCAF
      Sgt J. Smith RAF
    All were killed.

    P/O J. Pare RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-717 coded EQ-W, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt K. Curtis RAF
      P/O G. Clough RCAF
      F/O L. Proctor RCAF
      F/O H. Moroz RCAF
      P/O A. Rickert RCAF
      P/O S. Woolhether RCAF
    All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Sgt B. Vanier from 424 Squadron had some instruments u/s on return. They landed at high speed and overshot the runway. The crew was not injured.
    F/O W. Hugli had the under carriage collapse on landing. The crew was not injured.

    P/O C. Tindall RCAF and crew from 425 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-417 coded KW-G, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt J. Patten RAF
      F/O K. Duffield RCAF
      Sgt R. Quinlan RCAF–POW
      P/O C. Hay RCAF
      Sgt J. Brine RCAF–POW
      P/O D. Pulham RCAF
    5 crew were killed and 2 POWs.

    P/O J. Hollingworth from 426 Squadron returned early as the rear turret was u/s.
    F/Sgt J. Jean was attacked by an enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
    F/Lt H. Bow RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-741 coded OW-T, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt D. Gilmore RAF
      P/O C. Hetherington RCAF
      P/O A. Bell RCAF
      F/Sgt J. Mullally RNZAF
      F/O J. Brown RCAF
      F/Sgt A. Frith RAF
    All were lost without a trace.

    P/O H. Wright RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-647 coded OW-R, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt L. Pearson RAF
      P/O H. Gray RCAF
      F/O H. MacDonald RCAF–POW
      F/O W. Burrows RCAF–POW
      F/O E. Sears RCAF
      P/O J. MacLean RCAF
    5 crew were killed and 2 POWs after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Sgt W. Stewart from 429 Squadron returned early as the compasses were u/s.
    F/O J. Atkins returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/Lt W. Anderson and W/O2 M. Fernandez were attacked by enemy aircraft, there was no claims or damage.
    P/O W. Byers landed at Skipton on Swale on return.

    F/Lt M. Pettit from 432 Squadron returned early as the compasses were u/s.
    F/O E. Reid was hit by flak, the stbd aileron was damaged.
    F/Lt D. Cawker RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LK-779 coded QO-W, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt H. Thorne RAF
      F/O F. Storen RCAF–POW
      Sgt A. McNeill RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt A. Beamont RAF
      P/O H. Frizzell RCAF
      Sgt J. Campbell RAF
    5 crew were killed and 2 POWs after being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/Sgt W. Studnik RCAF–POW and , flying Halifax III LW-584 coded QO-Y, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt L. Denning RAF
      F/O D. Bailey RCAF
      P/O D. Laird RCAF
      P/O D. O’Brien RCAF
      P/O C. Bertola RCAF
      P/O B. Murdock RCAF
    Only the pilot survived.
     
     

    While some crews went to Frankfurt, 74 Halifaxes from 419, 424, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Kiel Bay. The crews were over the garden at 15,000 feet, sowing 138@1500 lb mines.

    F/Sgt H. Speight from 419 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd wing tip.
    F/O G. Peck RCAF and crew flying Halifax II JD-468 coded VR-W had the port outer catch fire outbound, the fire was put out and they continued with the operation. On return and on 3 engines the port inner caught fire, this was also put out but they started losing height on 2 engines. A little later an SOS was transmitted and 10 minutes later they ditched in the North Sea. 

      Sgt L. Brooks RAF
      F/O A. Paton RCAF
      F/O E. McRorie RCAF
      F/O A. Winch RCAF
      Sgt D. Curry RCAF
      Sgt L. Ringuette RCAF
    The crew was picked up unharmed about 3 hours later by a trawler. Their Halifax floated nearby and had to be sunk by gunfire.

    F/O D. Crosbie RCAF and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-347 coded QB-X, touched down long and over shot the runway and was damaged beyond repair. 

      Sgt C. Phyall RAF
      F/Sgt P. Moloney RCAF
      P/O J. Tinline RCAF
      Sgt R. Brown RCAF
      Sgt L. Boudreau RCAF
      Sgt Z. Trudeau RCAF
    The crew was not injured.

    F/Lt M. Kogan from 428 Squadron returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.

    F/Sgt F. Skeaff from 431 Squadron returned without mining as there were no T.I’s.

    F/Sgt R. Thomas from 433 Squadron returned without mining as they could not find the pinpoint.

    P/O R. Pratt from 434 Squadron returned without mining as they could not find the pinpoint.
    F/Sgt A. Spence returned early as they were hit by flak, they were holes in the fuel tanks and it was streaming out of the wings. 
     
     


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