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24 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 116 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at Le Mans. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 14,000 feet, releasing 1,019,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the rail yards were severely damaged but some bombs fell among residential areas with French casualties.
W/Cdr D. Jacobs, F/O A. Colville, and F/Lt F. Hales from 408 Squadron
did not bomb as they did not see any T.I’s.
F/O W. Barclay from 419 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt N. Loudoun from 424 Squadron did not bomb as they did not see any T.I’s.
F/Sgt J. A. Cote from 425 Squadron did not bomb as they did not see
any T.I’s.
6 crews from 426 squadron bombed the target, all others were sent home
by the master bomber.
F/Sgt A. King from 427 Squadron returned early as the port outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt C. Ford, F/Lt F. Lord, and W/O2 W. Gay from 428 Squadron returned
without bombing as there were no T.I’s.
F/Lt R. Hunt from 429 squadron returned early as they could not raise
the under carriage.
F/Lt J. Valentine from 431 Squadron did not bomb as there were no T.I’s.
F/Sgt C. Narum from 432 Squadron returned early as the hydraulics were
u/s.
P/O J. Major from 433 squadron returned without bombing as there were
no T.I’s. They landed at Ford due to a fuel shortage.
P/O J. Snelgrove from 434 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
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