85 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431 and 434 were joined by 22 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons on an attack at Kassel. The crews were over the target at between 15,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 196,000 lbs of high explosives and 328,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the attack was accurate and concentrated with total devastation of this town. Twelve 6 Group crews failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt. R. Lloyd from 408 squadron returned early as the guns were u/s.
F/Lt. C. Smith returned early as they encountered severe icing.
F/Sgt. R. Young returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
F/Sgt. S. Laine was hit by flak, not serious.
F/O D. Bell landed at Rufforth on return.
F/Lt A. Whiston, RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II  DS-778 coded EQ-U, failed to return from this operation.

P/O A. Scanes, RCAF
P/O R. McComb, RCAF
P/O W. Kerslake, RCAF
F/O R. Thornton, RAF
F/Sgt. T. Mayne, RAF
P/O R. Jackson, RCAF

W/O1 T. Doubassoff from 419 squadron returned as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. R. Herbert returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. G. Marjoram returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
W/Cdr. M. McMurdy, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II  JD-382 coded VR-A, failed to return from this operation.

W/O2 A. Willson, RCAF
Sgt. T. Rawlings, RAF
F/O W. Coleman, RCAF–POW
F/Lt. R. Shields, RCAF–POW
Sgt. R. Woods, RAF–POW
W/O2 F. Yackison, RCAF
F/Sgt. P. Peterkin, RCAF

F/Sgt. R. Stewart from 426 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O P. Logan returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
F/Sgt. J. Coulombe was attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
Sgt. D. Berry was attacked by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage.
F/Sgt. J. Brown landed at Rufforth on return.

F/O P. Kennedy from 427 squadron returned early as the generators were u/s.
F/Sgt. G. Wolton returned early as some instruments were u/s.
P/O G. Weldon returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. R. Deegan returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. A. McQuade returned early as they encountered severe icing.
W/O D. Welch, RAF and crew, flying Halifax V  DK-182 coded ZL-E, crashed on return near Newton Kyme.

Sgt. J. Procter, RAF
Sgt. E. Dutton, RAF
Sgt. K. Brown, RAF
Sgt. P. Moore, RAF
Sgt. J. Mccullagh, RAF
Sgt. D. Collen, RAF

F/Sgt. S. Minter, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V  DK-234 coded ZL-Z, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. R. Pedder, RAF
F/O I. Schilansky, RCAF
F/O J. Balloch, RCAF
Sgt. E. Fairfield, RAF
Sgt. H. McCartney, RCAF
Sgt. A. Mitchell, RCAF

F/Lt. W. Weston, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V  LK-959 coded ZL-D, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt. J. Lapointe, RCAF
Sgt. P. Maudling, RAF
P/O C. Oakley, RAF
P/O E. McDermott, RCAF
Sgt. S. Hopson, RAF
F/Sgt. W. Crain, RCAF
F/Sgt. G. Aitken, RCAF

F/O J. Harrison, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V  LK-633 coded ZL-G, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. S. Edridge, RAF–POW
P/O A. Meyers, RCAF–POW
Sgt. J. Cox, RCAF–POW
Sgt. H. Winter, RCAF–POW
Sgt. H. Russell, RCAF
F/Sgt. R. Wells, RCAF

F/Sgt. E. O’Connor from 428 squadron returned early due to severe icing.
F/O C. Ford was attacked by an enemy aircraft. The rear gunner, Sgt. P. Emms RAF, was killed and mid-upper gunner, Sgt. H. Proctor RAF, was injured.
Sgt. E. Sykes, RAF, flying Halifax V  LK-908 coded NA-I was attacked by an enemy aircraft. The Halifax was severely damaged and the rear gunner, Sgt. T. Clemenhagen, RCAF, was killed and mid-upper gunner, Sgt. P. Stuart, RAF, was injured. They landed safely at Snetterton Heath were their Halifax was written off due to the serious damages.

F/Sgt. G. Byers from 429 squadron returned early with technical difficulties.
P/O K. Mills, RAF and crew, flying Halifax II  JD-332 coded AL-U, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. G. Cotterill, RAF–POW
F/Sgt. E. Gwynne, RAF
F/Sgt. J. Johnston, RAF–POW
F/Sgt. N. Mallin, RAF–POW
Sgt. R. McCart, RCAF
W/O2 F. Christenson, RCAF

F/Sgt. G. Howard, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II  JD-363 coded AL-J,  failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. A. Denton, RAF
F/O A. Beyak, RCAF
F/O A. Chorneyko, RCAF
Sgt. G. King, RAF
Sgt. C. Smith, RCAF
Sgt. R. Fournier, RCAF

F/Sgt. J. King from 431 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. R. Ritchie returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. J. Morton returned early as they were late getting away.
W/O R. Hamby returned early as the oxygen system was u/s.
F/Sgt. K. Smith returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
S/Ldr. C. Higgins, Sgt. W. Craig, and F/Lt. J. Valentine landed at East Moor on return.
Sgt. F. Skinner, RAF and crew, flying Halifax V  LK-639 coded SE-E, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. J. Challis, RAF
F/O R. Wissler, RAF
F/Sgt. L. Russell, RCAF
Sgt. H. Priestley, RAF
F/Sgt. W. Burns, RCAF
Sgt. J. McCarthy, RAF

F/Sgt. E. Devaney from 434 squadron returned early as the Mid-upper gunner, Sgt. W. Keefe RCAF, was sick and unconscious.
F/O W. Winning returned early due to severe icing.
F/Sgt. J. Snelgrove, F/Sgt. A. Gardner, and F/Sgt. P. Escaravage landed at East Moor on return.
F/Lt. J. Bryan, RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V  EB-217 coded WL-A,  failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. F. Street, RAF–POW
F/O W. Sewall, RCAF
F/Sgt. W. Burton, RCAF
Sgt. W. Morpeth, RAF
Sgt. A. Worrad, RCAF
Sgt. D. Hall, RAF

F/Sgt. A. Fry, RAF and crew, flying Halifax V  EB-218 coded WL-N, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. D. Thornley, RAF
F/O H. Farr, RCAF
F/O J. Dance, RCAF
F/Sgt. F. Gauy, RCAF
W/O2 F. Watson, RCAF
F/Sgt. C. Brown, RCAF

P/O A.Nadeau, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V  LK-666 coded WL-T, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. H. Newlove, RCAF
F/O H. Lee, RCAF–POW
F/O H. Cudney, RCAF
Sgt. W. Cassell, RAF
Sgt. J. Dupont, RCAF
Sgt. D. Wilson, RCAF

S/Ldr. W. Thomson, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V  LK-663 coded WL-F, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. J. Malcolm, RAF–POW
F/Sgt. R. Purdy, RCAF–POW
F/Sgt. R. Miller, RCAF
P/O R. Bellingham, RAF–POW
F/Sgt. E. Plouffe, RCAF
F/Sgt. C. Reynolds, RCAF

While most crews were going to Kassel, 7 Wellingtons from 432 squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Den Helder. The crews were over the garden at between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, sowing 14@1500 lb mines. 

All crews returned safely to base.
 
 

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