Halifax MZ863 B.Mk.III - Minelaying Kiel Bay Germany (Radishes) - 1944-08-16 to 1944-08-17
Squadron: 433 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-08-16
Completion Date: 1944-08-17
Mission: Minelaying
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Kiel Bay Germany (Radishes)
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Skipton-on-Swale
Take Off Time: 21:15:00
Squadron Code: BM-I
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Denmark
Crash Specifics: into sea near Langeland Island
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: unspecified
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group August 16/17, 1944

144 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 434 squadron were ordered to attack the port city of Kiel. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 310,000 lbs of high explosives and 545,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports the dock area and ship-building firms were damaged.

While some of the group was attacking Kiel, 419 and 428 sent 27 Lancasters on an attack at Stettin. The crews were over the target at between 17,000and 18,000 feet, releasing 50,000 lbs of high explosives and 150,000 lbs of incendiaries on the port and dock area. According to reports, it was an accurate attack.

While most of the group was off to Kiel and Stettin, 18 Halifaxes from 429 and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Kiel Bay.The crews were over the garden at 14,000 feet, sowing 54@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

433 Porcupine Squadron (Qui S'y Frofte S'y Pique) RAF Skipton-on-Swale. Halifax BIII aircraft MZ 863 BM-I was shot down and crashed into the sea off the Danish coast during GARDENING operations over Kiel Bay, Germany, believed shot down by a night fighter. Claims were made by two different night fighter pilots

The Halifax crashed into the Baltic Sea near Langeland Island, Denmark, with the loss of the entire crew

Flying Officer John Coles Sprott (RCAF), Flying Officer George Scott (RCAF), Flying Officer Malcolm Henry Fleming (RCAF), Pilot Officer John Andrews Tolmie (RCAF), Pilot Officer Thomas Lloyd Baker (RCAF) were all killed in action

These aircrew members bodies washed ashore at various locations over the next two weeks and were buried at local cemeteries, under protest from German military authorities

Flight Lieutenant John Chester Valk (RCAF),and Sergeant Ralph Ian Atkinson (RAFVR) were missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

There were three 433 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Halifax aircraft serials MZ 899 BM-D and MZ 808 BM-P for information on these aircraft and crews

unvetted Source Halifax III MZ863 crashed in the Baltic Sea west of the island of ...

unvetted Source Plane 342 HAL MZ863-The Baltic Sea W of Langeland

unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

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