Handley Page Halifax Serial Groups Specifications

Bombing Berlin Germany 1944-01-20 to 1944-01-20

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George

Battle of Berlin

769 aircraft- 49 5 Lancasters, 264 Halifaxes, lo Mosquitoes. 35 aircraft- 22 Halifaxes, I 3 Lancasters - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force. I02 Squadron, from Pocklington, lost 5 of its 16 Halifaxes on this raid, 2 more crashed in England and the squadron would lose 4 more aircraft in the next night's raid. The bomber approach route took a wide swing to the north but, once again, the German controller managed to feed his fighters into the bomber stream early and the fighters scored steadily until the force was well on the way home. The diversions were not large enough to deceive the Germans.

The Berlin area was, as so often, completely cloud-covered and what happened to the bombing is a mystery. The Pathfinder sky-marking appeared to go according to plan and crews who were scanning the ground with their H2S sets believed that the attack fell on eastern districts of Berlin. No major navigational problems were experienced. No photographic reconnaissance was possible until after a further 4 raids on Berlin were carried out but the various sources from which the Berlin reports are normally drawn all show a complete blank for this night. It is not known whether this is because of some order issued by the German authorities to conceal the extent of the damage or whether the entire raid missed Berlin.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Halifax BII aircraft HX 162 VR-X had reached the turning point, about sixty miles north-east of the target of Berlin, Germany, when it was attacked by a German ME-109 fighter aircraft and set on fire. The pilot ordered the bombs jettisoned and then turned the aircraft for home. The Halifax was further damaged by flak as it neared Hamburg, Germany and the crew was ordered to abandon the aircraft

The Halifax crashed near Horst, Steinburg, Germany

Crew members Sergeant Sanderson and Sergeant Ferguson, were fatally wounded in the attacks and did not escape the Bomber

Sergeant FG Sanderson (RCAF) and Sergeant DJ Ferguson (RAFVR) were killed in action

Flying Officer HL Bullis (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 AH Towers (RCAF), FS MA Potter (RCAF), FS R Bonathan (RAF), and TSergeant BH Boisvert (USAAF) survived and were all taken as Prisoners of War

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax HX162

Bombing Laon France 1944-04-22 to 1944-04-23

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St.George

181 aircraft- 69 Halifaxes, 52 Lancasters, 48 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitoes - of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 9 aircraft - 4 Lancasters, 3 Stirlings, 2 Halifaxes - lost, 5·0 per cent of the force.

The attack on the railway yards was carried out in 2 waves and severe damage was caused. The aircraft of one of the Master Bombers, Wing Commander A. G. S, Cousens of 635 Squadron, was shot down; Wing Commander Cousens was killed,

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Halifax aircraft HX 189 was hit by machine gun and cannon fire from a German JU-88 fighter aircraft during a night attack against the rail yards at Laon, France. The Halifax caught fire and all the crew bailed out. One Canadian,Warrant Officer P.J. Murphy, the RAF flight engineer, John Thomson, the USAAF pilot, Chuck Thomas were taken Prisoners of War. Three Canadians, Flying Officer J.A. Neal, FS R.P. Lindsay, and Sergeant W.A. Greene were Evaders.

Bombing Berlin Germany 1944-01-28 to 1944-01-29

433 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

From the ORB:

HX-265 captained by Flying Officer JM Gray who was making his first sortie as captain made an amazing ditching into the sea about 15 miles of the English coast near Hartlepool. This aircraft had been hit by heavy flak prior to reaching the target which holed one of the starboard tanks, and the ditching was necessary due to lack of petrol. All the members of the crew were saved, and this was a very outstanding piece of work by the captain for his excellent ditching, by the flight engineer who figured the petrol supply to within 15 miles, by the navigator, who had no "Aids" as the "Gee" and wireless were both unserviceable.

Bombing Frankfurt Germany 1944-03-18 to 1944-03-18

427 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certe) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft HX 279 ZL-Z missing during a night operation to Frankfurt, Germany, believed shot down by a night fighter

Flying Officer AH Mildon (RCAF), Flying Officer RE O'Heare (RCAF), Pilot Officer RA Dumas (RCAF), Pilot Officer RC Gallaugher (RCAF), and Sergeant GA Ritchie (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Flight Sergeant WC Miller (RCAF) and Sergeant E Sawyer (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

There were two 427 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial Halifax LW 551 ZL-Gfor further information on this aircraft and crew

[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

Recherche de France-Crashes 39-45

Bombing Frankfurt Germany 1944-03-18 to 1944-03-19

433 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Skipton-on-Swale

433 Porcupine Squadron (Qui S'y Frotte S'y Pique) RAF Skipton-on-Swale. Halifax BIII aircraft HX 282 BM-K failed to return from a raid on targets in Frankfurt, Germany. Homeward-bound, the bomber was shot down by night fighter pilot Ofw Karl-Heinz Scherfling of the 12/NJG 1, who was flying a Bf 110 G-4 and crashed at Krov, Rheinland-Pfalz on the Moselle River, Germany

Pilot Officer DE James (RCAF) and Pilot Officer JPOV Levesque (RCAF) were killed in action

Flight Lieutenant SA Sinclair (RCAF), Pilot Officer AG Sharpe (RCAF), Sergeant RT Stinson (RCAF), Group Commander LE Wray AFC (RCAF), Sergeant RD Green (RAF) and Sergeant RE Pearce (RAF) survived and were all taken as Prisoners of War

On VE Day, 1945-05-08, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 424/433 Sqds at Skipton on Swale, went to Brussels as part of a fleet of 26 aircraft to pick up released POW's. He wrote in his diary: "The war is definitely over now with complete surrender all round " cease fire is at 1 minute after midnight tonight. . . Got everything organised for the other kites to take off at 12:40 & we got airborne at 10:30 am . . we finally found our aerodrome B58 at a little town called Melsbrock . . . We reached our parking strip & got out to be confronted with approx.. 3000 POWs of all nationalities. . . There were Assies & New Zealanders, Canadians & Americans, English, Poles, Russians etc. Several Canadians came up to speak to us having recognised our a/c letters. Even some from our own Sqdn were there with a Nav [Navigator] from G/C Wray's crew [HX282} & a F/Eng from W/C Blane's crew [LV997]. Also one from 433 "M" which was shot down in February when I was there. . . The POWs all had marvellous experiences to relate."

[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

Aviation Safety Network

Bombing Berlin Germany 1944-03-24 to 1944-03-25

433 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Skipton-on-Swale

433 Porcupine Squadron (Qui S'y Frotte S'y Pique) RAF Skipton-on-Swale. Halifax aircraft HX 284 BM-B was shot down and crashed near Legden, SE of Ahaus, Germany near the Dutch border during a night operation against targets in Berlin, Germany. Cause of loss was believed to have been from a night fighter

The Pilot, Pilot Officer Russell maintained control of the aircraft so that his crew could bail out to safety, but could not get out himself and went down with the aircraft, killed in action

Pilot Officer DW Howell (RCAF) and Sergeant W Walmsley (RAFVR) were killed in action, both believed due to parachute malfunctions. Sergeant Walmsley was killed when he bailed. Pilot Officer Howell survived briefly but died on the way to a German hospital

Flying Officer JT Shea (RCAF) survived and evaded briefly until captured a few days later and taken as Prisoner of War

Sergeant RC Cossar (RCAF), Flying Officer M Topplin (RCAF),and Sergeant P McLuskie (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

There were two 433 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial LV 841 BM-H for additional information

433 Squadron, RCAF, Skipton on Swale, Yorks. - Page 2 - Handley...

WO2VPR1 - 1944-03-25 Halifax

July I 2020 I RCAF 420 Snowy Owl

The Airmen of Aspull I WW2Talk

[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1944-04-22 to 1944-04-23

433 (B) Sqn (RCN) RAF Skipton-on-Swale

433 Porcupine Squadron (Qui S'y Frotte S'y Pique) RAF Skipton-on-Swale. Halifax BIII aircraft HX 291 BM-W was hit by flak over the target and later shot down by a night fighter pilot, probably Hptm E Zechlin of Stab I/NJG 2, during an operation against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany

The Halifax crashed near Meeuwen, Belgium

Pilot Officer HC Seedhouse (RCAF), Pilot Officer HG Boissevain (RCAF) and Sergeant JC Cumming DFM (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Flying Officer LW Canter DFM (RCAF) and Flying Officer AW Norris (RCAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

and Flight Sergeant AMP Camenzuli (RAFVR)(Malta) survived and evaded for a few months but was eventually arrested and became a Prisoner of War

Flying Officer PA Schnobb MiD (RCAF) survived and was an Evader until liberated in September,1944

There were three 433 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LV 990 BM-J and LV 840 BM-E for additional information

[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Results

"Belgians Remember Them": RAF aircraft's crash sites: Meeuwen

Philip F Plant's Contribution - John Austin's fourteenth operation I ...

RAF Rear Gunner I Page 5 I WW2Talk

Bombing Berlin Germany 1944-02-15 to 1944-02-15

424 () () Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of Berlin

After a rest of more than 2 weeks for the regular bomber squadrons, 891 aircraft - 561 Lancasters, 314 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitoes -were dispatched. This was the largest force sent to Berlin and the largest non-1,000 bomber force sent to any target, exceeding the previous record of 826 aircraft (which included Stirlings and Wellings tons) sent to Dortmund on the night of 23/24 May 1943. It was also the first time that more than 500 Lancasters and more than 300 Halifaxes were dispatched. The quantity of bombs dropped, 2,642 tons, was also a record.

The German controllers were able to plot the bomber stream soon after it left the English coast but the swing north over Denmark for the approach flight proved too far distant for many of the German fighters. The German controller ordered the fighters not to fly over Berlin, leaving the target area free for the Flak, but many fighters ignored him and attacked bombers over the city. The diversion to Frankfurt¬on-Oder failed to draw any fighters: 43 aircraft - 26 Lancasters, 17 Halifaxes - were lost, 4·8 per cent of the force.

Berlin was covered by cloud for most of the raid. Heavy bombing fell on the centre and south-western districts but many places out in the country again re-corded bombs, with 59 people being killed there. Damage in Berlin was extensive with 599 large and 572 medium fires and nearly 1,000 houses and 526 temporary wooden barracks, of which there were now a large number in Berlin, destroyed. Some of Berlin's most important war industries were hit, including the large Sie-mensstadt area. 320 people were killed - 196 civilians, 34 service personnel, 9 air-raid workers, 80 foreign workers and 1 prisoner of war. The diminishing proportion of civilian casualties reflects the large-scale evacuation which had now taken place but a further 260 civilians were recorded as being 'buried alive' and it is not known how many of these survived,

This was really the end of the true 'Battle of Berlin'; only one more raid took place on the city in this period and that was not for more than a month

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

425 Alouette Squadron (Je Te Plumerai). Halifax aircraft 4 HX 311 did not return from night operations over Berlin, Germany.

Flight Sergeant Frederick William BARTLEY (1311036) Air Gunner, Pilot Officer Alexander Francis DOWDING (159677) Flight Engi; Pilot Officer John William FISHER (415244);Flying Officer Bruce William FOSKETT (413755);Pilot Officer Frederick William JANES (168517) Wireless Op;Sergeant Stanley LUCAS (2216237) Air Gunner; Flight Lieutenant Ronald Henry PENALAGAN (J/8940) Pilot Squadron Leader Aloyis Valentine REILANDER (J/20359) Pilot, were all killed.

Bombing Bourg-Leopold Belgium 1944-05-27 to 1944-05-28

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Served with no. 424 Squadron, RCAF, at Skipton-on-Swales, coded "QB*B". Shot down by Bf 109 during attack on Bourg-Leopold on 27 / 28 May 1944. Crashed near Oostham-Langven, Belgium. 1 POW, 3 evaded, remainder of crew killed.

Minelaying Brest France (Jellyfish) 1944-05-10 to 1944-05-11

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Halifax aircraft HX 314 did not return from a night mine-laying operation. Flight Lieutenant H.T. Amy, F/Os T.R. Millman, L.R. Georgeson, P/Os B.V.Starrup, J. Swarbrick (RAF), F/Os W.E. Marshall (RAF), and F.N. Wilson (RAF) were killed.

Bombing Karlsruhe Germany 1944-04-24 to 1944-04-25

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

637 aircraft - 369 Lancasters, 259 Halifaxes, 9 Mosquitoes - of all groups except 5 Group. 19 aircraft - 11 Lancasters, 8 Hallfaxes - lost, 3·0 per cent of the force,

Cloud over the target und n strong wind which pushed the Pathfinders too far north spoiled this attack. Only the northern part of Karlsruhe was seriously damager und most of the bombs fell outside the city. It has been difficult to obtain details from this target. One report says that 23 people were killed, 133 were injured and mon than 900 houses were destroyed or badly damaged, but another report gives the number of people killed as I 18. Mannheim, 30 miles to the north, recorded a raid by approximately 100 aircraft on this night and Darmstadt, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg were also hit by aircraft which failed to find the main target. It must be assumer that many bombs fell in open country between Karlsruhe and Mannheim; another German report says that bombs fell in 120 parishes.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Halifax III aircraft HX 318 QB-O was hit by flak and exploded at 20,000 feet south-west of Bingen, at Waldalgesheim, Germany during night operations against Karlsruhe, Germany

Flying Officer WP Hugli (RCAF), Flying Officer RS Chapman (RCAF), Pilot Officer GW Mayor (RCAF), Sergeant w Docherty (RAFVR) and Sergeant GAA Pound (RAFVR) were killed in action

Flying Officer GS Coleman (RCAF) and FS HE May (RCAF) were thrown clear of the exploding aircraft and survived to be taken as Prisoners of War

There were two 424 Squadron aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Tinline, JE for information regarding Halifax III aircraft LV-962 QB-X

Flying Officer Hugli had gone down due to an engine failure, 1943-5-27 while on an anti-submarine patrol in the Bay of Biscay. He had been flying 10 Coastal Operational Training Unit Whitley V aircraft BD 282 at the time. A 461 Squadron (RAAF) Sunderland flying boat, searching for the Wellington crashed in the swell while attempting to land and rescue the downed Wellington crew. A second 461 Squadron Sunderland was dispatched and sighted the survivors, staying on station until both the downed aircrews were picked by the French destroyer "La Combattante" on the morning of 1943-05-29

Bombing Aachen Germany 1944-05-24 to 1944-05-25

158 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Lissett

158 Squadron RAF (Strength in unity) RAF Lissett. Halifax III HX 320 NP-A was probably shot down by night fighter pilot Obleutnant J Werth of Stab/NJG 2 from an altitude of 9,000 feet during an operation against targets in Aachen, Germany. The Halifax crashed at Lieshout, Noord-Brabant Netherlands

Flying Officer J B O'Hara (RCAF) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War

Flying Officer M V Lawrence DFC (RCAF), Flying Officer R D MacFayden (RCAF), Sergeant W J Christie (RAFVR), Flight Lieutenant R P Freeman DFC (RAFVR) and Sergeant R E Stubbs (RAFVR) survived and evaded for various periods of time with the aid of Dutch underground groups but all were eventually captured to become Prisoners of War

One crew member, Flight Sergeant R Barnes DFM (RAFVR) survived and evaded capture and was hidden by Dutch citizens until liberated in Eindhoven by British troops, 1944-09-18

There were four more 158 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation: LV 918 NP-O, LW 118 NP-X, LW 653 NP-T and LW 720 NP-W

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Aviation Safety Network

158 Squadron Association - Personnel

5f14544e3b3c4f0791fec445_NCA1944P

Combat Leipzig Germany 1944-02-19 to 1944-02-20

35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) RAF Graveley

35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft HX325 TL-J was shot down by a Ju88 night fighter flown by Felwebel Frank of NJG3 on February 21, 1944 while engaged in an operation against targets in Leipzig, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Beedenbostel, Germany

Knight was killed by the night fighter. Sale, although wounded during the action, stayed at the controls so his crew could bale out, crash-landed his aircraft and managed to get out. It was his fiftieth trip. Sale was taken Prisoner of War and died in hospital a month later from his wounds. The rest of his surviving crew, Carter, Bodnar, Lamb, Rogers and Cross were taken as Prisoners of War

Halifax HX325 (19/02/1944) I No.35 Squadron

Aircraft losses from Graveley 1942-1945. I RAF Graveley

Combat Frankfurt Germany 1943-12-19 to 1943-12-20

35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) Graveley UK

35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft HX 328 TL-J, returning from an operation to Frankfurt, Germany had a Target Illuminator (TI) munition malfunction, which ignited in the aircraft bomb bay as it was preparing to land. Sale gained altitude to allow his crew to bale from the burning aircraft, which most were able to do. As Sale was himself about to bale, he realized that his mid-upper gunner, Lamb was unable to bale due to a fire-damaged parachute. Sale resumed control of the bomber and managed to land it safely and taxi off the runway. Both he and Lamb escaped from the aircraft, which exploded as they ran to get clear. Both men survived and continued to fly together. Carpenter suffered a broken ankle.

Sale was awarded a Bar to his DSO for this act of determination and braveryinformation from book: The Pathfinder Companion War Diaries of the RAF Pathfinder Force-1942-1945 by Sean Feast, Grub Street Press 2012

1943-02 I No. 35 Squadron

Bombing Aachen Germany 1944-05-24 to 1944-05-25

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft HX 352 AL-L missing during operations against rail yards in Aachen, Germany. Outward-bound, the aircraft was intercepted and shot down by the night fighter crew of Hauptmann Struning & Oberleutnant Apel of the 3/NJG 1, from Venlo airfield in the Netherlands in Heinkel He 219 A-0 G9+EL

The bomber crashed at Gellik, Lanaken, Limburg, Belgium

Pilot Officer JI MacDonald (RCAF), Pilot Officer JL Michell (RCAF)(USA), Flying Officer D McKenzie (RCAF), Sergeant JI Jolley (RAF), and A.N. Smith (RAF) were also killed. One Canadian, Sergeant HD LaPointe (RCAF) survived and was taken Prisoner of War

There were three 429 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LW124 AL-N and LW137 AL-K for additional information on these aircraft and crews

[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Aviation Safety Network

"Belgians Remember Them": RAF aircraft's crash sites: Gellick

Heinz Struning - Wikipedia

5f14544e3b3c4f0791fec445_NCA1944