Handley Page Halifax Serial Groups Specifications

Bombing Ludwigshafen Germany 1943-11-17 to 1943-11-18

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholthorpe

Battle of Berlin

395 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes, 114 Stirlings, 33 Lancasters - of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups were on this major diversionary raid. German fighters successfully engaged the bomber force and 23 aircraft - 12 Halifaxes, 9 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters -were lost, 5·8 per cent of the force.

Cloud was present over the target area and much of the bombing was scattered. Mannheim reports that the majority of the damage was in the north of the city. 4 industrial buildings were destroyed and 11 seriously damaged, the most serious being the Daimler-Benz car factory which suffered a 90 per cent production loss for 'an unknown period'. 325 other buildings were destroyed and 335 seriously damaged, including 2 churches and 3 schools. 4 army barracks and the airfield at Sandhofen were all hit. 21 people were killed, 154 injured and 7,500 bombed out. Many bombs fell outside the city and the local report lists much damage and loss at farms.This was the last major raid on the much-bombed city of Mannheim for 15 months. ORB identifies the target as Ludwigshaven

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

This was the first operational flight for this crew

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Aviation Safety Network

421(RCAF) Squadron-Halifax V- Ser.No.LK-632-Handley Page...

Bombing 1943-10-23 to 1943-10-23

427 (B) BG (RCAF) Skipton on Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

Bombing Kassel Germany 1943-10-22 to 1943-10-22

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholtthorpe

Battle of Berlin

569 aircraft - 322 Lancasters, 247 Halifaxes. The German controller was again successful in assessing the target and 43 aircraft- 25 Halifaxes, 18 Lancasters - were lost, 7·6 per cent of the force.

The initial 'blind' H2S marking overshot the target but 8 out of the 9 'visual' markers correctly identified the centre of Kassel and placed their markers accurately. Although German decoy markers may have drawn off part of the bomber force, the main raid was exceptionally accurate and concentrated. The result was the most devastating attack on a German city since the firestorm raid on Hamburg in July and the results at Kassel would not be exceeded again until well into 1944. The fires were so concentrated that there was a firestorm, although not as extensive as the Hamburg one.

It is impossible to list all the damage. 4,349 separate dwelling blocks containing 26,782 family living units (flats/apartments) were destroyed and 6,743 more blocks with 26,463 'units' were damaged. 63 per cent of all Kassel's living accommodation became unusable and 100,000-120,000 people had to leave their homes. The fire · services dealt with 3,600 separate fires. The intensity of the destruction is illustrated by the fact that more buildings were completely destroyed than those classed as 'lightly damaged' and there were more 'large' fires (1,6oo}than small ones (1,000); in most raids the lightly damaged buildings and small fires outnumbered serious incidents several times over

The Kassel records give the number of dead recovered up to the end of November as 5,599, of which 1,817 bodies were unidentifiable and the records go on to add that the 'Missing Department' (the Vermisstensuchstelle) was still trying to trace 3,300 people. 459 survivors, however, had been recovered from ruined houses 'after many days of heavy work'. 3,587 people were injured - 800 seriously - and a further 8,084 people were treated for smoke and heat injury to their eyes.

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

Halifax BV aircraft LK 639 SE-E missing during night operations, a raid against aircraft manufacturing plants and rail facilities in Kassel, Germany. The cause of the loss of this aircraft and crew is unknown, they were lost without a trace

FS LB Russell (RCAF), FS W Burns (RCAF), Sergeant JF Challis (RAFVR), FE Skinner (RAFVR), H Priestly (RAFVR), Flying Officer RP Wissler (RAFVR) and Sergeant DJ McCarthy (RAF) were all missing, presumed killed. They have no known graves and are all commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

Bombing Ludwigshafen Germany 1943-11-18 to 1943-11-19

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholthorpe

Battle of Berlin

395 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes, 114 Stirlings, 33 Lancasters - of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups were on this major diversionary raid. German fighters successfully engaged the bomber force and 23 aircraft - 12 Halifaxes, 9 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters -were lost, 5·8 per cent of the force.

Cloud was present over the target area and much of the bombing was scattered. Mannheim reports that the majority of the damage was in the north of the city. 4 industrial buildings were destroyed and 11 seriously damaged, the most serious being the Daimler-Benz car factory which suffered a 90 per cent production loss for 'an unknown period'. 325 other buildings were destroyed and 335 seriously damaged, including 2 churches and 3 schools. 4 army barracks and the airfield at Sandhofen were all hit. 21 people were killed, 154 injured and 7,500 bombed out. Many bombs fell outside the city and the local report lists much damage and loss at farms.This was the last major raid on the much-bombed city of Mannheim for 15 months. ORB identifies the target as Ludwigshaven

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

Halifax V aircraft LK 640 SE-Q was returning from a mission to Mannheim, Germany when it was hit by flak over Abbeville, France. The Halifax crashed in the English Channel and the entire crew was lost

Flying Officer GO Carefoot (RCAF), Sergeant EE Case (RCAF), Pilot Officer CE McGillivray (RCAF), Sergeant RWM Cowan (RAFVR), Sergeant PS Lowry (RAFVR) and Sergeant JK Shipp (RAFVR) were killed in action

These air crew members are buried at various cemeteries in England and France, indicating that they drifted in the current and washed ashore in various locations after the crash

Sergeant AE Roden (RCAF),missing, believed killed in action and commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

There was a second 431 Squadron Halifax V lost on this same operation. Please see Gilchrist, F for information on Halifax LK 632 SE-M

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Search for France-Crashes 39-45

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

434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Croft

Battle of Berlin

434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Croft. Halifax BV aircraft LK 649 WL-X failed to return from a raid against targets in Berlin, Germany, shot down by night fighter pilot Oblt. Heinz Ferger of 3/NJG3. The Halifax crashed near Canow, Germany. The entire crew was lost

Flight Sergeant R H Stanley (RCAF), Flying Officer R C Crompton (RCAF), Flight Sergeant D I Rose (RCAF), Sergeant J J B L Leduc (RCAF), Sergeant J C W Olliffe (RAFVR), Sergeant D L Silverman (RAFVR), and Sergeant S J Groucott (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Four other 434 Squadron Halifax V aircraft were lost on this operation. Please see Halifax aircraft serials EB 256 WL-S, LK 740 WL-V, LK 916 WL-P and LL 134 WL-U for additional information on these aircraft and crews

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

434 Squadron Halifax V LK649 WL-X Fl/Sergeant Stanley, RAF Croft, Canow,...

Bombing Hannover Germany 1943-10-08 to 1943-10-09

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholtthorpe

Battle of Berlin

504 aircraft- 282 Lancasters, 188 Halifaxes, 26 Wellingtons, 8 Mosquitoes. This was the last Bomber Command raid in which Wellingtons took part. 300 (Polish) and 432 (Canadian) Squadrons provided the 26 Wellingtons which operated on this night; they all returned safely. The German controller guessed correctly that Hannover was the target and many night fighters arrived before the attack was over. 27 aircraft- 14 Lancasters and 13 Halifaxes - were lost, 5·4 per cent of the force.

Conditions over Hannover were clear and the Pathfinders were finally able to mark the centre of the city accurately; a most concentrated attack followed with a creepback of only 2 miles, all within the built-up area. This was probably Hannover's worst attack of the war. The local report describes extensive damage in the centre of. the city and in many other parts except the west. The telephone system and electricity supply failed at the beginning of the raid and many water mains were quickly broken. A large area of fire quickly developed in the centre and south-central districts. Acting upon instructions from the Party Headquarters and from district air-raid posts, the population were shepherded to collecting places in open areas between the fires. This action is believed to have saved many lives but 1,200 people were killed and 3,345 were injured, 449 seriously so. A further 6,000-8,000 people received eye injuries because of smoke and heat. 3,932 buildings were completely destroyed and more than 30,000 were damaged in varying degree, but no individual buildings are named. R.A.F. reconnaissance, however, showed that the important Continental rubber factory and the Hanomag machine works were badly hit.

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

Halifax aircraft LK 657 Took off from Tholthorpe at 22:43 in Halifav Mk V (Sqn code SE-K Bomber Command) on an operation to Hannover Germany. The aircraft was shot down (unknown means) near Hannover. Rollack was the only crewman to survive the crash.Killed: Sergeant Donald Albert Adams RAF pilot KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 16. Sergeant Thomas Alfred Ashcroft RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 18. Flying Officer Robert Edward Baker RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 14. Flying Officer Ronald Victor Fisher RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 11. W/O Peter John Hay RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 17. Sergeant Francis Rudd RCAF R/187471 KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 15. W/O1 John Edward Ryan RCAF pilot R/67919 KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 19.

There were two 431 Sqdn. aircraft lost on this date. Please see Sergeant W.A. Hamil for information regarding the other aircraft and crew.

Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-12-29 to 1943-12-29

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Berlin

712 aircraft - 457 Lancasters, 252 Halifaxes, 3 Mosquitoes. A long approach route from the south, passing south of the Ruhr and then within 20 miles of Leipzig, together with Mosquito diversions at Diisseldorf, Leipzig and Magdeburg, caused the German controller great difficulties and there were few fighters over Berlin. Bad weather on the outward route also kept down the number of German fighters finding the bomber stream. 20 aircraft - I I Lan casters, 9 Halifaxes - were lost, 2 · 8 per cent of the force.

Berlin was again cloud-covered. The Bomber Command report claiming a concentrated attack on sky-markers is not confirmed by the local report. The heaviest bombing was in the southern and south-eastern districts but many bombs also fell to the east of the city. 388 houses and other mixed property were destroyed but no item of major interest is mentioned. I 82 people were killed, more than 600 were injured and over 10,000 were bombed out.

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

Halifax aircraft LK 659 missing during operations against Berlin, Germany. Flight Lieutenant J.N.Nelson, Sergeant J. Ruthven and five RAF members of the crew were killed.

Flying Incident - Court Martial 1943-10-21 to 1943-10-22

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Bombing Magdeburg Germany 1944-01-21 to 1944-01-21

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Berlin

648 aircraft - 421 Lancasters, 224 Halifaxes, 3 Mosquitoes - on the first major raid to this target. The German controller again followed the progress of the bomber stream across the North Sea and many night fighters were in the stream before it crossed the German coast. The controller was very slow to identify Magdeburg as the target but this did not matter too much because most of the night fighters were able to stay in the bomber stream, a good example of the way the Tame Boar tactics were developing, 57 aircraft - 35 Halifaxes, 22 Lancasters - were lost, 8·8 per cent of the force; it is probable that three quarters of the losses were caused by German night fighters: The Halifax loss rate was 15·6 per cent!

The heavy bomber casualties were not rewarded with a successful attack. Some of the Main Force aircraft now had H2S and winds which were stronger than forecast brought some of these into the target area before the Pathfinders' Zero Hour. The crews of 27 Main Force aircraft were anxious to bomb and did so before Zero Hour. The Pathfinders blamed the fires started by this early bombing, together with some very effective German decoy markers, for their failure to concentrate tho marking. No details are available from Magdeburg but it is believed that most of tho bombing fell outside the city. An R.A.F. man who was in hospital at Magdeburg at the time reports only, 'bangs far away'.

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

The Halifax "crashed in a gigantic ball of fire" at the railway station of Imsum, Geestland, Niedersachsen Germany, according to the radio operator on board of the Junkers, Feldwebel Friedrich Ostheimer

Only one crew member survived the crash

Flying Officer JA Linde (RCAF), Pilot Officer WJ Louth,Warrant Officer JP McLeod, Sergeant JH Di Pinto, Sergeant C Gilroy (RAFVR), and Sergeant W Kingham (RAFVR) were all killed in action

FS H Krentz (RCAF), the sole survivor from his crew, was taken Prisoner Of War

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Bombing Leipzig Germany 1943-12-03 to 1943-12-04

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholthorpe

Battle of Berlin

527 aircraft - 307 Lancasters, 220 Halifaxes. Despite the loss of two pressmen on the previous night, the well-known American broadcaster, Ed Murrow, flew on the raid with a 619 Squadron Lancaster crew. He returned safely.

The bomber force took another direct route towards Berlin before turning off to bomb Leipzig. German fighters were in the bomber stream and scoring successes before the turn was made but most of them were then directed to Berlin when the Mosquito diversion opened there. There were few fighters over Leipzig and only 3 bombers are believed to have been lost in the target area, 2 of them being shot down by Flak. A relatively successful raid, from the point of view of bomber casualties, was spoiled when many aircraft flew by mistake into the Frankfurt defended area on the long southern withdrawal route and more than half of the bombers shot down on this night were lost there. 24 aircraft- 15 Halifaxes, 9 Lancasters -were lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

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

434 (B) Sqn (RCAF)

Failed to return from night operations, a raid against Frankfurt, Germany. Last position report received at 21:51. Austin and Marshall's bodies washed ashore and were buried in the Hague. Taylor, Fischer, Ferrier, Pridham and Pilkey are memorialized at Runnymeade.

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

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

Battle of Berlin

429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF Leeming. Halifax BV aircraft LK 697 AL-D was lost during night operations against industrial targets in Berlin, Germany. The cause of loss was not determined but the Halifax is believed to have crashed near Guelitz, Germany

Flying Officer T Siltala (RCAF), Flying Officer W A Cook (RCAF), Flying Officer A C McKenzie (RCAF), Flying Officer K B Malcolm (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class II E A Cornfield (RCAF), Sergeant H Howson (RAFVR) and Sergeant E C Richards (RAFVR) were all killed in action

There were two 429 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial LK 746 for casualty list and additional flight detail

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Daily Operations

Operational 1944-01-05 to 1944-01-05

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Flying Officer GA Shank (RCAF), FS AL Schoenthaler (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 HP Morrison (RCAF), Sergeant JA Lamontagne (RCAF), Sergeant KH Greenwood (RAFVR), and Sergeant ES Barlow (RAFVR) were all killed in this flying accident

The seventh crew member, rear gunner Sergeant JR Bothwell (RAFVR) s/n 1566670, was not aboard the flight, having been excused for the day by the Medical Officer

Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-12-29 to 1943-12-29

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Berlin

712 aircraft - 457 Lancasters, 252 Halifaxes, 3 Mosquitoes. A long approach route from the south, passing south of the Ruhr and then within 20 miles of Leipzig, together with Mosquito diversions at Diisseldorf, Leipzig and Magdeburg, caused the German controller great difficulties and there were few fighters over Berlin. Bad weather on the outward route also kept down the number of German fighters finding the bomber stream. 20 aircraft - I I Lan casters, 9 Halifaxes - were lost, 2 · 8 per cent of the force.

Berlin was again cloud-covered. The Bomber Command report claiming a concentrated attack on sky-markers is not confirmed by the local report. The heaviest bombing was in the southern and south-eastern districts but many bombs also fell to the east of the city. 388 houses and other mixed property were destroyed but no item of major interest is mentioned. I 82 people were killed, more than 600 were injured and over 10,000 were bombed out.

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

Halifax aircraft LK 701 did not return from night operations, an attack against Berlin, Germany. F/Os R.A.Holtby, G.E. Bishop, Sergeants J.J. Whelan, G.D. Kehoe, and FS G. Cummine were killed. There were two 431 Sqdn. aircraft lost in the same area on this date. The following RAF personnel were also killed; Sergeants A.H.R. Fielding, F.G. Goodall, L.C. Nosworthy, P. Walker, and Pilot Officer A.E.F. Banning.

Minelaying Bay of Kiel Germany 1944-02-25 to 1944-02-26

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Berlin

Halifax aircraft LK 705 missing whilst engaged in a night mine-laying operation in the Baltic Sea. P/Os E.G. Howey, A.M. Munro, Sergeant L.T. Wardell, W/O 2nd Class G.E.Stevenson, Sergeants R.L. Bates (RAF), A.D Macgillivray and E.R. Metcalf (RAF) were killed.

Shot down by a night fighter of IV./NJG 3, while flying at 18,000 feet and crashed at 23:43 in the Klelund plantation, Denmark. All 7 crew were killed.

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

434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Croft

Battle of Berlin

434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Croft. Halifax BV aircraft LK 740 WL-V was shot down by flak or possibly night fighter, crashing twenty-eight miles north by north-west of Berlin, near Linde, Germany during a night raid on Berlin, Germany. The entire crew was lost

Squadron Leader L M Linnell (RCAF), Pilot Officer A K Heaton (RCAF), Pilot Officer A W Hornby (RCAF), Pilot Officer F J Elms (RCAF), Sergeant P F Wicks (RCAF), Sergeant O D Culverwell DFM (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer S W H Taylor (RAFVR) were all killed in action

There were four other 434 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials EB 256 WL-S, LK 649 WL-X, LK 916 WL-P and LL 134 WL-U for further information on these aircraft and crews

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

434 Squadron Halifax V LK 740 WL-V Sq/Ldr. Linnell, RAF Croft, Flak,...

Airplanes

Last Flight to Berlin: The Search for a Bomber Pilot - YouTube

Warriors of the Night: The Big City - Air War over Germany - YouTube

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

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

Battle of Berlin

429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF Leeming. Halifax BV aircraft LK 746 AL-K was shot down by night fighter pilot Hauptmann Paul Semrau of the Stab III/NJG 2, who was flying a Ju 88 from Gilze-Rijen airfield in the Netherlands, during an operation against targets in Berlin, Germany. The Halifax crashed near Berlin, at Kieckebusch, Germany

Pilot Officer H C Clay (RCAF), Flying Officer W G Hicks (RCAF)(USA), Flight Sergeant J Begg (RAFVR), Sergeant R E Drewett (RAFVR) and Sergeant J W Ward (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Flight Sergeant L W Wilkinson (RCAF) and Sergeant E S Green (RAFVR) both survived and were captured to become Prisoners of War

There were two 429 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial LK 697 AL-D casualty list and additional information

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Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands

Halifax LK746 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

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

427 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certas) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LK 752 ZL-V did not return from night operations against Berlin, Germany

The cause of loss was not established, but the Halifax crashed near Munchen-Gladbach, Germany

Pilot Officer JP Papineau (RCAF), Pilot Officer JV Roberts (RCAF), Pilot Officer LC Glasser (RCAF) and Pilot Officer CM Fugere (RCAF) were all killed in action

Flying Officer RA Parry (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 WF Magdalinski (RCAF) and Sergeant VC Guilder (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

There were three 427 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LW 574 ZL-J and LW 577 ZL-K for additional information

427 Squadron Association

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

WO2VPR1 - 1944-03-25 Halifax

Bombing Schweinfurt Germany 1944-02-24 to 1944-02-24

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

734 aircraft - 554 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, r r Mosquitoes - carried out the first Bomber Command raid on this target, home of Germany's main ball-bearing factor¬ies. 266 American B-r7s had raided the factories the previous day

Both phases of the bombing suffered from undershooting by some of the Pathfinder backers-up and by many of the Main Force crews. Schweinfurt records refer to 'nominal damage' in the R.A.F. night raid and give a combined figure of 362 people killed by the American raid the previous day and by this R.A.F. raid. No breakdown of this figure is available.

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

Halifax BIII aircraft LK 754 QO-Z swung on take-off for a raid on the ball bearing factories in Schweinfurt, Germany and came to rest in the trees on the airfield perimeter. The crew escaped serious injury. This was this bomber's first operational sortie with 432 Squadron

Sergeant JJ Barr (RCAF), Flying Officer EK Reid (RCAF), 2nd Pilot FS A Clarke (RCAF), Flying Officer JT Smith (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 VC MacDonald (RCAF), FS GG Maguire (RCAF), Sergeant RL Clarkson (RCAF) and Sergeant JA May (RAF) all survived

Several from this crew would be shot down 1944-03-31 on 432 Squadron Halifax MZ 504 QO-C on a raid over Nuremberg, Germany

Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire

432 Squadron Story - Canadian Aerospace

Ops

Operational 1944-02-16 to 1944-02-16

(B) Sqn (RCAF)

Halifax aircraft LK 761 on a night cross country, crashed between Stillington and Huby, Yorkshire. Squadron Leader W.W.Strachan DFC, P/Os M.A. Martin, H.M. Stewart, J. Gilliard (RAF), F/Os N.J. Baron, R.C. Stuart, 1st L A.L.Rourke (USAAF were killed.

Bombing Frankfurt Germany 1944-03-22 to 1944-03-22

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

Battle of Berlin

81(5.aircraft- 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes, 12 Mosquitoes. Again, an indirect route was employed, this time crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee and then flying almost due south to Frankfurt. This, and the Kiel minelaying diversion, confused the Germans for some time; Hannover was forecast as the main target. Only a few fighters eventually found the bomber stream. 33 aircraft - 26 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes - were lost, 4·0 per cent of the force.

162 B-17s of the Eighth Air Force used Frankfurt as a secondary target when they could not reach Schweinfurt 36 hours after this R.A.F. raid and caused further damage. The Frankfurt diary has this entry:

The three air raids of 18th, 22nd and 24th March were carried out by a combined plan of the British and American air forces and their combined effect was to deal the worst and most fateful blow of the war to Frankfurt, a blow which simply ended the existence of the Frankfurt which had been built up since the Middle Ages.*

One result of these heavy raids was that recently captured R.A.F. men often had to be protected by their guards from the assaults of angry civilians when they passed through Frankfurt to reach the nearby Oberursel interrogation and transit camp.

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

Halifax aircraft LK 779 was shot down by a German night fighter aircraft during night operations to Frankfurt, Germany. Flight Lieutenant D.E.Cawker, P/O. H.A. Frizzell, FS. A. Beaumont (RAF), Sgt.s J. Campbell (RAF), and H.V.Thome (RAF) were killed. Two Canadians, F/O. Storen and Sgt.McNeill were taken Prisoners Of War.

F/L. Cawker kept the aircraft under control long enough for his crew to bail out but he went down with the aircraft.

There were two 432 Sqn. aircraft lost in the same area on this date. Please see P/O. D.A. Laird for information regarding the other aircraft and crew.

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

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LK 805 AL-H missing during a night raid against targets in Berlin, Germany. The cause of loss and crash site for this Halifax was not established

Pilot Officer SA Wick (RCAF), Flying Officer JH Warkentin (RCAF), Pilot Officer LJ Keely (RCAF) and Sergeant H Hull (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Sergeant RL Kift (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 RS Clendinneng (RCAF) andWarrant Officer S Bousted (RAFVR) survived to be taken as Prisoners of War

There were three 429 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LW 688 AL-J and LV 914 AL-V for additional information

July I 2020 I RCAF 420 Snowy Owl

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

Bombing Montzen Belgium 1944-04-27 to 1944-04-27

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

144 aircraft- 120 Halifaxes, 16 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes-of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. The bombing force, particularly the second of the 2 waves, was intercepted by German fighters and 14 Halifaxes and I Lancaster were shot down. Only one part of the railway yards was hit by the bombing. The only Lancaster lost was that of Squadron Leader E. M. Blenkinsopp, a Canadian pilot of 405 Squadron who was acting as Deputy Master Bomber. Blenkinsopp managed to team up with a Belgian Resistance group and remained with them until captured by the Germans in December 1944. He was taken to Hamburg to work as a forced labourer and later died in Belsen concentration camp 'of heart failure'. He has no known grave.

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BIII aircraft LK 807 QO-J was shot down returning from an operation to bomb the railyards at Montzen, Belgium by night fighter pilot Leutnant Ewald-Werner Hittler of the 3/NJG 1, who was flying an He 219 from Venlo airfield in the Netherlands. The Halifax crashed near Hanneche, Burdinne, Liege, Belgium

Rear Air-Gunner Sergeant RDA Harmsworth (RAFVR) was killed in action

Bomb Aimer Warrant Officer Class II (RCAF) and Flight Engineer S Musgrove (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

The remaining four crew members, Flying Officer APG Holmes (RCAF), Flying Officer DM MacAulay (RCAF), Flight Sergeant G Millar (RCAF) and Sergeant GEH Flather (RAFVR) all survived and became Evaders

There were three 432 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LW592 QO-A and MZ 588 QO-W for additional information on those aircraft and crews

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

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

Aviation Safety Network

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

Hanneche - Halifax III LK807 QO-J 432 Squadron RAF - Halifax JD371...

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

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

331 aircraft - 267 Halifaxes, 56 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes - to attack the military camp. 9 Halifaxes and I Lancaster lost, 3·0 per cent of the force.

Oboe-aimed target indicator fell right on the target and the bombing which followed caused severe damage to the camp. No further details are available.

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

Halifax aircraft LX 811 missing during night ops. against Bourg-Leopold, Belgium. Pilot Officer Menzies maintained control of the aircraft so that his crew could bail out; he went down with the aircraft. Pilot Officer H.H. Rodgers, Sergeants J. Clarke (RAF), and T.F. McClay (RAF) were also killed. Three Canadians, Sergeant Hall, F/Os Gouinlock, and Rutherford, were either Evaders or were taken Prisoners of War. One other member of the crew, not Canadian, missing believed killed.

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1944-07-28 to 1944-07-29

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Normandy

307 aircraft - 187 Halifaxes, ro6 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitoes - from 1, 6 and 8 Groups. German fighters again appeared, this time on the homeward flight, and 18 Halifaxes and 4 Lancasters were lost, 7·2 per cent of the force. The Halifax casualties were 9·6 per cent; 431 (Canadian) Squadron, flying from Croft airfield in Co. Durham, lost 5 of its 17 aircraft on the raid.

This was the first heavy raid on Hamburg since the Battle of Hamburg just a year earlier. The bombing on this raid was not well concentrated. The Germans estimated that only 120 aircraft bombed in the city area, with no recognizable aiming point, though western and harbour areas received the most bombs. A large proportion of the attack fell on areas devastated in 1943 but 265 people were killed and more than 17,000 had to be evacuated from homes damaged in this raid, many of which were probably only temporary wooden accommodation at this stage of the war. Brunswig (p. 339) describes how a panic developed at the large Reeperbahn air-raid shelter when a lone aircraft came in to bomb after the all clear had sounded and nearby Flak guns opened fire. 2 women were trampled to death and others were badly hurt.

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

Pilot Officer WM Aldred (RCAF), Pilot Officer DJ Miller (RCAF), Pilot Officer KJ Murray (RCAF), Pilot Officer C Karrel (RCAF), Pilot Officer J Eadinger (RCAF) and Sergeant EW Prosser (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Flying Officer SS Redmond (RCAF) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War

There were four other 431 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost in the same area on this date. Please see Sidebottom, GE for information on Halifax MZ 859 SE-A, Mills, AM for information on Halifax MZ 597 SE-B, Miller, RJ for information on Halifax LK 845 SE-J and Sorel, WG for information on Halifax MZ 589 SE-H

Twenty-two 6 Group aircraft and crews failed to return from this operation

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Bombing Sterkrade Germany 1944-06-16 to 1944-06-17

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Normandy

321 aircraft- 162 Halifaxes, 147 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups to attack the synthetic-oil plant despite a poor weather forecast.

The target was found to be covered by thick cloud and the Pathfinder markers quickly disappeared. The Main Force crews could do little but bomb on to the diminishing glow of the markers in the cloud. R.A.F. photographic reconnaissance and German reports agree that most of the bombing was scattered, although some bombs did fall in the plant area, but with little effect upon production. 21 Germans and 6 foreigners were killed and 18 houses in the vicinity were destroyed

Unfortunately, the route of the bomber stream passed near a German night-fighter beacon at Bocholt, only 30 miles from Sterkrade. The German controller had chosen this beacon as the holding point for his night fighters. Approximately 21 bombers were shot down by fighters and a further Io by Flak. 22 of the lost aircraft were Halifaxes, these losses being 13 ·6 per cent of the 162 Halifaxes on the raid. 77 Squadron, from Full Sutton near York, lost 7 of its 23 Halifaxes taking part in the raid.

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

Halifax BIII aircraft LK 837 SE-H, was outward-bound on an operation to bomb the synthetic oil plants at Sterkrade/Holton, Germany when it was shot down by German night fighter Ace Hauptmann Heinz Struning

Only one crew member managed to bale before the Halifax crashed at Meijel, Limburg, Netherlands

Pilot Officer EO Johnson (RCAF), Pilot Officer EC Green (RCAF), Pilot Officer VP O'Bright (RCAF), Pilot Officer WR Chapman (RAFVR), Flying Officer RW Jones (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer D Shenton (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Flying Officer RCB Garrity (RCAF) survived and avoided capture as an Evader with the help of the Dutch Resistance. He was liberated by Allied forces and returned to England 1944-09-07

There were three other 431 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation on this date. Please see Carter, RE for information on Halifax NA 514 SE-B, Fairless, AG for information on Halifax MZ 520 SE-O and Johnstone, MM for information on Halifax MZ 537 SE-L

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431 Squadron Halifax III LK837 SE-L F/O. Johnson RAF Croft...

Bombing 1944-04-27 to 1944-04-28

431 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Croft

431 Iroquois Squadron (The Hatiten Ronteriios) RAF Croft. Halifax BIII aircraft LK 842 SE-N missing during night operations against the railyards at Montzen, Belgium. Homeward-bound, the Halifax was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Hermann Greiner, Staffelkapitan of the 11/NJG 1, who was flying a Bf 110 G-4 from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield, Belgium. The bomber was abandoned and crashed at Houthalen-Helchteren, Limburg, Belgium

Pilot Officer JJ Cooke (RCAF), Flying Officer HW Pond (RCAF), 1st Lieutenant JM Earman (USAAF) and Sergneat J Graham (RAFVR) were killed in action

Flying Officer WG Dudley (RCAF), Flying Officer DM King (RCAF) and Sergeant WJ Perry (RCAF) survived and were taken Prisoners of War

There were four 431 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials MZ 522 SE-U, MZ 529 SE-E and MZ 536 SE-F for additional information on these crew and aircraft

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431 Squadron Halifax III LK842 SE-N 1sr.Lt. Earman, RAF Croft, Yorkshire,...

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

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1944-07-28 to 1944-07-29

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Normandy

307 aircraft - 187 Halifaxes, ro6 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitoes - from 1, 6 and 8 Groups. German fighters again appeared, this time on the homeward flight, and 18 Halifaxes and 4 Lancasters were lost, 7·2 per cent of the force. The Halifax casualties were 9·6 per cent; 431 (Canadian) Squadron, flying from Croft airfield in Co. Durham, lost 5 of its 17 aircraft on the raid.

This was the first heavy raid on Hamburg since the Battle of Hamburg just a year earlier. The bombing on this raid was not well concentrated. The Germans estimated that only 120 aircraft bombed in the city area, with no recognizable aiming point, though western and harbour areas received the most bombs. A large proportion of the attack fell on areas devastated in 1943 but 265 people were killed and more than 17,000 had to be evacuated from homes damaged in this raid, many of which were probably only temporary wooden accommodation at this stage of the war. Brunswig (p. 339) describes how a panic developed at the large Reeperbahn air-raid shelter when a lone aircraft came in to bomb after the all clear had sounded and nearby Flak guns opened fire. 2 women were trampled to death and others were badly hurt.

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

Bombing Versailles France 1944-06-08 to 1944-06-08

640 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Leconfield

640 Squadron RAF Leconfield. Halifax III aircraft LK 866 C8-L was engaged in an operation to bomb rail facilities around Versailles France when it was shot down by Lt Heinz Reuter of 7/NJG2 about 70 km South-West of Paris, crashing at Soulaires, Eure-et-Loire France

The pilot, Flying Officer Ian MacKenzie Hamilton (RCAF) and Sergeant John William Lane (RAFVR) were both killed in action

Flying Officer Harold Denis Bastable (RCAF), Sergeant Ivan Leslie Horler (RAFVR), Sergeant Alexander Campbell Noble (RAFVR) and Flight Sergeant Andrew Rowe (RAFVR) all evaded for a time until being betrayed and arrested. Sergeants Horler and Noble were sent to Stalag Luft 1. Flying Officer Bastable and Flight Sergeant Rowe were held at Fresnes Prison in France before being deported to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. The German Luftwaffe intervened on behalf of 168 Allied Prisoners of War deported to Buchenwald and was able to transfer all but two, who sadly died in Buchenwald to Luftwaffe controlled POW camps. Bastable and Rowe were eventually both sent on to Stalag Luft 3

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

07/08 06 1944 640 Squadron Halifax LK866 Plt Off Ian M Hamilton RAF...

Search for France-Crashes 39-45

Bombing 1944-06-02 to 1944-06-02

() () RAF Lissett

Bombing Trappes France 1944-06-02 to 1944-06-03

158 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Lissett

D-Day

158 Squadron RAF (Strength in Unity) RAF Lissett. Halifax III aircraft LK 877 NP-A was shot down by Hauptmann Werner Hoffman, Staffelkapitan of 1/NJG-5 during an operation to bomb the railyards at Trappes, France, in preparation for the D-Day landings in Normandy. The Halifax crashed near Beaumont-le-Roger, Eure, France

The pilot, Flying Officer George Harold Dalton (RAFVR) survived and was taken as a Prisoner of War

The rest of the crew: Sergeant Stanley Bernard Jones (RCAF), Flying Officer Robert Maurice Farnbank (RAFVR), Flying Officer Walter Leigh Jones (RAFVR), Sergeant Henry William Chowne (RAFVR), Sergeant George William Heaton (RAFVR) and Sergeant Herbert Matthews (RAFVR) all survived and avoided capture as Evaders

Nachtjager Luftwaffe Night fighter Units 1939-1945 by David P Williams

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Operational 1945-01-15 to 1945-01-15

() HCU (RCAF) Topcliffe

David Thompson - "˜and in the morning"¦'

On Monday 15th January 1945 the aircraft was allocated to Flying Officer F.W. Mooney RCAF and his crew of eight other airmen to carry out circuits and landings, taking off at 20:55 hours. It is important to note the crew had been involved just over two hours previously at 18:50 hours in an aborted take-off when the aircraft Halifax Mk.III LK871 was damaged beyond economical repair having it swung violently to starboard on take-off for the second time, the starboard wheel left the metalled runway and dug in causing the aircraft to ground loop, the port tyre then burst and the port undercarriage collapse. Without being medically checked the crew were assigned to Halifax Mk.III serial number LK878 and ordered to carry on with the exercise! Taking off for the second time the aircraft in less than three minutes flew into high ground at Catcliffe Wood near Felixkirk, 4 miles NE of Thirsk, Yorkshire at roughly 20:59 hours. The aircraft initially struck the ground of a snow-covered field near the village of Felixkirk, immediately bounced across a narrow lane and into an area of woodland and broke up on impact, the rear turret coming adrift. When rescuers arrived at the scene the Rear Gunner was still alive but succumbed to his injures. Northallerton Military Hospital records record that at 22:15 hours the "Mobile Surgical unit proceeded to Felixkirk at the request of RCAF Topcliffe." The injured airman was removed from the car and transferred to the ambulance. "He was in a very poor condition and died immediately after admission to hospital (at Northallerton) from multiple injuries". The Humber (vehicle) had to be abandoned half a mile from the scene of the crash owing to deep snow. Personnel walked through the snow to the crash. The surgical unit returned to Northallerton at 00:15 hours".

Halifax LK878 was the 64th aircraft from the Unit to become non effective and struck off charge (S.O.C. on Saturday 20th January 1945) All nine members on board perished!

The average age of the crew was 20 years 204 days, the average age of the those that died on No.1659 Heavy Conversion Unit was 23 years 37 days and the average age of those that died on a Heavy Conversion Unit 23 years 183 days.

(Photographs "“ (internet) Left to right, McGregor, Stavenow, MacDonell, Mooney, Savy & McCrea: Sergeant Richard (Michael) Sullivan the Extra F/E (in Civilian clothes)., Sergeant Robson F/E Halifax LK878 and Flight Sergeant Walton the Extra Pilot)

Lest we forget"¦

(Information from "˜and in the morning"¦' Database, Information can be verified using MOD documentation and the CWGC Register"¦ No.1659 HCU and Volumes of the H.C.U's to be released)

Bombing Haine-Saint-Pierre Belgium 1944-05-09 to 1944-05-09

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

123 aircraft - 62 Halifaxes, 53 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes of 6 and 8 Groups. 6 Halifaxes and 3 Lancasters lost. Severe damage was caused to half of the railway yards and to locomotive sheds.

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

Halifax aircraft LK 884 Shot down by a night-fighter (Lt Georg Fengler 1V. near Gosselies during a night raid against Haine St Pierre, Belgium. FL. R.F. Mead, F/Os L.C.E.Webley, A. Girolami, P/Os J.A. Ouimet, J.V. Gravel, Sergeant D.V. Guttridge (RAF), and one other of the crew, not Canadian, were killed.

Bombing 1943-08-30 to 1943-08-31

434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Tholthorpe

434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Tholthorpe. Halifax BV aircraft LK 894 WL-K was shot down over Belgium by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Heinz Struning of the 3/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Venlo airfield, the Netherlands during a raid against targets in Monchengladbach, Germany. The Halifax is believed to have crashed NNE of Maaseik, Belgium with the loss of the entire crew

Pilot Officer FH Leaver (RCAF), Pilot Officer LW Kerr (RCAF), Pilot Officer SG Young (RCAF), Flying Officer MW Howard (RCAF), FS LC Patrick (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 JA Box (RCAF), Sergeant FA Bartlett (RAFVR), and Pilot Officer CS Burgess (RAFVR) were all killed in action

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

Bombing Leipzig Germany 1943-12-03 to 1943-12-04

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholthorpe

Battle of Berlin

527 aircraft - 307 Lancasters, 220 Halifaxes. Despite the loss of two pressmen on the previous night, the well-known American broadcaster, Ed Murrow, flew on the raid with a 619 Squadron Lancaster crew. He returned safely.

The bomber force took another direct route towards Berlin before turning off to bomb Leipzig. German fighters were in the bomber stream and scoring successes before the turn was made but most of them were then directed to Berlin when the Mosquito diversion opened there. There were few fighters over Leipzig and only 3 bombers are believed to have been lost in the target area, 2 of them being shot down by Flak. A relatively successful raid, from the point of view of bomber casualties, was spoiled when many aircraft flew by mistake into the Frankfurt defended area on the long southern withdrawal route and more than half of the bombers shot down on this night were lost there. 24 aircraft- 15 Halifaxes, 9 Lancasters -were lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

Bombing Hanover Germany 1943-10-08 to 1943-10-09

427 () Sqn (RCAF) Skipton on Swale

On 1943-10-08, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, an Engineering Officer with 427 Sqn at Skipton-on-Swale, wrote in his diary:

". . .The weather was pretty duff right up until the last minute & there was a great chance of it being scrubbed but the take-off was ok. We had 11 kites on & had them marshalled and ready to go at 5:00pm. Takeoff was 10:30 with 1875 lbs of bombs & incendiaries as the load, 1 2000lb bomb was the big item: 429 had 13 [aircraft] on & it was very interesting as it was the first night take-off I had witnessed. . . . Those of us on interrogation stretched out on chairs in the Mess & went to sleep. At 1:30 I got a phone call that H was in the circuit on an early return . . .By this time it was nearly 4am so I went to bed when I heard that the rest of our aircraft were being diverted due to heavy ground fog at our station."

Sat Oct 9, 1943: " . . . We located all of our kites down in the south of England and sent crew down to get them fixed up.D Donald [LK900] is missing so I've now lost my first kite directly due to enemy action. It was the pilot and crew's first trip which is really too bad. 429 had one too making 2 out of 24 kites which isn't bad. Hanover was the target and from all reports they really pranged it properly"

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

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Battle of Berlin

823 aircraft- 56 I Lancasters, 255 Halifaxes, 7 Mosquitoes. 78 aircraft- 44 Lancasters and 34 Halifaxes - lost, 9·5 per cent of the force. The Halifax loss rate was 13·3 per cent of those dispatched and 14·9 per cent of those Halifaxes which reached the enemy coast after 'early returns' had turned back. The Halifax IIs and Vs were permanently withdrawn from operations to Germany after this raid.

This was an unhappy raid for Bomber Command. The German controllers only sent part of their force of fighters to the Kiel minelaying diversion. When the main bomber force crossed the Dutch coast, they were met by a further part of the German fighter force and those German fighters which had been sent north to Kiel hurriedly returned. The bomber stream was thus under attack all the way to the target. There were further difficulties at the target because winds were not as forecast and many aircraft reached the Leipzig area too early and had to orbit and await the Pathfinders. 4 aircraft were lost by collision and approximately 20 were shot down by Flak.

Leipzig was cloud-covered and the Pathfinders had to use sky-marking. The raid appeared to be concentrated in its early stages but scattered later. There are few details of the effects of the bombing. No report is available from Germany and there was no immediate post-raid reconnaissance flight. When photographs were eventually taken, they included the results of an American raid which took place on the following day.

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

Halifax V aircraft LK 905 SE-D was shot down by a night fighter (either Oberleutnant Josef Kraft of the 4/NJG 5 or Oberleutnant Paul Zorner of the 8/NJG 3, claim not determined) on a sortie to bomb the aircraft assembly plants at Leipzig, Germany. The Halifax crashed at Ipse near Gardelegan, Germany

Flying Officer M Sonshine (RCAF), Flying Officer RJ Kee (RCAF), Flying Officer JA Houston (RCAF), Pilot Officer DA McKerry (RCAF), Flying Officer RE Gillanders (RCAF), and FS AC Twitchett (RAFVR) were killed

FS AG Harvey (RCAF), was taken Prisoner of War

There were two 431 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Rowell LG for casualty list on LG 964 SE-T.

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

434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Croft

Battle of Berlin

434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Croft. Halifax BV aircraft LK 916 WL-P was lost on a night bombing operation when it blew up over the target of Berlin, Germany, cause unknown

Pilot Officer E P Devaney (RCAF), Pilot Officer C T E Lee (RCAF), Pilot Officer W H Martin (RCAF), Pilot Officer W K Maxwell (RCAF), Pilot Officer V H McKeown (RCAF), Sergeant E Parker (RAFVR) and Flight Sergeant K J Scales (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in action. The missing have no known grave and all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

The Squadron Operations Record Book (ORB) refers to the operation as "Black Thursday". There were four other 434 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation, EB 256 WL-S, LK 649 WL-X, LK 740 WL-V and LL 134 WL-U

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

The RCAF Halifax B Mk V P for Popeye

Bombing 1944-01-28 to 1944-01-29

431 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Croft

431 Iroquois Squadron (The hatiten ronterrios) RAF Croft. Halifax V aircraft LK 918 SE-F, while returning to base from a bombing operation against targets in Berlin, Germany, short of fuel, the bomber diverted to RAF Dishforth. While attempting to land, the Halifax skidded off the runway and was severely damaged. Fortunately the entire crew survived without injury

Pilot Officer J K Gustafson (RCAF), Pilot Officer J B A Lamoureux DFC (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant J C King DFC (RAAF), Pilot Officer A Barnes DFC (RAFVR), Pilot Officer J T H Beech DFC (RAFVR), Flying Officer I H Black DFC (RAFVR), Flight Lieutenant O M Gilmour DFC (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer F D Pym DFC (RAFVR) all survived without injury

There were three more 431 Squadron Halifax V aircraft and crews lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LL 150 SE-N, LK 963 SE-H and LL 181 SE-Q for additional information

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

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