Handley Page Halifax Serial Groups Specifications

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

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

596 aircraft- 323 Lancasters, 254 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitoes - of all groups except 5 Group. 29 aircraft- 16 Halifaxes and 13 Lancasters - lost, 4·9 per cent of the force.

2,150 tons of bombs were dropped in this old-style heavy attack on a German city which caused much destruction but also allowed the German night-fighter force to penetrate the bomber stream. The attack fell mostly in the northern districts of Diisseldorf. Widespread damage was caused. Among the mass of statistics· in the local report are: 56 large industrial premises hit (of which 7 were completely destroyed), more than 2,000 houses destroyed or badly damaged. Casualties recorded by 2.0 p.m. on 25 April were 883 people killed, 593 injured and 403 still to be dug out of wrecked buildings; at least three quarters of this last figure would have been dead.

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

Halifax aircraft LV 780 was shot down at Goirle, near Tilburg, Holland during a night attack trip to Dusseldorf, Germany. P/O.s J.S.Laird, W.F. Vornbrock, F.A. Cammaart, and J.J. Renning were killed. One Canadian, FS. F.P. Morrisey, was taken Prisoner Of War.

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

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 LV 840 BN-E was hit by flak and then attacked and shot down by a Dornier night fighter during an operation against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany. On fire and with the loss of an engine, pilot Pilot Officer Bourgeault gave the order to abandon the aircraft. The crew managed to escape but sadly, Pilot Officer Bourgeault was unable to get out and went down with the Halifax when it crashed near the village of Walheim, 10 km southwest of Aachen/Aix-La-Chapelle, Germany

Pilot Officer JA Bourgeault (RCAF) was killed in action

Sergeant JJ Plante (RCAF), Flying Officer JW Guignion (RCAF), Sergeant JE Laframboise (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 TA Miller (RCAF) and Sergeant DR Bowerman (RAFVR) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War

Warrant Officer Class 2 WG Dennstedt (RCAF) survived and became an Evader until liberated by American Forces, 1944-09-08

There were three 433 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HX 291 BM-W and LV 990 BM-J for additional information

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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 BIII aircraft LV 841 BM-H was lost on the return leg of an operation against targets in Berlin, Germany. The Halifax is believed to have been shot down by a night fighter, probably Oblt. Heinz Rokker of 2/NJG2. The Halifax crashed at Sandersleben, 18 KM SW of Bernburg, Germany. The entire crew was lost

FS GA Dancey (RCAF), Pilot Officer HW Lossing (RCAF), Flying Officer DA Robinson (RCAF), FS LG Davey (RCAF), Sergeant E Osborne (RAFVR), Sergeant FE Simons (RAFVR), and Sergeant OW Sporne (RAFVR) were all killed in action

There were two 433 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial HX 284 BM-B

24/25.03.1944 433 Squadron Halifax II LV841 BM-H Plt.Off. Lossing

July I 2020 I RCAF 420 Snowy Owl

WO2VPR1 - 1944-03-25 Halifax

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Bombing Nuremberg Germany 1944-03-30 to 1944-03-31

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

Battle of Berlin

This would normally have been the moon stand-down period for the Main Force, but raid to the distant target of Nuremberg was planned on the basis of an early recast that there would be protective high cloud on the outward route, when the moon would be up, but that the target area would be clear for ground-marked robing. A Meteorological Flight Mosquito carried out a reconnaissance and reported that the protective cloud was unlikely to be present and that there could be cloud over the target, but the raid was not cancelled.

795 aircraft were dispatched- 572 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitoes. The German controller ignored all the diversions and assembled his fighters at 2 radio beacons which happened to be astride the route to Nuremberg. The first fighters appeared just before the bombers reached the Belgian border and a fierce battle in the moonlight lasted for the next hour. 82 bombers were lost on the outward route and near the target. The action was much reduced on the return flight, when most of the German fighters had to land, but 95 bombers were lost in all - 64 Lancasters and 31 Halifaxes, l l ·9 per cent of the force dispatched. It was the biggest Bomber Command loss of the war.

Most of the returning crews reported that they had bombed Nuremberg but subsequent research showed that approximately 120 aircraft had bombed Schweinfurt, 50 miles north-west of Nuremberg. This mistake was a result of badly forecast winds causing navigational difficulties. 2 Pathfinder aircraft dropped markers at Schweinfurt. Much of the bombing in the Schweinfurt area fell outside the town and only 2 people were killed in that area.

The main raid at Nuremberg was a failure. The city was covered by thick cloud and a fierce cross-wind which developed on the final approach to the target caused many of the Pathfinder aircraft to mark too far to the east. A to-mile-long creep back also developed into the countryside north of Nuremberg. Both Pathfinders and Main Force aircraft were under heavy fighter attack throughout the raid. Little damage was caused in Nuremberg: 69 people were killed in the city and surrounding villages

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

Warrant Officer Class 2 Crosland was on his second operation when his Halifax BIII aircraft LV 879 QB-A was attacked by night fighter pilot Lt Klaus Bretschneider of 6/JG300 over Giessen, Germany, crashing near Alten-Buseck during an operation against Nuremberg, Germany

Warrant Officer Class 2 AH Crosland (RCAF), Flying Officer J Doig (RCAF), Pilot Officer RJ Atkins (RCAF), Sergeant JS Bolton (RAFVR), Sergeant TJ Rogers (RAFVR), and Sergeant D Stewart (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Flying Officer John Ross Mason (RCAF) baled and was the only survivor of his crew. Flying Officer Mason sustained leg injuries during his parachute jump, was captured and taken Prisoner of War

There were two 424 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Paquin, FF for information on Halifax LV 944 QB-U

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424 Squadron Halifax III LV879 QB-A Fg.Off. John Doig, RAF Skipton-o...

Casualties of the Moonlight Raid

Bombing Tergnier France 1944-04-10 to 1944-04-11

51 (B) Sqn (RAF) Snaith

aircraft LV880 missing during night operations against Tergnier, France.

Additional Crew:

• RAAF
• Pilot Officer Horace Mervyn Hall - KIA
• Flight Sergeant Mervyn James Fairclough - PoW
• Flying Officer Frederick Godfrey Kirkwood - Evader
• Warrant Officer John Bruce Osborn - KIA
• RAF
• Sergeant Gordon Joseph William Peck - KIA
• Sergeant Patrick William Hegarty - PoW

The aircraft was attacked by a night fighter and the port wing set on fire. The Pilot attempted to blow out the fire by diving steeply but this was unsuccessful and moments after the order was given for the crew to put on chutes. The aircraft then exploded and crashed at Davenscourt (Sornme), 7 krn NNE of Montdidier.

Four of the crew were killed and Flight Sergeant Fairclough and Sergeant Hegarty were PoWs whilst Flying Officer Kirkwood evaded capture.

Those killed are buried in the Davenscourt Communal Cemetery.

Flight Sergeant Fairclough later reported: "We were attacked by a night fighter from below. The port wing was set on fire and the Captain tried to put it out by diving the aircraft. He also ordered put on chutes. I went forward to see if the abandon order had been given as I couldn't make contact. I was thrown to the floor and couldn't get up, but finally blown out when the aircraft exploded. Later learnt that the abandon order had been given. Captured a few months late by the Grestapo"
Source: AWM 237 (65) NAA A705, 166/17/526 Micro Film 463 0A_FH
Commonwealth War Graves Records, W R Chorley, RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 168 Volume 1944.

Air Crew Remebered LV880

Bombing Metz France 1944-06-28 to 1944-06-29

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

Battle of Normandy

202 Halifaxes of 4 and 6 Groups with 28 Pathfinder Lancasters attacked yards at Blainville and Metz. Both targets were hit. 20 aircraft were lost, 1 I Halifaxes of 4 Group and I Lancaster from the Blainville raid and 7 Halifaxes of 6 Group and 1 Lancaster from Metz. The combined loss rate was 8·7 per cent.

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

Crashed near Bermricourt, near Reims, during mission to Metz on 28 / 29 June 1944.

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

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

429 Bison Sqn (Fortunae Nihil) RAF Leeming. Halifax III aircraft LV 914 AV-L lost during a night trip against targets in Berlin, Germany. Extremely strong winds on this night caused major difficulties for aircrews, scattering the bomber stream, especially on the homeward flight. Of the 811 aircraft involved in this operation, 72 aircraft and crews (8.9%) were lost to flak and night fighters. This was the last major RAF raid on Berlin during the war

The cause of loss was not established, but pilot Flying Officer RF Conroy (RCAF) maintained control of his aircraft and stayed at the controls while the crew abandoned the Halifax. He was unable to get clear himself and was killed in action

Squadron Leader JW Bell DFC (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant GW McIntyre (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant AP Smith (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 OD McLean (RCAF), Sergeant LCP Spencer (RCAF) and Sergeant G Wilton (RAFVR) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War

Previously, as a Flight Sergeant, Conroy had survived two events in 1943. He had been injured when 429 Squadron Wellington X aircraft BJ 755 AL-Z had crashed during take-off from RAF East Moor for an operation to Essen, Germany, 1943-03-05. Three months later, Flying Officer Conroy had been the sole survivor of 429 Squadron Wellington X aircraft HE 593 AL-Z shot down by a night fighter 1943-06-12 on a raid to Dusseldorf, Germany. Flying Officer Conroy survived as an Evader and with the help of various people in the Bourgogne Escape Line made his way to Gibraltar, returning to the UK and his unit 1943-10-02

An article by his niece on Flying Officer Conroy and his loss appears in the June 2018 issue of Airforce magazine

There were three 429 squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LK 805 AL-H and LW 688 AL-J for additional information

The Bomber Command War Diaries, by Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

The Battle of Berlin, Bomber Command Over the Third Reich 1943-1945 by Martin W Bowman page 329

Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire

Flying Officer Gerald Conroy, 429 sqn, Berlin raid-24 Mar 44 I WW2Talk

July I 2020 I RCAF Snowy Owl

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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 BIII aircraft LV 918 NP-O was coned by searchlights (Flakscheinw Regiment 113) and hit by heavy flak (3-6/schw Flak Abt 514, 2/schw Abt 525 (Eisb) and Schw Flak Battery z b v 5780). The Halifax exploded over the targets and crashed in Aachen, Germany

Four crew members were killed in action and three survived to become Prisoners of War

Flight Lieutenant R Reavill (RAFVR), Flight Lieutenant C C Fox DFM (RAFVR), Flying Officer W J Rogers RAF and Flight Sergeant R E Hardwick (RAFVR) were killed in action

Flying Officer D A Stewart (RCAF), Flying Officer J E Hounam DFM (RAFVR) and Sergeant F A Spriggs (RAFVR) survived to become Prisoners of War

Four other 158 Squadron Halifax II aircraft and crews were lost on this operation: LW 118 NP-X, HX 320 NP-A, LW 653 NP-T and LW 720 NP-W

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Aviation Safety Network

24/25 05 1944 158 Squadron Halifax III LV918 NP:O Flt Lt Ralph Reavill

158 Squadron Association - Personnel

Bombing Nuremberg Germany 1944-03-30 to 1944-03-31

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

Battle of Berlin

This would normally have been the moon stand-down period for the Main Force, but raid to the distant target of Nuremberg was planned on the basis of an early recast that there would be protective high cloud on the outward route, when the moon would be up, but that the target area would be clear for ground-marked robing. A Meteorological Flight Mosquito carried out a reconnaissance and reported that the protective cloud was unlikely to be present and that there could be cloud over the target, but the raid was not cancelled.

795 aircraft were dispatched- 572 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitoes. The German controller ignored all the diversions and assembled his fighters at 2 radio beacons which happened to be astride the route to Nuremberg. The first fighters appeared just before the bombers reached the Belgian border and a fierce battle in the moonlight lasted for the next hour. 82 bombers were lost on the outward route and near the target. The action was much reduced on the return flight, when most of the German fighters had to land, but 95 bombers were lost in all - 64 Lancasters and 31 Halifaxes, l l ·9 per cent of the force dispatched. It was the biggest Bomber Command loss of the war.

Most of the returning crews reported that they had bombed Nuremberg but subsequent research showed that approximately 120 aircraft had bombed Schweinfurt, 50 miles north-west of Nuremberg. This mistake was a result of badly forecast winds causing navigational difficulties. 2 Pathfinder aircraft dropped markers at Schweinfurt. Much of the bombing in the Schweinfurt area fell outside the town and only 2 people were killed in that area.

The main raid at Nuremberg was a failure. The city was covered by thick cloud and a fierce cross-wind which developed on the final approach to the target caused many of the Pathfinder aircraft to mark too far to the east. A to-mile-long creep back also developed into the countryside north of Nuremberg. Both Pathfinders and Main Force aircraft were under heavy fighter attack throughout the raid. Little damage was caused in Nuremberg: 69 people were killed in the city and surrounding villages

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

Halifax BIII aircraft LV 944 QB-U was shot down by flak and crashed near Falkenstein, Werolzhofen, Germany during night operations against Nuremberg, Germany

The entire crew was lost

Flying Officer FFF Paquin (RCAF), Squadron Leader HW Metzler (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant RJ Digney (RCAF), PO JL Berry (RCAF), Pilot Officer JB Allen (RCAF), Flying Officer NA MacAulay (RCAF), and Pilot Officer G Myles (RAFVR) were all killed in action

This was one of 108 Allied aircraft that were lost this night

There were two 424 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Crosland, AH for information on Halifax LV 879 QB-A

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Casualties of the Moonlight Raid

Bombing Brunswick Germany 1944-08-12 to 1944-08-13

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

Battle of Normandy

242 Lancasters and 137 Halifaxes. 17 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes lost, 7·1 per cent of the force. This was an experimental raid. No Pathfinder aircraft took part and there was no marking. The intention was to discover how successfully a force of aircraft could carry out a raid with each crew bombing on the indications of its own H2S set. The raid was not successful and there was no concentration of bombing, The Brunswick report calls it a heavy raid but only states that bombs fell In the central and Statdtpark area and that 99 people were killed. Other towns, up to 20 miles distant were mistaken for Brunswick and were also bombed.

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

. Halifax aircraft missing during night operations against Brunswick, Germany. Pilot Officer W. L. Harris was killed, F/Os W.H. Cram, W.C. Barrett, Campbell, Sergeants . Harvey, and R.A. Austin were taken Prisoners of War. One Canadian, Sergeant Maki, was an Evader

Bombing Bois-de-Cassan France 1944-08-04 to 1944-08-04

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

Battle of Normandy

FLYING-BOMB STORAGE SITES

291 aircraft - 169 Halifaxes, 112 Lancasters, I0 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups attacked the Bois-de- Cassan and Trossy-St-Maxim sites in clear visibility. 2 Halifaxes of 6 Group were lost on the Bois-de- Cassan raid and 2 Lancasters on the Trossy-St-Maxim raid.

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

Halifax BIII aircraft LV 959 QB-R did not return from a raid against the V-1 rocket storage sites in Bois-de-Casson, France, cause unknown. The aircraft crashed near Boran-sur-Oise, WSW of Chantilly, France.

Flying Officer DG Stevenson (RCAF), Flying Officer PE Cronin (RCAF), Flying Officer WR Heuchert (RCAF), Pilot Officer CB Sutton (RCAF), Pilot Officer SL Peters (RCAF) and Pilot Officer VC Gerrie were killed. One of the crew, Sergeant E Rogers (RAF) was taken Prisoner of War.

Squadron Leader I W Bazalgette (RCAF) of 635 Pathfinder Sqn was posthumously awarded a VC for his devotion to duty on this raid

Bombing Metz France 1944-06-28 to 1944-06-29

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

Battle of Normandy

202 Halifaxes of 4 and 6 Groups with 28 Pathfinder Lancasters attacked yards at Blainville and Metz. Both targets were hit. 20 aircraft were lost, 1 I Halifaxes of 4 Group and I Lancaster from the Blainville raid and 7 Halifaxes of 6 Group and 1 Lancaster from Metz. The combined loss rate was 8·7 per cent.

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

Halifax aircraft LV 961 crashed ten miles south-east of Beauvais, France during night operations against Metz, France. F/Os G.W. Johnson, E.W. Folliott, R.H. Dickinson, P/Os J.B.Patterson, G.H. Isaac, F.E. Joynson, and FS T. Davies (RAF) were killed. One of the crew, not Canadian, missing believed 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 BIII aircraft LV 962 QB-X was returning from night operations over Karlsruhe, Germany when it was intercepted and shot down by the night fighter crew of Oberleutnant Werner Baake & Unteroffizier Rolf Bettaque of the 2/NJG 1 from Venlo airfield, Netherlands in He 219 A-0 G9+BK

The bomber crashed west of the Draepkilweg road at Werkendam, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Flying Officer JE Tinline (RCAF), Flying Officer DA Crosbie (RCAF), Pilot Officer LJH Boudreau (RCAF), Pilot Officer ZR Trudeau (RCAF) and Pilot Officer PM Maloney (RAAF) were all killed in action

Pilot Officer RW Brown (RCAF) and FS CA Phyall (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

There were two 424 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Hughi,Warrant Officer for information regarding Halifax HX 318 QB-O

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Bombing Villeneuve-Saint-Georges France 1944-07-04 to 1944-07-05

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

Battle of Normandy

282 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitoes of 1, 6 and 8 Groups attacked railway yards at Orleans and Villeneuve. Both targets were accurately bombed. 14 Lancasters were lost, 11 from the Villeneuve raid and 3 from Orleans.

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

Halifax BIII aircraft LV 970 QB-T missing during an operation to bomb the railyards at Villeneuve St Georges, France, believed shot down on the return flight by a night fighter

Pilot Officer AG Sinclair (RCAF), Flying Officer PNT Van Alstyne (RCAF), Flying Officer LT Sykes (RCAF)(USA), Flying Officer LF O'Brien (RCAF), Pilot Officer JA Buckham (RCAF), Pilot Officer D More (RCAF) and Sergeant CF Wilson (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Search for France-Crashes 39-45

Bombing Acheres France 1944-06-07 to 1944-06-08

427 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certe) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LV 987 ZL-K, while on a raid to bomb the railyards at Acheres, France in support of the coming D-Day Landings. The Halifax was attacked and shot down by night fighter pilot Hptm Kurt Fladrich of 9 /NJG 9 at 01:26 hours. The entire crew abandoned the aircraft before it crashed near Gaillon-sur-Montcient, Yvelines, France

Flying Officer Edward Carter-Edwards (RCAF) and Sergeant Charles Walter Ford (RCAF) both survived and were captured to become Prisoners of War

Flying Officer Charles Walter Farr (RCAF), Flying Officer Gordon McTavish Waddell, Sergeant Martin Donnan (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 David F Foster (RCAF) and Sergeant George William Philliskirk (RAFVR) all survived and avoided capture as Evaders. Aided by the French Resistance these four crewmates ended up together near Paris, France, sheltering there until liberated by advancing American Forces 1944-08-29

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

07/08061944 427 (Lion) Squadron RCAF Halifax III LV987 Warrant Officer Class 2 David F...

Search for France-Crashes 39-45

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

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 LV 990 BM-J missing during night operations, a raid against Dusseldorf, Germany. The cause of loss was not established

Flying Officer GC Burns MiD (RCAF), Pilot Officer ASF Holmes (RCAF), Pilot Officer DC MacDougall (RCAF), Sergeant JJ Bedard (RCAF) and Sergeant JW Dunford (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Pilot Officer JP Desroches (RCAF) was missing, presumed killed in action

Sergeant TN Morris (RAFVR) was the only survivor from his crew and was taken as Prisoner of War

There were three 433 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HX 291 BM-W and LV 840 BM-E for additional information

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Halifax LV990 433 Squadron - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces...

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

Bombing Arras France 1944-06-12 to 1944-06-13

427 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certas) RAF Leeming. Halifax III aircraft LV 995 ZL-Y was shot down by flak during a night operation to bomb railyards at Arras, France, crashing near Maquise, Pas-de-Calais, France

Flying Officer FH Lang (RCAF), Pilot Officer NF Fitton (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant LB Thistle (RCAF) and Sergeant DA Bristow (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Pilot Officer EL Wilson (RCAF), Flying Officer K Patrick (RCAF) and Flying Officer JDL Fulton (RCAF) avoided capture and were Evaders

There were two more 427 aircraft lost on the operation this night. Please see aircraft serials LW 165 ZL-M and LW135 ZL-R for additional information

Search for France-Crashes 39-45

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

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

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 JR Power (RCAF) and Squadron Commanding Officer W/C JD Blane (RCAF) were killed in action

Warrant Officer Class 2 JD Burns (RCAF), Flying Officer RV Smyth (RCAF), FS WE Mylchreest (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant CG Kerr DFC (RCAF) and Sergeant W McAlpine (RAF) survived to be 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."

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

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