Handley Page Halifax Serial Groups Specifications

Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1944-07-25 to 1944-07-26

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

Battle of Normandy

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF east Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 687 QO-A was shot down by Oblt Herbert Schulte zur Surlage 5/ NJG4 flying a a Ju-88 G-1 during an operation against targets in Stuttgart, Germany. The Halifax was abandoned and crashed at Chateaudun-Neuville aux Bois (Villampuy area), Eure-et-Loir, France

Wing Commander JK MacDonald (RCAF), Flying Officer MFC Grimsey (RCAF), Flight Sergeant BR Justason (RCAF), Flying Officer W Calderwood (RAF), Pilot Officer H Chamberlain (RAF) and Flight Lieutenant HJS Kemley DFC (RAF) all survived and became Evaders. Grimsey, Chamberlain and Kemley were all at the Freteval Camp in France as part of the Comet Escape Line until liberated by American troops 1944-08-14

MacDonald, Justason and Calderwood were driven from Orgeres-en-Beauce to Villeron by Raymond PICOURT, a pharmacist in Chartres. They sheltered there until their liberation by American troops in mid-August 1944

There were two 432 Squadron Halifax VII aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial NP 688 QO-X foe additional information on this aircraft and crew

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Research of France-Crashes 39-45

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Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1944-07-25 to 1944-07-26

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

Battle of Normandy

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 688 QO-X failed to return from an operation against targets in Stuttgart, Germany. The cause of loss was not determined but there are both night fighter and flak claims for this loss. The Halifax crashed at Breteniere, near Thorey-en-Plaine, 13 km SE of Dijon, France

Pilot Officer JR Giles (RCAF), Pilot Officer GB Martin (RCAF), Flying Officer KL Moss (RCAF), Flying Officer F Wittmack (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant DW Johnson (RCAF)(USA) and Sergeant FD Crawford (RAFVR) were all killed in action

The Navigator, Flying Officer GR Ellis (RCAF) was the sole survivor from this crew and was taken as a Prisoner of War

There were two 432 Squadron Halifax VII aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial NP 687 QO-A for additional information on this aircraft and crew

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Research of France-Crashes 39-45

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Ops

Halifax NP688 (bois) - Thorey-en-Plaine le 26 July 1944 I Aerosteles

Bombing Hagen Germany 1945-03-15 to 1945-03-15

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

267 aircraft - 134 Lancasters, l 22 Halifaxes, 11 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 6 Lancasters and 4 Halifaxes lost.

This area attack took place in clear visibility and caused severe damage; the local report estimated that the bomber force was 800 aircraft strong! The main attack fell in the centre and eastern districts. There were 1,439 fires, of which 124 were classified 11s large. 493 Germans and 12 foreigners were killed. 30,000-35,000 people were bombed out.

Halifax VII aircraft NP 689 QO-M "Moonlight Mermaid" was shot down by flak near the target over Germany (R Koval)

Flying Officer SM Bonter (RCAF), Sergeant DC Lawton (RCAF) and Sergeant D Colquhoun (RAFVR) were killed

Flying Officer HE Vachon (RCAF), Flying Officer AT Hinchcliffe (RCAF) and Warrant Officer Class 2 EEV Anderson (RCAF) baled safely and were taken Prisoner of War (R Koval). Sergeant TD Scott (RCAF) also baled out safely and evaded but fell into the hands of the Gestapo and was murdered April 3, 1945. This was NP 689's 84th or 85th sortie (letter, Airforce, Sept. 1983, which also gives the name as "Moonlight Maiden")

March 1945 Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

April I 2019 I Preserving the Past II

Bombing Bottrop Germany 1944-09-27 to 1944-09-27

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

175 aircraft - 96 Halifaxes, 71 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups attacked the Ruhroel A.G. synthetic-oil plant in the Welheim suburb ofBottrop. The target was almost entirely cloud-covered and most of the bombing was aimed at Oboe sky-markers, although a few aircraft were able to bomb through small breaks' in the cloud. Explosions and black smoke were seen. No aircraft lost.

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

Bombing Osnabruck Germany 1944-12-06 to 1944-12-06

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

453 aircraft- 363 Halifaxes, 72 Lancasters, 18 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups, 7 Halifaxes and I Lancaster lost.

This was the first major raid on Osnabriick since August 1942. The raid was only a partial success. The railway yards were only slightly damaged but 4 factories were hit, including the Teuto-Metallwerke munitions factory, and 203 houses wen, destroyed. 39 people were killed.

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

Halifax aircraft NP 695 missing during a trip to Osnabruck, Germany. Claimed by Hptm Dietrich Schmidt 8/NJG1 - Nordwalde: 2,800m at 2014.(Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)

Those who perished were initially buried in Nordwalde Local Cemetery. Reinterred 24 March 1947.(CWGC)

Sergeant Jonas and Flt Sergeant Quinn RCAF were part of Trupp 56. They arrived at Bankau on 26 December 1944. (The Long Road - Oliver Clutton-Brock)

Navigator: R/174480 WOII Patrick Alec Callaghan RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreuzburg Upper Silesia/Stalag IIIA Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1315.

Bomb Aimer: J/26210 Fg Off Clarence Wilfrid Wilkinson RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang PoW Number 6800

Wireless Operator: J/89784 Plt Off Clarence William Soles RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number 6797

Mid Upper Gunner: R/150272 Flt Sergeant Harold Clinton Quinn RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreuzburg Upper Silesia/Stalag IIIA Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1300.source: John Jones

Ferry Flight Duisburg Germany 1944-12-17 to 1944-12-18

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

523 aircraft 418 Halifaxes, 81 Lancasters, 24 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 8 Halifaxes lost.

Duisburg was badly hit again. 346 houses were destroyed and 524 seriously damaged; industrial premises were probably hit also but few details are available, 92 -people, including 18 foreigners, were killed.

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

Halifax VII aircraft NP 699 QO-O "Oscar the Outlaw II" crashed by the French/Belgium border near Rocroi, France. The aircraft was involved a mid-air collision with 10 Sqn Halifax III LV 818 ZA-F during an early morning trip to Duisburg, Germany, causing the loss of both aircraft and only one survivor between the two aircrews (R Koval). Flying Officer RL Cann (RCAF), Pilot Officer SE Zadorozny (RCAF), Pilot Officer AG Blayney (RCAF), Flying Officer GD Wilson (RCAF), and Pilot Officer MJ Boylan (RAFVR) were killed and buried at various cemeteries scattered across Belgium and France. Pilot Officer JW Green (RCAF) missing, believed killed and listed on the Runnymede Memorial as missing. One Canadian, pilot Flight Lieutenant M Krakovsky (RCAF), survived, safe, and was returned to the Squadron

There were two 432 Sqn. aircraft lost on this date. Please see Farelll, E.J.for information regarding the other aircraft Halifax NP 701 and crew.

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1944-12-17 to 1944-12-18

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

523 aircraft 418 Halifaxes, 81 Lancasters, 24 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 8 Halifaxes lost.

Duisburg was badly hit again. 346 houses were destroyed and 524 seriously damaged; industrial premises were probably hit also but few details are available, 92 -people, including 18 foreigners, were killed.

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

Halifax VII aircraft NP 701 QO-G missing during a daylight operation, against Duisburg, German. Shot down by a fighter around 05:00. Aircraft quickly lost control and partially evacuated by parachute. (French Crashes 39-45) (Unable to confirm).Crashed at Beaume 17km East of Vervins.

Flying Officer GH March (RCAF), Pilot Officer EJ Farrell (RCAF)(Nfld), Pilot Officer EP Harvey (RCAF), Flying Officer D Hitchcock (RCAF), and FS a Eccleston (RAFVR) were killed. Two others of the crew, Flying Officer DJ McKinnon (RCAF) and Sergeant JE Harvey (RCAF) survived safe.Those who perished were initially buried at Champpiguel US Cemetery. Reinterred 21 May 1945. (CWGC

Sergeant J.E.Harvey RCAF statement:- At approximately 05:00 the Halifax of which I was rear gunner was attacked by enemy aircraft evasive action was taken by our aircraft and the enemy aircraft lost sight of us. After the enemy attacked us I told pilot to resume course . As far as I know the enemy aircraft did not fire at us and we did not fire at him. About 1 minute after this the plane got out of control and went into a dive. Then I was thrown out of the rear turret got clear and parachuted to safety. Was dazed on reaching the ground, laid low about half an hour then walked to the nearest village which was 2.5 miles away (Leuge). Was entertained in a house for half an hour. Enquired the local residents and one of them escorted me in the town where Fg Off McKinnon was in bed with a broken leg and badly shaken up. Then I ascertained the whereabouts of the aircraft which approved to be 2.5 miles from the village. Visited the scene of the crash and there I found the Wireless Operators body Flt Sergeant Harvey in part of the strewn wreckage. Identified him by his features. They recovered the other five bodies and was fairly certain they were all dead at the time. Was able to identify them all by their features etc. Then I endeavoured to locate the nearest Allied unit and found an American military post at Hirson about 12 miles distant. They got an ambulance for me and I was taken to 99 General Hospital at Rheims with Fg Off McKinnon who was picked up in Leuge. Stayed there until 24 December and then was moved to RAF Detachment (A68 Landing Strip) Left there in an American Dakota at noon on the 27th and returned to UK. Was not hospitalised. As far as I know the five bodies were taken care of by the American unit at Hirson. Fg Off McKinnon was thrown out of the aircraft the same time as I was. He may have received his injuries either when he was thrown clear or on reaching the ground. Fg Off McKinnon was moved from the 99 General Hospital either on Thursday 21st or Friday 22nd back to the UK. I was informed by one of the orderlies. (It has since been ascertained that Leuge is in Belgium. It is near the border of France which explains why he thought he was in France)

There were two 432 Sqn. aircraft lost on this date. Please see Cann, RL for information regarding the other crew and aircraft NP699.source: John Jones

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

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

Halifax VII aircraft NP 702 QO-B "Block Buzzter" failed to return from night operations over Hamburg, Germany, cause unknown. The aircraft was lost without a trace, most probably shot down by a night fighter, crashing into the North Sea near Heligoland, off the coast of Germany where most of the night fighter attacks occurred on this night

Pilot Officer EA Clarke (RCAF), Pilot Officer J Cook (RCAF), Pilot Officer EH Bishop (RCAF), Pilot Officer HD Lewis (RCAF), Pilot Officer FA Burgess (RCAF), Pilot Officer W Brown (RCAF), and Pilot Officer GW Bradshaw (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in action

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

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

432 Squadron Halifax III NP702 QO-B P/O> Clarke, RAF East Moor Nort...

Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

Bombing Wanne-Eickel Germany 1945-02-02 to 1945-02-02

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

323 aircraft - 277 Halifaxes, 27 Lancasters, 19 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups, 11 Halifaxes lost.

This target was also cloud-covered and the attack, intended for the oil refinery, was not accurate. The local report assumed that the target was a local coal mine Shamrock 3/4; most of the bombing fell in the open ground around the mine, although 21 houses were hit and 68 people were killed.

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

Halifax aircraft NP 704 was shot down and crashed in the industrial area of Dusseldorf-Reishol, Germany during a night bombing operation against Wanne-Eickel, Germany. Flying Officer J.T. Robinson, P/Os R.G.E.Silver, H. Bloch, Flight Lieutenant G.H. Thomson,Warrant Officer A.M. Jones, Sergeant R.R. Vallier, and Pilot Officer W.H. Haryett were killed.

Bombing Caen France 1944-07-18 to 1944-07-18

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

Battle of Normandy

942 aircraft - 667 Lancasters, 260 Halifaxes, 15 Mosquitoes - to bomb 5 fortified villages in the area east of Caen through which British Second Army troops were about to make an armoured attack, Operation Goodwood.

The raids took place at dawn in clear conditions. 4 of the targets were satisfactorily marked by Oboe and, at the target where Oboe failed, the Master Bomber, Squadron Leader E. K. Creswell, and other Pathfinder crews used visual methods. American bombers also attacked these targets and a total of' 6,800 tons of bombs were dropped, of which Bomber Command dropped more than 5,000 tons. Elements of two German divisions, the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division and the 21st Panzer Division were badly affected by the bombing, the Luftwaffe Division particularly so. Operation Goodwood made a good start. This raid was either the most useful or one of the most useful of the operations carried out by Bomber Command in direct support of the Allied armies.*

The aircraft bombed from medium heights, 5,000--9,000 ft, but army artillery and naval gunfire subdued many of the Flak batteries and only 6 aircraft- 5 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster - were shot down. No German fighters appeared; Allied air superiority over the battlefield by day was complete.

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

Halifax VII aircraft NP 706 QO-J was shot down by flak fourteen miles north-east of Falaise, France, at Boulogne during operations to Caen, France.

Pilot Officer RE Burton (RCAF) survived the crash but died from his wounds. Buried initially near the crash site, he was exhumed and reburied at the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France.

Four Canadians, Flight Lieutenant JH Cooper (RCAF), Flying Officer RP Dryden (RCAF),Sergeant SD Wright (RCAF), and Warrant Officer Class 1 KE Elliott (RCAF) were taken as Prisoners of War Warrant Officer Class 2 A Zacharuk (RCAF), Sergeant HE Oakeby (RAF) were Evaders.

Bombing Oberhausen Germany 1944-11-01 to 1944-11-02

426 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Halifax aircraft NP709 was shot up by a German night fighter aircraft then crashed and burned near Haan Germany.

Claim by Fw Peter Oberheid 6/NJG2 - Goch - Wesel - Duisburg - Venlo (KN - KO - LO - LN): 4,500m at 20:46. (Crashed in Steinstrabe at Haan Grid Square MP 1-7, bordering on LO) (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)

Air Crew Remembered

Bombing Worms Germany 1945-02-21 to 1945-02-21

408 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Linton-on-Ouse

408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom), RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 711 EQ-O was shot down during a night operation against the main rail way station in Worms, Germany. The Halifax was attacked by an unspecified night fighter near the target, the aircraft exploding when it crashed into a hillside at Weilerkopf, 3km west of Leistadt, Germany. There are several possibilities for the likely night fighter pilot in the Nachtjagd Combat Archives by Theo Boiten but the specific pilot remains undetermined

Flight Lieutenant Donald McWilliam Sanderson (RCAF), Flying Officer Reginald Bertram Smith (RCAF), Flying Officer William James Gilmore (RCAF), Pilot Officer Nels Peter Helin Andersen (RCAF), Pilot Officer William Wallace Wagner (RCAF)(USA), and Sergeant James Wilson (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Rear Gunner, Pilot Officer Donald Edison Sherman (RCAF) managed to bail from the aircraft before the crash but was too low for his parachute to fully open and was killed in action

There were two 408 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial RG 477 EQ-N for additional information on this crew and aircraft

Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1945 1 January - 3 May by Theo Boiten, pages 49-50

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21/22 02 1945 408 (Goose) Squadron RCAF Halifax VII NP711 EQ O Flt Lt...

(53) Searching for Halifax NP711 - In the Footsteps of History! - YouTube

(53) Crash site detective: What happened to Halifax NP711? - ...

(53) Searching for Halifax NP711 Documentary Online Free I Nichola...

(53) Halifax NP711 Memorial Service & Memorial Flight - IG...

Bombing Kiel Germany 1944-09-15 to 1944-09-16

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

490 aircraft- 3rn Lancasters, 173 Halifaxes, 7 Mosquitoes - of I, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost.

The evidence of returning crews and of photographs caused Bomber Command to record this as 'a highly concentrated raid' with 'the old town and modern shopping centre devastated'. The local report confirms this as a heavy attack, and records damage in the centre and port areas, but describes how much of the bombing fell outside Kiel. Unusually low numbers of 12 deaths and 28 people injured were recorded.

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

Halifax aircraft NP 719 missing during a night trip, an attack against Kiel, Germany. P/O.s J.G.G.A. Labelle, D.R. MacCarthy, J.C. Gallagher, H.N. McLeod, C.D. Crowe, F/O. J.E. LeBlanc, and Sgt. C.F. Gill (RAF) were killed.

Bombing Wilhelmshaven Germany 1944-10-15 to 1944-10-15

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

~506 aircraft+ 257 Halifaxes, 241 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes - from all groups except 5 Group on the last of 14 major Bomber Command raids on Wilhelmshaven that began in early 1941.

Bomber Command claimed 'severe damage' to the business and residential areas. A short local report mentions only that the Rathaus was completely destroyed and that 30 people were killed and 92 injured. A further report from Wilhelmshaven giving overall air-raid details, shows that this port town - a major naval base escaped relatively lightly in the war. In 26 R.A.F. and American raids, only 510 civilians, 24 servicemen and 30 foreign workers were killed.

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

Halifax aircraft NP 723 was shot down near Wittmund, Germany during a night attack against Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Flight Lieutenant D.W.Speller, F/Os G.L. Gilbert, T.F. Fisher, Pilot Officer J.D. Hogg, Sergeants K.E. Odobas, G.T. Cook, and Sergeant C. Moss (RAF) were killed.

Bombing Wanne-Eickel Germany 1944-10-12 to 1944-10-12

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

I11 Halifaxes and 26 Lancasters of 6 and 8 Groups attacked the oil plant. A direct hit 1111 n storage tank early in the raid produced dense cloud and smoke which hindered later bombing. A German report says that the refinery itself was not seriously damaged but that the GA VEG chemical factory was destroyed; it is possible that the bombers were aiming at the wrong target. The report also states that 24 buildings were hit in nearby housing areas and that 103 German civilians, 2 foreign workers 1 prisoner of war were killed, most of them being in makeshift 'earth shelters'.

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

Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1945-01-29 to 1945-01-29

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Linton-on-Ouse

602 aircraft - 316 Halifaxes, 258 Lancasters, 28 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. I I aircraft - 6 Lancasters, 4 Halifaxes, 1 Mosquito - lost.

This raid was split into 2 parts, with a 3-hour interval. The first force - of 226 aircraft - was directed against the important railway yards at Kornwestheim, a town to the north of Stuttgart, and the second was against the north-western Stuttgart suburb of Zuffenhausen, where the target is believed to have been the Hirth aero¬engine factory. The target area was mostly cloud-covered for both raids and the bombing, on sky-markers, was scattered.

Bombs fell in many parts of Stuttgart's northern and western suburbs. The important Bosch works, in the suburb of Feuer¬bach, was hit. The attack on Kornwestheim was the worst suffered by that town during the war; the Kornwestheim local report shows that the local people felt they had been bombed by mistake and that the main target was in Stuttgart. 14 highs explosive bombs fell in the industrial area of the town and in the railway yards. Fires burned for up to 12 hours. 123 people were killed in Stuttgart and 41 in Kornwest¬heim. A large number of bombs fell outside Stuttgart, particularly in the east arourid a decoy fire site which was also firing dummy target-indicator rockets into the .air. The village of Weilimdorf, situated not far away, complained bitterly about its damage and casualties!

Local expert, Heinz Bardua, also tells the story of the newly promoted Flak Leutnant at his battery position at Vaihingen, situated just south of the decoy fire site. With bombs falling all around his position, the Leutnant thought that the raid was directed against the Flak positions. He ignored regulations about conservation of ammunition and shot his entire stock at the radar echoes of the attacking bombers, 2 Lancasters and a Halifax crashed in the immediate vicinity, much to the relief of the officer, who had feared a court martial because of his prodigious use of ammunition.

This was the last large R.A.F. raid on Stuttgart. Herr Bardua says that the city had endured 53 major raids, most of them by the R.A.F., during which 32,549 blocks of flats or houses were destroyed (67·8 per cent of the total). After the war, 4·9 million cubic metres of rubble had to be cleared. 4,562 people died in the air raids, among them 770 prisoners of war or foreign workers. Stuttgart's experience was .not as severe as other German cities. Its location, spread out in a series of deep valleys, had consistently frustrated the Pathfinders and the shelters dug into the sides of the surrounding hills had saved many lives.

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

Halifax NP746 Took off from Linton-on-Ouse at 19:43 in Halifax Mk VII (Sqn code: EQ-E Bomber Command) to bomb Stuttgart.

Shot down (means not listed) and crashed. FO. McGovern, was the only survivor and, according to his family, became a Prisoner of War for three months..

Killed: Pilot Officer Leslie John Collinson RCAF C/95228 KIA Durnbach War Cemetery Ref: 3. G. 23. Flying Officer Thomas Bruce Little RCAF J/40372 KIA Durnbach War Cemetery Ref: 3. G. 20. Pilot Officer Philip Myerson RAF KIA Durnbach War Cemetery [Ref : 3. G. 21.] Pilot Officer Thomas Phillip QUINN (J/93944) Air Gunner Halifax NP746 IBCC [RCAF] 1945-01-29 408 Sqdn AIR27 Germany Durnbach War Cemetery Ref: 3. G. 25. Pilot Officer Robert Lloyd Siewert RCAF J/93945KIA Durnbach War Cemetery Ref: 3. G. 24. Flying Officer Richard Macmillan Wallis RCAF J/28593 pilot KIA Durnbach War Cemetery Ref: 3. G. 22.

Bombing Bochum Germany 1944-11-05 to 1944-11-05

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Linton-on-Ouse

Halifax NP750 No. 408 Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*F". Lost on raid to Bochum on 4/5 November 1944.

Claim by Hptm Herman Greiner Stab IV/NJG1 - West of Essen at 19:35. Attacked by a Fw190 about 19:35 at 17,000ft just before bombing run, setting the port inner engine on fire, rear gunner baled out. Aircraft followed out of the Ruhr (between Dusseldorf & Koln) and attacked by two unidentified fighters, again attacked over Belgium by an Me 210 and an Me 109. Crashed landed at Base 58 in Brussels and wrecked (Source: Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)

Rear Gunner: R/218193 Flt Sergeant Hugh David Hardy - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1191.

The remaining members of the crew went on to continue their tour of operations.

Bombing Hanover Germany 1945-01-05 to 1945-01-05

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

664 aircraft - 340 Halifaxes, 3IO Lancasters, 14 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 23 Halifaxes and 8 Lancasters lost, 4·7 per cent of the force.

This was the first large raid on Hannover since October 1943. Bombs fell all over the city and the local report, based on messages from 16 of the 18 police districts, shows that 493 buildings, containing 3,605 flats/apartments, were destroyed and that approximately 250 people were killed. No further details are available

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 759 QO-C, named "Canada Kid" failed to return from an operation against targets in Hannover, Germany. The bomber was most likely lost to flak and exploded in mid-air, killing two crew members. The bomber crashed at Lichtenhorst-Steimbke, near Hoya, Germany

Flight Lieutenant JE Sales (RCAF) and Pilot Officer CH McLinnes (RCAF) were killed in action

Flying Officer JL Marcille (RCAF), Pilot Officer SJ Aikens (RCAF), Pilot Officer JF Charles (RCAF), Pilot Officer RJP Young (RCAF) and Sergeant J Dalton (RAF) survived to be taken as Prisoners of War

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

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Canada Kid - Bomber Command Museum of Canada

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628a3cc80f64b64a34c08407_1945 NachjagdCAsamplepages.pdf

Bombing Gelsenkirchen Germany 1944-11-06 to 1944-11-06

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Linton-on-Ouse

408 Goose Squadron (Foe freedom) RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Halifax VII NP 761 EQ-A missing from an operation to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The crew abandoned the aircraft and all survived, but crash site and cause of loss not determined

Possible shot down by Flak. Unable to locate any fighter activity near Krefeld Flt Sergeant Davies RCAF was part of Trupp 55. He arrived at Bankau on 20 December 1944. Sergeant Woods RCAF, Flt Sergeant McLeod RCAF and Flt Sergeant Robinson RCAF were part of Trupp 50. They arrived at Bankau on 28 November 1944. Sergeant Woods was captured on 6 November 1944 at Gels. During the last 4 months as a PoW he had an upset stomach due to bad food.(The Long Road - Oliver Clutton-Brock)

Pilot: J/18533 Fg Off John Clayton Kellond RCAF - captured on 6 November 1944 near Dusseldorf. PoW/Received a cut on head during combat. Hospital in Dusseldorf for 2 weeks/Interrogation at Oberusel/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 3 Sagan & Belaria/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 9007.

Flight Engineer: C/97182 Sgt. William Arthur Woods RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreulberg Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1214.

Navigator: J/38323 Fg Off Wilfred Alexander Gillmeister RCAF - captured on 6 November near Krefeld. Suffered from dysentery due to bad food. PoW/Airdrome Krefeld/Dulag Luft Frankfurt/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 3 Sagan & Belaria/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 8810.

Bomb Aimer: J/36864 Fg Off Kenneth Irvine Durk RCAF - PoW/Dulag Luft Frankfurt/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 3 Sagan & Belaria/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 8808.

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: R/16445 Flt Sergeant David Myrddin Davies RCAF - was captured on 6 November at Gelsenkirchen. PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreulberg Upper Silesia Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1236.

Mid Upper Gunner: R/256282 Flt Sergeant Theodore Gordon McLeod RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreulberg Upper Silesia/PoW Number 1203.

Rear Gunner: R/127013 Flt Sergeant Ronald Charles Robinson RCAF - captured on 6 November 1944 at Gelsenkirchen. PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreulberg Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1210.

Bombing Castrop-Rauxel Germany 1944-11-21 to 1944-11-21

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Linton-on-Ouse

The aircraft received minor flak damage to the rear fuselage shortly after leaving the target area while over Germany. On the return to the general area of their base at Linton on Ouse, it entered the landing circuit and later made radio contact with the ground controllers. It was given landing instructions but this was not acknowledged and the aircraft later found to have flown into the ground at speed around 200 yards North of Flawith at 21:45. It had passed through a number of hedges and a row of trees causing the aircraft to break up and a fire develop when it came to rest in a turnip field. Visibility was not perfect at the time of the crash but it did not prevent other returning crews landing at Linton on Ouse that evening. While five of the crew were killed two survived. The survivors later stated when the aircraft was in the landing circuit the pilot transmitted on the aircraft's intercom that he had lost sight of the runway at Linton on Ouse and requested that the navigator go from the rest position at the back of the aircraft to the cockpit. Soon after they then received an instruction over the intercom to put on parachutes and immediately afterwards the crash occurred. They did not learn why this order was made by the pilot, the surviving navigator assumed there was a radical problem which had effected the pilot controlling the aircraft. A detailed examination of the wreckage took place and although the control mechanism was destroyed by fire it was thought highly likely that loose equipment within the aircraft had fouled the elevator controls causing the pilot difficulties and the eventual crash. (Aircraft Accidents in Yorkshire) Source: John Jones

P/Os D J Stevens, H.E. Reynolds, T.J. Hunt, J.N. Atkinson, and Flying Officer G.I. Hopper were killed. Two other Canadians, Flying Officer Rae and FS Murray were injured.

Bombing Bochum Germany 1944-10-09 to 1944-10-10

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

435 aircraft- 375 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters, 20 Mosquitoes - of I, 4, 6 and 8 Groups, 4 Halifaxes and I Lancaster lost.

This raid was not successful. The target area was covered by cloud and the bombing was scattered. The local report says that there was some damage in the southern districts of Bochum, with 140 houses destroyed or seriously damaged and approximately 150 people killed.

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

Halifax B VII NP 801 QO-N, during a raid to Bochum, Germany was struck by falling bombs from an aircraft flying above it over the target and abandoned. The entire crew survived

Flying Officer RC Diamond (RCAF), Flying Officer W Nicholson (RCAF), Flying Officer WA Stohlberg (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 AG Sharpe (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 HJ Graham (RCAF), FS WA Harrington (RCAF) and Sergeant KW Hutchinson (RAF) all survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

Detail from books: Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 and The Long Road, Trials and Tribulations of Airmen Prisoners from Stalag Luft VII (Bankau) to Berlin, June 1944-May 1945. Both books by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Grub Street Press

Bombing Worms Germany 1945-02-21 to 1945-02-22

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 803 QO-I failed to return from an operation against targets in Works, Germany. The cause of loss and crash location were not determined

The entire crew survived to become Prisoners of War

Pilot Officer RI Bradley (RCAF), Flying Officer JA Fraser (RCAF), Flying Officer RH Meuller (RCAF), Pilot Officer JG Stephen (RCAF), Sergeant DC Duffy (RCAF), Sergeant JW Reid (RCAF) and Sergeant VL Shulz (RCAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War. Records show that Sergeant Shulz may have been serving under the name Smith. Other POW information regarding this crew has not been found to date

There were three 432 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials RG 451 QO-D and RG 476 QO-T for additional information

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

21 Feb '45 BC attack Worms [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied...

Operational 1945-04-16 to 1945-04-16

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

Halifax aircraft NP 805 crashed on take-off killing the pilot and two members of the ground crew. The survivors were Flying Officer L. Jorgenson of Morris, Manitoba, FSs. J. Gray of Winnipeg, Manitoba, S. Reid, T. Cohen, from Nova Scotia, K. Davidson from Ontario, and Pilot Officer J. Burns of Westmount, Quebec.

Len Jorgenson provided the following account "The Halifax was taking off from RCAF Station, Eastmoor, at noon, for a cross-country flight prior to operations that night and had a full gas load of 1400 gallons but no bombs. At the end of the runway there was a low semi-flat roofed building (a Picket Post) where LACs R.F. Charbonneau and J.D. Beddard were sun bathing in the spring sunshine and watching the take-offs The aircraft was barely airborne when the pilot yelled that the rudders and controls were locked and to prepare for a crash. The under carriage hit the building killing the two LACs, the Halifax crashed through the trees and burst into flame. Flying Officer Porritt was killed but the rest of got out safely except for Davidson who spent two years in hospital.

Bombing Castrop-Rauxel Germany 1944-11-21 to 1944-11-21

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Linton-on-Ouse

Took off from Linton-on-Ouse at 15:20 in Halifax Mark VII (Sqn code: EQ-H Bomber Command) .for an operation against the oil plant at Castrop-Rauxel.

The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Hochdahl Trills, at Erkrath, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany.

Claim by Hptm Fritz Lau 4/NJG1 - Radevormwald South West of Bochum (MP 1): 4,000m at 19:11. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)

Killed: Pilot Officer Louis Basarab RCAF J/95202 KIA Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Grave: 8. C. 9. Sergeant Herbert Edgar Clark RAF KIA Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Grave 8. C. 5. Flying Officer Lloyd William Frizell RCAF J/39376 KIA Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Grave 8. C. 7. Flying Officer Adelbert Bateman Rowley RCAF J/40054 KIA Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Grave 8. C. 8. Pilot Officer Edmond Kenneth Wilson RCAF J/92645 KIA Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Grave 8. C. 6.

POWs in addition to McPhee: F/Lt Albert Edward Steeves RCAF J/8658 POW Stalag Luft L1 Barth Vogelsang.

Claim by Hptm Fritz Lau 4/NJG1 - Radevormwald South West of Bochum (MP 1): 4,000m at 19:11. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)

Those who perished were initially buried in Dusseldorf North Cemetery. Reinterred 24 October 1946. (CWGC)

Bombing Troisdorf Germany 1944-12-29 to 1944-12-30

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

197 aircraft - 159 Halifaxes, 24 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups attempted to bomb the railway yards but most of the attack missed the target. No other details are available. No aircraft lost.

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

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 812 QO-T was hit by flak returning from an operation against targets in Troisdorf, Germany and severely damaged

The Bomb Aimer, Pilot Officer GH Barrett (RCAF) had been wounded in the flak attack, misinterpreted the pilot's instructions and bailed out while the bomber was flying over France. It is believed that Pilot Officer Barnett was badly injured and could not wait until return to the UK, so bailed out in an attempt to get urgent medical care. (Henk Welting, www.rafcommands.com). Sadly Barrett died from his injuries, the only crew member lost on this operation. The Halifax managed to fly back to the UK safely and make an emergency landing on two engines at RAF Woodridge, Suffolk

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

Aviation Safety Network

Grave of Pilot Officer George H Barnett Halifax VII NP812 QO-T 432 Sqn - ...

Bombing Worms Germany 1945-02-20 to 1945-02-21

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

349 aircraft - 288 Halifaxes, 36 Lancasters, 25 Mosquitoes. IO Halifaxes and I Lancaster lost.

This was the first and only large Bomber Command raid on Worms. The raid was an area attack in which 1,116 tons of bombs were accurately dropped. A post-war survey estimated that 39 per cent of the town's built-up area was destroyed. The local report says that a considerable part of the bombing fell just outside the town, to the south-west, but it confirms that the remainder caused severe damage in Worms, 64 per cent of the town's buildings were destroyed or damaged, including the cathedral, the town museum, and most of the churches and cultural buildings in the old centre. Much of the town's industry was also destroyed, including the only firm devoted completely to the production of war material, one making sprocket wheels for tanks. 239 people were killed and 35,000 bombed out from a population or approximately 58,000.

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

Halifax VII aircraft NP 812 QO-T was shot down on the East side of the Nahe River just south of Bad Munster, Germany during a night operation against targets in Worms, Germany

Pilot Officer AJ Hunter (RCAF), Flying Officer JA Bleich (RCAF), Flying Officer GE Creswell (RCAF) and Pilot Officer AC Hogg (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Flying Officer FD Baxter DFC (RCAF), Flight Sergeant GE Armstrong (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant SE Waterbury (RCAF), all survived to be taken as Prisoners of War, although no information on their POW numbers or camp locations has been found to date

There were three 432 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost in the same area on this date. Please see aircraft serials NP 803 QO-I and RG 451 QO-D for additional information regarding the other crew and aircraft

RAF Commands has the casualties on Halifax s/n RG 476, and the three POWs on NP 812. ORB has all of them on NP 812 which had previously returned on two engines 1944 -12 29 with one crew member (Barnett) bailed/killed.

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

Aviation Safety Network

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

Ops

Bombing Gelsenkirchen Germany 1944-11-06 to 1944-11-06

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

738 aircraft - 383 Halifaxes, 324 Lancasters, 31 Mosquitoes. 3 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes lost. This large daylight raid had, as its aiming point, the Nordstern synthetic-oil plant. The attack was not well concentrated but 514 aircraft were able to bomb the approximate position of the oil plant before smoke obscured the ground; 187 aircraft then bombed the general town area of Gelsonkirchcn.

The Gelsenkirchcn war diarist, who often recorded interesting titbits, tells of' how this Protestant town had celebrated the Reformation Feast the previous day, Sunday. The celebration had been held back from its proper date, 31 October, so as not to interfere with industrial production. The diarist wrote: 'For many pious people; this was their last church service. Catastrophe broke over Gelsenkirchen the following day.' The diary then proceeds to give several pages describing the severe damage throughout the town. The number of people killed was 518. The diarist the comments, perhaps with some pride, that Gelsenkirchen was mentioned by name in the OKW (German High Command) communique for the first time in the war.

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

Halifax aircraft NP 815Took off from East Moor at 12:16 in Halifax Mk Vii NP815 QO-A was shot down in the Baltic sea during night operations, a raid against Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Pilot: J/16229 Fg Off Frederick Hawkins Eilertson RCAF - PoW/Dulag Luft Frankfurt/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 3 Sagan & Belaria/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 8809.

Flight Engineer: 1832685 Sergeant Cyril David Vaughan - PoW/Hospitals - Stalag IV Dusseldorf, Stalag IX Obermabfeld, Stalag IXC Meiningen/Dulag Luft Oberhausen/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/PoW Number?

Navigator: J/38175 Fg Off Francis Irving Morrissey RCAF - PoW/Hospital outside Dusseldorf/Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number 91.

Bomb Aimer: J/24528 Fg Off Leonard John Hossie RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 3 Sagan & Belaria/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 8814.

Wireless Operator: R/164366 Flt Sergeant Clarence Duncan MacDonald RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreulberg Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1155.

Mid Upper Gunner: J/95368 Plt Off Terence Joseph McAran RCAF - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 20 Row G Grave 12.

Rear Gunner: J/95476 Plt Off Norman Edward Stuttle RCAF - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 1 Row G Grave 11.

Bombing Hannover Germany 1945-01-05 to 1945-01-05

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

432 Leaside Squadron (Saevirer ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft NP 817 QO-D was shot down during an operation against targets in Hannover, Germany. There are multiple night fighter claims for this loss. The bomber was abandoned before it crashed at 2 km east of Schneeren, Neustadt am Rubenberge, Niedersachsen, Germany

The (then) Wing Commander JG Stephenson OBE AFC CD (RCAF), Flying Officer TR Bond (RCAF), Flying Officer RG Donaldson (RCAF)(USA), Flying Officer WE Fleming (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 WT McMahon (RCAF), Flying Officer EB Pickthorne (RCAF) and Sergeant BM Hodges (RAF) all survived and were taken as Prisoners of War. Little PoW information< id known to date

There were two 432 Squadron Halifax BVII aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial NP 759 QO-C for additional information on this aircraft and crew

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

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Daily Operations

Minelaying 1944-10-05 to 1944-10-05

(B) BG (RAF)

On 1944-10-05, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 424/433 Sqns at Skipton on Swale, wrote in his diary:

"433 Squadron were on a mining or "gardening" effort today with 10 kites. Things went very smoothly & we got them all off in good time. The weather closed in here however later on & we couldn't get them back so 8 were diverted to Tholthorpe and 2 went to Carnaby. M-Mike of 433 was badly shot up with a night fighter & is a cat B. The tail gunner had his head blown off with a 20mm cannon explosive shell. However the MU gunner claimed the JU88 as a "probable" so we hope he knocked it down Ok."

Diary of A Ross Dawson, courtesy CWM

Bombing Osnabruck Germany 1944-12-06 to 1944-12-06

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

453 aircraft- 363 Halifaxes, 72 Lancasters, 18 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups, 7 Halifaxes and I Lancaster lost.

This was the first major raid on Osnabriick since August 1942. The raid was only a partial success. The railway yards were only slightly damaged but 4 factories were hit, including the Teuto-Metallwerke munitions factory, and 203 houses wen, destroyed. 39 people were killed.

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

. Halifax aircraft NP 945 was shot down at Geleto, Germany during a night attack against Osnabruck, Germany.

Minelaying Flensburg Germany 1945-01-12 to 1945-01-12

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

Flying Officer MC Grant (RCAF), Pilot Officer WE Archer (RCAF), Pilot Officer RC Carnegie (RCAF), Flying Officer MG Fife (RCAF), Pilot Officer CT Rielly (RCAF) and Pilot Officer J Pollard (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Navigator Flying Officer JG Agnew (RCAF) was the sole survivor from his crew and was taken as a Prisoner of War

On 1945-01-15, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 424/433 Sqns at Skipton on Swale, after returning from leave, wrote in his diary:

"Jan 12 . . . 5 from each sqdn were put up on bombing & 3 from each on mining. The bombing was finally scrubbed but the gardening effort got off ok with no non-starters or early returns. However 424 had some bad luck & 2 of their 3 kites didn't come aback including F/Lt Mackie one of my good friends here " and he only had two more trips to do here unfortunately"

Diary of A Ross Dawson, courtesy CWM

There is some confusion regarding the 424 Squadron serial of this aircraft, stated on the HH card and some other sources as LV 998 but with the Squadron ORB stating serial NP 947. CASPIR has accepted the ORB information as correct

There were two 424 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial Halifax MZ 805 QB-X

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

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

Halifax III NP 947 crashed in Flensburg Fjord 12/1-1945

RAF plane crash during WWII - Ribewiki

Minelaying on the night of January 12/13. 1945

Bombing Castrop-Rauxel Germany 1944-11-21 to 1944-11-21

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

433 Porcupine Squadron (Qui Sy Frotte Sy Pique) RAF Skipton-on-Swale, Halifax III aircraft NP 949 BM-R was shot down 15 miles north-east of Gelsenkirchen near Hultern, Germany during a raid against Castrop-Rauxel, in the Ruhr Valley, Germany

Claim by Hptm Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer Stab/NJG4 - Recklinghausen/Gelsenkirchen (KP): 4,800m at 19:02. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)

Fg Off Guy RCAF was captured on 21 November 1944 at Gelsenkirchen

Fg Off McLennan was captured on 21 November 1944 at Gelsenkirchen

Plt Off McLachlan RCAF was captured on 23 November 1944 at Essen

Sergeant Lockey, Plt Off Ramey RCAF and Fg Off Love RCAF were initially buried in Gelsenkirchen-Huellen East Cemetery Field 45K Communal Grave 99. Reinterred 12 May 1947

Bombing 1944-11-05 to 1944-11-05

433 (B) BG (RCAF) Skipton on Swale

On 1944-11-04, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 424/433 Sqns at Skipton on Swale, wrote in his diary:

"After postponing the op twice we finally got them all away tonight at 5:00 o'clock â€" 15 from 424 & 16 from 433. No non-starters nor early returns which was a good thing. The target was Bochen & we had 11,150 lbs of bombs up. It was very successful too. These targets are getting bad since we lost two again tonight. Another for 424 "Q"' Queenie (Flying Officer Loving) &"F" Freddie (433) Flying Officer Mountford so that's 5 we have lost in 3 ops so far this month. Flight Lieutenant Wood, the F/Eng leader for 424 was lucky in that this morning he found he had and infection on his arm which had come up overnight & the M.O wouldn't let him fly tonight. They exchanged him at the last minute for a spare in "Q" which of course went missing. He feels pretty bad about it too since Loving only had 4 more trips to do in his second tour & was a pretty good guy"

Diary of A Ross Dawson, courtesy CWM

Bombing Hannover Germany 1945-01-05 to 1945-01-05

425 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Tholthorpe

425 Alouette Squadron (I shall pluck you) RAF Tholthorpe. Halifax aircraft NP 999 KW-W was shot down by by a ME110 night fighter, most likely by Lt Kurt Matzak of Stab IV/NJG1 just after successfully dropping their bombload on targets in Hannover, Germany. The Halifax was abandoned before it crashed into the Teutoburger Forest near Halle, Germany

The Flight Engineer, Pilot Officer SH Moore (RAFVR) was killed during the night fighter attack, the only crew member lost

Flying Officer VE Brimicombe (RCAF), Flying Officer MD Berry (RCAF), Flying Office LU Coleman (RCAF), Pilot Officer GR Delong (RCAF), Pilot Officer GE Hutton (RCAF) and Pilot Officer DC MacKeigan (RCAF) all survived to be taken as Prisoners of War

There were two other 425 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials MZ 860 KW-E and NR 178 KW-J for additional information and these aircraft and crews

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

Daily Operations

628a3cc80f64b64a34c08407_1945 NachjagdCAsamplepages.pdf