Avro Lancaster Serial Groups Specifications

Bombing Nuremberg Germany 1945-01-03 to 1945-01-03

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St George

First Lancaster built in Canada, rolled out at Malton on 6 August 1943. First Canadian built Lancaster to see action. Named "Ruhr Express". Operated by No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*Q", from October to 20 December 1943, flew 2 missions. First mission was raid on Berlin on 26/27 November 1943. Then to No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*Z". Flew 47 operations with this unit. Landed hard at Middleton-St.-George returning from mission to Ludwigshafen in early morning of 3 January 1945, possibly due to flaps partly retracting just before touch down. Overshot paved runway, tried to taxi clear because of other approaching aircraft but struck construction machinery near runway edge with starboard outer prop. Engine caught fire, spread to rest of aircraft. No crew injured, but aircraft totally destroyed

Operational 1944-05-16 to 1944-05-16

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

Operated by No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*B". Crashed on Helmsley Moor, Yorkshire on 16 May 1944, after taking off from Middleton St. George on a night training flight. Struck high ground, in clouds, en route to bombing range at on Helmsley Moor, near Potter House Farm. All 7 crew killed.

The crew of Lancaster aircraft KB 701 were.Warrant Officer H.G. Grice, Sergeants F.A. Milne, N.F. Alsop, Pilot Officer J.G. McMaster, one USAAF member of the crew, and one other member of the crew, not Canadian, were also killed. The two members of this crew who were not Canadian were 2nd. Lt. E.N. Fordham (USAAF) and Sgt. G.T. Jones (RAF). Detail provided by David E. Thompson, Stockton-on-Tees, England.

Bombing Montzen Belgium 1944-04-27 to 1944-04-28

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

419 Goose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster X aircraft KB 706 VR-A returned early from an operation against the rail yards at Montzen, Belgium as the Mid-Upper Gunner, Sergeant LG Turner (RCAF) had suffered a collapsed lung

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

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

442 aircraft - 264 Lancasters, 162 Halifaxcs, 16 Mosquitoes - of all groups except 5 Group to attack 2 railway yards nt Aachen - Aachen-West and Rothe Brclo (east of the town). These were important links in the railway system between Germany a France. 18 Halifaxes and 7 Lancasters lost, 5-7 per cent of the force.

The Aachen report duly records that the 2 railway yards were the targets attack with the railways to the east of Aachen being particularly hard hit. But, because t was a German town, Bomber Command sent more aircraft than normal for railway raids and many bombs fell on Aachen itself and in villages near the railway yards. The Monheim war-industry factory and the town's gasworks were among many buildings destroyed. 207 people were killed in Aachen and 121 were seriously injured. 14,~ people were bombed out. Several villages near the railway yards also incurred casualties. Eilendorf, near the Rothe Erde yards, had 52 people killed.

The Aachen report comments on the great number of high-explosive bombs and the small number of incendiaries dropped. There were only 6 large fires. 288 high explosive bombs were found to be duds, approximately IO per cent of those dropped.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster X aircraft KB 706 VR-A was lost on an operation against targets in Aachen, Germany, shot down by night fighter pilot Obleutnant H Nabrich of 3/NJG 1. The bomber crashed behind Kromstraat 2 at Tilburg , Noord-Brabant, Netherlands with the loss of the entire crew

Pilot Officer DM Robson (RCAF), Flying Officer GR Lauder (RCAF), Pilot Officer PS Smith (RCAF), Sergeant J Hoarty (RAFVR), Sergeant BR Morgan (RAFVR) and Sergeant THJ Smith (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Pilot Officer WD Lillico (RCAF)(USA) survived briefly but died of his injuries shortly after he was captured

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

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB706

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Bombing Russelsheim Germany 1944-08-25 to 1944-08-26

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

4 I 2 Lancasters of I, 3, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the Opel motor factory. 15 Lan casters were lost, 3·6 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinder marking was accurate and the raid was successfully completed in IO minutes. An official German report* says that the forge and the gearbox assembly departments were put out of action for several weeks, but 90 per cent of the machine tools in other departments escaped damage. The assembly line and part·of the pressworks were able to recommence work 2 days later and lorry assembly was unaffected because of considerable stocks of ready-made parts. 179 people were killed in the raid but their nationalities were not recorded.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). The crew of Lancaster aircraft KB 708 was returning from a trip to Russellsheim, Germany and were low on fuel. They were instructed to land at Boscombe Down, England but fog closed in and obscured the landing lights so the pilot attempted an overshoot. All four engines cut out and the aircraft crashed into some trees at Winterbourne, Wiltshire. Flying Officer W.A. Milner, Flying Officer Kirschner, Pilot Officer H.F. Anderson, and Sergeant J.L. Trotman (RAF) were killed.

Three other crewmen were injured: Nav - Flying Officer Pierre E. Gariepy (RCAF); AG - Sgt. L.J. Weston (RCAF); and, AG - Sgt. Peter Wiens (RCAF). Gariepy's spine was severed and he became a paraplegic

Bombing Louvain Belgium 1944-05-12 to 1944-05-13

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

120 aircraft - 96 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 4 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost.

The bombing was more accurate than on the previous night and considerable damage was caused in the railways yards. The local report, which consolidates the 2 raids, confirms that the railways were badly damaged and says that parts of the system were still being repaired 6 months later. But civilian casualties were also heavy, with 160 people being killed and 208 injured in Louvain and its suburbs of Herent and Wilsele. Building damage in Louvain included 5 blocks of the university, 8 factories, 4 convents and a church.

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

Bombing Saint-Ghislain Belgium 1944-05-01 to 1944-05-02

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

137 aircraft - 89 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups uttacked the railway yards with great accuracy. 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster lost.

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

#419 Moose Squadron (Moose Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 711VR-C had just dropped its bomb load on the railyards at St Ghislain, Belgium when it was attacked from below by a German night fighter. The Lancaster at 11000 feet, was hit by cannon rounds, caught fire and the crew abandoned the aircraft except for Pilot Officer McNary and Pilot Officer Chartrand. McNary was trying to help Chartrand, wounded when a cannon shell exploded in the cockpit. The aircraft crashed and exploded on a gas works at Ghent, Belgium.

Pilot Officer JC McNary (RCAF) and Pilot Officer JLE Chartrand (RCAF) were killed in action.The remainder of the crew, Flying Officer F Love (RCAF), Sergeant D Sangster (RCAF), Sergeant JJ Wilson (RCAF), FS RCD Long (RCAF), and Sergeant AG (RAF) survived and were all taken as Prisoners of War

Bombing Cologne Germany 1944-10-28 to 1944-10-28

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

733 aircraft - 428 Lancasters, 286 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitoes. 4 Halifaxes and 3 Lancasters lost.

The bombing took place in 2 separate waves and the local report confirms that enormous damage was caused. The districts of Miilheim and Zollstock, north-east and south-west of the centre respectively, became the centre of the 2 raids and were both devastated. Classed as completely destroyed were: 2,239 blocks of flats, 15 industrial premises, 11 schools, 3 police stations and a variety of other buildings, Much damage was also caused to power-stations, railways and harbour installations on the Rhine. 630 German people were killed or their bodies never found and 1,200 were injured. The number of foreign casualties is not known.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 712 was shot down near Hurth, Germany four miles south-west of the target Cologne, Germany. F/Os A.N. Nelligan, J.A. Nafziger, J.R. Fitchner, Pilot Officer W.H. Herman, FS B.E. Greenhalgh,FS E,R, Smith and Sergeant W.E. Hawkings (RAF) were killed. This was the 5th trip for this crew but the aircraft had been used on 52 operations

Bombing Louvain Belgium 1944-05-12 to 1944-05-13

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

120 aircraft - 96 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 4 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost.

The bombing was more accurate than on the previous night and considerable damage was caused in the railways yards. The local report, which consolidates the 2 raids, confirms that the railways were badly damaged and says that parts of the system were still being repaired 6 months later. But civilian casualties were also heavy, with 160 people being killed and 208 injured in Louvain and its suburbs of Herent and Wilsele. Building damage in Louvain included 5 blocks of the university, 8 factories, 4 convents and a church.

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

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

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster X aircraft KB 714 VR-Y was shot down by a night fighter near Vourse Lette, France during a raid against the marshalling yards at Cambrai, France. The Lancaster crashed at Courcelette 10 km NE of Albert just North of the main road to Bapaume, France

Flying Officer RN Pole (RCAF), Flying Officer RN Wilson (RCAF), Flying Officer CR McOrmond (RCAF), Flying Officer DJ McMullen (RCAF), Pilot Officer ME Gates (RCAF), Pilot Officer RW Francis (RCAF) and Sergeant CC White (RCAF) were all killed in action

There were three 419 Squadron Lancaster aircraft and crews lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial numbers KB 726 VR-A and KB 731 VR-S for additional information

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB714

Research of France-Crashes 39-45

Lancaster BX KB714 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Bombing Lohausen Germany 1944-12-24 to 1944-12-24

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

338 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes, 79 Lancasters, I I Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the airfields at Lohausen and Millheim (now Diisseldorf and Essen civil airports). The purpose of the raids was not recorded; it is possible that they were to hinder the movement of supplies by transport aircraft from the Ruhr to the Ardennes battle area. Both attacks took place in conditions of good visibility and the bombing was accurate. 6 aircraft lost - 2 Lancasters and I Halifax from the Lohausen raid and 3 Halifaxes from the Millheim raid

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 715 was hit by flak, set on fire, and three engines were knocked out during a daylight raid on the Lohausen aerodrome at Dusseldorf, Germany. The aircraft went out of control and the bomb load could not be dropped so Flying Officer Cowtan ordered the crew to bail out. Seven Canadians, F/Os T.H. Cowtan, J.L. Cartier, Hale, Pilot Officer J.V. Ranson, Sergeants C.W. Thompson, G. Little, and Hector were taken Prisoners of War. Flying Officer Hale was executed by the Gestapo the same day as the operation. He was initially buried in Neuss Cemetery. Reinterred 19 April 1947.

Pilot: J/29777 Fg Off Thomas Henry Cowtan RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf. PoW/Krefeld Airfield/Dulag Luft Oberursel Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number?

Flight Engineer: J/89040 Plt Off James Valentine Ranson RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf. PoW/Injured/Stalag VII J Krefeld/Dulag Luft Oberursel/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Oflag III Nuremberg/Marched to Stalag VIIA Moosburg 4 April 1945 - 18 April 1945.

Navigator: R/180068 Sergeant Colin Wray Thompson RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf. PoW/Krefeld Airfield/Dulag Luft Oberursel/Dulag Luft Wetzlar /Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number?

Bomb Aimer: J/39257 Fg Off Joseph Lionel Louis Cartier RCAF - was captured on 24 December 1944 at Krefeld. PoW/Injured/Krefeld Airfield/Dulag Luft Wetzlar/Stalag Luft 1 Barth Vogelsang/PoW Number?

Sergeant Little RCAF and Sergeant Hector RCAF were captured on 24 December 1944 at Dusseldorf, part of Trupp 57. They arrived at Bankau on 9 January 1945. (The Long Road - Oliver Clutton-Brock)

Mid Upper Gunner: R/265557 Sergeant George Burten Little RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreuzburg Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1336.

Rear Gunner: R/114679 Sergeant Ferdinand Albert Hector RCAF - PoW/Stalag Luft 7 Bankau near Kreuzburg Upper Silesia/Stalag 3A Luckenwalde/PoW Number 1327.source: John Jones

Bombing Dortmund Germany 1944-05-22 to 1944-05-23

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

361 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups carried out the first large raid on this target for a year. 18 Lancasters were lost, 4·8 per cent of the force.

The attack fell mainly in the south-eastern districts of Dortmund, mostly in residential areas. 852 houses and 6 industrial buildings were destroyed; 788 houses were seriously damaged. 335 Germans and 26 prisoners of war were killed and l ,697 people were injured.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 717 was shot down one and one half miles south of Monchen-Gladbach at Genhulsen, Germany during a night operation against Dortmund, Germany.

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

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

Battle of Normandy

282 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitoes of I, 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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster X KB 718 VR-J shot down by a night fighter during an operation to bomb the railyards at Villeneuve St Georges, France. The Lancaster crashed near the village of Fay, 2 km NE of Chailly-en-Biere, France

Flying Officer WC Watson (RCAF), Flying Officer LWA Frame (RCAF), FS J Morris (RCAF) and Sergeant PP Barclay (RAFVR) all survived and were Evaders

Pilot Officer D High (RCAF) evaded for a time but was betrayed by the Belgian traitor Jacques Desoubrie and arrested. One of 168 Allied sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp but later moved to a Luftwaffe POW camp

Pilot Officer HB Hayes (RCAF) and Flying Officer WB Reynolds survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

There were three 419 Squadron Lancaster aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Gibson, WR for information on Lancaster KB 727 VR-H and Roe, AE for information on Lancaster KB 723 VR-U

Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1944-07-24 to 1944-07-25

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

Battle of Normandy

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Stuttgart, Germany. Lancaster aircraft KB 719 was near Luxembourg when it was hit by rockets, caught fire and then crashed north-east of Vitry le Francais, France. Most of the crew abandoned the aircraft before it crashed but P/Os J. Spevak, J.P. Shortt, and Sergeant J. Norman D.F.M. (RAF) were also killed. One Canadian, FS R. Devine, was taken Prisoner of War, and two Canadians, FS PhiII and Sergeant MacKinnon were Evaders.

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

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

664 aircraft - 340 Halifaxes, 310 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitoes - of I, 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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 722 VR-A "Hecklin Hare II" while flying in formation with aircraft outbound for an operation to bomb targets in Hanover, Germany, was shot up by another Lancaster and lost two engines. After safely jettisoning the bomb-load, the pilot turned towards Brussels and an emergency landing field at Juvencourt, France, but this airfield was fogged in. Unable to attempt a cross-channel flight home, Pilot Officer Mallen on only his second operation, found a break in the fog and put the Lancaster down in a farmer's field at St Quentin, France. The landing was heavy but the crew all survived, some injured

Pilot Officer ND Mallen (RCAF) and Sergeant NR Poole (RCAF) survived, both with a sprained ankle, Flight Sergeant RS Dickson (RCAF) survived with cuts to face and leg and an injured shoulder, Flying Officer JAF Miller DFC (RCAF), Warrant Officer 2 RB Cameron (RCAF) and Sergeant C Drinka (RCAF) were uninjured and Sergeant PW Hall (RAFVR) survived with facial cuts

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

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

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of KN722 Hecklin Hare

Search for France-Crashes 39-45

On This Day...January 5th -iModeler

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

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

Battle of Normandy

282 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitoes of I, 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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. The crew of Lancaster aircraft KB 723 VR-U had just bombed the rail yards at Villeneuve St Georges, France when the aircraft was hit by heavy flak and set ablaze. The pilot ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft, but the intense heat from the fire had jammed the escape hatches, requiring the crew to chop a hole in the aircraft fuselage with an axe in order to get out

Pilot Officer AE Roe (RCAF), Flying Officer GR Hodgson (RCAF) and Sergeant JPA Gauthier (RCAF) were all killed in action

Flying Officer WJL Thomson (RCAF), Flying Officer CAD Steepe (RCAF), Flying Officer DG Murphy (RCAF) and Sergeant BA Reaume (RCAF) all bailed out and survived. Sergeant Reaume was taken as Prisoner of War, but Flying Officer Thompson, Flying Officer Steepe and Flying Officer Murphy all escaped as Evaders

There were three 419 Squadron Lancaster aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Watson, WC for information on Lancaster KB 718 VR-J and Gibson, WR for information on Lancaster KB 727 VR-H

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

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

Lancaster BX KB726 VR-A was hit by cannon fire from a JU-88 enemy night fighter aircraft and set on fire during a operation to bomb the rail yards at Cambrai, France. The pilot De Breyne, ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft before it crashed at Gaudiempre, France

Rear gunner Brophy was trapped in his turret after the hydraulic system failed in the burning aircraft. Mid-upper gunner Mynarski attempted unsuccessfully to free Brophy before Mynarski bailed from the aircraft with his clothes and parachute in flames. Mynarski died from his burns and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross

Brophy went down with the aircraft but was thrown clear in the crash and survived as an Evader.

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

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

Battle of Normandy

282 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitoes of I, 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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX KB 727 VR-H, was intercepted during an operation to bomb the rail yards at Villeneuve St Georges, France but on approach to target the Lancaster was shot down. There are multiple claims for the loss of this aircraft and crew. Oblt Adolf Kaiser of 1/NJG2 claimed to have shot down KB 727 but there are also claims from flak units 4/lei Flak Abt 342 and 3 F F A S West 31. The actual cause of loss has not been proven beyond doubt. The Lancaster crashed near Chartainvillers, Eure-de-Loire, France with the entire crew surviving

Pilot Officer William Russell Gibson (RCAF), Flying Officer Joel Matthew "Tex" Stevenson C of G (France), MiD (RCAF)(USA), Flying Officer James Ewart Prudham (RCAF), Flying Officer James Allan Smith (RCAF), Pilot Officer Leslie Frank Head (RCAF), Pilot Officer James Thomas Pett (RCAF) and Sergeant Frederick Samuel Vinecombe (RAFVR) survived and evaded briefly, aided by the French Resistance, but were betrayed and arrested in Paris France in mid-July. Held in Fresnes Prison from 17 July - 15 August 1944 then deported and taken by train to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, part of a group of 168 Allied airmen sent there. Flying Officer Joel Matthew Stevenson escaped from the train taking the prisoners to Buchenwald and evaded further capture

The German Luftwaffe intervened on behalf of the Allied airmen held in Buchenwald Concentration Camp, some under a death sentence from the Gestapo and SS, transferring them to Luftwaffe controlled POW camps in late October 1944

There were three 419 Squadron Lancaster bombers lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials KB 718 VR-J and KB 723 VR-U for further information on these aircraft and crews

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

04/05 07 1944 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF Lancaster X KB727 Fg Off Joel...

Search for France-Crashes 39-45

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB727

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

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

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.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 728VR-V was shot down following an attack against the synthetic-oil plants at Sterkrade, Germany. Homeward-bound, the aircraft exploded following combat with night fighter pilot Unteroffizier Hans Schadowski of the 3/NJG 3 based at Vechta airfield in Germany, who was flying a Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4. The Lancaster crashed at Middelweg Road near Elden, Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands

Pilot Officer GE Quinn (RCAF), Flying Officer D Morrison (RCAF), Flying Officer AF Hupman (RCAF), Pilot Officer CS Johnston (RCAF), Pilot Officer E Fahy (RAFVR), Pilot Officer H Fletcher (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer JP McManus (RAFVR) were all killed in action

This was the 29th operation for this crew

There were two 419 Squadron Lancaster BX aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Smith, ES for information on Lancaster KB 734 VR-F

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

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster X aircraft KB 731 VR-S was shot down by flak during a night attack against the marshalling yards at Cambrai, France. The Lancaster crashed near Vieux-Berquin, France

Pilot Officer GW Carruthers (RCAF), Flying Officer WM Lacey (RCAF), Flying Officer ER Lowe (RCAF), Pilot Officer DJ Applin (RCAF) and Pilot Officer M Larkin (RCAF) were all killed in action

Flying Officer RAL Forbes (RCAF) and BD Wilson-Law (RAF) bailed and survived to become Evaders

There were three 419 Squadron Lancaster aircraft and crews lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials KB 714 and KB726 for additional information

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB731

Search for France-Crashes 39-45

Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

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

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

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.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 734 VR-F missing during a night operation to bomb the synthetic oil plants at Sterkrade, Germany

The Lancaster was shot down by night fighter pilot Unteroffizier Gustav Sarzio of the 6/NJG 1, from Deelen airfield in Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 G9+JP. The bomber crashed at Utrechtseweg 48, Zeist (Utrecht), Netherlands

Flight Lieutenant ES Smith KC (RCAF), Pilot Officer M Baran (RCAF), Pilot Officer GW Taylor (RCAF), Pilot Officer WH Gardiner (RCAF), and Pilot Officer SA Wilson (RCAF)(attached from 434 Sqn) were all killed in action

Sergeant RE Porter (RCAF) survived and evaded capture until January 1945, when he was taken Prisoner of War

Sergeant JWA Trussler (RAF) survived and was taken Prisoner of War

There were two 419 Squadron Lancaster BX aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Quinn, GE for information on Lancaster KB 728 VR-V

Bombing Opladen Germany 1944-12-28 to 1944-12-28

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

328 aircraft - 227 Halifaxes, 66 Lancasters, 35 Mosquitoes. 2 Lancasters lost. 9 0f tho Mosquitoes bombed Jr hours before the main raid. The aiming point for the attack was the marshalling yards but results are not known.

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 738 Hit by Flak of 7 Flak Division, during a daylight attack against Opladen, Germany. Crashed onto IG-Farben factory at Levenkusen-Wiesdorf approximately at 06:40. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)The crew were initially buried in Levenkusen-Manfort Cemetery. Reinterred 18 April 1947. (CWGC), F/Os F.W. How, R.K. Nickle, P/Os J.A. MacGregor, C.D. Hubley, C.R. Tait, N,R Springstein and one RAF member of the crew were killed. This was the 18th trip for this crew.source: John Jones

Bombing Chemnitz Germany 1945-02-14 to 1945-02-14

434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Croft

Thunderclap

434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Croft. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 741 SE-C missing from a night trip to Chemnitz, Germany, shot down by a night fighter

The Lancaster crashed at Tannenberg, 26 km South of Chemnitz

Flying Officer DA Magrath (RCAF), Flying Officer JJ McElhone (RCAF), Flying Officer L Medynski (RCAF), Flying Officer GMB Barlow (RCAF), Pilot Officer GE Robertson (RCAF) and Pilot Officer B Granka (RCAF) were all killed in action.

Rear Air Gunner Sergeant GA McLarty (RCAF) was the sole survivor from his crew and was taken as Prisoner of War

Lancaster KB 741 was on loan from 431 Iroquois Squadron at the time of its loss

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

Hptmn Ernst Drunkler 13/NJG 5 [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied AIR...

Bombing Bergen Norway 1944-10-04 to 1944-10-04

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

German U-Boats had been forced out of the Biscay ports following the Allied liberation of France and Bergen was one of several Norwegian ports now being used as thu forward operating bases for the U-boats. The pens at Bergen were being enlarged, with an influx of German technicians and a large labour force. 93 Halifaxes and 47 Lancasters of 6 and 8 Groups were dispatched to attack Bergen, most of the aircraft being allocated to the pens but 14 Halifaxes and 6 Lancasters were ordered to bomb individual U-boats known to be moored in the harbour. 12 Mosquitoes of too Group acted as a long-range fighter escort.

The raid appeared to be successful and only 1 Lancaster was lost. A detailed report from the city of Bergen supplies the actual results. 7 bombs hit the U-boat pens, causing little structural damage because of the thickness of the concrete roof; but the electrical-wiring system in the pens was completely put out of action. Nearby ship-repair yards were seriously damaged. 3 U-boats were damaged by the bombing but they did not sink. 3 other small ships were hit; two of them sank and the third, the German auxiliary Schwabenland, had to be put in dry dock for repair.

But, as so often in raids on targets in the Occupied Countries, the bombing spread to civilian areas. The local report continues: 'As regards civilian casualties and damage, the raid is still remembered with horror. Bergen suffered little damage in comparison with other occupied towns and cities in Europe but the raid of 4th October was the worst of the war for us.' 60 houses were destroyed or so badly damaged that they had to be demolished; 600 people lost their homes. Civilian casualties are recorded at only 2 places but they were tragic. A school, opened only that day after a break, received a direct hit in the basement where 2 classes were sheltering; 60 children, 2 teachers and 17 air-raid workers in the same shelter were killed. Another shelter, at a nearby factory, was also hit and a further 34 people were killed and about I00 were injured there. 7 of the dead Norwegians were members of the local Resistance Movement. The Germans admitted the deaths of 12 of their.own men.

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

Bombing Wiesbaden Germany 1945-02-02 to 1945-02-03

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

495 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitoes of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Lancasters crashed ln France.

This was Bomber Command's one and only large raid on Wiesbaden. There was complete cloud cover but most of the bombing hit the town. A brief local report states that 520 houses and about 30 other buildings were destroyed, and 400 houses and 50 other buildings were seriously damaged. 5 important war industries along the banks of the Rhine were untouched but the railway station was damaged. Casualties were recorded as 'approximately 1,000 killed and 350 injured'.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Wiesbaden, Germany. The crew of Lancaster aircraft KB 750 had completed their night bombing run and were homeward bound when their aircraft was hit by flak. The Lancaster went down near Wolf, Germany. F/Os R.W.Hodgson, B.W. Martin, J.A. McDonald, P/Os P.F. English, R.A. Nisbet, and Sergeant J. McAfee (RAF) were killed. The rear gunner, FS McTaggart, was the only member of the crew to get out of the stricken aircraft and he was taken Prisoner of War as soon as he landed. For all the members of this crew this was their 16th operation.

Bombing Stettin Germany 1944-08-16 to 1944-08-17

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

461 Lancastcrs to attack the port and industrial areas. 5 Lancasters lost.* Bomber Command claimed an accurate attack, with much damage in the port und factory area. A German report states that 1,508 houses and 29 industrial premises wore destroyed and 1,000 houses and 26 industrial premises badly damaged. 5 ships in the harbour (totalling 5,000 tons) were sunk and 8 ships (15,000 tons) were seriously damaged. 1,150 people were killed and 1,654 were injured; 33 of the dead and 72 of the injured were German soldiers.

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

428 Ghost Squadron (Usque Ad Finem) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 751NA-Q was shot down by a night fighter (claimed by Feldwebel Klaus Möller (12/NJG 3) and crashed in the Kattegat Sea near Sejero Island, Denmark during an operation to bomb the port, shipbuilding and rail facilities at Stettin, Germany

Flying Officer H Slater (RCAF), Flying Officer JRG Srigley (RCAF), Flying Officer WC Fairgrieve (RCAF) were all killed in action

Flying Officer LG Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer WA Lamb (RCAF) and Pilot Officer RR Boyce (RCAF) were all missing, presumed killed in action

Sergeant RE Toomey (RCAF) baled out and survived. Sergeant Toomey swam to shore and was taken Prisoner of War the following day on Sejero Island

Flying Officer Slater's body drifted more than 90 miles to the Swedish coast, washing ashore 1944-09-02 near Varberg, where he was buried

Flying Officer Srigley's body washed ashore on the Danish island of Sjaelland 1944-08-30 and was buried there

Pilot Officer Lamb's body was located a couple of months after the crash by a Danish fisherman, whose nets got tangled in the wreckage of the bomber. His wallet and handkerchief were retrieved and identified his remains but his body could not be recovered from the tangle of wreckage

Wartime Diary of Robert E. Toomey-The Crew of Lancaster KB751

16/18.08.1944 428 (Ghost) Squadron, RCAF Lancaster X KB751 Fg Off. ...

Bombing Scholven Germany 1944-12-29 to 1944-12-29

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

324 Lancasters and 22 Mosquitoes of 1, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Lancasters lost.

The raid took place in difficult conditions. There was thick cloud over the tnrgol but Oboe sky-markers were accurately placed and the oil refinery was badly hit. Tho local report says that 300 high-explosive bombs fell within the oil-plant area. Thero were two large and IO small fires and much damage to piping and storage tanks. Tho local report records a further 3,198 bombs falling in other parts of Scholvcn nnd Buer, causing much property and some industrial damage; the surface buildings of the Hugo I and Hugo II coal mines were severely damaged. 93 people were killed, or whom 24 were prisoners of war; 41 people were injured and 1,368 people had to leave their homes, 1,178 through bomb damage and 190 because of unexploded bombs.

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

19 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Scholven/Buer, Germany. The crew of Lancaster aircraft KB 753 had just begun their bomb run when the aircraft was hit by flak. The Lancaster blew up and then crashed near Essen, at Gelsenkirchen/Buer, Germany. P/Os H.C.Tarzwell, R.F. Adam, L.P. Wakely, F.S. Dennis, J.C. Rhind, and Sergeant J. Atkinson (RAF) were killed. The rear gunner,Warrant Officer R.G. Rogers was blown out of the aircraft, descended by parachute and was taken Prisoner of War.

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

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

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 754 was shot down by a German JU-88 aircraft during a raid against Bochum, Germany. This was the thirteenth operation for this crew, P/Os A.I. Cohen, J.H. Goldfinch, R.F. Emerson, R.A. Campbell, and Flying Officer G.W. Murphy were also killed.Warrant Officer J.E. McQueen was blown out of the rear turret, parachuted down and was taken Prisoner of War.

Bombing Caen France 1944-08-07 to 1944-08-08

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

Battle of Normandy

NORMANDY BATTLE AREA

1,019) aircraft- 614 Lancasters, 392 Halifaxes, 13 Mosquitoes- attacked five aiming polnts in front of Allied ground troops. The attacks were carefully controlled - only 660 aircraft bombed - and German strong points and the roads around them were well cratered. 10 aircraft - all Lancasters - were lost, 7 to German fighters, 2 to Flak 1111d r to an unknown cause.

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 755 VR-F was shot down near Auberville, France during a night attack against a target seven miles south of Caen, France

Flying Officer BD Walker AFM (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant MG Wilson (RCAF), Pilot Officer JC Durrant (RCAF), Flying Officer PW Merrick (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 JA Schryer (RCAF), Sergeant B Jones (RAFVR), and FS W Longmore (RAFVR) were all killed in action

Brother of Flight Sergeant William Archibald Walker, Royal Canadian Air Force, killed in action 17 March 1942

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1945-03-31 to 1945-03-31

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

469 aircraft - 361 Lancasters, 100 Halifaxes, 8 Mosquitoes - of I, 6 and 8 Groups attempted to attack the Blohm & Voss shipyards, where the new types of U-boats were being assembled, but the target area was completely cloud-covered. The local report describes 'considerable damage' to houses, factories, energy supplies and com¬munications over a wide area of southern Hamburg and Harburg. 75 people were killed.

8 Lancasters and 3 Halifaxes were lost, a number being victims of an unexpected intervention by the Luftwaffe day-fighter force. This was Bomber Command's last double-figure aircraft loss of the war from a raid on one city.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moose Aswayita). Pilot Officer Sommerville was engaged in his 16th operation and was killed when his Lancaster aircraft KB 761 was shot down by a German ME-262 jet fighter aircraft during a daylight operation against Hamburg, Germany. Flight Lieutenant H.A. Metivier, F/Os J. Todd, R.O. Johnson, P/Os W.M Sommerville, G. Matuszewski, H.S. Tulk, and E.E. Morphy were killed.

Bombing Scholven Germany 1944-12-29 to 1944-12-29

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

324 Lancasters and 22 Mosquitoes of 1, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Lancasters lost.

The raid took place in difficult conditions. There was thick cloud over the tnrgol but Oboe sky-markers were accurately placed and the oil refinery was badly hit. Tho local report says that 300 high-explosive bombs fell within the oil-plant area. Thero were two large and IO small fires and much damage to piping and storage tanks. Tho local report records a further 3,198 bombs falling in other parts of Scholvcn nnd Buer, causing much property and some industrial damage; the surface buildings of the Hugo I and Hugo II coal mines were severely damaged. 93 people were killed, or whom 24 were prisoners of war; 41 people were injured and 1,368 people had to leave their homes, 1,178 through bomb damage and 190 because of unexploded bombs.

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

Bombing Merseburg Germany 1945-01-15 to 1945-01-15

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

Bombing Russelsheim Germany 1944-08-25 to 1944-08-26

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

4 I 2 Lancasters of I, 3, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the Opel motor factory. 15 Lancasters were lost, 3.6 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinder marking was accurate and the raid was successfully completed in IO minutes. An official German report* says that the forge and the gearbox assembly departments were put out of action for several weeks, but 90 per cent of the machine tools in other departments escaped damage. The assembly line and part of the pressworks were able to recommence work 2 days later and lorry assembly was unaffected because of considerable stocks of ready-made parts. 179 people were killed in the raid but their nationalities were not recorded.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Russelheim, Germany. Lancaster aircraft KB 775 Took off 19:58 1944 -08-25 from Middleton St. George., was in a mid-air collision with another Lancaster just as the pilot was about to begin his bombing run. KB 775 went out of control and the order was given to bail out. Flying Officer A.W. Larsen, P/Os V. Stear, D.R. Barnard, A.R. Jackson, H.L. McKay, and Sergeant R.J. Boorman (RAF) were killed. The Canadian pilot, Flying Officer H. Witwer was thrown clear, descended by parachute and was taken Prisoner of War.

Bombing Essen Germany 1944-10-23 to 1944-10-23

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

1,055 aircraft- 561 Lancasters, 463 Halifaxes, 31 Mosquitoes. This was the heaviest raid on Essen so far in the war and the number-of aircraft dispatched was also the greatest number to any target so far; these new records were achieved without the Lancasters of 5 Group being included. 5 Lancasters and 3 Halifaxes were lost.

4,538 tons of bombs were dropped. More than 90 per cent of this tonnage was high explosive (and included 509 4,000-pounders) because it was now considered that most of the burnable buildings in Essen had been destroyed in earlier raids. The greater proportion of high explosive, against all the trends in earlier area-bombing raids, was now quite common in attacks on targets which had suffered major fire damage in 1943. A report from Essen states that 607 buildings were destroyed and 812 were seriously damaged; 662 people were killed, a figure which included 124 foreign workers, and 569 people were injured. Other details from Essen and Bomber Command's own claims for bombing results are given in the report for a further.raid on 25 October

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 776 WR-F missing during a night operation against targets in Essen, Germany. The Lancaster was shot down by 1 & 6/schwere Flak-Abteilung 233 (o) and the 2 & 3/ schwere Flak-Abteilung 134, crashing into the Bocholder Strasse, Essen-Borbeck, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany with the loss of the entire crew

Squadron Leader WC McGuffin (RCAF), Pilot Officer RC Schlievert (RCAF), Pilot Officer RT Neville (RCAF), Pilot Officer E Neufeld (RCAF), Flying Officer R Molloy (RCAF), Flying Officer J Futoranski (RCAF) and Sergeant J Mallabone (RAFVR),Sgt. J. Mallabone (RAF) were all killed in action

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB776

Aviation Safety Network

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

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

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 779 missing after it encountered severe icing conditions during a night attack against Osnabruk, Germany. F/Os B.D. Hyndman, G.R. Cheesman, P/Os L.T. Graham, E.M. Hansen, D.L. Marcellus, G.E.Smith and one RAF member of the crew were killed.

Operational 1944-11-24 to 1944-11-24

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). At 18:12 KB785 was returning from an assigned cross country detail, they "came up" on R/T. Where instructions from Officer in charge of Night Flying told the crew to proceed on a Bombing Detail. These instruction were acknowledged at 1814 hours.At 18:25 Bradbury Bombing Range called their base saying they had seen a great flash in the air, after which the sound of an approaching aircraft's motors were no longer heard.

An investigation lead by two Engineers and headed by an Investigating Officer, gave conflicting evidence on the cause of the events surrounding the aircraft's loss. It then fell on to Air Commodore R. E. McBurney to consider the evidence of the 16 witnesses to the accident, which he proceed to do. In his opinion the witnesses provided greater help in solving what had happened. And he therefore accepted or put forth the cause of the fire being due to the fuel jettison system which was inadvertently selected instead of cold air. And the Air Commodore advised that all Groups to render the fuel jettison system inoperative until modified or a satisfactory system replaces it.

KB785 came down 250 yards South East of Sedgefield Railway Station, killing all crew members. The crew's loss was felt deeply by the whole squadron as it was nearing the completion of the crews tour. (419 Squadron Website)

Flying Officer A.C. Hirst, Flying Officer R.G. Mansfield, Pilot Officer G.H. Warren-Darley, Flight Sergeant(s) L.W. Toth, D.A. Gunn, J.J. Murphy, and Pilot Officer D.G. Newland (RAF) were all killed

On 19 June 1994 a special plaque was dedicated and a maple tree was planted as a memorial to the crew of KB 785 The plaque was sited on the church wall adjoining the village memorial. This took place in the village of Sedgefield and the service was conducted at the St Edmund's Parish Church. The Roll of Honour on the plaque reads: On 24th November 1944, the crew of a Lancaster Bomber of number 419 Moose Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, Middleton St George, paid the SUPREME SACRIFICE. This plaque is dedicated to those who lost their lives Pilot Officer Richard Mansfield DFC Ottawa, Canada; Flight Sergeant Douglas Ginn Toronto, Canada; Flight Sergeant George Warren-Dailey Toronto, Canada; Flying Officer Allan Hirst Vancouver, Canada; Flight Sergeant John Murphy Detroit, USA; Flight Sergeant Leslie Toth Kipling, Canada; Sergeant Derrick Newland London, England. LEST WE FORGET. Detail provided by David E. Thompson, Middlesborough, England.

Bombing Hemmingstedt Germany 1945-03-21 to 1945-03-21

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - the Heide refinery, Hemmingstedt, Germany. Lancaster aircraft KB 786 blew up in the air and crashed west of the Kiel canal, near Odderace, Germany. Flight Lieutenant H.B.rubin, F/Os R.W. Millar, A.J. Palanek, L.C. Croucher, Pilot Officer C.A. Elliott, and one RAF airman were killed. One Canadian, FS G.E. Aitken was taken Prisoner of War.

Bombing Bonn Germany 1945-02-04 to 1945-02-05

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

238 aircraft- 202 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 16 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Lancasters lost. This was a poor attack, with most of the bombing falling to the south of the target or over the Rhine in the Beuel area. 19 people were killed.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Bonn, Germany. Lancaster KB 787 aircraft was enroute to the target and was flying in cloud when it collided in mid-air with a 433 Squadron Lancaster aircraft five miles south of VieIslam, Belgium. Flight Lieutenant D.J.A. Buchanan, Pilot Officer D.W. Spence, Flying Officer J.A. Gibbs, F/Ls W.R. Kearns, J.P. Barlow, and Flying Officer L.F. Edmonds (RAF) were killed. Pilot Officer C.T. Sutter was the only survivor and was taken Prisoner of War.

Bombing Dessau Germany 1945-03-07 to 1945-03-07

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

Thunderclap

526 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitoes of I, 3, 6 and 8 Groups. 18 Lancasters lost, 3·4 per cent of the force.

This was another devastating raid on a new target in Eastern Germany with the usual town centre, residential, industrial and railway areas all being hit. Few further details are available

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 797 went missing during a night trip to Dessau, Germany, presumed over target, presumed enemy action. F/Os W.E.Short ,B.T. MacNeill, P/Os E.V. Beach, R.L. Mitchell, and R.T. Wilson were killed. One Canadian, FS H. Cole, was taken Prisoner of War, and one Canadian, FS D. Jamieson, was an Evader.

Bombing Merseburg Germany 1945-01-15 to 1945-01-15

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 799 had both fuel tanks and the cross feed system damaged by flak whilst engaged in a night operation to Merseburg, Germany. Flying Officer Vatne maintained control of the aircraft long enough for his crew to bail out; he went down with the aircraft. Six Canadians, F/as N.V. Hoas, H.P. Eager, FSs Chatwin, G.J. Woods, Sergeant B.C. Mitchell, and Pilot Officer R.C. Wood were taken Prisoners of War.

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1944-10-14 to 1944-10-14

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

'!'his raid was part of a special operation which has received little mention in the history books. On 13 October, Sir Arthur Harris received the directive for Operation Hurricane:'In order to demonstrate to the enemy in Germany generally the overwhelming superiority of the Allied Air Forces in this theatre ... the intention is lo apply within the shortest practical period the maximum effort of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and the VIIIth United States Bomber Command against objectives in the densely populated Ruhr.' Bomber Command had probably been forewarned of the directive because it was able to mount the first part of the operation soon after first light on 14 October. No heavy bombers had flown on operations for 48 hours and 1,013 aircraft - 519 Lancasters, 474 Halifaxes and 20 Mosquitoes " were dispatched to Duisburg with R.A.F. fighters providing an escort. 957 bombers dropped 3,574 tons of high explosive and 820 tons of incendiaries on Duisburg, 14 aircraft were lost - 13 Lancasters and 1 Halifax; it is probable that the Lancasters provided the early waves of the raid and drew the attention of the German Flak before the Flak positions were overwhelmed by the bombing.

For their part in Operation Hurricane, the American Eighth Air Force dispatched 1,251 heavy bombers escorted by 749 fighters. More than 1,000 of the American heavies bombed targets in the Cologne area. American casualties were 5 heavy bombers and i fighter. No Luftwaffe aircraft were seen.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Duisburg, Germany. The crew of Lancaster aircraft B 800 had started the daylight bomb run when they were hit by flak which knocked off a piece of the wing and set both starboard engines on fire. The aircraft went out of control and just as the order to bail out was given the aircraft exploded and then crashed at Lohmannsheide, Germany.

Flying Officer J.N. Therreault, P/Os R.G. Manwell, L.C. Levasseur, H. Sigal R.H. Bowen, and Pilot Officer G. Adams (RAF) were killed. The pilot, Flying Officer A.M. Roy had this to say, "Flak hit our wing and both engines caught fire so I ordered a bail out. The aircraft exploded and I was blown out and came to at about 5,000 feet. I landed among a bunch of flak gunners and was taken Prisoner of War. I didn't know what happened to my crew until after the war."

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

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

514 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups. 14 Lancastcrs lost.

The intention of this raid was to destroy the southern half of Dortmund and Bomber Command claimed that this was achieved. It appears that the Dortmund air¬raid recording service had now broken down completely; the local Stadtarchiv has no details of any kind of this raid. his was the last large Bomber Command raid of the war on Dortmund.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moose Aswayita). Target - Dortmund, Germany. Lancaster aircraft KB 804 was nearing the target when it was hit by flak, the starboard wing and the bomb bay began to blaze furiously. The crew was ordered to bail out and Flying Officer Blaney maintained control of the aircraft so that his crew could carry out his order; he stayed too long and went down with the aircraft. Pilot Officer D. Hanna bailed out but was killed when his parachute failed to open. Four Canadians, Flying Officer P. Owen (BA), Pilot Officer A. Kindret (WOAG), FSs R. Althan (AG), L. Nozzolillo (AG), and one RAF member of the crew were taken Prisoners of War..

Operational 1944-10-25 to 1944-10-25

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF. With No. 431 Squadron, RCAF, coded "SE*S" when lost. Named "Simcoe Warrior". Crashed near Tingrith, Bedfordshire on 25 October 1944. Being flown by a new crew, with no operations. Was on a cross-country training flight, caught fire and exploded in the air. The wreckage was spread over a wide area near Tingrith Village, Bedford, England. All 7 crew killed, buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey, England.

Bombing Hagen Germany 1945-03-15 to 1945-03-16

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Hagen, Germany. Lancaster aircraft KB 814 was hit by flak and crashed near Fishlin, Germany. Four of the crew, Pilot Officer Vickery, Pilot Officer C.W. Parrish, Pilot Officer M.W. Bredin, and Flying Officer H.R. Hennessey were all killed in the aircraft. The other three members of the crew, FSs Ginter, Bowman, and Bristow bailed out to safety.

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 as large. 493 Germans and 12 foreigners were killed. 30,000-35,000 people were bombed out. source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

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

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

288 aircraft - 202 Halifaxes, 74 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Halifaxes and I Lancaster lost.

The target area was cloud-covered and the bombing was not concentrated. 36 houses were destroyed in Oberhausen and 4 people were killed but other places in the Ruhr may have been hit as well.

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

Lancaster aircraft KB 817 crashed and burned near Linne, Holland during operations against Oberhausen, Germany. Pilot Officer R.C. Joiner bailed out and was killed when his parachute failed to open. Five Canadians, Pilot Officer J.B. Ogg, WOs J.T. Patterson, G.W. Leppington, R.B. Page, and Sergeant J.M. Campbell were taken Prisoners of War. Flying Officer Connor maintained control of the aircraft long enough for his crew to bail out; he waited too long and went down with the aircraft.

Bombing Chemnitz Germany 1945-03-05 to 1945-03-06

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

760 aircraft - 498 Lancasters, 256 Halifaxes, 6 Mosquitoes - to continue Operation Thunderclap

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moose Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. The crew of Lancaster BX aircraft KB 845 VR-L were returning from operations over Chemnitz, Germany when they crashed at Drayton Parslow, Buckinghamshire, England, believed due to severe icing conditions

Pilot Officer FR Leet (RCAF), Flying Officer L Reitlo (RCAF), Flying Officer GJ Hollinger (RCAF), Flying Officer WN De Witt (RCAF), Pilot Officer JE Hanley (RCAF), Pilot Officer JAS King (RCAF), and Pilot Officer NR Poole (RCAF) were all killed in action

419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB 845

RAF losses 5./6. March 1945 [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied Air...