(RAF Photo, 1942)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)A Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax Mk. II Series I (Serial No. W7676), coded TL-P, of No. 35 Squadron, RAF, based at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire in the UK, being piloted by Flight Lieutenant Reginald Lane, (later Lieutenant-General, RCAF), over the English countryside. Flt Lt Lane and his crew flew twelve operations in W7676, which failed to return from a raid on Nuremberg on the night of 28/29 August 1942, when it was being flown by Flt Sgt D. John and crew.
The Handley Page Halifax is a British Royal Air Force (RAF) four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It was developed by Handley Page to the same specification as the contemporary twin-engine Avro Manchester.
The Halifax has its origins in the twin-engine HP56 proposal of the late 1930s, produced in response to the British Air Ministry's Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use." The HP56 was ordered as a backup to the Avro 679, both aircraft being designed to use the underperforming Rolls-Royce Vulture engine. The Handley Page design was altered at the Ministry to a four-engine arrangement powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine; the rival Avro 679 was produced as the twin-engine Avro Manchester which, while regarded as unsuccessful mainly due to the Vulture engine, was a direct predecessor of the famed Avro Lancaster. Both the Lancaster and the Halifax would emerge as capable four-engined strategic bombers, thousands of which would be built and operated by the RAF and several other services during the War.
On 25 October 1939, the Halifax performed its maiden flight, and it entered service with the RAF on 13 November 1940. It quickly became a major component of Bomber Command, performing routine strategic bombing missions against the Axis Powers, many of them at night. Arthur Harris, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Bomber Command, described the Halifax as inferior to the rival Lancaster (in part due to its smaller payload) though this opinion was not shared by many of the crews that flew it, particularly for the MkIII variant. Nevertheless, production of the Halifax continued until April 1945. During their service with Bomber Command, Halifaxes flew a total of 82,773 operations and dropped 224,207 tons of bombs, while 1,833 aircraft were lost. The Halifax was also flown in large numbers by other Allied and Commonwealth nations, such as the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Free French Air Force and Polish forces.
Wikipedia
LQU London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Topcliffe, Halifax II aircraft BB 212 LQ-P was damaged by flak over the target of Dusseldorf, Germany, 10/11 September 1942. resulting in the pilot, Flight Sergeant Webb (RCAF), losing control and altitude. He ordered his crew to bale, then regained control and continued to fly. Sadly, Flight Sergeant JC Scotten (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant VR French (RAFVR)(Nfld) had already baled out over enemy territory before Flight Sergeant Webb regained control and were both killed due to parachute malfunction. The aircraft returned to England but the flaps were not lowered fully during the landing at RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire and the aircraft swung off the runway, colliding with a parked 419 Sqn Wellington III BJ887 VR-H (which was written off) killing wireless operator air gunner, FS AT Drennan (RCAF) and injuring Flight Sergeant WM Webb (RCAF), Flight Sergeant EE Gervais (RCAF), Flight Sergeant JM Rankin (RCAF) and Flight Sergeant GE Mitchell (RAF)
Still with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF at Topcliffe, UK, coded LQ*U. Shot down by night fighter during attack on Stuttgart 11/12 March 1943. Shot down at 17,000 feet by an Me 110, prior to reaching target. 6 crew POW, 1 fatality.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1942-09-10 to 1942-09-11
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Topcliffe
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Topcliffe. Halifax BII aircraft BB 212 LQ-P was damaged by flak over Dusseldorf, Germany, resulting in the pilot, Sergeant Webb, losing control and altitude. He ordered his crew to bail, then regained control and continued to fly. Rear Air Gunner Sergeant Scotten (RCAF) and Mid-Upper Air-Gunner Sergeant French (RAFVR) had already bailed out over enemy territory before Webb regained control and were killed due to parachute malfunction. The aircraft returned to England but the flaps were not lowered fully during the landing at RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire and the aircraft swung off the runway, colliding with a parked 419 Squadron Wellington III BJ887 VR-H (which was written off) killing Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner, Sergeant AT Drennan (RCAF) and injuring Sergeant WM Webb (RCAF), Sergeant EE Gervais (RCAF), Sergeant JM Rankin (RCAF) and Sergeant GE Mitchell (RAFVR)
The aircraft was later repaired and returned to operations, only to be shot down by a night fighter March 11-12, 1943, on an operation against targets in Stuttgart, Germany
Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1943-03-11 to 1943-03-12
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Topcliffe
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) Halifax BII aircraft BB 212 LQ-U lost on bombing mission against targets in Stuttgart, Germany, shot down by a night fighter pilot Lt Johannes Engels of the 10/NJG 4, flying a Bf 110 F-4 from Mainz-Finthen airfield. The Halifax was attacked before reaching target. The Rear Air-Gunner Sergeant R Moore (RAFVR) was killed in action but the remaining crew bailed before the aircraft crashed at Altneudorf, 10 km NE of Heidelberg, Germany
The surviving crew members, Flight Lieutenant GT Chretein DFM (RCAF), Sergeant AC Collin (RCAF), Flying Officer GT Carlon DFM (RCAF), Flying Officer JS Probert (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class HG Reynolds (RCAF) and Warrant Officer 1st Class AE Danes (RCAF) all survived to be taken as Prisoners of War
There were three other 405 Squadron Halifax II bombers lost on this date on this operation. Please see aircraft serials DT 745 LQ-V, BB 250 LQ-E and Shockley and W 7803 LQ-B for further information on these aircraft and crews
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Overshot runway at Penrhos in bad weather and hit Anson serial N5377 11.12.42
Unit 405
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB216
s/n
BB216
m/d
H.P.59
LQD London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
With No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*D" Lost at 23:58 on 1 September 1942, during mission to Saarbruken. Port outer engine caught fire shortly after takeoff from Topcliffe. Wing failed structurally while crossing the UK coast. Crew ordered to bail out. 2 lannded in sea, presumed drowned, 2 others killed, 3 survivors. Pilot F/Sgt. N.A. MacKenzie died in crash, never had time to bail out. Dived into the ground at Chapel St. Leonards, 5 miles north-north-west of of Skegness, Lincolnshire
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Saarbrucken Germany 1942-09-01 to 1942-09-02
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe
With No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ-D" Lost at 23:58 on 1 September 1942, during mission to Saarbruken. Port outer engine caught fire shortly after takeoff from Topcliffe. Wing failed structurally while crossing the UK coast. Crew ordered to bail out. 2 lannded in sea, presumed drowned, 2 others killed, 3 survivors. Pilot F/Sgt. N.A. MacKenzie died in crash, never had time to bail out. Dived into the ground at Chapel St. Leonards, 5 miles north-north-west of of Skegness, Lincolnshire
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1652; 1666; 1656
Struck off charge 11.1.45
Unit 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit/ 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit
On 1944-06-29, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 1664/1679 HCU at Wombleton, wrote in his diary:
"Had another accident today when a pilot was taxying "G" George (BB217) along the perimeter track too fast. It got out of control & started to swing & with the port break on so hot it caught fire & ploughed straight for the flying control building. Then it veered slightly & hit a large brick garage just behind the flying control building. It completely demolished the building but only did comparatively light damage to the a/c & made it a Cat AC."
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 77; 10; 1658; 1659
Undercarriage collapsed on landing at Topcliffe after fighter affiliation training 15.5.44
Unit 77/10/1658 Heavy Conversion Unit/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB249
s/n
BB249
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
LQE London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Operated by No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, from Topcliffe, UK, coded "LQ*E", when lost. Shot down by night fighter during attack on Stuttgart, 11 / 12 March 1943. Was home bound at 15,000 feet when attacked. Crashed at Mondrepuis, 20 kilometres north-north-east of Vervins, France. 2 fatalities, one POW, 5 crew members evaded.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1943-03-11 to 1943-03-12
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe
Battle of the Ruhr
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Topcliffe, Halifax II BB 250 LQ-E was shot down in flames by night fighter pilot Oblt Heinz-Wilhelm Kornacker of III/NJG4 over France while homeward bound from Stuttgart, Germany. The Halifax was abandoned and crashed at Mondepuis, France
There were three other 405 Squadron Halifax II aircraft lost this night. Please see Shockley, H for information regarding the Halifax W 7803 LQ-B, Chretein, GT for information on Halifax BB 212 LQ-U and Dmytruk, P for information on Halifax DT 745 LQ-V
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1659
With No. 1659 HCU when it landed off the runway in the rain and was destroyed when it collided with Halifax LK991 of 431 Squadron while landing at Topcliffe. (Halifax file says at Croft) 21.12.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB252
s/n
BB252
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 51; 1658; 1666
Struck off charge 1.11.43
Unit 51/1658 Heavy Conversion Unit/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB254
s/n
BB254
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1656
Lost height and hit the trees after the pilot raised the flaps instead of the undercarriage (raising flaps near the ground can cause decrease in altitude). Burnt. 20.11.44
1656 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-November-20KIFA RCAF Flying Officer Michael Arnold Gleason 2021-08-07
Halifax BB257
s/n
BB257
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
VRO London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
With No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*O". Slightly damaged by fighter attack during mission to Wilhelmshaven, 24/25 February 1943. Failed to return from mission to St. Nazaire, France on 28/29 March 1943. Shot down near Nantes. All crew missing.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-March-29 Failed to Return Failed to return from mission to St. Nazaire, France. All crew missing. 2023-07-26
Combat Saint-Nazaire France 1943-03-28 to 1943-03-29
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Battle of the Ruhr
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Halifax aircraft BB 283 went down near Escoublac-La-Baule during operations over St Nazaire, France.
RAF Sergeants Ansley and WJS Boyd were also killed.
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1650; 1659
Crashed and burned during three engine practice flying, 1 mile Northwest of Danby Wiske, Yorks, 10.3.44
1660 Heavy Conversion Unit/ 1659 HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB305
s/n
BB305
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1660; 1659
Force landed in field 1/2 mile south of Little Ouseburn, Yorks, after engine fire 24.3.44
1660 Heavy Conversion Unit/1659HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB310
s/n
BB310
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
EQL London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408
Used by No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*L". Shot down by night fighter during mission to Stuttgart, 14/15 April 1943 (according to "Halifax File, it was the 16th). Shot down by a night fighter (possibly flown by Lt. Helmut Bergmann of Stab.III/NJG4) on the homeward trip and crashed at Montescourt-Lizerolles (near Aisne), France. 6 crew POW, 1 fatality
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1943-04-14 to 1943-04-15
408 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming. Halifax BII aircraft BB 311 EQ-L, was attacked by Me-110, knocking out one engine, then attacked again 30 minutes later returning from an operation against targets in Stuttgart, Germany. The Halifax was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Helmut Bergmann of the Stab 3/NJG 4, flying a Bf 110 from Juvincourt airfield. The crew abandoned aircraft, before it crashed near Montescourt-Lizerolles, France
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sergeant JJ Courtney (RAFVR)
was killed in action
The remainder of the crew, Warrant Officer 1st Class RE Dressler (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant RH Jay (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class IR MacDonald (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant GM Parkinson (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class W Reed (RCAF) and Flight Lieutenant LE Usher (RCAF)(USA) all survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
There were two 408 Squadron Halifax II aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial JB 909 EQ-G for additional information on this crew
VRR London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
With No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*R". Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Attacked Wuppertal 29/30 May 1943. Bombed Bochum on 12/13 June 1943. Had 2 encounters with night fighters on return trip, claiming a Ju 88 destroyed at 02:20 over Holland. Crew claimed a Fw190 shot down during raid on Krefeld on 21/22 June 1943. Shot down by night fighter during attack on Aachen on 13 / 14 July 1943. Crew bailed out, crashed near Venlo (Limburg), Holland. 6 crew POW, 1 fatality.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Aachen Germany 1943-07-13 to 1943-07-14
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
374 aircraft - 214 Halifaxes, 76 Wellingtons, 55 Stirlings, 18 Lancasters, 11 Mos-quitoes; 5 Group did not take part in this raid. 20 aircraft+ 15 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - lost, 5·3 per cent of the force
.
A strong tail wind brought the first waves of the Main Force into the target area before Zero Hour with the result that, when the first Pathfinder markers were released, an unusually large number of aircraft bombed in the first minutes of the raid. The visibility was good and large areas of Aachen appeared to burst into flame at once. In the words of the report from Aachen, 'A 'Terrorangriff" of the most severe scale was delivered.'* 2,927 individual buildings were destroyed. These contained 16,828 flats/apartments and there was the familiar list of public and cultural buildings hit. Among those classed as severely damaged were the cathedral, the Rathaus, the town theatre, the police headquarters, the local prison, the main post office, two infantry barracks and an army food depot, and 8 large industrial premises including an aero-engine factory, a rubber factory, a tyre factory and a wagon works. 294 people were killed and 745 injured and 28,500 people appear to have fled the town and were still absent when new ration cards were issued nearly 7 weeks later.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George, Halifax II aircraft BB 323 VR-R "per Flak ad Nausium", on a raid to Aachen, Germany was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Heinz Strüning of the 3/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Venlo airfield., Netherlands. The Halifax was abandoned, badly damaged and on fire, crashing near Venlo, Limburg, Holland
VRQ London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
With No. 419 Squadron, RCAF at Middleton St. George, coded "VR*Q". Failed to return from mission to Duisburg, 8/9 April 1943. Crashed near Bochum. 1 crew POW, 6 fatalities.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-April-09 Failed to Return Failed to return from mission to Duisberg. 1 crew POW, 6 fatalities. 2019-08-20
Bombing Duisburg Germany 1943-04-08 to 1943-04-09
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
392 aircraft - 156 Lancasters, 97 Wellingtons, 73 Halifaxes, 56 Stirlings, ro Mos¬quitoes. 19 aircraft - 7 Wellingtons, 6 Lancasters, 3 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings - lost, 4·8 per cent of the force
.
Thick cloud again ruined the Pathfinder marking and the resultant bombing was widely scattered. Duisburg experienced only moderate damage, with 40 buildings destroyed, 72 seriously damaged and 36 people killed. Bombs fell on at least 15 other towns in the Ruhr
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Fight Sergeant.D.C. Way, Sergeants P.J. Ireland, J.H. Morris, NO. A.R. Hickey, Sergeants R.J. Amos (RAF), and K.H. Godbold (RAF) were killed. One Canadian,Warrant Officer L.E. Turner, was taken Prisoner of War. This was the fourth operation for this crew.
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405;1659
Undercarriage collapsed at landing at Chaddington 19.1.45
Navigation Training Unit/405/1669 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB369
s/n
BB369
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405; 1664
Struck off charge 6.6.45
Navigation training Unit/405/1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB372
s/n
BB372
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 35; 102; 1652; 405
Overshot USAAF Molesworth after engine fire on ops; crashed at Andrews Farm, Holton and burnt out. 17.9.44
405/35/102/1652 Heavy Conversion Group
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB373
s/n
BB373
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405; 78
Collided with Halifax JB874 at Breighton and burnt, ops. 28.8.43
Unit 405/78
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB374
s/n
BB374
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1658; 405
Collided with Halifax DG297 at approx 52.47N 04.41 West, Aircraft missing 29.4.44
405/1658 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB375
s/n
BB375
m/d
H.P.59
EQT London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
VRG London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*G". Attacked Duisburg on 12/13 May 1943. Attacked by unidentified aircraft but returned to base. Failed to return from mission to Bochum on 29/30 September 1943. Lost without a trace, all crew killed. Reported by Dutch sources to have come down in the North Sea, 6 kilometres north-west of Den Helder.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-September-28 Failed to Return Failed to return from mission to Hannover, all crew killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Bochum Germany 1943-09-29 to 1943-09-30
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of Berlin
352 aircraft - 213 Lancasters, 130 Halifaxes, 9 Mosquitoes. 9 aircraft - 5 Halifaxes and 4 Lancasters - lost, 2·6 per cent of the force.
The Oboe-assisted Pathfinder plan worked perfectly and led to accurate and concentrated bombing. In the Bochum air-raid area - which included 3 small towns near by- 527 houses were destroyed and 742 were seriously damaged. The Altstadt is mentioned as having been particularly hard-hit. 161 people were killed, including 33 foreign workers and prisoners of war, and 337 people were injured.
Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*G". . Failed to return from mission to Bochum on 29/30 September 1943. Lost without a trace, all crew killed. Reported by Dutch sources to have come down in the North Sea, 6 kilometres north-west of Den Helder.
VRL London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 409; 419
Served with No. 409 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*L". Diverted to Dinsdale due to low fuel after raid on Dortmund on 23/24 May 1943. Crash landed 2 miles from airfield at Middleton, St George after running out of fuel, no injuries. "Halifax Files" states this was 419 Squadron, rather than 409
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-May-24 Accident Crash Crashed, see comments 2019-08-20
Halifax BB386
s/n
BB386
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1659; 1666
Crash landed at 1 mile southeast of Wombleton after both outer engines failed. aircraft burnt 2.1.45
Airplane and Armament Experimental Association/ 1659 Heavy Conversion unit/1666HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax BB412
s/n
BB412
m/d
H.P.59
London Passenger Transport Board B.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Operated by No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, when lost on 8 June 1942. On mission to Essen, came down 11 kilometres north-west of centre of Cologne. 7 crew killed, one PoW.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Essen Germany 1942-06-08 to 1942-06-09
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
Operated by No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, when lost on 8 June 1942. Halifax aircraft DG 224 was carrying bombs, camera, and leaflets when it was shot down, on mission to Essen, came down 11 kilometres north-west of centre of Cologne. 7 crew killed, one PoW.
Failed to Return, Krefeld 3.10.42
Unit 405
last update: 2024-July-20
Bombing Krefeld Germany 1942-10-02 to 1942-10-03
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) Halifax II aircraft DG 228 LQ-H shot down over Holland by flak of the Marine-Flak-Abteilung 813 (Hoek van Holland), 2/MAA 205 Küstenbatterie Brandenburg and the 1 & 2/Reserve, crashing on Vredebest Farm near Noordwijkerhout (Zuid Holland) 16 km SSW of Haarlem, Netherlands. (aviation-safety.net) The bomber crashed into a farmhouse, killing Alida Hogervorst and injuring her mother Adriana Hogervorst and her brother Wim Hogervorst, who later died of his injuries (www.basher82.nl).
Operated by No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, late 1942. Crash at Fention Farm near Haverfordwest, Pembs and burnt after catching fire while on cross country 20.5.44
408/1663 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DG232
s/n
DG232
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
Written off after following heavy landing while on circuits and landings 4.5.44
1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG233
s/n
DG233
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;1659;408;518;517
Operated by No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, late 1942. Struck off Record 15.6.45
Units 408/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit/408/518/517
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DG234
s/n
DG234
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;1659;1663;76
Landed off runway at Holme-On-Spalding Moor in poor visibility and hit Halifax DK205, 20.11.43
Unit 408/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit/1663HCU/76/1663HCU
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG235
s/n
DG235
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;1659;408;RR;1657
Struck of Charge 1.11.45
Unit 408/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit/408/Rolls Royce/1667 HCU
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG236
s/n
DG236
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408; 1663; 1667
Abandonned after engine fire, aircraft crashed at Holton, Lincs 29.5.44
Units 408/1663 Heavy conversion unit/1667 HCU
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG237
s/n
DG237
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408; 518; 1674
Struck off Charge 5.10.44
Units 408/518/1674 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Operated by No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, late 1942. Approached Tempsford too fast after ops and overshot into bushes. 18.8.43
Unit 408/138
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DG271
s/n
DG271
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408; 138
Groundlooped on take-off at Tangmere and wingtip caught the ground 4.2.43
Unit 408/138
last update: 2024-August-06
Crashed in bad visibility nearLong Marston, Yorks on approach to rufforth after night bombing exercise 15.8.44
408/1663 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG278
s/n
DG278
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 77; 1664
Force-landed at Gale Farm 3 miles southwest of Pocklington, non ops, 23.2.44
77/1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG280
s/n
DG280
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
Struck off Charge 2.6.45
Units 1664 Heavy conversion unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG282
s/n
DG282
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 295; 1664
Crashed in circuit 1/2 mile south of runway #3, Dishforth due to reduced visibility caused by smoke from train. 2.12.43
295/1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Conversion 1943-12-01 to 1943-12-02
1664 (B) HCU (RCAF) Croft
On 1943-12-02, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, an Engineering Officer with 427 Sqn at Leeming, wrote in his diary:
"We were supposed to be on again tonight . . . It was scrubbed about 4 o'clock so since some of the gang were going up to a party tonight at Croft I went with them. Met up with all the boys at 1664 again & had a swell time. . . At the party I met Mary again . . It was spoiled somewhat at 10:00 o'clock by a crash. I heard this kite coming in for a landing & flying very low. All of a sudden there was a terrific crash & it pranged just about a hundred yards from the Mess â€" hit a tree and burst into flames. We all went out to see it but it was pretty gruesome & some of the girls were sick so we all went back in again & tried to get the party started again. Five were killed & two were still alive when they dragged them out although they were pretty badly burned. Mary, whose brother-in-law was killed in a crash over at Middleton, started to cry & make a fuss but soon recovered. I caught the taxi to town at 11:15 after detouring into the field around the wreck. It was strewn all over the road and was still burning."
Crashed and burnt, 6 miles south of Rennes, France while on ops 16.1.43 units 138/161. From aviation Safety Network: Further information: Operation Ker was an SIS Op. and according to the Provisional Operation Report prepared for the aircraft's return, it was to drop a parcel on at 47 42 05N, 01 49 25W, which is just south of a village called Sion-les-Mines (Loire-Atlantique), some 16 km W of Chateaubriant in Northern France. There were no co-ordinates given for CRAB 6, a container drop. The French underground found the aircraft burned out, south of Rennes. Seven bodies were found in the wreckage, all were interred in the Eastern Communal Cemetery, Rennes on 17th January 1943.
last update: 2024-July-20 1943-January-16KIA RAFVR Pilot Officer Harry Sanford Readhead 2023-09-12 1943-January-16KIA RCAF Pilot Officer William Wallace Roy 2024-02-07
Halifax DG292
s/n
DG292
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
Struck off Charge 9.6.45
Unit 1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
On 1943-09-09, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer at Croft, wrote in his diary:
On September 9, during a party celebrating W/C Clark's DFC award, "About 10:30pm the phone rang & it was another prang off the runway â€" a bad one this time . . . The W/C & I jumped in his car right away and raced down to the Aerodrome in the pitch black. It was B for Bear (DG339). According to the pilot's story . . . the S.O (starboard outside) engine started to vibrate . . . and shake the whole aircraft. He was about 100 [feet] at the time . . . made a low circuit, got sort of panicky & brought her in for a belly landing . . . he headed for the grass and just missed a couple of parked aircraft. . . At the first smack he busted up all four props & tore off a few engine cowlings & radiators, then the stbd outer engine fell out on the ground bashing big hole in the wing in passing. This threw the nose up which promptly tore off the tail wheel . . . & incidentally broke the kite's back just aft of the T.E. of the wings. The nose came down again & the port outer engine fell out and she finally came to rest with debris strewn all over the field for about two hundred yards behind it. What a mess. Cat E definitely & fortunately no one was badly hurt."
Struck off Charge 26.7.45
Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit/1664 Heavy Conversion Unit/1667 HCU
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG341
s/n
DG341
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
Groundlooped on landing at Croft and undercarriage collapsed 27.6.43
1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
On 1943-06-27, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer with 1664 HCU at Croft, wrote in his diary:
"Well we had our first prang today. Nobody hurt but it sure made a mess of the kite. It was a beautiful warm day and at 11:00 hrs this morning, P for Peter was making a regular landing. He started to swerve a little & in correcting for it the pupil and instructor were sort of fighting the controls and they ran off the runway, did a big sweep back across the runway & into a very violent ground loop. Both undercarriages were folded up sideways & were pushed into the wings when it came down on its belly the port wing & port tail fin scraped the ground, the port outer engine fell out of its mounting head-first on to the ground & the tail gave such a swing when she turned so sharply that it broke its back just aft of the L.E. & major spar. A Cat E with a vengeance. One wing was still overlapping the runway so we had to start getting it cleared right away. A lot of our crash equipment isn't here yet so we borrowed some lifting bags from Middleton & some pipe lines from Leeming, came back after lunch and started in. First we picked up the loose engine & carted it off to workshops, then with a little lift under each wing with lifting bags we hooked a bowser . . . to each u/c in turn & pulled them away from the wreckage. Then with a bowser to anchor the tail we started the slow process of small lifts, building up supports & then more lifts until about 10 o'clock at night we got one 4 wheel bogey under the stbd. wing root. It has it laid down [in standard procedures] that they are to go under the engine nacelle but I got the brilliant idea to put them in the new locations & it worked very well. We got the other side up by 10:30 & had her wheeled away to a dispersal by 11:00 o'clock at night after 12 hrs. solid work. We had our meals carted out by truck & were quite satisfied with the job. Now we should be able to get a few spares anyway."
1943-06-27 Croft DG341 Flight Lieutenant Ross Dawson 2nd from left
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG342
s/n
DG342
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
On 1943-09-08, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer with 1664 HCU at Croft, wrote in his diary:
"Q for Queenie DG 342 swerved on landing & tore out the stbd u/c [under carriage] on the ground loop. That seems to be the favourite method around here. It's a cat AC with stbd u/c wing, stbd outer engine, 2 stbd props & the stbd tail fin & rudder all bashed up".
Groundlooped during three engined landing at Dishforth and undercarriage collapsed 19.2.44
Unit 434/1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DG388
s/n
DG388
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 295; 298; 1664
Struck off charge 1.11.45
295/298/1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Delivered to Canada as production model by No. 1 Ferry Unit, RAF. Used as teaching aid at the Flight Engineers School at St. Thomas, Ontario. Scrapped at nearby Aylmer, Ontario in 1947, scrap metal shipped to the US by railway.
Units 1663 Heavy conversion Unit/1 Oversea aircraft Preparation Unit/1 Ferry Unit
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-July-17 Classified Instructional A 424 2020-06-13 1944-July-17 Taken on Strength CA not flown, Instructional only. 2020-06-13 1947-March-28 Struck off Strength CA 2020-06-13
Undercarriage collapsed on landing at Dishforth 31.1.44
1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DJ991
s/n
DJ991
Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
To 4667M 3.44 at 1 Radio School
1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DK115
s/n
DK115
Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
On 1943-08-08, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer with 1664 HCU at Croft, wrote in his diary:
"Sunday seems to be our unlucky day since we flew hard all day & then tonight had our fourth big prang C for Charles DK115. For some reason I haven't been able to find out yet the port u/c folded up just after he had made his landing & he came down on one wing right in the centre of the runway about 5:30 tonight. We had night flying on & scheduled for 11:00pm so it was up to me to get it lifted and cleared in time. Bill Tait & I ordered midnight suppers & set to work with lifting bags and jacks & finally got a bogey under her & towed her away to dispersal by 10:45 just in time because the aircraft were beginning to warm up in preparation for take-off. It damaged the port outer mainplane, aileron and flap, ruined the undercarriage, the port tail rudder & bashed the bottom of the port outer engine. Also two port props. This makes another Cat AC for the contractors to work on & a total of three ganged up in the hanger at the present time."
On 1943-04-15, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer with 1659 HCU at Topcliffe, wrote in his diary:
"Went for my first ride in a Halifax today. DK127, G one of our new Mk V kites with Merlin XXII engines & with only 5 hours of flying time. It sure is a smooth kite. Squadron Leader Langton was the pilot, I was flight engineer & did the starting operation of fuel cocks & temperature adjustments. Two pilots â€" Clark and Ross were the mid-upper and rear gunners although neither had ever operated a turret or fired a gun before. What a crew,; it certainly would have been funny if we had met up with a Jerry FW190 or something since I imagine our goose would have been cooked."
ZLZ Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*Z. Bombed Wuppertal on 29 May 1943. Groundlooped on landing at Leeming and undercarriage collapsed 16.6.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DK141
s/n
DK141
ZLC Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
ZLC Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*C. Failed to return from attack on Aachen on 13/14 July 1943. Came down near Dreumel in Holland, on land belonging to Mr Oostveen, on Marsdijk road at Bunnik, province Utrecht at 01:23 local time. Six crew were POWs, one evaded capture.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-July-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Aachen. Six crew were POWs, one evaded capture. 2019-08-20
Bombing Aachen Germany 1943-07-13 to 1943-07-14
427 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming
427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certe) RAF Leeming. Halifax V aircraft DK 142 ZL-C, on a raid against targets in Aachen, Germany was attacked by multiple night fighters. The bomber was abandoned and crashed on the banks of the river Waal northwest of Dreumel, Gelderland, Netherlands
The entire crew survived
Warrant Officer Class 2 WH Green (RCAF), Sergeant JH Brown (RCAF), Sergeant SW Bryant (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 JF Hutchings (RCAF), Sergeant RT Hayes (RCAF) and Warrant Officer Class 2 ME Sobkowicz (RCAF) were all taken as Prisoners of War
Warrant Officer Class 2 JRR Poudrier (RCAF) survived and evaded until betrayed by a Belgian criminal, to be arrested became a Prisoner of War
ZLU Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*U. Dispatched for attack on Gelsenkirchen, took off at 23:45 local on 25 June 1943. Swung and crashed on takeoff, (undercarriage collapsed) due to lack of brake pressure. The crew were not injured.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-June-26 Accident Crash Dispatched for attack on Gelsenkirchen, swung and crashed on takeoff. The crew was not injured. 2019-08-20
Halifax DK146
s/n
DK146
ZLQ Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
ZLE Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Delivered new to No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF on 6 May 1943, coded ZL*E. Crashed at 21:15 local time near Newton Kyme, near York, after returning early from attack on Kassel on 22 October 1943. All 7 crew were killed. Had 148:35 logged time when struck off.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing 1943-10-21 to 1943-10-22
427 (B) BG (RCAF) Skipton on Swale
Battle of the Ruhr
On 1943-10-08, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, an Engineering Officer with 427 Sqn at Skipton-on-Swale, wrote in his diary:
"Well we were on tonight for a change after a two week stand-down [due to poor weather]. I thought I'd make an effort to make a good showing on my first real op on my own. The boys co-operated fine and we got a record 16 kites up each with 1882 gals of petrol, 6500 lbs of bombs, 1-2000 lb., 5 cans of 4-30 lb. incendiaries & 8 cans of 90- 4lb. as well as 14 bundles of "window" incendiaries, the metallic strips they shower down when over target to throw out & jam the jerry radio-location beams. It looked pretty good at take-off & although we had 2 go u/s [unserviceable] just before take-off we managed to shift the crews around to stand-by kites & so we got them all away.
I was feeling pretty good about this but soon things began to happen. First the weather closed in & it turned very cold with a sheet-like rain. Then one after another we got the news that seven aircraft were coming back on early returns never having reached the target. This was awful for my first "do" but it seemed that 3 of the seven were due to very bad icing conditions, 2 were due to maintenance faults for which I had to take the blame. One was due to the pilot getting lost and getting too low down over the Ruhr where he got badly shot up with flak while the seventh never got back at all. He crashed down near Eastmoor somewhere & burned up. All crew were killed so I don't suppose we'll ever find out what happened. With Squadron Leader Ganderton I drove around & met each pilot and flight engineer as they got out of their kites, found out their story & made out my report to the station engineering officer. I was nearly 11:00 o'clock when they all got back & since the weather was duff I was getting a little apprehensive about how many of the rest would get back.
At 12:00 o'clock I went down to flying control to watch as the rest of the kites came in. It was very exciting hearing them talk them in one by one by radio and watching them land. We had two near accidents, one when he was swung & ground looped just after landing & the other when a few hung-up incendiaries fell out of a kite on the runway and went up with a terrific roar & bright flames. However, no one was hurt & we kept counting them one by one as they got down safely until there was only 4 more of ours to come in. We waited and waited but they didn't come & we finally had to give them up for lost. About 1:00am I went up to interrogation to find out from each pilot & flight engineer how the kite had functioned & what damage had been sustained. Finally after about an hour I went to the operations room to see if they had any word of our missing aircraft (& they hadn't). I finally got back to the Mess at 3:30am, had fried potatoes and sausages & went to bed.
Sat Oct 23, 1943: "Things were pretty grim here this morning with everyone worried about our big losses. 4 of ours & 2 from 429 making 6 out of 28 aircraft. Also my six early returns didn't make me feel any too happy. Fortunately we were stood down tonight. The target was Kassel last night & 42 were lost altogether. Mostly due to icing I imagine. Our K-Kitty which had several flak holes in it wasn't too bad although it needed and engine change. . . ."
ZLL Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427;1664;1667
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "ZL*L". First named "Londons Revenge". Some time about 24 May 1943 name "Lana Turner" was added. Permission to use the name was granted by MGM Studios, and the crew of this aircraft won the name in a draw held at the Squadrons base of Leeming. Bombed Bochum on 12 June 1943. Completed at least 20 missions. Groundlooped while taxiing at Sandtoft, ran into a ditch and undercarriage collapsed 22.4.44
Units 427/1664 Heavy Conversion Unit/1667 HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DK189
s/n
DK189
Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427;427
Write off as a result of battle damage either directly or indirectly. 29.7.43
Unit 427
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DK190
s/n
DK190
ZLF Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
ZLV Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427;1663
Flew into Garrowby Hill, Yorks, in cloud, and burnt while on training 7.2.44
Unit427/1663 Heavy conversion Unit 1427 flt ??
last update: 2024-August-06
Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12
427 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming
427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certe) RAF Leeming. Halifax BV aircraft DK 192 ZL-V returned to RAF Oulton with battle damage after an operation to Dusseldorf, Germany. While on a taxiway the Halifax was in a collision with 431 Squadron Wellington HF 543 SE-P that had also returned to RAF Oulton with battle damage. There were no casualties from either aircraft but the Wellington was written off. The Halifax was repaired and sent to HCU 1663 but later lost 1944-02-07 along with the entire RAF crew while on a training flight
Flight Lieutenant IP Colquhoun (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 JR Dobie (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant WE Beswick (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 SW Bryant (RCAF), FS JPC LaPointe (RCAF), Sergeant G Millard (RCAF) and FS LC Patrick (RCAF) all survived safe
ZLJ Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*J. Failed to return from attack on Mulheim on 22/23 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter. Came down at West Mijzen, Holland. 6 crew killed, one PoW.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-June-23 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Mulheim, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20 1943-June-23KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Gordon Leslie Tucker 2022-01-03
Halifax DK226
s/n
DK226
ZLY Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427;1664
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*Y. Named "Yehudi". Struck off Charge 1.11.45
Units 427/1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DK227
s/n
DK227
ZLV Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*V. Took part in attack of the experimental rocket site at Peenemunde August 17/18, 1943. Slightly damaged in port rudder, wing and tire in 4 attacks by a Bf109. Crew claimed the night fighter as shot down. The Halifax File claims that the aircraft groundlooped on landing at Leeming and the undercarriage collapsed 8.8.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DK228
s/n
DK228
NAD Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
NAW Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 428
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded NA*W. ailed to return from attack on Gelsenkirchen on 9/10 July 1943, crashed near Cologne after suffering two engine failures and possibly being damaged by flak. 5 crew were POWs, 1 evaded, and 1 killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-July-10 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Gelsenkirchen, crashed near Cologne after suffering two engine failures and possibly damaged by flak. 5 crew were POWs, 1 evaded, and 1 killed. 2019-08-20 1943-July-10PoW RCAF Flight Lieutenant Benjamin McKenzie Fitzgerald 2021-02-12 1943-July-10PoW RCAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Hugh McGeach 2023-07-19
Halifax DK230
s/n
DK230
NAV Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
ZLZ Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*Z. Failed to return from attack on Kassel on 22/23 October 1943. Came down near Dusseldorf. All 7 crew were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing 1943-10-21 to 1943-10-22
427 (B) BG (RCAF) Skipton on Swale
Battle of the Ruhr
On 1943-10-08, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, an Engineering Officer with 427 Sqn at Skipton-on-Swale, wrote in his diary:
"Well we were on tonight for a change after a two week stand-down [due to poor weather]. I thought I'd make an effort to make a good showing on my first real op on my own. The boys co-operated fine and we got a record 16 kites up each with 1882 gals of petrol, 6500 lbs of bombs, 1-2000 lb., 5 cans of 4-30 lb. incendiaries & 8 cans of 90- 4lb. as well as 14 bundles of "window" incendiaries, the metallic strips they shower down when over target to throw out & jam the jerry radio-location beams. It looked pretty good at take-off & although we had 2 go u/s [unserviceable] just before take-off we managed to shift the crews around to stand-by kites & so we got them all away.
I was feeling pretty good about this but soon things began to happen. First the weather closed in & it turned very cold with a sheet-like rain. Then one after another we got the news that seven aircraft were coming back on early returns never having reached the target. This was awful for my first "Ëœdo' but it seemed that 3 of the seven were due to very bad icing conditions, 2 were due to maintenance faults for which I had to take the blame. One was due to the pilot getting lost and getting too low down over the Ruhr where he got badly shot up with flak while the seventh never got back at all. He crashed down near Eastmoor somewhere & burned up. All crew were killed so I don't suppose we'll ever find out what happened. With Squadron Leader Ganderton I drove around & met each pilot and flight engineer as they got out of their kites, found out their story & made out my report to the station engineering officer. I was nearly 11:00 o'clock when they all got back & since the weather was duff I was getting a little apprehensive about how many of the rest would get back.
At 12:00 o'clock I went down to flying control to watch as the rest of the kites came in. It was very exciting hearing them talk them in one by one by radio and watching them land. We had two near accidents, one when he was swung & ground looped just after landing & the other when a few hung-up incendiaries fell out of a kite on the runway and went up with a terrific roar & bright flames. However, no one was hurt & we kept counting them one by one as they got down safely until there was only 4 more of ours to come in â€" we waited and waited but they didn't come & we finally had to give them up for lost. About 1:00am I went up to interrogation to find out from each pilot & flight engineer how the kite had functioned & what damage had been sustained. Finally after about an hour I went to the operations room to see if they had any word of our missing aircraft (& they hadn't). I finally got back to the Mess at 3:30am, had fried potatoes and sausages & went to bed.
Sat Oct 23, 1943: "Things were pretty grim here this morning with everyone worried about our big losses. 4 of ours & 2 from 429 making 6 out of 28 aircraft. Also my six early returns didn't make me feel any too happy. Fortunately we were stood down tonight. The target was Kassel last night & 42 were lost altogether. Mostly due to icing I imagine. Our K-Kitty which had several flak holes in it wasn't too bad although it needed and engine change. . . ."
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "J". Damaged by flak during raid in Nurnburg on 10/11 August 1943. Bombed Hannover on 22 September 1943. Bounced on landing at Topcliffe, groundlooped, undercarriage collapsed and aircraft caught fire 10.6.44
Units 428/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-June-10Survived RCAF Flying Officer John Frederick Harris 2021-06-06
Halifax DK236
s/n
DK236
Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 76;431;44MU
Struck off Charge 10.12.46
Units 76/431/44 Maintenance Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DK237
s/n
DK237
NAL Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Struck off Charge following groundloop on landing at Bombay 3.1.44
427/301 Ferrry transfer Unit/1 Overseas Aircraft Delivery Unit/1577 Flight
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax DK255
s/n
DK255
ZLB Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*B. Failed to return from attack on Munich on 6/7 September 1943. All 7 crew were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-September-07 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Munich. All were killed.. 2019-08-20 1943-September-07KIA RCAF Sergeant Alick Victor Douglas Humphries 2023-10-11
Halifax DK257
s/n
DK257
NAK Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
WLM Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 431;434
Served with No. 434 Squadron, RCAF, coded WL*M. Failed to return from attack of the experimental rocket site at Peenemunde on 17/18 August 1943, shot down by a night fighter. Crashed near Wolgast. 4 crew were killed and 3 POW. First combat loss for this squadron.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-August-18 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack of the experimental rocket site at Peenemunde, shot down by a night fighter 4 were killed and 3 POW 2019-08-20
Bombing Peenemunde Germany 1943-08-17 to 1943-08-18
434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Tholthorpe
434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Tholthorpe, Halifax BV aircraft DK 260 IP-M was engaged in operations against the V-2 rocket sites at Peenemunde, Germany when it was attacked by a night fighter which was shot down. A second night fighter attack resulted in the Halifax crashing near Wolgast, Germany
Flight Lieutenant IL Colquhoun (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 CP Fitzpatrick (RCAF) and FS Lapointe (RCAF) were all killed in action
Sergeant DA Young (RAFVR) was missing, presumed killed in action
Sergeant Young has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial
Sergeant JR Dobie (RCAF), Flying Officer WE Beswick (RCAF) and Sergeant PS Crees (RAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
There were two more 434 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this date. Please see aircraft serials EB 258 IP-T and EB 276 IP-G for additional information
SEV Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 431;431
Served with No. 431 Squadron, RCAF, coded SE*V. Stalled on landing at Tholhorpe, hit runway too hard, undercarriage collapsed 7.11.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DK265
s/n
DK265
SEC Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 431
last update: 2024-November-09 1943-October-09 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hannover. No survivors. 2019-08-20
Bombing Hannover Germany 1943-10-08 to 1943-10-09
(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholthorpe
Battle of Berlin
504 aircraft- 282 Lancasters, 188 Halifaxes, 26 Wellingtons, 8 Mosquitoes. This was the last Bomber Command raid in which Wellingtons took part. 300 (Polish) and 432 (Canadian) Squadrons provided the 26 Wellingtons which operated on this night; they all returned safely. The German controller guessed correctly that Hannover was the target and many night fighters arrived before the attack was over. 27 aircraft- 14 Lancasters and 13 Halifaxes - were lost, 5·4 per cent of the force.
Conditions over Hannover were clear and the Pathfinders were finally able to mark the centre of the city accurately; a most concentrated attack followed with a creepback of only 2 miles, all within the built-up area. This was probably Hannover's worst attack of the war. The local report describes extensive damage in the centre of. the city and in many other parts except the west. The telephone system and electricity supply failed at the beginning of the raid and many water mains were quickly broken. A large area of fire quickly developed in the centre and south-central districts. Acting upon instructions from the Party Headquarters and from district air-raid posts, the population were shepherded to collecting places in open areas between the fires. This action is believed to have saved many lives but 1,200 people were killed and 3,345 were injured, 449 seriously so. A further 6,000-8,000 people received eye injuries because of smoke and heat. 3,932 buildings were completely destroyed and more than 30,000 were damaged in varying degree, but no individual buildings are named. R.A.F. reconnaissance, however, showed that the important Continental rubber factory and the Hanomag machine works were badly hit.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax aircraft DK 265 failed to return from a trip over Hanover, Germany. Sergeants W.H.Hamil, H.E. Evans, T.A. Ashcroft (RAF), G. Beeken (RAF), R Mather (RAF), F.W. Stubbings (RAF), and Flying Officer S.H. Walker (RAF) were killed.
There were two 431 Sqdn. aircraft lost on this date. Please see Sergeant F. Rudd for information regarding the other aircraft and crew.
NAH Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 428;428
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded NA*M, based at Middleton-St.-George. Was coded "NA*H" when lost, based on e-mail from pilots daughter, L. Read. "Crashed at Annelov, Sweden after being set on fire by a night-fighter on a raid to Berlin on 24 August 1943." 4 crew PoW, one killed, and 2 interned in Sweden, including pilot F/Sgt. H. Read.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-August-24 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin, shot down by a night fighter. 4 crew were POWs, 1 was killed and 2 interned in Sweden. 2019-08-20
Bombing 1943-08-23 to 1943-08-24
428 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Middleton St George
428 Ghost Squadron, (Usque ad Finem) RAF Middleton St George. Halifax BV aircraft DK 267 NA-H was most likely attacked by a night fighter over Berlin, killing one crew member. Four other crew bail safely from the Halifax and were captured. The Pilot was badly injured but continued to fly his aircraft in the company of his Bomb Aimer, heading north until the Halifax was abandoned near Annelov, Sweden, where the last two crew survived and became Interned Prisoners in Sweden
The Wireless Operator/Air Gunner C E Crampton (RAFVR) was killed action in the fighter attack on the bomber
Warrant Officer 1st Class L S Bates (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class W S Kerr (RCAF), Warrant Officer 2nd Class G W Patterson (RCAF) and Sergeant J Taylor (RAFVR) all safely bailed while still over Germany and all survived to become Prisoners of War
Flight Sergeant H A Read (RCAF) badly wounded and Flying Officer J J McQuade (RCAF) abandoned their damaged aircraft safely over Sweden and became Interned Prisoners
NAU Fairey Aviation Co Ltd B/Met.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 428
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded NA*U. After attack on Hannover on 27/28 September 1943, overshot the landing at Framlingham, engine failed during go-around, and crashed. 4 crew members were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-September-28 Accident Crash After attack on Hannover, overshot the landing at Framlingham, engine failed, and crashed. 4 crew members were killed. 2019-08-20
Ferry Flight Hanover Germany 1943-09-27 to 1943-09-28
428 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St George
Aircraft had been badly damaged by enemy fire over the target, resulting in the loss of the port outer engine. The pilot was able top nurse the aircraft back to England and was diverted to attempt a landing at the US Air Station, Framlington. On approach to landing, the port inner engine also failed , causing the Halifax to flip, strike some trees and crash
Quote from Steve Wilson, son of pilot Sergeant R Wilson, with his father's account of the night his plane crashed.
The aircraft was hit by accurate flak over the target after being caught in searchlights. As a consequence of this, the port outer engine was badly damaged and ceased to function. The bombs were jettisoned over the target and and the pilot turned the aircraft back for home at Middleton St George.
Whilst crossing the coast (Dutch coast I believe) theHalifax was again hit by flak from a German flak ship which damaged the inner port engine, but did not put it out of action. On regaining the English coast, the crew realised that they were now in serious trouble and the pilot was having problems keeping the aircraft airborne due not only to engine problems but also to damaged flight surfaces.
They broadcast the emergency call sign (blackie blackie for that night) and the US air base at Framlingham responded as the nearest airfield. The pilot headed for this base and all were gratified to seethe landing lights ablaze for them. They began a very difficult descent to the runway, but as fate would have it, the damaged port inner engine chose this moment to stop altogether.
The effect of this was to cause the aircraft to flip over onto its port side, the wing caught the tree tops and the plane crashed into the ground before ever reaching the runway.
There were three survivors - the pilot, the mid upper gunner and the tail gunner. The pilot was badly injured having a smashed pelvis, and other serious injuries and indeed when they found him one of his eyes was hanging down on his cheek.The rear gunner was also very badly injured but I do not know the extent of these.
The mid upper gunner escaped without a scratch and went for help, but could not get out of the the heavily ploughed and muddy field that they were in due to barbed wire security fences that surrounded the field. It was nearly an hour before American forces got to them.
The official story simply states that the aircraft over shot the landing on return - this is not the case, they never even got to the runway, and the crash was was caused by battle damage.
Pilot raised flaps instead of underacrriage on overshoot, aircraft crashed at Woodgate Farm, near Auckley, Yorks and burnt 24.3.44
Unit 103 Conversion flight/ 103/1656 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-March-24KIFA RCAF Sergeant John Harold Gilbertson 2021-08-07
LQM English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
With No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, Failed to Return, Karslruhe, when shot down on 2/3 September 1942, came down near Lesve, Belgium. No survivors.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Karlsruhe Germany 1942-09-02 to 1942-09-03
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe
Karlsruhe 200 aircraft of 5 types with 4 Group Halifaxes now back on major operations. 8 aircraft - 4 Wellingtons, 2 Lancasters, 1 Halifax, 1 Stirling - lost, 4·0 per cent of the force.
The Pathfinders were accurate and this was a successful raid, An estimated 200 fires were seen burning at the same time. Reconnaissance photographs showed much residential and some industrial damage. A very short report from Karlsruhe says only that 73 people were killed and that 3 public buildings in the city centre were hit.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus). Halifax aircraft DT 487 was shot down at Lesves, seven miles south-west of Namur, Belgium."¯The aircraft was returning from a mission to Karlsruhe (Baden-Württemberg) and it was shot down by Oblt Martinek (Bf 110) of III./NJG 4, departing from the French base Juvincourt.
The entire crew was killed and resting at Hotton: Flight Lieutenant Lawrence David Hillier (pilot,)
Flight Sergeant George William Roberts (second pilot,) Flight Sergeant Bernard Arthur McGrath (navigator,)
Sergeant Alexander Douglas Muir (flight engineer,) Pilot Officer Kenneth Ederic Michael Mitchell (wireless operator, gunner,) Flight Sergeant Arthur Colin Ewing (wireless operator,) Sergeant Edward John Cutting (gunner)
and Sergeant Edwin Charles Alfred Coules (gunner.)
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Tire burst on landing at Topcliffe and undercarriage collapsed 28.7.43
Unit 35/10/419/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT507
s/n
DT507
LQM English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405;1659
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*M". Slightly damaged by Me 110 during attack on Stuttgart, 11/12 March 1943, holes in port wing and aileron. Groundlooped on landing at Topcliffe and undercarriage collapsed 29.7.43
Units 405/1659 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Undercarriage retracted on landing at Middleton, St. George 30.11.42
Unit 102/419
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT546
s/n
DT546
m/d
HP.59
English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;1659
Groundlooped on take-off at Topcliffe and undercarriage collapsed 28.8.44
Units 10/408/1659 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT548
s/n
DT548
VRM English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419;1659;1666
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*M". Returned early from raid to Hamburg on 3/4 March 1943 with one engine u/s. Attacked by unidentified aircraft before safely landing at base on 3 engines. Attacked by night fighter during raid on Hamburg on 24/25 July 1943, no damage. converted to 4863M after minor accident on 14.9.44
Units 102/419/1659 Heavy conversion Unit/1666HCU
On 1943-12-21, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, Chief Technical Officer at Wombleton, wrote in his diary:
"One of 1679's Lancasters, DS521 [sic] got closed off our circuit last night due to bad weather & was diverted to Topcliffe. Here he overshot & hit the tail end of a Halifax parked on a dispersal. It tore the tail right off & the Lanc turned end-over-end & stopping flat on its back with its wheels in the air & caught fire burning up completely. Three of the boys got out alive miraculously but the other three were lost."
Wing dropped on landing at Wombleton and undercarriage collapsed 17.5.44
Units 405/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit/1666HCU
On 1944-05-17, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 1664/1679 HCU at Wombleton, wrote in his diary:
"This afternoon we had our first accident this month when B for Bear DT551 broke and undercarriage casting on landing & went into a big ground loop. Nobody hurt but it made the kite a cat E & further gold mine for spares"
LQW English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405;1659;1666
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*W". Slight damage to tail and bomb doors when attacked by fighter during attack on Stuttgart, 11/12 March 1943. Struck off charge 1.11.45
Units 405/1666 Heavy conversion unit/1659HCU/1666HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
With No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "H" when it forced landed on Bergerie Farm, Beaulieu, UK after engine failure on 21 December 1943. Repaired and flown out. Struck off charge 13.6.44
Units 405/1659 Heavy conversion Unit/1662HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
LQU English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*U", based at Dishforth. Crashed on 29 November 1942, just half mile east of Melmerby, Yorkshire shortly after taking off from Topcliffe at 10:05 local time and burnt. Was ferrying second crew to detachment at Beaulieu, all 15 on board killed.
last update: 2024-September-22
Ferry Flight 1942-11-29 to 1942-11-29
405 (C) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*U", based at Dishforth. Crashed on 29 November 1942, just half mile east of Melmerby, Yorkshire shortly after taking off from Topcliffe at 10:05 local time and burnt. There were two crews in the aircraft, the flight crew, plus second crew and a ground crew mechanic as passengers all 15 on board killed. Was ferrying second crew to detachment at Beaulieu. This was the worst non-operational loss to occur in Yorkshire during the entire war
Broke up and crashed on Great Whernside, Kettlewell, Yorks, and burnt probably due to icing and/or collision with Halifax JB926. both were on cross country 23.11.43.
Units 78/77/1658 heavy Conversion Unit
On 1943-11-24, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer with 427 Sqn at Leeming, wrote in his diary:
Warning: The following material contains graphic content that may not be suitable for all readers.
"At 4 o'clock I got news of a crashed Halifax about 10 miles from here, so being the acting station engineer I had to go out to see it. I found bits & pieces of it scattered all over the hills but it got dark before I located the main wreckage. However I could see that it was a cat E so that was all I needed. The whole crew were killed too . . " and again on Monday November 29 he wrote "The AIB inspector came up today to enquire about the crashed kite I tried to locate last Wednesday. We set out right after lunch today & finally found it crashed against the base of a vertical cliff of rock right up at the top of one of the highest hills in the Cleveland range. There wasn't much left since it had burned completely. All that could be found of the bodies had been removed . . . It looked very much as if it had a collision with another aircraft since one wing & engine were missing & there was another crashed kite about three miles away."
Struck off charge 1.11.45
Units Royal Aircraft Establishment/ Lasham/ 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT615
s/n
DT615
VRP English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*P". Bombed Hamburg on 3/4 February 1943, attacked by Me 110, no damage reported. During mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 27/28 February 1943 received severe flak damage approaching target. Crew dropped mine after port outer engine failed. Port inner engine failed on the way home, unable to maintain altitude they ditched in the North Sea. All of the crew were rescued 22 hours later by the Royal Navy.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-February-28 Shot Down During mining operation to the Frisian Islands received severe flak damage, ditched in the North Sea. All of the crew were rescued. 2019-08-20
Halifax DT616
s/n
DT616
VRK English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*K". Mining operation to the Frisian Islands 9/10 January 1943, exchanged gun fire with 2 flak ships. Dispatched to Lorient on 15/16 January 1943, returned early after engine failure. Bombed Lorient on 7/8 February 1943 attacked by Fw 190, no damage. Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Bochum on 12 / 13 June 1943. Shot down at 02:20 local time by Bf110 G9+AR of 7/NJG1, flown by Oblt. W. Rapp. All 7 crew were POW.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-June-13 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Bochum, shot down by a night fighter. All were POW. 2019-08-20
Bombing Bochum Germany 1943-06-12 to 1943-06-13
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
503 aircraft - 323 Lancasters, 167 Halifaxes, II Mosquitoes. 14 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes lost, 4·8 per cent of the force.
This raid took place over a completely cloud-covered target but accurate Oboe .
sky-marking enabled the all Lancaster/Halifax Main Force to cause severe damage to the centre of Bochum. After daylight photographs had been taken, 130 acres or destruction were claimed. The only report from Germany says that 449 buildings were destroyed and 916 severely damaged and that 312 people were killed.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*K". Failed to return from attack on Bochum on 12 / 13 June 1943. Shot down at 02:20 local time by Bf110 G9+AR of 7/NJG1, flown by Oblt. W. Rapp. All 7 crew were POW.
VRG English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Coded "VR*C" on 3/4 March 1943, when it received slight damage from a night fighter during raid on Hamburg. Coded "VR*G" on 11/12 March 1943 when it attacked Stuttgart, and when lost. Failed to return from attack on Essen on 3/4 April 1943. All 7 crew were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Essen Germany 1943-04-03 to 1943-04-03
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
348 aircraft- 225 Lancasters, 113 Halifaxes, IO Mosquitoes; this was the first raid in which more than 200 Lancasters had taken part. 12 Halifaxes and 9 Lancasters lost 6·o per cent of the force - and 2 further Halifaxes crashed in England.
The weather forecast was not entirely favourable for this raid and the Pathfinders prepared a plan both for sky-marking and ground-marking the target. In the event, there was no cloud over Essen and the Main Force crews were somewhat confused lu find two kinds of marking taking place. The resultant bombing, however, was accui ate and a higher proportion of aircraft produced good bombing photographs than on any of the earlier successful raids on Essen.
Local reports showed that there was widespread damage in the centre and in th western half of Essen. 635 buildings were destroyed and 526 seriously damaged. 1 1 H people - 88 civilians, IO Flak gunners, 2 railwaymen, 2 policemen and 16 Frend, workers - were killed and 458 people were injured
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
This a/c served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Coded "VR*C" on 3/4 March 1943, when it received slight damage from a night fighter during raid on Hamburg. Coded "VR*G" on 11/12 March 1943 when it attacked Stuttgart, Failed to return from attack on Essen on 3/4 April 1943. All 7 crew including Sgt.s J.B. Langley (RAF), L.H. Ransome (RAF), and P/O. H.T, MacDonald (RAF) were killed.
VRQ English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*Q". Crash landing at Coltishall on 28 February 1943 after being hit by enemy aircraft and by flak during mining operation to the Frisian Islands. 2 killed. Navigator Sgt. A. Mellin took over flight engineers duties after engineer was killed over target, despite his own injuries, and received a DFM. Crash landed at Low Mye, Wigtown, 22.1.44
Units 419/ 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Minelaying Frisian Islands Netherlands 1943-02-27 to 1943-02-27
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*Q". Crash landing at Coltishall on 28 February 1943 after being hit by enemy aircraft and by flak during mining operation to the Frisian Islands. 2 killed. Navigator Sgt. A. Mellin took over flight engineers duties after engineer was killed over target, despite his own injuries, and received a DFM. Crash landed at Low Mye, Wigtown, 22.1.44
Units 419/ 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit
VRS English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*S". Belly landed at Middleton-St. George at 00:09 local time on return from attack on the dock area of Lorient January 29/30, 1943. No injuries.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Lorient France 1943-01-29 to 1943-01-30
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Asawayita) RAF Middleton St George. Halifax BII aircraft DT 623 VR-S made a wheels up crash landing returning from operations over the dock area at Lorient, France
FS JMB O'Connor (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant AP Cranswick (RAF), Sergeant FE Johnston (RAF),Warrant Officer W McRobbie (RAF), FS D McKenzie (RAF), Pilot Officer JC Garton (RAF )and Flight Sergeant ILJ Howard (RAF) all survived, safe
Warrant Officer Class 2 JMB O'Connor would be missing, presumed killed 1943-04-28 in 419 Squadron Halifax JB 923 VR-Q while on a mine-laying sortie off the coast of Norway
WR Chorley notes that Flight Lieutenant Cranswick left 419 Sqn soon after for operations as a Pathfinder, where he became one of the premier bomber pilots in Bomber Command. He was killed July 4-5, 1944, as a Squadron Leader DSO while acting as Primary Visual Marker on an operation over France.
LQF English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
With No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF when it crashed at Harepath, UK after engine failure on 15 December 1942. 7 killed. Halifax File indicates it was 1 mile south of Beaulieu
last update: 2024-September-22
Combat Bay of Biscay France 1942-10-15 to 1942-10-15
405 (C) Sqn (RCAF) Beaulieu
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Bealieu, Halifax II aircraft DT 624 LQ-F returned from a daylight, long-range anti-submarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay on three engines with one of the port propellers feathered. The pilot obtained permission for a right hand circuit and, on turning into the wind, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed three miles west of the Beaulieu aerodrome
Bombing 1942-12-15 to 1942-12-15
405 (C) Sqn (RCAF) Beaulieu
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Bealieu, Halifax II aircraft DT 624 LQ-F returned from a daylight, long-range anti-submarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay on three engines with one of the port propellers feathered. The pilot obtained permission for a right hand circuit and, on turning into the wind, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed three miles west of the Beaulieu aerodrome.
VRV English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419;1659
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Coded "VR*B" on 21/22 January 1943, when it returned early from mining operation to Frisian Islands with radio, Gee and front turret u/s. Coded "VR*V" when it returned to Frisian Islands on 18/19 February 1943, received damage from an Me 110 which it claimed as damaged. Bombed Stuttgart on 14/15 April 1943, attacked twice by night fighters without damage. Run into ground by Halifax DT802 at Topcliffe and burned 26.8.43
Units 77/419/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT630
s/n
DT630
VRT English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419;214
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*T". Failed to return from attack at Hamburg on 3/4 February 1943. 4 crew killed and 3 POWs after being shot down by a night fighter.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-February-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Hamburg. 4 crew killed and 3 POWs after being shot down by a night fighter. 2019-08-20
Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-02-03 to 1943-02-04
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). As Halifax aircraft DT 630 crossed the French coast, en route to the target Hamburg, Germany, it was attacked from below by a German FW-190 fighter aircraft. The Halifax was raked with cannon shells along the entire length of the fuselage killing the pilot and setting fire to the incendiaries in the bomb-bay. The navigator gave the signal to bail out but only three of the crew, FS Milton, Sergeants W.N. Garnett, and E.R. Marquand got out. Garnett and Marquand were taken Prisoners of War when they landed and Milton was either an Evader or was taken Prisoner of War. Pilot Officer J.D. MacKenzie, W/O R. H. Hill, (BROTHER to Howard Stephenson Hill), Sergeant W.P. Duthie, and W/O L.A. Gonnett were killed in the aircraft.
263 aircraft- 84 Halifaxes, 66 Stirlings, 62 Lancasters, 51 Wellingtons - provided by all groups on the first zoo-plus raid for more than 2 weeks.
Icing conditions in cloud over the North Sea caused many aircraft to return early. The Pathfinders were unable to produce concentrated and sustained marking on H2S and the bombing of the Main Force was scattered. The results in Hamburg were no better than the attack by a much smaller force a few nights earlier. 45 fires classed as 'large' were started, including 2 in various oil depots and I in a warehouse near the Elbe waterfront. 55 people were killed and 40 injured.
The German night fighters operated effectively, despite the bad weather, and 16 bombers were lost - 8 Stirlings, 4 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons and I Lancaster, 6· 1 per cent of the force.
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Was coded "O" when it crashed and burned at Stubb Woods, Beaulieu on 21 February 1943. 7 crew killed. According to Halifax File, it stalled, crashed and caught fire 1.5 miles northeast of Beaulieu.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Bay of Biscay France 1943-02-21 to 1943-02-21
405 (C) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Coastal Command No 18 Group, Halifax aircraft DT 633 crashed one and one half miles north-east of the aerodrome at RAF Station, Beaulieu, Hampshire.
The pilot was detailed to carry out an operational air sea patrol and this was his first night operational flight. The total weight of the aircraft was approximately 58,500 lbs, which included bombs and six depth charges. After some unexplained delay at the dispersal point and runway, the aircraft took off normally at 0455 hrs, made a turn to port through about 180 degrees and then crashed into a wood about 1½ miles from the airfield. An outbreak of fire occurred on impact, followed by the explosion of the bombs and depth charges which disintegrated the aircraft. The seven occupants were killed. Owing to the complete destruction of the aircraft practically no useful evidence was obtained by an examination of the wreckage. (Source South East History Boards)
VRE English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*E". Failed to return from operation to Berlin on 27/28 March 1943, hit by flak outbound and attacked by a night fighter on return. I crew killed, 6 PoW.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-03-27 to 1943-03-27
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Middleton St George
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Halifax Mk II aircraft DT 634 VR-E was a few miles south of Bremen, Germany, enroute to bomb targets in Berlin, Germany when it was caught in a flak barrage, a few minutes later the starboard outer engine heated up and had to be feathered. The crew decided to carry on but changed to the closer destination of Magdeburg, Germany instead of Berlin. After carrying out the bombing run the aircraft was hit from below and shot down by night fighter pilot Oblt. Ulrich Wulff of the 1/NJG 5, flying a Bf 110 aircraft, setting an engine on fire. The fire spread to the fuselage and the escape hatches had to be cut open with axes as the they had become jammed in the attack. All the crew jumped to safety except pilot Flying Officer Porter who stayed at the controls. He stayed too long and went down with the aircraft when it crashed at Escheburg near Bergedorf Schleswig-Holstein Germany
Flying Officer Charles Edward Porter MiD (RCAF) was killed in action
Warrant Officer Class I Murray Winston Bishop (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class I Joseph Gerald Lanteigne (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class I Albert Henry Taylor (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant George Joseph Sweanor (RCAF), Sergeant Daniel London (RAFVR) and Flying Officer Alan Thomas Budinger (RAFVR) survived and were all taken Prisoners of War
VRB English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*B". Mining operation to Frisian Islands on 9/10 January 1943, diverted to Croft on return. Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 18/19 February 1943, lost without a trace, no survivors.
last update: 2024-September-22
Minelaying Frisian Islands Netherlands (Nectarines) 1943-02-18 to 1943-02-18
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*B". Mining operation to Frisian Islands on 9/10 January 1943, diverted to Croft on return. Nothing was heard from the crew after departing for the operation but are believed to have been shot down by a night fighter.as there were many in the area that night
VRR English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*R". Lost over North Sea on 1/2 March 1943 during raid on Berlin, no survivors. Possibly short down by night fighter from IV./NJG1.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-03-01 to 1943-03-01
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
302 aircraft - 1 56 Lancasters, 86 Hali faxes, 60 Stirlings. 17 aircraft - 7 Lancasters, 6 Halifaxes, 4 Stirlings - lost, y6 per cent of the force.
The Pathfinders experienced difficulty in producing concentrated marking be¬cause individual parts of the extensive built-up city area of Berlin could not be distinguished on the H2S screens. Bombing photographs showed that the attack was spread over more than IOO square miles with the main emphasis in the south-west of the city. However, because larger numbers of aircraft were now being used and because those aircraft were now carrying a greater average bomb load, the proportion of the force which did hit Berlin caused more damage than any previous raid to this target. This type of result- with significant damage still being caused by only partially successful attacks - was becoming a regular feature of Bomber Command raids.
Much damage was caused in the south and west of Berlin. 22 acres of workshops were burnt out at the railway repair works at Tempelhof and 20 factories were badly damaged and 875 buildings -mostly houses -were destroyed. 191 people were killed.
Some bombs hit the Telefunken works at which the H2S set taken from the Stirling shot down near Rotterdam was being reassembled. The set was completely destroyed in the bombing but a Halifax of 35 Squadron with an almost intact set crashed in Holland on this night and the Germans were able to resume their research into H2S immediately.
.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Halifax aircraft DT 641 was shot down in the sea during a trip to Berlin, Germany. Sergeants A.D. Cherkinsky, J. Kowalski, A.L. Bateman, and FS W.G. Francis and FS A.T. Woodhouse were killed. Two of the crew, not Canadians, missing believed killed. Sgt. J.N. Gray (RAF) and F/O. A.J. Herriott D.F.M. (RAF) were also killed
Operated by 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit. After taking off on a practice flight, the aircraft continued straight ahead towards Antrim, flying very low for no apparent reason and against instructions. It then began a wide turn at high speed, but lost height and struck trees at Masserene Estate, Antrim. (some records state Shanes Castle) It cut a swathe through the trees before crashing on open ground immediately south of the Sixmilewater, on the site what is now the Antrim Forum, it caught fire and burned out. Warrant Officer L.W. Lenz, Flying Officer G. Fraser, FS H.V. Heaton, Sgts, J.L.Snider, L.M. Hembruff, and four of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed.
VRC English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*C". Failed to return from attack at Essen on 5/6 March 1943. Hit by flak over target, shot down by a night fighter during return trip. May have come down at 21:37 local time near Elst, Holland, between Arnhem and Nijmegen. 5 crew were POWs, one evaded, and one was killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-March-06 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Essen, shot down by a night fighter. 5 crew were POWs, one evaded, and one was killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Essen Germany 1943-03-05 to 1943-03-06
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
442 aircraft - 157 Lancasters, 131 Wellingtons, 94 Halifaxes, 52 Stirlings, 8 Mos¬quitoes. It was on this night that Bomber Command's roo.oooth sortie of the war was flown. 14 aircraft- 4 Lancasters, 4 Wellingtons, 3 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings - lost, 3·2 per cent of the force.,/p>
The only tactical setback to this raid was that 56 aircraft - nearly 13 per cent of the force - turned back early because of technical defects and other causes. 3 of the 'early returns' were from the 8 Oboe Mosquito marker aircraft upon which the success of the raid depended but the 5 Mosquitoes which did reach the target area opened the attack on time and marked the centre of Essen perfectly. The Pathfinder backers-up also arrived in good time and carried out their part of the plan. The whole of the marking was 'blind', so that the ground haze which normally concealed
Essen did not affect the outcome of the raid. The Main Force bombed in 3 waves - Halifaxes in the first wave, Wellingtons and Stirlings in the second, Lancasters in the third. Two thirds of the bomb tonnage was incendiary; one third of the high-explosive bombs were fuzed for long delay. The attack lasted for 40 minutes and 362 aircraft claimed to have bombed th, main ta,g,t. Those tac6cs would be typical of many other raids on the Ruhr area in the next 4 months.
Reconnaissance photographs showed 160 acres of destruction with 53 separate buildings within the Krupps works hit by bombs. A map from Essen shows the main area of damage to have been between the Krupps works and the city centre. The local report states that 3,018 houses were destroyed and 2,166 were seriously damaged. The number of people killed is given in various reports as between 457 and 482; at least Io of these were firemen. If the higher figure is correct, the previous record number of people killed in an air raid on Germany - 469 in the moo-bomber raid on Cologne in May 1942 - was exceeded.Small numbers of bombs fell in 6 other Ruhr cities
.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Struck off charge 1.11.45
Units 10/1652 Heavy Conversion Unit/1666HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT669
s/n
DT669
VRL English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*L". Bombed docks at St. Nazaire on 28/29 March 1943 Bombed Hamburg on 3/4 March 1943. Severely damaged by Me 110 attack during raid on Essen on 3/4 April 1943, landed safely at Coltishall. Claimed one Ju 88 and one Me 110 shot down on this mission. Flew into ground at Bovingham, Lincs, after breaking cloud 17.12.43
Units 419/1668 Heavy conversion Unit/1662 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Saint-Nazaire France 1943-03-28 to 1943-03-28
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George, Halifax II aircraft DT 669 VR-L was damaged by a night fighter attack on a raid to St Nazaire, France on March 28, 1943. The pilot lost control for the aircraft and ordered the crew to bale, but then regained control and cancelled the order. Warrant Officer Class 1 Douglas was the only crew member to bale. He survived and was taken as Prisoner of War. The Halifax and the rest of the crew managed to limp back to England and land safely with three injured crew members
VRD English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*D". Raid on Duisberg on 8 / 9 April 1943, attacked by Ju 88 but no damage reported. Raid on Frankfurt 10 / 11 April 1943, attacked by an Me 110, no damage reported. Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Bochum on 13 / 14 May 1943. Came down near Monchengladbach. All 7 crew were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-May-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Bochum. All were killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Bochum Germany 1943-05-13 to 1943-05-14
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
>p>442 aircraft - 135 Halifaxes, 104 Wellingtons, 98 Lancasters, 95 Stirlings, IO Mos¬quitoes; 5 Group did not take part in this raid. 24 aircraft- 13 Halifaxes, 6 Welling¬tons, 4 Stirlings, 1 Lancaster - lost, 5·4 per cent of the force.
This raid started well but, after 15 minutes, what were believed to be German decoy markers drew much of the bombing away from the target. The only information available from Germany is that 394 buildings in Bochum were destroyed, 716 were seriously damaged and 302 people were killed.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
There were two 419 Sqn. aircraft lost in the same area this same night. Please see Sergeant F.W. Walkerdine for information regarding the other crew and aircraft.
EQG English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408
Served with No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*G" or possibly "EQ*A". Damaged beyond repair during gear up landing at Leeming (which had failed on departure) 3/4 April 1943, returning from raid on Essen-belly landing. No injuries.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-April-04Survived RCAF FW Wood 2022-05-23
Halifax DT674
s/n
DT674
EQA English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
EQO English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;1659
With No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF from 7 December 1942 , coded "EQ*O". Bombed LOrient, France on 16 February 1943. Heavily damaged by flak during mission to Cologne on 26/27 February 1943. Pilot Squadron Leader E. Gilmore received DFC, navigator Sgt. W.T.M. Smith received DFM for efforts required to return to UK on three engines. Aircraft returned to Handley Page for repairs on 23 March 1943. Struck off charge 18.7.44
Units 408/1659 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT676
s/n
DT676
EQB English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;1659
Served with No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*B". Attacked Lorient on 29/30 January 1943. Combat with Ju 88 during this mission, no damage and no claim filed. Bombed Essen on 27/28 May 1943. force landed at Dalton due to fuel starvation 7.7.43
Units 408/1659 Heavy conversion unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT677
s/n
DT677
m/d
HP.59
English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408;1659
With No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Struck of charge 2.6.44
Units 408/1659 Heavy conversion Unit/1662HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT678
s/n
DT678
EQC English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
EQQ English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408
Served with No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*Q". Bombed LOrient, France on 16 February 1943. Bombed Wilhelmshaven on 19/20 February 1943, attacked by Bf 109, no damage. Failed to return from attack on Berlin 29/30 March 1943. Came down near Stapelmoor in East Freisland, near Leer. All 7 crew, including one American, were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin. All were killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-03-29 to 1943-03-30
408 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming. Halifax BII aircraft DT 679 EQ-Q was likely struck by flak during a night operation against targets in Berlin and crashed near Ruttelerfeld/Stapelmoor, southeast of Marx, Niedersachsen, Germany
Flying Officer FNS Cavanaugh (RCAF) Flying Officer HE Tanner (RCAF), Flight Sergeant GW Herrington (RCAF)(USA), Flight Sergeant WA Kopacz (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant EA Biggs (RAFVR), Sergeant TW Harris (RAFVR) and Sergeant RH Holtham (RAF) were all killed in action
EQF English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408
Served with No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*F". Returned to base early during mission to attack Lorient 14/15 January 1943, due to the rear turret being u/s. Crash landed after engine failure on port outboard engine, on transit flight from Syerston back to base on 2 February 1943, and crashed half mile south of Long Dinnington, Nottinghamshire. All 7 crew injured. Aircraft struck off on 20 February 1943.
last update: 2024-September-22
VRX English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419;419;1666
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*N". Bombed Stuttgart on 11/12 March 1943. Claimed an Me 210 shot down during this mission. Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Bombed Bochum on 12/13 June 1943, when it was coded "VR*X". Had three combats with night fighters on return trip, claimed a Ju 88 destroyed at 02:52, just off the Dutch coast. Struck off Charge 15.2.45
Units 419/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT694
s/n
DT694
m/d
HP.59
English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Failed to Return, 15.2.43
Units 405/1652 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax DT695
s/n
DT695
LQP English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*P". Bombed St. Nazaire docks, date unknown. Struck off Charge 31.8.44
Units 405/1652 Heavy Conversion Unit/1663HCU/1658HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
LQG English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*G". Failed to return from mining operation to La Rochelle and Brest night of 6/7 April 1943. Last radio transmission received at 23:23 UK time. Came down in ocean off La Rochelle. All crew were killed. This was the last crew lost by this Squadron before it transferred to No. 8 Group for pathfinder duties.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-April-07 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to La Rochelle and Brest. All were killed. 2019-08-20
Minelaying La Rochelle France (Cinnamon) 1943-04-06 to 1943-04-07
405 (C) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming
Battle of the Ruhr
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*G". Failed to return from mining operation to La Rochelle and Brest night of 6/7 April 1943. Last radio transmission received at 23:23 UK time. Came down in ocean off La Rochelle. All crew were killed. This was the last crew lost by this Squadron before it transferred to No. 8 Group for pathfinder duties.
LQH English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*H". Failed to return from attack on Kiel on 4/5 April 1943. Crashed near Kiel after dropping its bombs. All were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-April-05 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Kiel. All were killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Kiel Germany 1943-04-04 to 1943-04-05
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming
Battle of the Ruhr
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) Pathfinder Force, RAF Leeming. Halifax BII aircraft DT 704 LQ-H missing during an attack against the docks and shipping at Kiel, Germany. The Halifax was hit by radar-directed marine flak and exploded in mid-air, crashing in the target area near Klausdorf, Germany.The entire crew was lost
With 577 bombers taking part in this raid it was the largest raid of the war to this date, but strong winds and heavy cloud cover effected both target marking and bombing accuracy. Little damage was caused.
LQF English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*F". Failed to return from attack on Essen on 3/4 April 1943. Damaged by flak after bombing target. Attacked by a night fighter over Holland on return. One engine lost, entered an uncontrollable spiral. Crew baled out. Flight Sergeant W.S. Beaty drowned on landing, remaining 7 landed on Tiengemeten Island or mainland near Oud-Beijerland, taken PoW. Flight Sergeant K.O. Perry died in captivity on 23 August 1943.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-April-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Essen, shot down by a night fighter. 1 crew killed and 7 POW, 2019-08-20
Bombing Essen Germany 1943-04-03 to 1943-04-04
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*F". Failed to return from attack on Essen on 3/4 April 1943. Damaged by flak after bombing target. Attacked by a night fighter over Holland on return. One engine lost, entered an uncontrollable spiral. Crew baled out. Flight Sergeant W.S. Beaty drowned on landing, remaining 7 landed on Tiengemeten Island or mainland near Oud-Beijerland, taken PoW. Flight Sergeant K.O. Perry died in captivity on 23 August 1943.
VRM English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*M". Bombed Frankfurt on 20/21 December 1942. Failed to return from attack on Berlin on 20/21 January 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All 7 crew POW, including one USAAF.
Units 158/419
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-January-21 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin, shot down by a night fighter. All crew POW. 2019-08-20
Bombing Berlin Germany 1944-01-20 to 1944-01-20
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of Berlin
769 aircraft- 49 5 Lancasters, 264 Halifaxes, lo Mosquitoes. 35 aircraft- 22 Halifaxes, I 3 Lancasters - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force. I02 Squadron, from Pocklington, lost 5 of its 16 Halifaxes on this raid, 2 more crashed in England and the squadron would lose 4 more aircraft in the next night's raid. The bomber approach route took a wide swing to the north but, once again, the German controller managed to feed his fighters into the bomber stream early and the fighters scored steadily until the force was well on the way home. The diversions were not large enough to deceive the Germans.
The Berlin area was, as so often, completely cloud-covered and what happened to the bombing is a mystery. The Pathfinder sky-marking appeared to go according to plan and crews who were scanning the ground with their H2S sets believed that the attack fell on eastern districts of Berlin. No major navigational problems were experienced. No photographic reconnaissance was possible until after a further 4 raids on Berlin were carried out but the various sources from which the Berlin reports are normally drawn all show a complete blank for this night. It is not known whether this is because of some order issued by the German authorities to conceal the extent of the damage or whether the entire raid missed Berlin.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. On January 20, 1944 Halifax BII aircraft DT 731 dropped its bomb load on the target at Berlin, Germany and on the return leg was near Leipzig, Germany when it was shot down by a German JU-88 aircraft. The crew all abandoned the Halifax before it crashed near Dessau-Roblau, Germany
Warrant Officer Class 1 WE MacKenzie (RCAF), Flying Officer A Cormack (RCAF), FS IV Hopkins (RCAF), Sergeant WD McCaghey (RCAF), Sergeant ER Jenkins (RAF) and TSergeant FS Paules (USAAF) all survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
There were two 419 Squadron Halifax BII aircraft lost on this operation. See Sanderson, FG for information on Halifax HX 162 VR-X
Ran off runway at Wombleton during landing 30.4.44
Units 1474 Flight/192/1473Flt/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
On 1944-04-30, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 1664/1679 HCU at Wombleton, wrote in his diary:
"All our luck seems to run in one streak since we had another Cat E accident today. This was an exciting one since Squadron Leader Gaivan was the pilot of old W-Willie DT737 & he blew a tyre out just on takeoff and that meant he had to land again with a tyre already burst which isn't good. The news spread around like wildfire & we were all out on the field to watch him attempt his landing. So was the fire truck, crash truck & ambulance! He came in nicely & held it down on the good wheel to start with but finally the other one came down, dug in & then he started to ground loop 3 times in succession. The crew were only a little bit shaken but the kite was really bad since it's back was really broken. As you walked down the fuselage toward the tail you had to turn a 45 degree corner & when we hooked the browser on & started to drag it away the rear fuselage came right off."
LQV English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*V". Crashed at 23:50 local time near Chlons-sur-Marne, after being attacked at 15,000 feet by night fighter during attack on Stuttgart on 11/12 March 1943. 2 crew evaded, 6 PoW. One evader, Sgt. P. Dmytruk, joined the French resistance and was killed in combat on 9 December 1943. This was the first loss from 405 (B) Squadron after it returned to bombing from Coastal Command.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-March-12 Accident Crash Crashed near Chlons-sur-Marne after being attacked by night fighter during attack on Stuttgart. 2 crew evaded and 6 were POW. 2019-08-20
Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1943-03-11 to 1943-03-12
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Topcliffe
Battle of the Ruhr
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Topcliffe. Halifax BII aircraft DT 745 LQ-V was attacked at 15,000 feet and shot down by night fighter pilot Lt Jakob Schaus of the 4/NJG 4, flying a Bf 110 from Saint-Dizier airfield, during an attack on targets in Stuttgart , Germany. The Halifax crashed near Chlons-sur-Marne, France
This was the first loss from 405 Squadron after it returned to Bomber Command from a five month attachment to Coastal Command
Pilot Officer HD Rea (RCAF), Flying Officer WA MacDonald (RCAF), Flight Sergeant JJ Maguire (RAAF), (2nd Pilot) Sergeant HJ Mason (RAF), Pilot Officer KPC Money (RAF) and Flight Sergeant P Johnston (RAF) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War
Flight Sergeant P Dmytruk (RCAF) and Pilot Officer KW Elt (RAF) survived and evaded. Pilot officer Elt, with the aid of an escape organization, made his way to Gibraltar and eventually back to the UK. Flight Sergeant Dmytruk joined the French Resistance but was captured and shot after an ambush 1943-12-09
EY English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: ;78
Failed to Return, Plzen, 17.4.43
Unit 78
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Pilsen Czechoslovakia 1943-04-16 to 1943-04-17
78 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Linton-on-Ouse
78 (Preston's Own) Squadron (Nemo non paratus) RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Halifax BII aircraft DT 773 EY was shot down by night fighter pilot Lt Joseph Nabrich III/NJG101 returning from an operation against the Skoda armaments factory in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. Pilot Flight Lieutenant Dowse gave the order to abandon the aircraft and stayed at the controls. Sadly, Flight Lieutenant Dowse was not able to get free himself and went down with his bomber. The Halifax crashed crashed in the dry lake bed of Max Eyth in the Hofen district of Stuttgart, Germany
Flight Lieutenant AP Dowse (RAFVR) was killed in action
FS R Desjardins (RCAF), Sergeant AW Hoare (RAFVR), Sergeant P Lansford (RNZAF), Flying Officer AN Orr (RAFVR), Sergeant TT Slater (RAFVR) and Sergeant HE Thompson (RAFVR) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War
EQS English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408
Served with No. 408 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*S". Damaged by fighter during mission to Nurnberg on 8/9 March 1943. Jettisoned load, returned to base. Crashed while attempting after raid on Essen on 12/13 March 1943. Both port engines cut on final, aircraft yawed violently. Crashed at 00:47 UK time near Leeming, no injuries. Halifax Files indicates it returned early from ops to Stuttgart on 13.3.43 due to turret unserviceable and declared damaged beyond repair.
last update: 2024-September-22
VRV English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*V". Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Dortmund on 4 / 5 May 1943. Crashed in middle of Dortmund. All 7 crew were killed.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-May-05 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dortmund. All were killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Dortmund Germany 1943-05-04 to 1943-05-05
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of the Ruhr
596 aircraft - 255 Lancasters, 141 Halifaxes, I IO Wellingtons, 80 Stirlings, IO Mos¬quitoes - on the largest 'non-r ,ooo' raid of the war to date and the first major attack on Dortmund. 31 aircraft - 12 Halifaxes, 7 Stirlings, 6 Lancasters, 6 Wellingtons - lost, 5·2 per cent of the force. A further 7 aircraft crashed in bad weather at the bomber bases.
The initial Pathfinder marking was accurate but some of the backing-up marking fell short. A decoy fire site also attracted many bombs. But half of the large force did bomb within 3 miles of the aiming point and severe damage was caused in central and northern parts of Dortmund. The city's report states that 1,218 buildings were destroyed and 2,141 seriously damaged, including the Hoesch and the Dortmunder Union steel factories and many facilities in the dock area. The old Rathaus was among 7 buildings of a cultural nature which were destroyed. At least 693 people were killed, including 200 prisoners of war, and 1,075 people were injured. The number of dead in this raid was a new record.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
VRT English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 419
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*T". Dispatched to Nurnberg on 8/9 March 1943, returned early after jettisoning load during second of two attacks by night fighters. Bombed Essen on 12/13 March 1943. Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Hamburg on 2 / 3 August 1943. Crashed over Europe after encountering heavy icing and electrical storms. 4 crew were killed and 3 POW. Also reported as lost 29/30 July 1943?
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-August-03 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hamburg. 4 crew were killed and 3 POW. 2019-08-20
Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-08-02 to 1943-08-03
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of Hamburg
740 aircraft - 329 Lancasters, 235 Halifaxes, rn5 Stirlings, 66 Wellingtons, 5 Mos-quitoes. 30 aircraft- 13 Lancasters, IO Halifaxes, 4 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings-lost, 4·1 per cent of the force.
The bombing force encountered a large thunderstorm area over Germany and the raid was a failure. Many crews turned back early or bombed alternative targets. At least 4 aircraft, probably more, were lost because of icing, turbulence or were struck by lightning. No Pathfinder marking was possible at Hamburg and only scattered bombing took place there. Many other towns in a 100-mile area of Northern Germany received a few bombs. A sizeable raid developed on the small town of l\lmshorn, 12 miles from Hamburg. It is believed that a flash of lightning set a house on flre here and bomber crews saw this through a gap in the storm clouds and started lO bomb the fire. 254 houses were destroyed in Elmshorn and 57 people were killed, some of them refugees from recent raids on Hamburg.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Hamburg, Germany. Halifax aircraft DT 798 appeared to be hit by lightning just before it reached the target, all four engines failed and the electrical system went out. FSs J.S. Sobin, D.J. McCarty, and one RAF member of the crew were also killed. Two Canadians, Sergeant J.P. Mahoney, Flying Officer Sibalis, and one RAF member of the crew bailed out and were taken Prisoners of War. This was Sergeant Sadeski's first operation.
TLA English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: ;35
Failed to Return, Duisburg, 13.5.43
Unit 35
last update: 2024-September-22
Combat Duisburg Germany 1943-05-12 to 1943-05-13
35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) Graveley
35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax II aircraft DT 801 TL-A was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant August Geiger of the 7/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Twente airfield while on an operation to Duisburg, Germany, crashing behind a house in Buurse, Overijssel, Netherlands
Sawyer and Richards were killed. Elford, Heard, Moores, and Rowley survived and were taken as Prisoners of War. Elford evaded capture for several days but was picked up by the Gestapo and became a Prisoner of War. The pilot, Sale evaded capture, was reported safe in Gibraltar on August 4, 1943 and returned to service with his squadron.In Enemy Hands - Canadian Prisoners of War 1939-1945
Groundlooped on take-off from Peterhead, undercarriage tore off and aircraft caught fire, 8.11.44
Units 35/Navigation Training Unit/1666Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
LQV English Electric Co Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*V". Failed to return from attack on Essen on 3 / 4 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter flown of I./NJG1. Crashed near "Lijnbraak" farmhouse, Vierlingsbeek, the Netherlands. 5 crew were killed and 2 POW.
Units 102/405
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-April-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Essen, shot down by a night fighter. 5 crew were killed and 2 POW. 2019-08-20
Bombing Essen Germany 1943-04-03 to 1943-04-04
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming
Battle of the Ruhr
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*V". Failed to return from attack on Essen on 3 / 4 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter flown of I./NJG1. Crashed near "Lijnbraak" farmhouse, Vierlingsbeek, the Netherlands. 5 crew were killed and 2 POW.
Delivered to Canada by No. 1 Ferry Unit, RAF. Used as teaching aid at the Flight Engineers School at St. Thomas, Ontario. Scrapped at Scotland, Ontario at Logan's farm on 18 May 1948. Had been RCAF EB127
Units 161/1663Heavy conversion Unit/1 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit/1 ferry Unit/Canada
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-July-17 Classified Instructional CA A 422 2020-06-12 1944-July-17 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07 1947-March-28 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
Swung on take-off from Croft and hit pyrotechnic store 21.10.43
1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax EB137
s/n
EB137
SEN Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 431;1664
last update: 2024-November-09 1943-December-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Leipzig December 3/4, 1943. All were killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Leipzig Germany 1943-12-03 to 1943-12-04
(B) Sqn (RCAF) Tholhorpe
Battle of Berlin
527 aircraft - 307 Lancasters, 220 Halifaxes. Despite the loss of two pressmen on the previous night, the well-known American broadcaster, Ed Murrow, flew on the raid with a 619 Squadron Lancaster crew. He returned safely.
The bomber force took another direct route towards Berlin before turning off to bomb Leipzig. German fighters were in the bomber stream and scoring successes before the turn was made but most of them were then directed to Berlin when the Mosquito diversion opened there. There were few fighters over Leipzig and only 3 bombers are believed to have been lost in the target area, 2 of them being shot down by Flak. A relatively successful raid, from the point of view of bomber casualties, was spoiled when many aircraft flew by mistake into the Frankfurt defended area on the long southern withdrawal route and more than half of the bombers shot down on this night were lost there. 24 aircraft- 15 Halifaxes, 9 Lancasters -were lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax BV aircraft EB 137 SE-N missing during a night trip to Leipzig, Germany, shot down by night fighter pilot Feldwebel Karl-Georg Pfeiffer of the 12/NJG 1, flying Bf 110 G-4 G9+EZ from Leeuwarden airfield, Netherlands. The Halifax crashed at Zakedijkje, Bergen, Noord-Holland with the loss of the entire crew
Sergeant G Heider (RCAF), Pilot Officer GH Armstrong (RCAF), FS FA Long (RAF), FS RR Steven (RAF), FS GF Brown (RAF), FS WC Burley (RAF) and Sergeant JG L'Argent (RAF) were all killed in action
There were four 431 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Ritchie, RW for information on Halifax LK 685 SE-C, Edgar, AW for information on Halifax LK 968 SE-P and Cook, RG for information on Halifax LK 898 SE-O
Delivered to Canada by No. 1 Ferry Unit, RAF. Used as teaching aid at the Flight Engineers School at St. Thomas, Ontario. Scrapped at Scotland, Ontario on 18 May 1948. Had been RCAF EB138
Unit 76/1663 Heavy Conversion Unit/1 Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit/1 Ferry Unit/Canada
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-July-17 Classified Instructional CA A 423 2020-06-12 1944-July-17 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07 1947-March-28 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*S. Failed to return from attack on Cologne on 28/29 June 1943, damaged by cannon fire from a night fighter over Holland. Crew bailed out over England, crashed near Isleham. Written off as result of battle damage 29.6.43
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-June-29 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Cologne, damaged by cannon fire, fighter over Holland, crew bailed out over England, crashed near Isleham. 2019-08-20
Landed on wrong runway at Marston Moor in poor visibility, groundlooped and undercarriage collapsed 2.7.44
1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax EB157
s/n
EB157
inst
A 426
m/d
H.P.57
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664;RCAF (Canada)
Delivered to Canada by No. 1 Ferry Unit, RAF. Used as teaching aid at the Flight Engineers School at St. Thomas, Ontario. Scrapped at Scotland, Ontario on 18 May 1948. Had been RCAF EB157
1664 Heavy Conversion Unit/1 OFPU/1 Ferry Unit/Canada
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-March-28 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07 1944-July-17 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07 1944-August-17 Classified Instructional CA A 426 2020-06-12 1947-March-28 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
Struck off Charge 19.10.44
1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax EB180
s/n
EB180
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
Jumped road on take-off and ran into field at Dishforth 19.12.44
Unit 1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax EB181
s/n
EB181
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
Flying too low, crashed 3 miles east of Kepwick, near Helmsley, Yorks 23.9.43
Unit 1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-July-20
Conversion 1943-09-28 to 1943-09-28
1664 () HCU (RCAF)
Flying too low, crashed 3 miles east of Kepwick, near Helmsley, Yorks 23.9.43
On 1943-09-28, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer with HCU 1664 at Croft, wrote in his diary: "Well I had the feeling something was going to happen. I was wakened up at 4:00 am this morning with the flying control Sergeant worrying about "S" for Sugar which hadn't returned & was 3 hours over due. Reports had been received about a crashed aircraft down near Marston Moor . . . at noon we got word that the one crashed aircraft that had been found was a Lancaster so ours was still missing . . . At five o'clock we finally got word of it. It had crashed somewhere down in the Cleveland Hills just east of York, four killed & two badly injured. I didn't think any plane could crash in England without somebody seeing it." The following day, "W/C and I went down to the crash after first visiting the two lads in hospital in Northallerton . . . From the W/ops story it seems they were flying along normally about 1600 ft just below the cloud base. However the barometer had dropped over 200 ft while they were away & the pilot apparently had neglected to correct for this so actually they were only at 400 ft & hit the top of one of the highest hills in the dark - 7 minutes after midnight. When he next woke up, dawn was just breaking so he crawled out of his part of the wreckage & not being able to walk, crawled over to another part of the fuselage picking up an open parachute on the way, wrapped himself up in it & quietly passed out again. A shepherd in the moors reported seeing a fire in the hills shortly after midnight and an army search party had finally found the crash at 1:00 pm the next afternoon â€" it is remarkable that even two were still alive after 13 hours."
"After negotiating several terrific hills & paths we finally arrived at the wreck. What a mess it was lying way up in the towering hills forming part of the famous and desolate Yorkshire Moors. We could see where the plane had come up a narrow twisting valley with towering cliffs on each side. How he got as far as he did is more than I can tell. Anyway he pranged on the flat top of the hill across the end of the valley. Just 25 more feet & he'd have been OK since there wasn't a tree in sight but as it was, he was going full out & wreckage was strewn in a wide swath for almost a half mile. I never saw such a wreck nor realised that so many bits and pieces could come off a kite as it slithered along. The place where the W/Op had been sitting was just a crumpled up mass & I don't know how he got out alive . . . There was also a dead sheep with all four feet in the air who never knew what hit him. We spent all afternoon up there sorting out bits and pieces & salvaging a few items . . . also some secret equipment which could not be left lying around there." On October 3, 1943, he "went down and answered a few questions under oath at the court of enquiry they are holding for S."
Flying Officer Henry Alfred POULTER (409940) RAAF, Pilot. His escape hatch blew off causing aircraft to crash, Stillington, Yorks, 22.10.43
1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
On 1943-09-15, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, an Engineering Officer at Croft, wrote in his diary:
". . . We had a real one today. Our first fatality since the unit began. . . ZU-D for Donald EB 198 had gone down somewhere near East Moor. Actually it was Stillington Yorks." Ross and W/C Clark set out to find it, and "after asking a few of the farmers around we soon found the smoking remains in a potato field & what a mess it was." The pilot had died but the other six had baled out and "These six soon came struggling in from all directions where they had landed & were rather tattered & minus shoes etc. but nevertheless whole & mighty glad to be safe on the ground." Apparently the pilot's escape hatch blew open mid flight and eventually blew right out, and "unfortunately hit the stbd tail fin in passing. This caused the rudder controls to be practically non-operative so the pilot told the crew to bale out. . . From then on, of course things are more or less obscure" but the pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft. After the investigation "we made for home here & brought the boys back with us."
Served with No. 1664 (RCAF) Heavy Conversion Unit. Crashed out of control at Norton-le-Clay, Yorks, on 18 May 1944.
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax EB201
s/n
EB201
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
Struck off Charge 1.11.45
1664 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax EB202
s/n
EB202
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 1664
"Bullseye bombing raids were area-wide practices involving hundreds of aircraft coordinated with ground defence operations to provide training for both groups.
On 1943-09-21, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, an Engineering Officer with HCU 1664 at Croft, hitched a ride on EB202 for the exercise. It involved about 250 heavy bombers and ground searchlights on the south coast and London. Ross got permission from the W/C to go with Squadron Leader Jacobs. He rushed through preparations for getting the Squadron's aircraft prepared and joined Squadron Leader Jacobs in ZU-G for Georgie (EB 202) at takeoff. In his diary Ross provided a detailed description of the evening's events, including watching Sammy McDougall navigating by goon sets â€" those very secret but amazing instruments for getting dead reckoning as to position from radio. They are all so secret that I won't say anything more here about it except that they all carry enclosed detonators for blowing it up in case of landing in enemy territory. As we finally reached height I went up to the bomb aimers position where I would see everything there was to see. There were hundreds & hundreds of searchlights weaving all over the sky . . . and the boys were saying that it compared very much the same as anything they had ever seen on a real operational trip. We got picked up several times by searchlight & as soon as one gets you, about 12 or 15 others all swing over on you & cone you. The light is so dazzling you can't see out through the Perspex . . . However we managed to get out of a couple of cones by taking violent evasive action. However they don't like to do too much of that near the target since there is a danger of collision." They were under strict radio silence, but "suddenly all the searchlights in sight started to do the same thing, moving in a steady arc from vertical to a horizontal position pointed northward frantically it seemed. It was what is know as a visual homing & was one of the signs pre-arranged to indicate that there was a real enemy bombing raid in progress & we were to get the h _ _ _ out of there . . . Then we made off up the east coast & home four hours after takeoff."
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Groundlooped on landing and undercarriage collapsed, Dishforth, 16.3.44
Units 428/1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax EB207
s/n
EB207
NAB Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 400;428
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded NA*B. Bombed Hannover on 22 September 1943. Failed to return from attack on Mannheim on 23/24 September 1943, crashed between Kotterichen and Uersfeld. All were killed. Probably shot down by Me 110 of 3./NJG 6, at 22:39 local time, at 5,400m, 10 kilometres south-west of Mayen, Germany.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-June-28 Failed to Return (or 24 September 1943?) Failed to return from attack on Mannheim, crashed between Kotterichen and Uersfeld. All were killed. 2019-08-20 1943-September-24KIA RCAF Flying Officer William Anderson Hadden 2021-08-09 1943-September-24KIA RCAF Flight Sergeant Clifford William Renwick 2021-08-10
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*E". Bombed Hannover on 22 September 1943. Damaged by an Fw 190 over Kassel on 4 October 1943. Landed at Tangmere but was written off. 4.10.43
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-October-04 Struck off Strength Damaged by an Fw 190 over Kassel. Landed at Tangmere but was written off. 2019-08-20
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*A. Struck off Charge 1.11.45
Units 427/1664 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax EB242
s/n
EB242
ZLK Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*K. Failed to return from attack on Hamburg on 29/30 July 1943. 1 killed, rest POW. Halifax Files claims this aircraft Failed to Return from Remscheid, 31.7.43.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-July-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hamburg. 1 killed, rest POW. 2019-08-20
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*P. Damaged by night fighter during raid in Hamburg on 2/3 August 1943, declared Category E damage (not repairable). According to Halifax Files, attacked by enemy aircraft over Mannheim and abandonned near Hartfordbridge on return, 10.8.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax EB248
s/n
EB248
ZLU Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427;1659;1666
Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*U. During attack on Magdeburg, 21/22 January 1944, attacked by an ME-109, some damage. Struck off Charge 18.2.45
units 427/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit/1659HCU/1669HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax EB250
s/n
EB250
Rootes Securities Ltd B.Mk.V Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 427
Failed to Return, Munich, 7.9.43 Crashed 28 kilometres southwest of target
Unit 427
last update: 2024-August-06
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded NA*P. Damaged by flak during raid in Hamburg on 2/3 August 1943. Bombed Hannover on 22 September 1943. Failed to return from attack on Frankfurt on 20/21 December 1943, crashed near the target. 7 crew were killed and 1 POW.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-December-21 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Frankfurt, crashed near the target. 7 crew were killed and 1 POW. 2019-08-20 1943-December-20PoW RCAF Flight Lieutenant John Dale Elliott 2021-08-04 1943-December-20KIA RCAF Flying Officer Charles Richard Sandes 2021-08-04
Served with No. 434 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded WL*D. Failed to return from attack on Leverkusen on 19/20 November 1943. Shot down by a night fighter, 6 crew were POW.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Leverkusen Germany 1943-11-19 to 1943-11-19
434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Tholthorpe
434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Tholthorpe. Halifax BV aircraft EB 254 IP-D was shot down during an operation against targets in Leverkusen, Germany by night fighter pilot Hauptmann Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin of the 6/NJG 1, flying Bf 110 G-4 G9+GP from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield, Belgium
The Halifax crashed near Wankum, Wachtendonk, Nordrhein-Westfalen in the vicinity Monchengladbach, Germany
Wireless Operator/Air-Gunner, Sergeant HD Newey (RAFVR) was killed in action during the night fighter attack
Warrant Officer 1st Class RE Hukee (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class RH Gairns (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant RCC Hodgson (RCAF) and Warrant Officer 1st Class LE Smith (RCAF) all survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
Sergeant AV MacIntosh (RCAF) survived and was captured briefly but managed to escape and make his way to Holland, where he was hidden until liberated by Allied troops in September of 1944
Pilot Officer (then Sergeant) JLN Warren BEM (RCAF) survived, injured and evaded briefly but surrendered to be taken Prisoner of War. He later escaped, was re-captured and escaped again, evading until liberated in April 1945
There was a second 434 Squadron Halifax lost on this operation. Please aircraft serial LK 990 IP-X for additional information on this aircraft and crew
Served with No. 434 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded S. Failed to return from attack on Berlin on 28/29 January 1944. Port outer engine u/s, short of fuel on return and crew baled out, 1 killed. Crashed near Flixton, Yorks, 29.1.44
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-January-29 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin. Port outer engine u/s, short of fuel on return and crew baled out, 1 killed. 2019-08-20
Bombing Berlin Germany 1944-01-28 to 1944-01-29
434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Croft
Battle of Berlin
434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Croft. Halifax BV aircraft EB 256 WL-S was attacked by a night fighter during an operation against industial targets in Berlin, Germany. Despite the loss of the port outer engine and holed fuel tanks, the Halifax continued to the target and completed its bomb run. On the return flight, the struggling bomber made it back over the North Sea, off the coast of Filey, North Yorkshire, England. Almost out of fuel, the Halifax lost the starboard inner engine, was abandoned and crashed at Flixton, Yorkshire
Rear Gunner Pilot Officer J W R Demers (RCAF) was killed in action when his parachute failed to open
Pilot Officer M F Flewelling DFC (RCAF), Flight Sergeant E A Vigor (RCAF), Flying Officer D R Hutcheon DFC (RCAF), Pilot Officer R J Brown (RCAF), Pilot Officer R N Dobney (RAFVR), Pilot Officer S Thompson (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer J Clayton (RAFVR) all baled safely and survived
There were four other 434 Squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Halifax aircraft serials LK 649 WL-X, LK 740 WL-V, LK 916 WL-P and LL134 WL-U
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded NA*C. Groundlooped on landing after engine fire and undercarriage collapsed at Topcliffe 1.9.44
Units 428/431/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Served with No. 408 Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*R". Failed to return from attack on Berlin on 29/30 March 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 6 crew killed and 1 POW.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin, shot down by a night fighter. 6 killed and 1 POW. 2019-08-20
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-03-29 to 1943-03-30
408 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming. Halifax BII aircraft HR 654 EQ-R was shot down by night fighter pilot Oblt Paul Szameitat of the 5/NJG 3, flying Do 217N D5+SN from Schleswig airfield during an operation against targets in Berlin, Germany. The Halifax crashed near Suderschmedeby south of Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany with only one crew member surviving
Flight Lieutenant JS Acheson (RCAF) Navigator, survived to be taken as Prisoner of War
Flight Sergeant JF Barnes (RCAF), Sergeant H Davenport (RCAF), Flight Sergeant NW Roberts (RCAF), Sergeant FJ Cherry (RAFVR), Sergeant G Jennings (RAFVR) and Sergeant LSV Lewis-Stanford (RAFVR) were all killed in action
There were two 408 Squadron Halifax II aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial DT 679 EQ-Q for further information on this aircraft and crew
Served with No. 408 Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*T". Damaged by flak during mining operation to the Frisian Islands 21/22 January 1943. Landed on 2 engines, port inner & starboard inner. Failed to return from attack at Stuttgart on 11/12 March 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 4 crew evaded and 3 POWs.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-March-12 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Stuttgart, shot down by a night fighter, 4 crew evaded and 3 POWs. 2019-08-20
Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1943-03-11 to 1943-03-12
408 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming. Halifax II aircraft HR 656 EQ-T had a port side engine failure on the way to operations over Stuttgart, Germany. Despite the engine loss and resulting drop in speed, the crew flew on and successfully dropped their bomb load. Sadly, on the return flight the Halifax was attacked and shot down by night fighter pilot Hptm Otto Materne of the 4/NJG 4, crashing north of Rozieres, France
Sergeant RD Davidson (RCAF), Sergeant JA Hammond (RCAF), Flying Officer GH Lamus (RAF) and Sergeant CT Hamilton (RNZAF) all survived and became Evaders
FS DDP Leitch (RAFVR), Sergeant LS Marsden (RAF) and Flying Officer AA Stewart (RNZAF) survived and all were taken ad Prisoners of War
Collided with another aircraft during cross country, crashed near Haxby, Yorks, 7.3.44
units 408/78/1667 heavy Conversion Unit/1662Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Failed to Return, Lorient, 30.1.43
Unit 408
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax HR664
s/n
HR664
EQK Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408
Served with No. 408 Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*K". Crash landed at base after raid on Berlin, early 1943, no injuries. Had been damaged by night fighter and by flak. According to Halifax Files, crashed and burnt after take-off, Fairfield Sanitorium, York, 10.1.44
Units 408/78/1652 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Served with No. 405 (B Squadron, RCAF, coded "N". Damaged by night fighter during raid on Nurnburg, 10/11 August 1943. Abandonned due to icing at 15,000 feet, aircraft crashed at Pydew, Llandudno Junction, North Wales, and burnt, 27.10.44
Units 405/35/77/1666Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-October-27KIFA RCAF Pilot Officer Henry William Ferris 2021-08-06
Crash landed 3/4 mile northwest of Sandberge, co, Durham, after both starboard engines failed 9.8.44
Units 158/419/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Failed to Return, Essen, 30.5.43
Unit 35
last update: 2024-July-20
Bombing Wuppertal Germany 1943-05-29 to 1943-05-30
35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) RAF Graveley
Aircraft was shot down by a night fighter over Netherlands while on an operation to Wuppertal, Germany. The aircraft was abandoned and crashed near Sittard, Holland
Squadron Leader P Johnston DFC (RAF)and Sergeant FJ Jarvis (RAF) were missing, presumed killed. They have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial
Sergeant AW Cowan (RCAF) survived and evaded briefly, but was captured 1944-05-30 to join the other survivors: Pilot Officer R Wood (RCAF), FS BT Royall (RAAF), Flying Officer RG Houston (RAF )and Sergeant MT Byrne (RAF) as Prisoners of War. FS EA Roede (RAF) would evade until July before being captured in Brussels
WR Chorley notes that Pilot Officer Wood landed poorly when he baled, breaking his leg, and that he was older than the usual crewman (having lied about his age to re-join the RCAF in 1939 he was 38 years old, not the 33 on his records). His son, FS D Wood, joined the RCAF in Canada on the same day his father was taken POW, and later flew a tour of operations in 1944 as a gunner (Airforce Magazine, Vol 8, No 2, 1984)
Abandoinned at 6000 feet, crashed at Chorley, Sussex, and burnt, 9.11.44
Navigation Training Unit/405/1667 Heavy Conversion Unit/1662HCU/1656HCU
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax HR797
s/n
HR797
LQA Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Failed to return from mining mission on 12 June 1943. According to The Halifax Files, it failed to return from Dusselfdorf same date.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Failed to return from mining mission on 12 June 1943. According to The Halifax Files, it failed to return from Dusselfdorf same date.
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Engine failure on take-off for ops, ran into ditch and undercarriage collapsed, Gransden Lodge, 23.5.43
Unit 405
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax HR807
s/n
HR807
LQE Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Failed to Return, Essen, 28.5.43
Unit 405
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Essen Germany 1943-05-27 to 1943-05-28
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Halifax aircraft HR 807 was shot down at Dusseldorf, Germany during operations against Essen, Germany.
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Groundlooped on landing after rudder jammed. Gransden Lodge 18.6.43
Unit 405
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax HR809
s/n
HR809
LQX Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Minor accident 18.6.43, Struck off Charge 23.7.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Duisburg Germany 1943-04-08 to 1943-04-09
405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
Took off in Halifax Mark II (Sqn code: LQ-X) at 21:32. Target was reached at 23:00 and the load released from 15,000 feet. Starboard engine cut out just before reaching target and started again after crossing enemy coast on way home. A/C was caught in heavy flak at target and gyro toppled when evasive action was taken. A/c went into a spin and the other three engines cut. The captain then warned crew to be ready to bale out. The second pilot Pilot Officer Bisson; Flight Engineer, Sergeant Whitterton; Mid Upper Gunner, Flight Sergeant Wagner and Rear Gunner Flight Sergeant Cox baled out without waiting for orders. Captain righted a/c at 1,000 feet and three engines started up again so returned to base with the remaining four crew.
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*X". Coded "LQ*R" when damaged by flak during raid in Nurnburg on 10/11 August 1943. Lost on operation to Mannheim on 5/6 September 1943, crashed near Heidelberg.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Mannheim Germany 1943-09-05 to 1943-09-06
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Berlin
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Lancaster aircraft HR 810 lost during operations against Mannheim, Germany.
This a/c when later serving with Sqn 102, failed to return from a mission 1943-11-26.
last update: 2024-July-20
Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-07-24 to 1943-07-25
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Hamburg
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. BROTHER to Albert Benjamin McLellan. Halifax aircraft HR811 was hit by flak over enemy territory on July 25, 1943.Warrant Officer McLellan succumbed to his wounds while in the Addenbrook Hospital. Other crew members returned safely: Pilot Officer Cowan, Sergeant Culpin, Fl/Sergeant Milne, Sergeant Langley, Sergeant Mace, Sergeant Hurst
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Lost on operations, Koln, 3-4 July 1943.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-07-03 to 1943-07-04
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Halifax aircraft HR 813 went down near Le Culot, Belgium while engaged in night operations against Cologne, Germany.
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Failed to Return, Elberfield,25.6.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Elberfeld Germany 1943-06-24 to 1943-06-25
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Halifax aircraft HR 816 missing whilst making a night attack against Elberfeld, Wuppertal, Germany
Failed to Return, Peenemunde, 18.8.43
Unit 405
last update: 2024-July-20
Combat Peenemunde Germany 1943-08-17 to 1943-08-18
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Hamburg
Halifax II aircraft HR 817 LQ-C strayed south of its intended route and was shot down by flak near Flensburg during a night attack against the V-2 rocket sites at Pennemunde, Germany. The bomber crashed at Friedenshugel, Germany
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Crashed on cross country training flight 16 June 1943. Struck by lightning, encountered turbulence, broke up in flight. Crashed at Clifton Farm, Clenchwarton, 2 miles west of Kins Lynn, Norfolk, UK.
last update: 2024-September-22
Operational None 1943-06-16 to 1943-06-16
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Gransden Lodge. Halifax BII aircraft encountered severe weather conditions and turbulence on a routine cross-country training flight. The Halifax was struck by lightning and broke up in flight, crashing at Clifton Farm, Clenchwarton, 2 miles west of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England with the loss of the entire crew
Flying Officer RE Agassiz (RCAF), Flying Officer WC Davies (RCAF), FS CL Pudney GC (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant a Faulkner (RAFVR), Flying Officer RW Frewin (RAFVR), Sergeant MK Holliday (RAF) and Flight Lieutenant CD Lawson MiD (RAF) were all killed in this flying accident
Crash landed and burnt after starboard outer engine failed on take-off from Wombleton 27.5.44
Units 51/102/1659Heavy Conversion Unit/1666HCU
On 1944-05-27, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with HCU 1664/1669 at Wombleton, wrote in his diary: "Well we had the third of our usual string of three prangs to-day when QY-B "Beer" - this is the third B in a month so we are going to stop using that letter for awhile - HR834 - one of our newest & best kites with 4 brand new Merlin XXI engines in it. The SO [starboard outboard] engine cut out on takeoff just after he got airborne, it swung to the right, ploughed through the top of 4 big trees right in the middle of the bomb [storage] dump (I'm sure glad that didn't stop him or the whole dump would have gone up & I wouldn't have been writing this) then caromed of another tree to end up in the middle of a nearby farmers field where the kite broke up badly & then caught fire."
"There were 9 men in the kite & they all got out in one of the most miraculous escapes I ever expect to see, with very minor injuries. I hoped on my motor bike & was there 5 minutes after it happened to see the crew wandering around not quite knowing how they got out. I helped the rear gunner who was cut badly about the face into a truck & then it got stuck in the mud & we had to push it out. Two others had broken ankles & 3 had to be treated for minor shock. Other than that there wasn't much else the matter with them. We tried to get the fire out but it was pretty hopeless especially with all the ammunition exploding all over the place. I was using a fire extinguisher for awhile until the intense heat drove us away. An investigation later showed that an inlet valve spring broke on the B bank causing the explosive charge to blow by into the induction manifold & setting fire to the mixture coming into the cylinder. Quite a small thing to right-off an aircraft & almost the crew."
Force-landed at Lichfield after engine trouble 28.4.44
Units 405/35/1652 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-August-06
Halifax HR849
s/n
HR849
LQG Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Failed to Return, Hamburg, 3.8.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-08-02 to 1943-08-03
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Gransden Lodge
Battle of Hamburg
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Gransden Lodge. Halifax BII aircraft #HR 849 LQ-E was shot down by flak over Bremen, Germany while on an operation to Hamburg, Germany. The entire crew was lost on this, their 5th operation and the 10th bomber lost on this 4th raid against targets in Hamburg
FS WJ Crozier (RCAF), Sergeant T Brownless (RAFVR), Sergeant H Gardner (RAFVR), Sergeant AF Gregory (RAFVR), Sergeant SJ Passey (RAFVR), Sergeant ST Pitt (RAFVR) and Sergeant D Rowbotham (RAF) were all killed in action
The Battle of Hamburg, Allied Bomber Forces Against a German City in 1943 by Martin Middlebrook, Appendix 4 page 343
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Failed to Return, Montbeliard, 16.7.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Combat Montbeliard France 1943-07-15 to 1943-07-16
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
Took off from Gransden Lodge at 21:53 in Halifax Mark II (Sqn code: LQ-A Bomber Command, Pathfinder Force)
Aircraft was attacked by German Night-fighters on the homeward journey, over Tonnerre. The two starboard engines were shot up, and after loosong considerable height over 35 minutes, the Pilot ordered the crew to bail out.Crashed near Tonnerre, France
The crew came down at about 03:15 hours, just West of Beliecarde. They buried their parachutes, mae wests in thick undergrowth and pulled briar over them.. They moved South, reaching a canal, which they walked along, for about 30 minutes. As it became light, the crew hid in a wood along the canal bank. At 23.00 hours on 16 July 1943, they continued along the canal, endeavouring to find a bridge. They eventually crossed the canal and continued walking until 02:00 hours, when they again hid in woods. The crew spent all of the day, 17 July 1943, in the woods, and began to walk South at 23:00 hours., eventually reaching the outskirts of Les Bordes at 05:30 hours.. From the cover of a wood, they watched a nearby farmhouse, which they eventually approached, were taken in, fed and sheltered
Those who dared - A Comprehensive List of World War ll Allied Escapers
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Groundlooped on takeoff and undercarriage retracted to avoid another aircraft, Wombleton,8.8.44
Units 35/428/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax HR856
s/n
HR856
LQW Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*W". Named "Willie". Failed to return from raid on the Fiat Motor Works at Turin, Italy on 17 August 1943. 7 crew lost.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-August-17 Failed to Return Failed to return from raid on the Fiat Motor Works at Turin, northern Italy. 7 crew lost. 2019-08-20
Bombing Turin Italy 1943-08-16 to 1943-08-17
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Hamburg
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*W". Named "Willie". Failed to return from raid on the Fiat Motor Works at Turin, Italy on 17 August 1943. 7 crew lost.
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*K". Struck off charge, 25.1.45
Units 405/35/428/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit/1662HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax HR858
s/n
HR858
Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 408
Struck off charge, 1.11.45
Units 158/51/781652 Heavy Conversion Unit/1662HCU
last update: 2024-August-06
Struck off Charge, 1.11.45
Units 405/10/1652 Heavy conversion Unit
last update: 2024-July-20
Combat Gelsenkirchen Germany 1943-07-09 to 1943-07-10
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
N405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Pathfinder Force). Target - Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Halifax aircraft HR 860 was badly damaged by flak over the target but returned and landed safely at RAF Station, Gransden Lodge. F/O. Law was the only casualty and was killed in the aircraft by shell fragments.
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Failed to Return, Essen, 26.7.43
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Essen Germany 1943-07-25 to 1943-07-25
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Gransden Lodge
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Gransden Lodge. Halifax BII aircraft HR 863 LQ-M was shot down by Oberleutnant Paul Zorner of the 3/NJG 3, flying a Messerschmitt Bf 110 inbound for an operation against the Krupp Works armament factories in Essen, Germany. The Halifax crashed and exploded between Thesinge and Ten Boer, Groningen, Netherlands with the loss of all but one crew member
Flying Officer ME Tomczak (RCAF), Flying Officer AP McCracken (RCAF), Pilot officer MS Smyth (RCAF), Warrant officer Second Class CJV Kettley (RCAF), Flight Sergeant EK White (RCAF), and Sergeant AJ Wood (RAF) were all killed in action
The Bomb Aimer, Flight Lieutenant AJ Sochowski (RCAF) was the only crew member to escape the aircraft before it crashed and survived to become a Prisoner of War
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Gransden Lodge. Halifax BII aircraft encountered a massive electrical storm during an operation against targets in Hamburg, Germany. Battling towards the target, with ice building up on the wings, the Halifax was struck by a blinding flash of lightning. Both inboard engines lost power, the electrical system and radio destroyed, the bomber lost altitude while the pilot fought to regain control, managing to do so at an altitude of about 4000 feet. Return to the UK was out of the question and the navigator instead plotted a course for neutral Sweden. The Halifax crashed into the Baltic Sea near Kampinge Bay, Sweden shortly after the crew safely abandoned the bomber and all became interned prisoners of Sweden
In an interesting turn of fate, many of the Canadians on this and other downed crews not only survived being shot down, they also played hockey against Swedish teams while they were interned. They were well treated and housed and played hockey for several months before being repatriated to UK 1944-01-30
Amazingly, the wreckage of Halifax HR 871 was located by Swedish divers in 2011 and is now in the process of being recovered, lead by Karl Kiarsgaard, Director of the Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada), Bomber Command Museum of Canada. The plan is to have the Halifax restored as a static display at the museum, similar to Halifax NA 377, recovered by Halifax 57 Rescue from the bottom of Lake Mjosa, Norway. The aircraft was beautifully restored to static condition and is now on display at the RCAF Memorial Museum at Trenton, Ontario.
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Lost on operations to Mannheim on 10 August 1943, crashed in Belgium.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Mannheim Germany 1943-08-09 to 1943-08-10
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Hamburg
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Shot down by a night- fighter (Lt Norbert Pietrek 11. on operations to Mannheim on 10 August 1943, crashed in Belgium.
Failed to Return, Aachen, 14.7.43
Unit 405
last update: 2024-July-20
Bombing Aachen Germany 1943-07-13 to 1943-07-14
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of the Ruhr
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Target - Aachen, Germany.. Shot down by a night- fighter and disintegrated near Asten (Noord Brabant) 9 km SE of Helmond Holland.
Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*R". Lost during mining operation to the Frisian Islands off Borkum on 12/13 February 1944.
Units 405/419
last update: 2024-September-22
Minelaying Borkum Island Germany 1944-02-11 to 1944-02-12
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of Berlin
Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*R". Lost during mining operation to the Frisian Islands off Borkum on 12/13 February 1944. Five other crews were in the same area at the same time and reported no enemy activity. The loss of this crew remains a mystery. 52 Aircraft deployed incl. Units 405/419
Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*F". Failed to return from attack on the rail yards at Vaires, France on 29/30 March 1944. No survivors.
Units 35/419
last update: 2024-September-22 1944-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on the rail yards at Vaires, no survivors. 2019-08-20
Bombing Vaires-sur-Marne France 1944-03-29 to 1944-03-30
419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St. George
Battle of Berlin
76 Halifaxes and 8 Mosquitoes of 4, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at Vaires, near Paris, in bright moonlight. The bombing was very accurate and 2 ammunition trains which were present blew up; it is reported that 1,270 German troops were killed. 1 Halifax lost.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). The crew of Halifax aircraft HR 912 were engaged in a night trip to the rail yards at Vaires, France when their aircraft was hit by flak over Le Havre, France. The pilot made a crash landing in the English Channel.
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Failed to return from operation to Berlin on 31 August 1943. (The Halifax File claims it was 1.9.43) Crew member Squadron Leader G.T. Pearson taken POW, part of the team that planned and carried out the Great Escape.
last update: 2024-September-22
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-08-31 to 1943-09-01
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Berlin
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF. Failed to return from operation to Berlin on 31 August 1943. (The Halifax File claims it was 1.9.43)
Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Struck off Charge 21.2.45
Units 405/35/428/1659 Heavy Conversion Unit/1669HCU
last update: 2024-September-22
Halifax HR917
s/n
HR917
LQG Handley Page Ltd B/GR.Mk.II Merlin XX/22
Known Squadron Assignments: 405
Failed to Return, Hamburg, 3.8.43
Unit 405
last update: 2024-July-20
Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-08-02 to 1943-08-03
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Hamburg
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Halifax aircraft HR 917 failed to return from a night raid on Hamburg, Germany. Six RAF members of the crew, Flight Lieutenant H.W.J. Dare, P/Os J.R.F. Ratcliffe, K.C. Rigby, Sergeants E. Darbyshire, W. Hutchison, and D.A. Thomas, were also killed.
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*G". Shot down, probably by night fighter, crashed north of Haldensleben, NNW of Magdeburg en route to Berlin on 23 August 1943.
last update: 2024-September-22 1943-August-23 Accident Crash Crashed north of Haldensleben, NNW of Magdeburg en route to Berlin. 2019-08-20
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-08-23 to 1943-08-24
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Berlin
Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*G". Shot down, probably by night fighter, crashed north of Haldensleben, NNW of Magdeburg en route to Berlin on 23 August 1943.
Failed to Return, Berlin, 24.8.43, crashed at Sandhammaren, Sweden
Unit 405
last update: 2024-July-20
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-08-23 to 1943-08-24
405 (PFF) Sqn (RCAF) Gransden Lodge
Battle of Berlin
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Gransden Lodge, Halifax II aircraft HR 923 LQ-V on a raid against targets in Berlin, Germany, was attacked by an Me109 fighter and badly shot up after completing its bomb-run. Short of fuel due to punctured fuel tanks and severely damaged, the Halifax diverted to Sweden, ditching south of Sandhammaren lighthouse, near Ystad, Sweden
Warrant Officer 1st Class H Smith (RCAF), Pilot Officer D P Davies (RCAF), Sergeant L F Cassidy (RCAF), Sergeant J S Gates (RCAF), Sergeant J H Flick (RCAF), Sergeant J C Catling (RAF) and Sergeant T O'Toole (RAF) were all safe after the ditching and were interned in Sweden. The crew were very well treated and even travelled around Sweden to play hockey against Swedish teams. They played 24 games before they were repatriated to England, 1944-03-16
Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*D". Also with No. 428 Squadron, RCAF. Struck off Charge 1.11.45
Units 35/419/428/1666 Heavy Conversion Unit
last update: 2024-September-22