6 Bomber Group August 16/17, 1944
144 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 434 squadron were ordered to attack the port city of Kiel. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 310,000 lbs of high explosives and 545,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports the dock area and ship-building firms were damaged.
While some of the group was attacking Kiel, 419 and 428 sent 27 Lancasters on an attack at Stettin. The crews were over the target at between 17,000and 18,000 feet, releasing 50,000 lbs of high explosives and 150,000 lbs of incendiaries on the port and dock area. According to reports, it was an accurate attack.
While most of the group was off to Kiel and Stettin, 18 Halifaxes from 429 and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Kiel Bay.The crews were over the garden at 14,000 feet, sowing 54@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
420 Snowy Owl Squadron (Pugnamus Finitum) RAF Tholthorpe. Halifax BIII aircraft MZ 687 PT-L was missing after a raid against the port area and shipping in Kiel, Germany. Homeward-bound, the aircraft was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Arnold Brinkmann of 8/NJG 3 and crashed into the North Sea
There was a single survivor from this crew
Flying Officer Frances Wilfred Moffit (RCAF), Warrant Officer 2nd Class Dennis Bud Herman Lorenz (RCAF) and Pilot Officer Charles Pittman Surles (RCAF)(USA) were all killed in action These aircrew members remains were recovered and are buried in Germany
Pilot Officer Robert Henry Davies (RCAF), Flying Officer Antonio George Roski (RCAF), Pilot Officer Kenneth George Boucock (RCAF), Flying Officer Dalton Irvon Block (RCAF) and Flying Officer Gordon Featherstone Pritchard (RCAF) were all missing, presumed killed in action
The missing have no known graves and are all commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial
Flight Engineer Sergeant Edwin Alfred James Proud (RAFVR), the lone survivor of his crew spent 2 days adrift in a dinghy before being picked up and becoming a Prisoner of War
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 4 24 July - 15 October by Theo Boiten page 45
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
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Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
