Halifax MZ372 B.Mk.III - Bombing Kiel Germany - 1944-08-16 to 1944-08-17
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-08-16
Completion Date: 1944-08-17
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Kiel Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Croft
Take Off Time: 21.23
Squadron Code: SE Y
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

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)

348 aircraft - 195 Lancasters, 144 Halifaxes, 9 Mosquitoes. 3 Halifaxes and 2 Lan¬casters lost. This raid was only partially successful. The local report shows that serious damage was caused to the docks area and to many of the local shipbuilding firms, but it also stated that a large number of bombs fell outside the town, particularly in the Suchsdorf area to the north-west. 6 people were killed and 33 injured.

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

Halifax BIII aircraft MZ 372 SE-Y was shot down by a night fighter into the Baltic Sea returning from an attack against the dock area facilities and shipping in Kiel, Germany

The entire crew was lost

Flying Officer TH Dahle (RCAF), Flying Officer CF O'Donnell (RCAF)(USA), Pilot Officer J Faragher (RCAF), and Sergeant SE Crawley (RAFVR) were all killed in action

These crew members were recovered and they are buried in cemeteries in Germany

Pilot Officer DE Snell (RCAF), Pilot Officer GE Gemliquet (RCAF) and Flight Lieutenant HDF MacAllister (RCAF) were missing, presumed killed in action

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

General RAF Commands