6 Bomber Group March 15/16, 1944
29 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 101 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadron on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 64,000 lbs of high explosives and 402,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, some damage was caused.
While most of the crews went to Stuttgart, 54 Halifaxes from 419, 428,431, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Amiens.The crews were over the target at between 8,000 and 13,000 feet, releasing566,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
614 County of Glamorgan Squadron (Codaf I geisio) Foggia/Celone airfield, Italy. Halifax B Mk II aircraft BB 382 Q crashed returning from a bombing operation against the rail marshalling yards at Sophia, Bulgaria. The mission was plagued with severe weather and icing conditions resulting in the loss of multiple aircraft, including Halifax BB 382 which crashed near San Nicandro, Garganico, Italy
Flying Officer Henry Calvin Chambers Read (RCAF), Flying Officer Donald Leonard Smith (RCAF) and Sergeant John Samuel Boyce (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Warrant Officer Class 2 D L Murray (RCAF), Sergeant G D Baxter (RAF) both survived with injuries and Sergeant A E Haynes (RAF) survived, safe
As was common practice among bomber squadrons on missions in the Mediterranean, 614 Squadron typically did not use a mid-upper air gunner and the top turret was sometimes removed for better aerodynamic efficiency
Three other 614 Squadron Halifax II aircraft were lost returning from this operation due to the extreme weather, BB 415 V, BB 446 T and JN 890 R
Some confusion in various websites exists regarding the crew list for Halifax BB 382 Q but the correct crew list as well as the other 614 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation were confirmed through the 614 Squadron ORB, AIR27/2122, pages 39, 40, 41 and 47
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
