6 Bomber Group May 24/25, 1944
30 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, and 433 Squadrons on an attack of the 2 rail yards at Aachen. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 810,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, one rail yard was severely damaged with some damage to the others.
While some of the group attacked Aachen, 45 Halifaxes from 426, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the Coastal Gun Batteries at Trouville. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 7,500 feet, releasing 421,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was successful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft HX 352 AL-L missing during operations against rail yards in Aachen, Germany. Outward-bound, the aircraft was intercepted and shot down by the night fighter crew of Hauptmann Struning & Oberleutnant Apel of the 3/NJG 1, from Venlo airfield in the Netherlands in Heinkel He 219 A-0 G9+EL
The bomber crashed at Gellik, Lanaken, Limburg, Belgium
Pilot Officer JI MacDonald (RCAF), Pilot Officer JL Michell (RCAF)(USA), Flying Officer D McKenzie (RCAF), Sergeant JI Jolley (RAF), and A.N. Smith (RAF) were also killed. One Canadian, Sergeant HD LaPointe (RCAF) survived and was taken Prisoner of War
There were three 429 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LW124 AL-N and LW137 AL-K for additional information on these aircraft and crews
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
"Belgians Remember Them": RAF aircraft's crash sites: Gellick
5f14544e3b3c4f0791fec445_NCA1944
