6 Bomber Group March 24/25, 1944
23 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 90 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 19,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 48,000 lbs of high explosives and 409,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, there was severely high winds and the attack was scattered. This was another terrible night as 72 crews failed to return due to being blown off course and over heavy flak defenses. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certas) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LW 574 ZL-J failed to return from a night attack against targets in Berlin, Germany
Homeward-bound, the Halifax was struck by heavy flak at 20,000 feet and crashed at Ahaus, Germany
Warrant Officer Class 2 AJ Young (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 AE Yaworski (RCAF), Sergeant RA McBeath (RCAF), Sergeant JL Jette (RCAF) and Sergeant T King Rigby (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Warrant Officer Class 1 JJL Hamel (RCAF) and Warrant Officer Class 1 HR Armstrong (RCAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
There were three 427 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LK 752 ZL-V and LW 577 ZL-K for additional information
Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock pages 236,309
July I 2020 I RCAF 420 Snowy Owl
{Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
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