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)
429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LK 805 AL-H missing during a night raid against targets in Berlin, Germany. The cause of loss and crash site for this Halifax was not established
Pilot Officer SA Wick (RCAF), Flying Officer JH Warkentin (RCAF), Pilot Officer LJ Keely (RCAF) and Sergeant H Hull (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Sergeant RL Kift (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 RS Clendinneng (RCAF) andWarrant Officer S Bousted (RAFVR) survived to be taken as Prisoners of War
There were three 429 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LW 688 AL-J and LV 914 AL-V for additional information
Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock pages 249,267,355
July I 2020 I RCAF 420 Snowy Owl
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
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