6 Bomber Group February 19/20, 1944
31 Lancaster from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 98 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Leipzig. The crews were over the target at between 19,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 112,000 lbs of high explosives and 422,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered. The crews were met by strong winds and fierce fighter attacks. 18 crews, or 128 men failed to return from operations. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
823 aircraft- 56 I Lancasters, 255 Halifaxes, 7 Mosquitoes. 78 aircraft- 44 Lancasters and 34 Halifaxes - lost, 9·5 per cent of the force. The Halifax loss rate was 13·3 per cent of those dispatched and 14·9 per cent of those Halifaxes which reached the enemy coast after 'early returns' had turned back. The Halifax IIs and Vs were permanently withdrawn from operations to Germany after this raid.
This was an unhappy raid for Bomber Command. The German controllers only sent part of their force of fighters to the Kiel minelaying diversion. When the main bomber force crossed the Dutch coast, they were met by a further part of the German fighter force and those German fighters which had been sent north to Kiel hurriedly returned. The bomber stream was thus under attack all the way to the target. There were further difficulties at the target because winds were not as forecast and many aircraft reached the Leipzig area too early and had to orbit and await the Pathfinders. 4 aircraft were lost by collision and approximately 20 were shot down by Flak.
Leipzig was cloud-covered and the Pathfinders had to use sky-marking. The raid appeared to be concentrated in its early stages but scattered later. There are few details of the effects of the bombing. No report is available from Germany and there was no immediate post-raid reconnaissance flight. When photographs were eventually taken, they included the results of an American raid which took place on the following day
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax V aircraft LK 964 SE-T failed to return, lost on night bombing operations against the aircraft assembly plants at Leipzig, Germany, cause not determined
Pilot Officer LG Rowell (RCAF), Flying Officer JH Cunningham (RCAF), Pilot Officer JD Bates (RCAF), Pilot Officer EH Cutler (RCAF), Pilot Officer J Howell (RCAF), Pilot Officer SJ Vernon (RCAF) and FS DJ Rawlinson (RAFVR) were killed
There was a second 431 Sqn Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Sonshine, M for casualty list on LK 905 SE-D. The Halifax loss rate was 14.9% on this operation. As a result, Halifax Mks II and V were permanently withdrawn from service over Germany
Daily Operations-6 Bomber Group