6 Bomber Group November 18, 1943
4 Lancasters from 432 squadron were ordered on a sea search. They were unsuccessful and returned to base. This was the first time 432 had been out with their Lancaster IIs since converting from the Wellington. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
395 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes, 114 Stirlings, 33 Lancasters - of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups were on this major diversionary raid. German fighters successfully engaged the bomber force and 23 aircraft- 12 Halifaxes, 9 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters -were lost, y8 per cent of the force.
Cloud was present over the target area and much of the bombing was scattered. Mannheim reports that the majority of the damage was in the north of the city. 4 industrial buildings were destroyed and 11 seriously damaged, the most serious being the Daimler-Benz car factory which suffered a 90 per cent production loss for 'an unknown period'. 325 other buildings were destroyed and 335 seriously damaged, including 2 churches and 3 schools. 4 army barracks and the airfield at Sandhofen were all hit. 21 people were killed, 154 injured and 7,500 bombed out. Many bombs fell outside the city and the local report lists much damage and loss at farms.This was the last major raid on the much-bombed city of Mannheim for 15 months.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Halifax BII aircraft LW 328 VR-L went down shortly after leaving the target, hit by heavy flak. FS Sedgwick stayed at the controls to allow his crew to bale out and was the only casualty when the bomber crashed at Frechen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
The aircraft was at a low altitude when all four engines cut out, all six members of the crew were able to get out because of FS Sedgwick's sacrifice. His crew recommended him for a medal
Sergeant N McVicar (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant J Pappas (RCAF), Sergeant DM Johnston (RCAF), Flying Officer ER Hoe (RCAF), Sergeant KW Dingley (RAF) and Sergeant EK Canny (RAF) survived and were all taken as Prisoners of War
There was a second 419 Squadron Halifax II lost on this operation. Please see Smith, JS for information on Halifax LW 239 VR-K
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