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 III aircraft LW 124 AL-N missing during night operations against Aachen, Germany. Homeward-bound, the aircraft was intercepted and shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer of the Stab IV/NJG 1,flying in Bf 110 G-4 G9+DF. The aircraft was abandoned and crashed at Erica farm between Tilburg and Dongen, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Pilot Officer RF Christie (RCAF), Pilot Officer WM Stewart (RCAF) and Pilot Officer MA Fernandez de Leon (RCAF)(Gautemala) were all killed in action
Pilot Officer KH Jackson (RAFVR) was missing, presumed killed in action. Pilot Officer Jackson has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Flying Officer RB Rudd(RCAF) and Flight Sergeant H Dawson (RAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War. Warrant Officer Class 2 LM Shelter (RCAF) survived evaded until being captured 1944-06-15 in Antwerp to became a Prisoner of War
There were three 429 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HX 352 AL-L and LW 137 AL-K for additional information
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca
5f14544e3b3c4f0791fec445_NCA1944
