Halifax MZ520 B.Mk.III - Bombing Sterkrade Germany - 1944-06-16 to 1944-06-17
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-06-16
Completion Date: 1944-06-17
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Battle of Normandy
Target City: Sterkrade Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Croft
Take Off Time: 22.59
Squadron Code: SE O
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Biezenmortel, Holland.
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group June 16/17, 1944

63 Halifaxes from 426, 431, 432, and 434 squadrons were joined by 37 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 squadrons on an attack of the oil plant at Sterkrade-Holten. The crews were over the target between17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 878,000 lbs of high explosives through thick cloud. This attack was not very successful due to the cloud cover and the fact that the German fighter controller had his fighters orbit a beacon not far from the flight path. Many crews failed to return for that reason.

While part of the group went to Sterkrade, 101 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, and 433 squadrons were ordered to attack a V-1 site in the Pas de Calais area called Sautrecourt. The crews were over the target between 14,000 and 17,000 feet, releasing 760,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was well hit. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

321 aircraft- 162 Halifaxes, 147 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups to attack the synthetic-oil plant despite a poor weather forecast.

The target was found to be covered by thick cloud and the Pathfinder markers quickly disappeared. The Main Force crews could do little but bomb on to the diminishing glow of the markers in the cloud. R.A.F. photographic reconnaissance and German reports agree that most of the bombing was scattered, although some bombs did fall in the plant area, but with little effect upon production. 21 Germans and 6 foreigners were killed and 18 houses in the vicinity were destroyed

.

Unfortunately, the route of the bomber stream passed near a German night-fighter beacon at Bocholt, only 30 miles from Sterkrade. The German controller had chosen this beacon as the holding point for his night fighters. Approximately 21 bombers were shot down by fighters and a further Io by Flak. 22 of the lost aircraft were Halifaxes, these losses being 13 ·6 per cent of the 162 Halifaxes on the raid. 77 Squadron, from Full Sutton near York, lost 7 of its 23 Halifaxes taking part in the raid.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Halifax III aircraft MZ 520 SE-O outbound on a raid to bomb the synthetic oil plants at Sterkrade/Holten, Germany, was intercepted and shot down by the night fighter crew of Feldwebel Morlock & Feldwebel Soika of the 3/NJG 1, from Venlo airfield (Netherlands) flying a Heinkel He 219 A-O

The Halifax exploded in midair, the blast ejecting Sergeant L Ellis (RAFVR), the only survivor of the crew. The aircraft debris fell at Biezenmortel, some 9 km NE from the centre of Tilburg, Netherlands

Pilot Officer AG Fairless (RCAF), Pilot Officer GO Massicotte (RCAF), Pilot Officer DC McPherson (RCAF), Pilot Officer JM McPherson (RCAF), Pilot Officer HG Robinson (RCAF) and Sergeant E Guinan (RAFVR) were all killed in action as a result of the night fighter attack and explosion

Sergeant Ellis survived to be taken as a Prisoner of War

There does not seem to be any relationship link between the two McPhersons

There were three other 431 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this same operation on this date. Please see Johnson, EO for information about Halifax LK 837 SE-L, Carter, RE for information on Halifax NA 514 SE-B and Johnstone MM for information on Halifax MZ 537 SE-L

unvetted Source search T/R number-Studiegroep Loochtoorlog 1939-1945

unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network

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