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 BIII aircraft LW 137 AL-K went down near Emilia Polder, Holland during night operations against rail yards in Aachen, Germany. The bomber was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Karl-Heinz Scherfling of the 12/NJG 1, who was flying a Bf 110 G-4 from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield in Belgium
Pilot Officer AJ Murphy (RCAF), Pilot Officer JRH Cochrane (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant T Rawlinson DFC (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer A Bates (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Pilot Officer AC Shierlaw (RCAF) Pilot Officer WJ Bush (RAF) and Pilot Officer GL Caunt (RAF) survived and evaded for a time but all were captured and taken as Prisoners of War
There were three 429 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HX352 AL-L and LW124 AL-N for additional information
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
429 Squadron Halifax III LW137 AL:K Flt Lt Thomas Rawlinson DFC RAF...
5f14544e3b3c4f0791fec445_NCA1944
Neergestorte vliegtuigen 1940-1945 in Made en Dremmelen - BHIC
