6 Bomber Group April 18/19, 1944
25 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 112 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at Noisy Le Sec. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing 1,450,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports there was severe damage to the rail yards, but the bombing also spilled into the town causing civilian casualties.
While part of the group went to Noisy Le Sec, 42 Halifaxes from 419,428, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Rostock, Fakse Bay, and Kiel Bay. The crews were over the garden at 15,000 feet, sowing 86@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
432 Leaside Squadron (Saevitir Ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax III aircraft LW 643 QO-E was lost during a night operation against the rail marshalling yards at Noisy-le-Sec, France
The aircraft may have collided with another Halifax over the target and crashed just after the bomb load was dropped
Pilot Officer AM McGregor (RCAF), Flying Officer ACG Mercer (RCAF), Pilot Officer JB Bell (RCAF), Pilot Officer WH Kent (RAFVR), Sergeant A McCluskie (RAFVR), and Flying Officer AH Redman (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Sergeant SD Pett (RAF) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
Sergeant GJ Shaughnessy (RCAF) survived and became an Evader
Research of France-Crashes 39-45
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
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