6 Bomber Group July 3/4 1943
42 Halifaxes from 408, 419, 427, and 428 Squadrons were joined by 34 Wellingtons 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Cologne. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 205,000 lbs of incendiaries and 104,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and serious damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming. Halifax II aircraft JB 913 EQ-F was shot down during an operation against targets in Cologne, Germany by night fighter pilot Hauptmann Walter Milius of the Stab III NJG 3 (detached to 2/NJG 1), flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Gilze-Rijen airfield, the Netherlands
The Halifax crashed at Tessenderloo, Limburg, Belgium
Flying Officer RH Speller (RCAF), Sergeant TN Brown (RCAF), Flying Officer T Lowrey (RAF), Sergeant R Evans (RAF) and Flying Officer VWG Foster (RAF) all survived and became Prisoners of War
Sergeant EB Dungey DFC (RCAF) and Sergeant AT Bowlby DFM (RCAF) survived and became Evaders. Helped by brave locals and Belgian, Dutch and French Resistance members both Sergeant Bowlby and Sergeant Dungey eventually made their way to Gibraltar and returned to the UK
There were two 408 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial JB 796 EQ-C for additional information
"Belgians Remember Them": RAF aircraft's crash sites: Tessenderlo
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB