6 Bomber Group March 11/12, 1943
35 Halifaxes from 405, 408, and 419 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were over the target between 12,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 195,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, this attack was not successful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) Halifax BII aircraft BB 212 LQ-U lost on bombing mission against targets in Stuttgart, Germany, shot down by a night fighter pilot Lt Johannes Engels of the 10/NJG 4, flying a Bf 110 F-4 from Mainz-Finthen airfield. The Halifax was attacked before reaching target. The Rear Air-Gunner Sergeant R Moore (RAFVR) was killed in action but the remaining crew bailed before the aircraft crashed at Altneudorf, 10 km NE of Heidelberg, Germany The surviving crew members, Flight Lieutenant GT Chretein DFM (RCAF), Sergeant AC Collin (RCAF), Flying Officer GT Carlon DFM (RCAF), Flying Officer JS Probert (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class HG Reynolds (RCAF) and Warrant Officer 1st Class AE Danes (RCAF) all survived to be taken as Prisoners of War
There were three other 405 Squadron Halifax II bombers lost on this date on this operation. Please see aircraft serials DT 745 LQ-V, BB 250 LQ-E and Shockley and W 7803 LQ-B for further information on these aircraft and crews
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB