A6 Bomber Group July 13/14, 1943
48 Halifaxes from 408, 419, 427, and 428 Squadrons were joined by 21 Wellingtons from 429 and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Aachen. The crews were over the target at between 15,000 and 20,500 feet, releasing 224,000 lbs of incendiaries and 94,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Events
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming, Halifax II aircraft JD 174 EQ-A outbound on a raid to Auchen, Germany was attacked by a night fighter. The attack left the bomber's hydraulic system inoperable, with the bomb doors unable to open and the landing gear unable to be lowered. The stricken aircraft was able to limp back to England but then, with a full bomb load and inoperable landing gear, the crew had little choice but to bale out. The crew and then the pilot abandoned the Halifax which then crashed and exploded in the Arden Woods between the villages of Hawnby and Kepwick, Yorkshire, England. There were no air crew losses
Pilot Bain, who broke his leg on landing, was accosted by the family whose land the aircraft had crashed on, who were suspicious of his accent, and dragged him painfully at shotgun point to their house where he was able to convince them he was an ally. He was later awarded a DFC for this sortie. The rest of the crew, Labow, Haugen, Wood, Magson, Acorn and Connolly (RAF) survived.
Aircraft accidents on the North Yorkshire Moors
Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca
Aircraft accidents on the North Yorkshire Moors.
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