Halifax LK705 B/Met.Mk.V - Minelaying Bay of Kiel Germany - 1944-02-25 to 1944-02-26
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1944-02-25
Completion Date: 1944-02-26
Mission: Minelaying
Operation: Battle of Berlin
Target City: Bay of Kiel Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Croft
Take Off Time: 20.27
Squadron Code: SE X
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: 10 km N of Holsted Denmark.
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group February 25/26, 1944

19 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 44 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 432, and 433 Squadrons, on an attack at Augsburg. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 76,000 lbs of high explosives and 184,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was clear and severe damage was caused.

While the above crews went to Augsburg, 50 Halifaxes from 419, 428,429, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to KielBay. The crews were over the garden at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, sowing 78@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

Halifax aircraft LK 705 missing whilst engaged in a night mine-laying operation in the Baltic Sea. P/Os E.G. Howey, A.M. Munro, Sergeant L.T. Wardell, W/O 2nd Class G.E.Stevenson, Sergeants R.L. Bates (RAF), A.D Macgillivray and E.R. Metcalf (RAF) were killed.

Shot down by a night fighter of IV./NJG 3, while flying at 18,000 feet and crashed at 23:43 in the Klelund plantation, Denmark. All 7 crew were killed.

General RAF Commands