Halifax RG347 B/Met.Mk.III - Ferry Flight - 1945-02-27 to 1945-02-27
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1945-02-27
Completion Date: 1945-02-27
Mission: Ferry Flight
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: Leeming
Take Off Time: 12.40
Squadron Code: ZL G
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group February 27, 1945

102 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 85 Lancasters from 419, 424, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Mainz. The crews were over the target at between 15,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 534,000 lbs of high explosives and 891,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered, but severe damage was caused Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

458 aircraft - 311 Halifaxes, 131 Lancaster, 16 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 groups, 1 Halifax and 1 Mosquito lost.

Mainz was covered by cloud and the bombing was aimed at sky-markers dropped on Oboe. No results were seen by the bomber crews but the bombing caused severe destruction in the central and eastern districts of Mainz; this was the city's worst raid of the war. 1,545 tons of bombs were dropped. 5,670 buildings were destroyed, including most of the historic buildings in the Altstadt, but the industrial district was also badly hit. At least 1,122 people were killed; other accounts say r,200. The 1,122 figure was made up of: 647 women, 437 men, 5 children, 21 servicemen and· 12 foreigners; most of the city's children had probably been evacuated. Among the dead were 41 nuns in a convent which was bombed; there were only 3 survivors. This was the last heavy raid on Mainz. The city's total number of air-raid deaths in 14 major R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. raids and several minor raids numbered 2,482.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Halifax B/Met. Mk. III s/n RG347 and coded ZL*G. Was lost on the 27th of February, 1945. The aircraft commenced its take off at 12:40 hours from R.C.A.F. Station Leeming, Yorkshire for a daylight op against Mainz, Germany. Prior to lift-off the starboard tire blew. Control of the aircraft was lost resulting in a crash. The bombs exploded and destroyed the aircraft. Sadly six of the seven- man crew were killed. The only survivor was the tail gunner Flight Sergeant J. H. MacKachern. He was rushed to the R.A.F. hospital at Northallerton. Only one aircraft had gotten airborne before the accident which caused the runway to become un-serviceable.

The aircraft was actually on loan to No. 429 'Bison' (B) Squadron from No. 427 'Lion (B) Squadron for the operation. Both squadrons were based at Leeming.

source: Chris Charland

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