6 Bomber Group May 24/25, 1944
30 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, and 433 Squadrons on an attack of the 2 rail yards at Aachen. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 810,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, one rail yard was severely damaged with some damage to the others.
While some of the group attacked Aachen, 45 Halifaxes from 426, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the Coastal Gun Batteries at Trouville. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 7,500 feet, releasing 421,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was successful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
158 Squadron RAF (Strength in unity) RAF Lissett. Halifax BIII aircraft LW 720 NP-W was shot down by a Heinkel He 219 A-0 night fighter flown by Major Hans Karlewski of the 2/NJG 1, just after dropping the bomb load during a raid against targets in Aachen, Germany. The Halifax crashed 30 km North of Aachen near Durboslar, Germany with the loss of three aircrew
Sergeant D Davies (RAFVR), Sergeant WM Rivers (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer J M Roberts (RAFVR) were killed in action
Flight Lieutenant W C Graham (RCAF), Sergeant A R Brice (RAFVR), Sergeant C Weeks (RAFVR) and Sergeant J H Wilson (RAFVR) all survived to become Prisoners of War
There were four other 158 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation: LV 918 NP-O, LW 118 NP-X, HX 320 NP-A and LW 653 NP-T
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
158 Squadron Association - Personnel