6 Bomber Group September 15/16, 1943
63 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429 and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the Dunlop rubber factory at Montlucon. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 10,000 feet, releasing 116,000 lbs of high explosives and 228,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused to the complex. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
MONTLUCON
369 aircraft of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups - 209 Halifaxes, I 20 Stirlings, 40 Lancasters. 5 American B-17s also took part. 2 Halifaxes and 1Stirling lost.
This was a moonlit raid on the Dunlop rubber factory at Montlucon in Central France. The Pathfinders marked tho target nccurutely nncl the Master Bomber, Wing Communder D, F, E, C, Deane, brought the Main Force in well to carry out some bombing. Every building in the factory was hit and a large fire was started. This appears to be the last occasion on which the Pathfinders used the Master Bomber technique until the spring of 1944. No report of the raid is available from France. source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax Mk V, NK 913. Sqn code: NA-N , took off from Middleton St George at 19:58 on an operation to Montlucon France.
Shot down (means not found) and crash landed at Cerilly, France
POWs: Pilot Officer Edward Norman Bell RCAF J/21158 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Flying Officer Harry Dereniuk RCAF J/16840 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Pilot Officer Richard Oliver Malins RAF POW Stalag 357 Kopernikus. W/Cdr Donald William Mackay Smith RAF POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria.
Evaders: F/Lt J M Forman RCAF J/15236 Evader. F/Lt E B Mason RCAF J/7777 Evader. Pilot Officer Charles Heyworth RAF died later of his injuries Evader, Pilot Officer J M Nelmes RCAF R/92464 Evader.
