6 Bomber Group May 8/9, 1944
13 Lancasters from 408 squadron were joined by 59 Halifaxes from 420, 425, 426, 431, and 432 squadron on an attack of the rail yards at Haine St. Pierre. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 8,500 feet, releasing 717,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports the bombing was concentrated and severe damage was caused to the rail yards and locomotive shops.
While the above crews went to Haine St. Pierre, 22 Halifaxes from 424 and 433 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Lorient, St. Nazaire, St. Malo, Morlaix and Brest. The crews were over the gardens at 15,000 feet, sowing 44@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
426 Thunderbird Squadron (On Wings of Fire), RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Halifax aircraft MZ 598 OW-J was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Georg Fengler of Stab IV/NJG1 returning from a night operation against the rail yards at Haine St Pierre, Belgium. The bomber is believed to have crashed into the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands
Pilot Officer Kenneth Lloyd Schmidt (RCAF), Pilot Officer Vernon Mudford (RCAF), Pilot Officer Edwin Earle Fairgrieve Park (RCAF), Pilot Officer Arthur Leslie Horton (RCAF), Pilot Officer Albert Edward Jackson (RAFVR), Pilot Officer Kenneth George Marris (RAFVR), and 1st Lieutenant John Kenneth Smith (USAAF) were all missing, presumed killed in action. The missing have no known grave but are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Pilot Officer Geoffrey Horace Congreve (RAFVR) survived and became an Evader
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 2, 16 March - 11 May by Theo Boiten, page 122
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
