6 Bomber Group June 16/17, 1944
63 Halifaxes from 426, 431, 432, and 434 squadrons were joined by 37 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 squadrons on an attack of the oil plant at Sterkrade-Holten. The crews were over the target between17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 878,000 lbs of high explosives through thick cloud. This attack was not very successful due to the cloud cover and the fact that the German fighter controller had his fighters orbit a beacon not far from the flight path. Many crews failed to return for that reason.
While part of the group went to Sterkrade, 101 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, and 433 squadrons were ordered to attack a V-1 site in the Pas de Calais area called Sautrecourt. The crews were over the target between 14,000 and 17,000 feet, releasing 760,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was well hit. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
321 aircraft- 162 Halifaxes, 147 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups to attack the synthetic-oil plant despite a poor weather forecast.
The target was found to be covered by thick cloud and the Pathfinder markers quickly disappeared. The Main Force crews could do little but bomb on to the diminishing glow of the markers in the cloud. R.A.F. photographic reconnaissance and German reports agree that most of the bombing was scattered, although some bombs did fall in the plant area, but with little effect upon production. 21 Germans and 6 foreigners were killed and 18 houses in the vicinity were destroyed
.Unfortunately, the route of the bomber stream passed near a German night-fighter beacon at Bocholt, only 30 miles from Sterkrade. The German controller had chosen this beacon as the holding point for his night fighters. Approximately 21 bombers were shot down by fighters and a further Io by Flak. 22 of the lost aircraft were Halifaxes, these losses being 13 ·6 per cent of the 162 Halifaxes on the raid. 77 Squadron, from Full Sutton near York, lost 7 of its 23 Halifaxes taking part in the raid.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax III aircraft NA 514 SE-B was intercepted and shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Josef Nabrich of the 3/NJG 1, (flying a Heinkel He 219 A-O from Venlo airfield, Netherlands) during an operation to bomb the synthetic-oil plants at Sterkrade and Holden, GermanyThe Halifax crashed at Grote Heide, Nistelrode, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Flying Officer GH Blatchford (RCAF), Flying Officer ILE "Harry" Gould (RCAF) and Flying Officer SW Lough (RCAF) were killed in action
Sergeant T "Moose" Masdin (RCAF), Sergeant DH "Panama" Hattey (RCAF) and Sergeant J Kennedy (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
Flying Officer RE Carter MiD (RCAF) survived and evaded with the assistance of the Dutch underground but he, as well as two other evaders, Flight Lieutenant RA Walker DFC (RAF) and Flying Officer JS Nott (RAAF) were caught by the Nazi SD (an agency of the SS) and murdered on July 9,1944 at Tilburg in the Netherlands
A British Military Court charged 10 individuals with this war crime in 1946 and four were hanged September 5, 1947
The remains of these three airmen were never recovered. Flying Officer Carter has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial
Mention in Despatches - 431 Squadron (deceased) - Award effective 13 June 1946 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 726/46 dated 26 July 1946. Detail provided by H Halliday, Orleans, Ontario
There were four 431 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation on this date. Please see Fairless, AG for Halifax MZ 520 SE-O, Johnson, EO for Halifax LK 837 SE-L and Johnstone, MM for Halifax MZ 537 SE-L
Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock, pages 202, 262, 507
16/17.06.1944 431 Squadron Halifax III NA514 Fg. Off...