Halifax DT630 B/GR.Mk.II - Bombing Hamburg Germany - 1943-02-03 to 1943-02-04
Squadron: 419 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1943-02-03
Completion Date: 1943-02-04
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Hamburg Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Middleton St. George
Take Off Time: 18.34
Squadron Code: VR T
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Sleen, Holland
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group February 3/4, 1943

25 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 17 Wellingtons from 420, 425, and 426 Squadrons on an attack at Hamburg. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 22,500 feet, releasing 36,000 lbs of high explosives and 96,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered. The weather was poor, with icing forcing many crews to return to base. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). As Halifax aircraft DT 630 crossed the French coast, en route to the target Hamburg, Germany, it was attacked from below by a German FW-190 fighter aircraft. The Halifax was raked with cannon shells along the entire length of the fuselage killing the pilot and setting fire to the incendiaries in the bomb-bay. The navigator gave the signal to bail out but only three of the crew, FS Milton, Sergeants W.N. Garnett, and E.R. Marquand got out. Garnett and Marquand were taken Prisoners of War when they landed and Milton was either an Evader or was taken Prisoner of War. Pilot Officer J.D. MacKenzie, W/O R. H. Hill, (BROTHER to Howard Stephenson Hill), Sergeant W.P. Duthie, and W/O L.A. Gonnett were killed in the aircraft.

263 aircraft- 84 Halifaxes, 66 Stirlings, 62 Lancasters, 51 Wellingtons - provided by all groups on the first zoo-plus raid for more than 2 weeks.

Icing conditions in cloud over the North Sea caused many aircraft to return early. The Pathfinders were unable to produce concentrated and sustained marking on H2S and the bombing of the Main Force was scattered. The results in Hamburg were no better than the attack by a much smaller force a few nights earlier. 45 fires classed as 'large' were started, including 2 in various oil depots and I in a warehouse near the Elbe waterfront. 55 people were killed and 40 injured. The German night fighters operated effectively, despite the bad weather, and 16 bombers were lost - 8 Stirlings, 4 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons and I Lancaster, 6· 1 per cent of the force.

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