6 Bomber Group December 3/4, 1943
19 Lancasters from 408, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 78 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Leipzig. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 178,000 lbs of high explosives and 280,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and serious damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
527 aircraft - 307 Lancasters, 220 Halifaxes. Despite the loss of two pressmen on the previous night, the well-known American broadcaster, Ed Murrow, flew on the raid with a 619 Squadron Lancaster crew. He returned safely.
The bomber force took another direct route towards Berlin before turning off to bomb Leipzig. German fighters were in the bomber stream and scoring successes before the turn was made but most of them were then directed to Berlin when the Mosquito diversion opened there. There were few fighters over Leipzig and only 3 bombers are believed to have been lost in the target area, 2 of them being shot down by Flak. A relatively successful raid, from the point of view of bomber casualties, was spoiled when many aircraft flew by mistake into the Frankfurt defended area on the long southern withdrawal route and more than half of the bombers shot down on this night were lost there. 24 aircraft- 15 Halifaxes, 9 Lancasters -were lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax BV aircraft LK 968 SE-P lost during night operations, most likely to flak during an attack against war industry targets in Leipzig, Germany. The Halifax crashed near Hannover, Germany
Flying Officer AW Edgar (RCAF), Sergeant NT Anderson (RCAF), and Sergeant MV Phillips (RAFVR) were killed. in action
Sergeant JD Arsenault (RCAF)(USA), Warrant Officer Class 2 MO Dechambeau (RCAF), FS RJ Henry (RCAF) and Pilot Officer AE Freeman (RCAF), survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
There were four 431 squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Ritchie, RW for information on Halifax LK 685 SE-C, Heider, G for information on Halifax EB 137 SE-N and Cook, RG for information on Halifax LK 898 SE-O
