6 Bomber Group April 14/15, 1943
30 Halifaxes from 405, 408, and 419 Squadrons were joined by 91 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 42,000 lbs of high explosives and 236,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was clear and much damage was caused to the industrial area, including a large rail repair shop. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming. Halifax BII aircraft BB 311 EQ-L, was attacked by Me-110, knocking out one engine, then attacked again 30 minutes later returning from an operation against targets in Stuttgart, Germany. The Halifax was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Helmut Bergmann of the Stab 3/NJG 4, flying a Bf 110 from Juvincourt airfield. The crew abandoned aircraft, before it crashed near Montescourt-Lizerolles, France
Took off from Leeming at 21:31 on an operation to Stuttgart Germany.
Attacked by a night fighter inbound, knocking out one engine. Attacked again 30 minutes later out-bound from the target and shot down. Crashed in a marsh in the municipality of Tugny-et-Pont, Aisne, Hauts-de-France
Killed: Sergeant John Joseph Courtney RAF KIA Montescourt-Lizerolles Communal Cemetery, France.
POWs: Sergeant Robert Ernest Dressler RCAF R/59857 POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Pilot Officer Raymond Harry Jay RCAF J/16465 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Sergeant Ian Ross MacDonald RCAF R/137824 POW Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug. Pilot Officer Grenville Marshall Parkinson RCAF J/13820 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Sergeant Walter Reed RCAF R/105201 POW Dulag DL Wetzlar. Pilot Officer Leland Ellis Usher RCAF pilot J/14135 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria.
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