6 Bomber Group April 27/28, 1944
19 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Friedrichshafen. The crews were over the target at between 20,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 48,000 lbs of high explosives and 77,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was accurate with severe damage being caused. A factory making tank gearboxes was totally destroyed.
While the Lancasters went to Freidrichshafen, 47 Halifaxes from 419,431, 432, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 8 Lancasters from 419 Squadron on an attack of the rail yards at Montzen. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 591,000 lbs of high explosives.According to reports, the attack was scattered and only half of the yards were damaged. This attack was intercepted by German Night fighters and 10 crews failed to return.
90 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, and 433 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Aulnoye. The crews were over the target at between 3,000 and 7,000 feet, releasing 942,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was accurately bombed with severe damage.
8 Halifaxes from 428 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation toCherbourg. The crews were over the garden at between 12,000 and 15,000feet, sowing 16@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
434 Bluenose Squadron (In Excelsis Vincimus) RAF Croft. Halifax BV aircraft LL 258 WL-W was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer of Stab IV/NJG 1 from Sint-Truiden, Belgium in Bf 110 G-4 G9+DF. The Halifax was on an operation against the rail yards at Montzen, Belgium and crashed near Teuven, Voeren, Limburg, Belgium
Pilot Officer Donald Arthur Pastorius (RCAF), Flying Officer Albert Edward Young (RCAF), Flying Officer William Ralph Ellwood (RCAF), Pilot Officer Harold Arthur Alexander Breeze (RCAF), Pilot Officer Edmund Arthur Vigor (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Charles Henry Havill (RCAF) and Sergeant Arthur Bernard Randall (RAFVR) were all killed in action
There were two 434 squadron Halifax V aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial LL 243 WL-U for additional information
Oberleutnant Schnaufer was the most successful German night fighter pilot, who shot down 121 Allied bombers during the war. The Imperial War Museum in London has part of his aircraft on display. He was killed in a car accident in France in 1950
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 2, 16 March - 11 May by Theo Boiten, page 100
Kauz Night Fighters, Dornier's First Night Fighters and Their Operations with the Luftwaffe by Mikael Orlog pages 171,183-4
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