Halifax BB327 B.Mk.II - Bombing Duisburg Germany - 1943-04-08 to 1943-04-09
Squadron: 419 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1943-04-08
Completion Date: 1943-04-09
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Battle of the Ruhr
Target City: Duisburg Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Middleton St. George
Take Off Time: 21.47
Squadron Code: VR Q
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Bochum, Germany
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group April 8/9, 1943

15 Halifaxes from 405, 408, and 419 Squadrons were joined by 64 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons on an attack at Duisberg. The crews were over the target at between 15,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 85,000 lbs of high explosives and 137,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

392 aircraft - 156 Lancasters, 97 Wellingtons, 73 Halifaxes, 56 Stirlings, ro Mos¬quitoes. 19 aircraft - 7 Wellingtons, 6 Lancasters, 3 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings - lost, 4·8 per cent of the force

.

Thick cloud again ruined the Pathfinder marking and the resultant bombing was widely scattered. Duisburg experienced only moderate damage, with 40 buildings destroyed, 72 seriously damaged and 36 people killed. Bombs fell on at least 15 other towns in the Ruhr

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Fight Sergeant.D.C. Way, Sergeants P.J. Ireland, J.H. Morris, NO. A.R. Hickey, Sergeants R.J. Amos (RAF), and K.H. Godbold (RAF) were killed. One Canadian,Warrant Officer L.E. Turner, was taken Prisoner of War. This was the fourth operation for this crew.

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