6 Bomber Group June 11/12, 1943
51 Halifaxes from 408, 419, and 427 Squadrons were joined by 63 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 145,000 lbs of high explosives and 275,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damage was caused to this target. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming. Halifax II aircraft JB 972 EQ-Q was shot down by night fighter pilot Major Werner Streib of the Stab I/NJG 1, flying He 219 V9 G9+FB from Venlo airfield, Netherlands during operations against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany, but this loss was also claimed by heavy Flak units. The Halifax exploded and crashed in the target area southwest of Rheinberg, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Pilot Officer AG Grant (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 AE Fowell (RCAF) and FS JM Lang (RCAF) were all killed in action
Pilot Officer RE Carter (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant TB Moore (RCAF), Sergeant MR Laloge (RCAF) and Sergeant KR Stentiford (RAFVR) survived were taken as Prisoners of War
Flight Lieutenant Bruce Moore was the navigator during the operation and later a resident of Flin Flon, Manitoba provided the following information, "We were hit by flak and the bomb aimer jettisoned the bombs, we were hit again and the Halifax blew up almost immediately. When I came to, the ground was getting very close so I pulled the ripcord. I landed OK, but was taken Prisoner of War. The next day I had to help bury my three Manitoba friends and was then taken to POW camp Stalag Luft IV where I helped in the Great Escape, Sergeant Laloge also survived the war
Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock page 262,339,365,410
Daily Operations 6 Bomber Group RAF Bomber Command
Halifax II JB972 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
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