6 Bomber Group August 2/3, 1943
54 Halifaxes from 408, 419, 427 and 428 Squadrons were joined by 19 Wellingtons from 429 and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Hamburg. The crews were over the target at between 15,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 40,000 lbs of high explosives and 110,000 lbs of incendiaries. This attack was a failure due to severe icing and thunder storms to and from the target. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Gransden Lodge. Halifax BII aircraft encountered a massive electrical storm during an operation against targets in Hamburg, Germany. Battling towards the target, with ice building up on the wings, the Halifax was struck by a blinding flash of lightning. Both inboard engines lost power, the electrical system and radio destroyed, the bomber lost altitude while the pilot fought to regain control, managing to do so at an altitude of about 4000 feet. Return to the UK was out of the question and the navigator instead plotted a course for neutral Sweden. The Halifax crashed into the Baltic Sea near Kampinge Bay, Sweden shortly after the crew safely abandoned the bomber and all became interned prisoners of Sweden
In an interesting turn of fate, many of the Canadians on this and other downed crews not only survived being shot down, they also played hockey against Swedish teams while they were interned. They were well treated and housed and played hockey for several months before being repatriated to UK 1944-01-30
Amazingly, the wreckage of Halifax HR 871 was located by Swedish divers in 2011 and is now in the process of being recovered, lead by Karl Kiarsgaard, Director of the Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada), Bomber Command Museum of Canada. The plan is to have the Halifax restored as a static display at the museum, similar to Halifax NA 377, recovered by Halifax 57 Rescue from the bottom of Lake Mjosa, Norway. The aircraft was beautifully restored to static condition and is now on display at the RCAF Memorial Museum at Trenton, Ontario.
Royal Air Force serial and Image Database
RESURRECTION - Vintage Wings of Canada
The unknown RCAF hockey story from World War II Sweden
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB