Halifax RG449 B.Mk.VII - Bombing Chemnitz Germany - 1945-02-14 to 1945-02-15
Squadron: 432 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1945-02-14
Completion Date: 1945-02-15
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Thunderclap
Target City: Chemnitz Germany
Target Specific: Communications and supply centers
Base: RAF East Moor
Take Off Time: 16:49
Squadron Code: QO-S
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: Schonau an der Brend, about 11km NW of Neustadt/Saale
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Hauptmann Heinz Rokker of 2/NJG 2
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group February 14/151945

66 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432Squadrons were joined by 52 Lancasters from 419, 424, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Chemnitz. The crews were over the target at between18,000and 20,000 feet, releasing 431,000 lbs on incendiaries and 291,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered with some damage caused.

While some crews were attacking Chemnitz, 10 Lancasters from424 and433 Squadrons were joined by 10 Halifaxes from 427 and 429 Squadrons on a mining operation to the Kattegat. The crews were over the garden at15,000feet, sowing 90@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

499 Lancasters and 218 Halifaxes of 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups to continue Operation Thunderclap. 8 Lancasters and 5 Halifaxes lost.

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This raid took place in two phases, 3 hours apart. A very elaborate diversion plan succeeded in keeping bomber casualties down but Chemnitz - now called Kurl¬Marx-Stadt ~ was also spared from the worst effects of its first major RAF raid, Both parts of the bomber force found the target area covered by cloud and only sky-marking could be employed. Post-raid reconnaissance showed that many parts of tho city were hit but that most of the bombing was in open country. The Stadtarchiv ol' Karl-Marx-Stadt was unable to provide a local report

432 Leaside Squadron (Saeviter ad Lucem) RAF East Moor. Halifax BVII aircraft RG 449 QO-S was shot down by night fighter pilot Hauptmann Heinz Rokker of 2/NJG 2 flying a Junkers Ju 88 G-6 during an operation against communications and supply centers in Chemnitz, Germany

The Halifax crashed at Schonau an der Brend, about 11km NW of Neustadt/Saale, Germany

One crew member was killed in the night fighter attack before the bomber was abandoned. The remaining crew members survived and were taken Prisoners of War

Flight Engineer Sergeant GL Sorrell (RAFVR) was killed in action

Squadron Leader JH Thompson (RCAF), Flying Officer RAA Borland (RCAF), Flying Officer RJ stringer (RCAF), Flying Officer JJ Serne (RCAF), Pilot Officer RD Thomson (RCAF) and Flying Officer SA Harrison (RCAF) all survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

Prisoner of War detail for those aircrew captured needs further research as POW information for the time period nearing the end of the war in Europe was not recorded with the same level of detail as earlier in the war

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