6 Bomber Group May 24/25, 1944
30 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, and 433 Squadrons on an attack of the 2 rail yards at Aachen. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 810,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, one rail yard was severely damaged with some damage to the others.
While some of the group attacked Aachen, 45 Halifaxes from 426, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the Coastal Gun Batteries at Trouville. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 7,500 feet, releasing 421,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was successful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
158 Squadron RAF (Strength in unity) RAF Lissett. Halifax III HX 320 NP-A was probably shot down by night fighter pilot Obleutnant J Werth of Stab/NJG 2 from an altitude of 9,000 feet during an operation against targets in Aachen, Germany. The Halifax crashed at Lieshout, Noord-Brabant Netherlands
Flying Officer J B O'Hara (RCAF) survived and was taken as Prisoner of War
Flying Officer M V Lawrence DFC (RCAF), Flying Officer R D MacFayden (RCAF), Sergeant W J Christie (RAFVR), Flight Lieutenant R P Freeman DFC (RAFVR) and Sergeant R E Stubbs (RAFVR) survived and evaded for various periods of time with the aid of Dutch underground groups but all were eventually captured to become Prisoners of War
One crew member, Flight Sergeant R Barnes DFM (RAFVR) survived and evaded capture and was hidden by Dutch citizens until liberated in Eindhoven by British troops, 1944-09-18
There were four more 158 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation: LV 918 NP-O, LW 118 NP-X, LW 653 NP-T and LW 720 NP-W
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
158 Squadron Association - Personnel