6 Bomber Group April 22/23, 1944
23 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 114 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 433 squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 284,000 lbs of high explosives and 469,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.
While most of the group went to Dusseldorf, 40 Halifaxes from 419, 428, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Laon. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, releasing 378,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
433 Porcupine Squadron (Qui s'y frotte, s'y pique) RAF Skipton-on-Swale. Halifax BIII aircraft LV 840 BN-E was hit by flak and then attacked and shot down by a Dornier night fighter during an operation against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany. On fire and with the loss of an engine, pilot Pilot Officer Bourgeault gave the order to abandon the aircraft. The crew managed to escape but sadly, Pilot Officer Bourgeault was unable to get out and went down with the Halifax when it crashed near the village of Walheim, 10 km southwest of Aachen/Aix-La-Chapelle, Germany
Pilot Officer JA Bourgeault (RCAF) was killed in action
Sergeant JJ Plante (RCAF), Flying Officer JW Guignion (RCAF), Sergeant JE Laframboise (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 TA Miller (RCAF) and Sergeant DR Bowerman (RAFVR) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War
Warrant Officer Class 2 WG Dennstedt (RCAF) survived and became an Evader until liberated by American Forces, 1944-09-08
There were three 433 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HX 291 BM-W and LV 990 BM-J for additional information
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
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