6 Bomber Group August 25/26, 1944
182 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432,433 and 434 Squadrons were ordered to attack a number of coastal gun batteries at Brest. The crews were over the aiming points at between 9,000 and 13,000 feet, releasing 1,470,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate.
34 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons were ordered on an attack of the Opel factory at Russelsheim. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 132,000 lbs of high explosives and 153,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was hit and serious damage was caused.
14 Halifaxes from 433 squadron were ordered to attack Ferfay. The crews were over the target at 15,000 feet, releasing 88,000 lbs of high explosives. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
4 I 2 Lancasters of I, 3, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the Opel motor factory. 15 Lan casters were lost, 3·6 per cent of the force.
The Pathfinder marking was accurate and the raid was successfully completed in IO minutes. An official German report* says that the forge and the gearbox assembly departments were put out of action for several weeks, but 90 per cent of the machine tools in other departments escaped damage. The assembly line and part·of the pressworks were able to recommence work 2 days later and lorry assembly was unaffected because of considerable stocks of ready-made parts. 179 people were killed in the raid but their nationalities were not recorded.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). The crew of Lancaster aircraft KB 708 was returning from a trip to Russellsheim, Germany and were low on fuel. They were instructed to land at Boscombe Down, England but fog closed in and obscured the landing lights so the pilot attempted an overshoot. All four engines cut out and the aircraft crashed into some trees at Winterbourne, Wiltshire. Flying Officer W.A. Milner, Flying Officer Kirschner, Pilot Officer H.F. Anderson, and Sergeant J.L. Trotman (RAF) were killed.
Three other crewmen were injured: Nav - Flying Officer Pierre E. Gariepy (RCAF); AG - Sgt. L.J. Weston (RCAF); and, AG - Sgt. Peter Wiens (RCAF). Gariepy's spine was severed and he became a paraplegic
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