6 Bomber Group July 24/25, 1944
40 Lancasters from 408, 419 and 428 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Stuttgart. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 20,000feet, releasing 268,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, this, the first of 3 attacks severely damaged this city.
While the Lancasters went to Stuttgart, 100 Halifaxes from 420, 424,425, 426, 427, 429, 432 and 433 Squadrons were ordered on attacks of 2V-1 sites at L'Hey and Ferfay. The crews were over the targets at between12,000 and 13,000 feet, releasing lbs of high explosives. According to reports, most of the crews were sent home by the master bomber due to poor weather over the targets
.4 Halifaxes from 424 Squadron were also ordered on a mining operation to Brest and Lorient. The crews were over the garden at 12,000 feet, sowing14@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Stuttgart, Germany. Lancaster aircraft KB 719 was near Luxembourg when it was hit by rockets, caught fire and then crashed north-east of Vitry le Francais, France. Most of the crew abandoned the aircraft before it crashed but P/Os J. Spevak, J.P. Shortt, and Sergeant J. Norman D.F.M. (RAF) were also killed. One Canadian, FS R. Devine, was taken Prisoner of War, and two Canadians, FS PhiII and Sergeant MacKinnon were Evaders.
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
