6 Bomber Group August 7/8, 1944
182 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432,433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 40 Lancasters from 408, 419, and428 squadrons on an attack of German positions around Caen. The crews were over the target at between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, releasing 1,457,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, roads and the strong points were well cratered.
While most crews went to the Caen area, 6 Halifaxes from 433 squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Lorient and St. Nazaire. The crews were over the garden at 15,000 feet, sowing 18@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
NORMANDY BATTLE AREA
1,019) aircraft- 614 Lancasters, 392 Halifaxes, 13 Mosquitoes- attacked five aiming polnts in front of Allied ground troops. The attacks were carefully controlled - only 660 aircraft bombed - and German strong points and the roads around them were well cratered. 10 aircraft - all Lancasters - were lost, 7 to German fighters, 2 to Flak 1111d r to an unknown cause.
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George. Lancaster BX aircraft KB 755 VR-F was shot down near Auberville, France during a night attack against a target seven miles south of Caen, France
Flying Officer BD Walker AFM (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant MG Wilson (RCAF), Pilot Officer JC Durrant (RCAF), Flying Officer PW Merrick (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 1 JA Schryer (RCAF), Sergeant B Jones (RAFVR), and FS W Longmore (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Brother of Flight Sergeant William Archibald Walker, Royal Canadian Air Force, killed in action 17 March 1942
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
