6 Bomber Group March 15/16, 1945
43 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 99 Lancasters from 419, 424, 427, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Hagen. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 468,000 lbs of high explosives and 818,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was clear and severe damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Hagen, Germany. Lancaster aircraft KB 814 was hit by flak and crashed near Fishlin, Germany. Four of the crew, Pilot Officer Vickery, Pilot Officer C.W. Parrish, Pilot Officer M.W. Bredin, and Flying Officer H.R. Hennessey were all killed in the aircraft. The other three members of the crew, FSs Ginter, Bowman, and Bristow bailed out to safety.
267 aircraft - 134 Lancasters, l 22 Halifaxes, 11 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 6 Lancasters and 4 Halifaxes lost.
This area attack took place in clear visibility and caused severe damage; the local , report estimated that the bomber force was 800 aircraft strong! The main attack fell in the centre and eastern districts. There were 1,439 fires, of which 124 were classified as large. 493 Germans and 12 foreigners were killed. 30,000-35,000 people were bombed out. source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
