6 Bomber Group August 16/17, 1944
144 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 434 squadron were ordered to attack the port city of Kiel. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 310,000 lbs of high explosives and 545,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports the dock area and ship-building firms were damaged.
While some of the group was attacking Kiel, 419 and 428 sent 27 Lancasters on an attack at Stettin. The crews were over the target at between 17,000and 18,000 feet, releasing 50,000 lbs of high explosives and 150,000 lbs of incendiaries on the port and dock area. According to reports, it was an accurate attack.
While most of the group was off to Kiel and Stettin, 18 Halifaxes from 429 and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Kiel Bay.The crews were over the garden at 14,000 feet, sowing 54@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
461 Lancasters to attack the port and industrial areas. 5 Lancasters lost.
Bomber Command claimed an accurate attack, with much damage in the port and factory area. A German report states that I ,508 houses and 29 industrial premises were destroyed and 1,000 houses and 26 industrial premises badly damaged. 5 ships in the harbour (totalling 5,000 tons) were sunk and 8 ships (15,000 tons) were seriously damaged. I, I 50 people were killed and I ,654 were injured; 33 of the dead and 72 of the injured were German soldiers.source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Lancaster III aircraft PA 988 was shot down by an enemy night-fighter aircraft near Allindemagle on the island of Sj?lland during night operations to Stetin, Germany. Pilot Officer Musgrave bailed out and was killed when his parachute failed to open. Of the other six Canadians, Pilot Officer Bruce H. Walter, Flying Officer(s) R.C. Wiens, A.B. Durfee, W/O R.H. Rafter, Flight Sergeant A.C. Budd, and Sergeant J.L. Umscheid all but Durfee and Umscheid got to Sweden and back safely to the United Kingdom. Flying Officer Durfee and Sergeant Urnscheid were taken Prisoner of War.
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