Wellington X3563 Mk. III - Bombing Saint-Nazaire France - 1943-02-28 to 1943-02-28
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1943-02-28
Completion Date: 1943-02-28
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Saint-Nazaire France
Target Specific:
Base: Croft
Take Off Time: 18.10
Squadron Code: VR T
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fuel
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable

Having destroyed Lorient, Bomber Command was now ready to start on the second target on the list of French U-boat base ports which the directive of 14 January had ordered to be destroyed. 437 aircraft - 152 Lancasters, 119 Wellingtons, 100 Halifaxes, 62 Stirlings, 4 Mosquitoes - were dispatched. 5 aircraft - 2 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - were lost, 1·1 per cent of the force.

This initial raid caused widespread destruction. Local reports say that many bombs fell into the port area and that 60 per cent of the town was destroyed. 29 people are reported as being killed and 12 injured; it is presumed that most of the local population had left the town.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Crew bailed out over Ireland after attack on St. Nazaire, rounded up but soon released. Aircraft crashed in plowed field near Ballybane-Milltown, near Ballinlough in County Roscommon.

unvetted Source Crew survived

source: Dennis Burke, Dublin Ireland

General RAF Commands