6 Bomber Group April 20/21, 1943
21 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Stettin. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 30,000 lbs of high explosives and 53,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was very successful with severe damage being caused.
While the Halifaxes went to Stettin, 6 Wellingtons from 429 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Brest. The crews were over the garden at between 600 and 800 feet, sowing 10@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
339 aircraft - 194 Lancasters, 134 Halifaxes, II Stirlings. 21 aircraft - 13 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes, 1 Stirling - lost, 6·2 per cent of the force.
This raid, on a target more than 600 miles from England, proved to be the most successful attack beyond the range of Oboe during the Battle of the Ruhr. Visibility was good and the Pathfinder marking was carried out perfectly. 24 fires were still burning when a photographic reconnaissance aircraft flew over Stettin a day and a half later. Approximately 100 acres in the centre of the town were claimed as devas¬tated; much of this area comprised industrial buildings. German reports show that 13 industrial premises and 380 houses were completely destroyed. A large chemical factory was among the places where production was completely halted. 586 people were killed in Stettin.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
It all had begun on the evening of April 20, 1943. A major bombing operation was launched from bases in England against numerous German targets. Among the planes taking part in the raid was a Stirling bomber, M for "Mother", of the 7th Squadron Pathfinders. The plane had a mixed crew of men from the British Commonwealth: "¢ Flt. Lt. Charles Woodbine Parish Pilot R.A.F "¢ Pilot Officer E. R. (Bob) Vance Navigator R.C.A.F "¢ Flt. Sgt. J.S. (Jimmy) Marshall Bomb Aimer R.C.A.F. "¢ Flt. Sgt. Louis Krulicki Wireless Operator R.C.A.F. "¢ Sgt. Charles Farley Mid Upper Gunner R.A.F "¢ Sgt. Jack Lees Rear Gunner R.A.F "¢ Sgt. Donald V. Smith Flight Engineer R.C.A.F
Their destination that night was Stettin, and their mission was to locate the target area and mark it with incendiaries as a guide for the rest of their planes. They had an extra crew member that night, Squadron Leader Blake, a Canadian pilot who was new to the squadron and who was to accompany them on an orientation flight.
Their aircraft was damaged by flak on approach to the target and, unable to mark it reliably, they aborted and left the job to a backup plane. Heading back to England, they flew over the Baltic and the relative safety of the water. As they approached Korsor, they had to veer across land to avoid a flak ship in the Belt, but soon found themselves under attack by an ME 110 night fighter. After a burst of cannon fire set their plane afire, the order was given to bail out. Don Smith was the only one who managed to escape from the plane before it crashed into a farmer's field near Kongsmerk Denmark
source: Dave Smith,son of Donald V Smith
