6 Bomber Group April 4/5, 1945
90 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons were ordered on an attack on the Rhenania oil facilities at Harburg. The crews were over the target at between 16,500 and 19,000 feet, releasing 712,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.
While the Halifaxes went to Harburg, 93 Lancasters from 419, 424, 427,428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered to attack the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg. The crews were over the target at between16,000 and 20,500 feet, releasing 568,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered.
15 Lancasters from 424, 427, 429, and 433 Squadrons were ordered a mining operation to Oslo. The crews were over the garden at 10,000 feet, sowing 84@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
12 Squadron (Leads The Field) RAF Wickenby. Lancaster BI aircraft RF 182 PH-P was lost, most likely to flak, during an operation to bomb a synthetic-oil refinery Lutzkendorf, Germany. The Lancaster crashed near the small town of Braunsbedra some 10 km South-West of Merseburg, Germany with the loss of the entire crew
Flight Lieutenant W Kroeker (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant C E Modeland (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant W D Smith (RCAF), Flying Officer G T Wood (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant C Brooks (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant J F Woodcherry (RAFVR) and Flying Officer C W G Biddlecombe (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Six members of this crew: Flight Lieutenant Kroeker, Flight Lieutenant Modeland, Flight Lieutenant Smith, Flying Officer Wood, Flight Sergeant Brooks and Flight Sergeant Woodcherry had previously been interned prisoners in Sweden after having survived the forced-landing of their 12 Squadron Lancaster BIII aircraft ND 324 PH-E 1944-01-06. They were returned safe, to the UK 1944-09-24
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
RAF Wickenby's War Over Europe - Aircraft Airfields and Airshows