Lancaster NE164 Mk.III - Bombing Stuttgart Germany - 1944-07-28 to 1944-07-29
Squadron: 550 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-07-28
Completion Date: 1944-07-29
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Stuttgart Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Stn North Killingholme
Take Off Time: 21:36:00
Squadron Code: BQ-O
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Ottrott France
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: 944 by Oblt Gottfried Hanneck of NJG 1.

Stuttgart

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494 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos of 1,3,5, and 8 Groups in the last raid of the current series on the target. German fighters intercepted the bomber stream while over France on the outward flight; there was a bright moon and 39 Lancasters were shot down. 7.9% of the force.

6 Bomber Group July 28/29, 1944

46 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 Squadron were joined by 186 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Hamburg. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 2,019,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, some bombing fell into the port area, otherwise the attack was scattered. On this attack, 6 Group suffered their highest losses. 22 crews failed to return.

As well as the crews that went to Hamburg, 5 Halifaxes from424 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Heligoland. The crews were over the garden at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, sowing 20@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

Memorial Stone to those executed from Lancaster NE164

Shot Down By A Night Fighter At Ottrott 2 Miles West of Obernai Returning From A Raid on Stuttgart, 4 of the Crew Survived, 1 of Whom Evaded

Pilot Officer Harry Jones died in the crash and Sergeant Idwal Williams (both RAF) died as a result of his parachute jump.

The others landed safely and had to consider their chances of evading capture. Sergeant Don Hunter, Sergeant James Drury and Sergeant Roy Barton (all RAF) were captured quickly and taken in charge of the Feld Gendarmerie and the Luftwaffe. Flight Sergeant Fred Habgood was captured in Niederhaslach which is approximately10 kilometres NNW of the crash site Oliver Clutton-Brock, Footprints ..., however other sources say that he was helped by people of Ottrott who were then denounced and taken to the nearby concentration camp at Natzweiler-Stuthof. Sergeant Fred Habgood was hung at Natzweiler-Stuthof and his body was never found. In a trial held at Wuppertal in 1946, five men were found guilty of the crime, two of whom were executed on the 11th of October.

Habgood's identification bracelet was found in 2018 near the concentration camp site. See the story on Habgood's page.

Museum Habgood Bracelet

Operatins Record Books 550 Sqn Monthly ORB

Operatins Record Books 550 Sqn Daily ORB

unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

unvetted Source Search for France-Crashes 39-45

unvetted Source 28/29.07.1944 550 Squadron Lancaster III NE 164 Fg Off Harry Jones RAF...

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