6 Bomber Group August 28, 1944
72 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432,433, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack 8 V-1 launching sites at L'Hey, Anderbelck, Ouef en Ternois, Bois Saint-Remy, Ferfay, Fresnoy, Fermedu Forestal, and Ferme du Grand Bois. The crews were over the targets at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 455,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, all attacks were accurate. These were the last attacks on the V-1 launching sites in the Pas de Calais area.
While some of the group was attacking the V-1 sites, 24 Halifaxes from 408, 420, 425, and 426 squadrons were ordered to attack the coastal guns at Ile de Cezembre. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and13,000 feet, releasing 242,000 lbs of high explosives.
23 Halifaxes from 415, 424, 432, and 433 squadrons also attacked shippingin Brest Harbour. The crews were over the target at between 9,000 and 11,000feet, releasing 202,000 lbs of high explosives. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
460 Australia Squadron (Strike And Return). Lancaster NE144 was on an operation against Stettin, Germany, when it was shot down by a German night fighter which shot away the elevator controls and trims, set fire to the H2s and 6000 rounds of ammunition, and disabled part of the electrical equipment and intercom. Pilot Flight Lieutenant K.W. Humpfries ordered the crew to put on parachutes and to try to put out the fire. Next he dropped the bomb load and turned towards base. Upon discovering that the elevator controls were gone, he headed for Sweden, controlling the Lancaster by use of the throttles. Mid-upper gunner Sergeant Dennis Fallon and W/Op Flying Officer Ronald K. Stratford DFM was told to get the badly wounded rear gunner out of his turret. They were losing height all the time and when down to 3000 ft the crew were ordered to take up ditching positions. Fallon and Stratford had got Aviet out of the turret, but refused to leave him in the aft fuselage and choose to stay with him. The ditching at approx. 01:00 hours north of the island of Anholt was successful, but the tail broke off and went down. Humpfries was thrown about 20 metres out in front of the Lancaster and when he swam back, he found Navigator Flying Officer T.B. MacNeill, Bomb Aimer Sergeant G.D. Walsh and Flt. Engr. Sergeant S.R. Wild sitting on the Lancaster with the dinghy out. The three men in the tail had gone down with it.
Casualties included RAFVR Flying Officer R.K. Stratford (DFM)(air gunner), and Sgt's. P.B. Aviet (air gunner) and D. Fallon (air gunner). Taken Prisoners of War were RCAF Flying Officer J.B. MacNeill (navigator); RAAF Flying Officer K.W. Humphries (pilot); and RAF Sgt's. G.D. Walsh (bomb aimer) and S.R. Wild (flight engineer).
