6 Bomber Group April 16/17, 1943
27 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadron were ordered on an attack at Pilsen. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 14,000 feet, releasing 104,000 lbs of high explosives and 31,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was a failure as there was no damage to the Skoda armaments factory.
While the Halifaxes went to Pilsen, 100 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425,426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Mannheim.The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing118,000 lbs of high explosives and 91,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
214 Federated Malay States Squadron (Ulter in umbris) RAF Chedburgh. Stirling III aircraft BK 653 BU-A was attacked by three ME109 fighter aircraft during an operation against targets in Mannheim, Germany. The Stirling was shot down by Leutnant Norbert Pietek of 2/NJG4 and the aircraft was abandoned before crashing at Bonneuil-les-Eaux, Oise, Hauts-de-France, in France
Rear Air-Gunner Sergeant Eric Makham Lee (RAFVR) was killed in action
Mid-Upper Air Gunner Sergeant Gerard Brendan Gallahger (RAFVR) and Bomb Aimer Sergeant Clifford George Walton (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
Pilot, Flight Sergeant David Eric James (RCAF), 2nd Pilot William George Grove (RAFVR), Flight Engineer James Hall (RAFVR), Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sergeant Reginald Walter Adams (RAFVR) and Navigator James Arthur Smith (RAFVR) all survived and avoided capture as Evaders
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 1 1 January - 22 June by Theo Boiten, page 71
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