408 Sqn. Halifax II JB898 EQ-Q shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Lothar Linke of the 12/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Leeuwarden airfield. The Halifax crashed at Oldeboorn near Akkrum, Friesland, Netherlands.
Pilot Officer RO Blackhall (RCAF), Sergeant KE Emmons (RCAF) were killed. Pilot Officer AJ Sutton (RCAF) baled but was killed when his parachute failed.
Pilot Officer FH Scythes (RAF)(Can), FS CB "Soggy" Norton (RCAF), Sergeant CL Horn (RCAF), Sergeant GI Semper (RAF) and Sergeant KE Godfrey (RAF) were taken Prisoner of War. See http://www.teunispats.net/fr-wwii.htm for details.
Sergeant Semper escaped from prison to Sweden in April,1945
(www.conscript-heroes.com MI-9).
Pilot Officer Scythes had joined the RCAF on the outbreak of the war but found he was flying multi-engined aircraft when he wanted to fly fighters. He somehow managed to be kicked out of the RCAF, then joined the RAF in Canada hoping to fly fighters, but still ended up on bombers in an RCAF squadron (Allison & Hayward).
Flight Sergeant Norton had played with the Ottawa Rough Riders before the war.
Detail from aviation-safety.net
Sutton, Albert James (Pilot Officer)
Killed in Action 1943-May-05
Birth Date: 1919-August-25
Born: Toronto, Ontario
Parents: Son of Harry and Matilda (nee Middleton)Sutton, of Toronto, Ontario. Brother of Leading Aircraftman Harry William Sutton and Muriel Masson.
Spouse:
Home: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment Date: 1941-January-28
Service
RCAF
Unit
408 (B) Sqn- Squadron
For Freedom
Base
RAF Leeming
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Wireless Air Gunner
Service Numbers
J/17692
Prev: R/91320
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Halifax JB898
Mission
Halifax B/GR.Mk.II JB898
Bombing Dortmund Germany 1943-May-05 to 1943-May-05
408 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming
Operated by No. 408 Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*Q". Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Dortmund on 4 / 5 May 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 3 crew killed and 5 POW.Unit Desciption
408 (B) Sqn For Freedom ("Goose")
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Hampden I, Halifax II & V, Lancaster II, Halifax III & VII, Lancaster X)
The squadron was the second Canadian bomber squadron to be formed in WWII. It was formed at Lindholme, Yorkshire, UK 
in June of 1941 as part of Bomber Command No 5 Group, flying Handley Page Hampden Mk I bombers from Syerston, Nottinghamshire, Balderton, Newark and North Luffenham, Rutland. Its squadron code letters were EQ. In September 1942 the squadron was moved to No 4 Group, re-equipping with Halifax Mk II aircraft and flying from Leeming, Yorkshire. On January 1, 1943, by this time equipped with Lancaster Mk II bombers, the squadron joined No. 6 Group (RCAF) and flew from Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire from August 27 1943 to the end of WWII. In September 1944 it converted to Halifax Mk III and VII aircraft and flew these for the remainder of hostilities. It was slated to be part of the "Tiger Force" to attack Japan and had re-equipped with Lancaster Mk X aircraft, but the Japanese surrender ended all plans for the Tiger Force and the squadron was disbanded in September 1945 at Greenwood, Nova Scotia .
Altogether, the squadron logged 4610 operational sorties with 25,500 operational hours, in the course of which 11,430 tons of bombs were dropped. 146 aircraft were lost in the course of these operations. Awards included 161 DFC's and 6 bars to DFC, 32 DFM's, 1 MBE and 10 MiD's. Battle Honours were: English Channel and North Sea 1941-43, Baltic 1941-43, Fortress Europe 1941-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1941-44, Ruhr 1941-45, Berlin 1943-44, German Ports 1941-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1942-43. Wikipedia, Moyes, Kostenuk and Griffin
Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum PDF)
Maps for Movements of 408 Squadron 1941-45
MAP 1: 408 Squadron Movements 1941-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
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MAP 2: 6 Group Bomber Bases in Durham and Yorkshire 1943-45
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408 Squadron History Summary
408 Squadron History Summary Page 2
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Lancaster X, Canso A, Norseman VI, Otter, Dakota III & IV, Boxcar, Silver Star, Hercules, Griffon, Chinook)
On 10 January 1949, the squadron was reformed as 408 (Photographic) Squadron at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario . Equipped with eight Lancaster Mark X photographic aircraft equipped with SHORAN, a short-range navigational device. It was tasked with the mapping of Canada, specifically the far North. It also flew Canso, Norseman, Otter and Dakota aircraft on this mission, for photography and to maintain the SHORAN stations. Once the task was complete, the squadron was re-designated 408 (Reconnaissance) Squadron and flew Lancasters on Arctic surveillance patrols. In 1964, equipped with the Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar, it was again re-designated 408 (Transport Support and Aerial Reconnaissance) Squadron and moved to Rivers, Manitoba. In 1964, the squadron formed a flight of Canadair CT-133 Silver Star aircraft. In 1965, the Boxcars were replaced by CC-130 Hercules aircraft.
On January 1, 1971, 408 Squadron was once again re-activated at Namao in Edmonton, Alberta , as a tactical helicopter squadron (THS) and equipped with CH-135 Twin Huey and CH-136 Kiowa helicopters. Its primary tasking is to provide tactical aviation to the army. The mission includes air mobile assault, air ambulance, air observation, reconnaissance insertions, troop movement, airborne command and control platform and dropping paratroopers. In September 1996, the squadron was re-equipped with CH-146 Griffon helicopters. Personnel from 408 Squadron deployed to Afghanistan nearly continually from 2006 until 2011. Initially forming a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) detachment using the CU-161 Sperwer. From 2008, 408 members were deployed to Kandahar airfield operating the CH-146 Griffon and CH-147D helicopters as part of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing. The primary role of the JTF-A Air Wing was to provide transportation, reconnaissance, armed escort, and fire support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). In July of 2018, 408 THS deployed to Mali as part of Task Force Mali on Operation Presence. In Mali, 408 THS operated the CH-146 Griffon in the armed escort role, providing support to MEDEVAC and utility missions. 408 THS completed its tour in Mali in January of 2019, having participated in 7 medical evacuation missions. It is now co-located with 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at the 3rd Canadian Division Support Base, Edmonton, Alberta.
link,general,https://www.forfreedom.ca,408 “Goose†Squadron Association
Government of Canada RCAF WebsiteHalifax JB898 B/GR.Mk.II - Bombing Dortmund Germany - 1943-05-05 to 1943-05-05
Squadron: 408 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1943-05-05
Completion Date: 1943-05-05
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Dortmund Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Leeming
Take Off Time: 22.43
Squadron Code: EQ Q
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
Operated by No. 408 Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*Q". Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Dortmund on 4 / 5 May 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 3 crew killed and 5 POW.
6 Bomber Group May 5, 1943
3 Wellingtons from 426 and 429 Squadrons were ordered out on a sea search. All crews returned safely, but unsuccessful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Operated by No. 408 Squadron, RCAF, coded "EQ*Q". Bombed Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Dortmund on 4 / 5 May 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 3 crew killed and 5 POW.