December 29/30, 1943
39 Lancasters from 408, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 90 Halifaxes
from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Berlin.
The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing
300,000 lbs of high explosives and 432,000 lbs of incendiaries. According
to reports, there was thick cloud over the target with some damage.
F/Lt W. Whilton RCAF
and crew from 408 Squadron, flying Lancaster II DS-718 coded EQ-R, failed
to return from this operation.
Sgt B. Fearn RAF
P/O D. McCabe RCAF
W/O2 W. Raban RCAF
Sgt H. Landing RAF
F/O R. Pildrem RCAF
P/O F. Hoyle RAF
All were killed.
P/O D. Cook from 419 Squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s.
They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
Sgt V. Hawkes landed at Coltishall on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/Sgt R. Thompson RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax II LW-282 coded
VR-Y, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt G. Cooper RAF–POW
Sgt G. Webb RCAF–POW
Sgt S. Maloney RCAF–POW
Sgt R. Bilyard RAF–POW
Sgt A. Carroll RCAF–POW
Sgt W. Barry RCAF–POW
All were POWs after bailing out over Berlin due to a fire.
F/Lt M. Wilson from 426 Squadron landed at Shipdam on return due to
a fuel shortage.
W/Cdr R. Turnbull from 427 Squadron returned early as the port outer
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt A. Darlow returned early as they were unable to climb.
P/O H. Holland returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed
safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O R. Deegan returned early as the port outer was u/s. Minutes later
the stbd inner was u/s also. On landing at Bungay the port inner quit leaving
only one engine running.
F/O J. Matherley landed at Coltishall on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/Lt F. Murray was hit by incendiaries over the target, the tail, port
wing, and aileron were damaged. They landed safely at Grimsby, low on fuel.
F/Sgt W. Gay from 428 Squadron returned early as the port outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O N. Brown landed at Coltishall on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/Sgt M. Fernandez, F/Sgt E. Baker, and F/O A. MacDonald from 429 Squadron
all returned due to technical problems.
F/Sgt E. Giles returned early as they were too late getting away.
P/O G. Clark was attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
Later they were hit by flak, the stbd inner was damaged.
P/O A. Merkley RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax II JD-318 coded AL-F,
failed to return from this operation.
Sgt B. Ranson RAF
F/O R. Morrison RCAF–POW
F/O C. Peasland RCAF
F/Sgt E. Parker RAF
Sgt R. Walsh RCAF
F/Sgt A. Innes RCAF
5 crew were killed and 2 POWs after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
F/Sgt J. King from 431 Squadron was hit by flak, the stbd inner
was u/s and on fire, windscreen shattered. On return bomb containers,
spare ammunition, and flame floats were jettisoned to lighten the Halifax.
They landed safely at Woodbridge without injuries.
F/LtJ. Nelson RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax V LK-659 coded SE-A, failed to return from this
operation.
Sgt F. Goodall RAF
Sgt P. Parker RAF
F/O F. Spence RAF
Sgt L. Nosworthy RAF
Sgt A. Fielding RAF
Sgt J. Ruthven RCAF
All were killed.
F/O G. Bishop RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax V LK-701 coded SE-L, failed to return from this
operation.
P/O A. Banning RAF
F/O R. Holtby RCAF
F/Sgt G. Cummine RCAF
Sgt N. Boffin RAF–POW
Sgt J. Whelan RCAF
Sgt G. Kehoe RCAF
6 crew were killed and 1 POW.
F/Sgt W. Fernyhough from 432 Squadron returned early as the port outer
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O D. Von Laufer returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed
safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt J. Poole returned early as the oxygen system was u/s.
P/O H. Whaley was hit by flak, the stbd inner and mid upper turret
was damaged.
F/Sgt W. Pay was hit by flak, the mid upper turret was damaged and
aerial shot off.
P/O D. Rae was hit twice by flak, they were holes in the rear turret,
front turret, port fuselage and port outer nacelle. The hydraulics were
also damaged.
F/Sgt R. Stanley from 434 S returned early as the navigation aids were
u/s.
P/O C. Brest returned early as the radios were u/s.
P/O R. Pratt was hit by flak outbound, the stbd inner was damaged and
caught fire, stbd outer and port outer were damaged, pilot slightly injured
in the leg, and Sgt A. Bostock RAF,
the Flt Engineer was killed. There were also many holes throughout the
fuselage. Sgt J. Stinson RCAF, the 2nd pilot took over, went to the target
and brought the damaged Halifax back to a safe landing at Woodbridge.
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