19 Lancasters from 408, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 78 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Leipzig. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 178,000 lbs of high explosives and 280,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and serious damage was caused.
S/Ldr C. Smith from 408 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O A. Byford and F/Sgt J. Parker from 419 Squadron returned early due
to severe icing.
F/Lt T. Kneale from 426 Squadron returned early as some instruments
were u/s.
P/O D. Clark RCAF–POW P/O D. Cooper RCAF–POW F/O W. Neale RCAF Sgt A. Wolkowski RCAF Sgt J. Legault RCAF
P/O W. Cozens RAF and crew from 427 Squadron, flying Halifax V DK-181 coded ZL-Z, returned early as the stbd inner quit and would not feather. A few minutes later the port outer quit. The crew was ordered to bail out as soon as the coast was crossed. At this point the stbd outer started acting up. The crew bailed out and as the pilot left his seat, he hit the throttle quadrant and the stbd outer ran smoothly again.
F/O R. Carson RAF Sgt W. Stockford RAF Sgt H. Whittaker RAF Sgt R. Nairn RAF Sgt C. Hopper RAF P/O W. Stephen was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing and fuselage. P/O J. Dickenson landed at Chedburgh on return.
F/Sgt W. Gay from 428 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. They landed
at New Market on return.
P/O G. Clark, F/Sgt E. Baker, and F/O J. Atkins from 429 Squadron returned
early due to technical problems.
Sgt D. Bruno RCAF–POW F/O H. Brown RCAF–POW F/Sgt J. Lochhead RAF Sgt J. Williams RAF Sgt G. Hooper RAF F/Sgt D. Hamilton RCAF P/O S. Kelso RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-374 coded AL-M, failed to return from this operation.
P/O H. Schade RCAF F/Sgt F. Morro RCAF F/Sgt C. Schofield RAF–POW Sgt K. Buchholz RCAF–POW F/O J. Cabana RCAF
P/O R. Rubie from 431 squadron returned early as the port outer caught
fire. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt R. Steven RAF Sgt G. Brown RAF Sgt W. Burley RAF P/O G. Armstrong RCAF Sgt J. L’Argent RAF W/O2 R. Ritchie RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-685 coded SE-C, failed to return from this operation.
F/O J. Shannon RCAF–POW F/Sgt S. Fulham RCAF–POW Sgt V. Jenkins RAF–POW Sgt J. MacMullin RCAF–POW Sgt D. Lyford-Pike RAF–POW S/Ldr R. Cook RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-898 coded SE-O, failed to return from this operation.
F/O M. Snow RCAF F/Lt E. Lister RAF Sgt H. Brookman RAF Sgt W. Rattigan RCAF Sgt J. Williamson RCAF F/O A. Edgar RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-968 coded SE-P, failed to return from this operation.
F/Sgt R. Henry RCAF–POW P/O A. Freeman RCAF–POW W/O2 M. Dechambeau RCAF–POW Sgt J. Arsenault RCAF–POW Sgt M. Phillips RAF This was the last operation flown from Tholthorpe as the Squadron was now moving to Croft.
F/O A. Mercer, F/O W. Fisher, and F/Sgt C. De Maria from 432 Squadron
all returned early as their guns were frozen.
F/O S. Dunn from 434 Squadron returned early as the pilot was sick.
F/Sgt D. McAllister RCAF F/Sgt P. Kingston RCAF Sgt A. Warrington RAF Sgt M. Habiluk RCAF Sgt C. Beech RAF This was the last flight from Tholthorpe, the Squadron now moved to
Croft.
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