June 12/13, 1944
32 Lancaster from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 60
Halifaxes
from 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at
Cambrai. The crews were over the target at between 4,000 and 6,000
feet,
releasing 745,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, this
attack
was accurate with serious damage being done.
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P/O J. Brown from 408 squadron had both stbd engines catch
fire on landing.
F/Lt F. Brice RCAF
and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-688 coded EQ-R, failed to return from
this operation.
P/O A. Mabon RAF
F/O A. Glendenning RCAF
P/O M. McDonald RCAF
P/O H. Wilson RCAF
P/O E. Todd RCAF
F/O J. Gray RAF
P/O J. Bergeron RCAF
All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
F/Lt H. McIver RCAF
and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-772 coded EQ-T, failed to return from
this operation.
Sgt D. Russell RAF
F/O J. Wyatt RAF
P/O W. Goodwin RCAF
F/Lt T. Pledger RCAF
F/O C. Hanchar RAF
F/O A. Dulait RAF
All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
S/Ldr W. Stewart RCAF
and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-726 coded EQ-Y, failed to return from
this operation.
P/O H. Varley RAF
F/O G. Mallory RCAF
F/O W. Burns RCAF–POW
P/O J. Bray RAF
P/O G. La Pierre RCAF–Evd
P/O R. Ochsner RCAF
W/O H. Murphy RCAF
6 crew were killed, 1 POW and 1 evaded capture after being shot down by
a Nightfighter.
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F/O W. Lacey RCAF
and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-731 coded VR-S,
failed
to return from this operation.
Sgt B. Wilson-Low RAF–Evd
F/O E. Lowe RCAF
F/O R. Frobes RCAF–Evd
P/O D. Applin RCAF
P/O M. Larkin RCAF
P/O G. Carruthers RCAF
5 crew were killed and 2 evaded capture after being shot down by flak.
F/O R. Wilson RCAF
and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-714 coded VR-Y, failed to return from
this
operation.
Sgt C. White RCAF
F/O R. Pole RCAF
F/O C. McOrmond RCAF
F/O D. McMullen RCAF
P/O M. Gates RCAF
P/O R. Francis RCAF
All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
F/O A. De Breyne RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Lancaster X
KB-726 coded
VR-A, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt R. Vigars RAF–POW
F/O A. Bodie RCAF–Evd
Sgt J. Friday RCAF–POW
W/O2 W. Kelly RCAF–Evd
P/O A. Mynarski RCAF
F/O G. Brophy RCAF–Evd
2 crew were POWs, 4 evaded capture and P/O A. Mynarski gave his life
after
being shot down by a Nightfighter. On the run in to the target they
were
attacked and severely damaged and set on fire by a Nightfighter. The
order
to abandon the Lancaster was given and P/O Mynarski was making his way
back to the door when he saw the rear gunner, F/O Brophy, trapped in
his
turret. With total disregard for his safety, P/O Mynarski made his way
through the flames to try and assist the rear gunner. Despite all his
efforts,
the turret could not be moved and P/O Brophy motioned Andrew away to
save
his own life. Back through the flames he crawled, with his lower
clothing
and parachute burning, he turned, saluted his friend and bailed out.
Witnesses
on the ground watched this man’s decent to the ground with his clothing
and parachute still burning. Attempts were made to save Andrews life,
but
in the end, he died shortly after due to severe burns. The Lancaster
hit
the ground and F/O Brophy was thrown from his turret without injury.
This
act was brought to the attention of higher authorities, and P/O Andrew
Mynarski was bestowed the Victoria
Cross, the British Commonwealth’s highest award for bravery.
Veterans
Affairs Canada tribute to P/O A. Mynarski
A.
Mynarski,
V.C. Park and Memorial, Winnipeg MB
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W/O2 J. Ward from 420 squadron returned early as all the
engines were
over revving.
F/O J. Britt was attacked by an enemy aircraft, there was no claim
or damage.
F/Sgt W. McAdam was attacked by an FW-190, they were hit in the stbd
wing and the FW-190 was also claimed damaged.
F/O E. Aldred was attacked 3 times by enemy aircraft, there was no
claim on a JU-88 and Fw-190 but another FW-190 exploded in mid air and
was claimed destroyed.
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P/O J. Henry from 425 Squadron was hit by flak, the port
outer was u/s.
They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O C. Jones had the port outer u/s on return. They landed safely at
base on 3 engines.
Sgt T. Barton was attacked by an ME-110, it was shot down before it
fired a shot.
F/O E. Kirk was attacked by an enemy aircraft, it was claimed
destroyed.
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F/Lt P. Logan from 426 squadron returned early as they were
unable to
raise the under carriage.
F/O J. Wilding had the astro-dome shot off by an enemy Nightfighter.
P/O D. Dakin was hit by flak and attacked by an ME-110, there were
holes in the stbd elevator, fuselage, bomb doors and stbd inner
propellor.
S/Ldr I. McRobie RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III NA-510 coded OW-E, failed to return from
this
operation.
Sgt E. White RAF
F/Sgt A. Hammond RAF–Evd
F/O G. Bedford RCAF–POW
W/O2 C. McLeod RCAF–Evd
W/O2 M. Bzowy RCAF–POW
F/Sgt M. Bemrose RAF–Evd
P/O D. Murray RCAF–Evd
2 crew were killed, 2 were POWs and 4 evaded capture after being shot
down
by a Nightfighter.
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F/O V. Smith and F/O W. Tobias from 432 Squadron were
attacked by FW-190s,
there were no claims or damages.
P/O L. Lauzon RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III LW-616 coded QO-R,
failed to return from this operation.
Sgt J. Cakebread RAF–POW
W/O1 H. Hodder RCAF–Evd
W/O2 G. Wallis RCAF–POW
W/O2 J. Oliver RCAF–POW
Sgt C. Christoff RCAF–Evd
Sgt J. Beattie RCAF–POW
5 crew were POWs and 2 evaded capture.
P/O J. McElheran RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-601 coded QO-A, failed to return from
this
operation.
Sgt A. Mellor RAF
P/O R. Botsford RCAF
P/O W. Blanchard RCAF
P/O G. Dieno RCAF
Sgt R. Irwin RAF–Evd
Sgt P. Steers RAF
Sgt J. Ludwig RCAF–POW
6 crew were killed, 1 POW and 1 evaded capture.
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While some of the group went to Cambrai, 89 Halifaxes from
424, 427,
429, 431, 433 and 434 Squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards
at
Arras. The crews were over the target at between 4,000 and 6,000 feet,
releasing 705,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, serious
damage was caused.
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F/O J. Dundas from 424 Squadron returned early as the port
outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
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F/O M. Strange from 427 Squadron was attacked by an enemy
aircraft,
the stbd elevator was shot off and there were holes in the fuselage.
They
landed safely at Woodbridge on return.
F/O G. Plyley landed at base on 2 engines.
F/O W. Proudfoot RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LW-165 coded ZL-M, failed to return from
this
operation.
Sgt M. Taylor RAF
F/O J. Murphy RCAF
F/O E. Pawlitza RCAF
F/O E. Simonato RCAF
F/O P. Koleda RCAF
F/O A. Hall RCAF
All were killed after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
F/O R. Pearson RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LW-135 coded ZL-R, failed to return from
this
operation.
Sgt K. Bulow RAF–Evd
F/O E. Beaton RCAF–POW
F/O L. Cartwright RCAF
P/O E. Duffin RCAF
P/O E. Dubeau RCAF
P/O G. Parsons RCAF
5 crew were killed, 1 POW and 1 evaded capture.
F/O J. Fulton RCAF–Evd and crew, flying Halifax III LV-995
coded ZL-Y,
failed to return from this operation.
Sgt D. Bristow RAF
P/O N. Fitton RCAF
P/O E. Wilson
RCAF–Evd
F/O K. Patrick RCAF–Evd
F/Lt L. Thistle RCAF
F/O F. Lang RCAF
4 crew were killed and 3 evaded capture.
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P/O F. Augusta from 429 Squadron returned without bombing as
there were
no T.I’s.
F/O J. Weir was attacked by an ME-110, the gunners fired 1500 rounds
with many hitting the ME-110.
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W/O2 F. Skeaff from 431 Squadron was attacked by an ME-110,
it was claimed
destroyed after the gunners fired 700 rounds.
F/O J. Collver was attacked by an ME-210, there was no claim or damage.
F/O N. MacLeod was attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
Was attacked 3 times by ME-109s and a JU-88. The JU-88 was seen to
hit the ground and explode.
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F/O R. Pratt from 434 Squadron returned early as the port
outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O H. Hawley was attacked by a JU-88, both stbd engines caught fire
but were put out. The rear gunner was still able to shoot down the
JU-88.
They landed without further incident at West Raynham on 2 engines.
W/Cdr C. Bartlett RAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LW-173 coded WL-K, failed to return from
this
operation.
P/O C. Kyle RCAF
F/O R. Kelso RCAF
F/O J. Alexander RCAF
F/Lt D. Crawford RCAF–POW
P/O R. Campbell RCAF
F/O R. Learn RCAF
6 crew were killed and 1 POW after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
P/O F. Tandy RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-293 coded WL-S, failed to return from
this
operation.
Sgt T. Roberts RAF
P/O A. Morgan RCAF
P/O J. Swan RCAF
P/O P. Legge RCAF
F/O R. Hewitt RCAF
P/O C. Dymond RCAF
All were killed.
P/O W. Wood RCAF
and crew, flying Halifax III LW-713 coded WL-P, failed to return from
this
operation.
Sgt T. Ely RAF–POW
F/O D. Robertson RCAF–Evd
P/O G. Ovenden RCAF–Evd
Sgt R. Buckman RAF–POW
Sgt J. Persche RCAF–Evd
Sgt G. Nordin RCAF–Evd
The pilot was killed, 2 crew were POWs and 4 evaded capture.
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4 Halifaxes from 428 squadron were ordered on a mining
operation to
Lorient and St. Nazaire. The crews were over the garden at 12,000 feet,
sowing 8@1500 and 8@1850 lb mines.
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F/O G. Gonyou was hit by flak, there were holes in the port
wing and
fuel tanks.
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