85 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431 and 434 were joined by 22 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons on an attack at Kassel. The crews were over the target at between 15,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 196,000 lbs of high explosives and 328,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the attack was accurate and concentrated with total devastation of this town. Twelve 6 Group crews failed to return from this operation.
F/Sgt. R. Lloyd from 408 squadron returned early as the guns were u/s.
P/O R. McComb, RCAF P/O W. Kerslake, RCAF F/O R. Thornton, RAF F/Sgt. T. Mayne, RAF P/O R. Jackson, RCAF
W/O1 T. Doubassoff from 419 squadron returned as the port outer was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
Sgt. T. Rawlings, RAF F/O W. Coleman, RCAF–POW F/Lt. R. Shields, RCAF–POW Sgt. R. Woods, RAF–POW W/O2 F. Yackison, RCAF F/Sgt. P. Peterkin, RCAF
F/Sgt. R. Stewart from 426 squadron returned early as the stbd inner
was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O P. Kennedy from 427 squadron returned early as the generators were
u/s.
Sgt. E. Dutton, RAF Sgt. K. Brown, RAF Sgt. P. Moore, RAF Sgt. J. Mccullagh, RAF Sgt. D. Collen, RAF F/Sgt. S. Minter, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V DK-234 coded ZL-Z, failed to return from this operation.
F/O I. Schilansky, RCAF F/O J. Balloch, RCAF Sgt. E. Fairfield, RAF Sgt. H. McCartney, RCAF Sgt. A. Mitchell, RCAF F/Lt. W. Weston, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-959 coded ZL-D, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt. P. Maudling, RAF P/O C. Oakley, RAF P/O E. McDermott, RCAF Sgt. S. Hopson, RAF F/Sgt. W. Crain, RCAF F/Sgt. G. Aitken, RCAF F/O J. Harrison, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-633 coded ZL-G, failed to return from this operation.
P/O A. Meyers, RCAF–POW Sgt. J. Cox, RCAF–POW Sgt. H. Winter, RCAF–POW Sgt. H. Russell, RCAF F/Sgt. R. Wells, RCAF
F/Sgt. E. O’Connor from 428 squadron returned early due to severe icing.
F/Sgt. G. Byers from 429 squadron returned early with technical difficulties.
F/Sgt. E. Gwynne, RAF F/Sgt. J. Johnston, RAF–POW F/Sgt. N. Mallin, RAF–POW Sgt. R. McCart, RCAF W/O2 F. Christenson, RCAF F/Sgt. G. Howard, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-363 coded AL-J, failed to return from this operation.
F/O A. Beyak, RCAF F/O A. Chorneyko, RCAF Sgt. G. King, RAF Sgt. C. Smith, RCAF Sgt. R. Fournier, RCAF
F/Sgt. J. King from 431 squadron returned early as the port inner was
u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O R. Wissler, RAF F/Sgt. L. Russell, RCAF Sgt. H. Priestley, RAF F/Sgt. W. Burns, RCAF Sgt. J. McCarthy, RAF
F/Sgt. E. Devaney from 434 squadron returned early as the Mid-upper
gunner, Sgt. W. Keefe RCAF, was sick and unconscious.
F/O W. Sewall, RCAF F/Sgt. W. Burton, RCAF Sgt. W. Morpeth, RAF Sgt. A. Worrad, RCAF Sgt. D. Hall, RAF F/Sgt. A. Fry, RAF and crew, flying Halifax V EB-218 coded WL-N, failed to return from this operation.
F/O H. Farr, RCAF F/O J. Dance, RCAF F/Sgt. F. Gauy, RCAF W/O2 F. Watson, RCAF F/Sgt. C. Brown, RCAF P/O A.Nadeau, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-666 coded WL-T, failed to return from this operation.
F/O H. Lee, RCAF–POW F/O H. Cudney, RCAF Sgt. W. Cassell, RAF Sgt. J. Dupont, RCAF Sgt. D. Wilson, RCAF S/Ldr. W. Thomson, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-663 coded WL-F, failed to return from this operation.
F/Sgt. R. Purdy, RCAF–POW F/Sgt. R. Miller, RCAF P/O R. Bellingham, RAF–POW F/Sgt. E. Plouffe, RCAF F/Sgt. C. Reynolds, RCAF
While most crews were going to Kassel, 7 Wellingtons from 432 squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Den Helder. The crews were over the garden at between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, sowing 14@1500 lb mines.
All crews returned safely to base.
|