Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV777 |
Markings | MH-F2 |
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 4. D. 19-21.. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY. HIS MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS |
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 151 |
Service Number | 130528 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 51 |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of origin if different | United Kingdom |
Adams R H (W/O) |
Buckingham E M (F/S) |
Dadds K (F/S) |
Hill F P (S/L) |
Hobbs F (F/S) |
Newstead F L (P/O) |
Start Date | 30-03-1944 |
End Date | 31-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Snaith |
Day/Night raid | Night |
Operation | Nuremberg. 795 aircraft, 95 losses (11.9%)- the highest of any raid. High-cloud was expected to offer protection to the bomber stream but the target would be clear for the bombing run. A Mosquito meteorological flight had predicted that in fact that would not be the case, but the raid went ahead anyway. The German controller ignored the diversionary raids and had his fighters circling close to the route of the main force, using Tame Boar tactics. Consequently, the fighters engaged the bombers before they reached the Belgian border. The clear conditions allowed the fighters to pick off bombers at will with 82 of the 95 bombers being Lost on the outbound leg. Strong winds meant that some of the bombers went off the intended route and as a consequence many bombed Schweinfurt in error, some 50 miles from Nuremberg. The problem as exacerbated by two PFF aircraft dropping markers in Schweinfurt. Overall, the raid was a failure and little damage was caused. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak on return leg and crashed at Bietigheim, NNW of Stuttgart, Germany |