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LECLAIRE JJH
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LECLAIRE, Joseph

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Handley Page Halifax III
Serial Number LV898
Markings ZL-D
Memorial information
Burial/Memorial Country Germany
Burial/Memorial Place Rheinberg War Cemetery
Grave Reference 14. E. 5..
Epitaph
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase 2
Panel Number 197
Enlistment information
Service Number J/16096
Service Royal Canadian Air Force
Group 6
Squadron 427 (Lion)
Trade WOp/AG
Country of origin if different Canada
Last Operation information
Start Date 30-03-1944
End Date 31-03-1944
Takeoff Station Leeming
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 Shot down by a night-fighter on the outbound leg and crashed at Herhahn, Germany