He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type II, serial DT768, code EY-W).
165 Halifaxes to attack the Peugeot motor factory in the Montbéliard suburb of the French town of Sochaux, near the Swiss border. 5 Halifaxes were lost, 3.0 per cent of the force.
The outcome of this raid illustrates again the difficulties of hitting relatively small targets in the occupied countries and the danger to surrounding civilians. The night was clear, the target was only lightly defended and the attack altitude was 6,000 to 10,000ft, but the centre of the group of markers dropped by the Pathfinder crews of 35 Squadron was 700 yards beyond the factory. The factory was classed as 5 per cent damaged; the production was normal immediately after the raid.
617 Squadron carried out its first operation since the Dams Raid in May. It had been decided to keep the squadron in being and to use it for independent precision raids on small targets. It remained in No 5 Group and most of its replacement crews came from the squadrons of that group. The targets on this night were two electrical-transformer stations in Northern Italy - one near Bologna and the other near Genoa. The intention was to disrupt the supply of electricity to the railways carrying German troops and supplies to the battle front in Sicily. 12 Lancasters of 617 Squadron were joined by 12 further No 5 Group Lancasters for these attacks, which were not successful. No flares or markers were carried and the targets were partially hidden by mist. After bombing, the Lancasters flew on to North Africa. 2 Lancasters of the supporting force were lost.
6 Mosquitos flew on a nuisance raid to Munich but only 2 aircraft actually reached the target. No aircraft lost.
18 Lancasters of No 5 Group attempted raids on two more transformer stations in Northern Italy. 7 aircraft bombed the Cislago station accurately but the second target was not located and an alternative target was bombed instead. 1 Lancaster lost. 6 Mosquitos bombed Munich and 7 OTU Wellingtons dropped leaflets over French towns without loss.
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