Crew members of Halifax JD158
Halifax JD158 coded VR-D, had been in service with that code designation from May 23 1943 until
it was lost on August 17/18. It has been sometimes been confused in two sources. In a book on nose
art the Halifax serial number JD158 is listed as "H" and "D". Which is most certainly incorrect as
Halifax JB859 was VR-H from March until August 29th 1944.
Another internet source which does show it with the correct code of VR-D names the aircraft "Thundering Heard"
which is the correct name of the aircraft flown normally by F/L Stanley Heard, but that was Halifax JB859.
Halifax JD158 had proven itself to F/O C.E. MacIntosh for the first eleven sorties, followed by S/L McMurdy who flew it on six successful operations.( Sgt. Johnson flew one sortie with JD158 also)
During these operations there had been a number of encounters with enemy night fighters and JD158 always brought the crews home safely.
On this night in August the crew of F/L Heard had to leave behind their favourite Halifax VR-H
nick named "Thundering Heard" a play of the crew's captain's last name. The the nose art showing
a wild stampede of snorting cattle on many operations but tonight
the aircraft assigned to them was adorned with a three headed dragon.
The crew took off for an attack on Peenemunde at 2127.This was a special raid put together by Bomber Command with only a few knowing the actual reason for putting together an operation on this place which seemed so small.
In total there would be 596 bombers attacking in three waves, the selection of a moon lit night was chosen to increase the chances of success. The target was divided up into three separate areas, living quarters for those working on the rockets, the rocket assembly factory and the experimental station. One Bomb Master was placed in overall command of the bombing.
Pathfinders used a new technique, where the crews had a group designated as "Shifters", to keep the markers on the target selected by the Bomb Master as the raid progressed.
A diversionary raid by a small number of Mosquitoes drew most of the enemy fighters away from the target area, but only for the first two waves.
The third and last wave which included bombers of Group 6 RCAF suffered the most losses. Twelve out the fifty-seven RCAF bombers were lost. Including three from 419 Squadron. In all 40 bombers were lost during the operation.
Bomber Command was not the only ones with something new that night, for what is thought to be the first time the deadly "schrage Musik" was being used by the Luftwaffe night fighters. With these upward firing canons the night fighter no longer needed to attack from behind they could sneak up from underneath and fire without the crews knowing until it was too late.
Six of the bombers lost were believed to have been shot down by "schrage Musik" fighters as they headed back to base.
The moonlit night and a new effective weapon had cost the lives of one 419 Squadron's respected and experienced crews. Peenemunde today of course is widely known as the area of German rocket research and development, but during this period of 1943 only a select few knew of the dangers of what was being tested and built in the area. To the crews who were send to bomb the area, it was just another target.
Guided in my the green markers set down by the Pathfinders the bombers had a cloud free moon lit night to try and eliminate the target. Light flak aided in making the bomb run and the delivery of the bombs directly on target. The target was described as totally in flame and after dropping 1938 tons of bombs in the designated area, a complete success.
The success of the mission placed the German effort back by up to eight weeks. The cost was high, 40 aircraft and crews. Three of the aircraft lost were from 419 squadron. JD158 came down in the Baltic near Stralsund-Gross Zicker. Also listed as coming down near Greifswald, Bodden, Germany. Halifax JD458 and JD163 with all their crews were the other aircraft lost on the mission.
Halifax JD158 had proven itself to F/O C.E. MacIntosh for the first eleven sorties, followed by S/L McMurdy who flew it on six successful operations.( Sgt. Johnson flew one sortie with JD158 also)
During these operations there had been a number of encounters with enemy night fighters and JD158 always brought the crews home safely.
On this night in August the crew of F/L Heard had to leave behind their favourite Halifax VR-H
nick named "Thundering Heard" a play of the crew's captain's last name. The the nose art showing
a wild stampede of snorting cattle on many operations but tonight
the aircraft assigned to them was adorned with a three headed dragon.Peenemunde
The crew took off for an attack on Peenemunde at 2127.This was a special raid put together by Bomber Command with only a few knowing the actual reason for putting together an operation on this place which seemed so small.
In total there would be 596 bombers attacking in three waves, the selection of a moon lit night was chosen to increase the chances of success. The target was divided up into three separate areas, living quarters for those working on the rockets, the rocket assembly factory and the experimental station. One Bomb Master was placed in overall command of the bombing.
Pathfinders used a new technique, where the crews had a group designated as "Shifters", to keep the markers on the target selected by the Bomb Master as the raid progressed.
A diversionary raid by a small number of Mosquitoes drew most of the enemy fighters away from the target area, but only for the first two waves.
The Third Wave Group 6
The third and last wave which included bombers of Group 6 RCAF suffered the most losses. Twelve out the fifty-seven RCAF bombers were lost. Including three from 419 Squadron. In all 40 bombers were lost during the operation.
Bomber Command was not the only ones with something new that night, for what is thought to be the first time the deadly "schrage Musik" was being used by the Luftwaffe night fighters. With these upward firing canons the night fighter no longer needed to attack from behind they could sneak up from underneath and fire without the crews knowing until it was too late.
Six of the bombers lost were believed to have been shot down by "schrage Musik" fighters as they headed back to base.
JD158
The moonlit night and a new effective weapon had cost the lives of one 419 Squadron's respected and experienced crews. Peenemunde today of course is widely known as the area of German rocket research and development, but during this period of 1943 only a select few knew of the dangers of what was being tested and built in the area. To the crews who were send to bomb the area, it was just another target.
Guided in my the green markers set down by the Pathfinders the bombers had a cloud free moon lit night to try and eliminate the target. Light flak aided in making the bomb run and the delivery of the bombs directly on target. The target was described as totally in flame and after dropping 1938 tons of bombs in the designated area, a complete success.
The success of the mission placed the German effort back by up to eight weeks. The cost was high, 40 aircraft and crews. Three of the aircraft lost were from 419 squadron. JD158 came down in the Baltic near Stralsund-Gross Zicker. Also listed as coming down near Greifswald, Bodden, Germany. Halifax JD458 and JD163 with all their crews were the other aircraft lost on the mission.
