419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax LW328

Crew of Halifax LW242

Stuttgart November 26/27 1943

For the crew of F/S Samuel Clarke this would be their second operation together since Clarke's completion of 2nd. Pilot sorties on November 4th.

Lack of Information on Loss

The only facts known for sure is that Halifax LW242 crashed near Sankt Ingbert Germany. Also that they were buried originally in Sankt Ingbert on November 30th. No reason found for the delay in the burial, or if the date of the burial was incorrect.

One Possible Clue

Searching Luftwaffe records brought to light a claim for a Halifax brought down near Hermeskeil which is only 10 km. from Sankt Ingbert. I believe that this was LW242, it is the only aircraft matching the location mentioned.

Two Pronged Raid

419 Squadron along with other squadrons were assigned to the Stuttgart target, while a larger force headed to Berlin. The smaller force of which Moose squadron was a part of lost five of the 178 aircraft sent.
Broken cloud over the target meant that sky markers had to be used to locate the target. The enemy defences then set about adding confusion by adding their own dummy markers of the same colour. This split the bombing efforts and reduced the effect of the raid.
The bomber streams route fooled the nearby defences of Frankfurt. A path of some 300 plus searchlights turned night into day from Frankfurt to Stuttgart looking for what the defences believed was the bomber path.

Crew of Halifax LW242

Stuttgart November 26/27 1943

Lack of Information on Loss

One Possible Clue

Two Pronged Raid

Flight Sergeant

Samuel Edward Clarke

Pilot Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Parkside Saskatchewan
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Everett William Chalk

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Brantford Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

James Lyall Truax

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Maxwell Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Flight Sergeant

John Vinton Dillon

Bomb Aimer Age 25
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Tecumseh Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Warrant Officer

Lloyd Pierson Webster

Navigator Age 22
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Roland Manitoba
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

James Robert Henderson RAF

WAG Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Tweedmouth, Berwick on Tyne
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Jack Dandridge Whittingham RAF

Flight Engineer Age 19
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Shipley Yorkshire
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Crew of Halifax LW242

Stuttgart November 26/27 1943

Lack of Information on Loss

One Possible Clue

Two Pronged Raid

Flight Sergeant

Samuel Edward Clarke

Pilot Age 20Killed in Action November 26th 1943 From Parkside Saskatchewan Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Everett William Chalk

Air Gunner Age 20Killed in Action November 26th 1943 From Brantford Ontario Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

James Lyall Truax

Air Gunner Age 20Killed in Action November 26th 1943 From Maxwell Ontario Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Flight Sergeant

John Vinton Dillon

Bomb Aimer Age 25Killed in Action November 26th 1943 From Tecumseh Ontario Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Warrant Officer

Lloyd Pierson Webster

Navigator Age 22 Killed in Action November 26th 1943 From Roland Manitoba Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

James Robert Henderson RAF

WAG Age 20 Killed in Action November 26th 1943 From Tweedmouth, Berwick on Tyne Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Jack Dandridge Whittingham RAF

Flight Engineer Age 19 Killed in Action November 26th 1943 From Shipley Yorkshire Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Pilot Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Parkside Saskatchewan
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Brantford Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Maxwell Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Bomb Aimer Age 25
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Tecumseh Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Navigator Age 22
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Roland Manitoba
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

WAG Age 20
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Tweedmouth, Berwick on Tyne
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Flight Engineer Age 19
Killed in Action November 26th 1943
From Shipley Yorkshire
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery