419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax LW327

Crew of Halifax LW327

Halifax LW327, VR-A took off at 2309 from Middelton St.George for an operation against Leipzig on the night of February 19th/20th 1944. An attack by nightfighter most likely by Stab/NJG10 which records a Halifax shot down 10km SW of Leipzig. The night of February 19-20 1944 has a very long list of RCAF and RAF aircraft lost, including two from 419 squadron. So this is only a guess that seems to fit the known details. Some aircraft listed by Luftwaffe records only say four engined aircraft so it may be wrong. What is known is that the fighter started tracking LW327 near Magdeburg.
F/O Lucas had twice performed evasive zig zags has they passed the final turning point at Stendal When out of dark night came a large number of flares dropped by night-fighters lighting up the Halifax and making it a target for the fighters.
Shortly after which the aircraft was raked by cannon and machine gun fire. The attack killed the two gunners and set fire to the port wing fuel tank and damaged controls to that wing. Orders were given to bail out as the aircraft was uncontrolable and the fire in the fuselage was unextinguishable.
Of the five remaing crewmen four became POWs. F/O Gordon Davies who also had managed to jump free of the aircraft was killed. It was felt and recorded by one of the crew members much later that it could have been his chute or he may have been killed after landing by people who found him after he landed. There is no other mention of this. But the crew member must have had some reason to record it.
More on F/O Davies

Crew of Halifax LW327

Pilot Officer

Joseph Fernand Gustave Rene DeHoux

Rear Gunner
Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Flying Officer

Gordon Paul Davies

Navigator Age 24
Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Sergeant

Patrick Newbery RAF

Mid-Upper Gunner
Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944
From Southwark London, England
Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Pilot Officer

Charles Robert Herriot

Flight Engineer
POW #1894 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug
From Lancer Saskatchewan

Warrant Officer

Jack Pluta

Wireless Op.
POW #1900 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug
From Hafford Saskatchewan

Flight Sergeant

John Edwin Hairsine

Bomb Aimer
POW #1893 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug
From Veron British Columbia

Flying Officer

Leslie Treweek Lucas

Pilot
POW # 3532 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria
From Calgary Alberta

Crew of Halifax LW327

Pilot Officer

Joseph Fernand Gustave Rene DeHoux

Rear Gunner Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944 From Toronto Ontario Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Flying Officer

Gordon Paul Davies

Navigator Age 24 Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944 From Toronto Ontario Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Sergeant

Patrick Newbery RAF

Mid-Upper GunnerKilled in Action Feb. 20 1944 From Southwark London, England Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Pilot Officer

Charles Robert Herriot

Flight EngineerPOW #1894 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug From Lancer Saskatchewan

Warrant Officer

Jack Pluta

Wireless Op.POW #1900 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug From Hafford Saskatchewan

Flight Sergeant

John Edwin Hairsine

Bomb AimerPOW #1893 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug From Veron British Columbia

Flying Officer

Leslie Treweek Lucas

PilotPOW # 3532 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria From Calgary Alberta

Rear Gunner
Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Navigator Age 24
Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Mid-Upper Gunner
Killed in Action Feb. 20 1944
From Southwark London, England
Burial Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Flight Engineer
POW #1894 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug
From Lancer Saskatchewan

Wireless Op.
POW #1900 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug
From Hafford Saskatchewan

Bomb Aimer
POW #1893 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug
From Veron British Columbia

Pilot
POW # 3532 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria
From Calgary Alberta