Halifax V lost 28th March '43.

[cheesey]

Hello all.

Has anyone any information regarding the following loss please:

28th March 1943.
1663 HCU.
Halifax Mk V either PN 366 or NP374.
Lost on an operation to St.Nazaire possibly Western English Channel (?).

Any help would be appreciated.

Steve.

[Amrit1]

1663 HC lost no aircraft on the 28 March 1943, nor did any other HCU.

PN366 was lost 24 February 1945 whilst with 1663 HCU.

T/O Rufforth on exercise "Sweet Potato", during which the port outer cut. Inadvertently, it is thought, the crew feathered the inner port and this sent the Halifax into a very steep bank, structural failure following as a consequance. The bulk of the debris, along with the bodies of the crew, were recovered near Edmonthorpe, seven miles ESE from Melton Mowbray, Leicester. All now rest in Freance, having been exhumed from Cambridge City Cemetery.

All FFAF crew killed:
S/Lt J Grimaud
Lt J L A Dedieu
Asp G Roque
Sgt F L Rougier
Sgt M Laurent
S/C R Blassieaux
S/C R Arrachequesne

From: BCL Vol 8

The aircraft lost on the St Nazaire raid on the 28th March were:

Lancaster ED754 of 97 Squadron
Halifax BB283 of 419 Squadron