Operational Performance
Raids Flown
|
4 Gp |
Wellingtons |
11 Bombing |
8 Minelaying |
|
6 Gp |
Whimpys |
31 |
15 |
|
6 |
Halifaxes |
172 |
17 |
|
6 |
Lancasters |
8 |
5 |
|
267 Raids |
222 |
45 |
Sorties & loses
|
4 Gp |
Whimpys |
158 Sorties |
7 ac lost (4.4%) |
|
6 Gp |
Wimpys |
384 |
21 (5.5%) |
|
6 |
Hallys |
2519 |
49 (1.9%) |
|
6 |
Hallys |
114 |
1 (0.9%) |
|
3175 |
78 (2.5%) |
Total sorties of 3221 (including 45 airlifting 1055 POW’s back to England). Operational/Non-Operational Flying hours: 17,289/10,934. Bombs dropped: 9356 tons. Victories: 7 en ac destroyed, 1 probably destroyed, 10 damaged. Casualties: Operational: 71 aircraft; 451 aircrew of whom 82 were killed, 322 missing, 23 POW, 7 injured; 17 proved safe. Non-operational: 11 aircraft; 25 personnel, of whom 15 were killed, 10 injured.
429 sqn had the distinction of suffering the most Wellington losses in 6 Group.
Honours and Awards: 2 bars to DFC, 45 DFC’s, 1 AFC, 1 CGM, 7 DFM’s.
Sources: Bomber Commmand War Diaries, Reap the Whirlwind, Crucible of War: RCAF Official History, RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft 1924-1968, Thunderbirds at War: Diary of a Bomber Squadron