Operation: Stuttgart

Date: 28/29th January 1945 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 426 Squadron (motto: 'On wings of fire'). 6 Group

Type: Halifax VII

Serial: NP768

Code: OW-Q

Base: RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire

Location: Kronau, Germany

Pilot: W/Cdr. Fitzroy Cavendish Carling-Kelly C/172 RCAF Age 33. PoW (1)

Fl/Eng: Sgt. J.A Bromley 222160 RAFVR Age? PoW (2)

Nav: Sgt. Sidney Gordon Rundle R/20601 J/93851 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. Donald Joseph Bird J/18275 RCAF Age 24. PoW (3)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/O. Harry John Dales J/19865 RCAF Age? PoW (4)

Air/Gnr: F/O. Allan Llewellyn Evans J/58788 RCAF Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: F/O. Philip Hyde J/19131 RCAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 19:06 hrs, one of 16 from the squadron.

Air defence consisted of a slightly heavy flak and fighters in the target area. The attack was all the more difficult because there were so many aircraft over the target that many pilots had to take evasive action to avoid mid-air collisions. Fourteen of the Thunderbird bombers reached the objective between 2333 and 2340 hours, dropping their loads from 18,000 to 20,000 feet.

Bomber Command detailed 602 aircraft to strike two targets in the Stuttgart area. The Thunderbird sixteen Halifaxes were part of a 135 bomber attack of the Hirth aero-jet engine factory and the Bosch ignition works in Stuttgart's northwestern suburb of Zuffenhausen. Each No 426 Squadron aircraft carried one 2,000 pound bomb and 4,240 pounds of incendiaries.

Flying at 18,000 feet in the middle of the bomber stream when it was hit from the starboard quarter. The rear gunner, F/O. Hyde, was killed instantly when he was hit in the head. The pilot's panel disintegrated as well as the bomb aimer's perspex. Fire broke out in the rear of the aircraft and in the wing behind the port outer engine. The Halifax went into a spiral dive and Carling-Kelly, who was wounded, gave the order to bail out while he struggled to hold the aircraft steady. He then bailed out from about 8,500 feet. F/O. Evans was last seen heading towards the main door to bale out. Sgt. Rundle was seen to bale out.

(1) Fitzroy Cavendish Carling-Kelly - born on the 14th September 1911, in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada. Son of John Carling and Helen (née Bayne). Husband of Gurnee Wallis (née Smith). Passed away on the 22nd October 1976. age 65.
(2) J.A Bromley - Very little known, from Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
(3) Donald Joseph Bird Born on the 14th March 1920 - passed away at Sherbrooke Heights, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada on the 15th December 2014, age 94. Husband of Kathleen Bird (nee Melnyk - predeceased Donald).
(4) Harry John Dales - Very little known, from Winsor, Ontario, Canada.

Burial details:

Sgt. Sidney Gordon Rundle. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 6.E.16. Born on the 30th March 1923 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. Son of Cephas James Rundle (died 1954, age 72) and Jessie Isabella Lottie Rundle (née Withering - died 1971, age 84). Husband of Mildred Rundle. Epitaph: 'Greater Love Hath No Man Than That He Lay Down His Life For His Country'.

F/O. Allan Llewellyn Evans. Durnbach War Cemetery. Joint grave 6.E.19-20. Born on the 07th April 1921 in Bedwellty, Caerphilly, Wales. A shipper prior to enlisting. Son of Edward (died 1961, age 76)and Caroline Evans (née Russell - died 1991, age 98) 1143 Retallack Street, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, brother of Philip G.R Evans and husband of Joyce June Irene Evans, of 89 Arthur St. Georges Road, Hull. Father of Edwin Allan Evans. Epitaph: 'Allan. Ever Loved Husband Of Joyce And Daddy Of Allan. God Rest You Always'.

F/O. Philip Hyde. Durnbach War Cemetery. Joint grave 6.E.19-20. Born on the 27th October 1921 in Birch Vale, Derbyshire, England. Son of Samuel and Beatrice Hyde, of Magog, Province of Quebec, Canada. Epitaph: 'Peace, Perfect Peace'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to National Archives. Government of Canada Archives, Paradie Archive, International Bomber Command Centre. IBCC

Other sources shown below.

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