Memorable Operation

Last operational flight -- 13th ---was on the night of May 15/16, 1942. Squadron was briefed to lay magnetic mines off the coast of Denmark where it was expected the German Fleet would pass enroute from Kiel to the North Sea. Load one - 2000lb. magnetic mine plus two - 250lb. delayed action bombs under the wings. The outward trip was uneventful and aircraft passed north on Heliogoland which was a hot spot for flak. Crossed Denmark and on turning south toward the drop point, saw a German ship, later identified as a minesweeper.
The mine was laid on target, then it was decided to attack the ship. “We were still flying at a low altitude, having only minutes before dropping the mine at about 700 ft. It was agreed that we would attack using a new glide bombing technique..... Our intention was to reduce power and glide toward the target from our initial height of about 1000 ft. and at an air speed of 200 mph release the wing bombs..... On the run in, the ship opened fire with a barrage of light flak..... the port engine was hit and the  wing burst into flame.”
From an altitude of about 200 ft. Howard’s aircraft crashed into the sea. Howard was rescued, unconscious, by a lifeboat from the German minesweeper and regained consciousness in a German military hospital in Denmark. All three crew memberes were killed.
 
Howard left the service at Toronto, on April 24, 1945.
He received a B.A.Sc. at the U. of T. and served as a Engineer/Analyst with Imperial Oil Ltd. Retired in 1982.
Howard and Dorothy Eleanor were married in 1945 and have three children -- Peter, Christopher and Martha.
They have four grandchildren.                              March 29, 2001

Handley Page “Hampdens in formation over England.
Photo from Imperial War Museum.

Not to be copied without permission of IWM.