P390 – Halifax Mk. III NR173
Fact Box
| Aircraft Type | Handley Page Halifax Mk. III |
| Serial Number | NR173 |
| Code | P390 |
| Squadron | 429 Squadron (RCAF) |
| Base | RAF Leeming, England |
| Date | 12 January 1945 |
| Mission | Mine-laying (“Gardening”) – Flensburg Fjord |
| Cause of Loss | Shot down by German night fighter (Ju 88 G-6) |
| Crash Location | Sea area east of Als, Denmark |
| Fate | All 7 crew members survived and became POWs |
Operational Summary
Halifax Mk. III NR173 of 429 Squadron (RCAF) took off from RAF Leeming on 12 January 1945 at approximately 17:18 on a mine-laying mission in Flensburg Fjord.
During the operation the aircraft was attacked by a German night fighter of the type Junkers Ju 88 G-6. The Halifax was severely damaged in the attack.
The crew abandoned the aircraft by parachute. NR173 subsequently crashed into the sea east of Als.
All seven crew members survived the bailout, landed on Als, and were subsequently captured by German forces. They were first taken for interrogation and later transferred to prisoner-of-war camps in Germany. All survived the war.
Crew
| Position | Name | Rank | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | F/O R. H. McMillan | Flying Officer | POW – survived the war |
| Flight Engineer | Sgt. J. A. McLean | Sergeant | POW – survived the war |
| Navigator | F/O W. H. McLeod | Flying Officer | POW – survived the war |
| Bomb Aimer | P/O J. E. Wood | Pilot Officer | POW – survived the war |
| Wireless Operator | Sgt. R. W. Stewart | Sergeant | POW – survived the war |
| Mid Upper Gunner | Sgt. A. J. McKay | Sergeant | POW – survived the war |
| Rear Gunner | Sgt. G. E. Brown | Sergeant | POW – survived the war |
Sources
- 429 Squadron (RCAF) Operations Record Book
- Bomber Command Losses – 12 January 1945
- Danish crash records