Note:
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406) is not mentioned in Operations record books for this sortie.
John E. C. Austin’s crew
This is the crew:
Pilot: F/O Plummer A G (J14032)
Navigator: F/S Dunster B F (J86579)
Flight Engineer: SGT Pinder A F (RAF 1387446)
Wireless Operator SGT Austin J E C (RAF 1324406)
Bomb aimer: F/O Porterfield R B (J24529)
Mid-upper gunner: SGT Price N E (J87144)
Rear gunner: SGT Gallagher D (178819)
Mid-under gunner: Flight Sergeant G Mazur
Fourteenth operation: 22/23 April 1944
PT-L
Plane serial number 503
Target: Dusseldorf
Time up: 22.57
Time down: 03.57
Details taken from this source:
http://www.6bombergroup.ca/April44/April22~23.html
April 22/23, 1944
23 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 114 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 433 squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 284,000 lbs of high explosives and 469,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.
F/O D. Snider from 408 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base. W/Cdr D. Jacobs returned early as the stbd inner caught fire. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O E. Rognan bombed early as they were coned by search lights. F/Lt H. McIver was coned by search lights. They were then damaged by flak. There were holes in both wings, stbd flap, tail fin, and rear turret. F/Lt J. Weis landed at Burn on return. F/Sgt E. Vaughan had the stbd inner u/s after being hit by a load of incendiaries. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt R. McKay from 420 squadron blew a tire on take off. They returned safely to base. P/O P. Lapointe was hit by flak, not serious. P/O W. Fenton was hit by flak, the hydraulics were damaged. P/O E. Heimpel landed at Coningsby due to a fuel shortage.
F/O J. Lambert from 424 squadron returned early as they could not climb.
P/O W. Vornbrock RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LV-780 coded QB-M, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt L. Walters RAF
F/Sgt J. Laird RCAF
P/O F. Cammaart RCAF
Sgt L. Hanson RAF
P/O J. Renning RCAF
Sgt F. Morrisey RCAF–POW
6 crew were killed and 1 POW after being attacked by a nightfighter over Tillburg and crashing near Goirle, Holland.
F/O B. Wilmot from 425 squadron had the stbd outer u/s before the target. The bombed and returned safely to base on 3 engines. F/Sgt S. Milliken landed at Breighton on return. P/O J. Brisson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-633 coded KW-O, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt I. Welch RAF
F/O E. Fortin RCAF
W/O2 J. Davidson RCAF–POW
F/O J. Desrosiers RCAF–POW
P/O J. Legault RCAF
P/O J. Hurteau RCAF
5 crew were killed and 2 POWs after being shot down by flak and a night fighter.
P/O J. Coulombe from 426 squadron was attacked 4 times by enemy aircraft before the target. The stbd fuel tank was damaged.
P/O L. Murphy from 427 squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt J. Atkins from 429 squadron was attacked by an enemy aircraft, the fin, rudders, elevator and wing were damaged. F/O J. Fennessey RCAF and crew flying Halifax III LK-802 coded AL-F failed to return from this operation.
Sgt H. Austin RAF
P/O A. Achtymichuk RCAF
F/O R. Low RCAF–POW
M/Sgt A. Kempton USAAF–POW
Sgt W. Miller RCAF–POW
P/O P. Crosswell RCAF
4 crew were killed and 3 POWs after being shot down by flak.
F/O E. Howland USAAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III LV-963 coded AL-V, failed to return from this operation.
W/O2 D. Brillinger RCAF
Sgt E. Goss RAF
W/O2 H. Findlater RCAF–POW
P/O H. Doiron RCAF
W/O2 R. Chamberlain RCAF–POW
F/Sgt J. Young RCAF
P/O W. Adlard RCAF
5 crew were killed and 3 POWs after being shot down by flak.
W/O2 J. Gustafson from 431 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/Lt J. Hill returned early as P/O J. Leyne RCAF, the rear gunner, was unconscious due to the oxygen system being u/s. Lt J. Earman was hit by flak, there were holes in the bomb doors and port fuselage. 1st Lt E. Boyle USAAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-514 coded SE-P, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt R. Corkill RAF
F/O P. MacGregor RCAF
P/O N. Lynch RCAF
P/O F. Hatchman RCAF
P/O R. Lochhead RCAF
Sgt A. Howcroft RAF
P/O J. Priamo RCAF
All were killed.
F/Sgt H. Menzies from 432 squadron was hit by flak, the bomb doors were damaged. P/O L. Lauzon was hit by flak, there were holes in the windscreen.
F/Sgt J. McElheran landed at Woodbridge on return.
F/O W. Canter RCAF–POW and crew, from 433 squadron flying Halifax III HX-291, coded BM-W failed to return from this operation.
Sgt J. Cumming RAF
F/O A. Morris RCAF–POW
P/O H. Boissevain RCAF
F/O P. Schnobb RCAF–Evd
P/O H. Seedhouse RCAF
F/Sgt A. Camenzuli RCAF–POW
Three were killed, four POWs and one evaded capture.
P/O J. Bourgeault RCA F and crew, flying Halifax III LV-840 coded BM-E, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt D. Bowerman RAF–POW
W/O2 W. Dennstedt RCAF–Evd
F/O J. Guignion RCAF–POW
W/O2 T. Miller RCAF–POW
Sgt J. Plante RCAF–POW
Sgt J. Laframboise RCAF–POW
1 crew was killed, 1 evaded capture and 5 POWs after being shot down by flak and a fighter.
F/O G. Burns RCAF and crew flying Halifax III LV-990 coded BM-J failed to return from this operation.
Sgt J. Bedard RCAF
Sgt J. Dunford RAF
P/O D. MacDougall RCAF
Sgt T. Morris RAF–POW
P/O A. Holmes RCAF
P/O J. Desroches RCAF
6 crew were killed and 1 POW.
While most of the group went to Dusseldorf, 40 Halifaxes from 419, 428, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Laon. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, releasing 378,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.
F/Lt C. Thomas USAAF–Evd and Crew from 419 squadron, flying Halifax II HX-189 coded VR-J, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt J. Thompson RAF–POW
F/Sgt P. Lindsay RCAF–Evd
P/O J. Neal RCAF–Evd *(See Note Below)
W/O1 P. Murphy RCAF–POW
Sgt W. Greene RAF–Evd
P/O V. Knox RCAF
1 crew was killed 2 were POWs and 4 evaded capture after being shot down by a Nightfighter.
F/O G. Maffre from 434 squadron returned early was the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
RCAF 420 Snowy Owl 
Two days earlier, 20/21 April 1944, the Halifax bomber PT-V LW692 in which my Dad was the tail gunner, was shot down over Dieppe.
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Thanks for this information. I will more into it.