Takeoff at 21:41 hrs for an operation to Mainz in Germany.
Outward-bound, the aircraft was shot down by the night fighter crew of Hauptmann Ludwig Bietmann & Unteroffizier Wolfgang Reinicke of the 5./NJG 1, who were flying Bf 110 F-4 G9+GN from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield.
The five killed were pilots F/O Donald A. Kingston (25 y.) and P/O Graham W. MacAllister (30 y.), Sgt Patrick McCann (26 y.), Sgt Ivor B. Griffiths (radio operator), Sgt Edward F. Burell (mid-upper gunner, 21 y.). The tail gunner, Sgt R.G. Kendall RCAF and the bomb aimer, Sgt J. Stewart were captured.
The Halifax W1245-EY-B (Flicr)