HisStory during the Air-Battle of Berlin

Shot down by night fighter on March 31st 1944 at 01:15 hour above Allendorf (now Stadtallendorf)

According to previous investigations it could have been Lt. Hans Schaefer of the 7. Staffel des Nachtjagdgeschwaders 2 (7./NJG 2) who with his crew, radio operator Sergeant Heinz Manter and gunner Ogfr. Gliebmann Charles, was in a Junkers Ju 88C-6 that has launched in Langendiebach to this mission.
Approaching from behind down under, the JU 88 fired his guns, hitting the HX241 just missing the mid-upper gunner and setting the plane on fire.
The HX241 EY-P Handley page B Halifax III of the no.78 Squadron. began his run at 22:23 hour as one off the 16 bombers that taken off from the airfield of Breighton and flew to rendezvous over the North Sea to the first turning point which was set to be at 51° 50' North 2° 30' East with the Lancasters and Halifaxes of No 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 Groups that would make up the main bomber stream, on there way to Nuremberg.
At this point over the North Sea, they started a steady climb, switching off all lights and when the turn was completed they were heading a course of 130°. The leading aircraft crossed the Belgium coast at 23:22 hour at approximately 8000 feet and at 23:45 hour the stream reached the next turning point at 50° 30' North 4°36' East, just south of Charleroi; there they altered course to port, gradually climbing to there bombing height to to make the run to there last turning point before the target, at Fulda Germany 50° 32' North 10° 36' East.

For this night F/O J.D. Lane was replaced by Sargent John William Morris as rear gunner, because the W/C (Wing Commander) had asked him to fly a little notice with a ' sprog ' or rookie crew who had not been flying over Germany. The proper navigator, Robertson, from Saskatoon was ill, and could not fly. (He was always air-sick, but flew). It was something more serious that night.
Robertson was eventually lost on November 21 1944

Unfortunately the HX241 didn't make it to the last turning point, as they were shot down by a enemy aircraft over Stadtallendorf, approximately 30 km North of the the planned route.
As told by the sole survivor Leslie Nugent from the HX241 after the attack by night fighter:
“I realized the plane was doomed and, in all probability, the rest of the crew were already dead. I was on my knees becoming weaker and weaker without oxygen and started to feel for the escape hatch situated mid-way between my own turret and the rear turret. Next thing I knew was that I was hard up against the rear turret. I had no control over my actions but something guided me back and unwittingly felt the door handle. One twist and I was out, spinning through the air like a top.
I didn't need to jump – the air rushing past plucked me out like a mammoth vacuum cleaner picking up a fragment of dust.”
After being shot from end to front by a night fighter, the Halifax HX241 approached the village from the west already burning, circled once and broke in half before crashing.
The main part of the airplane crashed with a full load of bombs on the premises of the factory for chemical recycling of the present Rheinstaße. The into the air broken tail section crashed at the site of today's outdoor swimming pool.
Since the former factories in Allendorf acted to explosives plants, one can certainly imagine what would have been through the crash of the bomber, everything couth hapen.

F/S Leslie Nugent came unhurt down with his parachute, but was soon taken prisoner in Allendorf.
Because of the fact that there was another crash of a Lancaster at Erksdorf not far away and also at Wahlen a Bomber was shot down, the German authorities that night could not resolved, to which he was occupying.
The burgemaister and the local people buried the six crew members in the local cemetery. The funeral services being conducted by the local Lutheran Minister.
Al in all cases in the Marburg district the graves were well looked after. There was a plain wooden cross inscribed “Hier ruhen 6 unbekante Englische Flieger – Maerz 1944”

At the crash of the Halifax at Allendorf remembers today not much more.
Only in a museum in Ebsdorfergrund there is still one of the Browning Machinegun of the bomber, which was found at the point in the forest.

March 30th 1944	Target Nuremburg	Airborn:	22:23 hour, Breighton Yorkshire.
		Combat:	at 01:10 hour.
		Crashed:	01:15 hour, (Stad)Allendorf.

Crew HX241 EY-P	F/O Hudson, H.	(Capt)
	F/L Taylor, A	(Nav)
	F/O Uyen, William	(Bomb)
	Sgt. Monks, H.	(W/Op)
	Sgt. Hillis, J.	(F/Eng)
	Sgt. Nugent, Leslie	(MU)
	Sgt. Morris, J.	(RG)

Returned early	LV916	F/L Gordon-Davis departed Breighton at 10:13 p.m. Left the mission and returned early because the radio operator's parachute accidentally opened. The furthest point was reached 9 miles east of Thetford at 52.37N/01.0. Landed back at Breighton at 00:25
Returned early	LV949	F/S Bennett left the Breighton runway at 22:09. Returned earlier because the outer engine on the port side was causing problems. The bombs were dropped safely into the sea. Turned around and landed back at Breighton at 01:40.
Returned early	LV905 EY-W	F/S Wilson departed Breighton at 22:05, returned mission owing to Engine failure. Bomded position 50:30N / 06:40E No Results seen owing to thick cloud.
Returned early	LW520	Mission aborted by F/S Claas after departing Breighton Air Base at 22:03 and traveling just over an hour, furthest point reached at 52.30N/00.20E. at Littleport. Returned via the North Sea where the bombs were safely dropped into the sea. Landed safely again at Breighton at 00:28.