COLOGNE
103 aircraft - 45 Wellingtons, 39 Hampdens, 7 Halifaxes, 6 Manchesters, 6 Stirlings - to railway targets and 5 further Manchesters on searchlight-suppression flights. 3 Hampdens, 1 Manchester and 1 Wellington were lost and a further Wellington was shot down by an Intruder over England.
The weather was bad and only the estimated position of Cologne could be bombed, through cloud, by 68 aircraft. Cologne reports a few bombs and 1 person killed.
ESSEN
43 Whitleys and 28 Wellingtons to the Krupps works. 1 Whitley lost.
Essen was also cloud-covered and bombing was poor. Only 1 house was damaged with 4 or 5 people killed (two reports differ) and 10 people were injured.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 12 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians and in Kiel Bay. 1 Wellington lost.
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COLOGNE
34 Wellingtons and 20 Hampdens bombed in good visibility. Many fires were claimed but some crews reported German decoy fires. Cologne reports only 35 bombs of all kinds, 1 house damaged, no casualties. 1 Hampden lost.
4 Hampdens minelaying off Denmark. No losses.
