HARBURG
237 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitoes of 5 Group. 7 Lancasters lost.
The aiming point for this raid was the Rhenania-Ossag oil refinery, which had been attacked several times by American day bombers. Brunswig's history of the Hamburg-Harburg air raids gives this raid only a brief mention, saying that considerable damage was caused in Harburg's residential and industrial areas but the oil refinery is not mentioned. 119 people were killed and 5,205 were bombed out.
DORTMUND
209 Lancasters and 19 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost.
The aiming point was the Hoesch Benzin synthetic-oil plant in the Wambel district. A local report confirms that the plant was severely damaged. Other bombs hit nearby housing and the local airfield. 83 people were killed and 85 injured.
Minor Operations: 41 Mosquitoes to the Kamen oil refinery, 12 to Osnabrck, 9 to Wiesbaden, 6 to Gotha and 3 to Erfurt, 36 R.C.M. sorties, 59 Mosquito patrols, 26 Lancasters and 24 Halifaxes minelaying off Oslo, in the Kattegat and in the River Elbe. No aircraft lost.
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TIRPITZ
30 Lancasters of 9 and 617 Squadrons and a 463 Squadron Lancaster with cameramen on board flew from Lossiemouth to attack the Tirpitz, which was still moored near Troms. The weather was clear. Tirpitz was hit by at least 2 Tallboys and then suffered a violent internal explosion. She capsized to remain bottom upwards - a total loss. Approximately 1,000 of the 1,900 men on board were killed or injured. German fighters which were stationed near by to protect the Tirpitz failed to take off in time and only 1 Lancaster, of 9 Squadron, was severely damaged, by Flak; it landed safely in Sweden with its crew unhurt.
Minor Operations: 2 R.C.M. sorties, 2 Mosquitoes on Ranger patrols. No losses.
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