KOBLENZ
43 Lancasters of 8 Group made an unusual Pathfinder solo raid on Koblenz without loss. The purpose of the raid was not recorded. It is possible that either the large road and rail bridges over the Rhine and Mosel or the local railway yards were the targets. Only high-explosive bombs were carried. Koblenz was completely covered by cloud and all bombing was by H2S from 15,000 ft.
The local report states that some bombs fell in the town, blocking several roads and railways and scoring hits on a road and a rail bridge, although these remained usable. Part of the bombing fell well outside the town. 62 civilians, 1 female Ukrainian worker and 5 or 6 German soldiers were killed and 48 people were injured.
Minor Operations: 63 Mosquitoes to Hannover, 14 each to Homberg and Castrop-Rauxel oil plants and 9 to Eisenach, 17 R.C.M. sorties, 17 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.
---
HOMBERG
160 Lancasters of 3 Group to attack the oil refinery. 3 Lancasters lost.
The bombing was scattered at first but then became very concentrated, culminating, according to the Bomber Command report, in 'a vast sheet of yellow flame followed by black smoke rising to a great height'. This was a very satisfactory raid after several previous attempts by Bomber Command to destroy this oil refinery.
2 Wellingtons on R.C.M. sorties.
---
This was a night of mainly good visibility in which Bomber Command operations were directed strictly according to priorities given in recent directives.
ASCHAFFENBURG
274 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups. 2 Lancasters lost.
The object of this raid was to destroy the local railway yards and lines. The local report says that 50 bombs fell in the railway area, causing much damage to the marshalling yards and railway workshops but the main through lines were not cut. Many other bombs fell in the centre and north of the town. About 500 houses were destroyed and 1,500 seriously damaged. Many old buildings were hit, including the local castle, the Johannisburg, which was hit by 5 high-explosive bombs and had a 4,000-lb 'blockbuster' burst near by; the roof and upper storeys of the castle were burnt out. 344 people were killed, of whom 221 were in the northern district of Damm. 3 Catholic priests died when their church was hit.
CASTROP-RAUXEL
273 aircraft - 176 Halifaxes, 79 Lancasters, 18 Mosquitoes - of 1, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Halifaxes lost.
The target was the oil refinery. The local report says that 216 high-explosive bombs, 78 duds and many incendiaries hit the oil plant and caused such a large fire that the fire-fighters could do little more than allow it to burn itself out. It is believed that the refinery produced no more oil after this raid. Bombs fell in many other places, including some important industrial and coal-mining premises. 15 people were killed and 31 injured.
STERKRADE
270 aircraft - 232 Halifaxes, 20 Mosquitoes, 18 Lancasters - of 4 and 8 Groups. 2 Halifaxes lost.
The target was again the synthetic-oil refinery. Bomber Command's report says that the plant was not damaged, though some labour barracks near by were hit. No local details are available.
MITTELLAND CANAL
138 Lancasters and 6 Mosquitoes of 5 Group. 2 Lancasters lost.
The canal banks were successfully breached near Gravenhorst. Later photographs showed that water drained off over a 30-mile stretch and that 59 barges were stranded on one short section alone.
DORTMUND-EMS CANAL
123 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitoes of 5 Group. No aircraft lost.
The canal near Ladbergen was attacked, some of the Lancasters coming down to 4,000 ft to get beneath the cloud. A breach was made in the only branch of the aqueduct here which had been repaired since the last raid and the water once again drained out of the canal.
Minor Operations: 29 Mosquitoes to Stuttgart, 26 to Hannover, 19 to Worms and 4 to Wesel, 38 R.C.M. sorties, 80 Mosquito patrols, 24 Halifaxes and 18 Lancasters minelaying off Oslo, 9 aircraft on Resistance operations. 4 aircraft were lost - 2 Mosquitoes and 1 Halifax of 100 Group and 1 Lancaster from the minelaying force.
Total effort for the night: 1,345 sorties, 14 aircraft (1.0 percent) lost.
