MANNHEIM
272 aircraft - 101 Lancasters, 65 Halifaxes, 57 Wellingtons, 49 Stirlings. 10 aircraft - 5 Wellingtons, 3 Halifaxes. 1 Lancaster. 1 Stirling - lost, 37 percent of the force, and 4 more aircraft crashed in England.
The target area was found to be completely cloud-covered. Most of the Pathfinders withheld their flares and many of the 220 crews who bombed did so on dead-reckoning positions. Mannheim reports only 500 or so incendiary bombs and some leaflets. The only serious incident over the city was the destruction by fire of an old wooden building at the army 'Pioneer Water Exercise Centre' on the Neckar Canal; the lower part of the building was used by a local farmer who lost 25 sheep, 4 lambs, some turnips and some hay. The total claim for the building was 11,000 Reichsmarks (£ 1,100) and for the animals, etc. 3,000 Reichsmarks (£ 300). The roofs of a house and of the local canoe clubhouse were also set on fire but soon extinguished. There were no casualties in Mannheim.
14 Lancasters and Wellingtons laid mines in the Frisian Islands without loss.
15 (a and b). The successful but costly raid by 2 Group on the Philips radio factory at Eindhoven in Holland. The aircraft over the target are Bostons.
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MINELAYING
36 aircraft were sent to a wide extent of coast from the southern Biscay to the Frisians. This appears to be the first night on which aircraft of 4 Group joined in the minelaying campaign.
