HANNOVER
222 aircraft - 112 Wellingtons, 46 Hampdens, 34 Blenheims, 30 Whitleys - to industrial targets in Hannover. 4 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 1 Blenheim, 1 Hampden - were lost and 3 more aircraft were shot down in England by German Intruders.
183 aircraft claimed to have bombed their primary targets; 32 aircraft bombed alternative targets. Crews reported good visibility, large explosions and many fires started. No report is available from Hannover.
ROTTERDAM
43 aircraft to oil-storage tanks at Rotterdam. Included in this force were 3 Stirlings, of 7 Squadron, making the first operational flights of this new type of aircraft. There were no losses.
The 119 Wellingtons provided by 3 Group on this night represented the first time a group had dispatched more than 100 aircraft.
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6 Blenheims to Channel ports turned back.
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BREMEN
79 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys but only 27 claimed to have bombed Bremen. No aircraft lost but 22 aircraft - 11 Wellingtons, 7 Whitleys and 4 Hampdens - crashed in England when unexpected fog descended on most of the bases. Most of their crews parachuted safely but 5 men were killed.
HANNOVER
18 Wellingtons and 11 Hampdens. No losses.
1 Wellington to Rotterdam bombed there.
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to Rotterdam. To 8 Group in August 1942 and served as a Pathfinder squadron until the end of the war. Equipped with Stirlings from October 1940 to August 1943 and with Lancasters from July 1943 (there was an overlapping of types in July and August 1943). Based at Oakington throughout its operational service.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
3
Group Stirlings - 167 bombing, 11 minelaying
8
Group Stirlings - 82 bombing, 7 minelaying
8
Group Lancasters - 279 bombing
Total - 528 bombing, 18 minelaying = 546 raids
Sorties and Losses
3
Group Stirlings - 918 sorties, 41 aircraft lost (4.5 percent)
8
Group Stirlings - 826 sorties, 37 aircraft lost (4.5 percent)
8
Group Lancasters - 3,316 sorties, 87 aircraft lost (26 percent)
Total - 5,060 sorties, 165 aircraft lost (3.3 percent)
27 Stirlings were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Introduced the Stirling to operational service.
An original Pathfinder squadron.
Introduced (with 35 Squadron) H2S to operations.
Suffered third highest percentage losses in Bomber Command.
Carried out most bombing raids in 8 Group heavy-bomber squadrons.
Suffered highest overall and percentage losses in 8 Group.
Suffered highest percentage losses in Stirling squadrons.
9 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 3 Group from the outbreak of the war to August 1942, with a short detachment to Lossiemouth in April 1940 for service with Coastal Command. In 5 Group from August 1942 to the end of the war. Equipped with Wellingtons in 3 Group and with Lancasters in 5 Group. Based at Honington in 3 Group and at Waddington and Bardney in 5 Group.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
3
Group Wellingtons - 272 bombing, 7 minelaying, 8 leaflet
5
Group Lancasters - 289 bombing, 12 minelaying
Total - 561 bombing, 19 minelaying, 8 leaflet = 588 raids
Sorties and Losses
3
Group Wellingtons - 2,333 sorties, 66 aircraft lost (2.8 percent)
5
Group Lancasters - 3,495 sorties, 111 aircraft lost (3.2 percent)
Total - 5,828 sorties, 177 aircraft lost (3.0 percent)
22 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war except for the short detachment to Coastal Command in April 1940. Flew operations and sustained casualties on the second day of the war.
Victoria Cross: Flight Sergeant G. Thompson, posthumously, Dortmund-Ems Canal,
