AACHEN
82 aircraft - 39 Hampdens, 27 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons - on general area attack. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
This was the first large raid on Aachen and the town was heavily bombed with many hits in the central areas. Property damage is listed as follows: 91 commercial premises hit of which 19 were destroyed; 1,698 houses (possibly housing units' in apartment blocks) destroyed or seriously damaged; the cathedral, the town hall and 2 hospitals were seriously damaged and 2 other churches were hit. Personnel casualties: 60 killed, 85 civilians and 21 air-raid workers injured, 3,450 people bombed out.
OSNABRCK
57 Wellingtons; 2 lost. Crews report 'Bursts in target area; several fires', but local reports show that no bombs fell in Osnabrck, only a few in two nearby villages - Holte and Georgsmarienhutte - with 1 person killed and 1 injured.
1 Wellington bombed Le Havre and returned safely.
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24 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from Le Havre to Cherbourg. Many aircraft attacked ships and land targets. 1 Blenheim was lost.
3 Stirlings to Chocques power-station in France. 1 aircraft lost, possibly shot down by an R.A.F. fighter (reports conflict).
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COLOGNE
98 Wellingtons and 32 Hampdens to two aiming points in the city centre and to the Humboldt works. Bad weather prevented an accurate attack and only 62 aircraft reported bombing in the Cologne area. Cologne reports only 3 high-explosive and 300 incendiary bombs, a few buildings lightly damaged and 1 person injured. 2 Wellingtons lost.
2 Wellingtons bombed Boulogne docks without loss.
