THE VAAGS RAID
The first Combined Operations raid of the war against German-held territory took place on this day when naval ships landed Commandos on the island of Vaags off the Norwegian coast. Bomber Command provided 19 Blenheims and 10 Hampdens for supporting operations.
6 Blenheims of no Squadron made an attack on shipping off the Norwegian coast in the Oberstad area to draw off German fighters from the Commando raid. A convoy was found and attacked but ships' defences and fighters caused the loss of 4 Blenheims. 13 Blenheims of 114 Squadron made a successful low-level raid on a German fighter airfield at Herdla but 2 Blenheims collided over the target and crashed. 7 Hampdens of 50 Squadron were sent to lay a smoke-screen at Vaags but 2 were shot down, probably by shore defences. 3 more Hampdens from the same squadron bombed a German gun position covering the approaches to Vaags.
The Vaags landing attained all its objectives and was regarded as a great success. The naval and army casualties were negligible but Bomber Command losses were 8 aircraft out of the 29 dispatched.
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DÜSSELDORF
132 aircraft - 66 Wellingtons, 30 Hampdens, 29 Whitleys, 7 Manchesters. 5 Whitleys and 2 Wellingtons lost.
96 aircraft claimed to have bombed DÜSSELDORF but the city reports only 32 high-explosive bombs and 3 batches of incendiaries. There was only very light damage and no casualties.
Minor Operations: 34 'freshmen' crews to Boulogne, 23 Wellingtons and 6 Stirlings to Brest, 6 Blenheims to Soesterberg airfield and 5 Hampdens minelaying off Kiel. There were no losses.
The Blenheims attacking Soesterberg were flying the first in a new series of Intruder raids against Luftwaffe airfields. Using far better intelligence on the identity of which airfields were likely to be active, this represents the start of a determined R.A.F. Intruder campaign which would be waged until the end of the war using aircraft of both Bomber and Fighter Commands. The Blenheims operating on this night, from 82 Squadron, dropped bombs on Soesterberg airfield and attacked 2 German bombers in the air with machine-guns.
Total effort for the night: 206 sorties, 7 aircraft (3.4 percent) lost.
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. Crews reported large fires in the railway-station area but the only report from Mnster records the death of 5 people with no other details. 1 Wellington lost.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Dunkirk, 6 Blenheim Intruders to Dutch airfields, 9 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians and off Wilhelmshaven, 5 Hampdens on leaflets flights to France. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.
