HANAU
482 aircraft - 314 Halifaxes, 154 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitoes - of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost.
The attack was aimed at that part of Hanau in which an important junction in the German railway system was situated. The local report says that many bombs did fall in this area but also states that a large proportion of the bombing was scattered in the south - into the centre of Hanau - and to the north - into an area of countryside and villages. The report states that 'approximately 40 percent' of Hanau was destroyed, with 90 people being killed. The village of Mittelbuchen was also badly hit.
NEUSS
147 Lancasters of 1 and 3 Groups. 1 Lancaster crashed in Belgium.
As in Hanau, some of the bombing fell into the railway area but most was scattered over surrounding districts. 1,749 houses, 19 industrial premises and 20 public buildings were destroyed or seriously damaged. 39 people were killed and 91 injured.
Minor Operations: 20 Mosquitoes to Kassel (a 'spoof' raid) and 6 to Castrop-Rauxel, 52 R.C.M. sorties, 32 Mosquito patrols, 49 Lancasters minelaying off Baltic ports. 2 R.C.M. Halifaxes and 2 Lancaster minelayers lost.
Total effort for the night: 788 sorties, 11 aircraft (1.4 percent) lost.
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MUNICH
645 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitoes of 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 Groups. 11 Lancasters lost and 4 more crashed in France.
Bomber Command claimed a successful area raid, with the central and some industrial areas being severely damaged. No local details are available. This was the last major raid on Munich.
Minor Operations: 54 Mosquitoes to Hannover, 18 to Nuremberg and 12 to Hanau, 39 R.C.M. sorties, 45 Mosquito patrols. 2 Mosquitoes lost - 1 from the Hannover raid and a 100 Group aircraft.
The last Bomber Command Wellington operation was flown on this night by Flying Officer B. H. Stevens and his crew of 192 Squadron. The Wellington was on an R.C.M. flight over the North Sea 'to investigate enemy beam signals connected with the launching of flying bombs and believed to emanate from marker buoys'. Bad weather over the North Sea caused the flight to be curtailed but the Wellington landed safely, the last of more than 47,000 sorties carried out by this type of aircraft in Bomber Command.
Total effort for the night: 822 sorties, 17 aircraft (2.1 percent) lost.
