20 Bostons in pairs to hunt for targets of opportunity at low level, a new form of operation. On this day some were frustrated by bad weather but 14 aircraft bombed various targets. 7 Wellingtons and 3 Lancasters were sent to Essen but none bombed and 5 Hampdens had 'roving commissions' over Germany. 4 aircraft - 2 Bostons, 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington - were lost.
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VEGESACK
99 4-engined aircraft - 40 Halifaxes, 31 Stirlings, 28 Lancasters. 3 Halifaxes lost.
The force had orders to bomb the Vulkan U-boat yard visually or, if that was not possible, to bomb the town by Gee. The target area was found to be cloud-covered and all the aircraft bombed by Gee. Later photographs showed that no bombs fell in Vegesack. A report from Bremen, a few miles up river from Vegesack, describes how 2 storehouses of military equipment were bombed and completely burnt out, the cost of the lost material being estimated at 1 million Reichsmarks (£100,000). Further damage in Bremen included a wooden-hutted military camp. The number of casualties is not mentioned.
19 Wellingtons were minelaying off Lorient, St-Nazaire and La Pallice. 1 aircraft lost.
