ROSTOCK
128 aircraft of 6 types, no to the town and 18 to the Heinkel factory. No aircraft were lost although crews reported that Rostock's Flak defences had been strengthened.
Heavy bombing of the town and many fires were achieved. Some aircraft also hit the Heinkel factory for the first time; the crews achieving this were flying Manchesters from 106 Squadron, which was commanded by Wing Commander Guy Gibson.
Minor Operations: 6 Stirlings carried out a long-range attack on the _koda armaments factory at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia (this target was found to be cloud-covered on arrival but at least 5 Stirlings bombed), 32 aircraft to Dunkirk, 2 Blenheim Intruders, 5 leaflet flights to France. 1 Stirling lost from the Pilsen raid.
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12 Bostons carried out accurate bombing of St-Omer and Hazebrouck railway yards without loss.
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ROSTOCK
106 or 109 aircraft (there are conflicting figures) of 7 different types, approximately half to the town and half to the Heinkel factory. 3 aircraft - 1 Stirling, 1 Wellington, 1 Whitley - lost. The Official History describes this raid as 'the masterpiece', with successful bombing by both parts of the force.
The 4 raids in this series resulted in the destruction of 1,765 buildings and serious damage to 513 more buildings in Rostock. Bomber Command estimated that 130 acres were destroyed, 60 percent of the main town area. Casualties were 204 people killed and 89 injured, figures which would have been much higher if large numbers of people had not fled after the first raids.
In reporting these raids, the Germans used the expression 'Terrorangriff' ('terror raid') for the first time. Goebbels remarked in his diary that, 'community life in Rostock is practically at an end'.
Minor Operations: 24 aircraft to Dunkirk, 2 Blenheim Intruders to Leeuwarden, 4 aircraft minelaying, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
