4 Lancasters laid mines in the Great Belt without loss.
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Flensburg
6 Mosquitoes were dispatched to carry out a low-level raid on a U-boat construction yard at Flensburg but were intercepted by German fighters which shot down into the sea the Mosquito of Wing Commander A. R. Oakeshott, commander of 139 Squadron, who, with his navigator Flying Officer V. F. E. Treherne, was killed. This was 139 Squadron's first Mosquito operation. The other Mosquitoes escaped from the German fighters by increasing speed and leaving the Germans behind but a second Mosquito was damaged by Flak over Flensburg and crashed in Germany. This second aircraft was piloted by Group Captain J. C. MacDonald, who became a prisoner of war.
These were the first Bomber Command daylight casualties for 3 weeks. Returning Mosquito crews claimed to have bombed the shipyard accurately.
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BREMEN
325 aircraft - 175 Wellingtons, 53 Lancasters, 35 Halifaxes, 34 Stirlings, 28 Hampdens. 13 aircraft - 8 Wellingtons, 2 Hampdens, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax - lost.
265 aircraft claimed to have bombed in good visibility but it is probable that much of the attack fell outside the southern borders of the town. A brief Bremen report says that more than 1,000 houses and 4 small industrial firms were damaged. 3 cranes and 7 ships in the port were also hit; 1 of the ships, the 1,736-ton steamer Marieborg sank and is recorded as having become a danger to navigation. Only 5 people were killed and 4 injured in a population which had probably become very air-raid-shelter conscious.
INTRUDERS
24 Blenheims were dispatched and attacked many airfields without loss.
