BREMEN
Training aircraft from O.T.U.s were again included in the 446 aircraft dispatched. 21 aircraft - 15 Wellingtons, 2 Lancasters, 1 Halifax, 1 Hampden, 1 Stirling, 1 Whitley - were lost, 4.7 percent of the force.
Bremen reports another heavy raid with 848 houses destroyed and 'Bremen's industry suffering further considerable damage'. The Lloyd dynamo works was put out of action for 2 weeks and various parts of the Focke-Wulf factory for from 2 to 8 days. 5 nearly completed aircraft were destroyed and 3 more damaged. The report also lists 7 cultural and historical buildings hit in the centre of the town as well as 6 schools and 2 hospitals. 70 people were killed and 371 injured.
Gauleiter Wegener announced in the local newspaper: 'The Fhrer has specifically instructed me to express to you all his admiration and appreciation for your bravery and disciplined behaviour.' The report goes on to add, with some relief, that Bomber Command now left Bremen alone for the next 5 months.
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5 Mosquitoes bombed ports in Northern Germany without loss. Wilhelmshaven reports 4 bombs falling in the town centre, with an old folks' home and several houses hit and 10 people injured. Kiel reports 4 bombs on a nearby village with no particular damage and no casualties.
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WILHELMSHAVEN
202 aircraft of 5 types. 2 Wellingtons were the only aircraft lost. The 4 aircraft of 408 (Canadian) Squadron on this raid represent the last operational effort by Hampden aircraft with front-line squadrons.
The Pathfinder marking was accurate and Wilhelmshaven reports its worst raid to date. Housing and city-centre type buildings are listed as being hit hardest. 77 people were killed and more than 50 injured.
