BERLIN
383 aircraft - 365 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes, 8 Mosquitoes - to continue the attack on Berlin. The bombing force used the same direct route as had been employed on the previous night. The German controllers made an early identification of Berlin as the probable target; their single-engined fighters were gathered over the city by Zero Hour and other fighters arrived a few minutes later. Fake instructions broadcast from England caused much annoyance to the German who was giving the 'running commentary'; the Germans started using a female commentator but this was promptly countered by a female voice from England ordering the German pilots to land because of fog at their bases. 'Spoof' fighter flares dropped by Mosquitoes north of the bomber stream also caused some diversion of German effort. Bomber crews noticed that Flak over the target was unusually restrained, with the German fighters obviously being given priority. 20 aircraft - all Lancasters - were lost, 5.2 percent of the bomber force.
The target was again cloud-covered and the Pathfinders carried out sky-marking, but many of the Main Force crews aimed their bombs through the cloud at the glow of 11 major fires still burning from the previous night. Much further destruction was caused in Berlin but, because many of the details of the 2 raids were recorded together by the Germans, it is only possible to say that more than 2,000 further houses, 94 wooden barracks buildings, 8 industrial premises and 1 military establishment were destroyed, with many other buildings damaged. Approximately 1,400-1,500 people were killed on this night.
6 Oboe Mosquitoes attacked the Knapsack power-station near Cologne without loss.
---
Minor Operations
6 Mosquitoes bombed Berlin through cloud and 9 O.T.U. Wellingtons took leaflets to France. 1 Mosquito lost.
