WILHELMSHAVEN
195 aircraft - 127 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes, 9 Stirlings. 4 Lancasters lost, 20 percent of the force.
The Pathfinders claimed accurate marking in clear visibility but bombing photographs showed that most of the attack fell in open country west of the target. Wilhelmshaven's report says that the bombs which did fall in the town killed 5 people and injured 47 and caused damage to a variety of buildings including 'Heine's Hotel'.
MINELAYING
89 aircraft carried out widespread minelaying operations from St-Nazaire to the Frisians. 2 Halifaxes lost.
9 O.T.U. aircraft on leaflet flights. 1 Wellington lost.
Total effort for the night: 293 sorties, 7 aircraft (2.4 percent) lost.
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12 Venturas attacked German naval torpedo workshops at Den Helder without loss.
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WILHELMSHAVEN
338 aircraft - 120 Wellingtons, no Halifaxes, 56 Stirlings, 52 Lancasters. 12 aircraft - 5 Stirlings, 4 Lancasters, 3 Wellingtons - lost, 3.6 percent of the force.
This raid was another failure, with the Pathfinder marking causing the Main Force bombing to fall north of Wilhelmshaven. The local report says that only 3 people were slightly injured. After this raid it was found that the Pathfinders had been issued with out-of-date maps which did not show recent town developments. A general updating of maps now took place.
2 Mosquitoes bombed Dortmund and Essen without loss. The Essen bombs just missed the Krupps works.
