LTZKENDORF
244 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitoes of 5 Group attacked the Wintershall synthetic-oil refinery at this distant target. Photographic reconnaissance showed that 'moderate damage' was caused. 18 Lancasters were lost, 7.4 percent of the Lancaster force.
ZWEIBRCKEN
230 aircraft - 121 Lancasters, 98 Halifaxes, 11 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost.
This attack was directed on to the town area to block the passage through it of German troops and stores to the nearby front line. The raid took place in good visibility and was very effective. The local report shows that every public building and inn and 80 percent of the houses in the town were destroyed or damaged. Most of the civilian population had been evacuated; those remaining took shelter in 2 large caves in the north and south of the town or in the normal basement shelters of their houses. The people in the caves all survived but 192 bodies had been removed from the basement shelters by the time the local report was prepared on
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BENZOL PLANTS
188 aircraft - 150 Halifaxes, 24 Mosquitoes, 14 Lancasters - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups attacked plants at Bottrop and Castrop-Rauxel. Both raids were believed to have been successful. 1 Halifax of 4 Group lost from the Bottrop raid.
Arnsberg
16 Lancasters of 9 and 617 Squadrons attacked the viaduct. Two aircraft of 617 Squadron each carried a Grand Slam; the 14 aircraft of 9 Squadron carried Tallboys. The viaduct was not cut. No aircraft lost.
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HAGEN
267 aircraft - 134 Lancasters, 122 Halifaxes, 11 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 6 Lancasters and 4 Halifaxes lost.
This area attack took place in clear visibility and caused severe damage; the local report estimated that the bomber force was 800 aircraft strong! The main attack fell in the centre and eastern districts. There were 1,439 fires, of which 124 were classified as large. 493 Germans and 12 foreigners were killed. 30,000-35,000 people were bombed out.
MISBURG
257 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups attacked the Deurag refinery at Misburg, on the outskirts of Hannover. Visibility was good and some fires were started but the main weight of the raid fell south of the target. 4 Lancasters lost.
Minor Operations: 54 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 27 to Erfurt, 16 to Mannheim and 5 each to Jena and Weimar, 53 R.C.M. sorties, 37 Mosquito patrols. 1 R.C.M. Fortress lost.
Total effort for the night: 729 sorties, 14 aircraft (1.9 percent) lost.
