BOCHUM
503 aircraft - 323 Lancasters, 167 Halifaxes, 11 Mosquitoes. 14 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes lost, 4.8 percent of the force.
This raid took place over a completely cloud-covered target but accurate Oboe sky-marking enabled the all Lancaster/Halifax Main Force to cause severe damage to the centre of Bochum. After daylight photographs had been taken, 130 acres of destruction were claimed. The only report from Germany says that 449 buildings were destroyed and 916 severely damaged and that 312 people were killed.
MINELAYING
34 Wellingtons to the Frisians, Lorient and St-Nazaire. No losses.
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MINOR OPERATIONS
13 Mosquitoes - 6 to Berlin, 4 to DÜSSELDORF and 3 to Cologne - but all targets were cloud-covered and only estimated positions were bombed. 18 Wellingtons and 12 Stirlings were sent minelaying off the Biscay ports and there were 8 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Wellington minelayer lost.
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until the end of the war. Flew Halifaxes and Lancasters from Tholthorpe and Croft.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Halifaxes - 135 bombing, 17 minelaying
Lancasters - 41 bombing
Total - 176 bombing, 17 minelaying = 193 raids
Sorties and Losses
Halifaxes - 2,038 sorties, 53 aircraft lost (2.6 percent)
Lancasters - 559 sorties, 5 aircraft lost (0.9 percent)
Total - 2,597 sorties, 58 aircraft lost (2.2 percent)
15 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
455 (AUSTRALIAN) SQUADRON
SERVICE
The ground staff started forming in Australia on
