ESSEN
104 Wellingtons and 11 Stirlings. 10 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling lost.
The bombing force encountered heavy Flak at the target and many night fighters on the routes. Hits on the Krupps works and fires in Essen were claimed but the raid was actually another failure on this difficult target. Only 22 high-explosive bombs were counted in Essen, with 2 houses destroyed, 6 people killed and 14 injured. The bombers had suffered nearly 10 percent casualties for this disappointing return.
Minor Operations: 8 aircraft to Le Havre, 11 Blenheims Intruding over Holland, 36 aircraft minelaying off Wilhelmshaven, in the Frisians and in the River Gironde, 15 aircraft on leaflet flights to France. 2 Blenheim Intruders and 2 Hampden minelayers lost.
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12 Bostons attacked Ostend power-station without loss but their bombs fell into fields short of the target.
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THE ST-NAZAIRE RAID
35 Whitleys and 27 Wellingtons to bomb German positions around St-Nazaire in support of the naval and Commando raid to destroy the dry-dock gates in the port. The aircraft were ordered to bomb only if the target had clear visibility. Conditions were bad, however, with 10/10ths cloud and icing, and only 4 aircraft bombed at St-Nazaire; 6 aircraft bombed elsewhere. 1 Whitley was lost in the sea.
Minor Operations: 8 Blenheims Intruding over Holland, 15 Hampdens minelaying off northwest German coasts. 1 Blenheim and 3 Hampdens lost.
