MINOR OPERATIONS
15 Lancasters and 15 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians, off La Pallice and in the River Gironde, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Lancaster minelayer lost.
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COLOGNE
608 aircraft - 267 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, 85 Wellingtons, 75 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitoes. 25 aircraft - 10 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings, 2 Wellingtons - lost, 4.1 percent of the force.
The circumstances of this raid did not seem promising. The weather forecast said that Cologne would probably be cloud-covered although there might be a break; the Pathfinders had to prepare a dual plan. The target was cloud-covered and the less reliable sky-marking system had to be employed. Only 7 of the 12 Oboe Mosquitoes reached the target and only 6 of these were able to drop their markers. The marking was 7 minutes late in starting and proceeded only intermittently. Despite all these setbacks, the Main Force delivered its most powerful blow of the Battle of the Ruhr. The result was Cologne's worst raid of the war. 43 industrial, 6 military and 6,368 other buildings were destroyed; nearly 15,000 other buildings were damaged. Listed as 'completely destroyed' were: 24 schools, 16 churches, 15 major administrative buildings, 11 hotels, 8 cinemas, 7 post offices, 6 large banks, 2 hospitals and 2 theatres. The cathedral was seriously damaged by high-explosive bombs.
The casualties in Cologne were 4,377 people killed, approximately 10,000 injured and 230,000 forced to leave their damaged homes. The number of dead was greater than in any previous Bomber Command raid of the war on any target. The 'number of dead' record had thus increased nearly tenfold since the opening of the Battle of the Ruhr 3_ months earlier.
Minor Operations: 4 Mosquitoes to Hamburg, 6 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde. No losses.
