KAISERSLAUTERN
217 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes of 1 and 5 Groups in the only major raid carried out by Bomber Command during the war on this medium-sized target. 1 Lancaster and 1 Mosquito lost.
909 tons of bombs were dropped in an accurate raid and widespread destruction was caused; the post-war British Bombing Survey Unit estimated that 36 percent of the town's built-up area was destroyed. The local report complains that the town was not a military objective but then lists the typical catalogue of small factories, public buildings, churches, etc. destroyed or seriously damaged, which larger German communities had long got used to being hit in area-bombing raids. The report concludes with the statement that 144 people, predominantly women and children died, 'der meist lebendig verbrannten Opfer' - 'victims mostly burnt alive'.
Minor Operations: 46 Mosquitoes to Kassel, 6 to Aschaffenburg and 6 to Heilbronn, 12 R.C.M. sorties, 27 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.
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CALAIS AREA
494 aircraft - 230 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes, 50 Mosquitoes - of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups to attack 4 German positions at Calais and 6 battery positions at Cap Gris Nez; approximately 50 aircraft were allocated to each position. Only 68 aircraft bombed at Calais before the Master Bomber cancelled the raid because of worsening cloud conditions and only 198 (from 301) aircraft bombed at Cap Gris Nez. No aircraft were lost. Calais surrendered to the Canadian Army soon after this raid and all the French Channel ports were thus in Allied hands, although most of the facilities required extensive clearance and repair. This, and the continuing presence of German troops along the River Scheldt between Antwerp and the sea, would cause the Allied ground forces serious supply difficulties for several more weeks.
Minor Operations: 2 Liberators and 2 Wellingtons on signals investigation patrols, 10 Hudsons and 2 Lysanders on Resistance operations, 75 Halifaxes on petrol-carrying flights. No aircraft lost.
Total effort for the day: 585 sorties, no aircraft losses.
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MINOR OPERATIONS
44 Mosquitoes to Brunswick, 5 to Heilbronn and 4 to Aschaffenburg, 43 R.C.M. sorties, 52 Mosquito patrols. 1 Mosquito Intruder lost.
