FRANKFURT
406 aircraft - 162 Lancasters, 170 Halifaxes, 70 Stirlings, 4 Mosquitoes. 3 B-17s also took part. 10 aircraft - 5 Halifaxes, 3 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings - lost, 2.5 percent of the force. 1 B-17 was also lost. This was the last R.A.F. night-bombing raid in which American aircraft took part, but individual B-17s occasionally carried out bombing flights in following weeks.
Clear weather and good Pathfinder marking produced the first serious blow on Frankfurt so far in the war, with extensive destruction being caused in the eastern half of the city and in the inland docks on the River Main; both of these areas are described in the Frankfurt report as having been a 'sea of flames'. Many city-centre-type buildings are also mentioned as being hit; the new Rathaus had its roof burnt out. No overall figures are given for casualties, the only mention being a tragedy at an orphanage housed in the former Jewish hospital, where a bomb scored a direct hit on the basement shelter killing 90 children, 14 nuns and other members of the staff. In the following days, the main railway station was packed with people trying to leave Frankfurt.
LUDWIGSHAFEN
66 Lancasters of 1 and 8 Groups carried out a diversionary raid without loss but the marking and bombing were scattered.
Minor Operations: 12 Mosquitoes to Knapsack power-station, 1 Mosquito to Aachen, 5 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde, 8 O.T.U. sorties. No aircraft lost.
The Mosquito attacking Aachen was carrying out the first operational trial of the G-H blind bombing equipment but the trial was not successful.
