TRAPPES
261 Halifaxes and 6 Mosquitoes of 4, 6 and 8 Groups on the first of a series of raids on railway targets in France and Belgium in preparation for the invasion. No aircraft lost.
The attack took place in good visibility and later photographs showed 'enormous damage' to railway tracks, rolling stock and installations.
Minor Operations: 15 Mosquitoes to Hannover, 6 to Kiel and 1 to Krefeld, 1 R.C.M. sortie, 30 aircraft on Resistance operations. No losses.
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LE MANS
304 aircraft - 242 Halifaxes, 56 Lancasters, 6 Mosquitoes - of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost. The target was cloud-covered but heavy damage to the railway yards was believed to have been caused.
A report from Le Mans shows that the attack was successful. Approximately 300 bombs fell in the railway yards; 250 wagons were destroyed, many railway lines were cut, a turntable was put out of action and 6 locomotives were hit. A store of railway sleepers was burnt out. It was impossible for Bomber Command to place every bomb inside these railway targets and inevitably some bombs fell among French civilian areas. This was the great anxiety for Allied commanders in ordering these raids. On this occasion, only 30 bombs fell outside the immediate target area, killing 31 French people and injuring 45. Anti-British slogans which appeared on walls in Le Mans may have been sincere, written in the immediate aftermath of the raid, or may have been inspired by the Germans.
Minor Operations: 15 Mosquitoes to 4 German targets, 6 R.C.M. sorties, 1 Serrate patrol, 51 aircraft on Resistance operations, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
