The story
DÜSSELDORF
479 aircraft - 242 Wellingtons, 89 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes, 47 Stirlings, 28 Hampdens, 14 Whitleys. Training aircraft of 91, 92 and 93 Groups took part in this raid. 33 aircraft - 20 Wellingtons, 5 Lancasters, 4 Stirlings, 3 Halifaxes, 1 Hampden - lost, 7.1 percent of the force. 16 O.T.U., from Upper Heyford, lost 5 of its 13 Wellingtons on the raid.
The Pathfinders successfully marked the target, using 'Pink Pansies' in converted 4,000-lb bomb casings for the first time. (The actual weight of the Pink Pansy was 2,800 lb.) All parts of DÜSSELDORF except the north of the city were hit as well as the neighbouring town of Neuss. The local report, 20 pages long, gives many details. 39 industrial firms in DÜSSELDORF and 13 in Neuss were damaged so much that all production ceased for various periods. 8 public buildings were destroyed and 67 damaged. 911 houses were destroyed and 1,506 seriously and 8,340 lightly damaged. 132 people were killed, 120 in DÜSSELDORF and 12 in Neuss. 116 further people were still classed as missing 2 days later and 19,427 people were bombed out.
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