The story
LOUVAIN
120 aircraft - 96 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 4 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost.
The bombing was more accurate than on the previous night and considerable damage was caused in the railways yards. The local report, which consolidates the 2 raids, confirms that the railways were badly damaged and says that parts of the system were still being repaired 6 months later. But civilian casualties were also heavy, with 160 people being killed and 208 injured in Louvain and its suburbs of Herent and Wilsele. Building damage in Louvain included 5 blocks of the university, 8 factories, 4 convents and a church.
HASSELT
111 aircraft - 100 Halifaxes, 7 Lancasters, 4 Mosquitoes - of 4 and 8 Groups. 6 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster lost. Most of the attack fell in open fields and only a few bombs hit the railway yards.
SPECIAL MINELAYING OPERATION
22 Mosquitoes of 8 Group attempted to block the Kiel Canal by laying mines from low level. Intelligence sources had said that the Flak defences on part of the canal had been removed. 20 Mosquitoes laid their mines in this stretch; 1 aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 12 Mosquitoes to Brunsbttel (as a diversion for the Kiel Canal mining operation) and 8 to Chteaudun, 10 R.C.M. sorties, 12 Serrate and 9 Intruder patrols, 43 aircraft minelaying off the French coast and in the Frisians. 8 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Intruder Mosquito lost.
Total effort for the night: 355 sorties, 14 aircraft (39 percent) lost.
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