The story
HAMBURG, BREMEN, COLOGNE, BELGIUM
48 Hampdens to Hamburg and 24 Whitleys to Bremen, all attacking oil refineries; 6 Wellingtons to railway yards at Cologne. 46 Wellingtons and 6 Hampdens attacked German troop communications in Belgium. By contrast with the almost complete loss of the Blenheim bomber formation the previous day, there were no losses from the 130 aircraft dispatched on this night.
A report from Hamburg lists 36 separate fires, the largest causing the complete gutting of the Mercksche fertilizer factory, and 160 buildings damaged by high-explosive bombs. The most seriously damaged building after the fertilizer factory was in the Reeperbahn. 34 people - 28 civilians and 6 servicemen - were killed and 72 people injured.
In Bremen, 6 fires were started, the largest being in 2 warehouses at the docks which were full of furniture confiscated from emigrating Jews. 13 people were killed and 55 injured.
---
LE CATEAU
13 Blenheims attacked German columns, 3 lost.
---
GERMANY, BELGIUM
60 aircraft - 24 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 12 Hampdens - to various oil refineries and railway yards in Germany, and to German troop communications in Belgium. 1 Whitley lost.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.