The story
Minor Operations
42 Hampdens and 9 Manchesters minelaying in the Frisians and off Wilhelmshaven and Heligoland. 2 Hampdens lost. 5 aircraft on leaflet flights to France and Belgium without loss.
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KIEL
61 aircraft - 43 Wellingtons, 12 Manchesters, 6 Stirlings - to bomb the floating dock at Kiel. 3 Wellingtons lost.
Kiel records this as a 'revenge raid' by the R.A.F. after the British failure to prevent the sailing from Brest of the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen. In the bombing of the harbour area, the accommodation ship Monte Sarmiento was hit and burnt out with the loss of 120-130 lives. 16 people were also killed and 39 injured in the town.
NORWAY
21 Whitleys to bomb aluminium factories at Heroya and Odda. These areas were cloud-covered and the Whitleys returned without bombing.
Minor Operations: 18 Hampdens and 1 Manchester minelaying off German ports, 3 aircraft on leaflet flights. No losses.
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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.