The story
MNSTER
479 aircraft - 367 Halifaxes, 94 Lancasters, 18 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 1 Halifax crashed in Holland.
The raid was not concentrated and bombs fell in all parts of Mnster. The only item of interest mentioned in the local report was a direct hit on a concrete shelter which killed 68 people. The total number of deaths in the town was 138.
3 Halifaxes flew R.C.M. sorties.
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WANNE-EICKEL
285 Lancasters and 24 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups. 1 Lancaster lost.
The intention of the raid was to hit the local oil plant. Large explosions seemed to erupt in the plant and post-raid reconnaissance showed that some further damage was caused to it. The local report does not mention the oil plant but states that the Hannibal coal mine was destroyed and that 57 people were killed, 35 of them in a 'Bunkerpanik'.
Minor Operations: 31 Mosquitoes to Wiesbaden (a 'spoof' raid), 21 to Hannover and 6 to Erfurt, 29 R.C.M. sorties, 44 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.
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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.