The story
ESSEN
106 aircraft - 40 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 15 Lancasters, 12 Stirlings. 8 aircraft - 4 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - lost.
Only 16 crews reported that they had identified Essen; 56 bombed alternative targets, 45 of them attacking Bonn. Essen reports only 3 high-explosive and 400 incendiary bombs in the city with one person being wounded.
This raid concluded the present series of 5 raids on Essen in 16 nights. 1,607 sorties had been dispatched and 84 aircraft (5.2 percent) lost. No industrial damage was caused in Essen on any of these raids; a few houses were destroyed and 38 civilians were killed. Bomber Command now temporarily abandoned its campaign against Essen which would not be visited in strength for 3 months.
Minor Operations: 12 Hampdens minelaying off Lorient, 9 aircraft on leaflet flights to France. No losses.
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