The 97 Sqdn left from Bourn at 1943-10-19 at 17:38. Loc or duty Hannover
He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type III, serial JB220, code OF-O).
Campaign report of the USAAF:
(Eighth Air Force): HQ 359th Fighter Group and it's 369th Fighter Squadron arrives at East Wretham, England from the US with P-47's. The group will fly it's first mission on 13 Dec 43.
Campaign report of the RAF:
18/19 October 1943
360 Lancasters ordered to attack Hannover. 18 Lancasters lost, 5.0 per cent of the force. The target area was covered by cloud and the Pathfinders were not successful in marking the position of Hannover. The raid was scattered, with most bombs falling in open country north and north-west of the city. This raid concluded the current series of raids on Hannover. Bomber Command had dispatched 2,253 sorties in 4 raids and 10 American B-17 sorties had also been flown. 1,976 aircraft claimed to have bombed in the target area. Only 1 raid had been completely successful but that had caused severe damage. 11O bombers were lost on the raids, 4.9 per cent of those dispatched.
30 Mosquitos to Duisburg (11 aircraft), Berlin (8 aircraft) and to 4 other targets, 6 Wellingtons minelaying off Texel, 12 OTU sorties. No aircraft lost.
One of the Lancasters lost on the Hannover raid was the 5,000th Bomber Command aircraft lost on operations since the start of the war. By the end of this night, the bombers had flown approximately 144,500 sorties - 90 per cent of them by night - and lost 5,004 aircraft - 4,365 by night and 639 by day - over enemy territory, crashed in the sea or shot down over England by German Intruders or 'friendly' defences.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
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