The 218 Sqdn left from Downham Market at 1943-05-29 at 22:52
He flew with a Short Stirling (type I, serial BF405, code HA-U).
Campaign report of the USAAF:
(Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 61: 169 B-17's are dispatched against the submarine pens and locks at Saint-Nazaire, France; 147 aircraft hit the target at 1706-1711 hours local; we claim 6-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 8 B-17's, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 58 are damaged; casualties are 10 WIA and 71 MIA. 7 YB-40's, heavily armored B-17's with increased firepower for escorting bombers, fly their first mission. YB-40's show an inability to keep up with B-17's and the need for modification of waist and tail gun feeds and ammunition supplies. In two other raids, 72 B-17's are dispatched against the Rennes, France naval depot; 57 hit the target at 1601-1605 hours; we claim 19-5-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 6 B-17's, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 30 others are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 10 WIA and 64 MIA. In the third raid, 38 B-24's are dispatched against the U-boat yards at La Pallice, France; 34 hit the target without any casualties on either side.
Campaign report of the RAF:
28/29 May 1943
34 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians, off Brittany ports and in the River Gironde, 5 OTU sorties. No aircraft lost.
29 May 1943
12 Venturas bombed Caen airfield without loss.
29/30 May 1943
Wuppertal
719 aircraft - 292 Lancasters, 185 Halifaxes, 118 Stirlings, 113 Wellingtons, 11 Mosquitos. 33 aircraft - 10 Halifaxes, 8 Stirlings, 8 Wellingtons, 7 Lancasters - lost, 4.6 per cent of the force.
This attack was aimed at the Barmen half of the long and narrow town of Wuppertal and was the outstanding success of the Battle of the Ruhr. Both Pathfinder marking and Main Force bombing was particularly accurate and a large fire area developed in the narrow streets of the old centre of the town. It is probable that this fire was so severe that the first, small form of what would later become known as a 'firestorm' developed. Because it was a Saturday night, many of the town's fire and air-raid officials were not present, having gone to their country homes for the weekend, and the fire services of the town - in their first raid - were not able to control the fires. Approximately 1,000 acres - possibly 80 per cent of Barmen's built-up area - was destroyed by fire. 5 out of the town's 6 largest factories, 211 other industrial premises and nearly 4,000 houses were completely destroyed.
3 OTU aircraft on leaflet flights to France were recalled.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
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