6 Bomber Group November 18, 1943
4 Lancasters from 432 squadron were ordered on a sea search. They were unsuccessful and returned to base. This was the first time 432 had been out with their Lancaster IIs since converting from the Wellington. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
9 Squadron (Per Noctem Volamus). Lancaster aircraft DV 284 lost during a night trip to Berlin, Germany. All eight of the crew, were killed
440 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitoes were dispatched. Few German fighters intercepted the force. 9 Lancasters were lost, 2ยท0 per cent of the force.
Berlin was completely cloud-covered and both marking and bombing were carried out blindly; Bomber Command could make no assessment of the results. The local Berlin report shows that bombs fell in most parts of the city and no main concentration ('Schwerpunkt') could be detected, although more southern districts are mentioned than others. 4 industrial premises were totally destroyed and 2.8 damaged; I I 'explosive' works and 4 chemical plants were among these figures. 169, houses were destroyed and 476 seriously damaged. Casualties were: 131 people killed, 14 missing and 391 injured; 27 of the killed were foreign workers or prisoners of war.The Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrrok and Chris Everitt
