6 Bomber Group October 8/9, 1943
16 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 70 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 squadrons and 14 Wellingtons from 432 squadron on an attack at Hannover. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 272,000 lbs of high explosives and 294,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the sky was clear and an accurate attack was made with severe damage being caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
504 aircraft- 282 Lancasters, 188 Halifaxes, 26 Wellingtons, 8 Mosquitoes. This was the last Bomber Command raid in which Wellingtons took part. 300 (Polish) and 432 (Canadian) Squadrons provided the 26 Wellingtons which operated on this night; they all returned safely. The German controller guessed correctly that Hannover was the target and many night fighters arrived before the attack was over. 27 aircraft- 14 Lancasters and 13 Halifaxes - were lost, 5·4 per cent of the force.
Conditions over Hannover were clear and the Pathfinders were finally able to mark the centre of the city accurately; a most concentrated attack followed with a creepback of only 2 miles, all within the built-up area. This was probably Hannover's worst attack of the war. The local report describes extensive damage in the centre of. the city and in many other parts except the west. The telephone system and electricity supply failed at the beginning of the raid and many water mains were quickly broken. A large area of fire quickly developed in the centre and south-central districts. Acting upon instructions from the Party Headquarters and from district air-raid posts, the population were shepherded to collecting places in open areas between the fires. This action is believed to have saved many lives but 1,200 people were killed and 3,345 were injured, 449 seriously so. A further 6,000-8,000 people received eye injuries because of smoke and heat. 3,932 buildings were completely destroyed and more than 30,000 were damaged in varying degree, but no individual buildings are named. R.A.F. reconnaissance, however, showed that the important Continental rubber factory and the Hanomag machine works were badly hit.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax aircraft LK 657 Took off from Tholthorpe at 22:43 in Halifav Mk V (Sqn code SE-K Bomber Command) on an operation to Hannover Germany. The aircraft was shot down (unknown means) near Hannover. Rollack was the only crewman to survive the crash. Killed: Sergeant Donald Albert Adams RAF pilot KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 16. Sergeant Thomas Alfred Ashcroft RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 18. Flying Officer Robert Edward Baker RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 14. Flying Officer Ronald Victor Fisher RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 11. W/O Peter John Hay RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 17. Sergeant Francis Rudd RCAF R/187471 KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 15. W/O1 John Edward Ryan RCAF pilot R/67919 KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 3. D. 19.
There were two 431 Sqdn. aircraft lost on this date. Please see Sergeant W.A. Hamil for information regarding the other aircraft and crew.
