6 Bomber Group February 25/26, 1944
19 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 44 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 432, and 433 Squadrons, on an attack at Augsburg. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 76,000 lbs of high explosives and 184,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was clear and severe damage was caused.
While the above crews went to Augsburg, 50 Halifaxes from 419, 428,429, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to KielBay. The crews were over the garden at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, sowing 78@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
594 aircraft - 461 Lancasters 123 Halifaxes, I0 Mosquitoes - on the first large raid to this target. The various diversions and the splitting of the main bomber force into 2 waves again reduced casualties still further. 21 aircraft- 16 Lancasters, 5 Halifaxes - lost, 3·6 per cent of the force; at least 4 of these casualties were due to collision.
.The bombing at Augsburg was outstandingly successful in clear weather conditions and against this 'virgin' target with only weak Flak defenses. The Pathfinder ground-marking was accurate and more. than 2,000 tons of bombs were dropped by the 2 waves. of the force.
The R.A.F. night raid became controversial because of the 'effects of its outstanding accuracy. The beautiful old centre of Augsburg was completely destroyed by high explosive and fire, with much less than the usual spread of bombing to the more modern outer areas, where some industry was located. 2,920 houses were destroyed and more than 5,000 were damaged; 85,000--90,000 people were bombed out: Among the main public and cultural buildings destroyed or seriously damaged were the old Rathaus (completely destroyed), 16 churches and II hospitals, but all patients in the hospitals were safely evacuated except for 2 women foreign workers. The total value of lost works of art was estimated to be 800 million Reichsmarks (£80 million). Among the buildings destroyed was the famous puppet threatre - Heimbiihne Puppenschrein - of Walter Oehmichen. Oehmichen re-created his puppets and, exactly 4 years later, opened the 'Augsburger Puppenkiste' (packing-case puppet theatre) now well known in Germany and often seen on television. There were 246 large or medium fires and 820 small ones; the temperature was so cold (minus 18° Celsius) that the River Lech was frozen over and many of the water hoses also froze. Between 678 and 762 people were killed and approximately 2,500 were injured. The Germans publicized it as an extreme example of 'terror bombing'.
Part of the bombing of the second wave of aircraft did spread to the northern and eastern parts of Augsburg and damage was caused to an important aircraft component factory and to some former paper and cotton mills which had been taken over by the M.A.N. engineering company.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax aircraft LW 597 missing from a night trip to Augsburg, Germany. Sergeant W. Thompson (RAF) was also killed and three others of the crew, not Canadians, missing believed killed. Two Canadians, F/Os A.G. Turton and R.A. Richards, were taken Prisoners of War.
