6 Group Unavailable
572 aircraft - 238 Lancasters, 142 Halifaxes, 112 Wellingtons, 70 Stirling», 10 Mosquitoes. 34 aircraft 10 Lancastcrs, 10 Wellingtons 9 Halifaxes, 5 Stirlings losrt 5·9 per cent of the force
This was the fourth raid on Duisburg so far during the Battle of the Ruhr, the firs 3 raids having been only partially successful. The Pathfinder marking on this night however, was near perfect and the Main Force bombing was particularly well concentrated. The centre of Duisburg and the port area just off the River Rhine, the larges inland port in Germany, suffered severe damage. I ,596 buildings were totally destroyer and 273 people were killed. 4 of the August Thyssen steel factories were damaged Nearly 2,000 prisoners of war and forced workers were drafted into Duisburg to repairwindows, roofs and other bomb damage. In the port area, 21 barges and 13 other ship totaling 18,921 tons were sunk and 60 further ships of 41,000 tons were damaged. l was not deemed necessary to attack Duisburg again during this period.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax BII JB 791 VR-X was coned by flak during an attack against the port area and industrial targets, including the Thyssen steel works at Duisburg, Germany. The pilot, Warrant Officer Class 1 GA McMillan (RCAF) took evasive action and managed to complete a bomb run, but some of the incendiary bombs hung up, necessitating a second bomb run, during which the pilot's front (perspex) screen was blown out by flak. None of the crew were hurt, but fires broke out in the starboard wing, engines and fuel tanks. The order to bale was given, five of the crew abandoning the stricken bomber at 12,000 feet, fifty miles west of Duisburg. Sergeant Klein (RCAF) stated he was the last to go out the front hatch and thought he heard an explosion soon after.
Pilot Officer AR Wallace (RCAF), Sergeant WJ Klein (RCAF), Sergeant WJ Howell (RCAF), Sergeant HG Bees (RCAF) and Pilot Officer H Enever (RAF) survived and were all taken as Prisoners of War
(There were two 419 Squadron Halifax II aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Simonett, WA for information on Halifax JB 861 VR-C)
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
