6 Bomber Group May 23/24, 1943
28 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 63 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Dortmund. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 135,000 lbs of high explosives and 195,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was good and the target was severely damaged. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
After a 9-day break in major operations, Bomber Command dispatched 826 aircraft on this raid, the greatest number in a 'non- I ,ooo' raid so far in the war and the largest raid of the Battle of the Ruhr. The force comprised: 343 Lancasters, 199 Halifaxes, 151 Wellingtons, 120 Stirlings and 13 Mosquitoes. 38 aircraft - 18 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 6 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons - were lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.
The Pathfinders marked the target accurately in clear weather conditions and the ensuing attack proceeded according to plan. It was a very successful raid. Large areas in the centre, the north and the east of Dortmund were devastated. Nearly 2,000 buildings were completely destroyed. Many industrial premises were hit, par¬ticularly the large Roesch steelworks, which ceased production. 599 people were killed, I ,275 were injured and the bodies of about 25 other people were never found. Dortmund was not attacked in strength again by Bomber Command until exactly year after this raid.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Dortmund, Germany. Halifax aircraft JB 862 arrived over the target on three engines, after dropping its bombs the aircraft was coned by searchlights and slightly damaged by flak. The Halifax dove to escape the searchlights but was soon set on fire by more flak. The order to bail out was given but Sergeant Dunn was trapped in the aircraft, he survived the crash and was the only member of the crew to live.
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