6 Bomber Group May 13/14, 1943
26 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 47 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons on an attack at Bochum. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 113,000 lbs of high explosives and 138,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the bombing was accurate with serious damage being caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
442 aircraft - 135 Halifaxes, 104 Wellingtons, 98 Lancasters, 95 Stirlings, IO Mos¬quitoes; 5 Group did not take part in this raid. 24 aircraft- 13 Halifaxes, 6 Welling¬tons, 4 Stirlings, 1 Lancaster - lost, 5·4 per cent of the force.
This raid started well but, after 15 minutes, what were believed to be German decoy markers drew much of the bombing away from the target. The only information available from Germany is that 394 buildings in Bochum were destroyed, 716 were seriously damaged and 302 people were killed.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
p419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Bochum, Germany. Halifax aircraft was hit by flak over the target and then attacked by German night fighter aircraft. There were two 419 Sqdn. aircraft lost this night. Please see Sergeant O.J. Haralson for information regarding the other crew and aircraft.
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
