RAF / RCAF Bombing Raids for night of 1944-04-20 to 1944-04-21
{{webimage,wardiaries.jpg,float:right;width:150px;,Book no longer in print}}COLOGNE
357 Lancasters and 22 Mosquitoes of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Lancasters lost.
This concentrated attack fell into areas of Cologne which were north and west of the city centre and partly industrial in nature. 192 industrial premises suffered various degrees of damage, together with 725 buildings described as 'dwelling-houses with commercial premises attached'. 7 railway stations or yards were also severely damaged.
But more general city buildings were also heavily bombed: 46 churches and chapels, the Opera House (partly burnt out), the city market halls, etc. The Capitol cinema, the largest in Cologne, was destroyed by fire. 1,861 houses or apartments were destroyed and more than 20,000 damaged. There were 1,290 separate fires. 664 people were killed and 1,067 were injured. The Cologne report mentions 'high-explosive bombs of new calibre which penetrated the normally safe basement shelters', 80 per cent of the dead were in those shelters.
LA CHAPELLE
The raid on this railway target just north of Paris was the first major test for the new 5 Group marking method, with the group employing not only 617 Squadron's low-level markers but the three Pathfinder squadrons recently transferred from 8 Group. A few regular 8 Group Mosquitoes were also used to drop markers by Oboe to provide a first indication of the target's location for the main 5 Group marking force. 247 Lancasters of 5 Group and 22 Mosquitoes from 5 and 8 Groups dispatched. 6 Lancasters lost.
The bombing force was split into two parts, with an interval between them of 1 hour, and each part of the force aimed at different halves of the railway yards. There were a few difficulties at the opening of the attack, with the markers of the Oboe Mosquitoes being a fraction late and with communications between the various controlling aircraft being faulty, but these difficulties were soon overcome and both parts of the bombing force achieved extremely accurate and concentrated bombing. Unfortunately, no report is available from La Chapelle.
OTTIGNIES
196 aircraft — 175 Halifaxes, 14 Lancasters, 7 Mosquitoes— from 4 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost. The southern half of the railway yards was severely damaged.
LENS
175 aircraft — 154 Halifaxes, 14 Lancasters, 7 Mosquitoes — of 6 and 8 Groups. 1 Halifax lost. The railway yards were accurately bombed, with particular damage being caused to the engine-sheds and the carriage-repair workshop.
CHAMBLY
14 Stirlings, using the G-H blind-bombing device, to bomb a railway depot but only 4 aircraft bombed and 1 was lost.
Minor Operations: 8 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 14 R.C.M. sorties, 25 Serrate and 8 Intruder patrols, 30 Stirlings and 8 Halifaxes minelaying off French ports, 2 aircraft on Resistance operations, 27 O.T.U. sorties. 2 Serrate Mosquitoes and 1 O.T.U. Wellington lost.
Total effort for the night: 1,155 sorties, 15 aircraft (1.3 per cent) lost. The number of sorties flown was a new record. Small jumps in record efforts will no longer be recorded in the diary. The Bomber Command War Diaries, Middlebrook and Everitt
6 Bomber Group April 20/21, 1944
154 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail facilities at Lens. The crews were over the target at between 8,000 and 12,000 feet, releasing 1,735,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the yards were accurately bombed with severe damage.
While some crews went to Lens, 22 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were ordered too attack Cologne. The crews were over the target at 19,000feet, releasing 252,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the north and west sectors were damaged with the industrial area and some rail yards severely damaged.
5 Halifaxes from 428 squadron were ordered on a mining operation toLe Havre. The crews were over the garden at 15,000 feet, sowing 8@1500lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Aircraft was off course, over Dieppe, which was a heavily defended German naval port. It was expected to cross into France near Le Havre, not Dieppe. Aircraft was shot down by flak en route to attack the rail junctions at Lens, France, crashing into the marsh surrounding Scie River, Pourville-Sur-Mer, Dieppe, France. Wheelhouse, Anderson and Bourcier baled and landed just offshore. Wheelhouse drowned, Anderson and Bourcier were taken Prisoners of War. Wilson's parachute failed to open.
Leonard, Gough and Warren were missing, presumed killed. They are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
An excavation of the crash site began in 2022. Original research by Bill Anderson Winnipeg
Air Crew Remembered 
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB