Halifax JD270 B/GR.Mk.II - Bombing Berlin Germany - 1943-08-31 to 1943-09-01
Squadron: 419 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1943-08-31
Completion Date: 1943-09-01
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Battle of Berlin
Target City: Berlin Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Middleton St. George
Take Off Time: 19.58
Squadron Code: VR P
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: near Hasserode, Germany
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: midair
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group August31/September 1, 1943

48 Halifaxes from 419, 427,428 and 434 Squadrons were joined by 11 Lancasters from 426 Squadron on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 88,000 lbs of high explosives and 115,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered. There was many night fighters operating, most of the crews falling to their guns. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

622 aircraft - 33 I Lancasters, I 76 Halifaxes, I 06 Stirlings, 9 Mosquitoes. 47 aircraft·- 2 Halifaxes, 17 Stirlings, IO Lancasters - lost, 7·6 per cent of the force. The Stirling c sualties were 16·0 per cent! Approximately two thirds of the bombers lost were shot down by German fighters operating over or near Berlin. The use of 'fighter flares', dropped by German aircraft to 'mark' the bomber routes into and away from tho target, was noted for the first time in Bomber Command records.

This raid was not successful. There was some cloud in the target area; this, together with difficulties with H2S equipment and probably the ferocity of the German defences, all combined to cause the Pathfinder markers to be dropped well south of the centre of the target area and the Main Force bombing to be even further away. The main bombing area eventually extended 30 miles back along the bombers' approach route. 85 dwelling-houses were destroyed in Berlin but the only industrial buildings hit were classed as damaged - 4 severely and 3 lightly. The only important public buildings hit were the headquarters of the Berlin inland canal and harbour system, the state police hospital and some market halls. 66 civilians and 2 soldiers were killed, 109 people were injured and 2,784 bombed out.

After this raid, Gauleiter Goebbels ordered the evacuation from Berlin of all children and all adults not engaged in war work to country areas or to towns in Eastern Germany where air raids were not expected.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

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