6 Bomber Group September 5/6, 1943
49 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, and 434 squadrons were joined by 6 Lancasters from 426 squadron on an attack at Mannheim. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 110,000 lbs of high explosives and 113,000 lbs incendiaries. According to reports, the target was clear of cloud and severe damage was caused.
While the above crews were going to Mannheim, 9 Wellingtons from 432squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Brest and Lorient. The crews were over the garden at between 2,000 and 5,000 feet, sowing 18@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
605 aircraft - 299 Lancasters, 195 Halifaxes, r I I Stirlings. 34 aircraft - I 3 Halifaxes, 13 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings - lost, y6 per cent of the force.
The target area for this double attack was clear of cloud and the Pathfinder marking plan worked perfectly. Ground-markers were placed on the eastern side of Mannheim so that the bombing of the Main Force - approaching from the west - could move back across Mannheim and then into Ludwigshafen on the western bank of the Rhine. The creepback did not become excessive and severe destruction was caused in both targets.
Mannheim's normally detailed air-raid report does not give any specific details of property damage or casualties. It is probable that the raid was so severe that the normal report gathering and recording process broke down. The Mannheim records speak only of 'a catastrophe' and give general comments on the activities of the air-raid services and the behaviour of the population which are both described as 'vor- bildlich' (exemplary).
More detail is available from Ludwigshafen where the central and southern parts of the town were devastated. The fire department recorded 1,993 separate fires including 3 classed as 'fire areas' and 986 as large fires; 139 of the fires were in industrial premises. 1,080 houses, 6 military and 4 industrial buildings were destroyed and 8 more industrial buildings were seriously damaged, including the LG. Farben works. 127 people were killed and 568 were injured; 10 of the dead were Flak troops. A further 1,605 people are described as suffering from eye injuries. The relatively small number of deaths may be an indication that many of the German cities were evacuating parts of their population after the recent firestorm disaster at Hamburg and other heavy raids.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Middleton St George, Halifax aircraft JD 410 VR-V missing during an attack against Mannheim, Germany, believed shot down by flak and broken up in mid-air over target
Flying Officer RW Burke (RCAF)(USA), Pilot Officer FB Allan (RAAF), Sergeant H Hudson (RAF), Sergeant JHC Kilpatrick (RAF), Sergeant H Nuttall (RAF), and Sergeant AR Slaney (RAF) were killed. Flying Officer JR Harris (RCAF) was taken Prisoner of War
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