6 Bomber Group April 22/23, 1944
23 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 114 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 431, 432, and 433 squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 284,000 lbs of high explosives and 469,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.
While most of the group went to Dusseldorf, 40 Halifaxes from 419, 428, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Laon. The crews were over the target at between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, releasing 378,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
596 aircraft- 323 Lancasters, 254 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitoes - of all groups except 5 Group. 29 aircraft- 16 Halifaxes and 13 Lancasters - lost, 4·9 per cent of the force.
2,150 tons of bombs were dropped in this old-style heavy attack on a German city which caused much destruction but also allowed the German night-fighter force to penetrate the bomber stream. The attack fell mostly in the northern districts of Diisseldorf. Widespread damage was caused. Among the mass of statistics· in the local report are: 56 large industrial premises hit (of which 7 were completely destroyed), more than 2,000 houses destroyed or badly damaged. Casualties recorded by 2.0 p.m. on 25 April were 883 people killed, 593 injured and 403 still to be dug out of wrecked buildings; at least three quarters of this last figure would have been dead.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Halifax aircraft LV 780 was shot down at Goirle, near Tilburg, Holland during a night attack trip to Dusseldorf, Germany. P/O.s J.S.Laird, W.F. Vornbrock, F.A. Cammaart, and J.J. Renning were killed. One Canadian, FS. F.P. Morrisey, was taken Prisoner Of War.
