D6 Bomber Group January 28/29, 1944
33 Lancasters from 408, 426 and 432 squadrons were joined by 90 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 23,500 feet, releasing 280,000 lbs of high explosives and 359,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing caused serious damage as there was broken cloud and the target could be seen. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Events
From the ORB:
HX-265 captained by Flying Officer JM Gray who was making his first sortie as captain made an amazing ditching into the sea about 15 miles of the English coast near Hartlepool. This aircraft had been hit by heavy flak prior to reaching the target which holed one of the starboard tanks, and the ditching was necessary due to lack of petrol. All the members of the crew were saved, and this was a very outstanding piece of work by the captain for his excellent ditching, by the flight engineer who figured the petrol supply to within 15 miles, by the navigator, who had no "Aids" as the "Gee" and wireless were both unserviceable.
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
6 Group Bomber Command