6 Bomber Group October 28, 1944
195 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426,427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 36 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack on Cologne. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,570,000 lbs of high explosive and 285,000 lbs of incendiaries. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
733 aircraft - 428 Lancasters, 286 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitoes. 4 Halifaxes and 3 Lancasters lost.
The bombing took place in 2 separate waves and the local report confirms that enormous damage was caused. The districts of Miilheim and Zollstock, north-east and south-west of the centre respectively, became the centre of the 2 raids and were both devastated. Classed as completely destroyed were: 2,239 blocks of flats, 15 industrial premises, 11 schools, 3 police stations and a variety of other buildings, Much damage was also caused to power-stations, railways and harbour installations on the Rhine. 630 German people were killed or their bodies never found and 1,200 were injured. The number of foreign casualties is not known.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 712 was shot down near Hurth, Germany four miles south-west of the target Cologne, Germany. F/Os A.N. Nelligan, J.A. Nafziger, J.R. Fitchner, Pilot Officer W.H. Herman, FS B.E. Greenhalgh,FS E,R, Smith and Sergeant W.E. Hawkings (RAF) were killed. This was the 5th trip for this crew but the aircraft had been used on 52 operations
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
