6 Bomber Group May 22/23, 1944
27 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadron were ordered on an attack at Dortmund. The crews were over the target at between 20,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 104,000 lbs of high explosives and 51,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing fell into the south eastern sector with serious damage being caused.
2 Halifaxes from 428 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation to St. Malo. The crews were over the garden at 8,000 feet, sowing 4@1500 lb mines.
112 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Le Mans. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, releasing 826,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
361 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes of 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups carried out the first large raid on this target for a year. 18 Lancasters were lost, 4·8 per cent of the force.
The attack fell mainly in the south-eastern districts of Dortmund, mostly in residential areas. 852 houses and 6 industrial buildings were destroyed; 788 houses were seriously damaged. 335 Germans and 26 prisoners of war were killed and l ,697 people were injured.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Lancaster aircraft KB 717 was shot down one and one half miles south of Monchen-Gladbach at Genhulsen, Germany during a night operation against Dortmund, Germany.
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