6 Group Unavailable
Leipzig. 823 aircraft, 78 losses (9.5%). Excluding early returners, the Halifax loss rate was 14.9%. As a result, Halifax Mks II and V were permanently withdrawn from service over Germany. The Kiel mine laying diversion was successful in drawing off fighters, but the German controllers only sent half of the available aircraft. As soon as the bomber stream crossed the Dutch coast they were confronted by the remaining half of the fighters and, moreover, the ones sent to Kiel were returned to join the fray. As a consequence, the fighters steadily picked off bombers all the way to this distant target. The winds were strongly than had been predicted and many bombers arrived early and had to orbit the target awaiting the Pathfinders, further increasing the likelihood of being picked off, either by flak or fighters. Leipzig was cloud covered and sky-marking had to be used. Early bombing appeared to be concentrated but later bombing less so. There was no local report nor a reconnaissance flight the following day. An American raid the following day then made it impossible to judge the effectiveness of the raid.
source: International Bomber Command Centre
Lancaster aircraft LL 720 (EQ-R) was shot down in the sea during a night trip to Leipzig, Germany, F/L. E.S. Winn, F/0.s. J.R. Leaman, J.R. Bonneville, P/Os. R.H. Wade, Dramnitzke, TS. N.H,H. Brown (USAAF), and Sgt. E.W. Bolt (RAF) were all killed.