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515 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitoes. The German fighters were committed to action earlier than normal, some being sent out 75 miles over the North Sea from the Dutch coast.' But the elaborate feints and diversions had some effect. Half of the German fighters were lured north by the Heligoland mining diversion and action in the main bomber stream was less intense than on recent nights. 33 Lancasters lost, 6'4 per cent of the heavy force.
The target was cloud-covered again and sky-marking had to be used. Bomber Command was not able to make any assessment of the raid except to state that the bombing appeared to have been spread well up and down wind. Local reports confirm that the bombing was spread over a wide area, although many bombs fell in the southern half of the city, less in the north, but 61 small towns and villages outside the city limits were also hit with 28 people being killed in those places. Details of houses destroyed in Berlin are not available but it is known that nearly 20,000 people were bombed out. 50 industrial premises were hit and several important war industries suffered serious damage. 567 people were killed, including 132 foreign workers,
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Lancaster aircraft LL 638 was shot down near Doberitz, Germany during a night raid against Berlin, Germany. F/Os A.S. Gates, A.D. Bell, D.J. Paterson, P/Os R.P. Wilson, F.W. Heinen, Flight Sergeant C.A.Allison and Sergeant W.R. Greenaway (RAF) were killed.
