6 Bomber Group May 23/24, 1943
28 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 63 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Dortmund. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 135,000 lbs of high explosives and 195,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the weather was good and the target was severely damaged. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
23/24 May 1943 DORTMUND
51 Squadron (Swift And Sure). Halifax aircraft HR 835 lost during a trip over enemy territory. All seven members of the crew were killed. Flight Sergeant William Brown RCAF. the other crew members killed were all RAF, Flying Officer. J. Cookson, Sergeants J.L. Edwards, J. Jones, J.D. Minton, C. Newman, and L.A. Wright.
After a 9-day break in major operations, Bomber Command dispatched 826 aircraft on this raid, the greatest number in a 'non-1,000' raid so far in the war and the largest raid of the Battle of the Ruhr. The force comprised: 343 Lancasters, 199 Halifaxes, 151 Wellingtons, 120 Stirlings and 13 Mosquitoes. 38 aircraft - 18 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 6 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons - were lost, 4?6 per cent of the force.
The Pathfinders marked the target accurately in clear weather conditions and the ensuing attack proceeded according to plan. It was a very successful raid. Large areas in the centre, the? north and the east of Dortmund were devastated. Nearly 2,000 buildings were completely destroyed. Many industrial premises were hit, par?ticularly the large Roesch steelworks, which ceased production. 599 people were killed, 1,275 were injured and the bodies of about 25 other people were never found. Dortmund was not attacked in strength again by Bomber Command until exactly year after this raid.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
