Squadron: 207 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-03-10
Completion Date: 1943-03-10
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Battle of the Ruhr
Target City: Munich Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Langar
Take Off Time: 20:41:00
Squadron Code: EM-X
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Lavannes (Marne) 12km NE Reims France:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Ofw Reinhard Kollak of the 7/NJG 4
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group March 10, 1943

11 Wellingtons from 426, 429, and 431 Squadrons were ordered on a sea search. All returned to base, unsuccessful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)


264 aircraft - 142 Lancasters, 81 Halifaxes, 41 Stirlings. 8 aircraft - 5 Lancasters, 2 Halifaxes, I Stirling - lost, 3.0 per cent of the force.

The wind caused this raid to be concentrated on the western half of Munich rather than on the centre of the city, but much damage was caused. 291 buildings were destroyed, 660 severely damaged and 2,134 less seriously damaged; these included many public buildings - I I hospitals, the cathedral, 4 churches and 14 'cultural' buildings for example - but also 3 wholesale and 22 retail business premises were completely destroyed and no less than 294 military buildings were hit, including the headquarters of the local Flak brigade, which was burnt out. The most serious industrial damage was at the B.M.W. factory where the aero-engine assembly shop was put out of action for 6 weeks. Many other industrial concerns were hit, including 141 small, back-street-type workshops which were destroyed.

The detailed Munich reports show that 208 people were killed and 425 injured. The dead included: 2 party officials on duty, IO soldiers, I Hitler Youth boy serving at a Flak site, 2 policemen and 4 foreigners. The local Flak fired 14,234 rounds of ammunition - 2,314 of 105 mm, 8,328 of 88 mm, 3,592 of 20 mm - and 7 night fighters were reported as being on duty in the Munich area but only 1 bomber, unidentified because of its explosion in the air, was shot down over the city. source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt


Lancaster W4172 was attacked by a Fw190 night-fighter and a JU 88. Shot down by Ofw. Reinhard Kollak of the 7./NJG 4, flying Bf 110 F-4 3C+LR from Juvincourt airfield.and crashed 01:59 10 Mar 1943 near Lavannes (Marne) 12 km NE of Reims France.Having taken off from Langar 2041, 9 Mar 1943 .Both Brown and Brownhill say they were shot down after leaving the target: Brown says "while we were over Saarbrucken one of the engines caught fire and almost immediately afterwards we were attacked by a fighter.". Brownhill says "we were attacked by night fighters and the aircraft was set on fire."


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