6 Bomber Group October 8/9, 1943
16 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 70 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 squadrons and 14 Wellingtons from 432 squadron on an attack at Hannover. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 22,000 feet, releasing 272,000 lbs of high explosives and 294,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the sky was clear and an accurate attack was made with severe damage being caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
119 aircraft - 95 Stirlings, 17 Halifaxes, 7 Lancasters, of 3 and 8 Groups. This was a diversionary raid on a larger scale than ever before. The bombing was scattered but this was a subsidiary aim of the operation. 3 Stirlings lost, 2.5 percent of the force. Minor Operations: 10 Mosquitos to Castrop-Rauxel, 7 to Berlin, 1 to Duren, 17 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde and off La Pallice, 2 OTU sorties. No Losses. Total Effort for the night: 660 sorties, 30 aircraft (4.5 percent) lost
218 Gold Coast Squadron (In Time) RAF Downham Market. Stirling III aircraft BK 687 HA-R was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Hans-Heinz Augenstein of the 9/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110G from Twente airfield, the Netherlands during an operation against targets in Bremen, Germany. The Stirling crashed at Ebersdorf, Germany with the loss of the entire crew, flying their fourteenth operation
The Bomber Command War Diaries and Operational Reference book, 1939-1945 by Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt, page 438
From St Vith to Victory, 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron and the Campaign Against Nazi Germany by Stephen C Smith, page 184
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands
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