Blohm & Voss skibsværftet i Hamburg fotograferet ved krigens afslutning. De britiske fototydere har indtegnet værftets afgrænsning med gul fedtstift.

Natten mellem den 8. og 9. marts 1945 Natten mellem den 8. og 9. marts 1945 forlagde Bomber Command alle deres mål til den nordligste del af Tyskland. I dette kapitel vil vi i særlig grad kigge på alle pilotrapporter fra Mosquito besætninger samt Pathfinder besætninger, der havde til opgave at afmærke nattens mål. Et af nattens mål var Blohm und Voss skibsværftet i Hamburg og dette hænger muligvis sammen med en rapport fra Air Ministry i Whitehall til blandt andet Bomber Command, der er dateret den 3. marts 1945 med en oversigt over Combined Strategic Target Committee Attack on Naval Targets:

NAVTAR No. 33 Primary naval targets arranged i priority groups. Except where shown, targets in each group are of equal importance. Group 1 (a) Hamburg Slips at Blohm & Voss for assembly of type XXI. Slips at Finkenwaerder for assembly of type XXIII. Shelter at Finkenwaerder (b) Bremen Slips at Deschimag for assembly of type XXI shelter alongside Deschimag (c) Farge (near Vegesack) Covered shelter Group 2 (a) Kiel Howaldt Werke shipyard (top priority) Slips at Germania for assemby of type XXIII Deutsche Werke shipyard (b) Vegesack Vulkan Werke: Section for pre-fabricated u-boats (c) Bergen Shelters for operational u-boats (d) Ijmuiden (suspended) E-boat shelters Group 3 (a) Trondheim Shelters for operational u-boats U-boat concentrations Horten/Flensburg These targets are suitable for attck by marginal effort when intelligence indicates presence sufficient concentrations of u- boats. Kiel, Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven & Bremerhaven PRU of the 21st of Feb showed large concentrations of u- boats at these ports. The cruisers Hipper and Emden were also seen at Kiel. In addition to their importance as economic, industrial and communications targets, these ports are therefore of considerable naval importance long as latest intelligence shows concentrations persist'.

Kortskitse over Blohm & Voss skibsværftet i Hamburg.

Natten mellem den 8. og 9. marts 1945 afsendte RAF Bomber Command 312 bombefly mod havnen i Hamburg og andre 276 mod Kassel. Dertil kom minelægningsfly, elektronisk krigsførelse, Light Night Striking Force plus intrudere. Ialt blev 805 fly afsendt, hvoraf kun tre gik tabt. Dette var en tabsprocent på kun 0.4 og stod i skærende kontrast til tabene den forgangne nat. Eight Air Force havde en lignende oplevelse i løbet af dagtimerne den 8. marts 1945. De afsendte 1.353 bombefly og 326 jagere for at angribe den tyske olieindustri samt transportmål. Der var ingen tab i løbet af dagen, hvilket var første gang nogen sinde.

RAF Bomber Command afsendte følgende fly i løbet af aftenen den 8. marts: Mål Group Flytype Afsendt Angrebet Savnet Højde TOT Kassel 1 Lancaster 235 230 - 12-22.000 21.30-21.50 8 Lancaster 27 26 - 16-19.000 21.27-21.55 8 Mosquito 14 11 1 24-28.000 21.25-21.40 Hamburg 4 Halifax 156 151 - 16-20.000 21.27-21.40 6 Halifax 85 83 1 15½-20.000 21.29-21.41 8 Lancaster 62 62 - 14-19.000 21.22-21.36 8 Mosquito 9 8 - 23-25.500 21.29-21.33 Berlin 8 Mosquito 39 38 - 23-27.000 20.35-20.45 Hannover 8 Mosquito 28 28 - 20-32.000 21.10-21.16 Hagen 8 Mosquito 7 7 - 33.000 20.54-21.09 Osnabrück- Bremen- 8 Mosquito 5 5 - 26.000 22.13-22.54 Hannover Minelaying Hamburg 4 Halifax 10 9 - 17-19.000 21.30-21.36 Hamburg, Weser & 6 Halifax 13 13 - 14-18.000 21.20-21.34 Bight 6 Lancaster 14 13 - Bomber Support 100 M H F S Lib 79 73 1 Signals Patrols 100 Hal Mos 7 7 - Special Operations 3 Various 5 Met Recce 8 Mosquito 2 2 -

Aftenen startede med Mosquitoes tilhørende Light Night Striking Force fra No. 8 Group rettede angreb mod Berlin, Hagen og Hannover.

Bomber Commands rutekort for natten mellem den 8. og 9. marts 1945. Ruterne består af en indflyvning fra nordvest mod Hamburg, en indflyvning til Berlin syd om Bremen og Hamburg med angreb på Berlin fra nord, et skinangreb mod Kassel fra vest med næsten samme kurs som styrken til Berlin samt et angreb på Kassel med indflyvning nord om Münster. Dertil kom så skinangreb mod Dortmund og Münster. For angrebsstyrkerne til Kassel og Hamburg var kursen som følger: Kassel: Reading - 5000N - 0200E 5000N 0340E - 5150N 0550E - 5210N 0830E - Kassel - 5114N 0932E - 5040N 0900E - 5030N 0730E - 5000N 0620E - 5000N 0200E. Time over Target: 2125-2136 hrs. Over Continent: 1859-2325 hrs. Hamburg: Whitby - 5500N 0500E - 5500N 0700E - 5410N 0950E - Hamburg - 5320N 1000E - 5320N 0920E - 5400N 0810E - 5400N 0710E - 5420N 0645E - 5515N 0330E - Whitby Time over Target: 2121-2137 hrs Over Continent: 2100-2210 hrs.

Tysk kortskitse fra Fluko Kiel for indflyvninger over Schleswig-Holstein i løbet af aftenen den 8. marts 1945 samt for angrebet på Hamburg.

Luftwaffes vurdering og reaktion Luftwaffe fik i løbet af aftenen et ret godt billede af de britiske indflyvninger og var blandt andet i stand til at fastslå, hvilke Bomber Groups, der deltog. Luftwaffenführungsstab Ic vurderede indflyvningerne om aftenen den 8. marts 1945 således: Feind Einflug zweier mittelstarker englischer Kampfverbände nach NW- und W-Deutschland zum Angriff auf Hamburg und Kassel. Moquitostörangriffe auf Berlin, Hannover, Osnabrück, Bremen, Dortmund und Hagen. Lebhafte Fernnachtjägertätigkeit über NW-, W-, und Mitteldeutschland mit Schwerpunkt Münsterland. Einzelaufklärer über Deutscher Bucht und SW-Deutschland.

Im einzelnen: Viermot. Kampfflugzeuge Ab 19.40 Einsatz der 100. BG mit Störträgerflugzeugenüber Deutscher Bucht, im holländisch-belgischen Raum und über W-Deutschland.

19.20 erste Erfassung eines mittelstarken englischen Kampfverbandes - etwa 300 Flugzeuge der 1., 4. und 8. BG - im Raum N Chambrai mit NO-Kurs.

20.20 Einflug in das Reichsgebiet bei Aachen mit NO-Kurs. Dem Kampfverband voraus eine Mosquitospite. Weiterflug mit NO-Kurs entland der Reichsgrenze über Venlo - Bocholt bis i.d.R. S Rheine. Dort Eindrehen auf O- und später SO-Kurs über Bielefeld - Holzminden i.d.R. Kassel zum Angriff auf Kassel von 21.20 - 21.48 aus 5.500 - 6.500 m. Ab 21.30 Rückflüge mit SW-Kurs. Ein schwacher gemischter Teilverband dreht i.R. Osnabrück mit SW-Kurs ab und führt Täuscheungsangriffe auf Dortmaund und Hagen von 20.54 - 21.00 durch. 22.50 letzter Ausflug Reichsgebiet.

20.40 erste Erfassung eines mittelstarken englischen Kampfverbandes - etwa 200 Flugzeuge der 6., 4. und 8. BG - mit vorausfliegenden Mosquito im Seegeb. W Sylt mit O- Kurs. Weiterflug über Sylt - Heide - Neumünster i.d.R. Hamburg zum Angriff auf Hamburg von 21.15 - 21.40 aus 5.800 - 6.800 m. Rückflüge mit W-Kurs ab 21.20. 22.20 letzter Ausflug Reichsgebiet.

22.50 - 03.10 Einflug einzelner Kampfflugzeuge nach N- und Mitteljütland und Seeland zur Agentenversorgung. Zweimot. Kampfverbände 19.30 - 22.00 Einflug von etwa 60 Mosquito über Zuider See - Osnabrück - Nienburg - Ulzen - Pritzwalk zum Störangriff auf Berlin von 20.35 - 20.47 aus 7.400 - 8.300 m. Rückflüge mit W- und SW-Kurs. 20.30 - 22.15 Einflug von etwa 25 Mosquito über Zuider See - Rheine zum Störangriff auf Hannover von 21.07 - 21.18 aus 6.000 - 7.300 m. Rückflüge auf Gegenkurs. 21.55 - 22.40 Einflug von etwa 20 Mosquito über Zuider See zum Störangriff auf Osnabrück von 22.16 - 22.21 aus 7.000 - 8.000 m. Geleichzeitig Eingflug einzelner bumeranggeführter Mosquito mit Bombenwürfe auf Bremen um 22.53. Rückflüge auf Gegenkurs. Fernnachtjägertätigkeit 19.30 - 01.00 insgesamt etwa 180 Fernnachtjäger über NW-, W-, SW- und Mitteldeutschalnd mit Schwerpunkt Münsterland (90). Aufklärer 20.30 - 03.00 insgesamt 4 Aufklärer, davon Deutsche Bucht (1), Fulda - Regensburg - Nürnberg (1), Stuttgart - Landshut (2). Eigener Einsatz Gegen viermot Kampfverbände kein Einsatz. Gegen Mosquitoeinflug Berlin: 2. J.Div: 1 Flugzeug Mosquitojagd. Keine Erfolge, keine verluste. Flakeinsatz In den Angriffschwerpunkten schossen: Hamburg: 41 schw. Batt. 184 Rohr, 5.404 Schuss. Erfolge: 2 sicher (2+0) 3 wahrscheinlich (3+9) Kassel: Noch nicht gemeldet. Weitere Flakerfolge: LG. VI: 1 sicher (1+0)

Berlin 38 ud af 39 til Berlin afsendte Mosquitoes bombede i tidsrummet 20.35 til 20.45 deres mål fra 23-25.000 fods højde gennem 7-9/10 skydække med toppe i 8-10.000 fods højde. Mosquitoerne kom fra følgende enheder: No. 139 Sqdn - 9 Mosquitoes (Y) No. 142 Sqdn - 6 Mosquitoes No. 162 Sqdn - 6 Mosquitoes No. 163 Sqdn - 9 Mosquitoes No. 608 Sqdn - 9 Mosquitoes Ruten for Mosquitoerne til Berlin (Whitebait) var som følger: Base - Haisboro - 53.05'N 08.00'E - 52.52'N 08.45'E - 532.5'N 12.45'E - Target - 52.00'N 11.40'E - 51.55'N 10.00'E - 52.35'N 07.20'E - 53.00'N 01.00'E - Base. De 9 Mosquitoes med Y-equipment havde til opgave at afmærke målområdet blindt med røde og grønne floater målmarkeringsbomber, der tændtes i 20.000 fods højde. Dertil kom langtidsbrændende målmarkeringsbomber med en blanding af rød og grøn, der blev antændt i 13.500 fods højde. Det var sidstnævnte markering, som de efterfølgende Mosquitoes skulle bombe og hvis dette ikke lod sig gøre, skulle de bombe floaterne eller alternativt visuelt eller ved hjælp af Gee (i virkeligheden blindt på lykke og fromme, men Berlin var så stort et mål, at der var overvejende sandsynlighed for, at man ville ramme et eller andet). En Mosquito vendte om før målet og de andre kastede 118 stk 500 MC, 5 stk 500 GP samt 24 stk 250 TI. Det lykkedes at få en god koncentration af målmarkinger og mange bombedetonationer blev set i nærheden af disse.

Centrum af Berlin var i foråret 1945 mere eller mindre totalt sammenbombet og der var ikke mange bygninger, der ikke var ødelagte eller svært beskadigede.

Light Night Striking Force rapporterede efter angrebet: '7 to 9/10th cloud. Tops 8/10.000 feet. Lots of markers were successfully dropped on H2S. The first to go down was at approx 20.35 hrs which timed well with the adjusted H hour of 20.40 hrs. And this was followed in quick succession by other to form a fairly good concentration with the major axis running across the target from NE to SW. The majority of crews saw and bombed the mixed red and green TI's under the floater TI's. Bomb burst were seen in proximity to the markers, but cloud interfered with any detailed assessment. Numerous decoy TI's were observed with red and greens to the NW and yellows to the north and SW but absence of S/L glare greatly assisted the identification of real TI's from dummies'.

Målskite for Berlin med angivelse af, hvor besætninerne fra No. 139 Squadron kastede deres målmarkeringer. Hovedparten af disse var det ikke muligt at plotte.

No. 139 Squadron Target: Berlin. Eight aircraft dropped and one dropped bomb only as H2S range marker was u/s. 'H' hour was advanced five minutes. Concentration of floaters was good, in a line running East to West about 3 - 4 miles long. TIs were seen by some crews. Very little bombing but some cookie bursts were seen on TIs. cloud 7/10 10.000 feet. Searchlights Nil. Slight Flak. No fighters seen. The raid considered good. Mosquito XX KB204 F/Lt A George, DFC, DFM & F/Lt R V Broad, DFC 18.10 22.55 Mosquito XX KB225 S/Ldr C G Killpack, AFC & F/Sgt J D Crawfort 18.10 22.35 Mosquito XX KB156 F/Lt A B Hammond, DFC & F/Lt G A L Webby 18.10 22.45 Mosquito XVI MM200 S/Ldr D C Davies, DFC & S/Ldr A Coleman, DFC 18.15 22.40 Mosquito XX KB349 F/Lt L H Wakeford & F/Sgt R E Smith 18.15 22.35 Mosquito XX KB367 F/Lt G Coleman, DFM & F/Lt R Cooper, DFC 18.15 22.40 Mosquito XVI KB399 F/Lt J R Cassels, DFC & F/Lt D M Martin, DFM 18.15 22.45 Mosquito XX KB354 F/Lt A O'Grady & F/Lt L D Groome, DFC 18.15 22.40 Mosquito XVI KB390 F/Lt S Searles & F/Lt N C Berrisford, DFC 20.25 01.15

Øverst: Reichsluftfahrtsministerium før krigen. Nederst: Reichskanzlei umiddelbart efter krigens afslutning. No. 142 Squadron Mosquito XXV KB455 F/O R A Gosling & F/Sgt Simpson 18.17 22.44 Berlin Main Force Successful 'A' Weather 5/10 tops 10.000 feet. Full load dropped from 24.000 feet at 20.39. No adjustable H-hour heard. Saw R/G Floater and R/G TI cascade at 20.35, ran up on this and numerous R/G floaters fell from 20.37. Bombed on 1 R/G on ground in centre of concentration. Yellow Spoofs fell south of marking at 20.34 and 1 R/G SW burst low. Defences: Slight no moderae H/F predicted. No S/L, no fightes. Landed at base. Mosquito XXV KB432 F/O D C Annigan & P/O D Worthbridge 18.22 22.59 Berlin Main Force Successful 'A' Weather 7/10 tops 7.000 feet. Full load dropped from 23.500 feet at 20.45. VHF jammed - did not get adjusted H- hour broadcast but realised by markers falling early thee attack would be earlier. R/G floaters seen at 20.36, followed by more in good concentration until 20.45. Defences: Slight to moderate H/F predicted. No S/L, no fighers. Landed at base. Mosquito XXV KB486 F/Lt I A Litchfield & Sgt R J Howard 18.21 22.52 Berlin Main Force Successful 'A' Weather 3/10 tops 4.000 feet. Full load dropped form 26.000 feet at 20.38. heard H-hour adjusted to 20.40 at 20.32. Arrived on time and saw a out five R/G floaters and TI's cascading in good concentration. Red TI reached ground 20.36, 38, 39/43. 1 cookie burst seen near own. Defences: Slight to moderate H/F predicted. No S/L, no fighers. Landed at base. Mosquito XXV KB468 F/Lt S A Nolan & P/O W J C Green 18.18 22.54 Berlin Main Force Successful 'A' Weather 10/10 low stratus, tops 7.000 feet. Full load dropped form 25.000 feet at 20.38. Heard H-hour adjusted to 20.40 at 20.11/21. On track in, saw 2 Spoof TI's cascading. Very poor, rather low. First TI's cascaded at 20.35.30. Floaters red cascading 5 fell within 1½ minutes. Last called down at 20.42. Defences: Slight to moderate H/F predicted. No S/L, no fighers. Landed at base. Mosquito XXV KB481 F/O F/O K Pudsey & F/O J R D Morgan 18.20 22.51 Berlin Main Force Successful 'A' Weather 5/10 strato cumulus, 9/10.000 feet, vis good. Full load dropped from 24.000 feet at 20.41. Adjustable H- hour given as 20.40, and first markers seen at 20.35. Red and Green TI's burst above bombing height and fell in front of aircraft, but were in good concentration and clearly defined. No bombing seen. Some red and Green dummies NW of target. Defences: Slight to moderate H/F predicted. No S/L, no fighers. Landed at base. Mosquito XXV KB435 F/O H J Smith & Sgt J T Gibbons 18.13 23.02 Berlin Main Force Successful 'A' Weather 10/10 strata 2/3.000 feet, vis good. Full load dropped form 25.000 feet at 20.38.51. Adjustable H-hour 20.40 broadcast at 20.11. First TI's seen at 20.37 R/G floaters bursting above 25.000 feet and falling around aircraft. Markers in good concentration and a cookie bursts seen below them. Defences: Slight to moderate H/F predicted. No S/L, no fighers. Landed at base. No. 162 Squadron Mosquito 25 KB492 F/O K Burgess, DFC & F/O A Wallis, DFC 18.15 22.36 Berlin - Target attacked at 2045.00 hrs from 26.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP. First Red and Green TI's were seen to fall at 2037 hrs and other loads fell regularly at 2045 hrs. bombing was ceoncentrated upon the TI's. Marking was good. Dummy Red TI's were dull and were seen to the NW, together with one Dummy green. Cloud 7 to 8/10th stratus. Tops 10.000 ft. Visibility good. Successful sortie. Mosquito 25 KB497 F/O T Finlay, DFM & F/O C Allsop, DFM 18.23 22.52 Berlin - Target attacked at 2041.30 hrs from 25.500 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP. First load of Red/Green were seen to fall at 2035 hrs and three other loads fell in quick succession. Marking were good. bombing was well placed around the markers. Cloud 7/10ths thin stratus. Tops 7/8000 ft. visibility good. Successful sortie. Mosquito 25 KB499 F/Lt B H B Hopkin & F/Sgt I Harahan 18.13 22.58 Berlin - Target attacked at 2041.00 hrs from 26.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP. First load of Green/Red TI's were seen to fall at 2036 hrs and more loads fell immediately aftrerwards. Marking was good, running regularily NW to SE. Dumme Yellow TI's were seen N and NW of the target. Dummy explosions were seen to the W of the target at 2033 hrs. Cloud 8/10ths str. Tops 8/10.000 ft. visibility good. Successful sortie. Mosquito 25 KB509 F/O M C Lowe, DFM & Sgt A Heggie 18.14 22.44 Berlin - Target attacked at 2040.00 hrs from 25.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP. first lot of Red/green TI's were seen to fall at 2036 hrs. They formed a line roughly E to W and were fairly well concentrated. One fire was seen slightly to the SE at 2041 hrs and it was seen to spread. Coud 6/10ths thin. Tops 5/8000 ft. Visibility good. Successful sortie. Mosquito 25 KB442 P/O W McGowan, DFC & F/O A Fisher 18.15 23.00 Berlin - Target attacked at 2041 hrs from 26.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP. On approach saw first Red and Green TI load going down at 2035 hrs, followed very closely by five more lots forming a triangle of three Red/Green TI's the centre of which the aircraft bombed. Dummy Yellow TI were shot up about 6 miles SW of the aiming point. Cloud 7 to 8/10ths stra. Tops 10.000 ft. Visibility good. Successful sortie. Mosquito 25 KB458 F/Lt R R Waller & Sgt W Grigg 18.16 22.48 Berlin - Target attacked at 2039 hrs from 26.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP. First load of Red and Green TI's were seen to fall at 2036 hrs which were quickly followed by three others. Then another load was seen to fall at 2037 hrs and then at 2038. Marking ran in line from East to West and it was excellent. Bombing was very well placed. Dummy Yellow TI's were seen 20 miles to the NW of the target. Cloud 5/10ths very thin str. Tops 6.000 ft. Visibility good. Successful sortie.

Berlin-Schöneberg i 1945 med gasometerbygningen i Bayreuter Strasse midt i billedet.

No. 163 Squadron Mosquito 25 KB510 F/O Neal & Sgt Brown 18.14 22.40 Target ident by TI. 1st 2036. Adjust H received 2010. 5 early. Concentration fairly good in line SW EN. Saw 4 sets, bombed lower R/GT. Flak Mod H/F. RM 1st 1930, 2nd 1945, 3rd 2048.

Mosquito 25 KB474 F/Lt Richards & F/O Chillingworth 18.13 23.00 Target ident R/G TI 2038. Adj H received. Bombed TI, concentration fair. RM seen. Weather 8/10ths, 1000 ft. Flak slight H/F. Mosquito 25 KB488 F/O Holmes & F/O Walters 18.16 22.34 Target ident R/G 4½ (2). Adj H 5 early. TI's called down concentration good, EW ine. 3 TI's together eastern edge. RM 1st 1940, 2nd 1945, 3rd 2025. Flak slight. Bremen prang seen. Mosquito 25 KB624 F/Lt Jinks & F/O Ross 18.12 22.56 Target ident R/G, 1st 2036, VHF u/s. Concentration fair, line EW. RM seen. Flak slight H/F. Suspected Jet over target. Weather clear, 2/10ths, 10000 ft. Bombed TI. Mosquito 25 KB538 F/O Fotheringham & F/Sgt Foley 18.13 22.58 Target ident TI's H-4 (early 5 mins). TI's called down, Concentration good, line E-W. Flak predicted slight H/F. RM 1st 1940, 2nd 1945, 3rd 2052. Dummies seen NW. Cloud 5/10.800 ft. Mosquito 25 KB518 W/O Fogo & Sgt Severson 18.14 22.43 Target ident TI's 2035-35½, 36. Bombed 2026 TI. Concentration good in line E-W. RM 1st 1940, 2nd 1945, 3rd 2027, 4th 2052. Flak mod predicted H/F. Dummy TI's NW of target. Cloud 5-7/10. Other raids seen. Mosquito 25 KB502 F/Lt Hawley & F/O Richardson 18.15 22.44 Other raids seen. Landed at Woodbridge. Mosquito 25 KB476 S/Ldr Duncan & Sgt Parker 18.11 22.35 Target ident by TI's. TI 2035½, 36, 36½. Bombed 36 TI R/G. Good concentration in a line E-W with 3 slightly to N. Cloud 7/10 9-10.000 ft. RM 1st 1938½, 2nd 1946, 3rd 2024½, 4th 2052½. Flak slight. Mosquito 25 KB541 F/O Martin & Sgt Lilley 18.15 22.47 Target ident TI's at 2035, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42½ called down. Concentration line E-W and good. bombed floater on 150º T. Flak slight H/F. RM 1st 1938, 2nd 1945, 3rd 2024. RM out 2052. Raid good.

Ruinlandskab i Berlin i 1945 mellem banegården ved Jannowitzbrücke og Schlesischer Bahnhof.

No. 608 Squadron Mosquito XX KB406 F/Lt Hobbs & F/O Dennis 18.20 FTR This aircraft took of to attack Berlin, but nothing has been heard from it since. Mosquito XX KB346 F/O Nunn & P/O Harris 18.17 22.53 Successful 'A' Berlin. Bombed centre of mixed red and green TI's. Received broadcast changing H hour to 2040. TI's started to cascade at 2036 four sets in all were seen forming a compact square. A few cookie burst were seen to undershoot. 7/10 st cu tops 6000'. Mosquito XX KB355 F/O Dunn & F/O Bancroft 18.23 22.51 Successful 'A' Berlin. Bombed centre of mixed red and greens at 2040 from 26.000' on 170T at 180 K. Heard broadcast making H hour 5 min early. First TI's seen at 2036 followed by more 2 mins lager. Floaters made a line W to E and TI's a compact square. Cookies appeared to undershoot. 8/10 st cu tops 4000' vis good. Mosquito XX KB441 F/Lt Mackenzie & F/O Scott 18.18 22.55 Successful 'A' Berlin. Bombed centre of red and green TI's at 2041 from 25.800' on 130T at 175 K. Received broadcast changing H hour to 2041. TI's started to go down at 2036 and continued at regular intervals until 2041. On the whole a very good concentration was acheived. Bombing good. ´8-17/10 str cu tops approx 10.000' vis good. Mosquito XX KB491 F/Lt Morton & F/Sgt Beavis 18.20 22.44 Successful 'A' Berlin. bombed between 2 red and green TI's at 2039 hrs 25000 ft 150T and at 180 K. Broadcast received altering H hour to 20.40 hrs. First TI were seen to go down at 2033.30 hrs with 4 sets more up 2036.30 hrs. Two more at 2037 hrs and one at 2041 hrs. Concentration was good and Cookie flashes were seen through cloud after bombing. 7/10ths str cu tops 8000 ft vis fair. Mosquito XX KB347 F/Lt Lilley & F/Sgt Hossack 18.22 22.58 Successful A Berlin. Bombed centre of mixed Red and Green TI at 2042.30 hrs 25600 ft 144T 180K. Broadcast received altering H hour 20.40 hours. First TI went down at 2036 followed at 2037 by four more in good concentration. Two cookie bursts observed slightly short of the TI. 6/7 tenths Str Cu, tops 6/7000 ft, vis hazy. Mosquito XX KB146 F/O Smith & F/O Hart 18.18 18.59 Abortive. Task abandoned 1840 hrs 16000 ft owing to u/s generator, bomb load brought back, undercarriage collapsed on landing. Mosquito XX KB189 F/LT Lockyer & F/O Sherry 18.23 22.46 Successful A Berlin, 24000 ft 130T 180K. Broadcast on H Hour too indistinct. Four sets of TI went down at 2036 with two more sets at 2039 in good concentration, several cookie burst seen on centre of TI. 5/6 tenths Str Cu, tops 5000 ft vis good. Mosquito XX KB400 F/O Barson & F/Lt Miles 18.19 22.20 Successful A Berlin. Bombed centre of mixed Red and Green TI at 2039.30, 24700 ft 190T 190K. Broadcast received altering H hour to 2040 hrs. First Ti down at 2036 hrs, six sets TI seen all together and were in good concentration except for one set about 4 miles north. Numerous cookie bursts seen well on TI. One 500 lb MC LC hung up. 5/10 Stra Cu, tops 10000 ft. Vis good. Mosquito XXV KB406 fra No. 608 Squadron forulykkede under returflyvningen fra Berlin, men F/Lt Hobbs og F/O Dennis overlevede episoden. Grundet deres kvæstelser kom de ikke tilbage til No. 608 Squadron før krigens afslutning. F/Lt Hobbs Mosquito medbragte 3 stk 500 lbs MC sprængbomber samt 1 stk 500 lbs MC med langtidsforsinkelse.

Ødelagte bygninger på Leipziger Platz i Berlin to år efter krigens afslutning.

I Berlin blev der rapporteret om følgende skader: Berlin 20.35-20.47 Uhr, 75 Sprengbomben, davon 34 LZZ, 1 Minenbombe In den Abschnitten Tiergarten, Wedding, Gesundbrunnen, Reinickendorf, Pankow, Lichtenberg, Tempelhof, Schöneberg, Steglitz, Charlottenburg und Wilmersdorf. 5 Häuser zerstört, 2 schwer, 7 mittelschwer, 18 leicht beschädigt. Industrieschäden: Fa. Alket, Berlin-Borsigwalde: Brand im Ausländerlager. Personenverluste: 1 Gefallener, 1 Verwundeter, 1800 Obdachlose.

Reichskanzelei med bombeskader i foråret 1945.

En anden rapport fra Berlin lyder. Luftangriff am 8.3.1945 (Stand am 9.3.45, 8 Uhr) 20 Uhr 03 bis 21 Uhr 32 40 feindlichte Flugzeuge, 7.500 m Höhe Abgeworfen: 1 Minen-bombe 75 Sprengbomben, darunter 34 Blindgänger bezw LLZ. Personenverluste: 1 Mann gefallen, 1 Frau leicht verwundet Gebäudeschäden: Total 6, schwer 3, mittel 9, leicht 26 Obdachlos: 1800 Personen Verkehrsanlagen: Fernverkehr Berlin - Halle zerstört Versorgungsanlagen: keine Schäden Abschnitt Reinickendorf Berlin-Wiittenau, Oranienburger Str 198, Sprengbombe, 3 Wohnhäuser total. Berlin-Wittenau, Spiessweg 10, Sprengbombe auf Fahrbahn, 5 Wohnhäuser leicht beschädigt. Kolonie Steinberg an der Dietrich-Kowart-Str. Sprengbombe auf Laubengelände. Strasse 115, Nr. 20, Sprengbombe im Garten. Siedlungshaus schwer. Berlin-Tegel, Dietrich-Eckart-Str 12, Sprengbombe, Wohnhaus total. Berlin-Borsigwalde, Holzhäuser Str 49/52, Fa. Alkett, Ausländerbaracke, Brand. Berlin-Reinickendorf, Mittelbruchzeile 103, Brotfabrik Modrow, Sprengbombe, Blindgänger. Berlin-Reinickendorf, Amendestr. Kolonie Wasserturm, Sprengbombe, Laubengelände, leichter Schaden. Abschnitt Lichtenberg Berlin-Lichtenberg, Neue Bahnhofstr. 9/17, Knorrbremse AG, Sprengbombe. Abschnitt Steglitz Berlin-Lankwitz, Dessauer Str. zwischen Seydlitzstrasse und Gällwitz-Allee, Sprengbombe auf Fahrbahn. Verl. Seydlitzstr. Sprengbombe auf Laubengelände. Abschnitt Spandau Berlin-Spandau, Mertensstr. 92/130, Sprengbombe, leichter Schaden. Berlin-Spandau, Behelfsheimsiedlung Hakenfelde 6 und 8, Sprengbombe, Blindgänger. Abschitt Tempelhof Berlin-Tempelhof, Thuyring 36, Sprengbombe, leichter Gebäudeschaden. Berlin-Tempelhof, Manfred v. Richthofenstr. 114, Sprengbombe, Blindgänger. Berlin-Tempelhof, Leonhardyweg 92, Sprengbombe, mittlerer Gebäudeschaden

Hotel Kaiserhof i Berlin i marts 1945. Hotellet, der var et af Berlins bedstee hotellet, lå på Wilhelmplatz og blev ramt af bomber den 22. november 1943. Efter krigen blev den nordkoreanske ambassade i Østtysklan bygget på grunden efter, at hotellet var blevet revet ned.

Anflyvningen til Berlin fandt sted over det nordlige Holland med kurs mod Bremen, som blev passeret syd om og videre til et punkt nord for Berlin. Herfra drejede angrebstyrken direkte mod syd og angreb Berlin for at flyve mod vest syd om Magdeburg og videre til et punkt syd for Hannover, hvor man mødtes med Mosquitostyrken fra Hannover. Returflyvningen foregik nord om Osnabrück.

Britisk rekognosceringsbillede fra 1943 af banegården i Hagen. Der er på dette tidspunkt kun mindre bombeskader i Hagen.

Hagen Hagen, der er en tysk by lidt syd for Dortmund, blev bombet af 7 Mosquites fra No. 109 og 105 Squadron, som en del af denne nats skinangreb. Seks af maskinerne bombede ved hjælp af Oboe og den sidste ved hjælp af DR efter et fix med Oboe. Bombningen blev gennemført fra klokken 20.54 til 21.09 fra 33.000 fods højde og byen ramt af 21 stk 500 MC sprængbomber samt 7 stk 250 lbs målmarkeringsbomber. De tyske myndigheder i Hagen registrerede 9 sprængbomber i tidsrummet mellem 20.54 og 21.00, hvorved fire beboelseshuse blev ødelagt. Endvidere blev Reichsbahngebäude ødelagt og Eisenwerke Schmiedag blev ligeledes truffet. En person blev dræbt og to sårede under angrebet. Hagen havde kodebetegnelsen 'Rainbow' i Bomber Commands kodebetegnelser over tyske byer (populært benævnt 'Fish codes'). Hagen var et vigtigt jernbaneknudepunkt, ligesom byen indeholdt en del industri. Den 10. marts fulgte 8th Air Force op med et angreb på rangerbaneterrænet i Hagen. Angrebet blev udført af 41 B-17 fra 1st Air Division. Nogle få dage senere, nemlig om aftenen den 15. marts kom RAF Bomber Command igen og bombede Hagen med 267 fly. Dette angreb have en katastrofal virkning i Hagen, hvor over 500 personer blev dræbt og omkring 1450 brande blev antændt. Om aftenen den 8. marts havde Mosquito flyene følgende kurs i forbindelse med angrebet på Hagen, der havde kodenavnet Rainbow i Bomber Commands Fish Code: Base - Haisboro - 5234N 0643E - 5219N 0715E - Target - 5140N 0800E - 5230N 0630E - 5240N 0530E - 5300N 0400E - 5300N 0100E - Base.

Følgende besætninger angreb Hagen: No. 105 Squadron Mosquito XVI PF452 F/Lt J C H de Lisle, DFC & F/O J F O C Delori 19.10 22.31 Primary attacked. Mosquito IX LR507 F/O G W Edwards & F/O Nicholson, DFM 19.00 22.55 Primary attacked. Mosquito XVI RV303 F/O A H Hammond & Sgt B J Fry 18.57 22.33 Last resort. No. 109 Squadron Mosquito XVI MM177 F/O K W Parish & F/Lt S R Kirkham 19.05 22.35 1 x TI Red + 3 x 500. Technical failure - dropped bombs only on DR from 32.000. Cloud 10/10 st.cu 5000 ft. Defences slight heavy inaccurate flak. Mosquito XVI MM205 W/O E N Jennings & P/O A S Steidman 19.18 23.18 1 x TI Red + 3 x 500. Marked & bombed target from 33.100 ft by AR5513 at 2100. Cloud 10/10 st.cu. Defences nil. Mosquito XVI ML991 F/Lt G R Jenkinson & F/Sgt L Rogers 19.05 22.25 1 x TI Red + 3 x 500. Marked and bombed target from 32.850 ft by AR5513 at 2056. Cloud 10/10 st.cu. Defendes nil. Mosquito XVI ML927 W/O T A Carter & W/O R J Wicks 19.05 22.35 1 x TI Red + 3 x 500. Marked & bombed target from 32.850 ft by AR 5513 at 2056. Cloud 10/10 st.cu. Defences nil.

Hagen blev bombet flere gange i løbet af krigen. Førse større angreb blev gennemført af Bomber Command natten mellem den 1. og 2. oktober 1943 og det næste store angreb fulgte natten mellem den 2. og 3. december 1944. Den 28. februar 1945 bombede 8th Air Force byen og fulgte dette angreb op med yderligere et angreb den 10. marts. Den 15. marts 1945 angreb Bomber Command igen Hagen og antændte 1439 brande i byen. 505 personer blev dræbt under dette angreb og omkring 30.00 personer blev hjemløse.

Hannover 28 Mosquitoes fra No. 8 Group bombede om aftenen den 8. marts 1945 Hannover fra en højde af 32.000 fod gennem 5-6/10 skydække. Angrebet fandt sted i tidsrummet mellem klokken 21.10 og 21.16. Fire af Mosquitoerne var Oboe markers og yderligere tre var markers, men uden Oboe. De resterende var almindelige bombefly. Hannover havde i den Bomber Commands Fish Code kodenavnet Eel.

Anflyvningen til Hannover fandt sted over det sydlige Holland gennem Mandrelskærmen med nordøstlig kurs. Omkring Meppen blev kursen ændret til Nienburg og herfra til Hannover. Under den første del af Mosquitoernes anflyvning var kursen sammenfaldende med No. 1 Group's anflyvning til Kassel. Denne anflyving fandt sted til nord for Ruhrområdet og videre mod østsydøst, nord om Münster til lidt øst for Bielefeld, hvor kursen med sat mod sydsydøst til Kassel, der blev anfløjet fra nord. Bomber Command angav kursen således: Base - Cambridge - Hastings - 5030N 0135E - 5040N 0420E - 5245N 0700E - 5245N 0900E - Target - 5215N 0935E - 5230N 0850E - 5225N 0700E - 5255N 0610E - 5300N 0100E - Base.

Følgende besætninger deltog i bombningen af Hannover: No. 105 Squadron Mosquito XVI LM974 F/Lt W H B Pritchard & F/Sgt J H Spicer 19.20 22.54 Primary attacked. Mosquito XVI LM999 W/O W Riordan & F/Sgt J D O'Connell 19.20 22.40 Primary attacked.

Bombeskader i Hannover indtil efteråret 1943, hvor byen oplevede sit værste angreb natten mellem den 8. og 9. oktober.

No. 109 Squadron Mosquito XVI ML980 F/Lt H A A'Court & F/Lt C Matthewman 19.10 22.45 2 x TI Red + 2 X 500. Marked & bombed target from 32.000 ft by AR5513 at 2112. Cloud 6/10 st cu. Defences nil. Mosquito XVI RV299 F/Lt T A Ralph & F/Lt R J Davis 19.10 22.50 2 x TI Red + 2 X 500. Technical failure - dropped bombs only on DR at 2113. Cloud 10/10 st. cu.

Bombeskader i Hannover i 1945. Skader med blåt er opstået før februar 1945 og skader indtegnet med rødt er opstået mellem den. 8 februar og 30. marts 1945.

No. 142 Squadron Mosquito XXV KB448 F/O T Dixon & F/Sgt R D Johnston 18.37 23.01 Spoof Successful 'A'. Weather: 3/10 thin stratua tops 5/6.000 feet. Full load dropped from 21.000 feet at 21.14.30. First Red TI cascaded at 21.08.30, followed by another at 21.12 and 2 Greens. 2 more Reds at 21.14.30 and 21.26. Bombed between 2 Reds on ground. Defences: Moderate H/F predicted bursting 28.000 feet. No S/L. Landed at base. Mosquito XXVI KB519 F/Lt D F Gosling & P/O J C Pickford 18.39 22.55 Spoof Successful 'A'. Weather: 6-7/10 tops 7.000 feet. Vis good. Full load dropped from 22.800 feet at 21.15. First Red TI cascaded at 21.08 followed by 2 more Reds, 1 Green and 1 Red approx 2 minutes later. Green was in middle and we bombed centre. Several cookie bursts amongst TI's. Defences: Moderate H/F predicted bursting 28.000 feet. No S/L. Landed at base. Mosquito XXVI KB487 F/O W C Reed & F/O P F Schmidt 18.36 22.48 Spoof Successful 'A'. Weather: 10/10 10.000 feet. Vis good. Full load dropped form 23.000 feet at 21.12.40. First Red TI at 21.10, position checked by good Gee fix. bombed this and then saw further Reds and some Green TI's in good concentration. Number of bombs flashes seen well placed under markers. Flares dropped at 20.54. Defences: Moderate H/F predicted bursting 28.000 feet. No S/L. Landed at base.

Skader i Hannover i 1945. Billedet er taget fra Angeiger bygningen og de omkringliggende bygninger viser skader fra varmestråling og brændende hed luft. Disse skader er opstået under angrebet på byen natten mellem den 8. og 9. oktober 1943, hvor 504 fly fra Bomber Command angreb byen. 3.932 bygninger blev totalt ødelagt under dette angreb og mere end 30.000 blev beskadiget i mere eller mindre grad. Omkring 1.200 personer blev dræbt under angrebet og yderligere 3.345 sårede, hvoraf 449 var alvorligt sårede. Dertil kommer så omkring 7.000 personer med øjenskader på grund af varme eller aske. Hannover havde i 1939 omkring 470.000 indbyggere. I maj 1945 var indbyggerantallet faldet til 217.000 personer.

No. 162 Squadron Mosquito 25 KB462 F/Lt F Haden, AFC & F/Sgt D Nichols 18.43 22.45 Bombing attack on Hannover. Target attcked at 2112.30 hrs from 23.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 00 lb GP. On run in saw first TI going down at 2110 hrs bombed on this. After bombing other Reds and Greens seen concentrated round first Red. Cloud 7/10ths. Str Tops 7000 ft. Visibility good. Successful sortie. Mosquito 25 KB445 F/O D W Rhys & F/O F Kennelly 18.44 22.57 Bombing and spoof marking attack on Hanover. Target attacked at 2115.00 hrs from 23.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP bomb. First load of Red TI's were seen to fall at 2115.00 hrs and another one fell soon afterwards. Another Red TI was seen to fall at 2116 and a Green TI at 21150 hrs. Marking was good although one Red TI was slightly to the NW. Bombing was seen centered on one Red TI. Cloud 6/10ths very thin. Tops 8.000 feet. Visibility good. Successful sortie. Mosquito 25 KB434 F/O J H Richards & F/O D McGregor 18.43 22.50 Bombing and spoof marking attack on Hanover. Target attacked at 2114.00 hrs from 22.000 ft with 3 x 500 lb MC and 1 x 500 lb GP bomb. First Red TI was seen to fall at 2107 and at 2112 another Red backed up by a green. Built-up area was seen in the glow of one Red TI. Marking was fairly good. A few bomb bursts were seen near to the TI's. Cloud 4/10ths Str. Tops 6.000 ft. Visibility good. Succesful sortie.

Hannover blev løbende bombet af de allierede. Dette skete fordi byen var et vigtigt industricentrum med fabrikker såsom Continental fabrikken, Hanomag, Stöcken (der producerede batterier til ubåde), Hannoverschen Waggonfabrik samt mange andre industrivirksomheder, der fremstillede krigsmateriel. De to sidste store luftangreb på Hannover fandt sted den 25. marts 1945, hvor 267 Lancasters angreb byen, samt den 28. marts 1945, hvor 519 B-17 fra 3rd Air Division angreb Hannover. På billedet ses skader på Hannover i maj 1945. Billedet er taget fra Angeiger bygningen i byens centrum.

No. 571 Squadron Mosquito XVI ML963 F/Lt J Shaw & Sgt A Markland 18.33 22.47 1st Red early followed by R&G in fiar concentration. Bombed 1st R TI, bombing good. 8/10 cloud 5-6.000'. Intense heavy flak. 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI RV323 F/Lt A W Mair & F/Sgt W F Withers 18.34 22.54 1st Red floater followed by G&R, bombed Red TI, fair concentration. 5/10 thin stratus. Mod to int H/Flak, Pred. 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI PF389 F/O R C Carter & F/sgt A C Blakney 18.35 23.05 Bombed centre of fairly good concentration of R TI's. Green seen. Bombing fair. 8/10 S.Cu. Mod H/flak (pred & barrage). 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI MM148 W/O A B Clarke & Sgt A C Beaton 18.36 22.53 Bombed 1st R TI. TI and bombing good. 3/10 S.Cu. Moderate Heavy Flak Predicted. 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI PF394 F/Lt D Colby & P/O P E C L Richards 18.37 22.57 1st TI H-7 which was bombed. R&G TI's followed on time, good concentration. 5/10 thin stratus 9.000'. 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI RV307 F/Lt V A Vangergen & F/Sgt C F Hendry 18.38 22.56 1st Ti followed by R & G Which were bombed. Bombing good. 6/10 S.Cu. 6.000'. Mod H/flak (Pred). 1 S/L. 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI PF438 P/O D R Tucker & F/Sgt G A Wheatcroft 18.39 22.59 2nd TI bombed, good concentration except for 1 Red. Bombing fair. 8/10 thin stratus, Mod H/Flak, 1 S/L. 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI RV315 F/Lt M J Cane & F/Sgt R J Mirow 18.40 22.51 1st TI bombed as it was cying out, others on time and in good concentration. 4/10 thin Med cloud. Mod H/Flak. 1 x 4000. Mosquito XVI PF383 F/O S J Nicolle & Sgt W Brown 18.41 23.03 Bombed 2nd TI, good conc of R/G. Bombing fair. 10/10 thin stratus. Mod Pred H/Flak. 1 x 4000. No. 692 Squadron Mosquito XVI PF450 F/Lt R Bailey, AFC & F/O T G Sawyer 18.48 22.57 Mosquito XVI PF397 F/Lt A W Waugh & F/O L R Corrigan 18.36 23.03 Mosquito XVI PF456 F/O W B Smith & F/Sgt L A Williams 18.35 22.45 Mosquito XVI PF388 F/O P J Crawford & F/Sgt J Brumhead 18.37 23.05 Mosquito XVI PF448 W/O J A Crossman & Sgt R G Barnes 18.39 22.53 Mosquito XVI PF445 F/Lt R H Hawken & F/O S I Finkelsted 18.38 23.06 Mosquito XVI PF970 F/O W E Evans & F/Sgt S F Stockwell 18.40 22.54 Mosquito XVI PF310 F/O G P Finnerty, DFM & F/O A I Naiman 18.41 22.48 Mosquito XVI PF430 F/O R C Edgar & F/O W R Clark 18.42 22.59 Target Hannover. Nine aircraft attacked dropping 'cookies' between 2112 and 2116. All aircraft bombed on the TI's, seen either through gaps in the cloud or glowing beneath it, and a very good concentration of bombs was observed. to fairly large orange explosions were reported and the raid would appear to have been quite successful. There was moderate predicted H/F but no searchlights.

Skader på rullende materiel og infra- struktur på ranger- banegården i Han- nover.

Markeringen var koncentreret og de efterfølgende fly bombede de røde målmarkeringsbomber gennem et hul i skydækket. To store eksplosioner blev set, ligesom et flammeskær bredte sig efter angrebet. Alle Mosquitoerne bombede Hannover, der blev ramt af 18 stk 4000 HC, 26 stk 500 MC sprængbomber samt 9 stk 250 lbs TI'er. No. 8 Groups rapport lød: '5-8/10 thin Strata cu tops 6/8.000 feet. TI reds dropped by the Oboe Mosquitoes opened the attack in good time. These were followed by further Oboe reds which were well backed up by the non-marker aircraft aiming TI's green and bombs at the concentration of red TI's seen through gaps or their glow seen through thin cloud. Marking was reported as well grouped and bombing mainly good near the TI's. Two fairly large explosions being observed. Defences moderate, predicted H/F. Nil S/Ls'.

Udbombede og totalt ødelagte værkstedshaller beliggende ved baneterrænet i Hannover i 1945. På billedet ses også udbrændte jernbanevogne.

Luftwaffe rapporterede, at der var spredt bombekastning over hele byområdet i Hannover, men at der kun var mindre industriskader. Det tyske politi i Hannover (BdO) rapporterede følgende om angrebet: Hannover 21.20 Uhr: Bombenabwürfe auf Stadtgebiet. Abgeworfen wurden 1 Minenbombe und 36 Sprengbomben. Unterkunft 15. Pol.-Revier schwer, Unterkunft 7. Pol.-Revier leicht. Maschinenfabrik Töhster schwer, Milch-Absatzgenossenschaft mittel. Personenverluste nocht nicht bekannt. 22.32 Uhr: Erneuter Abwurf einer Anzahl Sprengbomben aus Einzelflugzeugen. Schäden und Persoenverluste nocht nicht bekannt. Ausserdem Abwurf von Minen- und Sprengbomben auf Gemarkungen im Ldkrs. Hannover. Unbedeutende Schäden.

Kassel Angrebet mod Kassel var ifølge Bomber Command rettet mod selve byen, mod fabrikker, der fremstillede jetmotorer og kampvogne samt mod byens jernbaneinstallationer. Så var der vist ikke ret meget i Kassel, der ikke stod på listen over angrebsmål. Angrebsstyrken til Kassel blev støttet af No. 100 Group, der fremstillede en stærk Mandrelskærm med 20 Halifaxes og 1 Stirling fra den hollandske kyst nord for Antwerpen og i en bue til syd for Aachen. Der skulle egentlig have været to Halifaxes og en Stirling mere i Mandrelskærmen, men en Stirling returnerede tidligt fordi bombekasteren blev syg. De to Halifaxes, der begge kom fra No. 199 Squadron, returnerede begge på grund af tekniske problemer - den ene på grund af en olielæk og den anden fordi yderste højre motor satte ud. Tolv af Halifaxene kom fra No. 171 Squadron og de sidste otte fra No. 199 Squadron. De to Stirlings kom ligeledes fra No. 199 Squadron. Jammingen blev udført i tidsrummet 19.35 til 22.30. No. 171 Squadron Halifax III NA687 F/O R W Baker 17.36 00.04 Halifax III NA690 F/Lt J H Dickinson 17.34 00.12 Halifax III NA695 F/O A J Brogan 17.37 00.07 Halifax III NA691 F/O G F Homer 17.32 23.55 Halifax III LK868 W/O P J Warner 17.38 00.10 Halifax III NA112 F/O V J Townsend 17.36 00.06 Halifax III MZ491 F/Lt C J Butler 17.38 00.23 Halifax III NA106 F/Lt B B Reid 17.45 00.14 Halifax III NA105 F/Lt W A Steel 17.35 23.57 Halifax III NA673 F/Lt W S Short 17.25 00.03 Halifax III NA675 F/O E C Frey 17.41 00.35 No. 199 Squadron Stirling III LJ542 F/Lt R Gilbert 17.47 23.54 Stirling III LJ516 F/Lt A Turner 18.10 21.13 Halifax III NR243 F/O J F Reidy 17.30 00.22 Halifax III NR244 W/O W Sharples 17.28 00.36 Halifax III RG375 F/Lt C J Van Welie 17.44 22.15 Halifax III PN374 F/O A N Ward 17.40 00.15 Halifax III RG387 F/O W E Brooks 17.30 00.25 Halifax III PN373 F/O C Arkinstall 17.27 00.33 Halifax III RG373 F/Lt J L Russell 17.40 23.42 Halifax III RG388 W/O W L Porter 17.39 00.23 Halifax III PN375 F/Lt P Chilcott - - Halifax III RG381 F/O P Brown 17.48 23.48

Seks Fortresses fra No. 214 Squadron og fire Halifaxes fra No. 462 Squadron fløj Window patrulje i retning af Dortmund, der i tidsrummet 21.09 til 21.12 blev bombet af 19 B-24 fra 8th Air Force, som en del af aftenens skinmanøvrer.

B-24 41-28871 'Lady Grace' deltog i nattens spoof mission til Dortmund. Flyet havde tidligere tilhørt 486th BG. Flyet var blevet kraftigt beskadiget af tysk luftværnsskyts den 11. december 1944 og var landet i Frankrig. Efter at det var blevet repareret på Woodbridge fik flyet i januar motorproblemer, men blev repareret igen og fløj indtil den 14. marts 1945, hvor flyet nødlandede og brød i brand på Harrington, Den amerikanske bombning af Dortmund blev udført af B-24 tilhørende 492 Bomb Group, der kastede 72 stk 500 GP og 77 stk 500 clusters brandbomber. Resultatet af bombningen kunne ikke observeres af besætningerne, da målområdet var totalt dækket af skyer. En enkelt B-24 blev angrebet af et ukendt fly over målområdet, men der skete ingen skade på det amerikanske bombefly. De amerikanske B-24 fly kom fra 406th Bomb Squadron og følgende oplysninger om indflyvningen blev givet til 9th AF:

A/C No Crossing Battle Line Time & Pos Pos of TGT & Time Out Pos Time In Pos Time _ B-24 873 5130N 0642E 2028 5115N 0635E 2038 5125N 0636E 2031 B-24 492 5138N 0630E 2034 5138N 0630E 2034 5137N 0632E 2034 B-24 871 Does not cross Battle Line: 5210N 0630E 5115N 0630E 5230N 0605E 2036 B-24 652 5150N 0612E 2022 5135N 0635E 2048 5140N 0658E 2043 B-24 217 4900N 0625e 2105 4850N 0845E 2120 4852N 0812E 2115 B-24 619 5102N 0658E 2051 5045N 0708E 2058 5048N 0713E 2056 B-24 756 5105N 0658E 2021 5145N 0625E 2055 5132N 0728E 2039 B-24 483 5135N 0640E 2025 5110N 0650E 2046 5122N 0728E 2039 B-24 601 5034N 0717E 2036 5018N 0735E 2045 5022N 0736E 2043 B-24 555 5140N 0612E 2022 5124N 0640E 2030 5130N 0639E 2027 B-24 880 5137N 0630E 2031 5137N 0630E 2032 5138N 0632E 2031

Tyskerne indrapporterede følgende skader for Dortmund: Dortmund 20.54-21.00 Uhr, etwa 100 Sprengbomben und 10.000 Stabbandbomben. Industrieschäden: Wagner & Co und Zeche Tremonia getroffen Versorgungsanlagen: 1 Lagerhaus und 1 Mühle zerstört. Verkehrsschäden: Verschiebebahnhof Dortmunder Feld getroffen.

Flyene fra No. 100 Group jammede med Jostle (fra klokken 20.52 til 21.29), Piperack (fra klokken 20.34 til 21.34) og Carpet (fra klokken 20.40 til 21.29). De fire Halifaxes bombede Dortmund i tidsrummet 21.09 til 21.12 og kastede 16 stk 750 lbs clusters og TI'er ved hjælp af H2S. For at støtte bombestyrken til Kassel afsendte No. 100 Group 2 Liberators fra No. 223 Squadron, der kredsede over målområdet i 20-22.000 fods højde og jammede med Jostle, Piperack og Carpet. Dertil kom så en Mosquito fra No. 192 Squadron, der havde til opgave at udføre signalopklaring.

Halifax fra No. 462 Squadron. Denne enhed havde den 8. marts 1945 til opgave at flyve spoof til Dortmund og udkaste Window for at illudere et større angreb på byen. Halifax III MZ370 fra No. 462 Squadron, der var en del af Window Force gik tabt i løbet af natten, men australieren F/Lt F H James og hele hans besætning overlevede og blev taget til fange af den tyske værnemagt. Besætningen var en af de lidt mere heldige. Den 11. februar samme år havde de også deltaget i en spoof flyvning, da de under hjemkomsten til RAF Foulsham røg af landingsbanen, hvorved deres fly mistede understellet og blev totalt skadet. No. 462 Squadron opererede med fem fly denne nat og Halifax MZ370 var startet fra RAF Foulsham klokken 18.01 for at sprede chaff under flyvning til Dortmund og efterfølgende kaste brandbomber over byen. Lige efter, at de havde forladt målområdet, blev Halifaxen ramt af en luftværnsgranat, der beskadigede de to højre motorer. Propellerne på den yderste motor blev kantstillet, men dette hjalp ikke ret meget. Motoren brød i brand og Halifaxen begyndte at miste højde. F/Lt James gav besætningen ordre til at springe ud med faldskærm og alle slap ud af maskinen. Alle besætningsmedlemmerne blev efter landingen fanget af den tyske værnemagt. W/O Faser holdt den gående indtil den 15. marts, hvor han blev fanget 8 km vest for Wuppertal. F/Lt James havde et uheld under udspringet fra Halifaxen og blev slået bevidstløs. Han kom til sig selv, før han ramte jorden, men havde fået skader på hovedet og den højre fod. Han blev taget til fange straks ved landingen og blev allerede frigivet igen fra fangenskabet, da amerikanerne nåede ham den 29. marts. Ved hjemkomsten til England blev hans højre fod amputeret. Chefen for No. 462 Squadron, Wing Commander Peter McCallum Paull, deltog i nattens togt og fløj Halifax MZ431. Paull var australier, men blev født i Worpleston i England den 7. oktober 1917, fordi hans moder flyttede til England for at være tættere på sin mand, der kæmpede i skyttegravene i Frankrig. Peter McCallum Paull meldte sig til det australske flyvevåben i Brisbane i marts 1940 og blev uddannet som pilot. Han kom i september 1942 til No. 7 RAAF Squadron og deltog som Beaufort pilot i kampene mod japanerne, hvilket udløste et DFC i oktober 1943, da hans tour i enheden var overstået. Paull var under hans tjenestetid i No. 7 RAAF Squadron også blevet tildelt en amerikansk Silver Star. Han blev samme måned udnævnt til Squadron Leader (acting). S/Ldr Paull kom til England og blev i december 1944 overflyttet til No. 462 Squadron. Den 17. januar 1945 blev han udnævnt til Wing Commander og fik ved samme lejlighed kommandoen over No. 462 Squadron, som han førte indtil september 1945. Paull fortsatte i RAAF indtil februar 1946, hvor han blev hjemsendt. Han bosatte sig i Queensland og døde som 69 årig den 10. juli 1987.

Jammingsudstyr i Halifax fra No. 462 Squadron.

Følgende besætninger fra No. 462 Squadron deltog i nattens operationer: Halifax III MZ913 W/O J R Smith 18.05 23.45 Special duty flight to the Dortmund area on a Spoof raid. Window and incendiaries were dropped in that area. Halifax III MZ306 F/O J N Boyd 18.04 23.54 Special duty flight to the Dortmund area on a Spoof raid. Window and incendiaries were dropped in that area. Halifax III MZ270 F/Lt F H James 18.01 FTR This aircraft took of on a Special duty flight to the Dortmund ara and failed to return from the mission. Nothing further has been heard since the aircraft took off. Crew reported missing. Loading: 4 x 750 lb Incendiary Clusters. Halfiax III MZ431 W/Cdr P M Paull, DFC 18.02 00.06 Special duty flight to the Dortmund area on a Spoof Raid. Window was released and incendiaries dropped in that area. Loading; 4 x 750 lb Incendiary Clusters. Halifax III MZ286 F/Lt W B Cocksen 18.03 23.56 Special duty flight to the Dortmund area on a Spoof Raid. Window ws released and incendiaries dropped in that area. Loading; 4 x 750 lb Incendiary Clusters.

Jammingsudstyr i Halifax fra No. 462 Squadron.

No. 223 Squadron på RAF Oulton var sammen med No. 214 Squadron No. 100 Groups 'heavy jammers' udstyret med Jostle, Carpet og Piperack jammere. De to enheder støttede bombeoperationerne med jammere, der fulgte med frem til målet og forsøgte at forstyrre tyskernes radio- og radarsignaler. Det var ikke No. 223 Squadrons opgave at forstyrre de tyske fjernsøgeradar. Man forsøgte i stedet for at jamme de frekvenser som natjagerne anvendte og på denne måde nedsætte faren for nedskydninger. Dette blev primært gjort med jammere af typen Piperack, der jammede natjagernes FuG 220 radar. Eskadrillen jammede også de tyske skyderadar af typen Würzburg og Mannheim, der af Luftwaffe blev anvendt til at styre luftværnsskytset i målområderne, En enkelt B-24 udstyret med Carpet jammere havde ofte held til fuldstændig at jamme tyskernes skyderadar, så man i stedet for var nødt til at skyde forberedt boksskydning, hvilket ikke var nær så effektivt som radarstyrede luftværnskanoner. Til jamming af kommunikationen mellem natjagerne og jordstationer anvendte No. 223 Squadron jammere af typen Jostle. Nu kunne man jo tro, at det at flyve rundt med tændte transmittere og udsende signaler var farligere end at gennemføre et almindeligt bombeangreb. No. 223 Squadron fløj sin første mission den 19. september 1944 og den sidste den 2. maj 1945. I denne periode fløj eskadrillen 665 sorties (3.513 timers flyvning) under hvilke de mistede tre B-24: 14. januar 1945 Liberator IV TT336, der blev skudt ned af allieret luftværnsskyts i forbindelse med et angreb på Grevenbroich. 21. februar 1945 Liberator IV TS520, der blev skudt ned af en tysk natjager ved Dortmund. 21. marts 1945 Liberator IV TS526, der blev skudgt ned af en tysk natjager ved Opferberg.

F/Lt Dyck og hans besætning fra No. 223 Squadron fotograferet foran Liberator TS529 i februar 1945. Den 8. marts 1945 fløj de Liberator TS526 på en jammingsmission til Kassel, hvor de jammede med Jostle, Carpet og Piperack. (Simons)

No. 223 Squadron afsendte om aftenen den 8. marts 1945 to gange to Liberator VI for for at gennemføre jamming for henholdsvis Hamburg og Kassel styrken. Liberator VI VB852 F/O F T Sellers 18.07 00.11 Jostle Patrol Hamburg. VHF Jostle on 2048 - 2054 (then HT failure). Piperack 2048 - 2238 hrs. Carpet on 2050 - 2235 (15 frequencies). This aircraft orbited in target area from 2123 - 2130 hrs at 20.000 ft. Liberator VI TS519 P/O N S Ayres 18.20 01.30 Jostle Patrol Hamburg. VHF Jostle on 2058 - 2255 hours. Piperack on 2058 - 2255 hrs. Carpet on 2100 - 2218 hrs (10 frequencies). This aircraft orbited in the target area from 2128 - 2137 hrs at 20.000 ft. Notes: Bombing appered good. Moderate H/F and some fighter activity in target area. Liberator VI TS526 F/Lt A L Dyck 17.44 01.33 Jostle Patrol Kassel. VHF Jostle on 2045 - 2225 hrs. Piperack on 2045 - 2225 hrs. Carpet 2122 - 2157 hrs (2 frequencies). Aircraft orbited in the target area from 2137 - 2142 hrs at 22.000 ft. Liberator VI TS530 F/O A C Ball 17.30 01.35 Jostle Patrol Kassel. VHF Jostle on 2028 - 2225 hours. Ppierack on 2028 - 2225 hrs. Carpet 2034 - 2220 hrs (12 frequencies). This aircraft orbited in the target area from 2124 - 2136 hrs at 22.000 ft.

No. 214 Squadron afsendte otte fly, hvoraf det ene vendte om før tid på grund af motorproblemer. F/O James Price i Fortress HB816 (kodet BU-F) havde et møde med en tysk natjager, men havde held til at slippe væk. Fortress III HB816 W/O J Price 18.10 00.30 This aircraft completed a Jostle Patrol to Hamburg. Jamming being carried out as detailed. 5450N 0540E to 5450N 0615E between 8 and 4.000 ft 2026- 2037 hours, rear gunner saw white light overtaking from dead astern, distance uncertain. Fortress aircraft corkscrewed to starboard and enemy aircraft came in on the port side. Waist and Mid upper Gunners opend fire and the enemy passed underneath and came in again on the port side. The same gunners again opened fire and the enemy aircraft peeled off to port and was lost. Fortress III HB819 F/Lt F T Scholes 18.05 00.20 This aircraft completed a Window Patrol, Window being dropped as detailed. Fortress III HB785 F/Lt S T Farrington 18.00 00.30 This aircraft completed a Window Patrol, Window being dropped as detailed. Fortress III HB803 F/O P J Anderson 18.00 00.25 This aircraft completed a Window Patrol, Window being dropped as detailed. Fortress III KH999 W/O F Murray 17.55 23.55 This aircraft completed a Window Patrol, Window being dropped as detailed. Fortress III KJ107 F/O E W Woodley 18.05 00.05 This aircraft completed a Window Patrol, Window being dropped as detailed. Fortress III HB765 F/Lt G G Liles 18.00 00.00 This aircraft completed a Window Patrol, Window being dropped as detailed. Fortress III HB789 F/Lt W D Austin 17.45 19.45 This aircraft was detailed to carry out a Jostle Patrol to Kassel but returned from 5041N 0115E at 1839 hours at 4.000 ft with a bad oil leak from No. 2 engine which had to be feathered. No power for special equipment.

F/Lt William Donald Austin, DFC & Bar, og hans besætning bestående af (bageste række) Jimmy Pate, Jock Knox, Austin, Geoff godfrey, Les Bostock og (forreste række) Pip Piper, Harry Richardson, Abe Levine, Chas Lewis samt Alf Butler. Den 8. marts 1945 skulle besætningen have gennemført en Jostle patrulje til Kassel, men vende om før tid pga motorproblemer.(Les Bostock)

Også No. 192 Squadron havde en række fly i luften for at undersøge Luftwaffes radiofrekvenser og følgende besætninger deltog i nattens togter: Halifax III PN434 F/O J L Gibby 17.46 00.45 Accompanied main force of bombers to Kassel to search the 120 - 130 Mc/s band for Pluse Communications. 2 x 500 Clusters were released over the target area. Halifax III PN431 F/O R G Gray 17.28 00.30 Accompanied main force to Kassel and carried out a general search on the 29.4 - 34 Mc/s band. 2 x 500 Clusters were released over the target area. Halifax III MZ358 F/O K W Payne 18.37 00.23 Routed to Hamburg to carry out a general search on the 30 - 40 Mc/s band. 2 x 500 Clusters were released over the target area. Halifax III NR272 F/Lt P J Helyar 17.26 00.38 Accompanied Bomber Command main force to Kassel to search the 3000 - 4200 Mc/s band for Centimetre AI. 2 x 500 Clusters were released over the target area. Halifax III NP970 F/Sgt F W Hobsonn 17.32 00.46 Accompanied Bomber Command main force to Kassel to search the 3000 - 4200 Mc/s band for Centimetre AI. 2 x 500 Clusters were released over the target area. Halifax III MZ929 F/O A B Wheeler 17.38 00.49 Accompanied Bomber Command main force to Kassel to search the 3000 - 4200 Mc/s band for Centimetre AI. 2 x 500 Clusters were released over the target area. Mosquito IV DZ617 F/O A V Parker & F/O F C Dray 19.09 23.19 Carried out a Big Ben patrol between Antwerp and Almelo. Mosquito IV DZ386 F/Lt T Y Hicks & P/O C F Robinson 19.44 23.16 Routed to Hamburg to record enemy W/T and R/T signals. Mosquito IV DZ410 F/O M J Kelt & F/O L W C Maidment 19.35 23.32 Routed to Kassel to record enemy W/T and R/T signals.

I løbet af aftenen hørte englænderne radiokommunikation i forbindelse med tysk natjageraktivitet på følgende frekvenser: Control Frequencies W/T 1 H/F 4 M/F Plotting Frequencies R/T 2 H/F 6 M/F Plotting Frequencies W/T 4 H/F 4 M/F Den britiske aflytningstjeneste fulgte naturligvis med på en 'lytter' og de vurderede Luftwaffes indsats mod styrken til Kassel således: '3 or 4 Gruppen of fighter reacted. The first known plot was at 20.05 hrs at about 0510E. Plotting was mainly on the Window feint, the main force being assessed for the most parts as Mosquitoes till it was south of Osnabruck. 20.33, 3 JD aircraft (W.Germany) were sent to beacon Bazi (Duisburg area). From 20.44 plots followed the Dortmund raid and at 2105 some fighters of NJG 4 were sent on course 060 degs to Dortmund. 21.06, plots in the Osnabruck area and probable appreciation of the fact that Dortmund was only a feint. 21.28 a unit, perhaps I./NJG 1, was given plots between Gutersloh and Kassel. 21.31 NJG 1 were told Kassel was the target. Plots followed along the return towards Koblenz; and finally as far as Vogelsang, but fighter communication channels were jammed and no more traffic is available'. 2 TAF aflyttede også de tyske frekvenser og de rapporterede følgende for Luftwaffes indsats mod Bomber Commands angreb i løbet af aftenen: Reaction to Bomber Command II and III/NJG 5, possibly elements of NJG 1 and I/NJG 4, and an unidentified unit put up medium oppositon to the early night raids. 1934-2029 Interception patrol against heavies in Osnabrück/Hannover area; no evidence of contact.

Kassel blev bombet mange gange i løbet af krigen - værst natten mellem den 22. og 23. oktober 1943, hvor byen oplevede en ildstorm, der dræbte omkring 6-7.000 indbyggere og sårede mange flere. Byens centrum blev lagt i aske. 230 Lancasters fra No. 1 Group og 26 Lancasters og 11 Mosquitoes fra No. 8 Group bombede Kassel gennem 8-10/10 skydække med toppe op til 6.000 fod. Oprindelig var det meningen, at 14 Mosquitoes skulle deltage i angrebet, hvoraf de 8 skulle markere målet ved hjælp af Oboe, medens de andre skulle fungere som Window Force og først bombe under deres anden tur over målområdet. Angrebet startede til tiden klokken 21.25, hvilket var fem minutter før tid. No. 8 Group afsendte følgende fly mod Kassel: No. 105 Sqdn - 4 Mosquitoes No. 109 Sqdn - 4 Mosquitoes No. 582 Sqdn - 12 Lancasters No. 635 Sqdn - 15 Lancasters No. 142 Sqdn - 3 Mosquitoes No. 163 Sqdn - 3 Mosquitoes

No. 8 Group anvendte en blanding af Musical Ground Marking og Sky Marking under angrebet på Kassel. a. Musical Markers. At times detailed will mark the R/P with flares red with green stars and the A/P with TI's red. b. Supporters at H-1 must be on time and will bomb on a second run, and may do so visually, blindly or acting as main force. c. Blind Skymarkers. At times detailed will mark the release point with flares green with red stars only if the ground marking is obscured. If Y u/s they will retain markers and bomb with main force. d. Visual Centrers. At times detailed with TIs green will back up the ground marking in the following order of preference: 1. on centre of red TIs 2. on centre of green TIs e. Early Windowers at H-5 will window at maximum rates in the target area starting 20 n miles from the A/P. They will then orbit and bomb as main force.

Totalt ødelagt bydel i Kassel efter ild- stormen i oktober 1943. Ilden døde ud, da der ikke var mere brandbart i områd- et.

Hvordan forløb angrebet så ? Klokken H-9 startede 6 Mosquitoes med at udkaste Window for at forstyrre de tyske skyderadar og præcis til tiden kom fire Oboe Mosquitoes over målet og kastede målmarkerinsbomber og lysbomber. Dette fandt sted i tidrummet melllem H-4 til H 0, hvorefter alle otte Visual Centrers bombede med grønne IT'er - fire af dem på de røde målmarkeringer, to i centrum af de røde og grønne målmarkeringer og to mod centrum af de grønne markeringer. Fem ud af ni Blind Sky Markers med Wanganui flares med grønne og røde stjerner kom ligeledes i aktion.

No. 8 Group afsendte følgende fly for at afmærke målområdet i Kassel: No. 105 Squadron Mosquito IX LM920 F/Lt J W Birt, DFC & F/Lt J B D V Refitt, DFC 19.34 23.17 Primary attacked Mosquito XVI LM914 F/O J G Hicklin & F/O A M K Wood 19.38 23.19 No attack Mosquito XVI RV304 F/Lt D C James & F/Lt J C Sampson, DFC 19.39 22.59 Primary attacked Mosquito XVI PF454 W/Cdr T G Jefferson, DSO & F/Lt W A C Bowen, DFC 19.36 20.10 Returned early No. 109 Squadron Mosquito XVI PF435 F/Lt L G Barnes & F/Lt K H Neville 19.30 23.05 3 x TI Red + 1 x Flo Red and Green. Marked target from 28.300 ft by AR5513 at 2127. Cloud clear in target area. Defences nil. Mosquito XVI PF408 F/Lt C M Boston & W/O J Garratt 19.30 23.20 3 x TI Red + 1 x Flo Red and Green. Marked target from 28.100 ft by AR5513 at 2137. Cloud clear in target area. Defences nil. Mosquito XVI RV301 P/O N Reid & F/Lt B A Jarvis 19.29 23.09 3 x TI Red + 1 x Flo Red and Green. Floater flare only released by AR5513 from 28.000 ft at 2128. Cloud 10/10 over target area. Defences nil. Mosquito XVI PF434 F/Lt K M Boles & F/Lt J W Watkins 19.33 22.30 3 x TI Red + 1 x Flo Red and Green. Technical failure - fire broke out in cockpit, returned early.

Det tog mange år før Kassel igen var fuldstændig genop- bygget.

No. 142 Squadron Mosquito XXV KB423 F/Lt J M Ellison & F/O H J Farquar 18.46 23.17 3 x 500 MC TD .025 + 1 x 500 GP LD. Kassel Early Windower Successful 'A'. Weather 5/10 patchy 6.000 feet. Vis good, Full load dropped from 24.000 feet at 21.30.30. First markers seen at 21.28 and were in good concentration. More Red and Green TI's were accurately placed on first ones. Large number of bombsband incendiaries were seen in good concentration, also may fires. Defences: Moderate H/F predicted bursting 18-20.000 feet. Landed at base. Mosquito XXV KB473 F/Lt H D Nimmo & F/Sgt J L Craddock 18.49 23.30 3 x 500 MC TD .025 + 1 x 500 GP LD. Kassel Early Windower Successful 'A'. Weather 5/10 strata cumulus tops 8.000 feet thin. Vis good. Full load dropped from 24.000 feet at 21.40. First TI's seen R/G floaters at 21.27. Markers quite close together. Overshot target and orbitted for second run. TI's out by this time so bombed on centre of fires seen on ground. Large number of incendiary fires and six or more large explosions on ground. Defences: Moderate H/F predicted bursting 18-20.000 feet. Landed at base. Mosquito XXV KB451 F/Lt A C White & F/Sgt V S Dawe 18.45 23.13 3 x 500 MC TD .025 + 1 x 500 GP LD. Kassel Early Windower Successful 'A'. Weather 5/10 tops 5/6.000 feet. Full load dropped from 24.500 feet at 21.28. Arrived 1½ mines early. 21.27 one Red TI cascaded followed by 1 Green TI quite close. bombed Red and on leaving saw many Reds and Greens falling. Many photo flashes. Fire seen below cloud. Defences: Moderate H/F predicted bursting 18-20.000 feet. Landed at base. No. 163 Squadron Mosquito 25 KB555 F/O Price & Sgt O'Shea 18.45 23.27 Target ident on Gee for window. 2116½ started window. TI's R/G 3-2-1. Backed up for greens. Concentration of bombs burst very good. Opp for heavies, barrage considerable. Windowed at 23000 ft. Mosquito 25 KB568 F/Lt Cooper & F/Sgt Gillespie 18.45 FTR Missing Mosquito 25 KB403 F/Lt Watson & S/Ldr George 18.46 23.31 Target ident on Gee. stared window at 2117, 230000 ft. TI 1st 2126½. TI concentration very good. concentration of bombing very good. Flak med. Cloud thin layer 10.000 ft. A great number of fires seen through duty hole.

Kassel 1945.

No. 582 Squadron Lancaster III ME376 F/Lt A F Green 18.06 00.18 Target - Kassel. Ident - H2S. Attacked - 2132.33 hrs - 18000 ft - 130T - 165 kts. Bombs dropped 10 x 500 MC, 3 x 500 AMN .64, 3 x 500 GP, 1 x CP No. 1 G/R 848 C6/10. 2127 hrs R/G Wanganui flares seen. 2127.30 hrs G/R Wanganui flares seen right on top of previous R/G flares. 2129.30 hrs another load of R/G flares went down. These appeared to be very close to where the provious R/G flares had been seen. No other markers were seen until after bombed. Were unable to assess the position of own bombs and flares owing to concentrated and accurate H/F at this time. Red TIs were seen cascading as left target. No Green TIs seen and no outstanding fires or explosions observed. Bomb load - as dropped. Weather 4-5/10ths str, tops approx 500 ft. Hazy above cloud. Lancaster III SW260 F/Lt G J Brownell 18.01 00.16 Target - Kassel. Ident - H2S. Attacked - 2129.15 hrs - 19000 ft - 150 T - 150 kts. Bombs dropped - 13 x 500 lb MC, 3 x 500 lb GP.2127.30 hrs R/G Wanganui flares seen. No other markers were seen until after bombed. But Red TIs and Green TIs were seen as left target. these appeared to be well concentrated. No outstanding explosions observed, but fires in the target area could be seen from the Rhine on our homeward journey. The bombing generally appeared to be well concentrated on the markers, but we were unable to assess where own bombs fell. Weather - 6-8/10ths str.cu, tops approx 6000 ft, visibility above cloud hazy. Bomb load - 13 x 500 lb MC TD .025, 3 x 500 lb GP TD .025, 1 x CP NO. 1 G/R 848 C6/10. Lancaster III PB179 F/O H A Mettam 17.59 00.07 Target - Kassel. Ident - H2S. Attacked - 2129.06 hrs - 18000 ft - 120 T - 165 kts. Bombs dropped 4 x 2000 lb HC Amatol, 1 x 500 lb MC. 2128 hrs Red TIs went down and R/G flares seen about 30 secs later. Approx 2130 hrs load of Greens fell. Reds slightly scattered and Greens not very close to Reds. Unable to say where they fell. Bombing not seen. Bomb load - as dropped. Weather 7-8/10ths str.cu, tops 4/5000 ft. Lancaster III PB625 F/Lt M E Nairn 18.04 00.24 Target - Kassel. Ident - Red and Green TIs. Attacked - 2132.06 hrs - 18000 ft - 129 T - 155 kts. Bombs dropped - 12 x 500 lb MC, 4 x 250 lb Green TI, 2 x 250 lb Green TI. Before own bombing 2 reds went down and one R/G fell. Approx 2131 hrs first Green fell among Reds. Fairly good cluster of TIs formed. Bombing well on TIs and some IB's to south of main cluster. Unable to identify ground detail owing to smoke. Bomb load - as dropped. Weather - 2/10ths str. cu. layer up to 15000 ft. Haze. Lancaster III PB381 F/O O Interiano 18.05 00.26 Target - Kassel. Ident - Red TIs. Attacked 2135.48 hrs - 18000 ft - 110 T - 150 kts. Bombs dropped - 10 x 500 lb MC, 2 x 500 lb GP, 4 x 250 Green TI. 2130 hrs approx Red TI seen to cascade. 2131 hs approx G/R Wanganui flares seen. These appeared to be short of the Red TIs. At this time Green TI were seen to cascade. These appeared to fall round where the Red TIs were burning out. No other markers were seen before bombed. Own green TIs appeared to fall on the Green TIs already down. Many fires seen, which were still visible half an hour after leaving the target. The bombing generally appeared to be well concentrated round the markers, but did not see where our own bombs fell. No outstanding explosions seen. Bomb load - 10 x 500 lb GP TD .025, 2 x 500 lb GP TD .025, 4 x 250 lb Green TI, 2 x 250 lb Green TI LB. Weather - Nil cloud, but hazy.

Sønderbombede jernbaneværk- steder, der var en del af Rothenditmold banegården. Dette område blev særdeles hårdt ramt om aftenen den 8. marts 1945.

Lancaster III ME445 F/Sgt R Robertson 17.59 18.44 Target - Kassel. Ident - Abortive NOET. Circled A/P 1800 hrs 3000 ft. Port inner engine u/s. Bomb load - brought back - 4 x 2000 lb HC Amatol, 1 x 500 lb AMN 64. Lancaster III NE849 F/Lt F E Bond 18.11 00.29 Target - Kassel. Ident - Red TIs. Attacked 2131.20 hrs 17500 ft - 131 T - 145 kts. Bombs dropped - 4 x 250 lb Green TI, 2 x 250 lb Green TI LB, 12 x 500 lb MC. Approx 21.27 hrs first Reds went down also Wanganui Greens. Only 2 Reds burning close together when bombed. One Red fell short on track a long way NW. One green fell approx 10 miles S. Large number of Greens fell about the same time and some formed good cluster. After 3 minutes LB's covered TIs and town area. bomb load - as dropped. Weather - clear patch in cloud over target, visibility good. Remise i Kassel alvorligt beskadiget af britiske 500 lb MC sprængbomber.

Lancaster III NE140 F/O R W Wright 18.16 00.10 Target - Kassel. Ident - Red TIs checked on Gee B. Attacked 2129.12 hrs 16500 ft - 121 T - 155 kts. Bombs dropped - 4 x 2000 lb HC Amatol, 1 x 500 lb MC. Approximately at 2127 hrs Wanganui R/G fell. 2128 hrs Red TIs fell. 2 fell close together no more than 200 yards apart. No Green TIs seen. Reds were seen burning in built-up area but unable to identify. G/R - about three well grouped seen after bombing. Only 3 sticks of bombs seen. Own believed to be very close to TIs. Bomb load - as dropped. Weather - 8/10ths thin stratus tops 6000 ft. Haze. Lancaster III PB377 F/Lt J E Brown 18.03 00.12 Target - Kassel. Ident - Red TIs. Attacked 2130.35 hrs - 18000 ft - 105 T - 160 kts. Bombs dropped - 11 x 500 MC TD, 1 x 500 GP TD, 4 x 250 Green TI, 2 x 250 Green TI LB. 2127 hrs. First Red TIs down. 2127.30 hrs. First skymarker R/G fell. Approx 2131 or 32 hrs overshot Green miles to SE. No ground detail seen but as we bombed 2 Reds and one Green were burning well together. Large number of skymarkers R/G seen well clustered. Backing up well maintained - bombing well concentrated. Bomb load - as bombs dropped. Weather - 7/10ths stratus. Tops 2.000 ft.

Ødelagt reparationsværk- sted for lokomotiver i Kassel. Taget er styrtet sammen og flere vægge er væltede.

Lancaster III PB267 F/Lt R H McCrossin 18.01 00.08 Target - Kassel. Ident - Red TIs. Attacked - 2127.40 hrs - 18000 ft - 134 T - 150 kts. Bombs dropped - 4 x 2000 HC (Amatol) 1 500 lb MC. First Red TI fell well on time, only one load of Red TIs fell before bombed. Bombing seemed well concentrated, believe own bombs overshot slightly. 2142 hrs when on way back saw large explosion in target area. Incendiary glow gradually turned Red as fires caught hold, seen as far away as Coblenz. Bomb load - as dropped. Weather 9/10ths thin stratus. TIs easily visible through cloud. Lancaster III ME381 F/O W M Underwood 18.00 00.20 Target - Kassel. Ident - H2S. Attacked 2134.54 hrs - 18000 ft - 130T - 155 kts. Bombs dropped - 10 x 500 lb MC TD .025, 6 x 500 lb GP TD .025, 1 C/P 848 C6/10. 2126 hrs Green TIs seen going down and skymarkers R/G seen fairly well concentrated. Glow of Green TIs seen through lcoud and skymarkers well clustered. Bombing clustered round TIs. 2147 hrs two large explosions in target area. Bomb load - as dropped. Weather 10/10ths thin str.cu, tops 5/6000 ft. Lancaster III ND880 F/O J W Quine 18.08 00.22 Target - Kassel. Ident - H2S. Attacked 2128.14 hrs - 18000 ft - 133 T - 155 kts. Bombs dropped - 3 x 2000 lb HC (Amatol), 1 x 500 lb AMN .64. 2124 hrs Red TIs went down. greens not seen till left target. Skymarkers R/G and G/R well clustered. Bombing appeared to be concentrated, looking back. Bomb load - 4 x 2000 lb HC Amatol, 1 x 500 lb AMN .64.

Kommandopost på gods- banegården i Kassel. Posten har overlevet angrebet, men personalet har ingen sporskifter at betjene, idet de er ødelagte af spræng- bomber.

Sporterrænet på gods- banegården i Kassel med ødelagt rullende materiel og oprevede jernbanespor.

No. 635 Squadron Lancaster I PB926 S/Ldr A Ashworth 17.40 00.35 Kassel (Supporter). On approach the first R TI was seen at 21.28.30 hrs and aircraft bombed on this and built up area visible in the bomb bursts. Lancaster I PB915 F/O H W W Parks 17.43 00.42 Kassel (Supporter). On approach the first Red TI was seen at 21.28 hrs followed immediately by one flare R/G stars. Aircraft bombed on the Red TI. No results observed, but aircraft was able to identify built up area in the light of bomb bursts and TI's. Lancaster I PB911 F/O R D Campbell 17.45 00.20 Kassel (Supporter). We arrived on time and bombed n Red TI which cascaded at 21.27 hrs. No other Red TI was seen but one flare G/R stars was observed to the N of the Red TI. Very little bombing had started by the time we left target. Lancaster I PB922 F/Lt G C Hitchcock 17.50 00.17 Kassel (VC). On approach the first Red TI was seen at 21.27.12 hrs closely followed by flares R/G stars and flares G/R stgars. Aircraft bombed on the centre of Red TI. River was visible and Red TI appeared to be accurately placed in relation to river and built up area. M/F bombing was well concentrated on the Red TI. Lancaster I PB917 F/Lt D B Jarvis 17.53 00.48 Kassel (VC). On approach first Red TI was seen at 21.47 hrs. Wanganui falres were seen at 21.28 hrs forming a good concentration. Green TI were very well concentrated. We bombed on these at 21.34.36 hrs. Bombing was very good and well on the markers. Lancaster I PB929 F/Lt P E Cawthorne 17.48 00.40 Kassel (VC). On approach to target at 21.27 hrs Wanganui flares were seen, and at 21.27 hrs the first Red TI went down followed by a Green at 21.27.25 hrs. A further Wanganui was seen at 21.28.15 and at 21.30.15 hrs a green was observed, all of which formed a good concentration. At 21.34 hrs a good sized explosion was seen. Fires appeared to be on the W side of target. Lancaster I PB913 F/Lt G A Thorne 17.41 00.15 Kassel (VC). First Red Ti was seen cascading at 21.27 hrs followed by another lot which fell very close to the first. we bombed the centre of these two. Our own flares were seen cascading. Judging by phot flashes and incendiaries, bombing appeared to be very well concentrated. On looking back after leaving target several explosions were seen a particularly large one being observed at 21.52 hrs. Lancaster III PB627 F/O A Lewis 17.46 00.20 Kassel (Supporter). On approach the first Red TI was seen at 21.27 hrs followed by further reds at 21.27.24 hrs. Aircraft bombed on Red TI and built up area was clearly visible in the light of the bomb bursts. Lancaster III PB631 F/O W H Jackson 17.42 00.28 Kassel (Supporter). Aircraft made first run on H2S, but bombs hung up and aircraft then orbited and bombed on Red TI. M/F bombing appeared to be well concentrated on the Red TI and fires were seen to be taking good hold around the Red TI. Lancaster I PB914 S/Ldr E A O Mango 17.39 00.13 Kassel (BSM) On approach the first Mosquito flare R/G stars was seen at 21.27.30 hrs and Red TI could be seen on ground through gap in the cloud. Aircraft bombed on H2S. After bombing a good concentration of flares R/G stars were observed and a long deep red explosion was observed at 21.27 hrs, otherwise results impossible to assess owing to cloud conditions. Lancaster I PB909 F/Lt D H Courtenary 17.24 00.45 Kassel (BSM). On approach flares R/G starts were seen and aircraft made first run on H2S and dropped flares R/G stars. On second run the built up area could be seen quite clearly with incendiary burning. Several explosions observed about 21.39 hrs. Lancastrer III PB916 F/O S Lewis 17.52 00.24 Kassel (BSM). First Red TI went down at 21.27 hrs, but fell into cloud. As there was more than 76/10ths cloud we dropped our Wanganui. The glow of Red TI's could be seen through cloud and several Wanganui flares in good concentation could be seen over this glow. Lancaster III PB680 F/O E D Harper 18.09 00.47 Kassel (BSM). Flares R/G sgtars were seen at 21.27 hrs as we were running up to target. When we were over target incendiaries were already burning. We did not drop our Wanganui, as we had a poor H2S run. Fires were gaining a good hold when we left and were well conecentrated. Lancaster III PB585 F/O C L Ottaway 17.44 00.27 Kassel (BSM). At 21.30 hrs a Red TI was seen but we saw no further ground marking, so we dropped our whole load. At 21.31, one flare R/G stars was seen, which was slightly E of the Red TI. After leaving the target incendiaries were seen burning and the glow of fires was still visible for 100 miles on return journey.

Målfoto for Lancaster I PB923 'X', der blev fløjet af F/Lt David Rutherford Ware fra No. 635 Squadron.

Lancaster I PB923 F/Lt D R Ware 17.55 00.22 Kassel (BSM). On approach to target Red TI's were seen cascading at 21.27 hrs and at 21.30 hrs Greens went down backing up the Reds, both forming a very good concentration. Wanganui flares were observed at 21.30 hrs also well concentrated. Fires were seen after leaving target for at least 90 miles. Crew agree that the attack was very good, marking being very well concentrated.

Der var ikke megen luftværnsskydning ved Kassel. De angribende besætninger beskrev den som let til moderat og ikke særlig nøjagtig i højder mellem 15-21.000 fod. Et enkelt fly gik tabt under angrebet på Kassel, nemlig Mosquito XXV KB568 fra No. 163 Squadron. Mosquitoen styrtede ned ved Hasselbach omkring 36 km nord for Koblenz. Navigatøren, F/Sgt Gillespie blev dræbt, medens piloten, F/Lt F W Cooper, blev såret og tilbragte den resterende del af krigen på et hospital.

No. 8 Group rapporterede overordnet om angrebet på Kassel: 'The attack opened slightly before time with red TI's and flares dropped by the oboe Mosquitos, followed by further Oboe markers at 2127.30 hrs. From 21.30 hrs onwards these were well and regularly backed up with green TI's dropped by the visual centrers. All TI's being clearly seen either through thin cloud or clear patches. With one exception the TI's formed a good concentration which was centered, according to several crews able to identify it in the built up area. Skymarker flares also achieved a quite good concentration, although in fact only one of our aircraft found it necessary to bomb on these. Main force bombing was concidered as generally well placed in relation to the TI's. The incendiaries soon staring a mass of fires, the glow of which was visible from the Rhine on return. Several explosions occurred, an especially good one at 21.37 hours'.

En lidt mere fyldestgørende rapport for No. 8 Groups markering af målområdet i Kassel lyder: Target: Kassel 1. Plan of Attack The method planned was mixed Musical ground marking and sky marking. Duration, 6 minutes. H-9 6 Early Window Mosquitoes H-4 to H+1 4+ (4 Reserve) Oboe Mosquitoes with Red TI's and Wanganui flares Red/green stars. H 9 to H+5 8 Visual Centrers with Green TI's H+1 to H+5 9 blind Sky Markers with Wanganui flares Green/Red stars. 2. Weather Forecast: 5 to 8/10ths cu and stratus, base 20.000 ft, tops 8.000 ft Actual: 4/10thsincreasing to 8/10ths thin stratus, tops approx 5.000 ft. 3. Defences Slight heavy flak. Some fighter activity in target area. 4. PFF Results Oboe Results 2 marked with both TI's and flares at H-4 and H-3. 2 with flares Red/Green only at H-4 and Ho. 1 Reserve marekd with TI's and flares at H+7. Visual Centrers All backed up. 4 on centre of Reds, 2 on centre of Reds and Greens, 2 on centre of Greens. Blind Sky Markers 5 out 9 marked 5. Success of Attack The attack opened on time at H-4 by Oboe Mosquitoes with Wanganui Flares Red/Green stars and Red TI's, which are plotted on the aiming point, and these were backed up throughout the attack by visual centrers with Green TI's with good continuity and accuracy. The majority of Main Force crews were able to bomb on ground marking, and a good concentration resulted. The remainder bombed on Wanganui flares which were fairly concentrated. A large are of fire was established and several explosions reported and the glow of fires could be seen for 100 miles on return. Bombing photographs indicate a successful attack.

Målfoto for Lancaster PA257 fra No. 460 Squadron, der blev fløjet af F/O A R Sullivan, som var startet klokken 17.05 fra RAF Binbrook. Han bombede Kassel klokken 21.35 fra en højde af 19.500 fod og landede igen på Binbrook klokken 00.47. Bombelasten bestod af en 4000 lb HC samt 4 lb brandbomber.

Angrebstidspunktet H var sat til klokken 21.30 og målmarkeringen blev genenmført som Oboe Ground Marking med Skymarking ved hjælp af H2S radar som nødforanstaltning. På grund af skydækket blev der gennemført både Ground og Skymarking. Markeringen på jorden blev tydeligt set gennem skydækket, som bestod af et kun tyndt dække. Bombebesætningerne bombede jordmarkeringen og en god koncentration blev opnået. Mange brande og detonationer blev set i målområdet og de angribende besætninger kunne se flammeskæret indtil omkring 150 km efter de havde forladt Kassel. Det gik især ud over den vestlige del af Kassel i løbet af aftenen. Fjorten personer blev dræbt og 56 sårede under angrebet.

No. 1 Group havde ordre til at af sende 243 fly mod Kassel og styrken var planlagt til at angribe i tre bølger: 1. bølge - H 0 til H+2: 12 Base - 20 fly 13 Base - 21 fly 14 Base - 21 fly 15 Base - 19 fly 2. bølge - H+2 til H+4 12 Base - 19 fly 13 Base - 21 fly 14 Base - 21 fly 15 Base - 20 fly 3. bølge - H+4 til H+6 12 Base - 20 fly 13 Base - 21 fly 14 Base - 20 fly 15 Base - 20 fly

No. 1 Group deltog med følgende fly i angrebet på Kassel: No. 460 Sqdn - 20 Lancasters No. 625 Sqdn - 20 Lancasters No. 100 Sqdn - 16 Lancasters No. 103 Sqdn - 13 Lancasters No. 166 Sqdn - 26 Lancasters No. 550 Sqdn - 23 Lancasters No. 101 Sqdn - 18 Lancasters No. 12 Sqdn - 11 Lancasters No. 626 Sqdn - 16 Lancasters No. 300 Sqdn - 14 Lancasters No. 153 Sqdn - 14 Lancasters No. 170 Sqdn - 12 Lancasters No. 150 Sqdn - 17 Lancasters No. 576 Sqdn - 15 Lancasters

No. 1 Group var i stand til at afsende 235 Lancastes, hvoraf de 230 angreb Kassel. Alle flyene havde ordre til at medbringe en 4000 LB HC samt brandbomber. Dertil kom så at nogle af flyene skulle medbringe 500 eller 1000 lb sprængbomber. No. 1 Group rapporterede efter angrebet på Kassel: '10/10ths thin cloud with tops 5.000 feet was encountered over this country and along the outward route over France and Belgium. North of the Ruhr cloud decreased slightly but as the main force turned south east to the target the cloud increased to become 8-10/10ths thin strata cu with tops 6.000 feet in the target area. The attack opened promptly with both ground and sky markers and the former could be clearly identified through the thin cloud. Whilst come crews speak of a scarcity of red TI's the greens were plentiful and both were accurate. Sky markers however at the opening of the attack were somewhat scattered. The large majority of crews were able to bomb on the gournd marking and a good concentration resulted. A break in the cloud at one period of the attack enabled may crews to see the built up are and to assess the marking. There was a tendency at first for the incendiaries to creep back, but as the sky marking was improved and moved slightly in to the target this was soon corrected. A large area of fire was established and the attack had every appearance of success. Several large explosions are reported. One particularly large at 21.37 hours produced a mushroom of black smoke up to 8.000 feet. The glow of fire could be seen for upwards of one hundred miles on the return journey.

Målfoto for Lancaster I RP156 'P2' fra No. 626 Squadron, der blev fløjet af F/O A R H Warner. Hans rapport lyder: ''1 x 4000, 1470 x 4 lb inc, 150 x 4 lb 'X' inc, F/P H2S Mk II. Over target 2136 hrs, height 21.000 ft, heading 120 deg T, speed 175 mph. 10/10 thin cloud 6-8.000 ft. Vis good. Bombed green TI's 2130 hours. Marking appeared well concentrated and dropped well on time. Glow from fires could be seen for about 120 miles on return journey'.

Defences consisted of only slight inaccurate heavy flak deceasing as the attack progressed. Three aircraft suffered damage. Fighter activity which was only slight was spread throughout the approach to the target and the homeward journey as far as the Rhine. Five aircraft were engaged in combat and one Ju 88 is claimed as probably destroyed and one Me 410 as damaged. One of our aircraft was damaged by falling incendiaries over the target. One aircraft with engine trouble landed at Juvincourt'.

No. 626 Squadron på RAF Wickenby afsendte 16 Lancasters mod Kassel. Alle flyene bombede målet og returnerede til hjemmebasen. Eskadrillens piloter var generelt tilfredse med angrebet og F/O L C Wilson, der var pilot ombord på Lancaster I NG247 'D2' startede fra RAF Wickenby klokken 17.33. Hans bombelast bestod af en blanding af spræng- og brandbomber, nemlig en 4000 lb HC samt 1470 stk 4 lb brandbomber. Dertil kom så 150 stk 4 lb brandbomber, der var forsynet med en lille sprængsats for at afholde tililende tyskere fra at forsøge at slukke brandbomberne med sand. Wilsons Lancaster var forsynet med en H2S Mk II radar og han indfandt sig klokken 21.32 over Kassel, hvor han fra en højde af 19.000 fod kastede sin bombelast mod to røde målmarkeringsbomber, der var omringet af grønne målmarkeringsbomber. Wilson var godt tilfreds med målmarkeringen, som han mente var 'plentiful and compact'. Han landede igen på RAF Wickenby klokken 00.34.

Målfoto for Lancaster I RA534 'A2' fra No. 626 Squadron, der blev fløjet af P/O R S Hyam. Hans rapport lyder: '1 x 4000, 1470 x 4 lb inc, 150 x 4 lb 'X' inc, F/P H2S Mk II. Over target 2139 hrs, height 21.000 ft, heading 122 deg T, speed 190 mph. 8/10 cloud 7.000. Vis good. Bombed red TI's in centre of target. Skymarkers scattered but ground markers appeared in centre of target which was clearly visible due to fires. Very large explosion 2141 hrs in centre of target'.

No. 12 Squadron, der ligeledes var stationeret på RAF Wickenby, afsendte omkring klokken 17.00 elleve Lancasters mod Kassel. Besætningerne rapporterede, at målområdet var dækket af et tyndt skylag, men at målmarkeringen var tydelig gennem skyerne. Bombningen var ifølge besætningerne koncentreret og de kunne se brandene i Kassel de næste 150 km under hjemflyvningen. De beskrev forsvaret af Kassel som forholdsvis svagt med kun lidt tungt luftværnsskyts, der skød boksskydning. Besætningerne fra No. 12 Squadron mente, at nogle få tyske natjagere opererede i løbet af aftenen. Ikke alle besætningsmedlemmerne i No. 12 Squadron var lige tilfredse med aftenens angreb. Squadron Leader Kenrick Walsh Hinds i Lancaster I PB750 'M' bombede Kassel klokken 21.32 fra en højde af 18.500 fod. Efter togtet fik han tilføjet følgende bemærkning i eskadrilledagbogen: 'Attack was not well developed at the time of bombing but the B/A of my aircraft states that he was able to bomb the TI's and at the same time observed in the light of photo flashes, that a built up area was being bombed. It is considered that the marking was accurate and as the TI's were visible on the gorund but through this cloud the attack should have been successful'. Squadron Leader Hinds fik i september 1945 tildelt et DFC for hans indsat ved No. 12 Squadron.

Målfoto for Lancaster I RF161 'C' fra No. 12 Squadron, der blev fløjet af F/Lt W J Large. Han medførte en 4000 lb HC, 10 x 150 x 4 lb brandbomber samt 2 x 60 x 4 lb brand- bomber. Af disse var de 150 forsynet med eksplosiv sats. F/Lt Large bombede Kassel klokken 21.36 fra en højde af 19.000 fod.

No. 153 Squadron på RAF Scampton afsendte 15 Lancasters i løbet af aftenen for at bombe Kassel. No. 153 Squadron havde tidligere i krigen fløjet Defiants, Spitfires og Hurricanes og blev i december 1942 sendt til Nordafrike. Denne enhed blev opløst i september 1944 og den 7. oktober genopstod en ny No. 153 Squadron på RAF Kirmington under ledelse af Wing Commander Francis Sidney Powley, der tidligere havde fløjet i No. 166 Squadron. Eskadrillen fløj deres første operative togt allerede samme dag som de blev oprettet. Inden krigens afslutning havde No. 153 Squadron fløjet 1041 sorties under hvilke de mistede 22 Lancasters. Det gav en tabsprocent på 2.1%. Den 8. marts var eskadrillens besætninger ret godt tilfredse med aftenens operation og F/O T P Tobin i Lancaster PB642 sammen fattede besætningernes opfattelse ret godt i meldingen 'Bombed at 21.33 hours from 19.000 feet n centre of red TI's. Whole target well alight. Bomb bursts concentrated. Glow of fires seen for 100 miles'. Selv om No. 153 Squadron fra No. 1 Group ikke mistede noget fly under nattens operation, så var aftenen ikke unden dramatik. Eskadrilledagbogen beretter: 15 aircraft were detailed to take part in an attack on Kassel. Take-off was at 16.55 hours in conditions of 8/10th strato-cumulus, base 3.000 feet, tops 6.000 feet, and moderate visibility. The outward route was similar and the cloud persisted into the target area and on the homeward route as far as the English Coast where the cloud broke and aircraft landed safely at Base in conditions of nil cloud and moderate visibility. 14 aircraft took off, one being cancelled owing to rear turret failure. One aircraft 'E' sung badly on take-off owing to the Pilot fainting. The aircraft was undamaged and a reserve crew called out and successfully completed the mission. 14 aircraft were primary, 13 landed safely at Base and 'B' flown by F/O Searle landed at Manston owing to holed petrol tanks caused by flak. Crews reported that ground markers were plentiful and concentrated and were easily seen, although owing to cloud no ground detail could be seen. Bombing appeared to be accurate although there was a slight tendency to trail back. Good fires were seen around the markers, and could be seen for 100 miles on the homeward route and crews consider the attack to have been highly successful. Defences consisted of heavy flak in the target area with numerous enemy fighters. None of our aircraft were engaged in combat. Den sidste sætning i eskadrillens beretning er ikke korrekt. S/Ldr Thomas Woodruff Rippingale i Lancaster LM754 var involveret i en luftkamp med en tysk natjager. Han var startet fra RAF Scampton klokken 17.55 og kastede sin bombelast bestående af 1 x 4000 HC, 9 x 150 x 4 lb brandbomber samt 2 x 60 x 4 lb brandbomber med sprængsats. Dette skete klokken 21.32 fra en højde af 19.000 fod over Kassel og besætningen mente at bomberne faldt tæt ved de grønne målmarkeringsbomber, som man sigtede efter. Et halvt minut efter bombekast opdagede agterskytten, Sgt D Lewington, en tysk natjager i form af en Fw 190, der befandt sig 275 meter agterude og lidt lavere end Lancasteren. Lewingston gav straks ordre til at Rippingale skulle udføre en proptrækkermanøvre til venstre samtidig med at han åbnede ild mod det tyske fly. Det samme gjorde rygskytten, Sgt W Craig, og de to skytter affyrede tilsammen 600 skud. Der blev ikke observeret træffere på det tyske fly, der ikke åbnede ild men i stedet for gik ind i et dyk til højre. Lancasteren fortsatte ruten hjemover uden skader og besætningen kunne se det brændende Kassel indtil en afstand af omkring 90 km. Rippingale landede igen på RAF Scampton klokken 00.45. Rippingale, DSO fik efter krigen tildelt et DFC for hans indsats ved No. 153 Squadron. Hans DSO var blevet tildelt, medens han fløj i No. 166 Squadron i september 1944. DSO'et blev tildelt for Rippingales indsats efter, at hans Lancaster blev angrebet under et angreb på Neuss natten mellem den 23. og 24. september. Lancasteren blev beskudt af en natjager, der ødelagde både ryg- og agterskyttens tårne. Agterskytten blev dræbt og de tyske projektiler ødelagde flyets radioudstyr samt mange af pilotens instrumenter. Det hydrauliske system var ude af drift og besætningen kunne ikke åbne bombelemmene, men Rippingale regnede med, at hvis han kastede bomberne ville vægten af bomberne åbne lemmene. Det lykkedes at komme af med bombelasten og Rippingale satte kursen hjemover, hvor han landede med et såret besætningsmedlem. Det var flyets navigatør, Sgt F W Cridge, der blev såret af granatspliter i ansigtet arme og krop. Selv om Cridge var såret, var han i stand til at navigere Lancasteren hjem. Cridge blev tildelt et CGM (Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - meget sjælden medalje) for denne indsats. Rippingale blev i september 1936 udnævnt til Pilot Officer på prøve og var ved krigens start Flying Officer. Han fortsatte i RAF efter krigen, hvor han i 1946 gik ned i grad og i juli måned blev udnævnt til Flight Lieutnenant. Den 1. november 1947 blev han igen udnævnt til Squadron Leader.

Målfoto for Lancaster III LM716 'K' fra No. 100 Squadron, der blev fløjet af F/O W A Taylor. Hans beret- ning lyder: 'Primary 2134½, 21.000 feet. Bombed the centre of red and green TI's. Bombing covered a large area, but target seemed to be burning well'.

No. 100 Squadron afsendte 16 Lancaster til Kassel. Canadieren F/O Fredrick Foster Wright var pilot ombord på Lancaster ME448 'T', som blev ramt af brandbomber fra en ovenover flyvende Lancaster, der må have fløjet meget højt, idet Wright bombede Kassel klokken 21.32 fra en højde af 21.000 fod. Brandbomberne beskadigede Lancasteren alvorligt uden, at de dog forårsagede en brand ombord på bombeflyet. F/O Wright landede tilbage igen i England klokken 00.40. Hændelsen udløste i april 1945 et DFC til F/O Wright med følgende begrundelse: One night in March, 1945, this officer was the pilot and captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Kassel. Shortly after the bombs had been released, the aircraft sustained severe damage. The fuselage, mainplane, tail unit and the mid-upper and rear gun turrets were all affected. The elevators jammed and the aircraft dived out of control. Several thousand feet in height were lost before Flying Officer Wright succeeded in levelling out. With great difficulty he retained control and flew on to reach base where he landed the badly damaged aircraft safely. The officer displayed a high degree of courage and coolnes in the face of great danger. Lancaster PB462 'P', der blev fløjet af canadieren F/O Douglas Merill Ward fra No. 100 Squadron blev angrebet af en 'Me 410', som besætningen hævdede, at de havde beskadiget.Lancaster PB462 bombede Kassel klokken 21.30 fra en højde af 18.000 fod og landede tilbage igen på RAF Elsham Wolds klokken 00.30.

Målfoto for Lancaster PD335 'K' fra No. 166 Squadron, der blev fløjet af F/O W Bonsall. Hans rap- port lyder: 'Bombed at 21.35 hours from 18.000 ft on centre of green TIs. Streets were lit up by incendiaries and glow of fires was wisible for 100 miles on the return journey. Bomb load: 1 x 4.000 lb HC, 1230 x 4 lb incendiaries, 120 x 4 lb 'X' type incen- diaries'.

Også besætninger fra No. 166 Squadron havde problemer over Kassel. Eskadrillen fik 26 Lancasters i luften for at bombe Kassel. Et af flyene vendte om før tid. Det drejede sig om Lancaster NG165 'J', der blev fløjet af canadieren F/Lt N J Carson, som vendte om på grund af motorproblemer og landede igen på RAF Kirmington klokken 20.40. Casons inderste højre motor satte ud og propellerne kantstillede sig selv, hvorefter venstre generator ikke kunne yde tilstrækkeligt. De øvrige 25 fly fortsatt til Kassel og over målområdet fik Lancaster NN763 'F', der blev fløjet af canadieren F/O M C J Dale mindre skader på grund af lufværnsskydning. F/O Dale bombede Kassel klokken 21.30 fra en højde af 20.000 fod og han mente, at hans 4000 lb HC samt 1350 stk 4 lb brandbomber ramte i målområdet. Dale landede igen i England klokken 00.35.

F/O Musselman og hans besætning samt jordmandskab foran Lancaster ME746 efter, at den havde gennemført togt nummer 100 den 11. marts 1945.

Canadieren F/Lt Harold John Musselman, DFC var pilot ombord på Lancaster ME746 fra No. 166 Squadron. Han bombede Kassel klokken 21.36 fra en højde af 19.000 fod og kun to minutter senere opdagede agterskytten, canadieren F/Sgt K Forrest, en Bf 109, der befandt sig til venstre for Lancasteren og lidt højere, hvorfor Forrest kunne se den tyske maskine mod den lysere himmel. Det tyske fly blev opdaget i en afstand af omkring 350 meter og det så ud, som om Bf 109eren var ved at gøre klar til angreb. Musselman gik straks ind i en proptrækkermanøvre til venstre samtidig med, at han advarede frontskytten, F/Sgt G Reid, om, at han sandsynligvis ville se det tyske fly passere til venstre. Dette holdt stik og Reid åbnede ild med en salve på 60 skud. Hverken agterskytten eller rygskytten, P/O J M Donnelly, åbnede ild mod den tyske maskine, der forsvandt uden, at der blev observeret træffere på den. F/Lt Musselman, der stammede fra Kitchener i Canada, havde netop fået tildelt sit DFC i den foregående måned. Han meldte sig til RCAF i 1941 og blev udnævnt til officer i 1944.

F/Lt Harold John Musselman, DFC og hans besætning foran deres Lancaster.

Lancaster ME746 var et gammelt fly, der havde gennemført sit første togt natten mellem den 20. og 21. april 1944 og som havde sit togt nummer 100 den 11. marts 1945, hvor Musselman bombede Dortmund. Lancaser ME746 gennemførte i alt 125 operative togter (hvoraf 6 var forsyningsflyvninger til Holland ved krigens afslutning samt 3 hjemtransporter af krigsfanger). Lancaster ME476 blev hugget op i 1946. F/O Kelly i Lancaster NG255 'I' fra No. 166 Squadron havde problemer på vej til målet, idet hans inderste højre motor ikke ydede det, som den skulle, hvorfor han ankom sent til Kassel. Ikke nok med det, men på grund af motorproblemerne var han nødt til at bombe fra en lavere højde end de andre. F/O Kelly bombede Kassel fra en højde af 12.000 fod klokken 21.50. Over Kassel begyndte hans yderste venstre motor at give problemer. I løbet af et øjeblik satte motoren ud og F/O Kelly og hans besætning var nu i en sårbar situation. Kelly valgte at gennemføre bombningen og fløj hans Lancaster tilbage til RAF Kirmington på to motorer samt en til tider ydende tredie motor, hvor han landede klokken 01.55, hvilket var lang tid efter de andre.

Bomber Command havde minimale tab denne nat og det er interessant at se, hvordan de vurderede nattens hændelser: 'The main raids, on Kassel and Hamburg, were carried out with a loss of one aircraft on each - these results being the lightest over experienced in main raids on either of these towns. It is not considered that weather conditions were primarily responsible for the weak effort put out by the GAF on this night, since some bases should have been quite serviceable despite general low cloud. It is more likely that the enemy's first appreciation of the situation was at fault and that in the south he was unable to recover his position until the bombers were flying southward on the last leg to target with a 80 mph wind behind them; while in the north fighters do not seem to have been put up early enough to be effective against a fairly short penetration over Schleswig to Hamburg and away over the Weser Estuary, even though in this case the bombers had a 90 mph wind on their starboard beam as they came out. This happy position in the south arose through the enemy mistaking his raid information. A Window feint, supported by marking and bombing, went on an orthodox eastward run into the Ruhr and was taken for a main force, against which night fighters were concentrated, while in fact the main force slipped by a little further north. They were at Osnabruck before the situation was clear and then turned southeast, almost downwind. Attacks and combats were negligible and the bomber force was never caught'. Styrken til Kassel havde to luftkampe nord for Ruhr, et angreb og to luftkampe over målområdet og en luftkamp nær Rhinen på vej hjem.

Bomber Command estimerede, at følgende bombelast blev kastet over Kassel: Group Flytype Attacked 4000 HC 2000 HC 500 MC/GP 4 lb inc 4 lb 'x' 250 TI Flares 1 Lancaster 230 229 298.323 26.187 8 Lancaster 26 35 248 48 42 8 Mosquito 14 24 9 20

En Lancaster fra No. 1 Group, der skulle have bombet Kassel, bombede på grund af motorproblemer i stedet for Groenlo med 1 stk 4.000 HC, 1.450 stk 4 lbs brandbomber og 170 stk 4 lb brandbomber med sprængladning.

Godsfordelerens kontor ramt af en fuldtræffer med mur-brokker spredt ud over store dele af jernbaneterrænet.

Det tyske politi i Kassel rapporterede i første omgang om følgende skader i Kassel: Kassel Gegen 21.20 Uhr. Abwurf von Spreng- und Brandbomben durch mehrere hundert Kampfflugzeuge. Angriffschwerpunkt: Stadtmitte. Erhebliche Gebäudeschäden. Brände im Landesmuseum, Rathaus, Wirtschaftsamt, Polizei-Kaserne, Kriminalpolizei-Leitstelle, NSKK-Brigade, Kurhessische Landeszeitung, Wehrmachtkommandatur, Henschel- Flugmotorenwerk und Waggonfabrik Crede.. Starke Brände in den Stadtteilen Wehlheiden, Rothenditmold, Nieder- und Oberzwehren sowie im Westen der Stadt. Spinnfaser AG getroffen, Brand gelöscht. Zahlreiche Verschüttenstellen. Personenverluste nocht nicht bekannt.

Den efterfølgende dag blev politiets melding fulgt op med følgende: Kassel 21.30 bis 21.48 Uhr. Schwerer Angriff durch etwa 300 bis 350 Kampfflugzeuge unter Abwurf von etwa 1.200 Minen- und Sprengbomben sowie 250.000 bis 300.000 Stabbrandbomben. Am schwersten betroffen wurden Stadtmitte, Süden und Westen. Im Osten der Stadt Einzelabwürfe, Betenhausen Einzelschäden. Etwa 1/3 des noch vorhandenen Wohnraumes vernichtet. 20.000 bis 30.000 Obdachlose. Ausser den bereits gemeldeten Schäden weiterhin getroffen: Optische Werke Breithaupt u. Sohn und Fennel-Söhne, Kasseler Druckerei und Färberei, Farbenfabrik Reiffen u. Co., Fabrik für Messtechnik Metzke, Autoraparatur Glienike u. Wiethoff, Städt. Werke (Bürogebäude), Landeskreditkasse, Bärenreiterverlag, Simons- Brotfabrik, AEG (bürogebäude), Wintershall AG, Westdeutscher Kaufhof, Kronen- und Engel-Apotheke, Kriegssachschädenamt, Zuchthaus Wehrlheiden (Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsgebäude), Finanzamt Aussenbezirk, Paul v. Hndenburg Schule, Schlosshotel und Nebengebäude, RAD-Baracken am Schlageterplatz, Hilfskrankenhäuser II und IV, Diakonissenhaus (Kur- und Badehaus), Sanatorium Dr. Rohrbach, Kindersanatorium Dr. Rohrbach, Husarenkaserne, Jägerkaserne, Hohenzollernkaserne, Wittichkaserne, Wehrmeldeamt, Soldatenheim, Arbeitsbatl. L 13, Luisenschule, Dönschelager, Standortambulanz, Wehrkreisdienstgebäude, Heereszeugamt, Gasschutzpark, EVM Frankfurter Str., Dienststelle des Bahnhofs-Wachoffiziers, EVM Langemarkstr., Unterkunft J-Zug 2. Tierrettungsstelle (Gerätelager), 3. LS-Revier (leicht), Inspekteur der Sicherheitspolizei und Gestapo (1 Baracke), Autoreparaturwerkstätte der Gendarmerie Kassel. Polizei-Fernsprechverbindungen bis auf 2 LS-Reviere gestört. Reichsbahnausbesserundswerk, Verschiebebahnhof. Brände, Schäden an Gleisanlagen. Hauptbahnhof 3 Blindgänger bzw LZZ. Bahnhof Wilhelmshöhe Brände in Empfangsgebäude und Güterabfertigung, Gleise verschüttet. Befehlsstellwerk schwer, Brand einiger Güterwagen, Personenzug getroffen, hier 20 bis 25 Verwundete, Banhof Kirchdithmod Gleisschäden, Bahnhof Niederzwehren Brand9. Ausgedehnte Brände, zahlr. Mittel- und Kleinbrände. Bisher insgesamt 14 Gefallene, 6 Schwer- und 50 Leichtverwundete. Etwa 100 Verschüttete, davon 41 lebend und 11 tot geborgen.

Ødelagt maskinbygning på banegården i Kassel med et damplokomotiv i forgrunden.

Luftwaffe rapporterede følgende for angrebet på Kassel: Kassel 21.20-21.38 Uhr, etwa 1200 Sprengbomben und 300.000 Stabbrandbomben. Schwerer Terrorangriff auf das gesamte Stadtgebiet mit Ausnahme des Nordens. Schwerpunkt: Stadtmitte, Süden und Westen umfassend die Stadtteile Frankfurter Viertel, Auefeld, Niederzwehren. Oberzwehren, Wehlheiden, Süsterfeld, Brasselsberg, Wilhelmshöhe, Muhlang, Wahlershausen, Kirchdittmold, Vorderer Westen und Stadtmitte. Im ostw Stadtgebiet (Bettenhausen) Einzelschäden. Gebäudeschäden: In den betroffenen Stadtteilen schwere Häuserschäden. Mehr als 1/3 des noch vorhandenen Wohnraums vernichtet. Industrieschäden: 9 Industriebetriebe schwer getroffen, zahlreiche leicht beschädigt. Einzelheiten stehen noch aus. U.a. getroffen: Henschel Flugmotoren, Waggonfabrik Grede, Optische Werke, Breithaupt & Sohn, Spinnfaser AG und mehere weitere Industribetriebe schwer bzw leicht beschädigt. Verkehrsschäden: Kassel-Hauptbahnhof: 1 LZZ im Bahnhof Verschiebebahnhof: grosse Wagenbrände, leichte Gleisschäden. Bhf. Wilhelmshöhe: mittlere Gleis- und Gebäudeschäden. Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk Kassel. 2 grössere Brände. RBD-Gebäude. Schwer beschädigt. Offentliche Gebäude: 6 Krankenhäuser und zahlreiche weitere Gebäude getroffen. Wehrmachtanlagen: 1 Heereszeugamt und 2 Ersatzverpflegungsmagazine getroffen. Personenverluste: Bisher 25 Gefallene, 50 Verwundete, etwa 50 Verschüttete. 20.000-23.000 Obdachlose

Nattens angreb på Kassel blev fulgt op næste dag med et angreb udført af 1st Air Division fra 8th Air Force. 318 ud af 336 afsendte B-17 kastede 675 tons bomber over Kassel og anrettede store skader. Medens det under RAFs angreb om aftenen især var gået hårdt ud over den vestlige del af Kassel, så blev den nordlige del af Kassel hårdt ramt under amerikanernes angreb. I Ihringshausen blev ammunitionsfabrikken ramt og skaderne i dette område var særdeles kraftige. Tre B-17 vendte ikke tilbage fra angrebet (fra henholdsvis 92nd, 381st og 398th BG).

Den 9. marts klokken 12.50 blev Kassel fotograferet af W/O W S Kruger i Spitfire XI PM149 No. 542 Squadron (mission 106G/4696) og resultatet blev sammenfattet i rapport K. 3910: Once again the town of Kassel is ablaze and at present very little assessment of damage can be carried out. There is considerable amount of new damage to the Northern part of the Rothenditmold M/Y, the Railway Workshops and the AFV and MY Works of Henchel & Sohn. The Wilhelmshohe Station and Sidings are severely damaged and the Muhlenbau-Gesellschaft, Friedrich Liebeck and Co, makers of machinery and mill construction materials, show minor points of damage. Though nearly the whole of the town is smoke obscured, several incidents of damage to business and residential properties are visible in both eht ENE and SW part of the town. Details of damage are as follows: M/Y Facilities Loco Depot: at least 1 holes in roof. 10% unserviceable. Servicing Facilities: 90% unserviceable. Terminal facilities: not covered. M/Y Sidings North Bound Sorting Sidings: most of the lines cut in several places. 90% unserviceable. Locomotive and Rolling Stock Large number of Wagons derailed and damage in the North Bound Sorting Sidings. Through running Lines Lines to the North cut - others not covered. 15% unserviceable. Railway Workshops Loco Workshops: further roof stripping Foundry: severely damaged Power Plant: minor roof damage Wagon Worksho: scattered roof stripping Engine Roundhouse: another hole in roof Several unidentified buildings: severely damaged. 100% unserviceable. AFV & MT Works of Henschel & Sohn Paint Shop for Lorries: most of roof stripped Drawing Office: corner damaged Locomotive Frames, Cylinders and Parts: additional roof stripping Store for Finished Lorry Components: severely damaged Machine and Assembly Shop: at least 2 holes in roof Inspection and Testing of Lorry Engines: further area of roof stripped Machine and Assembly Shop: additional roof damage Finishing Shop for Smaller Lorry Components: small new area of roof damage Components for Lorries: several small holes in roof.

Luftfotoet, som ligger til baggrund for nedenstående rapport om skaderne i Kassel.

Den 14. marts 1945 klokken 14.20 blev Kassel igen fotograferet. Man kunne naturligvis ikke skelne mellem skaderne fra de to angreb (BC 8./9. marts og 8th AF 9. marts) og sammenfattede alle skaderne i en enkelt rapport. Billederne, der lå til baggrund for rapporten, blev taget af W/O K J H Nichol i Spitfire XI PM1949 fra No. 542 Squadron (mission 106G/4771) og F/O Browne og W/O Lodge i Mosquito XVI NS658 fra No. 540 Squadron (mission 106G/4784). Rapporten lyder: New photographs taken after the smoke had cleared above Kassel show that this town has again been severely damaged. In addition to the factories mentioned in Immediate Interpretation Report K. 3910, the Henschel and Sohn GmbH (Works I and iI)(Priority 1) are both moderately damaged, the Rolling Stock factory of Wegman and Co (Priority 2) and the Rolling Stock factory of Crede Gebr. and Company (Priority 3) are both severely damaged. There are a few minor incidents of damage to the main Passanger Station. Other identifiable but unrated premises that are damage are as follows: Jute Spennerei u. Weberei; severe damage Lange and Co (Wholesale hardware): moderate damage Berghofer, Chr. and Co (Armatures): destroyed AG für Druck und Verlag (Printing Office): severe damage Fleischhut Wilhelm (Timber handling): severe damage Police Barracks: moderae damage 2 Barrack Areas in S. part of town: 6 Baracks severely damaged Correction House: 2 wings gutted There are many small unidentified industrial premises with varying degrees of damage, and a very large extent of business and residential property in the built-up area West of the river has been guttet or wrecked. Damage to the M/Y was dealt with in K. 3910 issued on 10 MAR 1945.

Øverst: Ødelagt vaske- hal for lokomotiver i Kassel. Nederst: Ødelagt aske- og vaskeanlæg for lokomotiver i Kassel. Skaderne er forårsaget af 500 lb bomber.