DUISBURG, INTRUDERS, MINELAYING OFF ST. NAZAIRE AND VERDON, LEAFLET FLIGHTS, SOE OPERATIONS

SYNOPTIC SITUATION : Anticyclonic. Transitory ridge over England. Low 995 mb Trondheim with occlusion St.Petersburg-Riga-Warsaw-Frankfurt-Clermont-Biarritz. Low 1005 mb approaching Ireland from W

FLYING CONDITIONS : E&SE England : SW/10-15 sct Sc tempo skc

NW Germany : mist ovc Sc bkn/ovc As

French Atlantic coast : mist bkn/ovc Sc bkn/ovc Ac

SOE operations ( ) : ( ) a/c incl ( ) Whitleys

HAZARDS : icing

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Duisburg (313) : 177 Wellingtons, 48 Stirlings, 41 Halifaxes, 33 Lancasters, 14 Hampdens (thick cloud covered the target. Duisburg reports property damage, though not as heavy as on the last two raids. 6 people were killed)

Intruders (21) : 21 Blenheims

Minelaying off St. Nazaire and Verdon (8) : 6 Lancasters, 2 Hampdens

Leaflet flights (7) : 7 Halifaxes

OPERATIONAL LOSSES (18) {5,2%} [aircrew : 92 (63 kia, 28 pow, 1 evd) ] :

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WEHRMACHTBERICHT : The British air force again attacked W Germany and especially Duisburg, Homberg and Moers. The civilian population suffered some losses. Considerable damage was caused locally to buildings in residential areas. Night-fighters and flak destroyed 11 aircraft

KRIEGSTAGEBUCH OKW : 120 enemy a/c penetrated over W Germany [...], with Duisburg as centre of gravity [...]. Night-fighters destroyed 9 and flak 2 aircraft