warshipbuilder
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Joined: 2/23/2013 From: C-eh-n-eh-d-eh Status: offline
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50 Sqn (Swinderby – Hampden I) 23.10.41 16 aircraft were detailed for this night’s operations which were to attack KIEL. Unfortunately, one aircraft failed to return. The operation was very successful, 13 aircraft being able to locate and bomb the target. Of the two unsuccessful, one was forced to return, on crossing the ENGLISH coast, on account of port engine trouble. The other, owing to a delayed take-off, decided to attack SYLT. A fair amount of cloud was encountered but visibility was good through gaps found. Some aircraft encountered considerable flak over the target while others reported very little. Much searchlight and heavy A.A. was met at ECKERNFORDE BAY, apparently intended as a decoy. A total of 6 x 1000lb.; 40 x 500lb.; 16 x 250 lb. bombs and 1,924 lbs of incendiaries was expended during these operations ADDENDUM – 50 Sqn Hampden I AE256 was coned by searchlights and hit by machinegun fire and Flak of M. Flak Abt. 221, 241, 251, 261 and 271, crashed into searchlight battery at Tasdorf at 05.51 hrs, exploding on impact. The four man crew and three of the searchlight crew were killed, four German personnel injured and 150 cm Flak searchlight and combat bunker were completely destroyed. The RAF crew is buried at the Kiel War Cemetery. 114 aircraft were sent to bomb the shipyards at Kiel but only 69 reached the target area. Kiel reported a raid in two widely separated waves. The second attack caused the most damage, with hits on the Deutsche Werke U-Boat yard, the naval base, a bakery, a dance hall and several houses. 4 people were killed and 5 injured. The report also states a bomber was shot down when trying to dive out of a searchlight cone, this would have been AE256 as it was the only aircraft lost on this raid. Base Changes 139 Sqn (Blenheim IV) moved to Horsham St. Faith First and Last Operational Missions 501 Sqn (Ibsley) flew its first OM in the Spitfire VB
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