Expanded Notes Pages 37&38


10th Ops to Hanau
Middlebrook :"The attack was aimed at ... an important junction in the German railway system.... Many bombs did fall in this area but ... a large proportion of the bombing was scattered in the south -into the centre of Hanau- and also to the north- into an area of countryside and villages.  ...Approximately 40% of Hanau was destroyed... ."
    4 Halifaxes lost out of 314  =1.2%

"2 Hang-ups" bombs that failed to release when supposed to. Very dangerous as they might release or explode unpredictably on the way back to base or on landing.  This would make for a very anxiety filled return flight.
Group 6 Daily Operations Report
 

11th 0ps to Saarbrucken
Middlebrook : "Bomber Command assessed this raid on, the railway yards, as being extremely  accurate and effective."    Joe seemed happy about it too.
    1 Halifax lost out of 242 = <1%
    bomb load  8 x 500
                      8 x 250
Group 6 Daily Operations Report

12th Ops Gardening to Oslo
 "Gardening" was RCAF slang for dropping mines into waterways frequented by enemy shipping. These mines would lie on bottom of sea and be detonated by acoustic or magnetic waves as ships passed near them. They were battery operated with a 9 month estimated battery life. Some lasted 3 years.
"It has been claimed that  "Gardening" sank more German ships than the Royal Navy. Possibly; but its biggest contribution
to victory may well have been that mine sweeping duties occupied at least 40 percent of German Naval personnel on a full time basis."
The hazards included  flak from shore batteries and "flak ships", crashing into sea because of faulty or incorrectly set anaeroid altimeters -(atmospheric pressure at sea level would be known for base, but could only be guesstimated for target locale). This was critical since most mines had to be released from low altitude to prevent breaking up or detonation on hitting the water.
 
 ** "Special Duties"  ? ? ?  I have found no explanation of this term. It  may mean dropping supplies or agents to the Norwegian or Danish  Resistance, but I cannot confirm this.
Group 6 Daily Operations Report

 13th Ops to Stuttgart(Zuffenhan)
"Bright Moonlight" Indeed the moon was full that night according to records. This had implications both pro and con. It would make it easier for the German night-fighters to spot bombers but it would also make it easier for the gunners in those bombers to see the fighters. It would also reduce the danger of mid-air collisions between bombers.

  Middlebrook : "This raid was split into 2 parts, with a 3 hour interval. The first force - of 226 aircraft - was directed against the important railway yards at Kornwestheim, a town to the north of    Stuttgart, and the second was against the northwestern Stuttgart suburb of Zuffenhausen, where the target is believed to have been the Hirth * aeroengine factory. The target area was mostly cloud  covered for both raids and the bombing, on sky-markers, was scattered.
    4 Halifaxes lost out of 316
    bomb load 1 x 2000 HC
                     9 x#15 Clusters
*The Hirth aero-engine company has survived and now makes snowmobile and ultralight engines
Group 6 Daily Operations Report