Bomb load details 5 Group raid on Giessen, 6-7 December 1944

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

For a German research friend of mine, who is doing research on the 6/7 December 1944 Giessen raid, I am looking for details on the bomb loads of the 255 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes of 5 Group involved in this raid. Especially, he is looking for details on the number of heavy type of bombs and 'Cookie's' used in the raid. Who can help?

Cheers and thanks, Theo

[MW Giles]

44 Sqn Lancaster 18 a/c
1 x 4000 HC, 12 or 13 x 150 x 4lb ic

49 Sqn Lancaster 12 a/c
Loads not given, no mention of jettisons

50 Sqn Lancaster 19 a/c
12 x 1000lb GP or MC

57 Sqn Lancaster 15 a/c 2 lost
1 x 4000 HC, 13 x 150 x 4lb ic

61 Sqn Lancaster 20 a/c 2 lost
Loads not given but mentions 1000lb MCs being jettisoned

83 Sqn Lancaster 15 a/c 2 PBM, 4,3,2 FF, 4 S
Mixtures of 1000lb MC, TI Green and CP no.1 flares

97 Sqn Lancaster 13 a/c 2 PBM, 9 FF, 2 S
Mixtures of 1000lb MC, TI Green and CP no.1 flares

106 Sqn Lancaster 20 a/c
12 x 1000lb MC

189 Sqn Lancaster 13 a/c
Loads not given, but mentions 1000lb MC being jettisoned

207 Sqn5 Lancaster 18 a/c 1 lost
1 x 4000lb HC, 12 or 13 x 150 x 4lb ic

227 Sqn Lancaster 227 18 a/c 2 lost
Loads not given but at least 2 a/c had 13 x 1000lb MC

463 Sqn Lancaster 19 a/c 1 lost
12 x 1000lb MC

467 Sqn Lancaster 19 a/c
12 x 1000lb MC

619 Sqn Lancaster 18 a/c
Loads not given but mentions 4000 HC and ic being jettisoned

630 Sqn Lancaster 16 a/c
4000lb HC, 14 x 150 x 4lb ic

54 Base Mosquito 2 a/c
Markers

627 Sqn Mosquito 8 a/c DC/M, 4/5M, 2WF
Markers

Therefore there seems to be two loads in use by the non-marker aircraft, either

4000lb HC and 12, 13 or 14 x 150 x 4lb ic

or

12 or 13 x 1000lb MC

Each squadron is fairly consistent

Regards

Martin

[Theo Boiten]

Hello and good morning Martin,

Cheers and thanks for posting these details about the bomb loads of the Squadrons involved in the 6/7 December 44 Giesen raid. I will share these with the German researcher in the Giessen area, who is doing an in-depth study of this raid.

Cheers, Theo