207 RAF AIRCRAFT WERE MINELAYING ON THE NIGHT OF 28/29 APRIL 1943 IN THE REGION OF HELIGOLAND, THE GREAT AND LITTLE BELTS AND THE RIVER ELBE.THE FORCE CONSISTED OF
68 LANCASTERS; 60 HALIFAXES;
47 WELLINGTONS; 32 STIRLINGS.
6 MOSQUITOES RAIDED WILHELMSHAVEN AS A DIVERSION.
593 MINES WERE LAID IN CONDITIONS OF LOW CLOUD AND MUCH FLAK ACTIVITY AND 23 AIRCRAFT FAILED TO RETURN.
THIS WAS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF MINES LAID IN ONE NIGHT AND THE GREATEST LOSS OF AIRCRAFT IN A MINELAYING OPERATION DURING THE WAR.
LOSSES
7 LANCASTERS 12 SQN (4); 61 SQN (1);
103 SQN (1); 207 SQN(1).
8 STIRLINGS 75 SQN (4); 90 SQN (1);
218 SQN (3).
2 HALIFAXES 158 SQN (1); 419 SQN (1).
6 WELLINGTONS 166 SQN (1); 196 SQN (3); 428 SQN (2).
145 MEN KILLED, 4 TAKEN PRISONER.
