23/24 April 1942 - Rostock, Germany
Rostock was an important German Baltic port and Nazi industrial centre. The Heinkel aircraft manufacturer had a large factory at Rostock/Warnemunde as had the Arado aircraft manufacturing company. The important Neptunwerft shipyard was based at Rostock constructing U Boats for the Reich. This was the first of four raids on Rostock in the next few days.
The only other raid undertaken by the RAF on Rostock was a year later when 86 Stirlings attempted to bomb the Heinkel factory but were thwarted by a very effective smoke screen. Some sources suggest there were other RAF raids on this target but that is not the case. The Americans and Russians may have bombed Rostock on other occasions however
103 Squadron
11 aircraft were detailed to cause maximum damage to the point of aim at Rostock. Weather was cloudy at base cloud breaking up at 3 degrees east. Over the rest of the route no cloud was encountered. Visibility everywhere was very good but ground haze was prevalent in the target area.
Aircraft followed the suggested route – Base - Mablethorpe – North of Romo - Target and return.
510 x 4lbs incendiary bombs were carried by each aircraft. Nickels (leaflets ) were dropped in the Rostock area. 750 gallons of fuel was carried.
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – R1234 – Sgt GO John – Early return
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – Z8843 – P/O FS Martin
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – Z1152 – S/L O Godfrey
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – Z1141 – P/O JK Tett
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – DV596 – P/O JH Gilby
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O JKH Wallis
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – DV699 – P/O WGK Gorrie
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – DV697 – F/L CK Saxelby
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – DV578 – W/O RJ Fulbrook
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – DV612 – P/O JF Brookes
23-Apr-42 – Rostock – Wellington – DV579 – Sgt GW Lewis
Sgt John abandoned the the mission at 2328. The rotating joint of the rear turret burst rendering the turret unserviceable. He returned to base with his bombs.
P/O Martin believed that his bombs fell just north east of the telephone exchange. He bombed at 0204 hours from 13000ft.
S/L Godfrey located the river and estuary and bombed at 0210 hours from a height of 11000ft on a built up area near the point of aim. His incendiaries were seen to fall on existing fires which increased in intensity.
Sgt Tett dropped his bombs on the south east part of the town at 0200 from 11000ft. Numerous fires were observed all over the town with one very large fire in the south west area. The fires in the target area were visible for 100 miles when leaving.
P/O Gilby bombed from 11000ft at 0155 hours. Incendiaries were seem to burst and fires seen to develop from bombs of several aircraft including P/O Gilby's
P/O Wallis identified the target by pin points and believed his bombs fell half a mile to the south west of the point of aim. Bombing was from 10000 ft at 0155 and bomb bursts were observed but individual results could not be distinguished owing to the number of almost simultaneous attacks
P/O Gorrie was able to identify the target by pin pointing on the coast and observation of the estuary. He bombed at 0153 hours from 13500 ft and the incendiaries were seen to burst. Fires developed and grew into a very large blaze visible for 50 minutes after leaving the target. Bombs dropped 1 mile west of point of aim.
F/L Saxelby attacked at 0150 hours from 12000 ft the target identified by a run down the river. The bombs were seen to burst and fires observed on leaving.
W/O Fulbrook obtained pinpoints on land and on the estuary and was able to identify the target. Fires from the incendiaries were believed to start about half a mile south of the point of aim. It was difficult to distinguish individual results owing to smoke from the incendiaries and fires.
1 Group Narrative 23rd April 1942 – Rostock.
The Bomber Command 1 Group record does not add much to that set out in the 103 Squadron record.
45 aircraft were detailed from 1 Group. The raid was regarded by the crews as being the most successful since Lubeck earlier in the month. The weather conditions were very good there being no cloud coupled with good visibility and a little haze. Flak defences were very slight and aircraft were able to attack from low altitude as a result of which many direct hits were seen in the target. A great number of fires were observed which grew to such magnitude towards the latter stages of the raid that crews reported seeing fires when a 100 miles away. The bomb load was a mixed one consisting of 4000 lb HC, 1000 lb GP 500lb GP and 4 lb incendiary bombs. Over 12000 4 lb bombs being dropped with apparently great success. Three aircraft bombed last resorts which included Flensburg, Husom and an aerodrome 8 miles NE of Rostock. One aircraft abandoned its mission due to rear turret trouble and one aircraft is missing. No Fresher ops were detailed for that night.
The aircraft were supplied by the following Squadrons :-
12 Squadron – 10 aircraft
103 Squadron - 11 aircraft.
301 Squadron – 4 aircraft.
142 Squadron – 3 aircraft
300 Squadron – 4 aircraft
304 Squadron - 6 aircraft
305 Squadron – 5 aircraft
Aircraft detailed - 45.
Aircraft took off - 43
Aircraft Abortive – 1
Aircraft Primary - 38
Aircraft last Resorts – 3
Aircraft Missing - 1
Summary.
161 aircraft - 93 Wellingtons, 31 Stirlings, 19 Whitleys, 11 Hampdens, 6 Manchesters, 1 Lancaster. 4 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 1 Manchester, 1 Whitley - lost.
This was the first of a series of 4 raids on this Baltic port town. These raids had many of the characteristics of the successful raid on nearby Lübeck 1 month earlier - a concentrated, incendiary, area-bombing attack of a town with only light defences. An added feature on each night, however, was the inclusion of a small force of bombers, from 5 Group on the first 3 nights, to attempt a precision attack on the Heinkel aircraft factory on the southern outskirts of Rostock. On this first night, 143 aircraft were sent to bomb the town and 18 the Heinkel factory. Bombing conditions were good but the results of the raid were disappointing. The Heinkel factory was not hit and most of the main bombing intended for the Altstadt fell between 2 and 6 miles away.
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Further raids on Rostock took place on the 24/25 April 1942, 25/26 April 1942 and 26/27 April 1942
On the 20/21st April 1943 86 Stirlings were dispatched to attack the Heinkel factory near Rostock but a smoke-screen concealed this target and bombing was scattered. This was the last raid on Rostock by the RAF
Compiled by David Fell mostly from 103 and 576 Squadron ORBs, 1 Group ORB, By Day and by Night: Bomber War in Europe, 1939-45. Ken Merrick, Middlebrook's Bomber Command War Diaries.
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