Operation – Ulm – 17/18 December 1944
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg situated on the River Danube. First noted as a royal domain in 854 it had a long and diverse history into the Middle Ages and Industrial Revolution. By the 20 century Ulm was an important industrial, commercial and cultural hub with a population of approx 75000. The city was bombed once by RAF Bomber Command in force on the night of the 17/18 December 1944. This raid killed up to 1000 people and injured many more. 25,000 people were left homeless and 81% of the city centre was destroyed. Only 1,763 out of 12,756 buildings were intact.
103 Squadron
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 – W/O WJ McArthur
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NF909 – F/L LJC Remy
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JA857 – F/L RA Butts RCAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - PB563 - F/O WA Skinner RCAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - PD427 – F/O LE Morgan RCAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NG391 – F/O CH Short RCAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ND861 – F/L JE Holland
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - PB528 – F/O AL Stepharnoff RCAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NF913 – F/O AJ Mosley RAAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - N/K – F/O AS Thomson
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - LM132 – F/O GW Exel RCAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - LM295 – F/L NH Armstrong
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NN758 – P/O JA Laviolette RCAF
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NG360 – F/L AH Murton RCAF
.................
576 Squadron
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – PA173 – F/L L Arthur - Hit by heavy flak on return journey. Slight damage sustained
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – PB785 – F/O KF Mills RAAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – LM294 – F/O GH Hardman RAAF - Hit by falling bombs on bombing run. Large holes made in starboard mainplane. No injuries.
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – PB753 – F/O HR McLelland RAAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – LM227 – F/O DE Till
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – PD232 – F/L AH Dutton
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – PD363 – F/O G Paley
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – PD403 – F/L CH Living RCAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – JB410 – F/L JW Acheson RCAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – NN750 – F/O AH De-Mille RCAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – NN749 – F/O H Benson
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – ME317 – F/O OR Herbert
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim - ME671 F/O FA Collins RCAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – NG119 – F/O EJ Pollard RAAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – PD309 – F/O HJ Rowe RCAF
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – NG273 – F/L ST Boullier
17/12/1944 - Ulm - Point of Aim – LM594 – F/O CJ Rouse RCAF – Early return - Hydraulic leak and rear turret U/S
….................
103 Squadron
17 December 44 - Ulm - Germany – Night. 15 aircraft were detailed for this operation. All took off in very good weather but this later deteriorated over France where they had to fly through cloud. On arrival it was found that the target area was covered in approximately 6/10ths cloud. The TIs wee seen to go down and several first wave aircraft bombed these but most crews acting on the Master Bombers instructions bombed the sky markers and the bombing of these was very concentrated and several big fires and explosions were observed. Defences were not very heavy and consisted of a light flak barrage. Two of our machines were hit but no personnel were injured.
All or aircraft returned safely to base.
A training programme was laid on and carried out.
….................
576 Squadron
17 December 44 - Ulm - Germany – Night. 17 aircraft detailed. 8/10ths to 10/10ths strato cumulus at take off with base about 3000 ft up to 7000 ft. Cloud base decreased to 1500 ft at about Reading. This persisted over the Channel. There was a large cold front situated over the western part of France and aircraft were instructed to fly below this. At 0300E cloud base was 4000 ft steadily increasing to a height of 8000 ft at 0600E. Form this point to the target there was about 4/10ths altostratus tops about 12000 ft. It was clear to the target with very thin stratus cloud about 2000 ft which did not make identification of PFF markers difficult. Similar conditions on return.
PFF opened the attack with salvoes of red and green TIs. Wanganui release point flares were dropped, green and red stars. As the attack progressed the Master Bomber was heard to say “ Do not overshoot the sky markers “ Several of our aircraft bombed on the Master Bombers instructions while others bombed on the ground markers. A few crews were able to identify the target by the River Danube. Others saw the edge of the built up area. Several huge explosions were seen in the target area and fires could be seen burning 100 miles away on return.
There was very little opposition at the target from enemy flak defences. It was described as very slight heavy flak in loose barrage form. Aircraft P2 ( F/O Hardman ) was hit by falling bombs on his bombing run and large holes were made in his starboard mainplane. No injuries were received by his crew and the aircraft returned safely to base.
Aircraft Q2 ( F/L McArthur ) was hit by predicted heavy flak defences on crossing the battle line on the homeward journey and received slight damage.
All aircraft returned safely.
Aircraft A2 ( F/O Rouse ) was abortive due to a hydraulic leak and the rear turret unserviceable and landed shortly after take off.
2 pre operational cross county flights, 2 fighter affiliation exercises and 1 bombing detail were also carried out during the day.
….................
17/18 December 1944
Duisburg: 523 aircraft - 418 Halifaxes, 8, Lancasters, 24 Mosquitos - of Nos 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 8 Halifaxes lost. Duisburg was badly hit again.
Ulm: 317 Lancasters and 13 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups. 2 Lancasters lost. This was Bomber Command's first and only raid on Ulm, an old city but also the home of 2 large lorry factories - Magirius-Deutz and Kässbohrer - several other important industries and some military barracks and depots. 1,449 tons of bombs were dropped during the 25-minute raid, starting in the centre and then creeping back to the west, across the industrial and railway areas and out into the country. The Gallwitz Barracks and several military hospitals were among 14 Wehrmacht establishments destroyed.
Munich: 280 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos of No 5 Group. 4 Lancasters lost. Bomber Command claimed 'severe and widespread damage' in the old centre of Munich and at railway targets.
44 Mosquitos to Hanau (a 'spoof' raid), 26 to Munster and 5 to Hallendorf, 44 RCM sorties, 50 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.
Total effort for the night: 1,310 sorties, 14 aircraft (1.1 per cent) lost.
Compiled by David Fell
....................
|
