The 78 Sqdn left from an unknown RAF station at 1943-10-20 at an unknown time. Loc or duty Training

On Wednesday 20 October 1943, a member of the 78 Sqdn, Sergeant J J Rolfe, took off from an unknown RAF station in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on WW2 History Europe. You can find the other details of this mission by searching here. Training and cargo flights are not separately mentioned as a mission. The plane left at an unknown time .

He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type II, serial LW294, code EY-O).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

(Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 116. The industrial area at Duren, Germany is the primary target. 97 of 170 B-17's hit the primary target at 1413-1416 bombing from 30,000-feet (48,000 m) because the cloud tops were at 29,500-feet (47,200 m); the 1st Bombardment Division uses Oboe PFF for the first time but the equipment fails and 60 aircraft return to base without bombing; 42 of the 1st Bombardment Division's aircraft hit Woensdrecht Airfield in the Netherlands as a target of opportunity; and 70 B-24's fly a diversion; the totals are 4-1-1 Luftwaffe aircraft claimed; 9 B-17's lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 10 damaged; casualties are 4 KIA (including 3 gunners who died from oxygen system failure), 2 WIA and 85 MIA.

VIII Bomber Command Mission 117: During the night of 20/21 Oct, 5 B-17's drop 876,960 leaflets over Roen and Paris at 2211-2217 hours. HQ 358th Fighter Group and it's 365th, 366th and 367th Fighter Squadrons arrive at Goxhill, England from the US.

Campaign report of the RAF:

20/21 October 1943

Leipzig: 358 Lancasters of 1, 5, 6 and No 8 Groups. 16 Lancasters lost, 4.5 per cent of the force. This was the first serious attack on this distant German city. Weather conditions were very difficult - Bomber Command records describe them as 'appalling' - and the bombing was very scattered.

28 Mosquitos to Berlin, Cologne, Brauweiler and Emden, 12 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians, 26 OTU sorties. 2 Mosquitos lost.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

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