Raid 26 - Ladbergen

Raid 26 - Ladbergen

Account of daylight operation against Dortmund-Ems canal aqueducts. Operation was abandoned due to cloud cover. Landed at Waddington. Includes b/w photographs of target,

One page printed document with two b/w photographs

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SDaviesLA1581024v10003

RAID 26
LADBERGEN – DORTMUND-EMS CANAL (VN-F)
Date: 24th February 1945
Take off: 13.47 hrs
Flying time: 5 hours 31 mins
Aircraft/Losses; 166 Lancasters, 4 Mosquitoes/No losses
The target for this daylight raid was Ladbergen where the two lanes of the Dortmund-Ems Canal were carried over a small river by an aqueduct. The Germans immediately realised the vulnerability of the canal at this point where an aqueduct carries the canal over the stream. In order to try to confuse Bomber Command as to their exact aiming point the Germans camouflaged the stream with square pieces of netting where there was no tree cover.
[two black and white photographs of the Dortmund-Ems Canal target]
The camouflaged stream is highlighted within the redline
This daylight raid was abandoned due to extensive cloud cover over the target area. VN-F returned with a full bomb load (often unused bombs were jettisoned), landing at Waddington a few miles from Skellingthorpe for reasons that are not given.