Nos 3 & 5 Group Minelaying missions 24-25 Feb 1945

[RodM]

Hi,

does anyone happen to have a description of the routes flown on he following Bomber Command Minelaying missions on the night of 24-25 February 1945 (the BC Interception Tactics Report for this night is unusually truncated and doesn't show the routes):

No. 3 Group:

Six Lancasters to "Onions 2" (Oslo Fjord, Norway) - five mined successfully between 20.20 - 20.30h

No. 5 Group:

Nine Lancasters to "Onions" (Oslo Fjord, Norway) - nine mined successfully between 20.26 - 20.50h

TIA

RodM

[Steve Smith]

Rod,

Base-Cromer-5730N 0730E - 5800N 0820E - 5900N 1050E - Target 5900N - 1050E - 5730N 0730E - Cromer - Base

Aircraft were to be at position 5730N 0730E by 07:30hrs.

Via No.3 Group HQ Records Book

Regards

Steve

[RodM]

Hi Steve,

thanks for the information, much appreciated.

The route information, along with the route data for No. 6 (RCAF) Group (courtesy of Richard K) and No. 1 Group (which I already had), confirm the four Minelaying forces (Groups 1, 3, 5, 6) departed the UK from various coastal points but converged over the North Sea at 57 30 N, 07 30 E, before flying to their separate Minelaying areas. I suspect No. 5 Group flew the same route as No. 3 Group.

Cheers

Rod