On this day in 1942 the British attempted a low level bombing raid using Lancasters from the No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron and the No. 97 Squadron of the RAF. The target was the U-boat engine plant in that city.
The raid was an acknowledged gamble, being a long range unescorted raid (the British didn't have a fighter capable of long range escorting at the time).
The raid did not go well. Of the twelve plans committed to the raid, only five returned, and they were all badly damaged. Four of the Lancaster were lost over France, never making it to their target, which was supposed to be hit in fading light so that they could return at night. Significant damage was sustained by the plant's superstructure, but production tools were largely untouched, so production continued.
It was the longest low level bombing raid conducted during the Second World War.
Oilfields in Burma were destroyed by the British to keep them from falling into Japanese hands.
