Page 31 - Eugene Patrick Collins
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Bombing photo from the crew’s Lancaster NX576 K-King on the 18 April 1945. Bomb release
th
was at a height of 18,000 feet; course is 166 degrees, bombs released at 12:35 and 30 seconds.
The target was the German naval base of Heligoland guarding the mouth of the River Elbe and
was completely destroyed by 969 Main Force Bombers, 617 Lancasters and 332 Halifax Bombers
supported by 20 Mosquitoes Bombers from 8 Groups Pathfinder Force that marked
the target area.
Post war this military installation consisting of many large concrete gun emplacements was
completely destroyed by the British army using captured German munitions. The resulting
explosion not only destroyed the bunkers but also reshaped most of the Island. The explosion was
the biggest conventional explosion ever set off.
