Page 60 - John Francis Ryan

The crew whilst undertaking conversion training at RAF Sandtoft with 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit
(1667 H.C.U.) were tasked along with other H.C.U. crews from both their unit other No. 7 Group
(Training) units to take part in a diversionary sortie over the North Sea. This operation, known as
ʹSweepstakeʹ entailed crews to drop ʹWindowʹ, (strips of aluminium foil cut to the German coastal
radar frequencies). This foil thus jamming the radar and the operators not being able to observe
the size of the bomber stream. As can be seen by the operations undertaken that night by the
Command, 91 aircraft from all Heavy Conversion Units took part with no losses.

st
Bomber Command operations 20/21 February 1945

514 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of No.1, 3, and 8 Groups attacked Dortmund in Bomber
Commands last large scale raid on this target with 14 Lancasters lost. The intention of this raid
was to destroy the southern half of Dortmund and Bomber Command claimed
that this was achieved.

173 aircraft with 112 Halifaxes, 10 Mosquitoes and 6 Lancasters of No. 4 and 8 Groups attacked
the Rhenania Ossag refinery in the Reisholz district of Düsseldorf. The raid was accurate and it
was later established that all oil production was halted. 4 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster lost.

128 aircraft, 112 Halifaxes, 10 Mosquitoes and 6 Lancasters of No. 6 and 8 Groups attacked the
Rhenania Ossag refinery at Monheim with similar results to the Reisholz raid. 2 Halifaxes lost.

154 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of No.5 Group were ordered to attack the Mittelland canal near
Gravenhorst, but the raid was ordered to be abandoned by the Master Bomber because the area
was covered by cloud. No aircraft lost. 91 aircraft from Heavy Conversion Units took part in a
diversionary sweep over the North Sea, 66 Mosquitoes to Berlin and 16 to Mannheim, 65 RCM
(Radio Counter Measures) sorties, 45 Mosquito patrols, 6 aircraft on Resistance operations.
1 aircraft of No. 100 Group (Type not recorded) lost.

Total effort that night by Bomber Command: 1,283 sorties, 22 aircraft (1·7 percent) lost.