02.10
Some marker flares fall over Hamburg, but most are misplaced or lost in cloud.
03.30
All-clear sounds.
06.00 approx
Battered RAF force returns to base.
Appendix D
Comparison of British, American and German Terms
1 Air force units, 1943
British (bombers)
American (bombers)
German (fighters)
RAF
USAAF
Luftwaffe
…
US Eighth Air Force
Luftflotte
Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
Jagddivision
Group (8–12 sqns)
Wing (6–9 groups)
Geschwader(3 Gruppen +1 Stabschwarm)
Squadron (3–4 flights)
Group (4 squadrons)
Gruppe(3 Staffeln)
Flight (6–7 aircraft)
Squadron (7 aircraft)
Staffel(9 aircraft)
…
…
[ Stabschwarm(4 aircraft)]
NB The three air forces were very differently organized, and comparing them in this way is slightly problematic. For example, Allied bomber units are being compared to German fighter units. And, while RAF Bomber Command might have been similar to the American VIII Bomber Command, in 1943 the British organization was much larger than its American counterpart. The above is therefore only a very rough guide.
2 Ranks
British
American
German
Aircraftman
Private
Flieger
LAC
Corporal
Obergefreiter
Corporal
Staff Sergeant
Unteroffizier
Sergeant
Tech Sergeant
Feldwebel
Flight Sergeant
Master Sergeant
Oberfeldwebel
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
Hauptfeldwebel
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
Fähnrich
Pilot Officer
Second Lieutenant
Leutnant
Flying Officer
First Lieutenant
Oberleutnant
Flight Lieutenant
Captain
Hauptmann
Squadron Leader
Major
Major
Wing Commander
Lieutenant Colonel
Oberstleutnant
Group Captain
Colonel
Oberst
Air Commodore
Brigadier General
Generalmajor
Air Vice Marshal
Major General
Generalleutnant
Air Marshal
Lieutenant General
General der Flieger
Air Chief Marshal
General (four stars)
Generaloberst
Marshal of the RAF
General of the Army (five stars)
Generalfeldmarschall
Appendix E
British Order of Battle, 24 July 1943
RAF Bomber Command
I Group(HQ Bawtry Hall)
Unit
Airfield
Type of Aircraft
12 Squadron
Wickenby
Lancaster
100 Squadron
Grimsby
Lancaster
101 Squadron
Ludford Magna
Lancaster
103 Squadron
Elsham Wolds
Lancaster
166 Squadron
Kirmington
Wellington
300 (Polish) Squadron
Ingham
Wellington
305 (Polish) Squadron
Ingham
Wellington
460 (RAAF) Squadron
Binbrook
Lancaster
3 Group(HQ Exning, Newmarket)
15 Squadron
Mildenhall
Stirling
75 (NZ) Squadron
Mepal
Stirling
90 Squadron
West Wickham
stirling
115 Squadron
East Wretham
Stirling
149 Squadron
Lakenheath
Stirling
214 (FMS) Squadron
Chedburgh
Stirling
218 Squadron
Downham Market
Stirling
620 Squadron
Chedburgh
Stirling
Special Operations
138 Squadron*
Tempsford
Halifax
161 Squadron*
Tempsford
Halifax, Hudson,
Havoc, Lysander
192 Squadron
Feltwell
Halifax, Wellington,
Mosquito
Non-operational
196 Squadron*
Witchford
Wellington/Stirling
199 Squadron*
Lakenheath
Wellington/Stirling
4 Group(HQ Heslington Hall)
10 Squadron
Melbourne
Halifax
51 Squadron
Snaith
Halifax
76 Squadron
Holme-on-Spalding-Moor
Halifax
77 Squadron
Elvington
Halifax
78 Squadron
Breighton
Halifax
102 Squadron
Pocklington
Halifax
158 Squadron
Lissett
Halifax
466 (RAAF) Squadron
Leconfield
Wellington
5 Group(HQ Morton Hall, Swinderby)
9 Squadron
Bardney
Lancaster
44 (Rhodesia) Squadron
Dunholme Lodge
Lancaster
49 Squadron
Fiskerton
Lancaster
50 Squadron
Skellingthorpe
Lancaster
57 Squadron
Scampton
Lancaster
61 Squadron
Syerston
Lancaster
106 Squadron
Syerston
Lancaster
207 Squadron
Langar
Lancaster
467 (RAAF) Squadron
Bottesford
Lancaster
617 Squadron*
Scampton
Lancaster
619 Squadron
Woodhall Spa
Lancaster
6 (Canadian) Group(HQ Allerton Park Castle, Knaresborough)
408 Squadron
Leeming
Halifax
419 Squadron
Middleton St George
Halifax
427 Squadron
Leeming
Halifax
428 Squadron
Middleton St George
Halifax
429 Squadron
East Moor
Wellington
432 Squadron
Skipton-on-Swale
Wellington
Non-operational
426 Squadron*
Linton-on-Ouse
Wellington/Halifax
431 Squadron*
Tholthorpe
Wellington/Halifax
434 Squadron*
Tholthorpe
Halifax
8 (Pathfinder) Group(HQ Castle Hill House, Huntingdon)
7 Squadron
Oakington
Stirling, Lancaster
35 Squadron
Graveley
Halifax
83 Squadron
Wyton
Lancaster
97 Squadron
Bourn
Lancaster
105 Squadron*
Marham
Oboe Mosquito
109 Squadron*
Marham
Oboe Mosquito
139 (Jamaica) Squadron
Wyton
Mosquito
156 Squadron
Warboys
Lancaster
405 (RCAF) Squadron
Gransden Lodge
Halifax
1409 (Meteorological)
Wyton
Mosquito
Flight
RAF Fighter Command
Intruder Operations
10 Group
307 (Polish) Squadron*
Fairwood Common
Mosquito
456 (RAAF) Squadron*
Middle Wallop
Mosquito
11 Group
157 Squadron*
Hunsdon
Mosquito
418 (RCAF) Squadron*
Ford
Mosquito
605 Squadron*
Castle Camps
Mosquito
12 Group
25 Squadron*
Church Fenton
Mosquito
141 Squadron*
Wittering
Beaufighter
410 (RCAF) Squadron*
Coleby Grange
Mosquito
* Not directly involved in bombing Hamburg, either because they were non-operational, or because they attacked other targets.
Appendix F
American Order of Battle, 24 July 1943
US Eighth Air Force