Nite13 - "Dortmund, Part 1"

WEATHER: Niteowl or Nitefire
INSERTS: None
MIN.TIME: None
RADAR: AI Mk.X radar (map usable)

The final Battle of the Ruhr signal-
led the ability of Bomber Command to
bomb anywhere it chose while incurring
negligible casualties and inflicting
massive destruction.  The "battle"
began at the first of October and las-
ted until the end of December, 1944.
14,254 bombing sorties were flown,
60,830 tons of bombs were dropped, and
only 136 bombers were lost (<1%).
Duisburg, Essen, Cologne, Dusseldorf,
Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Hagen, Oberhausen,
Munster, Hamm, and Leverkusen were de-
vastated in these attacks.  During this
period the Luftwaffe was increasingly
kept at bay by generous use of Mosquito
night fighters, improved jamming and
other counter-measures, and the impact
of sheer numbers.
Dortmund was also a target during this
offensive, suffering almost total de-
struction. The Nachtjagdkorps did its
best to put a few fighters up, but
accomplished little as German defense
forces were overwhelmed.
ORDERS: Escort the formation of
Lancasters to Dortmund, engaging any
German aircraft which may try to inter-
vene.

