156 Squadron Mission Details
Target: Bohlen Mission Date: 13/02/1945 Mission Comments: 16 aircraft detailed for night operations on two targets. 7 aircraft attacked the oil plant at BOHLEN, near LEIPZIG. 9 aircraft disturbed the peace of the Germans regrouping, resting and reorganising at DRESDEN after their exit to the Reich from Russian territory. This was the first visit of Bomber Command to DRESDEN. Extensive fires were burning from a previous wave. Several explosions were reported, and the town was burning from end to end.
Rego	Type	Captain	Departed	Over Target	Height	Returned	Flight Time	Comments	ORB Slide
SW259	Lancaster	S/L COCHRANE	18:40			02:04	07:24	Abortive, Target was covered by 8-10/10ths cloud and as we had instructions from Master Bomber to retain flares and our H2S being U/S we could not drop TI's.	DSCF0212
PA966	Lancaster	S/L ROBERTSON	18:44	21.54		02:06	07:22	Blind Illuminator. Task BOHLEN. Abortive. Master Bomber heard giving 'Basement Flight Plan'. ' Do not drop flares' at 2154.48 hrs, so aircraft retained all flares and TI's. No marking seen and no results observed.	DSCF0212
PB593	Lancaster	F/Lt CLELAND	18:47	21.57	18000	01:56	07:09		DSCF0212
ME377	Lancaster	S/L LETFORD	18:48			01:51	07:03		DSCF0212
PB468	Lancaster III	F/Lt HARRIS	18:44	21.59	18000	02:18	07:34		DSCF0213
ND929	Lancaster	F/O TAYLOR (SERVED AS BENSON)	18:45	21.55	18000	02:25	07:40		DSCF0213
PB701	Lancaster III	F/Lt PELLY	18:46	22.03	18000	02:04	07:18		DSCF0213