156 Squadron Mission Details
Target: Essen Mission Date: 12/12/1944 Mission Comments: 13 aircraft detailed for night operations against ESSEN. Reports indicate a good concentration which was backed up by Green/Red flares. Most crews saw bomb burst flashes, and some larger glows which may have been explosions, but no assessment of results was possible. All proceeded and returned.
Rego	Type	Captain	Departed	Over Target	Height	Returned	Flight Time	Comments	ORB Slide
PB593	Lancaster	F/Lt CLELAND	16:55	19.29		21:13			533
NE119	Lancaster	F/O EDGE	16:57	19.28	18000	21:15		Supporter	533
PB375	Lancaster	F/Lt CUTHILL	16:59	19.27	18000	21:06			533
PA966	Lancaster	S/L ROBERTSON	17:01	19.36	18000	21:38	04:37	Blind Sky Marker. Target attacked at 1936.48 hrs from 18,000 ft. Flares Red/Yellow and Green/Red on arrival in good group. First seen at 1925 hrs, 47 miles away. On leaving target these were getting thin and scattered. No TI's seen, no bombing seen. Retained own flares as H2S showed slight undershoot. Target appeared unmarked for short while. Osnabruck attack seen and appeared excellent. Explosion seen at 2000 hrs, seen from 60 miles, orange red in color, left glow in sky. Moderate heavy flak, predicted, becoming barrage as attack proceeded. One photo attempted. Bomb Load: 1 CP no 1 G/Red Cap 6. 1 x 4000 USA 60/40. 14 x 500 GP TD 025	DSCF0143
PB505	Lancaster III	F/Lt KITSON	16:58			21:24	04:26		DSCF0144
PB560	Lancaster	F/Lt TODD	17:01			21:26	04:25		DSCF0144
PB701	Lancaster III	F/Lt PELLY	17:02		18200	21:40	04:38		DSCF0144
PB468	Lancaster III	F/Lt HARRIS	17:03			20:45	03:42		DSCF0144
ND929	Lancaster	F/Lt FREEMAN	16:52	19.23	18000	21:25	04:33		DSCF0145
PB675	Lancaster III	F/O HOLLAWAY	16:53	19.40	18000	21:45	04:52		DSCF0145
NE120	Lancaster	F/O WALLACE	16:54	19.28	18000	21:29	04:35		DSCF0145
PB611	Lancaster	S/L NICHOLLS	16:56	19.28	18500	21:30	04:34		DSCF0145
PB403	Lancaster III	F/Lt WILSON	16:56	19.28	18300	21:32	04:36		DSCF0145