51 Halifaxes from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Laon. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 14,000 feet, releasing 274,000 lbs high explosives. According to reports, some bombing hit the target but bombing was stopped early as the attack was getting scattered.

W/O2 D. Robson from 419 squadron returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s. They landed at Ford on return.

S/Ldr W. McLeish, F/Sgt N. Powers, F/Lt R. Anderson, and W/O2 W. Gay from 428 squadron did not bomb as there were no T.I’s.

F/Lt R. Mead from 431 squadron returned early as the radios were u/s.
F/Sgt F. Skeaff returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s. They landed at Tangmere on return.
W/Cdr W. Newson, P/O J. King, P/O E. Johnson, and S/Ldr H. Dow returned early as there were no T.I’s.

F/Sgt N. Goulet from 434 squadron returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s. The stbd outer was u/s on return, they landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt J. Stinson returned early as they were hit by flak, not serious but they would have been late over the target.
Only P/O R. Pratt and F/Sgt A. Spence bombed, the other 12 crews returned, as there were no T.I’s.
 
 
 

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