The approach flight for the attack on aircraft armament plants in eastern Germany was via the North Sea and the Baltic. Several hundred American four-engined bombers flew in three large formations, without fighter escort, at altitudes between 4,500 and 6,000 m. The distance from Great Britain to Marienburg in East Prussia and back totalled about 2,500 km.

At 09.09 hours, two forces of enemy bombers comprising two hundred aircraft were observed about 100 to 150 km north-west of Texel island. These crossed the west coast of Jutland between the island of Sylt and Esbjerg and, flying over the islands of Fyn and Lolland, they reached the Neubrandenburg-Anklam area. At 11.50 hours they began their return flight, on a north-westerly heading, leaving the coast of Denmark near Esbjerg. The last position obtained on the bombers was at 13.46 hours, when they were 80 km north of the island of Vlieland.

At 14.00 hours a force of about 80 enemy fighters made a rendezvous with the returning bombers to the north of the island of Texel.

A third bomber force, with a total strength of about 300 aircraft, crossed over Jutland, Fyn, and Zealand flying on south-easterly heading. These aircraft bombed shipyards, harbour installations and aircraft factories at Danzig, Marienburg and Gotenhafen. They commenced their return flights at 13.18 hours. The bombers passed over Husum and Esbjerg and their last recorded position was at 15.50 hours when they were 70 km west of Esbjerg.

Other Events on 9 October 1943

At 05.36 hours a Mosquito reconnaissance plane flew over the western part of the Baltic, via Westerland. Presumably it was conducting a weather reconnaissance. Morning weather reconnaissance flights often provided headquarters I. Jagdkorps with an indication of the penetration route to be taken by an American raiding force coming in later.

From 07.00 hours to 12.00 hours a total of 22 aircraft, all flying singly, appeared off the Dutch coast. During the period between 16.25 hours and 16.48 a force of 30 to 40 American fighters flew across Texel island and up to Terschelling island.

At 14.50 hours an enemy force comprising about a hundred Marauders, Bostons and Spitfires attacked Woensdrecht airfield in Holland. The raiders flew at altitudes between 2,000 m and 4,000 m, and withdrew via the Scheldt estuary.

From 11.40 hours, 15 to 20 Mosquito reconnaissance aircraft crossed the coast between the estuaries of the Somme and the Scheldt, flying on south-easterly headings. These continued to the Frankfurt am Main-Mannheim-Stuttgart region, presumably conducting pre-strike reconnaissance for future raids. The aircraft withdrew to the north-west and the last position report, at 15.55 hours, indicated a flight above Le Treport.

Weather

Cloud-free skies, good visibility.

Effects of the Raids

Anklam: Buildings at the Arado aircraft factory set on fire and several fires started in the city. Casualties: 150 dead, 150 wounded.
Gotenhafen: Four ships and one floating dock damaged, some installations partially destroyed. Torpedo experimental station and arsenal damaged, heavy damage to buildings in the city. Casualties: 100 dead, 1,500 homeless.
Marienburg: Focke Wulf plant heavily damaged. Casualties: 70 dead, 100 wounded, 500 homeless
Danzig: Ught damage to buildings. Casualties: 4 dead, 2 missing.
Woensdrecht Airfield: Heavy damage to the taxiways. Airfield out of commission for one week.

Commitment of I. Jagdkorps

The long detour by the enemy force over the North Sea, Jutland and the Baltic made it difficult to commit day fighter units, since most of these were based in Holland and north-west Germany. Nevertheless, it was possible to bring large numbers of fighters into contact and so inflict heavy losses on the American force. The action developed as follows:

Jagddivision I units took off from Holland and headed over the North Sea. These fighters were unable to make contact with the bomber force, and they landed on airfields in the Hamburg-Schleswig Holstein area. After refuelling, Jagddivision I units successfully attacked the bombers during their withdrawal.

Day fighter units of Jagddivision 2 engaged the enemy bombers during their approach and return flights. Single-engined and twin-engined fighters entered the fray over the German Bight and Jutland.

A weak force of fighters from Jagddivision 3, which included factory defence units, attacked the bomber formations over the coast and at the western end of the Baltic. For the action over the Bay of Danzig, only night fighters from bases in Pomerania and East Prussia were available.

Aircraft from two Geschwader of Jagddivision 5 were flown to airfields in the German Bight, where they refuelled. These forces were successfully committed against American bombers during their withdrawal flight.

All the night fighters available for daylight operations (between 80 and 100) were sent into action, These successfully attacked enemy bombers on their approach and withdrawal flights, over the western Baltic, Jutland and over the North Sea.

Total Commitment from I. Jagdkorps:

566 sorties, which included those by night fighters and aircraft flying double sorties.

Enemy losses:
53 planes definitely shot down.
11 planes probably shot down, mostly over the sea.
Most of the enemy losses occurred during the withdrawal phase.

Additional aircraft shot down by Flak:
1 Mosquito cast of Gent.
1 Mosquito north of Gent.
1 Mosquito near Antwerp.
1 Marauder bomber crashed near Shooten.

Own losses:
10 aircraft (5 Bf 109, 3 Fw 190, 2 Ju 88).
14 aircraft damaged.
Casualties: 1 dead, 1 wounded, 10 missing.

The operations on 9 October 1943 represented a considerable victory for the units of I.Jagdkorps, achieved in return for minimal losses. These successes were due to the superior armament of the German planes when engaging four-engined bombers, and because the enemy chose to attack on a cloudless autumn day without fighter protection. Because of the deep penetration into German territory, the defenders had plenty of time to deliver attacks on the bomber formations.