24 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 116 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack of the rail yards at Le Mans. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 14,000 feet, releasing 1,019,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the rail yards were severely damaged but some bombs fell among residential areas with French casualties.

W/Cdr D. Jacobs, F/O A. Colville, and F/Lt F. Hales from 408 Squadron did not bomb as they did not see any T.I’s.
W/O2 W. Kasper landed at Tholthorpe on return.

F/O W. Barclay from 419 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O A. Byford and S/Ldr E. Hamber did not bomb as they did not see any T.I’s.

F/Lt N. Loudoun from 424 Squadron did not bomb as they did not see any T.I’s.

F/Sgt J. A. Cote from 425 Squadron did not bomb as they did not see any T.I’s.
F/Sgt L. Brochu returned early as they were burning too much fuel.

6 crews from 426 squadron bombed the target, all others were sent home by the master bomber.
F/Lt F. Shedd, F/Sgt N. Craig and S/Ldr A. Avant landed at East Moor on return.

F/Sgt A. King from 427 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
Sgt A. Yaworski did not bomb as the bomb sight was u/s.
P/O H. Holland and F/O G. Weldon did not bomb as there were no T.I’s.

F/Lt C. Ford, F/Lt F. Lord, and W/O2 W. Gay from 428 Squadron returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s.
W/O2 D. Melcombe did not bomb as there were no T.I’s. On the return flight the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at Ibsley on 3 engines.

F/Lt R. Hunt from 429 squadron returned early as they could not raise the under carriage.
P/O E. Giles did not bomb as there were no T.I’s.
F/Sgt N. Ross was fired at by another Halifax, the damage was minor.

F/Lt J. Valentine from 431 Squadron did not bomb as there were no T.I’s.

F/Sgt C. Narum from 432 Squadron returned early as the hydraulics were u/s.
F/Sgt E. A. Clarke returned early as the bomb load fell out 6 miles east of York.
 F/O A. Mercer, F/Sgt D. Maddock, F/O W. Smith, F/Sgt E. Clarke, P/O S. Hawkins and F/O J. Barker did not bomb as there were no T.I’s.

P/O J. Major from 433 squadron returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s. They landed at Ford due to a fuel shortage.
7 crews returned without bombing as there were no T.I’s.

P/O J. Snelgrove from 434 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt A. Hegseth returned early as they were late getting away.
F/Sgt J. Stinson was hit by flak, not serious.
 
 

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