TARGET - BERLIN


The table that follow refers to every strategic air raid on Berlin city and nearby locations from 1 September 1939 to 8 May 1945.

NOTE: An aircraft is assumed to have been 'dispatched' if it started its take-off, even if it crashed on or near the runway.
Some Bomber Command records are not clear on the numbers dispatched on some nights, so the totals could be approximate.
Losses included those due to German Flak, fighter action and operational accidents.
Figures related to fighter escort on each mission are excluded.

(n)           numbers marked in bold means raid by US Army Air Forces.
(-)         means that the number of aircraft attacking Berlin is unknown.
(M)  means the air attack was made solely by RAF Mosquito bombers.


1939

- October 1939 -

Date

• 1/2*

* Leaflet drop

Aircraft dispatched

4

Reached Target

3

Aircraft lost

1


1940

- June 1940 -

Date

6/7*

* French Aéronautique Navale

Aircraft dispatched

1

Bombed

1

Aircraft lost

0

- August 1940 -

Date

25/26
28/29
30/31
31/1

Aircraft dispatched

86
47
41
28

Bombed

36
34
31
10

Aircraft lost

6
1
2
1

- September 1940 -

Date

3/4 
• 4/5
• 6/7
• 9/10
• 10/11
• 11/12
• 15/16
• 22/23
• 23/24
• 24/25
• 25/26
• 28/29
• 30/1

* crashed on take off

Aircraft dispatched

21
38
29
9
17
9
5
5
129
19
17
14
42

Bombed

17
37
-
5
4
8
2
4
112
11
15
7
17

Aircraft lost

1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
3
1*
0
0
3

- October 1940 -

Date

• 7/8 
• 12/13
• 14/15
• 19/20 
• 20/21 
• 23/24 
• 26/27 
• 29/30 

Aircraft dispatched

42
20
-78
3
30
11
20
30

Bombed

-
10
-
0
-
11
17
4

Aircraft lost

1
0
2
0
3
1
0
2

- November 1940 -

Date

• 1/2
• 6/7
• 14/15
• 19/20
• 23/24

Aircraft dispatched

-
18
50
-
-

Bombed

-
1
25
-
-

Aircraft lost

2
1
13
1
1

- December 1940 -

Date

• 15/16
• 20/21

Aircraft dispatched

-
-

Bombed

-
-

Aircraft lost

4
1


1941

- March 1941 -

Date

• 12/13
• 23/24

Aircraft dispatched

72
63

Bombed

48
49

Aircraft lost

3
0

- April 1941 -

Date

• 9/10
• 17/18
• 30/1

Aircraft dispatched

80
118
10

Bombed

40
-
3

Aircraft lost

5
8
0

- May 1941 -

Date

• 8/9
• 9/10
• 10/11
• 15/16

Aircraft dispatched 

5
5
23
14

Bombed

-
-
12
-

Aircraft lost

1
0
3
1

- June 1941 -

Date

• 2/3

Aircraft dispatched 

11

Bombed

-

Aircraft lost

1

- July 1941 -

Date

• 25/26

Aircraft dispatched 

9

Bombed

-

Aircraft lost

3

- August 1941 -

Date

• 2/3
• 7/8*
• 10/11*
• 12/13

* Soviet aircraft

Aircraft dispatched 

53
15
17
70

Bombed

-
10
7
32

Aircraft lost

4
0
8
9

- September 1941 -

Date

• 2/3
• 7/8
• 20/21

Aircraft dispatched 

49
197
74

Bombed

-
137
20

Aircraft lost

5
15
4

- November 1941 -

Date

• 7/8

Aircraft dispatched 

169

Bombed

73

Aircraft lost

21


1942

- August 1942 -

Date

• 27/28*
• 29/30*

* Soviet aircraft

Aircraft dispatched 

-
112

Bombed

-
-

Aircraft lost

-
-

- September 1942 -

Date

• 10/11*
• 19

* Soviet aircraft

Aircraft dispatched 

-
6 (M)

Bombed

-
1

Aircraft lost

-
1


1943

- January 1943 -

Date

• 16/17
• 17/18
• 30
• 30

Aircraft dispatched 

201
187
3 (M)
3 (M)

Bombed

169
-
3
3

Aircraft lost

1
22
0
1

- March 1943 -

Date

• 1/2
• 27/28
• 29/30

Aircraft dispatched 

302
396
329

Bombed

251
-
234

Aircraft lost

17
9
21

- April 1943 -

Date

• 20/21*

* to disrupt Hitler's birthday

Aircraft dispatched 

11 (M)

Bombed

9

Aircraft lost

1

- May 1943 -

Date

• 13/14
• 15/16
• 16/17
• 19/20
• 21/22

Aircraft dispatched 

12 (M)
3 (M)
9 (M)
6 (M)
4 (M)


Bombed

9
2
8
2
2

Aircraft lost

1
0
0
0
0

- June 1943 -

Date

• 13/14
• 15/16
• 16/17
• 17/18
• 20/21
• 22/23

Aircraft dispatched 

6 (M)
6 (M)
3 (M)
4 (M)
4 (M)
4 (M)

Bombed

5
5
3
2
4
4

Aircraft lost

0
0
0
0
0
0

- July 1943 -

Date

• 14/15

Aircraft dispatched 

8 (M)

Bombed

7

Aircraft lost

1

- August 1943 -

Date

• 12/13
• 15/16
• 17/18*
• 19/20
• 22/23
• 24/25
• 25/26
• 31/1

* diversionary raid

Aircraft dispatched 

7 (M)
8 (M)
8 (M)
8 (M)
719
8 (M)
6 (M)
622

Bombed

6
5
6
7
626
7
5
377

Aircraft lost

1
0
1
1
62
0
0
47

- September 1943 -

Date

• 3/4
• 14/15
• 15/16
• 16/17
• 17/18
• 20/21

Aircraft dispatched 

320
8 (M)
7 (M)
5 (M)
6 (M)
8 (M)

Bombed

290
3
7
4
6
8

Aircraft lost

22
1
0
0
0
0

- October 1943 -

Date

• 8/9*
• 9/10
• 17/18
• 18/19*
• 20/21*

* diversionary raid

Aircraft dispatched 

7 (M)
6 (M)
8 (M)
8 (M)
28 (M)

Bombed

6
6
6
7
28

Aircraft lost

0
0
0
0
2

- November 1943 -

Date

• 11/12
• 13/14
• 17/18
• 18/19
• 22/23
• 23/24
• 24/25
• 25/26
• 26/27

* 14 lost because of bad weather

Aircraft dispatched 

29 (M)
9 (M)
21 (M)
444
764
383
6 (M)
3 (M)
450

Bombed

29
9
18
411
696
337
5
3
410


Aircraft lost

0
0
0
9
32
26
1
0
28 + 14*


- December 1943 -

Date

• 2/3
• 3/4*
• 16/17
• 23/24
• 29/30

* diversionary raid
** 34 lost because of bad weather

Aircraft dispatched 

458
9 (M)
498
390
712

Bombed

415
9
454
358
660

Aircraft lost

40
0
25 + 34**
15
20


1944

- January 1944 -

Date

• 1/2
• 2/3
• 5/6
• 10/11
• 14/15*
• 20/21
• 21/22*
• 27/28
• 28/29
28/29
• 30/31

* diversionary raid
** 6 lost because of bad weather

Aircraft dispatched 

421
383
13 (M)
10 (M)
6 (M)
769
34
530
6 (M)
677
534

Bombed

376
323
13
10
6
694
-
489
5
608
477

Aircraft lost

28
26
0
0
0
35
1
33
0
46 + 6**
33

- February  1944 -

Date

• 1/2
• 5/6
• 10/11
• 15/16
• 19/20*

* diversionary raid

Aircraft dispatched 

12 (M)
18 (M)
21 (M)
891
15 (M)

Bombed

-
-
-
796
-

Aircraft lost

1
0
0
43
1

- March 1944 -

Date

3*
4*
• 3/4
• 4/5
6    
8
9
• 19/20
22**
• 22/23
• 24/25
• 25/26

* recalled due to bad weather
** target: ORANIENBURG but bombed Berlin

Aircraft dispatched 

748
502

16 (M)
15 (M)
730
623
361

9 (M)
688
- (M)
811
10 (M)

Bombed

0
30

16
-
672
539
339

9
656
-
758
10

Aircraft lost

11
15

0
0
69
37
6

0
12
0
72
0

- April 1944 -

Date

• 13/14
18*
• 18/19
• 20/21
29

* target: ORANIENBURG

Aircraft dispatched 

29 (M)
776
24 (M)
8 (M)
679

Bombed

-
773
-
-
590

Aircraft lost

0
19
0
0
63

- May 1944 -

Date

4*
7
8
• 9/10
19
• 23/24
24
• 24/25
• 27/28

* recalled due to bad weather

Aircraft dispatched 

591
600

500
30 (M)
588
16 (M)
616
15 (M)
23 (M)

Bombed

0
553
403

-
495
-
464
-
-

Aircraft lost

0
8
25

0
16
0
33
0
0

- June 1944 -

Date

• 9/10
• 10/11
• 11/12
• 17/18
21
• 21/22
• 24/25

Aircraft dispatched 

36 (M)
32 (M)
33 (M)
30 (M)
1,071
32 (M)
27 (M)

Bombed

-
-
-
-
868
-
-

Aircraft lost

0
2
2
0
44
0
1

- July 1944 -

Date

• 7/8
• 10/11
• 15/16
• 17/18
• 18/19
• 21/22
• 24/25
• 25/26

Aircraft dispatched 

32 (M)
35 (M)
36 (M)
31 (M)
22 (M)
33 (M)
27 (M)
21 (M)

Bombed

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Aircraft lost

2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0

- August 1944 -

Date

6*
• 10/11
• 11/12
• 14/15
• 15/16
• 16/17
• 18/19
• 25/26
27**

* target: BRANDENBURG, STENDAL
** recalled due to bad weather

Aircraft dispatched 

568
32 (M)
33 (M)
32 (M)
32 (M)
23 (M)
21 (M)
36 (M)
426

Bombed

409
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0

Aircraft lost

2
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3

- September 1944 -

Date

• 10/11
• 11/12
• 12/13
• 13/14
• 15/16
• 18/19

Aircraft dispatched 

47 (M)
47 (M)
29 (M)
36 (M)
27 (M)
33 (M)

Bombed

-
-
26
34
-
-

Aircraft lost

0
1
0
2
1
0

- October 1944 -

Date

• 5/6
6*
• 6/7
• 11/12
• 14/15
• 23/24
• 27/28
• 30/31

* target: SPANDAU, TEGEL

Aircraft dispatched 

20 (M)
418
22 (M)
46 (M)
16 (M)
38 (M)
60 (M)
62 (M)

Bombed

-
382
20
-
-
-
-
-

Aircraft lost

0
17
1
1
1
0
0
1

- November 1944 -

Date

• 1/2
• 3/4
• 15/16
• 24/25
• 27/28

Aircraft dispatched 

49 (M)
55 (M)
36 (M)
58 (M)
67 (M)

Bombed

-
-
-
-
-

Aircraft lost

0
0
1
0
0

- December 1944 -

Date

5
• 6/7
• 9/10
• 31/1

Aircraft dispatched 

451
42 (M)
60 (M)
77 (M)

Bombed

404
-
-
-

Aircraft lost

12
1
0
0


1945

- January 1945 -

Date

• 2/3
• 4/5
• 5/6
• 14/15
• 27/28
• 29/30

* crashed because of bad weather

Aircraft dispatched 

53 (M)
66 (M)
69 (M)
83 (M)
12 (M)
59 (M)

Bombed

-
-
59
-
-
-

Aircraft lost

1
0
2
3+8*
0
0

- February 1945 -

Date

• 1/2
3
• 5/6
• 8/9
• 14/15
• 18/19
• 21/22
• 22/23
• 23/24
• 24/25
• 25/26
26
• 26/27
• 27/28
• 28/1

* crashed on return

Aircraft dispatched 

122 (M)
1,003
63 (M)
47 (M)
46 (M)
6 (M)
77 (M)
73 (M)
70 (M)
63 (M)
10 (M)
1,207
38 (M)
96 (M)
74 (M)

Bombed

-
937
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,066
-
-
-

Aircraft lost

3*
23
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
1

- March 1945 -

Date

• 1/2
• 2/3
• 3/4
• 5/6
• 6/7
• 7/8
• 8/9
• 9/10
• 10/11
• 11/12
• 12/13
• 13/14
• 14/15
15**
15***
• 15/16
• 16/17
• 17/18
18
• 18/19
• 19/20
• 20/21
• 21/22
• 22/23
• 23/24
24
• 24/25
• 25/26
• 26/27
• 27/28
28†
• 29/30
• 30/31

* written off: Flak damage
**   target: ORANIENBURG
*** target: ZOSSEN
target: SPANDAU

Aircraft dispatched 

55 (M)
3 (M)
64 (M)
75 (M)
42 (M)
80 (M)
39 (M)
92 (M)
60 (M)
90 (M)
81 (M)
50 (M)
75 (M)
675
672

54 (M)
56 (M)
38 (M)
1,329
30 (M)
34 (M)
38 (M)
142 (M)
56 (M)
65 (M)
169
67 (M)
8 (M)
88 (M)
82 (M)
446
48 (M)
43 (M)

Bombed

-
-
58
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
612
584
-
-
-
1,263
-
-
-
-
-
-
148
-
-
-
-
383
-
-

Aircraft lost

0
1*
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
8
1
0
0
0
13

0
0
0
1
0
2
9
0
0
0
3
2
0
1


- April 1945 -

Date

• 2/3
• 3/4
• 4/5
• 8/9
• 9/10
10*
• 10/11
• 11/12
• 12/13
• 14/15**
• 14/15***
• 15/16
• 15/16*
• 16/17
• 17/18
• 18/19
• 19/20
20*
20
• 20/21
• 25/26¥

*     target: ORANIENBURG
**   target: POTSDAM
*** diversionary raid
target: BRANDENBURG, SEDDIN
¥ Soviet aircraft

Aircraft dispatched 

54 (M)
95 (M)
35 (M)
28 (M)
44 (M)
442
77 (M)
107 (M)
97 (M)
512
62 (M)
106 (M)
8 (M)
64 (M)
61 (M)
57 (M)
79 (M)
-
289
76 (M)
111

Bombed

-
-
-
-
-
417
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
82
285
-
-

Aircraft lost

1
0
0
0
0
9
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
-


•    •    •

Sources and Bibliography:


• Boiten, Theo. (2018-2021). Nachtjagd Combat Archive. A comprehensive operational history of the German night fighter force on all fronts and an analysis of all claims including Flak units against RAF Bomber Command. Wingleader. 
• Bowman, Martin. (2011). Bomber Command. Cover of Darkness 1939 - May 1942. Volume: 1. Pen & Sword Aviation.
• Center for Air Force History. (1991). U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II Combat Chronology 1941-1945. <https://media.defense.gov/2010/May/25/2001330283/-1/-1/0/AFD-100525-035.pdf>
• Chorley, WR. (2013). RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. Volume 1: 1939-40. Classic Publications. 2nd edition.
• Chorley, WR. (1993). RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. Volume 2: 1941. Midland Publishing.
• Chorley, WR. (1994). RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. Volume 3: 1942. Midland Publishing.
• Chorley, WR. (1996). RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. Volume 4: 1943. Midland Publishing.
• Chorley, WR. (1997). RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. Volume 5: 1944. Midland Publishing.
• Chorley, WR. (1998). RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. Volume 6: 1945. Midland Publishing.
• Demps, Laurenz. (2014). Luftangriffe auf Berlin. Die Berichte der Hauptluftschutzstelle. Ch. Links Verlag. 
• Donnelly, Larry. (2004). The Other Few: The Contribution Made by Bomber and Coastal Aircrew to the Winning of the Battle of Britain. Red Kite / Air Research.
• Eighth Air Force Historical Society. Eighth Air Force Operations History. <http://8thafhs.com/missions.php>
• Hastings, Max. (2010). Bomber Command. Pan Macmillan. 
• Freeman, Roger. (1990). The Mighty Eighth War Diary. Arms and Armour. 2nd edition.
• Higham, R & Kipp, J. (2019). Soviet Aviation And Air Power: A Historical View. Routledge.
• Kozhevnikov (1977). The Command and Staff of the Soviet Army Air Force in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE. US Government Printing Office. 
• McKillop, Jack. Combat Chronology of the USAAF. United States Air Force. <http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii/usaf/html/>
• Middlebrook, Martin. (1988). The Berlin raids RAF Bomber Command Winter 1943-44. Cassel & Co. Reprint Edition 2000.
• Middlebrook, Martin and Everett, Chris. (1985). The Bomber Command War Diaries: An Operational Reference Book. Pen & Sword Aviation. Reprint Edition 2014. 
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA). Operations Record Books: AIR 27.
• Zapf, Andreas. (2018). Mosquitos über Berlin: Nachtjagd mit Messerschmitt Bf 109 und Me 262. VDM Heinz Nickel. 


Using Format