The Operations Record Books for the disastrous night of 16-17 December 1943 tell their own vivid story:
7 SQUADRON – LOST 4 A/C BEFORE RETURN TO ENGLAND
35 SQUADRON – ON STAND-DOWN
83 SQUADRON
97 SQUADRON
156 SQUADRON
405 SQUADRON
16/17 December 1943: The ORBs for the ‘Heavies’, PFF