Aerial reconnaissance photograph captioned: "C.3407. Attack at Wilhelmshaven on 11-12 February 43 by RAF Bomber Command. On the night of the 11th February one of our Halifax pilots reported a remarkable explosion while still over Wilhelmshaven: 'It lit up the sky with a brilliant red glow, and seemed to spread for miles under the cloud bank before it died away. I should think we must have touched off a store of mines, or an arsenal, or something pretty good.'

Photographs have been obtained by RAF reconnaissance aircraft over Wilhelmshaven which confirm the pilot's report in the most striking way. The Ammunition Depot at Mariensiel Depot contained naval ammunition, torpedoes and mines. It is the main ammunition depot at this great naval port and covered an area of approximately 150 arces.

Picture shows: After - the main depot at Mariensiel, after the RAF raid on 11-12 February 43. An area of approximately 150 acres has been devastated by the force of the explosion, and practically all the storage huts have been destroyed, their positions being marked by large craters. These craters have been caused by the detonation of explosive material within the huts. To the top left of the picture can been [sic] seen three oil storage tanks which have also sustrained damage."

Previously Accession 1956