Operation Leader was an air attack conducted against German shipping in the vicinity of Bodø, Norway, on 4 October 1943, during World War II. The raid was executed by aircraft flying from the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Ranger, which was attached to the British Home Fleet. The American airmen located many German and Norwegian ships in this area, destroyed five and are believed to have damaged another seven. Two German aircraft searching for the Allied fleet were shot down. Three American aircraft were destroyed in combat during the operation, and another crashed while landing.
A US Navy Dauntless dive bomber flying near the Norwegian coast during Operation Leader
USS Ranger and USS Tuscaloosa underway during the air strike
HMS Anson and HMS Belfast underway
The tanker Schleswig and the minesweeper M 365 under attack
Bodø is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Bodø. Some of the notable villages in Bodø include Misvær, Skjerstad, Saltstraumen, Løding, Løpsmarka, Kjerringøy, Sørvær, and Fenes.
Image: Bodø havn 3
Image: MF «Landegode» ved Bodø hamn
Image: Bodö 09
Image: The lighthouse on the promontory of Nyholmen by Bodø harbor