The heaviest raid took place on the night of 14/15 March 1941, affecting the city centre, Beeston,[1] Bramley[2] and Armley.

The county's largest city, much of the region's economic, administrative and industrial activities were centred on Leeds which was also an important rail hub.

Many industrial manufacturers around the city such as Avro at RAF Yeadon (now Leeds Bradford Airport) which produced Lancaster bombers,[4] Kirkstall Forge,[5] Barnbow munitions works[6] and ROF Thorp Arch near Wetherby[7] adapted their output for war work providing likely raid targets.

Leeds had taken precautions, including building many public air raid shelters and large water tanks to be used for fire-fighting in the event of incendiary devices being dropped.

Huddersfield was damaged by bombers seeking the David Brown factory at Crosland Moor (at the time making parts for the Supermarine Spitfire), while central Castleford was also damaged by bombers seeking the Hickson and Welch chemical works and Ferrybridge power station.

[19] German sources from the time claim raids on Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield, Tilbury Docks, Plymouth and Southampton.

[20] The bombing of the Leeds City Museum resulted in the losses of historic civic possessions[21] including the destruction of a mummy and a taxidermed tiger.