 Their designated targets were the airfields at Maldegem and Ursel.The formation was led by four Junkers Ju 88 night fighters from "Nachtjagdgeschwader" 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing); they were the pathfinders for the single-engined fighters.The formation of 20 Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8s and 30 Bf 109 G-14s, flying at an altitude of , headed west.