The operation was first launched during the attack on the German industrial center of Kassel on the night of 22 October to 23 October 1943 in which 90% of the city was burned, leaving 10,000 dead and 150,000 homeless. When confronted with Corona personnel countermanding genuine German orders the Luftwaffe responded by replacing male fighter controllers with female ones. The British counter-moved by then using Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel.