North Sea
1 Blenheim reconnaissance plane, 18 Hampdens and 9 Wellingtons searched for German warships. The Blenheim photographed many ships north of Wilhelmshaven but the 2 bomber forces made no contact. There were no losses. The Blenheim was the first aircraft of the war to cross the German coast. It was Blenheim N6215, crewed by Flying Officer A. McPherson, Commander Thompson, R.N., and Corporal V. Arrowsmith.

Leaflet Raids
10 Whitleys - 3 from 51 Squadron and 7 from 58 Squadron - carried 54 million leaflets to Hamburg, Bremen and 9 cities in the Ruhr. There were no losses but 3 aircraft were forced to land at airfields in France.
1 The first Bomber Command sortie of the war. Corporal Vincent Arrowsmith was dead before the end of the month, lost on a reconnaissance flight on 24 September.

WILHELMSHAVEN AND BRUNSBTTEL
After an early Blenheim reconnaissance, 15 Blenheims and 14 Wellingtons were dispatched to bomb German warships. 5 planes from each force failed to find targets in low-cloud conditions. Most of the remaining Blenheims carried out low-level attacks on the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer and on the cruiser Emden in Wilhelmshaven harbour. At least 3 bombs hit the Admiral Scheer but they failed to explode; the Emden was damaged and suffered some casualties when a Blenheim crashed on to it. 5 Blenheims were shot down, all or most by anti-aircraft (Flak) fire; 107 Squadron lost 4 of its 5 planes on the raid. The first Bomber Command casualties of the war are believed to have been Flight Lieutenant W. F. Barton and his crew - Flying Officer J. F. Ross, navigator, and Corporal J. L. Ricketts, wireless operator/gunner - of 107 Squadron, all killed when Blenheim N6184 was shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire of the Admiral Hipper.
Little is known of the Wellington attacks on ships at Brunsbttel in the mouth of the Kiel Canal. 4 crews reported that they had found targets to bomb. Owing to navigation error, 2 bombs were dropped on the Danish town of Esbjerg, 110 miles north of Brunsbttel, and 2 people were killed there. Some of the Wellingtons were attacked by German fighters and 2 Wellingtons were lost.
Total effort for the day: 30 sorties, 7 aircraft (23.3 percent) lost.
LEAFLET RAIDS, 4/5 September to

---

. The 'Missing' were all dead.
Leading Aircraftman Harry Dore of 9 Squadron, who was killed when his Wellington was shot down while attempting to attack ships at Brunsbttel. He is wearing the pre-war 'winged bullet' air gunner's badge. All aircrew were soon promoted to at least the rank of sergeant.
The first British aircraft of the war to fly over Berlin - from 10 Squadron - did so on 1/2 October; this was a round trip of at least 1,000 miles. Airfields in France, particularly Villeneuve near Paris, were often used as advanced refuelling bases for distant targets or as relief landing grounds on return from long flights.
From all these operations, 4 Whitleys were lost over Germany or crashed into the sea. The first loss was the aircraft of Squadron Leader C. Murray, of 102 Squadron, which crashed in Germany on 8/9 September; the crew were all taken prisoner. On the same night, another Whitley force-landed in Belgium and its crew were interned. A Belgian aircraft was also shot down, with 2 of its crew believed wounded, but it is not known whether the Whitley fired on it or whether it was hit by its own anti-aircraft fire. German fighters - believed to be Me 109s attempting to act as night fighters - were encountered as early as the fifth night of the war but it is not thought that any of the Whitley losses in the period were caused by fighter attack.
RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS, 20 September to

Leaflet Raids
10 Whitleys - 3 from 51 Squadron and 7 from 58 Squadron - carried 54 million leaflets to Hamburg, Bremen and 9 cities in the Ruhr. There were no losses but 3 aircraft were forced to land at airfields in France.
1 The first Bomber Command sortie of the war. Corporal Vincent Arrowsmith was dead before the end of the month, lost on a reconnaissance flight on 24 September.

Suffered 100 percent losses on

Introduced the Ventura to operational service and flew more Ventura sorties than any other squadron.
23 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Returned from duty as a fighter squadron in Italy and posted to 100 Group as a Serrate and Intruder squadron and flew in those roles from July 1944 until the end of the war. Equipped with Mosquitoes and based at Little Snoring.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Carried out 70 Serrate and 125 Intruder operations (although it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the two types of operation); also carried out 8 daylight bomber-escort operations. Flew 1,067 sorties and lost 8 aircraft (0.7 percent). Claimed 3 enemy aircraft destroyed and 1 damaged in the air and 15 aircraft destroyed on the ground; also carried out numerous bomb and cannon-fire attacks on airfields and railways.
35 (MADRAS PRESIDENCY) SQUADRON
SERVICE
A bomber training unit on the outbreak of war, later absorbed into an O.T.U. Reformed as a bomber squadron in 4 Group on

when a formation of 5 Hampdens, including the aircraft of the squadron commander - Wing Commander J. C. Cunningham, was shot down.
Carried out most bombing raids in Hampden squadrons and suffered the most losses.
149 (EAST INDIA) SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 3 Group from the outbreak until the end of the war. Flew Wellingtons, Stirlings and Lancasters from Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Methwold.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Wellingtons -213 bombing, 3 weather recce, 2 leaflet
Stirling - 244 bombing, 160 minelaying, 6 leaflet
Lancasters - no bombing
Total - 567 bombing, 160 minelaying, 8 leaflet, 3 recce = 738 raids
Sorties and Losses
Wellingtons - 1,647 sorties, 40 aircraft lost (2.4 percent)
Stirlings - 2,628 sorties, 87 aircraft lost (3.3 percent)
Lancasters - 1,630 sorties, 4 aircraft lost (0.2 percent)
Total - 5,905 sorties, 131 aircraft lost (2-2 percent)
40 Stirlings and 1 Lancaster were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
An original squadron on the outbreak of war; flew operations over the North Sea on the first day.
Continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war, one of only two squadrons to claim this honour (see 44 Squadron).
Victoria Cross: Flight Sergeant R. H. Middleton, posthumously, Turin,

NORTH SEA-HELIGOLAND
After a 25-day interval since the last bombing raid on German warships, 11 Hampdens in 2 formations were dispatched to search the Heligoland area. 6 aircraft bombed 2 destroyers but without scoring any hits. The second formation, of 5 aircraft of 144 Squadron, did not return; a German radio broadcast stated that it had met 'a hornet's nest' of fighters and all the Hampdens had been shot down. Post-war records show that 18 of the 24 aircrew were killed, including the commander of 144 Squadron, Wing Commander J. C. Cunningham.
NORTH SEA SWEEPS, 8 October to December 1939
Flights by formations of bombers searching for German ships to attack were made on 9 days between 8 October and 2 December. The bombers did not approach the German mainland and the normal 'beat' was the 125-mile stretch of sea between Borkum and Sylt which marked the outer limits of Germany's small North Sea coast.
A total of 61 sorties were flown - 55 by Wellingtons and 6 by Hampdens. No German ships were seen; no bombs were dropped; no aircraft casualties were suffered.

.
Pioneered what were later known as Pathfinders techniques in 1941.
Carried out most bombing raids in 4 Group and flew only four sorties less than the highest number in 4 Group (by 78 Squadron).
12 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Returned from the Advanced Air Striking Force in France (where the squadron had won two V.C.s, Flying Officer D. E. Garland and Sergeant T. Gray) in June 1940 and posted to 1 Group; remained with 1 Group to the end of the war. Equipped with Battles, Wellingtons and Lancasters. Based at Binbrook (three times), Thorney Island and Eastchurch (both for raids by Battles to the Channel ports) and Wickenby.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Battles - 8 bombing
Wellingtons - 137 bombing, 24 minelaying, 6 leaflet
Lancasters - 282 bombing, 27 minelaying
Total - 427 bombing, 51 minelaying, 6 leaflet = 484 raids
Sorties and Losses
Battles - 36 sorties, 1 aircraft lost (2.8 percent)
Wellingtons - 1,242 sorties, 59 aircraft lost (4.8 percent)
Lancasters - 3,882 sorties, 111 aircraft lost (29 percent)
Total - 5,160 sorties, 171 aircraft lost (3.3 percent)
18 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous wartime service as a bomber squadron with the Advanced Air Striking Force and Bomber Command.
Suffered second highest percentage losses in Bomber Command.
Suffered highest percentage losses in 1 Group.
Suffered highest losses in 1 Group Wellington squadrons.
15 SQUADRON
SERVICE
After flying Battles in the reconnaissance role with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France, returned to England in December 1939 and was re-equipped with Blenheims. Flew with 2 Group in the Battle of France and the invasion-threat period and suffered heavy losses. Transferred to 3 Group in November 1940 and flew Wellingtons, Stirlings and Lancasters until the end of the war. While with Bomber Command, based at Wyton (twice), Alconbury, Bourn and Mildenhall.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
2
Group Blenheims - 97 bombing and reconnaissance
3
Group Wellingtons - 38 bombing
3
Group Stirlings - 263 bombing, 85 minelaying, 5 leaflet
3
Group Lancasters - 208 bombing, 18 minelaying
Total - 606 bombing, 103 minelaying, 5 leaflet = 714 raids
Sorties and Losses
2
Group Blenheims - 543 sorties, 27 aircraft lost (5.0 percent)
3
Group Wellingtons - 173 sorties, 3 aircraft lost (1.7 percent)
3
Group Stirlings - 2,231 sorties, 91 aircraft lost (4.1 percent)
3
Group Lancasters - 2,840 sorties, 45 aircraft lost (1.6 percent)
Total - 5,787 sorties, 166 aircraft lost (2.9 percent)
5 Blenheims, 38 Stirlings and 11 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous wartime service with the Advanced Air Striking Force and Bomber Command, flying five different types of aircraft on operations.
Carried out more bombing raids than any other Stirling squadron.
Suffered (with 218 Squadron) the heaviest losses in Stirling squadrons.
18 (BURMA) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Returned from the Advanced Air Striking Force in France in May 1940. Served with 2 Group until August 1941 but then posted to the Middle East where the squadron was absorbed into other units and lost its identity. Reformed in 2 Group in August 1942 but only operated in that month before being sent to the Middle East again. Equipped with Blenheims during both spells with 2 Group. Based at Gatwick, West Raynham (twice), Great Massingham, Oulton (twice), Horsham St Faith (twice), Manston and Wattisham.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Blenheims - 170 bombing, 4 reconnaissance, 1 leaflet, 1 fighter escort. (Some of the 'bombing' raids were night Intruder raids to airfields in Holland.)
Sorties and Losses
Blenheims - 1,242 sorties, 40 aircraft lost (3.2 percent), 7 destroyed in crashes.
21 SQUADRON
SERVICE
With 2 Group from the outbreak of the war until December 1941 but detached to Coastal Command three times during this period. Sent to Malta in December 1941, disbanded there on

.
Pioneered what were later known as Pathfinders techniques in 1941.
Carried out most bombing raids in 4 Group and flew only four sorties less than the highest number in 4 Group (by 78 Squadron).
12 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Returned from the Advanced Air Striking Force in France (where the squadron had won two V.C.s, Flying Officer D. E. Garland and Sergeant T. Gray) in June 1940 and posted to 1 Group; remained with 1 Group to the end of the war. Equipped with Battles, Wellingtons and Lancasters. Based at Binbrook (three times), Thorney Island and Eastchurch (both for raids by Battles to the Channel ports) and Wickenby.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Battles - 8 bombing
Wellingtons - 137 bombing, 24 minelaying, 6 leaflet
Lancasters - 282 bombing, 27 minelaying
Total - 427 bombing, 51 minelaying, 6 leaflet = 484 raids
Sorties and Losses
Battles - 36 sorties, 1 aircraft lost (2.8 percent)
Wellingtons - 1,242 sorties, 59 aircraft lost (4.8 percent)
Lancasters - 3,882 sorties, 111 aircraft lost (29 percent)
Total - 5,160 sorties, 171 aircraft lost (3.3 percent)
18 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous wartime service as a bomber squadron with the Advanced Air Striking Force and Bomber Command.
Suffered second highest percentage losses in Bomber Command.
Suffered highest percentage losses in 1 Group.
Suffered highest losses in 1 Group Wellington squadrons.
15 SQUADRON
SERVICE
After flying Battles in the reconnaissance role with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France, returned to England in December 1939 and was re-equipped with Blenheims. Flew with 2 Group in the Battle of France and the invasion-threat period and suffered heavy losses. Transferred to 3 Group in November 1940 and flew Wellingtons, Stirlings and Lancasters until the end of the war. While with Bomber Command, based at Wyton (twice), Alconbury, Bourn and Mildenhall.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
2
Group Blenheims - 97 bombing and reconnaissance
3
Group Wellingtons - 38 bombing
3
Group Stirlings - 263 bombing, 85 minelaying, 5 leaflet
3
Group Lancasters - 208 bombing, 18 minelaying
Total - 606 bombing, 103 minelaying, 5 leaflet = 714 raids
Sorties and Losses
2
Group Blenheims - 543 sorties, 27 aircraft lost (5.0 percent)
3
Group Wellingtons - 173 sorties, 3 aircraft lost (1.7 percent)
3
Group Stirlings - 2,231 sorties, 91 aircraft lost (4.1 percent)
3
Group Lancasters - 2,840 sorties, 45 aircraft lost (1.6 percent)
Total - 5,787 sorties, 166 aircraft lost (2.9 percent)
5 Blenheims, 38 Stirlings and 11 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous wartime service with the Advanced Air Striking Force and Bomber Command, flying five different types of aircraft on operations.
Carried out more bombing raids than any other Stirling squadron.
Suffered (with 218 Squadron) the heaviest losses in Stirling squadrons.
18 (BURMA) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Returned from the Advanced Air Striking Force in France in May 1940. Served with 2 Group until August 1941 but then posted to the Middle East where the squadron was absorbed into other units and lost its identity. Reformed in 2 Group in August 1942 but only operated in that month before being sent to the Middle East again. Equipped with Blenheims during both spells with 2 Group. Based at Gatwick, West Raynham (twice), Great Massingham, Oulton (twice), Horsham St Faith (twice), Manston and Wattisham.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Blenheims - 170 bombing, 4 reconnaissance, 1 leaflet, 1 fighter escort. (Some of the 'bombing' raids were night Intruder raids to airfields in Holland.)
Sorties and Losses
Blenheims - 1,242 sorties, 40 aircraft lost (3.2 percent), 7 destroyed in crashes.
21 SQUADRON
SERVICE
With 2 Group from the outbreak of the war until December 1941 but detached to Coastal Command three times during this period. Sent to Malta in December 1941, disbanded there on

After the costly raid on German warships on the second day of the war, there was no day activity of any kind for Bomber Command squadrons until 20 September, when a series of photographic reconnaissance flights over Germany commenced. The purpose of these was to discover whether the Germans were carrying out a military build-up in Western Germany after the end of the Polish campaign and whether a German attack on France was likely to occur. Road and rail communications were thus frequently photographed. A watch was also kept on German airfields and naval bases. 2 sorties were also made to the Ruhr to photograph power stations there which were being considered as future bombing targets. These daylight reconnaissance flights were all carried out by Blenheims of 2 Group. The first phase can usefully be consolidated into this composite entry.
The Blenheims flew 37 of these sorties on 11 days during this period, the most sorties in any one day being 6 on 30 October. These dangerous and lonely flights were carried out with much determination, but at heavy cost; the Blenheim was no match for the German fighters which were often encountered. 5 Blenheims were shot down, including the plane of the commander of 110 Squadron on 28 September. This was Wing Commander I. M. Cameron, an Australian, who crashed near Kiel on the day when Hitler was there to present the first Knight's Cross to a U-boat commander. 3 other Blenheims were lost over the North Sea, including 2 planes of 114 Squadron which collided on 11 November. The 7 planes lost in this period represented 194 percent of the sorties flown. The reconnaissance flights over Germany were stopped on 25 November.

NORTH SEA-HELIGOLAND
24 Wellingtons attacked German warships, claiming 1 hit on a cruiser. Me 109s and HQS, believed to have been alerted by a patrol ship, appeared and attacked the Wellington formations. In the ensuing combats, no bombers were lost but one Me 109 was hit and possibly shot down.
1 Wellington, from 115 Squadron, suffered a bomb 'hang-up' on its bombing run and this bomb later dropped accidentally on the island of Heligoland. This was the first bomb to drop on German soil during the war.
3 further Wellingtons sent out later to attack these German ships failed to make contact. There were no R.A.F. losses during this day's operations.

North Sea Shipping Search
3 Hampdens failed to locate any targets.

North Sea Shipping Search
3 Wellingtons failed to locate any targets.

North Sea Shipping Search
3 Whitleys failed to locate any targets. This was the first Whitley daylight operation of the war.

North Sea Shipping Search
3 Whitleys failed to locate any targets.
SEAPLANE-BASE PATROLS,

NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCHES
23 Hampdens, 12 Wellingtons and 7 Whitleys on shipping searches; 2 Blenheims made reconnaissance flights to Sylt. This was the biggest operation of the war so far.
The Wellingtons found a convoy in the Schillig Roads, north of Wilhelmshaven, but because of low cloud and bad visibility could not get into a favourable bombing position. The Wellingtons remained in the area for half an hour, flying at low level and being engaged by Flak and by fighters. 5 of the Wellingtons were shot down. The R.A.F. was reluctant to concede that German fighters had achieved the success of shooting down nearly half of a bomber formation and it was officially hoped that the losses were due to Flak but a German radio broadcast attributed the Wellington losses to fighter attack; 1 German fighter was admitted to have been lost. No German ships were hit.
The other forces operating on this day saw no action.

North Sea Shipping Search
5 Blenheims failed to locate any targets.

North Sea Shipping Search
6 Blenheims failed to locate any targets.

SHIPPING SEARCH OFF WILHELMSHAVEN
24 Wellingtons were dispatched and ordered not to attack at less than 10,000 ft so that they could avoid the worst effects of Flak. 22 aircraft reached the target area. German ships were seen off Wilhelmshaven and bombed from 13,000 ft. Weather conditions were cloudless and visibility was perfect. For the first time in the war, German fighters were directed on to this bomber force by a ground controller who was being given information from an experimental Freya radar station located on the nearby island of Wangerooge. The radar station had detected the Wellingtons when they were 70 miles out on their approach flight. Flak caused the bomber formations to Open out somewhat and, when German fighters of IV/JG 2 appeared, 12 of the 22 Wellingtons were shot down, 2 German fighters were also shot down.
This famous action, together with that of 14 December when 5 out of a force of 12 Wellingtons were shot down, had a major effect upon the policy of the British bomber commanders. Exactly half of the 34 Wellingtons dispatched had been shot down in these 2 actions without any penetration of the German mainland having taken place. The validity of the self-defending bomber formation was now seriously in doubt.
3 further Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys on separate patrols saw no action.

NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCH
12 Blenheims were dispatched and bombed 11 German minesweepers whose location had been detected by Coastal Command. Results of the bombing are not known. No Blenheims lost.

NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCH
24 Hampdens and 18 Wellingtons failed to locate any targets. Part of the Hampden force was mistakenly attacked by R.A.F. Spitfires of 602 Squadron when returning to land in Scotland; 2 of the Hampdens were shot down in the sea; it is believed that 1 man died, the remaining crew members being rescued.

Whitleys again carried out leaflet raids on the second night of the war and were to continue such operations regularly by night in following months. (The inclusion of a separate diary entry for every one of these flights would be of little practical use, so they have been consolidated into batches.)
The Whitleys operated in this role on 22 nights between 4/5 September and 23/24 December and a total of 113 sorties were flown. On some moonlit nights the Whitleys were ordered to make visual reconnaissance of certain places in Germany, their main task of leaflet dropping becoming a secondary role on those nights. A high proportion of the flights were carried out successfully; it is believed that 105 of the 113 sorties achieved at least part of their allocated tasks.
2 (a and b). The first casualties, after the raid on German warships on

---

NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCH
2 Whitleys failed to locate any targets.

Whitleys again carried out leaflet raids on the second night of the war and were to continue such operations regularly by night in following months. (The inclusion of a separate diary entry for every one of these flights would be of little practical use, so they have been consolidated into batches.)
The Whitleys operated in this role on 22 nights between 4/5 September and 23/24 December and a total of 113 sorties were flown. On some moonlit nights the Whitleys were ordered to make visual reconnaissance of certain places in Germany, their main task of leaflet dropping becoming a secondary role on those nights. A high proportion of the flights were carried out successfully; it is believed that 105 of the 113 sorties achieved at least part of their allocated tasks.
2 (a and b). The first casualties, after the raid on German warships on

---

NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCH
17 Wellingtons attacked shipping but no results were seen. 2 Blenheims made photographic reconnaissance flights to Wilhelmshaven. No losses.

NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCH
12 Hampdens located one or more submarines but were not able to attack.
NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCHES,

and bombs also fell on the town of Westerland, on the island of Sylt, on 12 January. A suspected German U-boat was bombed on 13 December and a Flak ship on 16 December, but no results were claimed. The Whitleys suffered no casualties during these operations; the only attack made on them was by R.A.F. Spitfires off the coast of Lincolnshire on 17 December.

Blenheims flew photographic reconnaissance flights on 4 days in this period. 8 sorties were flown from England to the German coast; 1 Blenheim was lost on 27 December. 7 sorties were flown on 2 January from French airfields to locations 'behind the German lines' there were no casualties on this day.
LEAFLET RAIDS, 4/5 January to

On 12 December, 8 Whitleys commenced this new type of operation to harass the German seaplanes which were laying mines off the English coast. Flying in relays, Whitleys flew during the evenings over suspected seaplane bases on the islands of Sylt, Norderney and Borkum. If flare-paths on the water were seen to be lit, bombs were dropped but only in the water because of the instructions given to bomber units, after President Roosevelt's bombing-restraint appeal at the outbreak of war, that no bombs should be dropped on any land targets.
These operations were flown on 17 nights between the evening of

A total of 71 Whitley sorties were flown. Bombs were dropped on suspected seaplane take-off areas on at least 3 occasions. One of these was the cause of 2 bombs falling on the Danish island of Rm, which was very close to Sylt, on

On 12 December, 8 Whitleys commenced this new type of operation to harass the German seaplanes which were laying mines off the English coast. Flying in relays, Whitleys flew during the evenings over suspected seaplane bases on the islands of Sylt, Norderney and Borkum. If flare-paths on the water were seen to be lit, bombs were dropped but only in the water because of the instructions given to bomber units, after President Roosevelt's bombing-restraint appeal at the outbreak of war, that no bombs should be dropped on any land targets.
These operations were flown on 17 nights between the evening of

. A total of 71 Whitley sorties were flown. Bombs were dropped on suspected seaplane take-off areas on at least 3 occasions. One of these was the cause of 2 bombs falling on the Danish island of Rm, which was very close to Sylt, on

After a gap of 10 nights without any operations, leaflet raids recommenced on 4/5 January and were carried out on 7 nights during this period. Only 25 sorties were flown: 10 by Whitleys, 9 by Wellingtons and 6 by Hampdens. The first leaflet flights by Wellingtons - to Hamburg on the 11/12th - and by Hampdens - to Kiel on the following night - were the first night sorties of the war for these 2 types of aircraft and represent a tentative but significant move to night operations by 2 of the 3 bomber groups previously intended only for day operations. Of the Whitley flights in this period, the new distant targets of Prague and Vienna were reached, from forward airfields in France, on 12/13 January.
There were no losses from any of the above operations.
Because of severe winter weather at the English airfields, with heavy snowfalls, there were no night operations between 20 January and the night of 17/18 February and no day operations from 2 February to 17 February.
NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCHES, 11 and

After a gap of 10 nights without any operations, leaflet raids recommenced on 4/5 January and were carried out on 7 nights during this period. Only 25 sorties were flown: 10 by Whitleys, 9 by Wellingtons and 6 by Hampdens. The first leaflet flights by Wellingtons - to Hamburg on the 11/12th - and by Hampdens - to Kiel on the following night - were the first night sorties of the war for these 2 types of aircraft and represent a tentative but significant move to night operations by 2 of the 3 bomber groups previously intended only for day operations. Of the Whitley flights in this period, the new distant targets of Prague and Vienna were reached, from forward airfields in France, on 12/13 January.
There were no losses from any of the above operations.
Because of severe winter weather at the English airfields, with heavy snowfalls, there were no night operations between 20 January and the night of 17/18 February and no day operations from 2 February to 17 February.
NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCHES, 11 and

Despite the recent heavy losses, the attempts to find and bomb German warships continued regularly, but the bomber forces involved were ordered not to fly as close to the mainland as on previous raids unless there was good cloud cover. These operations were carried out on 13 days in this period and 186 sorties were flown: 87 by Blenheims, 73 by Wellingtons, 18 by Hampdens and 8 by Whitleys. German fighters were encountered on two occasions. 2 Wellingtons were lost and 1 Me 109 was claimed shot down on 2 January; 1 Blenheim was lost and 2 Me nos were claimed on 10 January. No German ships were seen on any of these raids and no bombs were dropped.
RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS,

18 Wellingtons on the nth and 12 on the 13th failed to locate any targets.
NORTH SEA SHIPPING SEARCHES, 14 February to

GERMAN WARSHIPS, HELIGOLAND
20 Wellingtons were dispatched, 2 as reconnaissance planes and 18 as the bombing force but a recall signal was sent because of fog. 1 Wellington was lost over the sea and 1 crashed in England.
This may have been an experimental raid with the object of finding and bombing German warships by night, to avoid the heavy casualties of recent daylight raids, but the attempt was not repeated.

GERMAN WARSHIPS, HELIGOLAND
20 Wellingtons were dispatched, 2 as reconnaissance planes and 18 as the bombing force but a recall signal was sent because of fog. 1 Wellington was lost over the sea and 1 crashed in England.
This may have been an experimental raid with the object of finding and bombing German warships by night, to avoid the heavy casualties of recent daylight raids, but the attempt was not repeated.

. (The U-boat was later salvaged and returned to service but was depth-charged and sunk by the destroyer H.M.S. Antelope in the Atlantic on

HÜRNUM SEAPLANE BASE
This was an important operation. While attacking British ships in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, 2 nights earlier, German planes had dropped bombs on land which killed 1 civilian (on an airfield) and wounded 7 more civilians in a village. The British Government ordered Bomber Command to carry out a reprisal raid on one of the German seaplane bases but only where there was no nearby civilian housing. The seaplane base at Hrnum, on the southernmost tip of the island of Sylt, was chosen.
30 Whitleys and 20 Hampdens were dispatched. The Whitleys bombed first, being allocated a 4-hour bombing period; 26 Whitleys claimed to have found the target in clear visibility and to have bombed accurately. The Hampdens followed with a 2-hour bombing period and 15 crews claimed to have bombed accurately. This was the first real bombing operation for both types of aircraft after more than 6 months of war. 20 tons of high explosives and 1,200 incendiary bombs were dropped. Only 1 Whitley was lost.
This was the biggest operation of the war so far and the first raid on a German land target. R.A.F. commanders were gratified that so many crews reported accurate bombing. Proper photographic reconnaissance was not carried out until 6 April when photographs of poor quality were brought back; no damage could be seen but some repairs could have been carried out by the Germans in the interval.
SEARCHES FOR SHIPPING, GERMAN BIGHT TO DENMARK, 4 to

HÜRNUM SEAPLANE BASE
This was an important operation. While attacking British ships in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, 2 nights earlier, German planes had dropped bombs on land which killed 1 civilian (on an airfield) and wounded 7 more civilians in a village. The British Government ordered Bomber Command to carry out a reprisal raid on one of the German seaplane bases but only where there was no nearby civilian housing. The seaplane base at Hrnum, on the southernmost tip of the island of Sylt, was chosen.
30 Whitleys and 20 Hampdens were dispatched. The Whitleys bombed first, being allocated a 4-hour bombing period; 26 Whitleys claimed to have found the target in clear visibility and to have bombed accurately. The Hampdens followed with a 2-hour bombing period and 15 crews claimed to have bombed accurately. This was the first real bombing operation for both types of aircraft after more than 6 months of war. 20 tons of high explosives and 1,200 incendiary bombs were dropped. Only 1 Whitley was lost.
This was the biggest operation of the war so far and the first raid on a German land target. R.A.F. commanders were gratified that so many crews reported accurate bombing. Proper photographic reconnaissance was not carried out until 6 April when photographs of poor quality were brought back; no damage could be seen but some repairs could have been carried out by the Germans in the interval.
SEARCHES FOR SHIPPING, GERMAN BIGHT TO DENMARK, 4 to

The main daylight operations over the North Sea were now allocated to the Blenheims of 2 Group and operations were flown on 34 out of 47 days between 14 February and 1 April. Most of these flights were uneventful, though German ships were bombed on at least 6 occasions and the Blenheims several times encountered German fighters. A total of 250 Blenheim sorties were flown of which 9 were purely photo-reconnaissance flights to the German coast. 4 Blenheims (1 6 percent of those dispatched) were lost; all were believed to have been shot down by fighters. In addition to the Blenheim operations, 26 Wellington and 21 Hampden sorties were flown but these are all recorded as 'training sweeps' and no contact was made with any German forces and no casualties were suffered.
There was one confirmed bombing success for a Blenheim. On 11 March Squadron Leader M. V. Delap of 82 Squadron attacked a U-boat off Borkum bombing from such a low altitude that his aircraft was damaged by the explosions and nearly crashed. German records show that this was their Type VIIIA submarine U-31 and that Squadron Leader Delap's bombs sank it. This U-boat was later salvaged and repaired but was sunk by the British destroyer Antelope in the Atlantic on

Both types of operations continued, with Wellingtons and Hampdens increasingly joining in the leaflet raids and with Hampdens taking over the seaplane-base patrols. At least 1 of these 2 types of operations was flown on 37 out of 52 nights in this period but the number of aircraft dispatched was usually small.
A total of 228 leaflet sorties - 102 by Wellingtons, 64 by Hampdens and 62 by Whitleys - were dispatched between 17/18 February and 6/7 April. The only new feature was the inclusion of Poland in locations where leaflets were dropped, Poznan on 7/8 March and Warsaw on the 15/16th. One of the Whitleys returning from Warsaw - Flight Lieutenant Tomlin's aircraft of 77 Squadron - was running short of fuel and landed in a field as soon as he thought he had reached French territory. Members of the crew left the aircraft and asked the first person they met where they were. They soon realized they were in Germany and German soldiers were observed appearing. The crew managed to take off and were not fired upon until they were clearing the hedge of the field. They hedge-hopped safely over the Siegfried Line and landed in France. Only 6 of the leaflet-dropping planes were lost - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden. One of the Whitleys - again from 77 Squadron - was shot down by Dutch anti-aircraft fire while flying over Holland on 27/28 March; 1 crew member was killed and 4 interned. 7 more leaflet-operations planes crashed in England.
Anti-minelayer patrols were flown over German seaplane bases from 23/24 February until 8/9 April. The total number of sorties flown was 61 - 54 by Hampdens and 7 by Whitleys. No aircraft were shot down by the Germans but 4 Hampdens crashed in England.

---

Warships and troop-ships were known to be collecting in German ports and then sailing north for a possible invasion of Norway. Bomber Command aircraft patrolled the area every day; 45 Blenheim and 3 Hampden sorties were flown. Coastal Command aircraft were also involved in the search. 21 Blenheims found ships on 3 different days and bombed them but without obtaining any hits; the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were among the targets. No aircraft were lost during these operations.
Operational Statistics,

---

(219 days/nights)
Number of day raids when bombs dropped: 18
Number of days with other operations: 75
Number of night raids when bombs dropped: 3
Number of nights with other operations, mostly leaflets: 69
Number of daylight sorties: 996, from which 48 aircraft (4.8 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 531, from which 14 aircraft (26 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 1,527, from which 62 aircraft (4.1 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage dropped in period: 71 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 7.0 sorties, 0.3 aircraft lost, 0.3 tons of bombs dropped
Some of the details of the 2 Group operations comes from the very useful reference book, 2 Group R.A.F., by Michael J. F. Bowyer, Faber & Faber, 1974.
German forces invaded Denmark and Norway at dawn on

Both types of operations continued, with Wellingtons and Hampdens increasingly joining in the leaflet raids and with Hampdens taking over the seaplane-base patrols. At least 1 of these 2 types of operations was flown on 37 out of 52 nights in this period but the number of aircraft dispatched was usually small.
A total of 228 leaflet sorties - 102 by Wellingtons, 64 by Hampdens and 62 by Whitleys - were dispatched between 17/18 February and 6/7 April. The only new feature was the inclusion of Poland in locations where leaflets were dropped, Poznan on 7/8 March and Warsaw on the 15/16th. One of the Whitleys returning from Warsaw - Flight Lieutenant Tomlin's aircraft of 77 Squadron - was running short of fuel and landed in a field as soon as he thought he had reached French territory. Members of the crew left the aircraft and asked the first person they met where they were. They soon realized they were in Germany and German soldiers were observed appearing. The crew managed to take off and were not fired upon until they were clearing the hedge of the field. They hedge-hopped safely over the Siegfried Line and landed in France. Only 6 of the leaflet-dropping planes were lost - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden. One of the Whitleys - again from 77 Squadron - was shot down by Dutch anti-aircraft fire while flying over Holland on 27/28 March; 1 crew member was killed and 4 interned. 7 more leaflet-operations planes crashed in England.
Anti-minelayer patrols were flown over German seaplane bases from 23/24 February until 8/9 April. The total number of sorties flown was 61 - 54 by Hampdens and 7 by Whitleys. No aircraft were shot down by the Germans but 4 Hampdens crashed in England.

---

(219 days/nights)
Number of day raids when bombs dropped: 18
Number of days with other operations: 75
Number of night raids when bombs dropped: 3
Number of nights with other operations, mostly leaflets: 69
Number of daylight sorties: 996, from which 48 aircraft (4.8 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 531, from which 14 aircraft (26 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 1,527, from which 62 aircraft (4.1 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage dropped in period: 71 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 7.0 sorties, 0.3 aircraft lost, 0.3 tons of bombs dropped
Some of the details of the 2 Group operations comes from the very useful reference book, 2 Group R.A.F., by Michael J. F. Bowyer, Faber & Faber, 1974.
German forces invaded Denmark and Norway at dawn on

---

. The move into Denmark was by land and, being virtually uncontested, that small country was occupied within hours. The attack on Norway, however, had to be carried out by sea and air landings and was opposed by Norwegian forces. Britain and France immediately declared support for the two countries. Nothing could be done to help Denmark but Bomber Command was ordered to do what it could to slow down the German advance in Southern Norway while an Anglo-French expeditionary force was landed at Narvik in the north.
The bomber squadrons were ill-fitted for their new task. The distance to the scene of operations, with round trips of up to 1,000 miles entirely over sea, was a severe handicap. There was no fighter escort of any kind. Only targets in Southern Norway - where the Germans were soon in full command - could be reached. Nothing could be done to give direct support to the British and French troops who landed in the north at Narvik. The early restrictions against bombing land targets in Germany were not relaxed, so the ports and communications in Northern Germany which were well within range of Bomber Command and which could have been attacked in relative safety at night were left untouched throughout the Norwegian campaign.
Bomber Command entered into its Norway operations with enthusiasm but almost immediately suffered a setback when nine Hampdens and Wellingtons were shot down, most of them by German fighters, in a daylight raid on shipping in the Stavanger area. These losses finally convinced Bomber Command that the self-defending daylight bomber formation theory was not valid and this day,

---

GERMAN SHIPPING OFF NORWAY
24 Hampdens searched for German warships off Bergen. 12 aircraft recalled; 2 of remaining 12 bombed a cruiser and claimed hits. 8 Blenheims carried out reconnaissance patrols. No losses.

2 Blenheims on photographic reconnaissance to Wilhelmshaven abandoned task because of weather. 2 Blenheims on North Sea patrol. No losses.

---

6 Hampdens to patrol seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt. No incidents.

6 Hampdens to patrol seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt. No incidents.

---

SHIPPING, STAVANGER AIRFIELD
6 Hampdens dispatched to search for shipping off Kristiansund but abandoned task because weather was too clear. 6 Wellingtons dispatched to bomb Sola airfield near Stavanger (henceforth called 'Stavanger airfield'). 3 aircraft bombed the airfield; 1 of the remaining 3 was shot down by German fighters. 2 Blenheims on reconnaissance, no incidents.
The raid by the Wellingtons - from 115 Squadron - on Stavanger airfield was the first intentional raid by Bomber Command on a European mainland target in the Second World War.

---

SHIPPING IN SKAGERRAK AND KATTEGAT
23 Whitleys and 20 Hampdens; 4 aircraft attacked ships at various locations between Kiel Bay and Oslo. 1 Whitley scored a direct hit on a ship which was believed to be an ammunition ship and which appeared to explode. 1 Whitley lost.

, marked the end of the pre-war bombing policy; it was undoubtedly the most important turning-point in Bomber Command's war. The Hampdens and Wellingtons were now diverted to night bombing and, except for a very few occasions, they and the more modem types of bomber which would succeed them would fly only by night for the next four years. Only the Blenheims of 2 Group were retained as a permanent day-bomber force, a role which would sometimes bring them heavy casualties, even in the limited radius within which they operated. These tactical rules would continue through the remainder of the Norwegian campaign and for long afterwards.
That campaign would be over within a month. Daylight raids continued when possible but were only successful when weather conditions were favourable. The Blenheims were not allowed to proceed when there was no cloud cover in which they could seek shelter if German fighters appeared and, when they did proceed, they could not find their targets if the cloud was too low. Most of the effort in the later Stages was by night. Night casualties were not heavy but bombing results were poor. This was the dilemma posed by the failure of the self-defending bomber policy.
The strength and organization of Bomber Command remained almost unchanged during this period. One new squadron starting its operational life, with a Wellington raid on Stavanger airfield on 17/19 April, was 75 (New Zealand) Squadron, the first Bomber Command squadron with a direct link with one of the Dominions. The groups never operated at full strength; the conservation policy was still in effect. Even on the major daylight operation of 12 April, less than one third of aircraft available were dispatched. Only two squadrons of 2 Group - 107 and 110- took part in the Norwegian campaign; these squadrons moved north to fly from Lossiemouth in Scotland, leaving the remainder of the group in East Anglia to face a German invasion of France and the Low Countries expected to take place any day. The command of 2 Group changed during this period, Air Vice-Marshal J. M. Robb taking over from Air Vice-Marshal Maclean, and Bomber Command itself received a new commander-in-chief a few days before the Germans invaded Denmark and Norway when Air Marshal Sir Charles Portal took over from Air Chief Marshal Ludlow-Hewitt. Both of these replacements were routine ones and were not a reflection upon the qualities of the outgoing commanders.

---

SHIPPING IN SKAGERRAK AND KATTEGAT
23 Whitleys and 20 Hampdens; 4 aircraft attacked ships at various locations between Kiel Bay and Oslo. 1 Whitley scored a direct hit on a ship which was believed to be an ammunition ship and which appeared to explode. 1 Whitley lost.

---

SHIPPING AT STAVANGER
83 aircraft - 36 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 23 Blenheims - to attack shipping. Intense Flak and fighter opposition was met. 6 Hampdens and 3 Wellingtons lost. German radio admitted the loss of 5 fighters. The Blenheim formations were not attacked by German fighters.
This was the largest bombing operation of the war so far. It was also the last major daylight raid for Hampdens and Wellingtons.

9 Blenheims on North Sea patrol. Two patrol vessels bombed. No losses.

---

Minelaying, Reconnaissance
15 Hampdens on the first R.A.F. minelaying operation of the war. 14 aircraft laid mines in sea lanes off Denmark between German ports and Norway. 1 Hampden lost. 8 Blenheims sent to patrol Wilhelmshaven area abandoned task.

Minelaying, Reconnaissance
15 Hampdens on the first R.A.F. minelaying operation of the war. 14 aircraft laid mines in sea lanes off Denmark between German ports and Norway. 1 Hampden lost. 8 Blenheims sent to patrol Wilhelmshaven area abandoned task.

---

8 Blenheims to patrol Wilhelmshaven area abandoned task because of lack of cloud cover.

---

28 Hampdens minelaying off Denmark, 2 lost.

28 Hampdens minelaying off Denmark, 2 lost.

---

STAVANGER AIRFIELD, NORTH SEA
11 Blenheims; 6 bombed and 2 German aircraft on the ground were hit. No losses.
2 further Blenheims bombed patrol boats off Wilhelmshaven; 1 Blenheim shot down by 1 of the German boat's defensive fire.

---

STAVANGER AIRFIELD
12 Whitleys. 8 aircraft bombed and hits were seen on the airfield. No losses.

STAVANGER AIRFIELD
12 Whitleys. 8 aircraft bombed and hits were seen on the airfield. No losses.

---

STAVANGER AIRFIELD, WILHELMSHAVEN
6 Blenheims. 5 returned because of icing conditions in cloud; 1 reached Stavanger and bombed. 2 Blenheims on reconnaissance to Wilhelmshaven; the battleship Tirpitz observed. No losses.

---

NORWEGIAN AIRFIELDS
20 Whitleys to Stavanger, Vaernes (Trondheim) and Kjeller (Oslo) airfields. Because of bad weather, only 4 planes bombed at Trondheim and 2 at Stavanger. No losses.

NORWEGIAN AIRFIELDS
20 Whitleys to Stavanger, Vaernes (Trondheim) and Kjeller (Oslo) airfields. Because of bad weather, only 4 planes bombed at Trondheim and 2 at Stavanger. No losses.

---

12 Blenheims bombed at Stavanger airfield, 2 lost.

---

NORWEGIAN AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING
20 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Stavanger, Trondheim and Oslo airfields. 11 Wellingtons bombed at Stavanger but other targets not located. 1 Wellington lost.
33 Hampdens laid mines off north-west Denmark. No losses.

NORWEGIAN AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING
20 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Stavanger, Trondheim and Oslo airfields. 11 Wellingtons bombed at Stavanger but other targets not located. 1 Wellington lost.
33 Hampdens laid mines off north-west Denmark. No losses.

---

9 Whitleys to attack shipping in the Oslo and Trondheim areas but because of bad weather only 3 bombed. 1 aircraft lost.

9 Whitleys to attack shipping in the Oslo and Trondheim areas but because of bad weather only 3 bombed. 1 aircraft lost.

---

9 Blenheims to bomb Stavanger airfield. 7 abandoned task because of weather. 1 bombed an airfield. 1 Blenheim lost.

---

4 Whitleys carried out reconnaissance flights over Northern Germany. No incidents.

4 Whitleys carried out reconnaissance flights over Northern Germany. No incidents.

---

3 Blenheims to Stavanger airfield but task abandoned.

---

AIRFIELDS, SHIPPING, MINELAYING
36 Whitleys to bomb various airfields and shipping. 22 bombed targets including airfields at Stavanger and Kristiansund, and at Aalborg in Denmark; shipping was not located.
23 Hampdens laid mines in the Elbe estuary and some then patrolled seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt.
There were no losses from any of these operations.

AIRFIELDS, SHIPPING, MINELAYING
36 Whitleys to bomb various airfields and shipping. 22 bombed targets including airfields at Stavanger and Kristiansund, and at Aalborg in Denmark; shipping was not located.
23 Hampdens laid mines in the Elbe estuary and some then patrolled seaplane bases at Borkum and Sylt.
There were no losses from any of these operations.

---

12 Blenheims to Stavanger airfield abandoned task because of weather conditions.

---

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING
36 Hampdens minelaying; 25 laid mines, 1 lost.
12 Wellingtons bombed Stavanger and Aalborg airfields, 1 lost.

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING
36 Hampdens minelaying; 25 laid mines, 1 lost.
12 Wellingtons bombed Stavanger and Aalborg airfields, 1 lost.

---

AIRFIELDS
10 Whitleys. 7 aircraft bombed Fomebu and Kjeller airfields near Oslo, Aalborg and a seaplane base at Lake Jansavannet. 1 aircraft lost.

AIRFIELDS
10 Whitleys. 7 aircraft bombed Fomebu and Kjeller airfields near Oslo, Aalborg and a seaplane base at Lake Jansavannet. 1 aircraft lost.

---

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING, SEAPLANE BASES
34 aircraft - 16 Whitleys, 12 Wellingtons, 6 Blenheims - to airfields. 4 airfields in Norway, Aalborg in Denmark and Westerland in Germany were all bombed, and shipping near Oslo and Trondheim was also attacked. 1 Whitley and 1 Blenheim lost.
30 Hampdens - 26 minelaying and 4 on seaplane-base patrols. 2 ships were bombed. No losses.

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING, SEAPLANE BASES
34 aircraft - 16 Whitleys, 12 Wellingtons, 6 Blenheims - to airfields. 4 airfields in Norway, Aalborg in Denmark and Westerland in Germany were all bombed, and shipping near Oslo and Trondheim was also attacked. 1 Whitley and 1 Blenheim lost.
30 Hampdens - 26 minelaying and 4 on seaplane-base patrols. 2 ships were bombed. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims to bomb Stavanger airfield and 1 on a reconnaissance to Aalborg. All abandoned tasks because of weather. No losses.

6 Blenheims to bomb shipping in Fjords near Bergen. 5 bombed, 1 lost. 1 Do 18 shot down.
1 reconnaissance Blenheim abandoned its flight to Aalborg.

---

STAVANGER, OSLO, MINELAYING
18 aircraft - 12 Wellingtons, 6 Whitleys - to attack shipping, airfields and oil-storage tanks at Stavanger and Oslo. 8 aircraft bombed without losses.
2 Whitleys made reconnaissance flights to Aalborg airfield; 1 aircraft was lost.28 Hampdens were dispatched on minelaying tasks but bad weather prevented any mines being laid; 3 Hampdens were lost. One of the missing Hampdens was shot down near Sylt by Oberfeldwebel Hermann Frster of IV/JG 2, flying an Me 109. The Hampden involved is believed to have been the 49 Squadron aircraft of Pilot Officer A. H. Benson and was probably the first Bomber Command aircraft to be shot down at night by a German fighter. Pilot Officer Benson and his crew - Pilot Officer A. P. B. Hordem, Sergeant R. I. L. McKenzie and Leading Aircraftman J. D. Openshaw - were all killed. Sergeant McKenzie's body came ashore and is now buried in the Kiel War Cemetery but the bodies of the other crew members were never found. Oberfeldwebel Frster's unit was scattered along the German coast in small detachments to act as night fighters and later became the regular night-fighting unit III/NJG 1. Frster gained a further 6 night victories before being sent back to a day-fighter unit; he died in North Africa in December 1941 on his 287th operational flight.

STAVANGER, OSLO, MINELAYING
18 aircraft - 12 Wellingtons, 6 Whitleys - to attack shipping, airfields and oil-storage tanks at Stavanger and Oslo. 8 aircraft bombed without losses.
2 Whitleys made reconnaissance flights to Aalborg airfield; 1 aircraft was lost.28 Hampdens were dispatched on minelaying tasks but bad weather prevented any mines being laid; 3 Hampdens were lost. One of the missing Hampdens was shot down near Sylt by Oberfeldwebel Hermann Frster of IV/JG 2, flying an Me 109. The Hampden involved is believed to have been the 49 Squadron aircraft of Pilot Officer A. H. Benson and was probably the first Bomber Command aircraft to be shot down at night by a German fighter. Pilot Officer Benson and his crew - Pilot Officer A. P. B. Hordem, Sergeant R. I. L. McKenzie and Leading Aircraftman J. D. Openshaw - were all killed. Sergeant McKenzie's body came ashore and is now buried in the Kiel War Cemetery but the bodies of the other crew members were never found. Oberfeldwebel Frster's unit was scattered along the German coast in small detachments to act as night fighters and later became the regular night-fighting unit III/NJG 1. Frster gained a further 6 night victories before being sent back to a day-fighter unit; he died in North Africa in December 1941 on his 287th operational flight.

12 Blenheims to Stavanger airfield abandoned task because of weather conditions.

2 Blenheims to Aalborg and Rye airfields abandoned task because of weather conditions.

---

6 Whitleys bombed Fornebu airfield near Oslo. 1 aircraft was lost.

6 Whitleys bombed Fornebu airfield near Oslo. 1 aircraft was lost.

---

6 Blenheims bombed Stavanger airfield, where an estimated 150 German aircraft were seen on the ground. 2 Blenheims were lost. 3 Blenheims on reconnaissance to Aalborg and Rye airfields; photographs taken at Rye showed 60 German aircraft on the ground.

AIRFIELDS
50 Aircraft - 24 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons, 10 Hampdens - to Stavanger, Fornebu and Aalborg airfields. 35 aircraft bombed these targets. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Whitley were lost; 4 further aircraft crashed in England.

---

STAVANGER AIRFIELD
12 Blenheims; 9 bombed with good results observed. No losses.

---

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING
12 Whitleys and 6 Hampdens bombed Stavanger, Fornebu and Aalborg airfields. No losses.
11 Hampdens minelaying in Elbe estuary and in Helsingr harbour, Denmark; only 5 aircraft laid mines but 1 German seaplane was claimed shot down. No losses.

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING
12 Whitleys and 6 Hampdens bombed Stavanger, Fornebu and Aalborg airfields. No losses.
11 Hampdens minelaying in Elbe estuary and in Helsingr harbour, Denmark; only 5 aircraft laid mines but 1 German seaplane was claimed shot down. No losses.

---

AIRFIELDS
12 Blenheims bombed Stavanger and Rye airfields. No losses. The Blenheims were now completely withdrawn from Norwegian operations because a German offensive in France and the Low Countries was feared imminent.

---

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING, SEAPLANE-BASE PATROLS
24 aircraft - 12 Whitleys, 12 Wellingtons - to airfields. 22 of them bombed Stavanger, Rye and Fornebu.
26 Hampdens minelaying in Oslo Fjord and Kiel Bay.
4 Wellingtons patrolled seaplane bases.
There were no losses from any of these operations,

AIRFIELDS, MINELAYING, SEAPLANE-BASE PATROLS
24 aircraft - 12 Whitleys, 12 Wellingtons - to airfields. 22 of them bombed Stavanger, Rye and Fornebu.
26 Hampdens minelaying in Oslo Fjord and Kiel Bay.
4 Wellingtons patrolled seaplane bases.
There were no losses from any of these operations,

---

10 Hampdens minelaying off Norwegian and German coasts. 2 Wellingtons sent to patrol seaplane bases were recalled. No losses.

10 Hampdens minelaying off Norwegian and German coasts. 2 Wellingtons sent to patrol seaplane bases were recalled. No losses.

---

Minelaying, Seaplane Base Patrols
5 Hampdens laid mines in Oslo Fjord. 4 Whitleys patrolled German seaplane bases and ports. No losses.

Minelaying, Seaplane Base Patrols
5 Hampdens laid mines in Oslo Fjord. 4 Whitleys patrolled German seaplane bases and ports. No losses.

---

4 Wellingtons patrolled seaplane bases.

4 Wellingtons patrolled seaplane bases.

---

12 Hampdens minelaying in Elbe estuary. No losses.

12 Hampdens minelaying in Elbe estuary. No losses.

---

AIRFIELDS, SEAPLANE-BASE PATROLS
9 Wellingtons to bomb Stavanger airfield; only 1 located the target, because of low cloud. 5 Wellingtons to patrol seaplane bases and harbours but only 2 carried out patrols. No losses.

AIRFIELDS, SEAPLANE-BASE PATROLS
9 Wellingtons to bomb Stavanger airfield; only 1 located the target, because of low cloud. 5 Wellingtons to patrol seaplane bases and harbours but only 2 carried out patrols. No losses.

MINELAYING, STAVANGER, SEAPLANE BASES
31 Hampdens to minelaying operations off Kiel, Lbeck, Warnemnde and in the Elbe; 23 aircraft laid mines.
9 Whitleys to bomb Stavanger airfield were recalled because of bad weather; 1 did not pick up signal and bombed the target.
6 Wellingtons patrolled seaplane bases.
There were no losses from any of these operations.
Operational Statistics, 9 April to

---

(31 days/nights)
Number of day raids when bombs dropped: 12
Number of days with other operations: 7
Number of night raids when bombs dropped: 16
Number of nights with other operations: 8
Number of daylight sorties: 268, from which 17 aircraft (6.3 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 663, from which 19 aircraft (2.9 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 931, from which 36 aircraft (3.9 percent) were lost Approximate bomb tonnage dropped in period: 198 tons
Average per 24-hour period: 30.0 sorties, 1.2 aircraft lost, 6.4 tons of bombs dropped
It is not possible to provide tonnages or numbers for mines laid.
The long-anticipated German offensive in the West opened early on 10 May with German troops crossing the borders of Belgium and Holland and with airborne landings at several points. This move through the Low Countries outflanked the famous Maginot Line and violent mobile warfare - the Blitzkrieg - commenced immediately. The French and British had foreseen an initial German move through Belgium - as in 1914 - and had prepared plans to move most of the British Expeditionary Force into Belgium to face this, but no cooperation of any kind had been possible with Holland and this country fell within days. The British and French troops in Belgium were steadily pressed back and were eventually encircled with their backs to the sea after a brilliant German armoured breakthrough in the south reached the Channel coast. The evacuation from Dunkirk followed between 26 May and 4 June. Italy came into the war on Germany's side on 10 June. France, which had held the Germans so gallantly for four years in the First World War, finally collapsed on 25 June, only six weeks after the first German attack. It was a period of almost unbelievable historical event.
Despite all the intelligence warnings and the daily reconnaissance flights over Germany before the offensive, Bomber Command had carried out no bombing of any kind to hinder the German preparations; the policy of bombing restraint had been held to the end. The French Government had been promised that the entire British bomber force would be used to help in what came to be called the Battle of France, and Bomber Command was immediately committed. Even though the Norwegian campaign would not end for another four weeks, the whole of the British bomber effort was immediately concentrated into supporting this new, much nearer, land battle.
The Blenheims of 2 Group were placed under the tactical control of the R.A.F.'s Advanced Air Striking Force in France, although the Blenheims continued to fly from their own airfields in England; within days the head of the German advance would be within 200 miles of those airfields. The Blenheims would operate by day throughout the battle and would sometimes suffer heavy casualties in doing so. But the more distant-ranging Wellingtons, Hampdens and Whitleys operated only by night and they would emerge from the battle with the light casualties which had characterized all night operations so far in the war. In return for this comparative immunity, however, they would continue to face almost insuperable problems with navigation, target-finding and bomb-aiming.
The targets for the Blenheims were always on or near the battlefield, where German fighters and mobile Flak batteries were a constant scourge. Initially, the Blenheims flew in formations of six, nine or twelve aircraft; if larger numbers of aircraft are recorded in the diary entries as operating on one day, such numbers usually represent several separate raids. The Blenheims would later learn to operate in larger formations combining several squadrons. The night bombers always flew singly, usually spreading out their raids over several hours of darkness. Initially they attacked the German road and rail communications to the battle front. Despite the ferocity of the German attack and the seriousness of the situation, these raids were restricted by the political order to locations west of the Rhine until 15 May, the day the Germans bombed Rotterdam, when the War Cabinet finally allowed the bombers to cross the Rhine and reach into the German heartland. That date,

MINELAYING, STAVANGER, SEAPLANE BASES
31 Hampdens to minelaying operations off Kiel, Lbeck, Warnemnde and in the Elbe; 23 aircraft laid mines.
9 Whitleys to bomb Stavanger airfield were recalled because of bad weather; 1 did not pick up signal and bombed the target.
6 Wellingtons patrolled seaplane bases.
There were no losses from any of these operations.
Operational Statistics, 9 April to

---

(31 days/nights)
Number of day raids when bombs dropped: 12
Number of days with other operations: 7
Number of night raids when bombs dropped: 16
Number of nights with other operations: 8
Number of daylight sorties: 268, from which 17 aircraft (6.3 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 663, from which 19 aircraft (2.9 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 931, from which 36 aircraft (3.9 percent) were lost Approximate bomb tonnage dropped in period: 198 tons
Average per 24-hour period: 30.0 sorties, 1.2 aircraft lost, 6.4 tons of bombs dropped
It is not possible to provide tonnages or numbers for mines laid.
The long-anticipated German offensive in the West opened early on 10 May with German troops crossing the borders of Belgium and Holland and with airborne landings at several points. This move through the Low Countries outflanked the famous Maginot Line and violent mobile warfare - the Blitzkrieg - commenced immediately. The French and British had foreseen an initial German move through Belgium - as in 1914 - and had prepared plans to move most of the British Expeditionary Force into Belgium to face this, but no cooperation of any kind had been possible with Holland and this country fell within days. The British and French troops in Belgium were steadily pressed back and were eventually encircled with their backs to the sea after a brilliant German armoured breakthrough in the south reached the Channel coast. The evacuation from Dunkirk followed between 26 May and 4 June. Italy came into the war on Germany's side on 10 June. France, which had held the Germans so gallantly for four years in the First World War, finally collapsed on 25 June, only six weeks after the first German attack. It was a period of almost unbelievable historical event.
Despite all the intelligence warnings and the daily reconnaissance flights over Germany before the offensive, Bomber Command had carried out no bombing of any kind to hinder the German preparations; the policy of bombing restraint had been held to the end. The French Government had been promised that the entire British bomber force would be used to help in what came to be called the Battle of France, and Bomber Command was immediately committed. Even though the Norwegian campaign would not end for another four weeks, the whole of the British bomber effort was immediately concentrated into supporting this new, much nearer, land battle.
The Blenheims of 2 Group were placed under the tactical control of the R.A.F.'s Advanced Air Striking Force in France, although the Blenheims continued to fly from their own airfields in England; within days the head of the German advance would be within 200 miles of those airfields. The Blenheims would operate by day throughout the battle and would sometimes suffer heavy casualties in doing so. But the more distant-ranging Wellingtons, Hampdens and Whitleys operated only by night and they would emerge from the battle with the light casualties which had characterized all night operations so far in the war. In return for this comparative immunity, however, they would continue to face almost insuperable problems with navigation, target-finding and bomb-aiming.
The targets for the Blenheims were always on or near the battlefield, where German fighters and mobile Flak batteries were a constant scourge. Initially, the Blenheims flew in formations of six, nine or twelve aircraft; if larger numbers of aircraft are recorded in the diary entries as operating on one day, such numbers usually represent several separate raids. The Blenheims would later learn to operate in larger formations combining several squadrons. The night bombers always flew singly, usually spreading out their raids over several hours of darkness. Initially they attacked the German road and rail communications to the battle front. Despite the ferocity of the German attack and the seriousness of the situation, these raids were restricted by the political order to locations west of the Rhine until 15 May, the day the Germans bombed Rotterdam, when the War Cabinet finally allowed the bombers to cross the Rhine and reach into the German heartland. That date,

---

DUTCH AIRFIELDS
33 Blenheims to attack German troop-carrying planes and other targets at Waalhaven and Ypenburg airfields and on a beach north of The Hague; many German planes were reported hit. 3 Blenheims lost.
3. Early Blenheim crews at an unnamed airfield.

---

WAALHAVEN AIRFIELD, COMMUNICATIONS
36 Wellingtons to Waalhaven airfield and 9 Whitleys to bomb bridges across the Rhine at Rees and Wesel and columns of road transport near Goch and Geldern. No losses.

WAALHAVEN AIRFIELD, COMMUNICATIONS
36 Wellingtons to Waalhaven airfield and 9 Whitleys to bomb bridges across the Rhine at Rees and Wesel and columns of road transport near Goch and Geldern. No losses.

---

MAASTRICHT BRIDGES
23 Blenheims to vital road bridges and German troop columns in the Maastricht area; 2 lost.
6 Blenheims abandoned reconnaissance flights because of unfavourable weather.

---

MNCHENGLADBACH
37 aircraft - 19 Hampdens and 18 Whitleys - to attack road and rail communications. This was the first raid of the war on a German town. 4 people were killed including one Englishwoman living there. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.

MÖNCHENGLADBACH
37 aircraft - 19 Hampdens and 18 Whitleys - to attack road and rail communications. This was the first raid of the war on a German town. 4 people were killed including one Englishwoman living there. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.

---

BRIDGES
42 Blenheims to Maastricht, Hasselt and Tongres to bomb bridges and buildings near the bridges in order to block roads. 11 Blenheims lost.

---

ROAD JUNCTIONS
12 aircraft - 6 Wellingtons and 6 Whitleys - to the area between the Rhine and the Dutch border. No losses.

ROAD JUNCTIONS
12 aircraft - 6 Wellingtons and 6 Whitleys - to the area between the Rhine and the Dutch border. No losses.

---

BRIDGES, ROADS
12 aircraft - 6 Hampdens and 6 Whitleys - to Aachen-Maastricht-Eindhoven area. No losses.
6 Hampdens went minelaying in the Kiel Canal but only 1 did so successfully. No losses.

BRIDGES, ROADS
12 aircraft - 6 Hampdens and 6 Whitleys - to Aachen-Maastricht-Eindhoven area. No losses.
6 Hampdens went minelaying in the Kiel Canal but only 1 did so successfully. No losses.

---

THE MEUSE, HOLLAND
28 Blenheims to bomb bridges and German troops who were making a new breakthrough on the River Meuse; 6 Blenheims lost. 6 further Blenheims to bomb road junction at Breda, no losses.

---

COMMUNICATIONS IN GERMANY AND HOLLAND
18 Wellingtons to the Aachen area, 12 Whitleys to Mnchengladbach, 12 Hampdens to Breda and Roosendaal. 1 Hampden lost.
22 Hampdens minelaying near Kiel and Copenhagen.

, was another of the great turning-points in Bomber Command's war. The R.A.F. commanders could finally start implementing their pre-war plans and the true strategic-bombing offensive against Germany commenced that night when most of the 108 aircraft allocated to operations were sent to industrial targets in Germany; it was the first occasion that more than 100 aircraft were dispatched. But the realities of the situation prevailed and, after only five nights of industrial bombing, the night bombers had to be brought back to attack bridges and communications nearer the battle front. The full-moon period in the second half of May was fully used for this purpose.
A review of both day and night operations took place at the end of May. Although the ground battle still raged, the Blenheims could not continue at their earlier pace because casualties had been so heavy. Their operations were restricted to allow the squadrons to rest, bring in and train new crews, and generally conserve their strength for the next phase. The Battle of France was clearly being lost; a battle for Britain was likely to follow. In the night-bombing war, the tactical bombing behind the battle front slackened with the ending of the moon period and the bombers increasingly turned their attentions to Germany again. Railways, roads and bridges between Germany and the battlefield continued to be attacked but the greater weight of the offensive was now concentrated on German oil refineries and storage depots. On 4 June the wildly optimistic assessment was made that German oil supplies might be reduced by up to half a million tons within the next two or three months, but postwar German records showed that their oil production suffered a loss through bombing of only 150,000 tons in the next three and a half years! Such unrealism pervaded the whole night offensive to which nearly 70 percent of Bomber Command's effort was devoted during the Battle of France. In addition to the attack on communications, other industrial targets were raided, the minelaying campaign was continued and there was even an attempt to burn the German forests during the dry summer nights. The greatest number of bombers used in one night during this period was only 142; the bomb tonnage dropped on any one target was negligible; the achievement of bombing accuracy by night - as has been stated before and as will be mentioned again and again - was proving incredibly difficult, although few of the bomber commanders were yet prepared to face that unpleasant fact. Some German town reports become available during this period and they illustrate that Bomber Command's night raids were to be little more than pinpricks for months to come.
And so Bomber Command played its part in those momentous battles across the English Channel, although it cannot be claimed that the efforts of the bomber crews and their losses - 147 aircraft in the period - significantly altered the course of the campaign. No new types of aircraft were introduced. The strength available on the outbreak of war had not been significantly increased. A force which had been prepared primarily for day operations was being progressively committed to night bombing. On the credit balance, the strategic bombing of Germany had at last commenced and, tactically, the German invasion of Holland and Belgium had given the bombers the freedom to overfly those countries and this would be their route to Germany for the years ahead.

---

COMMUNICATIONS IN GERMANY AND HOLLAND
18 Wellingtons to the Aachen area, 12 Whitleys to Mnchengladbach, 12 Hampdens to Breda and Roosendaal. 1 Hampden lost.
22 Hampdens minelaying near Kiel and Copenhagen.

---

BELGIUM
24 Blenheims to attack communications and bridges; 3 aircraft lost.

---

RUHR INDUSTRY AND RAILWAYS
99 aircraft - 39 Wellingtons, 36 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys - to 16 different targets in the Ruhr area. Factories at Dortmund, Sterkrade and Castrop-Rauxel were designated as targets for 9 aircraft each; all other targets had fewer aircraft. 81 aircraft reported bombing at their primary targets or at alternatives over a wide area. This was the first strategic bombing of German industry in the Second World War. No aircraft were shot down over Germany but 1 Wellington, of 115 Squadron, blown off course by an unexpected wind, crashed into high ground at Burney near Rouen in France. Flight Lieutenant A. E. Pringle and his 4 crewmen were all killed, the first R.A.F. casualties of the strategic bombing war.
A report from Cologne says that bombs aimed at the IG-Werk at Dormagen hit a large farm and killed a dairyman, Franz Romeike, who became Cologne's first airraid casualty, the first of approximately 20,000 Cologne people killed in air raids and artillery assault during the war. Another report says that Herr Romeike had switched on an outside light by mistake while on the way to the toilet and that this light promptly attracted a stick of high-explosive bombs. 5 more people in Cologne were wounded.
Another report, from Mnster, describes the dropping of 6 bombs in the town which caused light damage and wounded 2 people, although Mnster was not on the list of towns to be attacked and no bomber reported attacking it as an alternative. The Mnster report continues: 'This bombing created a sensation and, for days on end, thousands of inquisitive people were attracted to the scene.'
12 further aircraft - 6 Wellingtons, 6 Whitleys - attacked German communications in Belgium without loss. This brought the total number of aircraft operating on this night to 111, the first time that more than 100 bombers were dispatched on one occasion since the war began.

RUHR INDUSTRY AND RAILWAYS
99 aircraft - 39 Wellingtons, 36 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys - to 16 different targets in the Ruhr area. Factories at Dortmund, Sterkrade and Castrop-Rauxel were designated as targets for 9 aircraft each; all other targets had fewer aircraft. 81 aircraft reported bombing at their primary targets or at alternatives over a wide area. This was the first strategic bombing of German industry in the Second World War. No aircraft were shot down over Germany but 1 Wellington, of 115 Squadron, blown off course by an unexpected wind, crashed into high ground at Burney near Rouen in France. Flight Lieutenant A. E. Pringle and his 4 crewmen were all killed, the first R.A.F. casualties of the strategic bombing war.
A report from Cologne says that bombs aimed at the IG-Werk at Dormagen hit a large farm and killed a dairyman, Franz Romeike, who became Cologne's first airraid casualty, the first of approximately 20,000 Cologne people killed in air raids and artillery assault during the war. Another report says that Herr Romeike had switched on an outside light by mistake while on the way to the toilet and that this light promptly attracted a stick of high-explosive bombs. 5 more people in Cologne were wounded.
Another report, from Mnster, describes the dropping of 6 bombs in the town which caused light damage and wounded 2 people, although Mnster was not on the list of towns to be attacked and no bomber reported attacking it as an alternative. The Mnster report continues: 'This bombing created a sensation and, for days on end, thousands of inquisitive people were attracted to the scene.'
12 further aircraft - 6 Wellingtons, 6 Whitleys - attacked German communications in Belgium without loss. This brought the total number of aircraft operating on this night to 111, the first time that more than 100 bombers were dispatched on one occasion since the war began.

---

GERMAN TARGETS
12 aircraft - 6 Hampdens and 6 Wellingtons - to oil targets in the Ruhr; 1 Wellington lost. 9 Whitleys to bomb communications between Germany and the battle front, no losses.

GERMAN TARGETS
12 aircraft - 6 Hampdens and 6 Wellingtons - to oil targets in the Ruhr; 1 Wellington lost. 9 Whitleys to bomb communications between Germany and the battle front, no losses.

---

GEMBLOUX
12 Blenheims, all from 82 Squadron, sent to bomb German troops who had created a gap in the Allied lines. Flak forced the squadron to loosen its formation and German fighters then attacked. 11 Blenheims were lost; the only surviving plane was badly damaged and crash-landed in England.

---

HAMBURG, BREMEN, COLOGNE, BELGIUM
48 Hampdens to Hamburg and 24 Whitleys to Bremen, all attacking oil refineries; 6 Wellingtons to railway yards at Cologne. 46 Wellingtons and 6 Hampdens attacked German troop communications in Belgium. By contrast with the almost complete loss of the Blenheim bomber formation the previous day, there were no losses from the 130 aircraft dispatched on this night.
A report from Hamburg lists 36 separate fires, the largest causing the complete gutting of the Mercksche fertilizer factory, and 160 buildings damaged by high-explosive bombs. The most seriously damaged building after the fertilizer factory was in the Reeperbahn. 34 people - 28 civilians and 6 servicemen - were killed and 72 people injured.
In Bremen, 6 fires were started, the largest being in 2 warehouses at the docks which were full of furniture confiscated from emigrating Jews. 13 people were killed and 55 injured.

HAMBURG, BREMEN, COLOGNE, BELGIUM
48 Hampdens to Hamburg and 24 Whitleys to Bremen, all attacking oil refineries; 6 Wellingtons to railway yards at Cologne. 46 Wellingtons and 6 Hampdens attacked German troop communications in Belgium. By contrast with the almost complete loss of the Blenheim bomber formation the previous day, there were no losses from the 130 aircraft dispatched on this night.
A report from Hamburg lists 36 separate fires, the largest causing the complete gutting of the Mercksche fertilizer factory, and 160 buildings damaged by high-explosive bombs. The most seriously damaged building after the fertilizer factory was in the Reeperbahn. 34 people - 28 civilians and 6 servicemen - were killed and 72 people injured.
In Bremen, 6 fires were started, the largest being in 2 warehouses at the docks which were full of furniture confiscated from emigrating Jews. 13 people were killed and 55 injured.

---

LE CATEAU
13 Blenheims attacked German columns, 3 lost.

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM
60 aircraft - 24 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 12 Hampdens - to various oil refineries and railway yards in Germany, and to German troop communications in Belgium. 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, BELGIUM
60 aircraft - 24 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 12 Hampdens - to various oil refineries and railway yards in Germany, and to German troop communications in Belgium. 1 Whitley lost.

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM AND FRANCE
78 aircraft - 36 Hampdens, 30 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys - carried out widespread attacks on German troop communications in France and Belgium and on railway and industrial targets in Germany. 2 Whitleys lost.

GERMANY, BELGIUM AND FRANCE
78 aircraft - 36 Hampdens, 30 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys - carried out widespread attacks on German troop communications in France and Belgium and on railway and industrial targets in Germany. 2 Whitleys lost.

---

BAPAUME-ARRAS ROAD
47 Blenheims attacked the German armoured thrust which was threatening to encircle the B.E.F. from the south. An R.A.F. fighter escort was provided and German fighters did not intervene. No Blenheims lost.

---

NORTHERN FRANCE
92 aircraft - 32 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens, 18 Blenheims - were dispatched in an attempt to delay the new German breakthrough. The Blenheim contribution was an experiment in night operations for this type of aircraft, an attempt to avoid the heavy day casualties. 77 aircraft bombed a variety of targets. 3 Whitleys and 1 Wellington lost.

NORTHERN FRANCE
92 aircraft - 32 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens, 18 Blenheims - were dispatched in an attempt to delay the new German breakthrough. The Blenheim contribution was an experiment in night operations for this type of aircraft, an attempt to avoid the heavy day casualties. 77 aircraft bombed a variety of targets. 3 Whitleys and 1 Wellington lost.

---

NORTHERN FRANCE
61 Blenheims (3 on reconnaissance flights) to attack the German columns advancing rapidly through to the coast north of the River Somme. 57 aircraft found targets to bomb but some were hampered by the presence of French refugees on the roads. 3 Blenheims lost.

---

GERMAN RAILWAYS
124 aircraft - 52 Whitleys, 47 Wellingtons, 25 Hampdens - to attack German railways leading to the battle front at many places between Mnchengladbach and Euskirchen, particularly in the Aachen area. 5 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 1 Whitley, 1 Hampden - lost. The pilot of the lost Hampden, Flight Lieutenant Coton of 83 Squadron, ordered his 3 crewmen to bale out soon after the aircraft was hit by Flak over Germany. The pilot managed to bring his plane to England but it was hit again by British anti-aircraft guns on the Essex coast. The pilot baled out safely and the Hampden crashed near Hornchurch.

GERMAN RAILWAYS
124 aircraft - 52 Whitleys, 47 Wellingtons, 25 Hampdens - to attack German railways leading to the battle front at many places between Mnchengladbach and Euskirchen, particularly in the Aachen area. 5 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 1 Whitley, 1 Hampden - lost. The pilot of the lost Hampden, Flight Lieutenant Coton of 83 Squadron, ordered his 3 crewmen to bale out soon after the aircraft was hit by Flak over Germany. The pilot managed to bring his plane to England but it was hit again by British anti-aircraft guns on the Essex coast. The pilot baled out safely and the Hampden crashed near Hornchurch.

---

NORTHERN FRANCE
59 Blenheims (I reconnaissance) attacked the German columns advancing to the French coast. 3 Blenheims lost.

---

MERSEBURG, FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND
47 aircraft - 24 Whitleys, 12 Hampdens, 11 Wellingtons - to bomb numerous railway, bridge and road targets in France, Belgium and Holland. 35 Hampdens to the oil refinery at Merseburg near Leipzig, a very distant target for this period of the war; because of deteriorating weather conditions over the English airfields this force was recalled. 1 Hampden did not receive the recall signal and went on to bomb Merseburg.
No aircraft was lost from any of the above operations but 3 crashed in England.

MERSEBURG, FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND
47 aircraft - 24 Whitleys, 12 Hampdens, 11 Wellingtons - to bomb numerous railway, bridge and road targets in France, Belgium and Holland. 35 Hampdens to the oil refinery at Merseburg near Leipzig, a very distant target for this period of the war; because of deteriorating weather conditions over the English airfields this force was recalled. 1 Hampden did not receive the recall signal and went on to bomb Merseburg.
No aircraft was lost from any of the above operations but 3 crashed in England.

---

NORTHERN FRANCE
27 Blenheims to bomb German troop columns south of Arras; weather conditions were bad and only 16 aircraft bombed various targets. 3 Blenheims lost, including the aircraft of the commander of 40 Squadron, Wing Commander J. G. Llewelyn; this was the second commanding officer lost by 40 Squadron in 8 days.

---

COMMUNICATIONS TO BATTLE FRONT
122 aircraft - 50 Hampdens, 48 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys - to bomb trains, road and rail bridges and junctions over a wide area. The Hampdens were allocated targets in Germany west of the Rhine and in Holland; other aircraft were sent to France and Belgium. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.

COMMUNICATIONS TO BATTLE FRONT
122 aircraft - 50 Hampdens, 48 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys - to bomb trains, road and rail bridges and junctions over a wide area. The Hampdens were allocated targets in Germany west of the Rhine and in Holland; other aircraft were sent to France and Belgium. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.

---

CALAIS
69 Blenheims attacked German troops surrounding the British garrison at Calais. No losses.

---

COMMUNICATIONS
59 aircraft - 29 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens, 12 Wellingtons - to attack communications between Germany and the battle front over a wide area. No losses.

COMMUNICATIONS
59 aircraft - 29 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens, 12 Wellingtons - to attack communications between Germany and the battle front over a wide area. No losses.

---

BRIDGES AND TRANSPORT
42 Blenheims to bomb troops and vehicles and vital bridges just behind the German front line, now closing in on the main body of the B.E.F., which had its back to the coast. 4 Blenheims lost.

---

COMMUNICATIONS, TROOP POSITIONS
103 aircraft - 38 Wellingtons, 36 Whitleys, 29 Hampdens - to targets over a wide area. The Wellingtons attempted to bomb troop locations close to the battlefield in France and Belgium; the Whitleys and Hampdens mostly attacked communications further in the rear. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost.
A report from Cologne describes how a Whitley, despite thick cloud, accurately bombed the Sdbrcke and how the gas main under the bridge was set alight. The wooden planking of the railway bridge started burning and the bridge was closed to traffic for at least 1_ hours. This would be a typical incident during these attempts to cut communications between Germany and the battle front.

COMMUNICATIONS, TROOP POSITIONS
103 aircraft - 38 Wellingtons, 36 Whitleys, 29 Hampdens - to targets over a wide area. The Wellingtons attempted to bomb troop locations close to the battlefield in France and Belgium; the Whitleys and Hampdens mostly attacked communications further in the rear. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost.
A report from Cologne describes how a Whitley, despite thick cloud, accurately bombed the Sdbrcke and how the gas main under the bridge was set alight. The wooden planking of the railway bridge started burning and the bridge was closed to traffic for at least 1_ hours. This would be a typical incident during these attempts to cut communications between Germany and the battle front.

---

DUNKIRK AREA
34 Blenheims attacked positions behind the German forces which now surrounded the Dunkirk perimeter. There were no losses. The evacuation from Dunkirk commenced on the evening of this day.

---

COMMUNICATIONS, AIRFIELDS
43 aircraft - 22 Wellingtons, 21 Hampdens - attacked troop columns, railways and airfields in France, Belgium and Holland. No losses.

COMMUNICATIONS, AIRFIELDS
43 aircraft - 22 Wellingtons, 21 Hampdens - attacked troop columns, railways and airfields in France, Belgium and Holland. No losses.

---

DUNKIRK AREA
48 Blenheims attacked German positions around Dunkirk, 2 lost.

---

OIL, COMMUNICATIONS
120 aircraft - 49 Hampdens, 36 Whitleys, 35 Wellingtons.
24 Hampdens attacked oil refineries at Hamburg and Bremen. Hamburg records show that the raid here was not a success. Only 7 high-explosive bombs and a few incendiaries fell in the city, causing 1 small fire. One bomb fell in the Blohm & Voss shipbuilding yard and damaged the lighting system. In nearby Harburg, 3 bombs fell very close to a group of whale-oil tanks and 3,000 tons of oil leaked through the splinter holes. All but 32 tons of this was later reclaimed and pumped back into the tanks. There were no casualties in the Hamburg area.
The Whitleys attacked 6 railway yards in the Ruhr. The remainder of the Hampdens and all the Wellingtons attacked communications behind the battle front in France and Belgium.
There were no R.A.F. losses from any of these operations. A Whitley of 10 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader Hanafin, shot down a German fighter near Utrecht. This is believed to be the first German night fighter shot down in the war. The tail gunner whose fire hit the fighter was Aircraftman Oldridge.
28 and

OIL, COMMUNICATIONS
120 aircraft - 49 Hampdens, 36 Whitleys, 35 Wellingtons.
24 Hampdens attacked oil refineries at Hamburg and Bremen. Hamburg records show that the raid here was not a success. Only 7 high-explosive bombs and a few incendiaries fell in the city, causing 1 small fire. One bomb fell in the Blohm & Voss shipbuilding yard and damaged the lighting system. In nearby Harburg, 3 bombs fell very close to a group of whale-oil tanks and 3,000 tons of oil leaked through the splinter holes. All but 32 tons of this was later reclaimed and pumped back into the tanks. There were no casualties in the Hamburg area.
The Whitleys attacked 6 railway yards in the Ruhr. The remainder of the Hampdens and all the Wellingtons attacked communications behind the battle front in France and Belgium.
There were no R.A.F. losses from any of these operations. A Whitley of 10 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader Hanafin, shot down a German fighter near Utrecht. This is believed to be the first German night fighter shot down in the war. The tail gunner whose fire hit the fighter was Aircraftman Oldridge.
28 and

---

DUNKIRK
48 Blenheims by day and 34 Wellingtons and 13 Whitleys by night attacked German positions near the perimeter. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.
29 and

DUNKIRK
48 Blenheims by day and 34 Wellingtons and 13 Whitleys by night attacked German positions near the perimeter. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.
29 and

---

DUNKIRK
51 Blenheims by day and 15 Wellingtons by night continued the attacks in poor weather conditions. No aircraft were lost but the pilots of 4 Wellingtons ordered their crews to bale out on returning to England in bad weather; all of the pilots managed to land safely. One of the men who baled out was never found.

DUNKIRK
51 Blenheims by day and 15 Wellingtons by night continued the attacks in poor weather conditions. No aircraft were lost but the pilots of 4 Wellingtons ordered their crews to bale out on returning to England in bad weather; all of the pilots managed to land safely. One of the men who baled out was never found.

---

DUNKIRK
68 Blenheims flew in poor weather conditions; only 44 were able to bomb. No losses.

---

DUNKIRK, HAMBURG, BREMEN
28 Wellingtons attempted to bomb German positions around Dunkirk; 1 was lost. 18 Hampdens to oil targets at Hamburg and Bremen. Hamburg reports 1 person injured, no fires, No losses.
31 May, 31 May/

DUNKIRK, HAMBURG, BREMEN
28 Wellingtons attempted to bomb German positions around Dunkirk; 1 was lost. 18 Hampdens to oil targets at Hamburg and Bremen. Hamburg reports 1 person injured, no fires, No losses.
31 May, 31 May/

DUNKIRK
126 aircraft - 93 Blenheims by day and 33 Wellingtons by night - attacked German positions. This was the largest daylight operation so far by 2 Group's Blenheims. 2 Wellingtons lost.

---

DUNKIRK
56 Blenheims to German positions, none lost.

---

GERMANY, DUNKIRK
37 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys attacked a wide range of oil and communications targets in Germany from Hamburg to Koblenz but only 25 aircraft found suitable targets. 16 Wellingtons bombed German positions around Dunkirk. No losses.

GERMANY, DUNKIRK
37 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys attacked a wide range of oil and communications targets in Germany from Hamburg to Koblenz but only 25 aircraft found suitable targets. 16 Wellingtons bombed German positions around Dunkirk. No losses.

---

DUNKIRK
24 Blenheims attacked German positions. No losses.

---

GERMANY, DUNKIRK
24 Whitleys and 6 Hampdens attacked oil and communications targets at many places between Hamburg and Frankfurt. 16 Wellingtons attacked positions near Dunkirk. No losses.

GERMANY, DUNKIRK
24 Whitleys and 6 Hampdens attacked oil and communications targets at many places between Hamburg and Frankfurt. 16 Wellingtons attacked positions near Dunkirk. No losses.

---

DUNKIRK
18 Blenheims bombed, no losses.
This day saw the end of the evacuation from Dunkirk. 2 Group's Blenheims had flown on all but 3 days - days when weather conditions had been bad - since the opening of the German offensive; they had also flown 1 night operation. A total of 956 sorties had been flown and 57 aircraft lost. This was a loss rate of 6.3 percent, or the equivalent of 4 complete squadrons from the 9 squadrons in 2 Group which were operational during most of this period.
The Blenheims were given 1 day's rest before resuming operations, this time in support of the French Army and the few remaining British units further south in France.

---

COMMUNICATIONS, INDUSTRY
The night squadrons continued operations with their largest effort to date. 142 aircraft - 48 Hampdens, 48 Whitleys, 46 Wellingtons - attacked many targets from Hamburg to Frankfurt; a few of the Wellingtons made a last attack on German positions near Dunkirk. 1 Hampden was lost and another crashed into a barrage-balloon cable at Felixstowe when returning to England.

COMMUNICATIONS, INDUSTRY
The night squadrons continued operations with their largest effort to date. 142 aircraft - 48 Hampdens, 48 Whitleys, 46 Wellingtons - attacked many targets from Hamburg to Frankfurt; a few of the Wellingtons made a last attack on German positions near Dunkirk. 1 Hampden was lost and another crashed into a barrage-balloon cable at Felixstowe when returning to England.

---

GERMANY
57 aircraft - 23 Hampdens, 17 Wellingtons, 17 Whitleys - were sent to many targets in Germany. 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY
57 aircraft - 23 Hampdens, 17 Wellingtons, 17 Whitleys - were sent to many targets in Germany. 1 Whitley lost.

---

FRANCE
23 Blenheims attacked German troops and communications in the Bapaume-Per-onne-Albert area (exactly the area of the Battle of the Somme in 1916). No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
92 aircraft - 36 Hampdens, 34 Wellingtons, 22 Whitleys - attacked railways in Germany and communications in the Somme area. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost. Hamburg reports a sharp raid with 10 fires (5 large) and 16 people killed. 6 Hampdens resumed the minelaying campaign by mining the Langelands channel in Denmark, no losses.

GERMANY, FRANCE
92 aircraft - 36 Hampdens, 34 Wellingtons, 22 Whitleys - attacked railways in Germany and communications in the Somme area. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost. Hamburg reports a sharp raid with 10 fires (5 large) and 16 people killed. 6 Hampdens resumed the minelaying campaign by mining the Langelands channel in Denmark, no losses.

---

ST-VALRY
38 Blenheims operated in support of the 51st (Highland) Division, still fighting at St-Valry. 5 Blenheims lost.

---

HAMBURG, FRANCE
24 Wellingtons and 17 Whitleys attacked troops and communications in France. 24 Hampdens were sent to Hamburg for bombing and minelaying in the River Elbe. 15 of 18 aircraft reported bombing their targets. Hamburg reports 5 fires, 16 people killed and 7 injured. Only 2 of the 6 minelaying aircraft carried out their task.
There were no losses from any of these operations.
NORTHERN FRANCE, 7 to

HAMBURG, FRANCE
24 Wellingtons and 17 Whitleys attacked troops and communications in France. 24 Hampdens were sent to Hamburg for bombing and minelaying in the River Elbe. 15 of 18 aircraft reported bombing their targets. Hamburg reports 5 fires, 16 people killed and 7 injured. Only 2 of the 6 minelaying aircraft carried out their task.
There were no losses from any of these operations.
NORTHERN FRANCE, 7 to

The night bombers also continued their operations in a regular fashion. 336 bombing sorties were flown - 114 Wellingtons, 111 Hampdens and 111 Whitleys. Most of the effort was on the German communications and military positions in the continuing Battle of France but the largest single raid was by 24 Hampdens on an oil refinery at Hannover on 7/8 June. 283 of these night sorties claimed to have bombed their targets.
Minelaying operations continued every night with 23 Hampden sorties; 16 successfully laid mines.
Only 1 aircraft was lost by night in this period, a Hampden from a bombing raid to Germany on 9/10 June.

The night bombers also continued their operations in a regular fashion. 336 bombing sorties were flown - 114 Wellingtons, 111 Hampdens and 111 Whitleys. Most of the effort was on the German communications and military positions in the continuing Battle of France but the largest single raid was by 24 Hampdens on an oil refinery at Hannover on 7/8 June. 283 of these night sorties claimed to have bombed their targets.
Minelaying operations continued every night with 23 Hampden sorties; 16 successfully laid mines.
Only 1 aircraft was lost by night in this period, a Hampden from a bombing raid to Germany on 9/10 June.

---

ITALY, GERMANY, FRANCE
Following Italy's declaration of war on France and Britain on 10 June, 36 Whitleys were dispatched to Italy. They refuelled in the Channel Islands before their long flight over France and the Alps to bomb factories in Turin. 23 aircraft were not able to reach Italy because of difficult weather over the Alps. 9 aircraft bombed Turin but not the designated factories; most bombed railway yards. Turin reports 17 people killed and 40 injured. 2 other aircraft bombed targets at Genoa. Both cities were fully lit up, as in peacetime, when the bombers arrived; Turin's lights were turned off during the raid but Genoa's were not. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered over Turin. A Whitley of 77 Squadron crashed in flames near Le Mans on its return flight and Sergeant N. M. Songest and his crew - Sergeants R. C. Astbury, P. H. J. Budden, A. Findlay and E. Ombler - were all killed, the first casualties of Bomber Command's operations to Italy, which would continue spasmodically over the next three years. A further Whitley crashed in France.
59 aircraft - 31 Hampdens, 18 Wellingtons, 10 Whitleys - bombed various targets in Germany and France; 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley were lost. The Wellingtons all carried out incendiary raids in the Black Forest in an attempt to cause widespread forest fires. This was one of the Air Ministry's pre-war 'Western Air Plans'; there is no evidence that the forest attacks or the fire-raising attacks on the German harvest, both of which would continue for several weeks, brought any success; they were a considerable waste of effort at a time when the war was going very badly for Britain.
5 Hampdens went minelaying without loss.

ITALY, GERMANY, FRANCE
Following Italy's declaration of war on France and Britain on 10 June, 36 Whitleys were dispatched to Italy. They refuelled in the Channel Islands before their long flight over France and the Alps to bomb factories in Turin. 23 aircraft were not able to reach Italy because of difficult weather over the Alps. 9 aircraft bombed Turin but not the designated factories; most bombed railway yards. Turin reports 17 people killed and 40 injured. 2 other aircraft bombed targets at Genoa. Both cities were fully lit up, as in peacetime, when the bombers arrived; Turin's lights were turned off during the raid but Genoa's were not. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered over Turin. A Whitley of 77 Squadron crashed in flames near Le Mans on its return flight and Sergeant N. M. Songest and his crew - Sergeants R. C. Astbury, P. H. J. Budden, A. Findlay and E. Ombler - were all killed, the first casualties of Bomber Command's operations to Italy, which would continue spasmodically over the next three years. A further Whitley crashed in France.
59 aircraft - 31 Hampdens, 18 Wellingtons, 10 Whitleys - bombed various targets in Germany and France; 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley were lost. The Wellingtons all carried out incendiary raids in the Black Forest in an attempt to cause widespread forest fires. This was one of the Air Ministry's pre-war 'Western Air Plans'; there is no evidence that the forest attacks or the fire-raising attacks on the German harvest, both of which would continue for several weeks, brought any success; they were a considerable waste of effort at a time when the war was going very badly for Britain.
5 Hampdens went minelaying without loss.

---

FRANCE
29 Hampdens and 8 Whitleys were sent to military objectives in France but only 15 found suitable targets. 1 Hampden was lost and another hit a balloon cable at Harwich, crashing and setting fire to a flour mill on the docks.
6 Hampdens minelaying without loss.

Blenheims of 2 Group attacked German troops, columns and communications in the same general area of Northern France every day, using the same tactics. 355 sorties were flown and 23 Blenheims lost.
FRANCE, GERMANY, 7/8 to

---

FRANCE
29 Hampdens and 8 Whitleys were sent to military objectives in France but only 15 found suitable targets. 1 Hampden was lost and another hit a balloon cable at Harwich, crashing and setting fire to a flour mill on the docks.
6 Hampdens minelaying without loss.

---

FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND
163 aircraft - 65 Wellingtons, 64 Hampdens, 34 Whitleys - attacked a wide range of communications targets. Some of the Hampdens bombed Boulogne and Dunkirk docks and airfields at Flushing (Vlissingen) and Ostend. 1 Wellington lost.
NORTHERN FRANCE, 14 and

FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND
163 aircraft - 65 Wellingtons, 64 Hampdens, 34 Whitleys - attacked a wide range of communications targets. Some of the Hampdens bombed Boulogne and Dunkirk docks and airfields at Flushing (Vlissingen) and Ostend. 1 Wellington lost.
NORTHERN FRANCE, 14 and

---

FRANCE, GERMANY
43 Whitleys bombed targets in France in support of the land battle; 1 was lost. 24 Wellingtons and 5 Hampdens bombed targets in the Ruhr and in Southern Germany. 16 Wellingtons were sent as far south as Basle and Konstanz, on the Bodensee (Lake Constance); this was presumably an attempt to carry the bomber offensive to the extreme corners of this part of Germany.

2 Group's Blenheims continued their raids in support of the Battle of France. 60 sorties were flown on the 14th (the day Paris fell), with 4 lost, and 12 sorties on the 15th with 2 lost. A new type of target on the 14th was Merville airfield.

---

FRANCE, GERMANY
43 Whitleys bombed targets in France in support of the land battle; 1 was lost. 24 Wellingtons and 5 Hampdens bombed targets in the Ruhr and in Southern Germany. 16 Wellingtons were sent as far south as Basle and Konstanz, on the Bodensee (Lake Constance); this was presumably an attempt to carry the bomber offensive to the extreme corners of this part of Germany.

---

GENOA
Bomber Command established a small detachment at the French airfield of Salon, near Toulon, so that raids could more easily be carried out against Italian targets. 8 Wellingtons from this force were dispatched to Genoa but only 1 bombed. 1 Hampden from England made a reconnaissance flight over the North Sea. There were no losses.

GENOA
Bomber Command established a small detachment at the French airfield of Salon, near Toulon, so that raids could more easily be carried out against Italian targets. 8 Wellingtons from this force were dispatched to Genoa but only 1 bombed. 1 Hampden from England made a reconnaissance flight over the North Sea. There were no losses.

---

GENOA, MILAN
22 Wellingtons, 14 bombed. There were no losses.
MINELAYING, 16/17 to

GENOA, MILAN
22 Wellingtons, 14 bombed. There were no losses.
MINELAYING, 16/17 to

---

GERMANY
After a 2-night rest, the home-based night squadrons resumed intensive operations. 139 aircraft - 51 Whitleys, 49 Wellingtons, 39 Hampdens - were sent to Northern Germany and numerous targets in the Ruhr. 2 Whitleys were lost. A report from Cologne says that 20 high-explosive bombs fell in the city centre; 3 industrial premises were severely damaged and a Rhine cargo ship was sunk. 6 civilians were killed, the heaviest casualty list so far in Cologne.

GERMANY
After a 2-night rest, the home-based night squadrons resumed intensive operations. 139 aircraft - 51 Whitleys, 49 Wellingtons, 39 Hampdens - were sent to Northern Germany and numerous targets in the Ruhr. 2 Whitleys were lost. A report from Cologne says that 20 high-explosive bombs fell in the city centre; 3 industrial premises were severely damaged and a Rhine cargo ship was sunk. 6 civilians were killed, the heaviest casualty list so far in Cologne.

---

CHERBOURG
6 Blenheims attacked armoured vehicles near Cherbourg without loss.

---

GERMANY
69 aircraft - 38 Whitleys, 26 Wellingtons, 5 Hampdens - were sent to oil targets at Hamburg, Bremen and in the Ruhr and to railways at many other places. 2 Whitleys and 1 Wellington were lost. Hamburg reports 9 fires, 6 of them large ones, 1 civilian killed and 6 injured.

GERMANY
69 aircraft - 38 Whitleys, 26 Wellingtons, 5 Hampdens - were sent to oil targets at Hamburg, Bremen and in the Ruhr and to railways at many other places. 2 Whitleys and 1 Wellington were lost. Hamburg reports 9 fires, 6 of them large ones, 1 civilian killed and 6 injured.

---

AIRFIELDS
30 Blenheims attacked airfields at Rouen and Amiens with good results observed and no losses.

---

GERMANY
112 aircraft - 53 Hampdens, 37 Wellingtons, 22 Whitleys - to 15 oil and railway targets between Hamburg and Mannheim. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost. Mnster reports many bombs with 6 people killed, the town's first dead of the war. Hamburg reports 1 person killed but no fires.

GERMANY
112 aircraft - 53 Hampdens, 37 Wellingtons, 22 Whitleys - to 15 oil and railway targets between Hamburg and Mannheim. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost. Mnster reports many bombs with 6 people killed, the town's first dead of the war. Hamburg reports 1 person killed but no fires.

---

AIRFIELDS
47 Blenheims attacked airfields at Rouen and Schiphol with good results and no losses. 2 Blenheims abandoned photographic reconnaissance flights to the Ruhr because weather was too clear.

---

GERMANY
39 Whitleys and 17 Hampdens attacked a wide variety of targets in the Rhineland; some Hampdens bombed Schiphol airfield. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY
39 Whitleys and 17 Hampdens attacked a wide variety of targets in the Rhineland; some Hampdens bombed Schiphol airfield. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.

---

GERMANY
10 Blenheims, on a new kind of operation. Making use of cloud cover, the Blenheims were to fly to targets in Germany which had recently been attacked by night bombers. The bombing by the Blenheims was intended to extend the disruption at such targets through daylight hours, to take photographs of the night-bombing results and to draw the German day-fighter strength away from the Channel coast near England.
The cloudno cover was not good on this day and only 2 Blenheims bombed targets, at Bremen and at Hamstede airfield. There were no losses.

---

GERMANY
105 aircraft - 42 Hampdens, 33 Wellingtons, 30 Whitleys - attacked a wide range of targets in Northern Germany, the Ruhr and Central Germany. Schiphol airfield and Antwerp were also bombed. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.

GERMANY
105 aircraft - 42 Hampdens, 33 Wellingtons, 30 Whitleys - attacked a wide range of targets in Northern Germany, the Ruhr and Central Germany. Schiphol airfield and Antwerp were also bombed. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.

---

AIRFIELDS
18 Blenheims bombed Merville airfield; 3 further Blenheims abandoned flights to Germany and bombed Schiphol airfield. No losses.

---

This was the first night without any Bomber Command raids since the opening of the German offensive in the West. There had been 44 continuous nights of operations but only rarely a 'maximum effort'. The night squadrons had not been as fully extended as the day squadrons and their casualty rate had been much lower (see statistics at end of section).

This was the first night without any Bomber Command raids since the opening of the German offensive in the West. There had been 44 continuous nights of operations but only rarely a 'maximum effort'. The night squadrons had not been as fully extended as the day squadrons and their casualty rate had been much lower (see statistics at end of section).

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM
26 Blenheims to Osnabrck, Hamm and Soest. Some proceeded to these targets, others bombed airfields in Holland. 3 Blenheims lost.

---

GERMANY
53 Hampdens and 26 Whitleys attacked Bremen and 11 other targets in the Ruhr and the Rhineland. No losses.

GERMANY
53 Hampdens and 26 Whitleys attacked Bremen and 11 other targets in the Ruhr and the Rhineland. No losses.

---

DUTCH AIRFIELDS
8 Blenheims bombed Schiphol and Eindhoven; no losses.

---

GERMANY
103 aircraft - 68 Wellingtons, 19 Hampdens, 16 Whitleys - attacked 21 targets in Germany between Hamburg and Mannheim. No losses.

A regular force of 6 Hampdens was sent minelaying on every night during this period except 22/23 June. 54 sorties were dispatched, 42 laid mines successfully, 1 Hampden was lost on the night of 23/24 June.

---

GERMANY
103 aircraft - 68 Wellingtons, 19 Hampdens, 16 Whitleys - attacked 21 targets in Germany between Hamburg and Mannheim. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
25 Blenheims to targets in Germany. Most turned back because of lack of cloud cover. Rotterdam airfield and an iron foundry at Alkmaar were bombed. No losses.

---

GERMANY
48 aircraft - 24 Hampdens, 12 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys - dispatched and 21 different targets in Germany and Holland bombed. No losses.
The armistice which the French Government had agreed with the Germans on 21 June came into effect on 25 June.
Operational Statistics, 10 May to

---

(47 days/nights)
Number of days with operations: 41
Number of nights with operations: 46
Number of daylight sorties: 1,601, from which 92 aircraft (5.7 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 3,484, from which 53 aircraft (1.5 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 5,085, from which 145 aircraft (2.9 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage in period: 3,492 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 108.2 sorties, 3.1 aircraft lost, 74.3 tons of bombs dropped
Most of the Hamburg reports quoted are from Feuersturm ber Hamburg by Hans Brunswig, Stuttgart, Motorbuch, 1978. Brunswig was a senior fire officer in Hamburg during the war and his book, which includes as an appendix casualty figures from Hamburg's civil records, is a very useful reference work.
The fall of France and Norway left German forces in control of the coast of Europe from Norway to the Spanish border. Hitler's plan now was either to persuade England to make peace or to launch an invasion across the narrow English Channel or the North Sea and defeat the weakened British Army before winter. Great Britain stood nearly alone against what was seen at that time as the almost unbeatable victor of Europe. Her only allies were the members of the Empire, although Britain's forces would also be reinforced by the men who had fled the countries defeated by Germany. Replacement of lost equipment and time to reorganize the Army which had returned from France were Britain's main problems. The Royal Navy, although having lost many small ships at Dunkirk, was still powerful. Much of the R.A.F.'s strength had been carefully conserved and it was at least as strong, and certainly more experienced, than at the outbreak of war.
Led and inspired by her new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, Britain had no intention of settling for peace with Germany. The Battle of Britain would have to be fought to its conclusion. On 16 July, three weeks after the fall of France, Hitler ordered his commanders to prepare Unternehmung Seelwe (Operation Sea Lion) - the invasion of Southern England - preceded by the destruction of R.A.F. Fighter Command on its airfields or in the air. The first, probing, German air attacks soon followed, and they increased in intensity through August and into September, when the climax came. The outcome is well known. The R.A.F. was not destroyed; the invasion did not come. The Germans then turned their bombing operations to night, thus submitting to the same tactical rules which had forced most of the R.A.F. bomber force to abandon daylight operations when faced by determined fighter opposition. London and many other British cities had to endure a sustained offensive by German bombers.
The victory of the Battle of Britain belonged mainly to Fighter Command; the bomber squadrons were able to play no more than a supporting role. Six major directives were issued in rapid succession to Bomber Command during the period under review here. The Air Ministry was torn between maintaining the long-term strategic offensive against selective parts of German industry and the need to devote effort to targets which could bring immediate relief in the front line. Such diversions from the main aim to more immediate problems would plague Bomber Command operations for years to come. So - although some of the available bombers were sent to Germany night after night to attack industrial targets (oil was still the first priority), to bomb the German communications system and to attempt the burning of forests and even autumn crops according to those old pre-war plans - an increasing amount of effort had to be devoted to attacking the airfields from which the Luftwaffe was operating, and German aircraft factories, even though these factories were often distant and hard to find. There was also a prolonged series of raids on any form of German shipping, especially the concentrations of barges which the Germans brought from Europe's inland-waterway system and gathered in the ports along the Channel and North Sea coasts. The destruction of many of these barges was probably Bomber Command's greatest contribution to the Battle of Britain. The result of all these calls upon the bomber strength meant that there was no concentration of effort on any one system. This is not intended as a criticism; the needs of that historic period demanded that Bomber Command play a supporting role whenever it was required.
Bomber Command had lost 145 aircraft during the Battle of France, plus the further number which had crashed in England or been seriously damaged in action. These casualties were equivalent to at least half the front-line strength which had been available at the opening of the German offensive less than two months earlier. But there had been some increase in the number of squadrons available. Three squadrons created by Czech and Polish airmen were formed in September: 311 (Czech) Squadron, with Wellingtons, was the first to fly on operations on 10/11 September and was closely followed by 300 and 301 (Polish) Squadrons flying old Fairey Battles three nights later. The bomber squadrons of the Advanced Air Striking Force returned from France and were nominally available for operations but they had taken a severe mauling and the first of them - 103 and 150 Squadrons - would not fly for nearly a month. Most of the Battle squadrons would help to re-form the original No. 1 Group and would soon be given a more effective aircraft, the Wellington; 1 Group would eventually become one of the most powerful in Bomber Command. The other groups had to replace their recent losses and many aircraft required extensive repair or were retired to training units. The Blenheim losses in the Battle of France were replaced with particular speed and more squadrons were added; there were eleven Blenheim squadrons with 180 aircraft available for operations by the end of July.
There was still no significant increase in bombing accuracy. Nearly all night raids were carried out by small numbers of aircraft sent to numerous targets. Each crew was required to find its own way and navigation was always a more severe problem than any defence the Germans could present. Visual sightings of the ground could be useful on moonlit nights but, when such sightings were not possible, navigation was almost all by 'dead reckoning' - the theoretical working out of an aircraft's position using forecast winds. Any improvement on this system by the use of radio bearings, astro navigation or the detection of wind changes was a chancy business. Major navigational errors were frequent. If a crew did find the city which housed its designated target - the city itself was not yet the target - the bomber had to fly around for some time, at various heights depending on the determination of the crew, trying to establish the exact location of the target by means of map-reading and by the light of the moon or the single flares which aircraft released; there was never an attempt to concentrate the flares into a short period of the night. The darkness and the effective German black-out often concealed the target, and increasingly dense and effective Flak and searchlights forced the bombers to higher altitudes and made any waiting in the target area more hazardous. A few aircraft were now fitted with 'bombing cameras' which would take a flashlit photograph of the ground at the approximate moment of bomb impact. These were usually given to the most experienced crews and, if the results had been interpreted properly, would have shown glaring discrepancies between the claims of crews and the actual results of the bombing. But optimism usually prevailed.
A study of civil records from three German cities - Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven and Mnster - gives some indication both of the small scale of the raids and of their lack of effectiveness during this period. The targets in Wilhelmshaven were the docks - home of the pre-war German navy - in Hamburg oil-storage depots and the docks, and in Mnster the railway and canal system. Mnster was bombed on fourteen nights in the three-and-a-half-month period covered by this part of the diary but on only one night did more than ten bombs fall in the city and that night was the only one when there were fatal casualties, two people being killed. Hamburg had raids on thirty-six nights, with fatal casualties - nineteen people killed - on only ten of those nights, and with 'large fires' occurring on only five nights. (Two day raids on Hamburg are described under their individual diary entries.) Wilhelmshaven was bombed twenty-one times. Houses were destroyed on one night, seriously damaged on two nights and slightly damaged on four nights. The only other buildings mentioned are a crematorium destroyed and a school and a water-pumping station damaged. Bombs fell in the dock area frequently but only caused 'trifling damage' ('geringer Schaden') on two occasions. Four people were killed in Wilhelmshaven, three of them in the dock area. Again, it is not claimed that such records are comprehensive and it is possible that some of the more serious damage which might have occurred in such places as the naval dockyard at Wilhelmshaven would not be included in the basically civil records available, but the overall picture is one of dozens of small raids having only a very slight effect upon the German war effort.
The German defences were hardly more effective. The Luftwaffe was as unprepared for a night-bombing war over their own country as the R.A.F. had been to wage such a war. The total German night-fighter force at this period numbered no more than forty aircraft, mostly Messerschmitt 110s. The night-fighter crews had no radar aids and had to find the British bombers by moonlight or in searchlight beams, although the searchlights were stationed near cities at this period of the war and the German fighters were thus likely to be shot at by their own Flak. The general story is of a very late and slow start by the German night-fighter force.
The Blenheims continued to operate mostly by day, either escorted to short-range targets by fighters or being sent to fly singly to Germany on 'cloud-cover' raids. A few of the Blenheims operated by night, their speciality becoming the bombing of Luftwaffe airfields in France, Belgium and Holland.

A regular force of 6 Hampdens was sent minelaying on every night during this period except 22/23 June. 54 sorties were dispatched, 42 laid mines successfully, 1 Hampden was lost on the night of 23/24 June.

---

GERMANY
48 aircraft - 24 Hampdens, 12 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys - dispatched and 21 different targets in Germany and Holland bombed. No losses.
The armistice which the French Government had agreed with the Germans on 21 June came into effect on 25 June.
Operational Statistics, 10 May to

---

(47 days/nights)
Number of days with operations: 41
Number of nights with operations: 46
Number of daylight sorties: 1,601, from which 92 aircraft (5.7 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 3,484, from which 53 aircraft (1.5 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 5,085, from which 145 aircraft (2.9 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage in period: 3,492 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 108.2 sorties, 3.1 aircraft lost, 74.3 tons of bombs dropped
Most of the Hamburg reports quoted are from Feuersturm ber Hamburg by Hans Brunswig, Stuttgart, Motorbuch, 1978. Brunswig was a senior fire officer in Hamburg during the war and his book, which includes as an appendix casualty figures from Hamburg's civil records, is a very useful reference work.
The fall of France and Norway left German forces in control of the coast of Europe from Norway to the Spanish border. Hitler's plan now was either to persuade England to make peace or to launch an invasion across the narrow English Channel or the North Sea and defeat the weakened British Army before winter. Great Britain stood nearly alone against what was seen at that time as the almost unbeatable victor of Europe. Her only allies were the members of the Empire, although Britain's forces would also be reinforced by the men who had fled the countries defeated by Germany. Replacement of lost equipment and time to reorganize the Army which had returned from France were Britain's main problems. The Royal Navy, although having lost many small ships at Dunkirk, was still powerful. Much of the R.A.F.'s strength had been carefully conserved and it was at least as strong, and certainly more experienced, than at the outbreak of war.
Led and inspired by her new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, Britain had no intention of settling for peace with Germany. The Battle of Britain would have to be fought to its conclusion. On 16 July, three weeks after the fall of France, Hitler ordered his commanders to prepare Unternehmung Seelwe (Operation Sea Lion) - the invasion of Southern England - preceded by the destruction of R.A.F. Fighter Command on its airfields or in the air. The first, probing, German air attacks soon followed, and they increased in intensity through August and into September, when the climax came. The outcome is well known. The R.A.F. was not destroyed; the invasion did not come. The Germans then turned their bombing operations to night, thus submitting to the same tactical rules which had forced most of the R.A.F. bomber force to abandon daylight operations when faced by determined fighter opposition. London and many other British cities had to endure a sustained offensive by German bombers.
The victory of the Battle of Britain belonged mainly to Fighter Command; the bomber squadrons were able to play no more than a supporting role. Six major directives were issued in rapid succession to Bomber Command during the period under review here. The Air Ministry was torn between maintaining the long-term strategic offensive against selective parts of German industry and the need to devote effort to targets which could bring immediate relief in the front line. Such diversions from the main aim to more immediate problems would plague Bomber Command operations for years to come. So - although some of the available bombers were sent to Germany night after night to attack industrial targets (oil was still the first priority), to bomb the German communications system and to attempt the burning of forests and even autumn crops according to those old pre-war plans - an increasing amount of effort had to be devoted to attacking the airfields from which the Luftwaffe was operating, and German aircraft factories, even though these factories were often distant and hard to find. There was also a prolonged series of raids on any form of German shipping, especially the concentrations of barges which the Germans brought from Europe's inland-waterway system and gathered in the ports along the Channel and North Sea coasts. The destruction of many of these barges was probably Bomber Command's greatest contribution to the Battle of Britain. The result of all these calls upon the bomber strength meant that there was no concentration of effort on any one system. This is not intended as a criticism; the needs of that historic period demanded that Bomber Command play a supporting role whenever it was required.
Bomber Command had lost 145 aircraft during the Battle of France, plus the further number which had crashed in England or been seriously damaged in action. These casualties were equivalent to at least half the front-line strength which had been available at the opening of the German offensive less than two months earlier. But there had been some increase in the number of squadrons available. Three squadrons created by Czech and Polish airmen were formed in September: 311 (Czech) Squadron, with Wellingtons, was the first to fly on operations on 10/11 September and was closely followed by 300 and 301 (Polish) Squadrons flying old Fairey Battles three nights later. The bomber squadrons of the Advanced Air Striking Force returned from France and were nominally available for operations but they had taken a severe mauling and the first of them - 103 and 150 Squadrons - would not fly for nearly a month. Most of the Battle squadrons would help to re-form the original No. 1 Group and would soon be given a more effective aircraft, the Wellington; 1 Group would eventually become one of the most powerful in Bomber Command. The other groups had to replace their recent losses and many aircraft required extensive repair or were retired to training units. The Blenheim losses in the Battle of France were replaced with particular speed and more squadrons were added; there were eleven Blenheim squadrons with 180 aircraft available for operations by the end of July.
There was still no significant increase in bombing accuracy. Nearly all night raids were carried out by small numbers of aircraft sent to numerous targets. Each crew was required to find its own way and navigation was always a more severe problem than any defence the Germans could present. Visual sightings of the ground could be useful on moonlit nights but, when such sightings were not possible, navigation was almost all by 'dead reckoning' - the theoretical working out of an aircraft's position using forecast winds. Any improvement on this system by the use of radio bearings, astro navigation or the detection of wind changes was a chancy business. Major navigational errors were frequent. If a crew did find the city which housed its designated target - the city itself was not yet the target - the bomber had to fly around for some time, at various heights depending on the determination of the crew, trying to establish the exact location of the target by means of map-reading and by the light of the moon or the single flares which aircraft released; there was never an attempt to concentrate the flares into a short period of the night. The darkness and the effective German black-out often concealed the target, and increasingly dense and effective Flak and searchlights forced the bombers to higher altitudes and made any waiting in the target area more hazardous. A few aircraft were now fitted with 'bombing cameras' which would take a flashlit photograph of the ground at the approximate moment of bomb impact. These were usually given to the most experienced crews and, if the results had been interpreted properly, would have shown glaring discrepancies between the claims of crews and the actual results of the bombing. But optimism usually prevailed.
A study of civil records from three German cities - Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven and Mnster - gives some indication both of the small scale of the raids and of their lack of effectiveness during this period. The targets in Wilhelmshaven were the docks - home of the pre-war German navy - in Hamburg oil-storage depots and the docks, and in Mnster the railway and canal system. Mnster was bombed on fourteen nights in the three-and-a-half-month period covered by this part of the diary but on only one night did more than ten bombs fall in the city and that night was the only one when there were fatal casualties, two people being killed. Hamburg had raids on thirty-six nights, with fatal casualties - nineteen people killed - on only ten of those nights, and with 'large fires' occurring on only five nights. (Two day raids on Hamburg are described under their individual diary entries.) Wilhelmshaven was bombed twenty-one times. Houses were destroyed on one night, seriously damaged on two nights and slightly damaged on four nights. The only other buildings mentioned are a crematorium destroyed and a school and a water-pumping station damaged. Bombs fell in the dock area frequently but only caused 'trifling damage' ('geringer Schaden') on two occasions. Four people were killed in Wilhelmshaven, three of them in the dock area. Again, it is not claimed that such records are comprehensive and it is possible that some of the more serious damage which might have occurred in such places as the naval dockyard at Wilhelmshaven would not be included in the basically civil records available, but the overall picture is one of dozens of small raids having only a very slight effect upon the German war effort.
The German defences were hardly more effective. The Luftwaffe was as unprepared for a night-bombing war over their own country as the R.A.F. had been to wage such a war. The total German night-fighter force at this period numbered no more than forty aircraft, mostly Messerschmitt 110s. The night-fighter crews had no radar aids and had to find the British bombers by moonlight or in searchlight beams, although the searchlights were stationed near cities at this period of the war and the German fighters were thus likely to be shot at by their own Flak. The general story is of a very late and slow start by the German night-fighter force.
The Blenheims continued to operate mostly by day, either escorted to short-range targets by fighters or being sent to fly singly to Germany on 'cloud-cover' raids. A few of the Blenheims operated by night, their speciality becoming the bombing of Luftwaffe airfields in France, Belgium and Holland.

---

GERMANY
14 Blenheims - 12 bombing, 1 reconnaissance - but only 3 bombed various targets. 1 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
107 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to multiple targets and minelaying. 3 Hampdens lost from the operations of this night, 1 of them being from the minelaying force.
4. Hampden and a Wellington of an early wartime period. These particular aircraft belonged to training units, not to front-line squadrons. Bomber Command Wellingtons flew 47,409 operational sorties during the war and Hampdens 16,541 sorties.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
107 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to multiple targets and minelaying. 3 Hampdens lost from the operations of this night, 1 of them being from the minelaying force.
4. Hampden and a Wellington of an early wartime period. These particular aircraft belonged to training units, not to front-line squadrons. Bomber Command Wellingtons flew 47,409 operational sorties during the war and Hampdens 16,541 sorties.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
24 Blenheims, 12 bombing targets, 12 on extensive reconnaissance of the Channel coast. Only 6 aircraft bombed, 5 at Hannover. 1 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
96 aircraft to industrial targets in Germany, airfields in Holland and minelaying. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
96 aircraft to industrial targets in Germany, airfields in Holland and minelaying. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

---

MERVILLE
20 Blenheims to bomb Merville airfield and on reconnaissance flights; all abandoned operations because of weather. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
108 aircraft to industrial targets in Germany, airfields in Holland and minelaying. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
108 aircraft to industrial targets in Germany, airfields in Holland and minelaying. No losses.

---

ABBEVILLE
12 Blenheims to Abbeville airfield and all bombed. 6 Blenheims on reconnaissance. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
83 aircraft to various targets. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
83 aircraft to various targets. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.

---

FRANCE
18 Blenheims, 12 to Merville airfield and 6 to Vignacourt aircraft depot. 3 aircraft lost.

GERMANY
88 aircraft, 82 to bomb Darmstadt, Hamburg, Hamm and Hanau and 6 minelaying. No losses.
Bomber Command's Operations Record Book includes the expression 'fire-raising attacks' for this night. There is no explanation for this phrase but it is believed to refer to the carrying of quantities of small fire-raising devices, code-named Deckers and Razzies, which were dropped on German forests and on the ripening German harvest after aircraft had carried out their normal bombing attack. The smaller devices, believed to be the Deckers, which were used in an attempt to burn the crops, were impregnated pieces of cloth with a delayed ignition process. When they fell near houses, people who collected them as souvenirs and carried them round in their pockets received a nasty surprise when the device suddenly burst into flames. (This report comes from Hamburg.)

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
38 aircraft - 24 Wellingtons, 13 Whitleys, 1 Blenheim - on 'cloud-cover raids' to Germany. Most of the targets were in the Ruhr but 5 Whitleys attempted to bomb the battleship Scharnhorst at Kiel; results are not known. 1 Whitley lost.
24 Blenheims carried out extensive photographic reconnaissance of the French coast without loss.

---

GERMANY
73 aircraft to Osnabrck and Kiel and minelaying. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
One of the Hampdens attacking the Scharnhorst at Kiel was flown by Flying Officer Guy Gibson of 83 Squadron, who dropped the first 2,000-lb bomb of the war. He released it on the sixth shallow dive-bombing attempt but the bomb overshot the Scharnhorst and exploded in the town of Kiel. 10 people were killed in Kiel on this night.

GERMANY
73 aircraft to Osnabrck and Kiel and minelaying. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
One of the Hampdens attacking the Scharnhorst at Kiel was flown by Flying Officer Guy Gibson of 83 Squadron, who dropped the first 2,000-lb bomb of the war. He released it on the sixth shallow dive-bombing attempt but the bomb overshot the Scharnhorst and exploded in the town of Kiel. 10 people were killed in Kiel on this night.

---

GERMANY
11 Blenheims dispatched; 10 returned because of lack of cloud cover, the remaining aircraft was lost while attempting to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
66 aircraft, including Blenheims on this night, to various targets. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
66 aircraft, including Blenheims on this night, to various targets. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
33 Blenheims on various tasks; 24 aircraft bombed targets that included for the first time barges being brought up the Rhine near Rotterdam for the intended invasion of Britain.
A report from Hamburg tells of 1 Blenheim which suddenly appeared out of the clouds and dropped 4 bombs in a residential area 3 miles from the nearest docks, though industrial premises may have been near by. There was no warning siren and one of the bombs fell near a group of children playing in a street. 11 children and 8 adults were killed; 31 houses were damaged. Because it was daylight, no first-aid or rescue teams were on duty and many of the wounded were taken to hospital on the fire-engines of Hamburg's regular fire brigade.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
27 Hampdens and Whitleys to bomb communications, airfields and barges and to lay mines. 2 Hampdens lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
27 Hampdens and Whitleys to bomb communications, airfields and barges and to lay mines. 2 Hampdens lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
20 Blenheims; 11 bombed targets in Germany or airfields in Holland. 2 further Blenheims photographed airfields in France. No losses.

---

GERMAN PORTS
73 aircraft to ports in Northern Germany and minelaying. 1 Hampden lost.

GERMAN PORTS
73 aircraft to ports in Northern Germany and minelaying. 1 Hampden lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
60 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to carry out cloud-cover attacks on targets - mainly ports - in Germany and airfields in Holland. 2 Blenheims and 1 Wellington lost. 12 Hampdens carried out a minelaying operation.
A report from Hamburg tells how one bomber carried out an attack on the liners Europa and Bremen, which were being prepared for Operation Sea Lion. 3 bombs fell very close to the ships but caused no damage.

---

KIEL
51 aircraft were dispatched to Kiel but many bombed alternative targets; 1 Wellington lost. 12 Hampdens minelaying. (The normal minelaying force dispatched each night had now been increased to 12 Hampdens.)

KIEL
51 aircraft were dispatched to Kiel but many bombed alternative targets; 1 Wellington lost. 12 Hampdens minelaying. (The normal minelaying force dispatched each night had now been increased to 12 Hampdens.)

---

BELGIUM
19 Blenheims to bomb airfields and barges; only 6 aircraft bombed, 1 lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
43 aircraft to German ports, airfields in Holland, and minelaying. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
43 aircraft to German ports, airfields in Holland, and minelaying. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

---

HOLLAND
24 Blenheims to attack airfields and barges; only 3 aircraft bombed, 2 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
54 aircraft to various targets and minelaying. 1 Hampden lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
54 aircraft to various targets and minelaying. 1 Hampden lost.

---

HOLLAND, BELGIUM, FRANCE
51 Blenheims on various tasks; only 24 bombed. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
64 aircraft to ports in N Germany, airfields in Holland and minelaying. 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
64 aircraft to ports in N Germany, airfields in Holland and minelaying. 1 Whitley lost.

---

NORWAY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
26 Blenheims on various tasks. 7 of the 12 aircraft bombing Stavanger airfield were lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
55 Hampdens and Wellingtons to various targets and minelaying. 19 of the Wellingtons were recalled because of weather conditions. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
55 Hampdens and Wellingtons to various targets and minelaying. 19 of the Wellingtons were recalled because of weather conditions. No losses.

---

FRENCH AIRFIELDS
40 Blenheims to Amiens and St-Omer. 6 aircraft lost. 107 Squadron lost 5 out of the 6 planes it sent to Amiens.

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND
40 Blenheims dispatched but none reached their targets in Germany and only 10 bombed airfields in France and Holland. 1 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
64 aircraft to various targets but only 45 bombed. 3 aircraft - 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley - lost. 1 further Wellington was sent to photograph the distant target of Stettin; it carried out this task and returned safely.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
64 aircraft to various targets but only 45 bombed. 3 aircraft - 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley - lost. 1 further Wellington was sent to photograph the distant target of Stettin; it carried out this task and returned safely.

---

KIEL, EMDEN
23 Whitleys dispatched, only 14 bombed, 1 lost.

KIEL, EMDEN
23 Whitleys dispatched, only 14 bombed, 1 lost.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, BELGIUM
22 Blenheims, only 8 bombed, 2 lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
97 aircraft to widespread targets and minelaying. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
97 aircraft to widespread targets and minelaying. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims to Kiel turned back because of clear weather conditions.

---

GERMANY
80 aircraft to widespread targets and minelaying. 1 Wellington lost.

GERMANY
80 aircraft to widespread targets and minelaying. 1 Wellington lost.

---

FRENCH AIRFIELDS
17 Blenheims to Lisieux and vreux but only 4 bombed; no losses.

---

GERMANY
33 Hampdens to Hamborn, Hannover, Osnabrck and Paderborn and minelaying. No losses.

GERMANY
33 Hampdens to Hamborn, Hannover, Osnabrck and Paderborn and minelaying. No losses.

---

BELGIUM, HOLLAND
15 Blenheims to attack airfields and barges, 1 lost. 2 further Blenheims on photographic reconnaissance to Dortmund-Ems Canal turned back.

BARGES
13 Blenheims attacked barges in Dutch and Belgian ports, no losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
7 Wellingtons to Gelsenkirchen and 3 Hampdens minelaying. 6 Blenheims attempted to bomb airfields in France; 1 aircraft bombed Morlaix airfield. An aircraft of 15 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader Webster (the records give no initials), carried out what is believed to be the first Intruder attack of the war when he attempted to patrol at low level over an airfield near Caen, waiting to attack any aircraft seen operating there. He was not successful in this attempt on this night.

GERMANY, FRANCE
7 Wellingtons to Gelsenkirchen and 3 Hampdens minelaying. 6 Blenheims attempted to bomb airfields in France; 1 aircraft bombed Morlaix airfield. An aircraft of 15 Squadron, piloted by Squadron Leader Webster (the records give no initials), carried out what is believed to be the first Intruder attack of the war when he attempted to patrol at low level over an airfield near Caen, waiting to attack any aircraft seen operating there. He was not successful in this attempt on this night.

---

SHIPPING AND BARGES
41 Blenheims to Belgian and Dutch ports, 40 bombed, 1 lost.

---

GERMANY
68 Hampdens and Wellingtons to 6 targets. 1 Wellington lost.
3 further Wellingtons from the newly formed Operational Training Units (O.T.U.s) carried out leaflet raids to towns in France and 1 of them bombed an airfield. This was the first example of the short operational flights made by crews at the end of their training period. These flights were usually to short-range targets in Northern France; most of them were leaflet raids but sometimes bombs were dropped.

GERMANY
68 Hampdens and Wellingtons to 6 targets. 1 Wellington lost.
3 further Wellingtons from the newly formed Operational Training Units (O.T.U.s) carried out leaflet raids to towns in France and 1 of them bombed an airfield. This was the first example of the short operational flights made by crews at the end of their training period. These flights were usually to short-range targets in Northern France; most of them were leaflet raids but sometimes bombs were dropped.

---

GERMANY
16 Blenheims to attack railways in Northern Germany lacked enough cloud cover and turned back.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
89 aircraft to 5 targets in Germany, to airfields in Holland and minelaying. 3 aircraft - 1 of each type - lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
89 aircraft to 5 targets in Germany, to airfields in Holland and minelaying. 3 aircraft - 1 of each type - lost.

---

FLUSHING AIRFIELD
24 Blenheims, only 1 bombed, 1 lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
95 aircraft to 6 German targets, airfields in Holland and minelaying. 4 Hampdens and 2 Wellingtons lost.
Bomber Command records state that attacks with 'special bombs', possibly a type of mine, were carried out from 30-100 ft against the battleship Admiral Scheer at Wilhelmshaven. This must have been a dangerous method of attack; Wilhelmshaven records say that 2 bombers crashed in the town and 3 near by, all shot down by local Flak.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
95 aircraft to 6 German targets, airfields in Holland and minelaying. 4 Hampdens and 2 Wellingtons lost.
Bomber Command records state that attacks with 'special bombs', possibly a type of mine, were carried out from 30-100 ft against the battleship Admiral Scheer at Wilhelmshaven. This must have been a dangerous method of attack; Wilhelmshaven records say that 2 bombers crashed in the town and 3 near by, all shot down by local Flak.

---

1 Blenheim on reconnaissance to Waalhaven airfield returned early.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE
81 aircraft to 7 targets in Germany. 12 Blenheims attacked airfields in France. 6 Battles bombed barges in Dutch ports; these Battles - from 103 and 150 Squadrons - were the first Battle operations under Bomber Command control. 8 Hampdens mine-laying. 5 O.T.U. sorties.
This was the largest night effort since the fall of France. 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE
81 aircraft to 7 targets in Germany. 12 Blenheims attacked airfields in France. 6 Battles bombed barges in Dutch ports; these Battles - from 103 and 150 Squadrons - were the first Battle operations under Bomber Command control. 8 Hampdens mine-laying. 5 O.T.U. sorties.
This was the largest night effort since the fall of France. 1 Whitley lost.

---

AIRFIELD
12 Blenheims to an unnamed airfield returned early.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND
68 aircraft of all Bomber Command types, including Battles, attacked 5 targets in Germany, airfields in France, barges in Holland, and carried out minelaying. 1 Blenheim and 2 Whitley lost. 1 O.T.U. sortie.

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND
68 aircraft of all Bomber Command types, including Battles, attacked 5 targets in Germany, airfields in France, barges in Holland, and carried out minelaying. 1 Blenheim and 2 Whitley lost. 1 O.T.U. sortie.

---

FRANCE, HOLLAND
15 Blenheims to airfields and shipping, only 4 bombed, no losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
85 aircraft of all types to various targets; 1 Blenheim lost. 6 O.T.U. sorties.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
85 aircraft of all types to various targets; 1 Blenheim lost. 6 O.T.U. sorties.

---

ST-AUBIN AIRFIELD
10 Blenheims, only 1 bombed, no losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
27 Hampdens and Whitleys dispatched in poor weather conditions; only 7 aircraft bombed. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
27 Hampdens and Whitleys dispatched in poor weather conditions; only 7 aircraft bombed. No losses.

---

5 Blenheims to attack French airfields, none bombed, 1 lost.

---

THE RUHR, HOLLAND
166 aircraft of all types to 7 targets in the Ruhr and to airfields in Holland. 7 aircraft - 3 Hampdens, 2 Blenheims, 2 Wellingtons - lost. 6 O.T.U. sorties.

THE RUHR, HOLLAND
166 aircraft of all types to 7 targets in the Ruhr and to airfields in Holland. 7 aircraft - 3 Hampdens, 2 Blenheims, 2 Wellingtons - lost. 6 O.T.U. sorties.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
14 Blenheims on bombing and reconnaissance operations, only 3 aircraft bombed. No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
18 Wellingtons and 9 Whitleys attacked Hamm and Ludwigshafen; 1 Whitley lost. 12 Hampdens minelaying. 6 O.T.U. sorties.

GERMANY, FRANCE
18 Wellingtons and 9 Whitleys attacked Hamm and Ludwigshafen; 1 Whitley lost. 12 Hampdens minelaying. 6 O.T.U. sorties.

---

NAVAL TARGETS
15 Blenheims to Germany and Holland; 14 bombed various targets. No losses.

---

NORTH GERMANY
24 Wellingtons and 19 Hampdens to bomb Hamburg, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven and Borkum. No losses. 8 O.T.U. sorties, 1 Wellington lost.

NORTH GERMANY
24 Wellingtons and 19 Hampdens to bomb Hamburg, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven and Borkum. No losses. 8 O.T.U. sorties, 1 Wellington lost.

---

LEEUWARDEN AIRFIELD
9 Blenheims bombed without loss.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM, FRANCE
89 aircraft to bomb a variety of targets and on minelaying operations. 2 Battles and 1 Hampden lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM, FRANCE
89 aircraft to bomb a variety of targets and on minelaying operations. 2 Battles and 1 Hampden lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
14 Blenheims to targets in Germany and to Leeuwarden airfield. Only 6 aircraft bombed; 1 lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
76 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Homberg, Cologne, Hamm, barges in Dutch ports and minelaying. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
76 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Homberg, Cologne, Hamm, barges in Dutch ports and minelaying. No losses.

---

FRENCH AIRFIELDS
24 Blenheims, 1 lost.

---

COLOGNE, THE RUHR
14 Wellingtons, no losses.

COLOGNE, THE RUHR
14 Wellingtons, no losses.

---

GERMANY
28 Blenheims to attack shipping and an aircraft depot at Paderborn. Only 11 aircraft bombed; 1 lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE
42 Battles, Blenheims and Hampdens to bomb a variety of targets and minelaying but only 13 bombed and 9 laid mines. On its outward flight,1 Battle was shot down into the sea off Skegness by R.A.F. fighters and 3 Hampdens ditched in the sea on their return flights.

---

HOLLAND
12 Blenheims to attack airfields, only 5 bombed, 1 lost.

---

THE RUHR
43 Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked 7 targets in the Ruhr. No losses.
A proportion of these aircraft released leaflets as a secondary task. This economical method of carrying leaflets to Germany and on flights across occupied countries became a regular practice and continued for the remainder of the war, although training aircraft continued to make leaflet-only flights to France and Belgium. Bomber Command delivered at least 1,500 million leaflets during the war.

THE RUHR
43 Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked 7 targets in the Ruhr. No losses.
A proportion of these aircraft released leaflets as a secondary task. This economical method of carrying leaflets to Germany and on flights across occupied countries became a regular practice and continued for the remainder of the war, although training aircraft continued to make leaflet-only flights to France and Belgium. Bomber Command delivered at least 1,500 million leaflets during the war.

---

AIRFIELDS
36 Blenheims to Holland, Belgium and France, 1 lost.

---

GERMANY
62 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 targets in Germany and minelaying. 1 Wellington lost.

GERMANY
62 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 targets in Germany and minelaying. 1 Wellington lost.

---

OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
16 Blenheims to various targets, only 6 bombed, 1 lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
71 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to oil targets in the Ruhr, to Kiel, to a seaplane base in Holland, and minelaying. 3 aircraft - 1 of each type - lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
71 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to oil targets in the Ruhr, to Kiel, to a seaplane base in Holland, and minelaying. 3 aircraft - 1 of each type - lost.

---

THE RUHR
11 aircraft attacked Sterkrade/Holten and Krefeld, no losses.

THE RUHR
11 aircraft attacked Sterkrade/Holten and Krefeld, no losses.

---

HOLLAND, FRANCE
9 Blenheims to Dutch airfields and on a sea sweep off Dieppe; no targets were bombed and no aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
85 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Hamburg, Kiel, Wilhelmshaven and Wismar, to Dutch airfields and to minelaying. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
85 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Hamburg, Kiel, Wilhelmshaven and Wismar, to Dutch airfields and to minelaying. No losses.

---

LE BOURGET
40 Blenheims to Le Bourget airfield but only 1 bombed. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
26 Wellingtons to Homberg and Reisholz and to airfields in Holland. 12 Hampdens minelaying, 1 lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
26 Wellingtons to Homberg and Reisholz and to airfields in Holland. 12 Hampdens minelaying, 1 lost.

---

AIRFIELDS
29 Blenheims to attack airfields, only 2 bombed. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep. No losses.

---

GERMANY
50 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked Emmerich, Hamm, Soest and Kiel and laid mines. No losses.

GERMANY
50 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked Emmerich, Hamm, Soest and Kiel and laid mines. No losses.

---

AIRFIELDS
15 Blenheims attacked Schiphol and Valkenburg, 1 lost. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep.

---

GERMANY
46 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked 7 targets. 1 Hampden lost.

GERMANY
46 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked 7 targets. 1 Hampden lost.

---

AIRFIELDSZ
15 Blenheims to Brittany and the Channel Islands; only 2 bombed - at Brest and at Le Bourg in Guernsey. This was the first bombing of the British Channel Islands, now occupied by the Germans. No aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
38 Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked Cologne, Ludwigshafen and Dutch airfields. 3 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
38 Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked Cologne, Ludwigshafen and Dutch airfields. 3 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

AIRFIELDS
22 Blenheims dispatched but only 8 bombed, 2 lost. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep.

---

GERMANY
57 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 9 targets; 1 Hampden lost. 3 O.T.U. sorties.
One of the targets raided on this night was Hamburg, whose local historian, Hans Brunswig, notes that the first R.A.F. 250-lb petrol bombs were recorded at approximately this time. They were described as being packed with petrol-soaked rags - 'Churchill's old socks' suggest the Hamburg humorists.

GERMANY
57 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 9 targets; 1 Hampden lost. 3 O.T.U. sorties.
One of the targets raided on this night was Hamburg, whose local historian, Hans Brunswig, notes that the first R.A.F. 250-lb petrol bombs were recorded at approximately this time. They were described as being packed with petrol-soaked rags - 'Churchill's old socks' suggest the Hamburg humorists.

---

AIRFIELDS
23 Blenheims, only 9 bombed, 1 lost. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep attacked shipping near Brest.

---

THE RUHR
59 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 targets in the Ruhr; 1 Whitley lost. 16 Hampdens minelaying and on sea reconnaissance, 1 lost. 5 O.T.U. sorties.

THE RUHR
59 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 targets in the Ruhr; 1 Whitley lost. 16 Hampdens minelaying and on sea reconnaissance, 1 lost. 5 O.T.U. sorties.

---

6 Blenheims made a sea sweep, 1 aircraft bombed De Kooy airfield in Holland. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
79 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany, to airfields in France, and minelaying. 4 Hampdens and 1 Blenheim lost. 4 O.T.U. sorties.
11 Hampdens of 49 and 83 Squadrons were ordered to make low-level bombing attacks on the Dortmund-Ems Canal at a point, near Mnster, where the canal crosses the River Ems by means of twin aqueducts. These were an important bottleneck link in the German inland-waterway system. The aqueducts had been attacked by 5 Group Hampdens on previous occasions and damaged. The German defences had now been increased and low-level attacks were subject to intense light Flak. 2 Hampdens were shot down but 8 aircraft managed to drop their bombs and caused damage which was still holding up barge traffic more than a month later.
For making a particularly determined attack, in which his Hampden was badly hit, Flight Lieutenant R. A. B. Learoyd of 49 Squadron was awarded Bomber Command's first Victoria Cross of the war. The Dortmund-Ems canal would need to be attacked on many future occasions and a second Victoria Cross would be earned here in 1945, again by a member of 5 Group.

---

.
50 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 5 Group from the outbreak until the end of the war but detached for short periods to Coastal Command in late 1939 and in 1940. Equipped with Hampdens, Manchesters and Lancasters; based at Waddington, Lindholme, Swinderby (twice) and Skellingthorpe (twice).
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Hampdens - 266 bombing, 88 minelaying, 14 leaflet
Manchesters - 15 bombing, 10 minelaying, 9 leaflet
Lancasters - 339 bombing, 26 minelaying
Total - 620 bombing, 124 minelaying, 23 leaflet = 767 raids
Sorties and Losses
Hampdens - 2,299 sorties, 57 aircraft lost (2.5 percent)
Manchesters - 126 sorties, 7 aircraft lost (56 percent)
Lancasters - 4,710 sorties, 112 aircraft lost (2.4 percent)
Total - 7,135 sorties, 176 aircraft lost (2.5 percent)
26 Hampdens and 27 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Except for three short periods, continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war.
Victoria Cross: Flying Officer L. T. Manser, posthumously, 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne,

GERMANY, HOLLAND
79 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany, to airfields in France, and minelaying. 4 Hampdens and 1 Blenheim lost. 4 O.T.U. sorties.
11 Hampdens of 49 and 83 Squadrons were ordered to make low-level bombing attacks on the Dortmund-Ems Canal at a point, near Mnster, where the canal crosses the River Ems by means of twin aqueducts. These were an important bottleneck link in the German inland-waterway system. The aqueducts had been attacked by 5 Group Hampdens on previous occasions and damaged. The German defences had now been increased and low-level attacks were subject to intense light Flak. 2 Hampdens were shot down but 8 aircraft managed to drop their bombs and caused damage which was still holding up barge traffic more than a month later.
For making a particularly determined attack, in which his Hampden was badly hit, Flight Lieutenant R. A. B. Learoyd of 49 Squadron was awarded Bomber Command's first Victoria Cross of the war. The Dortmund-Ems canal would need to be attacked on many future occasions and a second Victoria Cross would be earned here in 1945, again by a member of 5 Group.

---

AIRFIELDS
29 Blenheims to France and Holland; 16 bombed but 12 were lost, including 11 out of the 12 aircraft from a formation provided by 82 Squadron which was caught by German fighters while attacking Hamstede airfield in Holland. This was the second time during the summer of 1940 that a formation from this squadron was almost completely destroyed. 6 Blenheims on a sea sweep and 2 Blenheims on photographic reconnaissance to the Dortmund-Ems Canal operated without loss.

---

GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
62 Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 widely spread targets in Germany, 35 Whitleys to Milan and Turin - the first raid on Italy since the end of the Battle of France - 6 Blenheims to airfields and a seaplane base at Brest and 2 Wellingtons to photograph Stettin and Swinemnde on the Baltic coast. 98 of the 105 aircraft on these mostly lengthy operations reported that they had carried out their tasks, 1 Hampden was lost from the force bombing Germany and 1 Whitley returning from Italy crashed in the sea.

---

.
50 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 5 Group from the outbreak until the end of the war but detached for short periods to Coastal Command in late 1939 and in 1940. Equipped with Hampdens, Manchesters and Lancasters; based at Waddington, Lindholme, Swinderby (twice) and Skellingthorpe (twice).
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Hampdens - 266 bombing, 88 minelaying, 14 leaflet
Manchesters - 15 bombing, 10 minelaying, 9 leaflet
Lancasters - 339 bombing, 26 minelaying
Total - 620 bombing, 124 minelaying, 23 leaflet = 767 raids
Sorties and Losses
Hampdens - 2,299 sorties, 57 aircraft lost (2.5 percent)
Manchesters - 126 sorties, 7 aircraft lost (56 percent)
Lancasters - 4,710 sorties, 112 aircraft lost (2.4 percent)
Total - 7,135 sorties, 176 aircraft lost (2.5 percent)
26 Hampdens and 27 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Except for three short periods, continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war.
Victoria Cross: Flying Officer L. T. Manser, posthumously, 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne,

GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
62 Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 widely spread targets in Germany, 35 Whitleys to Milan and Turin - the first raid on Italy since the end of the Battle of France - 6 Blenheims to airfields and a seaplane base at Brest and 2 Wellingtons to photograph Stettin and Swinemnde on the Baltic coast. 98 of the 105 aircraft on these mostly lengthy operations reported that they had carried out their tasks, 1 Hampden was lost from the force bombing Germany and 1 Whitley returning from Italy crashed in the sea.

---

AIRFIELDS, SEA SWEEP
30 Blenheims; most turned back because of lack of cloud cover and only 6 bombed, at Morlaix, Dinard and St-Omer; there were no losses.

---

FRANCE, GERMANY, HOLLAND
92 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to various targets, including raids on 3 oil refineries in France. 2 Blenheims and 2 Whitleys lost.

FRANCE, GERMANY, HOLLAND
92 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to various targets, including raids on 3 oil refineries in France. 2 Blenheims and 2 Whitleys lost.

---

6 Blenheims on sea sweep; no action, no losses.
This was the day on which the main German air offensive on airfields in England commenced, the true start of the Battle of Britain.

---

VARIOUS TARGETS
83 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to multiple targets in Germany, France and Holland and 4 Whitleys to Italy. 6 O.T.U. sorties. 2 Blenheims and 1 Whitley lost.

VARIOUS TARGETS
83 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to multiple targets in Germany, France and Holland and 4 Whitleys to Italy. 6 O.T.U. sorties. 2 Blenheims and 1 Whitley lost.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
150 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to the Ruhr and Frankfurt, to the distant targets of Jena, Leuna and Augsburg, and to airfields in Holland. 118 aircraft reported bombing successfully; 7 aircraft -4 Whitleys, 2 Hampdens, 1 Wellington - lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
150 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to the Ruhr and Frankfurt, to the distant targets of Jena, Leuna and Augsburg, and to airfields in Holland. 118 aircraft reported bombing successfully; 7 aircraft -4 Whitleys, 2 Hampdens, 1 Wellington - lost.

---

FRANCE
9 Blenheims on sea sweep and bombing; 2 aircraft bombed targets in the Fcamp-Dieppe area. No losses.

---

AIRFIELDS, GERMANY
102 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 targets in Germany, to airfields in Holland, Belgium and France, and minelaying. No losses.
Although no aircraft was detailed to attack Brunswick, this city recorded its first raid of the war, with 4 Germans and 3 foreign workers killed. This is the first report of foreigners being killed in air raids. They were the forerunners of more than 5 million people - prisoners of war or civilians - who were brought to work in Germany under varying degrees of force during the war and subjected to all the hazards of Allied bombing of German cities. Their danger was more acute than that of German civilians because they were usually allocated poorer air-raid shelters. It is not known how many foreigners were killed in air raids but the number must be considerable; many individual reports from German cities give examples in raids later in these diaries. The Brunswick records, for example, show that, of 2,905 people killed in the city by R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. bombing in 40 wartime raids, 1,286 (44.3 percent) were foreigners; but this was probably an extreme example.

AIRFIELDS, GERMANY
102 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 targets in Germany, to airfields in Holland, Belgium and France, and minelaying. No losses.
Although no aircraft was detailed to attack Brunswick, this city recorded its first raid of the war, with 4 Germans and 3 foreign workers killed. This is the first report of foreigners being killed in air raids. They were the forerunners of more than 5 million people - prisoners of war or civilians - who were brought to work in Germany under varying degrees of force during the war and subjected to all the hazards of Allied bombing of German cities. Their danger was more acute than that of German civilians because they were usually allocated poorer air-raid shelters. It is not known how many foreigners were killed in air raids but the number must be considerable; many individual reports from German cities give examples in raids later in these diaries. The Brunswick records, for example, show that, of 2,905 people killed in the city by R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. bombing in 40 wartime raids, 1,286 (44.3 percent) were foreigners; but this was probably an extreme example.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

GERMANY, ITALYZ
20 Whitleys to Rheinfelden, Waldshut and Freiburg, 4 Whitleys to Turin. No losses.

GERMANY, ITALYZ
20 Whitleys to Rheinfelden, Waldshut and Freiburg, 4 Whitleys to Turin. No losses.

---

HOLLAND
17 Blenheims to airfields and sea sweeps. Only 2 aircraft bombed - at Flushing airfield and a Flak position north of Amsterdam, 1 aircraft lost.

---

VARIOUS TARGETS
120 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in north Germany, to Ambes oil refinery in France, to airfields in Holland, Belgium and France, and minelaying. 2 Blenheims and 1 Whitley lost.

VARIOUS TARGETS
120 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in north Germany, to Ambes oil refinery in France, to airfields in Holland, Belgium and France, and minelaying. 2 Blenheims and 1 Whitley lost.

---

9 Blenheims on coastal sweep. Only 2 aircraft bombed - at Ostend and Schiphol. No losses.

26 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from Zuider Zee to Channel Islands; 6 aircraft bombed various targets. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
42 Hampdens to widely spread targets; only 29 bombed and 1 was lost.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
42 Hampdens to widely spread targets; only 29 bombed and 1 was lost.

---

13 Blenheims to Merville airfield but only 1 bombed. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep. No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
52 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked 6 targets in the Ruhr and the Rhineland and laid mines; 1 of the minelaying Hampdens also attacked a U-boat. 33 Blenheims attacked airfields in France. There were no losses but 4 aircraft crashed in England.

GERMANY, FRANCE
52 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked 6 targets in the Ruhr and the Rhineland and laid mines; 1 of the minelaying Hampdens also attacked a U-boat. 33 Blenheims attacked airfields in France. There were no losses but 4 aircraft crashed in England.

---

HOLLAND, GERMANY
19 Blenheims; 7 aircraft bombed airfields in Holland, Flushing docks and a railway bridge over the Dortmund-Ems Canal, 1 aircraft lost. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep.

---

MINELAYING, OIL, AIRFIELDS
40 Hampdens on the largest minelaying operation so far. 35 Blenheims sent to attack airfields in Belgium and Holland. 10 Wellingtons attacked the oil refinery at Sterkrade/Holten. There were no losses from any of these operations.

MINELAYING, OIL, AIRFIELDS
40 Hampdens on the largest minelaying operation so far. 35 Blenheims sent to attack airfields in Belgium and Holland. 10 Wellingtons attacked the oil refinery at Sterkrade/Holten. There were no losses from any of these operations.

---

15 Blenheims on coastal raids and sweeps; 4 aircraft bombed Dutch airfields and shipping at Zeebrugge. No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY
68 Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany. 2 Whitleys lost. One of the targets was Stuttgart, which recorded its first casualties on this night, 4 people being killed and 5 wounded when bombs dropped into suburbs of the city, hitting some houses and a garage.
28 Wellingtons went minelaying, 25 Blenheims attacked targets in France and 10 further Whitleys attacked Milan.

GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY
68 Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany. 2 Whitleys lost. One of the targets was Stuttgart, which recorded its first casualties on this night, 4 people being killed and 5 wounded when bombs dropped into suburbs of the city, hitting some houses and a garage.
28 Wellingtons went minelaying, 25 Blenheims attacked targets in France and 10 further Whitleys attacked Milan.

---

AIRFIELDS
18 Blenheims, only 6 bombed 4 airfields in Holland and 1 in Germany. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep. No losses.

---

BERLIN, GERMANY, FRANCE
Following raids by German bombers on London and other English cities the previous night, the War Cabinet sanctioned the first raid on Berlin. 103 aircraft were dispatched on operations and approximately half of these, mostly Hampdens and Wellingtons, were sent to Berlin. (Bomber Command records on this night are not clear on the numbers dispatched to different targets.) Berlin was found to be covered by thick cloud, which prevented accurate bombing, and a strong head wind was encountered on the return flight. The Hampdens were at the limit of their fuel capacity in such conditions and 3 of them were lost and 3 more ditched in the sea on their return flight.
The only bombs falling within the city limits of Berlin destroyed a wooden summer-house in a garden in the suburb of Rosenthal and 2 people were slightly injured. The Berlin records show that many bombs were dropped in the country areas south of the city and that some of these fell into large farms - Stadtgter - owned by the city of Berlin. The joke went round Berlin: 'Now they are trying to starve us out.'
Approximately 24 Whitleys and Wellingtons bombed Bremen, Cologne and Hamm, and 12 Blenheims attacked airfields in France and Holland. 3 Blenheims were lost.

BERLIN, GERMANY, FRANCE
Following raids by German bombers on London and other English cities the previous night, the War Cabinet sanctioned the first raid on Berlin. 103 aircraft were dispatched on operations and approximately half of these, mostly Hampdens and Wellingtons, were sent to Berlin. (Bomber Command records on this night are not clear on the numbers dispatched to different targets.) Berlin was found to be covered by thick cloud, which prevented accurate bombing, and a strong head wind was encountered on the return flight. The Hampdens were at the limit of their fuel capacity in such conditions and 3 of them were lost and 3 more ditched in the sea on their return flight.
The only bombs falling within the city limits of Berlin destroyed a wooden summer-house in a garden in the suburb of Rosenthal and 2 people were slightly injured. The Berlin records show that many bombs were dropped in the country areas south of the city and that some of these fell into large farms - Stadtgter - owned by the city of Berlin. The joke went round Berlin: 'Now they are trying to starve us out.'
Approximately 24 Whitleys and Wellingtons bombed Bremen, Cologne and Hamm, and 12 Blenheims attacked airfields in France and Holland. 3 Blenheims were lost.

---

DUTCH AIRFIELDS
16 Blenheims, only 2 bombed. 6 Blenheims on sea sweep, 1 of these lost.

---

GERMANY, ITALY
99 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to Hannover, Leipzig, Leuna and Nord-hausen; 1 Hampden lost. 11 Whitleys to Turin and Milan, 2 lost.

GERMANY, ITALY
99 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to Hannover, Leipzig, Leuna and Nord-hausen; 1 Hampden lost. 11 Whitleys to Turin and Milan, 2 lost.

---

HOLLAND
19 Blenheims on airfield raids and sea sweep. Only 1 aircraft bombed, at Alkmaar airfield. No losses.

---

VARIOUS TARGETS
50 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets in Germany, Italy and France and minelaying. 1 Wellington lost.

VARIOUS TARGETS
50 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets in Germany, Italy and France and minelaying. 1 Wellington lost.

---

2 Blenheims to airfields in France and sea sweep. No bombs dropped.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
79 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 targets in Germany and to French airfields, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost. Berlin was one of the German cities attacked and it would be regularly included in routine raids from now onwards; the number of aircraft sent was usually small and normal targets for this period of the war - power stations, railway stations, etc. - were chosen for attack.

GERMANY, FRANCE
79 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 targets in Germany and to French airfields, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost. Berlin was one of the German cities attacked and it would be regularly included in routine raids from now onwards; the number of aircraft sent was usually small and normal targets for this period of the war - power stations, railway stations, etc. - were chosen for attack.

---

DUTCH-GERMAN COAST
26 Blenheims; 7 bombed airfields and shipping. No losses.

---

GERMANY, AIRFIELDS
81 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Bottrop, Essen, Mannheim and Soest, and to airfields in Holland and France, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.

GERMANY, AIRFIELDS
81 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Bottrop, Essen, Mannheim and Soest, and to airfields in Holland and France, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.

---

AIRFIELDS, NORTH SEA
18 Blenheims, but no bombs dropped.

---

GERMANY, AIRFIELDS
87 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany and to airfields in France, Holland and Belgium. 4 aircraft - 2 Whitleys, 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington - lost.

GERMANY, AIRFIELDS
87 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany and to airfields in France, Holland and Belgium. 4 aircraft - 2 Whitleys, 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington - lost.

---

6 Blenheims on sea sweep and 1 to Paderborn abandoned their flights. No losses.

BERLIN, COLOGNE, AIRFIELDS
77 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked Berlin, Cologne and airfields in Holland and Belgium, 1 Hampden lost.

---

AIRFIELDS
18 Blenheims to airfields and 6 on a sea sweep. Only 3 aircraft bombed airfields in Belgium. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND, ITALY
131 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 10 targets in Germany, to airfields in Holland, to Turin and San Giovanni in Italy. All main and many alternative targets bombed. 2 Wellingtons were lost and 8 aircraft crashed in England.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, ITALY
131 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 10 targets in Germany, to airfields in Holland, to Turin and San Giovanni in Italy. All main and many alternative targets bombed. 2 Wellingtons were lost and 8 aircraft crashed in England.

---

4 Blenheims on a sea sweep forced back by bad weather.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND, ITALY
84 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to a wide variety of targets. 2 Whitleys and 1 Blenheim lost. Of particular interest was the effort by 30 Wellingtons to start fires in the Black Forest and the forests of Thuringia and the raid by 39 Hampdens to the U-boat base being established by the Germans at the French port of Lorient. The attack on Lorient was the first Bomber Command raid on this type of target. A report from Lorient says that in a series of 25 raids between September 1940 and July 1941 9 civilians were killed and 27 wounded and 25 civilian buildings were destroyed. There is no information on the effect of the bombing on the German base.

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND, ITALY
84 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to a wide variety of targets. 2 Whitleys and 1 Blenheim lost. Of particular interest was the effort by 30 Wellingtons to start fires in the Black Forest and the forests of Thuringia and the raid by 39 Hampdens to the U-boat base being established by the Germans at the French port of Lorient. The attack on Lorient was the first Bomber Command raid on this type of target. A report from Lorient says that in a series of 25 raids between September 1940 and July 1941 9 civilians were killed and 27 wounded and 25 civilian buildings were destroyed. There is no information on the effect of the bombing on the German base.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
90 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Berlin, Magdeburg, the Ruhr and the German forests, and to airfields in France. No losses.

GERMANY, FRANCE
90 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Berlin, Magdeburg, the Ruhr and the German forests, and to airfields in France. No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
86 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Stettin, Magdeburg, Berlin and the Black Forest, and to French airfields, 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, FRANCE
86 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Stettin, Magdeburg, Berlin and the Black Forest, and to French airfields, 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.

---

6 Blenheims on sea sweep, 1 lost.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY
82 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets from Turin to Stettin. 3 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost.

GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY
82 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets from Turin to Stettin. 3 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost.

---

5 Blenheims on cloud-cover flights to Germany turned back because of lack of cover.

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM, FRANCE
68 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets, 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, BELGIUM, FRANCE
68 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets, 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

BARGES, FORESTS, THE RUHR
92 aircraft of all Bomber Command types (including Battles on regular operations now) dispatched, most of the effort devoted to invasion barges being assembled in Channel coast ports. 3 O.T.U. sorties. There were no losses in any of these operations.

BARGES, FORESTS, THE RUHR
92 aircraft of all Bomber Command types (including Battles on regular operations now) dispatched, most of the effort devoted to invasion barges being assembled in Channel coast ports. 3 O.T.U. sorties. There were no losses in any of these operations.

---

BLENHEIM OPERATIONS
30 aircraft in cloud-cover raids to Germany, attacks on Dutch and Belgian airfields, reconnaissance of Channel ports and sea sweeps. 6 aircraft bombed various targets; 3 Blenheims lost.

---

PORTS, BARGES
133 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Hamburg, Bremen, Emden, Ostend and Boulogne. The heaviest raid was by 49 Hampdens on the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. 8 aircraft were lost, 5 Blenheims and 2 Wellingtons in the Boulogne and Ostend raids and 1 Hampden in the Hamburg raid.

PORTS, BARGES
133 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Hamburg, Bremen, Emden, Ostend and Boulogne. The heaviest raid was by 49 Hampdens on the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. 8 aircraft were lost, 5 Blenheims and 2 Wellingtons in the Boulogne and Ostend raids and 1 Hampden in the Hamburg raid.

---

7 Blenheims to Belgian and Dutch ports turned back because of lack of cloud cover. 1 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM, FRANCE
76 Battles, Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany and to Channel ports, 1 Battle and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, BELGIUM, FRANCE
76 Battles, Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany and to Channel ports, 1 Battle and 1 Whitley lost.

---

8 Blenheims on sea sweeps and reconnaissance of Channel ports.

---

CHANNEL, PORTS, GERMANY
106 aircraft of all types. Most of the effort was to bomb barges in the Channel coast ports, but 17 Whitleys attacked the Potsdamer Station in Berlin and Bremen docks and 3 aircraft were minelaying. 2 Hampdens and 2 Whitleys lost.

CHANNEL, PORTS, GERMANY
106 aircraft of all types. Most of the effort was to bomb barges in the Channel coast ports, but 17 Whitleys attacked the Potsdamer Station in Berlin and Bremen docks and 3 aircraft were minelaying. 2 Hampdens and 2 Whitleys lost.

---

9 Blenheims on sea sweep and ports reconnaissance; 1 aircraft bombed a convoy off Dutch coast.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
133 aircraft to 8 targets in Germany and to the Channel ports. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost. 8 further Hampdens laid mines in the Rivers Elbe and Gironde without loss.

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
133 aircraft to 8 targets in Germany and to the Channel ports. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost. 8 further Hampdens laid mines in the Rivers Elbe and Gironde without loss.

---

14 Blenheims on sweeps and reconnaissance; most abandoned flight because of lack of cloud cover.

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM
40 Wellingtons to attack docks and railway yards at 7 targets in Germany and at Brussels. No losses.

GERMANY, BELGIUM
40 Wellingtons to attack docks and railway yards at 7 targets in Germany and at Brussels. No losses.

---

22 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps; 10 aircraft bombed shipping and barges in various ports. No losses.

---

CHANNEL PORTS
92 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked barges in 4 ports, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.

CHANNEL PORTS
92 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked barges in 4 ports, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.

---

14 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps. 1 aircraft bombed Haamstede airfield and a U-boat at sea but no hits were scored on the U-boat. No losses.

---

BELGIUM, GERMANY, FRANCE
157 aircraft of all types to an oil depot at Antwerp (the biggest raid, by 43 Wellingtons), railway yards at Brussels and in Germany, and barges in the Channel ports. 2 Whitleys lost.

---

. These crews were dispatched to various railway targets in Germany and are being briefed by the Station Commander (with 1914-18 medal ribbons) and the Squadron Commander. Compare this relaxed, informal scene with the sombre briefing in photograph number 35 later in the war.

BELGIUM, GERMANY, FRANCE
157 aircraft of all types to an oil depot at Antwerp (the biggest raid, by 43 Wellingtons), railway yards at Brussels and in Germany, and barges in the Channel ports. 2 Whitleys lost.

---

12 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps but all bombing sorties abandoned because of too-clear weather. No losses.
This day saw the climax of the daylight phase of the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe lost 56 aircraft in air battles over England and, although it was not immediately known by the British, the German high command started to abandon their plans to invade England in 1940. There was, however, no immediate slackening in Bomber Command operations.
5. Briefing, believed to be at a Whitley station, on

---

. These crews were dispatched to various railway targets in Germany and are being briefed by the Station Commander (with 1914-18 medal ribbons) and the Squadron Commander. Compare this relaxed, informal scene with the sombre briefing in photograph number 35 later in the war.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
155 aircraft on widespread operations. The biggest effort was on the Channel ports; small raids made on many places in Germany. No losses.
Bomber Command's second Victoria Cross of the war was awarded for the actions of Sergeant John Hannah, the 18-year-old wireless operator in an 83 Squadron Hampden attacking invasion barges in docks at Antwerp. The Hampden was hit by Flak and set on fire. Sergeant Hannah could have baled out but stayed and was badly burned putting the fire out. The Hampden returned to its base.

---

.
An original Pathfinder squadron.
85 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Came from Air Defence of Great Britain (Fighter Command) on

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
155 aircraft on widespread operations. The biggest effort was on the Channel ports; small raids made on many places in Germany. No losses.
Bomber Command's second Victoria Cross of the war was awarded for the actions of Sergeant John Hannah, the 18-year-old wireless operator in an 83 Squadron Hampden attacking invasion barges in docks at Antwerp. The Hampden was hit by Flak and set on fire. Sergeant Hannah could have baled out but stayed and was badly burned putting the fire out. The Hampden returned to its base.

---

21 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps. 10 aircraft bombed shipping and barges in ports. No losses.

---

.
An original Pathfinder squadron.
85 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Came from Air Defence of Great Britain (Fighter Command) on

15 Blenheims to the Channel ports. 9 aircraft bombed. No losses.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
After a night's rest, Bomber Command dispatched 194 aircraft, its greatest number of the war to date. Approximately two thirds of the effort was devoted to bombing barges in the Channel ports; minor raids were made on many targets in Germany. 187 aircraft, 96 percent of those dispatched, reported carrying out their tasks. 2 Hampdens were lost, 1 attacking the Channel ports and 1 on a minelaying sortie.

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
After a night's rest, Bomber Command dispatched 194 aircraft, its greatest number of the war to date. Approximately two thirds of the effort was devoted to bombing barges in the Channel ports; minor raids were made on many targets in Germany. 187 aircraft, 96 percent of those dispatched, reported carrying out their tasks. 2 Hampdens were lost, 1 attacking the Channel ports and 1 on a minelaying sortie.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
174 aircraft dispatched. The majority of the effort was to the Channel ports; most of the remainder was to German railway targets. 8 aircraft - 3 Whitleys, 2 Blenheims, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden - lost.

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
174 aircraft dispatched. The majority of the effort was to the Channel ports; most of the remainder was to German railway targets. 8 aircraft - 3 Whitleys, 2 Blenheims, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden - lost.

---

18 Blenheims on operations but only 1 aircraft bombed, shipping in Dunkirk harbour.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
53 Hampdens and Whitleys to ports and railway targets and laying mines (8 aircraft) in the River Gironde. No losses.

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
53 Hampdens and Whitleys to ports and railway targets and laying mines (8 aircraft) in the River Gironde. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful North Sea sweep.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
172 aircraft of all types. Most of the effort was to Channel ports but small raids on German railways and canals, French airfields and minelaying at St-Nazaire. 1 Wellington lost.

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
172 aircraft of all types. Most of the effort was to Channel ports but small raids on German railways and canals, French airfields and minelaying at St-Nazaire. 1 Wellington lost.

---

18 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps. 9 aircraft bombed Belgian ports. No losses.

---

CHANNEL PORTS
92 aircraft. 91 reported bombing. No losses.

CHANNEL PORTS
92 aircraft. 91 reported bombing. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

CHANNEL PORTS
95 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to Channel ports; all bombed. 9 Whitleys to an aluminium factory at Lauta, near Dresden.
There were no losses on any of these operations.

CHANNEL PORTS
95 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to Channel ports; all bombed. 9 Whitleys to an aluminium factory at Lauta, near Dresden.
There were no losses on any of these operations.

---

12 Blenheims on uneventful sea and coastal sweeps.

---

BERLIN
In a unique raid for this period of the war, Bomber Command decided to concentrate its main strength of bombers for an attack on targets in just one German city. 129 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys were dispatched to 18 separate targets in Berlin. These targets were: 7 railway yards, 6 electrical power-stations, 3 gasworks and 2 factories making aero engines or aircraft components. 112 aircraft reported having bombed in a 3-hour period and from heights between 4,500 and 16,000 ft. Many searchlights and a ground mist made identification of targets very difficult. 3 aircraft, 1 of each type, were lost.
Unfortunately the relevant pages for this raid are missing from Berlin's air-raid records, possibly being removed immediately after the raid so that a record of it should not remain available to any civilian official. It is believed that most bombs fell in the Moabit area of the city where a power-station was one of the selected targets. The famous Schloss Charlottenburg was slightly damaged. No other details are available.
CHANNEL PORTS
71 aircraft - 46 Blenheims and 12 Battles, with 8 Wellingtons and 5 Whitleys probably manned by new, 'freshman' crews - attacked Boulogne, Calais and Flushing, and 9 O.T.U. crews operated over France and the Channel Islands, all without loss.
The total number of aircraft dispatched on this night - 209 - was another new record and it was the first time that the 200 figure was exceeded.

BERLIN
In a unique raid for this period of the war, Bomber Command decided to concentrate its main strength of bombers for an attack on targets in just one German city. 129 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys were dispatched to 18 separate targets in Berlin. These targets were: 7 railway yards, 6 electrical power-stations, 3 gasworks and 2 factories making aero engines or aircraft components. 112 aircraft reported having bombed in a 3-hour period and from heights between 4,500 and 16,000 ft. Many searchlights and a ground mist made identification of targets very difficult. 3 aircraft, 1 of each type, were lost.
Unfortunately the relevant pages for this raid are missing from Berlin's air-raid records, possibly being removed immediately after the raid so that a record of it should not remain available to any civilian official. It is believed that most bombs fell in the Moabit area of the city where a power-station was one of the selected targets. The famous Schloss Charlottenburg was slightly damaged. No other details are available.
CHANNEL PORTS
71 aircraft - 46 Blenheims and 12 Battles, with 8 Wellingtons and 5 Whitleys probably manned by new, 'freshman' crews - attacked Boulogne, Calais and Flushing, and 9 O.T.U. crews operated over France and the Channel Islands, all without loss.
The total number of aircraft dispatched on this night - 209 - was another new record and it was the first time that the 200 figure was exceeded.

---

18 Blenheims on sea sweeps. One formation of 12 aircraft attacked some German patrol boats in the Channel, scoring near misses. There were combats with German fighters in which 1 Me 109 was shot down and 1 Blenheim was lost.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, BERLIN
122 aircraft of all types - 100 to the Channel ports, 20 to a power-station in Berlin and 2 to Hamm railway yards, 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.

CHANNEL PORTS, BERLIN
122 aircraft of all types - 100 to the Channel ports, 20 to a power-station in Berlin and 2 to Hamm railway yards, 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.

---

13 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps; 2 aircraft bombed ships off the Dutch coast without scoring hits. No losses.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
117 aircraft to Channel ports, Kiel docks and to 6 other German targets. No losses.

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
117 aircraft to Channel ports, Kiel docks and to 6 other German targets. No losses.

---

12 Blenheims. 3 aircraft bombed ports; 1 aircraft lost.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
77 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Channel ports, Dortmund and Kiel, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
77 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Channel ports, Dortmund and Kiel, 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.

---

15 Blenheims. 9 aircraft bombed shipping on Channel coast. No losses.

---

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
86 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Channel ports, Lorient U-boat base and railway targets in the Ruhr, 1 Wellington lost.

CHANNEL PORTS, GERMANY
86 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Channel ports, Lorient U-boat base and railway targets in the Ruhr, 1 Wellington lost.

---

13 Blenheims. 3 aircraft bombed barges at Ostend. No losses.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
109 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to numerous targets in Germany and to the Channel ports. Whitley crews sent to attack the Fokker aircraft factory at Amsterdam could not identify their target and returned without bombing. 2 Wellingtons lost.

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
109 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to numerous targets in Germany and to the Channel ports. Whitley crews sent to attack the Fokker aircraft factory at Amsterdam could not identify their target and returned without bombing. 2 Wellingtons lost.

---

9 Blenheims on uneventful sweeps.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
88 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets. The Fokker factory at Amsterdam was bombed. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
88 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets. The Fokker factory at Amsterdam was bombed. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.

---

9 Blenheims on uneventful sweeps.
Bomber Command Headquarters was informed on this day that the imminent danger of German invasion had passed.

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
104 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets and minelaying in the River Elbe. A force of bombers attacking Berlin on this night was given the German Air Ministry building, the Reichsluftfahrt-Ministerium, in the Leipzigstrasse, as their target. 17 aircraft claimed to have found this single building and aimed bombs at it. 3 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys lost.
6. The crew of a Whitley and their aircraft. The Whitleys of 4 Group were the main long-range night bombers of the early war years, flying 9,858 sorties, and their crews suffered severely from cold during winter months.
Only 6 bombs fell in the whole of Berlin on this night, mostly in the western suburbs. The Air Ministry was not hit until 1944 when it sustained light damage in American raids.

---

7 Blenheims on uneventful sweeps.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
99 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to numerous targets in Germany, to Channel ports and minelaying. 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
99 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to numerous targets in Germany, to Channel ports and minelaying. 1 Hampden, 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

---

6 Blenheims on uneventful sweeps.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
81 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 9 targets in Germany, Eindhoven airfield, the Channel ports and minelaying. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
81 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 9 targets in Germany, Eindhoven airfield, the Channel ports and minelaying. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.

---

Germany, North Sea
7 Blenheims on cloud-cover raids to Germany and the Channel ports. 5 aircraft bombed various targets. 6 further Blenheims on sea sweep. No losses.

---

There is some confusion over what operations were carried out on this night. Bomber Command's Operations Record Book says that no operations were carried out because of unfavourable weather conditions but other records indicated that 6 Blenheims and 3 Wellingtons attacked various targets on the French and Dutch coasts. There were no losses.

There is some confusion over what operations were carried out on this night. Bomber Command's Operations Record Book says that no operations were carried out because of unfavourable weather conditions but other records indicated that 6 Blenheims and 3 Wellingtons attacked various targets on the French and Dutch coasts. There were no losses.

---

GERMANY, NORTH SEA
30 Blenheims on cloud-cover raids; 15 bombed. 6 further Blenheims on sea sweep. No losses.

Germany, North Sea
8 Blenheims to oil targets in Germany; all turned back because of lack of cloud cover.
6 Blenheims on sea sweep; 1 aircraft bombed ships without scoring hits. No losses.

---

Germany, Rotterdam
20 Hampdens attacked oil and rail targets at Cologne, Gelsenkirchen, Hamm, Osnabrck and Soest. 10 Hampdens minelaying in the Elbe. 4 Wellingtons to Rotterdam docks. 3 Hampdens lost, 2 of them on the minelaying operation.

---

after only six months in command. Portal became Chief of the Air Staff, effectively the commander-in-chief of the whole R.A.F., a position he would hold until the end of the war and one from which he would always have much influence over the direction of Bomber Command's efforts. Portal's successor was Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse. (The only other change in command occurred when Air Vice-Marshal Harris left 5 Group on

Germany, Rotterdam
20 Hampdens attacked oil and rail targets at Cologne, Gelsenkirchen, Hamm, Osnabrck and Soest. 10 Hampdens minelaying in the Elbe. 4 Wellingtons to Rotterdam docks. 3 Hampdens lost, 2 of them on the minelaying operation.

---

21 Blenheims on cloud-cover raids; none of the designated targets in Germany was reached but 11 aircraft bombed alternative targets. No losses.

18 Blenheims to Germany and on sea sweep. Only 1 aircraft bombed barges in Holland. No losses.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
140 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets, with the main raid being by 42 Wellingtons and Whitleys on 12 individual targets in Berlin. There were also 10 O.T.U. and 6 minelaying sorties, 1 Wellington from the Berlin force was lost.

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
140 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets, with the main raid being by 42 Wellingtons and Whitleys on 12 individual targets in Berlin. There were also 10 O.T.U. and 6 minelaying sorties, 1 Wellington from the Berlin force was lost.

---

8 Blenheims. 2 aircraft bombed Boulogne harbour. No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND
108 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets. The largest raids were by 38 Blenheims on the Channel ports and by 17 Hampdens on the battleship Tirpitz in Wilhelmshaven dry dock. There were no losses from any operations.

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND
108 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets. The largest raids were by 38 Blenheims on the Channel ports and by 17 Hampdens on the battleship Tirpitz in Wilhelmshaven dry dock. There were no losses from any operations.

---

8 Blenheims to Germany. 2 aircraft bombed in Germany and 3 in Holland. No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND
70 Battles, Hampdens and Wellingtons to many targets, 1 Wellington lost. The largest raid was by 20 Hampdens on the Krupps armament works in Essen but only 3 aircraft reached this target because of icing conditions. There were also 6 minelaying and 4 O.T.U. sorties.

GERMANY, FRANCE, HOLLAND
70 Battles, Hampdens and Wellingtons to many targets, 1 Wellington lost. The largest raid was by 20 Hampdens on the Krupps armament works in Essen but only 3 aircraft reached this target because of icing conditions. There were also 6 minelaying and 4 O.T.U. sorties.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
157 aircraft of all types to 13 targets in Germany, to the Channel ports, to Eindhoven airfield and minelaying. No losses.

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
157 aircraft of all types to 13 targets in Germany, to the Channel ports, to Eindhoven airfield and minelaying. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE, BELGIUM
86 aircraft of all types to oil and shipbuilding targets in Germany, in minor raids to the Channel ports and minelaying. No losses.

GERMANY, FRANCE, BELGIUM
86 aircraft of all types to oil and shipbuilding targets in Germany, in minor raids to the Channel ports and minelaying. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims on sea sweep and 1 to Hamburg. No losses.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
93 Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 targets in Germany, to the Channel ports, minelaying and O.T.U. leaflet flights. There were no losses.
The 24 Blenheims and 6 Battles of the above force sent to bomb shipping in the Channel ports represent the last major raid on these targets in the invasion-threat period.
Operational Statistics, 26 June to

---

(109 days/nights)
Number of days with operations: 105
Number of nights with operations: 102
Number of daylight sorties: 1,885, from which 66 aircraft (3.5 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 8,804, from which 180 aircraft (2.0 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 10,689, from which 246 aircraft (2.3 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage in period: 6,010 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 98.1 sorties, 2.3 aircraft lost, 55.1 tons of bombs dropped
Henceforth, when aircraft of all three night-bombing types were dispatched in a single night, the diary refers to these only as 'aircraft' except, as noted in future entries, when other aircraft come into action with the night-bombing force. When numbers of aircraft on minelaying operations are not specified, it can be assumed that a routine force of 6 Hampdens was dispatched.
In later diary entries these are recorded as 'O.T.U. sorties' and can be assumed to be without loss unless casualties are recorded.
'Aircraft' now means Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys.
The Ludwigshafen attacked was Ludwigshafen on Rhine, referred to later simply as 'Ludwigshafen'.
Public Record Office AIR 20/4865 gives further details and shows that 1,361.9 million leaflets were delivered after June 1941.
From Feuersturm ber Hamburg, op. cit., 58.
With the longer nights of autumn came the lifting of the immediate threat of invasion but a deterioration in flying conditions. Germany was drawing breath after defeating six countries in just over a year but she was having to face up to the fact that Britain, backed by the Empire, had failed to yield and a long war was now in prospect. In the West, Germany satisfied herself with the bombing of London and other British cities and with the continuing build-up of the U-boat campaign and raids on British shipping in the Atlantic by warships. Only Italy had the inclination for offensive military action; she invaded Greece on 28 October but failed to obtain the type of quick victory to which her partner had become accustomed. Italy was further disappointed in December when British units in the Middle East opened offensives against superior Italian forces on two fronts, in Libya and in East Africa. Both attacks exceeded all expectations and Britain gained her first land successes of the war. Germany would later have to send troops both to Greece and North Africa to rescue her Italian ally from complete humiliation.
The Middle East was too far away for Bomber Command to intervene directly but it started to lose some squadrons which were dispatched to that theatre. On the face of it, the lack of further military action in the West seemed to present Bomber Command with a unique opportunity. The bomber commanders could now pursue a pure strategic bombing policy free, for the first time in the war, of either political restraint or of the need to divert effort to tactical bombing in support of hard-pressed land forces. But, although the bomber leaders had every intention of pursuing that policy, this did not immediately happen. Their squadrons, too, needed to draw breath after the historic events of the past summer. It was a time for taking stock; the all-out strategic effort would have to wait a little. The pace of operations slowed appreciably.
The leadership of Bomber Command had changed again. Sir Charles Portal left on

GERMANY, CHANNEL COAST
93 Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 targets in Germany, to the Channel ports, minelaying and O.T.U. leaflet flights. There were no losses.
The 24 Blenheims and 6 Battles of the above force sent to bomb shipping in the Channel ports represent the last major raid on these targets in the invasion-threat period.
Operational Statistics, 26 June to

---

(109 days/nights)
Number of days with operations: 105
Number of nights with operations: 102
Number of daylight sorties: 1,885, from which 66 aircraft (3.5 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 8,804, from which 180 aircraft (2.0 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 10,689, from which 246 aircraft (2.3 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage in period: 6,010 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 98.1 sorties, 2.3 aircraft lost, 55.1 tons of bombs dropped
Henceforth, when aircraft of all three night-bombing types were dispatched in a single night, the diary refers to these only as 'aircraft' except, as noted in future entries, when other aircraft come into action with the night-bombing force. When numbers of aircraft on minelaying operations are not specified, it can be assumed that a routine force of 6 Hampdens was dispatched.
In later diary entries these are recorded as 'O.T.U. sorties' and can be assumed to be without loss unless casualties are recorded.
'Aircraft' now means Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys.
The Ludwigshafen attacked was Ludwigshafen on Rhine, referred to later simply as 'Ludwigshafen'.
Public Record Office AIR 20/4865 gives further details and shows that 1,361.9 million leaflets were delivered after June 1941.
From Feuersturm ber Hamburg, op. cit., 58.
With the longer nights of autumn came the lifting of the immediate threat of invasion but a deterioration in flying conditions. Germany was drawing breath after defeating six countries in just over a year but she was having to face up to the fact that Britain, backed by the Empire, had failed to yield and a long war was now in prospect. In the West, Germany satisfied herself with the bombing of London and other British cities and with the continuing build-up of the U-boat campaign and raids on British shipping in the Atlantic by warships. Only Italy had the inclination for offensive military action; she invaded Greece on 28 October but failed to obtain the type of quick victory to which her partner had become accustomed. Italy was further disappointed in December when British units in the Middle East opened offensives against superior Italian forces on two fronts, in Libya and in East Africa. Both attacks exceeded all expectations and Britain gained her first land successes of the war. Germany would later have to send troops both to Greece and North Africa to rescue her Italian ally from complete humiliation.
The Middle East was too far away for Bomber Command to intervene directly but it started to lose some squadrons which were dispatched to that theatre. On the face of it, the lack of further military action in the West seemed to present Bomber Command with a unique opportunity. The bomber commanders could now pursue a pure strategic bombing policy free, for the first time in the war, of either political restraint or of the need to divert effort to tactical bombing in support of hard-pressed land forces. But, although the bomber leaders had every intention of pursuing that policy, this did not immediately happen. Their squadrons, too, needed to draw breath after the historic events of the past summer. It was a time for taking stock; the all-out strategic effort would have to wait a little. The pace of operations slowed appreciably.
The leadership of Bomber Command had changed again. Sir Charles Portal left on

---

6 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
125 Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to the Ruhr, Wilhelmshaven, Kiel and the Channel Ports. The weather was bad and only 41 aircraft reported bombing primary targets. At Wilhelmshaven, to which 35 Hampdens were sent, the only report describes how an 80-year-old woman was killed in bed by a fragment of Flak shell. 1 Wellington lost.

GERMANY, FRANCE
125 Battles, Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to the Ruhr, Wilhelmshaven, Kiel and the Channel Ports. The weather was bad and only 41 aircraft reported bombing primary targets. At Wilhelmshaven, to which 35 Hampdens were sent, the only report describes how an 80-year-old woman was killed in bed by a fragment of Flak shell. 1 Wellington lost.

---

18 Blenheims, 12 on cloud-cover raids, 6 on sea sweep. 1 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
78 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Berlin, Stettin, Bohlen, Magdeburg and Le Havre. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington were lost and a Whitley bound for Le Havre crashed after hitting a barrage-balloon cable at Weybridge; the crew were all killed.

GERMANY, FRANCE
78 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Berlin, Stettin, Bohlen, Magdeburg and Le Havre. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington were lost and a Whitley bound for Le Havre crashed after hitting a barrage-balloon cable at Weybridge; the crew were all killed.

---

1 Blenheim to the Dortmund-Ems Canal was recalled.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
134 aircraft to bomb many targets in Germany, with much of the effort on oil targets, and to the Channel ports. A report from Kiel, attacked by Wellingtons, tells of an oil-storage tank set on fire and bomb damage in the naval dockyards but no civilian casualties.
3 Hampdens were also minelaying off Kiel and there were 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses from any of these operations. The raid by 9 Fairey Battles on Calais and Boulogne was the last occasion on which this aircraft operated with Bomber Command.

GERMANY, FRANCE
134 aircraft to bomb many targets in Germany, with much of the effort on oil targets, and to the Channel ports. A report from Kiel, attacked by Wellingtons, tells of an oil-storage tank set on fire and bomb damage in the naval dockyards but no civilian casualties.
3 Hampdens were also minelaying off Kiel and there were 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses from any of these operations. The raid by 9 Fairey Battles on Calais and Boulogne was the last occasion on which this aircraft operated with Bomber Command.

---

12 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps. 1 aircraft bombed a convoy without scoring hits. No losses.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
73 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked Bremen, Kiel, Merseburg and Bordeaux. The Merseburg force also dropped incendiary devices into the Harz forests. Kiel again reports many bombs from the Wellingtons attacking here, with 20 people injured, a garage with 12 vehicles inside destroyed, and much minor damage. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington were lost and 10 Hampdens and 4 Wellingtons crashed in England when fog covered their bases on return.
6 Hampdens laid mines without loss.

GERMANY, FRANCE
73 Hampdens and Wellingtons attacked Bremen, Kiel, Merseburg and Bordeaux. The Merseburg force also dropped incendiary devices into the Harz forests. Kiel again reports many bombs from the Wellingtons attacking here, with 20 people injured, a garage with 12 vehicles inside destroyed, and much minor damage. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington were lost and 10 Hampdens and 4 Wellingtons crashed in England when fog covered their bases on return.
6 Hampdens laid mines without loss.

---

8 Blenheims on cloud-cover raids but only 1 aircraft bombed, De Kooy airfield. No losses.

1 Blenheim to Hamburg docks returned early because of lack of cover.

---

HAMBURG, LNEN
28 Blenheims, Hampdens and Whitleys to Hamburg docks and Lnen aluminium works. No losses. Hamburg reports no fires but 4 people were injured.

HAMBURG, LNEN
28 Blenheims, Hampdens and Whitleys to Hamburg docks and Lnen aluminium works. No losses. Hamburg reports no fires but 4 people were injured.

---

16 Blenheims on cloud-cover raids on a sweep; no bombs dropped and no losses.

---

2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden to Osnabrck and Berlin but Berlin was not reached. No losses but 1 Whitley crashed in England.

2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden to Osnabrck and Berlin but Berlin was not reached. No losses but 1 Whitley crashed in England.

---

7 Blenheims on uneventful sea sweeps.

---

GERMANY, ITALY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
139 aircraft to many targets, 30 Hampdens to Berlin being the largest raid. 1 Hampden lost and 3 Whitleys returning from the most distant target ditched in the sea.
A Whitley of 58 Squadron, based at Linton-on-Ouse, was shot down by a German Intruder on this night and crashed near Thornaby-on-Tees. The Whitley had taken off to bomb the Skoda Works at Pilsen, in Czechoslovakia. The pilot, Pilot Officer E. H. Brown, and 3 other members of the crew were killed and the only survivor was injured. This was the first known success against a Bomber Command aircraft by a German Intruder over the mainland of Britain, though several German pilots had already claimed bombers shot down on the routes over the North Sea. The successful German pilot was Hauptmann Karl Hulshoff of I/NJG 2, the specialist German Intruder unit at that time. Hulshoff claimed the Whitley as a 'Hereford'; he survived the war.

GERMANY, ITALY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
139 aircraft to many targets, 30 Hampdens to Berlin being the largest raid. 1 Hampden lost and 3 Whitleys returning from the most distant target ditched in the sea.
A Whitley of 58 Squadron, based at Linton-on-Ouse, was shot down by a German Intruder on this night and crashed near Thornaby-on-Tees. The Whitley had taken off to bomb the Skoda Works at Pilsen, in Czechoslovakia. The pilot, Pilot Officer E. H. Brown, and 3 other members of the crew were killed and the only survivor was injured. This was the first known success against a Bomber Command aircraft by a German Intruder over the mainland of Britain, though several German pilots had already claimed bombers shot down on the routes over the North Sea. The successful German pilot was Hauptmann Karl Hulshoff of I/NJG 2, the specialist German Intruder unit at that time. Hulshoff claimed the Whitley as a 'Hereford'; he survived the war.

---

18 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps. 5 aircraft found targets to bomb. No losses.

---

GERMANY
31 Wellingtons and 11 Whitleys to Cologne, Hamburg, Reisholz and Stuttgart. 1 Whitley lost. Wellingtons sent to Hamburg, attempting to bomb the battleship Bismarck, caused 12 fires of which 8 are classed as large in the Hamburg report. 17 people were injured in Hamburg.

GERMANY
31 Wellingtons and 11 Whitleys to Cologne, Hamburg, Reisholz and Stuttgart. 1 Whitley lost. Wellingtons sent to Hamburg, attempting to bomb the battleship Bismarck, caused 12 fires of which 8 are classed as large in the Hamburg report. 17 people were injured in Hamburg.

---

1 Blenheim claimed bomb hits on a cargo ship off the Hook of Holland.

14 Blenheims on sea sweeps and to French airfields. 2 aircraft bombed ships and 1 a factory near Antwerp. No losses.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
79 aircraft (including O.T.U. aircraft) attacked many targets, the largest effort being by 12 Wellingtons which bombed Emden and 11 Wellingtons which reached and bombed Berlin. 2 Wellingtons lost.

---

. Eleven Wellingtons reached the target and incendiary bombs set fire to the roof of this elegant block of flats in the Wilmersdorf district.

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
79 aircraft (including O.T.U. aircraft) attacked many targets, the largest effort being by 12 Wellingtons which bombed Emden and 11 Wellingtons which reached and bombed Berlin. 2 Wellingtons lost.

---

15 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps. 5 aircraft bombed various targets. No losses.
7. Berlin,

---

. Eleven Wellingtons reached the target and incendiary bombs set fire to the roof of this elegant block of flats in the Wilmersdorf district.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
113 aircraft to many targets. 1 Wellington was lost and a Whitley of 102 Squadron was shot down by a German aircraft while taking off from Tholthorpe.
Hamburg reports describe a particularly sharp raid on this night. The Wellington force attacking this target found that cloud conditions prevented observation of bombing results but 13 fires were started, of which 5 were large ones - 3 people were killed, 20 injured and 217 bombed out of their homes. A wooden dockyard warehouse was completely destroyed by fire but 18 loaded railway wagons were removed safely. The compensation claimed for damage in Hamburg on this night was nearly 3 million Reichsmarks (£300,000).
5 further Hampdens laid mines off Brest and there were 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
113 aircraft to many targets. 1 Wellington was lost and a Whitley of 102 Squadron was shot down by a German aircraft while taking off from Tholthorpe.
Hamburg reports describe a particularly sharp raid on this night. The Wellington force attacking this target found that cloud conditions prevented observation of bombing results but 13 fires were started, of which 5 were large ones - 3 people were killed, 20 injured and 217 bombed out of their homes. A wooden dockyard warehouse was completely destroyed by fire but 18 loaded railway wagons were removed safely. The compensation claimed for damage in Hamburg on this night was nearly 3 million Reichsmarks (£300,000).
5 further Hampdens laid mines off Brest and there were 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

12 Blenheims on sweeps at sea and on the German coast but no bombs were dropped. No losses.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
94 aircraft to many targets, mostly German oil and harbour targets. 1 Hampden attacking Kiel was lost.
5 Hampdens laid mines in Kiel Bay and the Elbe.

, for example, three Whitleys were dispatched in a routine raid to Wesseling with total bomb loads of three and a half tons. Only two of the Whitleys reported being able to bomb the target. In 1944, Bomber Command would judge that nearly 200 four-engined bombers carrying 1,000 tons of bombs would be a reasonable force to attack Wesseling. The second point of interest was the arguments now being put forward in favour of a general attack on industrial German cities instead of the attacks on particular industrial premises within those cities. Those who supported the general-attack concept did so on two grounds: firstly, that it would make better use of a bomber force which was obviously having some difficulty in finding small targets, though the full degree of that difficulty was still not appreciated; and, secondly, that it would be justifiable retaliation for the heavy and seemingly indiscriminate bombing of British cities being carried out that autumn by the Luftwaffe. But, with the exception of one night, the 'general attack' policy was firmly rejected at this time. The exception came on the

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
94 aircraft to many targets, mostly German oil and harbour targets. 1 Hampden attacking Kiel was lost.
5 Hampdens laid mines in Kiel Bay and the Elbe.

---

11 Blenheims on sea sweeps and cloud-cover raids to Hamburg and Bremen. No targets attacked. No losses.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
84 aircraft to many targets, the largest raid being to a power-station in Berlin by 17 Hampdens. 5 further Hampdens were sent minelaying in the River Gironde. No losses from any operation.

, for example, three Whitleys were dispatched in a routine raid to Wesseling with total bomb loads of three and a half tons. Only two of the Whitleys reported being able to bomb the target. In 1944, Bomber Command would judge that nearly 200 four-engined bombers carrying 1,000 tons of bombs would be a reasonable force to attack Wesseling. The second point of interest was the arguments now being put forward in favour of a general attack on industrial German cities instead of the attacks on particular industrial premises within those cities. Those who supported the general-attack concept did so on two grounds: firstly, that it would make better use of a bomber force which was obviously having some difficulty in finding small targets, though the full degree of that difficulty was still not appreciated; and, secondly, that it would be justifiable retaliation for the heavy and seemingly indiscriminate bombing of British cities being carried out that autumn by the Luftwaffe. But, with the exception of one night, the 'general attack' policy was firmly rejected at this time. The exception came on the

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
84 aircraft to many targets, the largest raid being to a power-station in Berlin by 17 Hampdens. 5 further Hampdens were sent minelaying in the River Gironde. No losses from any operation.

---

9 Blenheims on sea and coastal sweeps. Ships attacked off Dutch coast. No losses.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
82 aircraft to many targets. 76 aircraft bombed their targets; none were lost.
5 Hampdens minelaying off Lorient; 1 lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties.

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
82 aircraft to many targets. 76 aircraft bombed their targets; none were lost.
5 Hampdens minelaying off Lorient; 1 lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties.

---

13 Blenheims to France, Belgium and on a sea sweep. 3 aircraft bombed coastal targets. No losses.

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM, FRANCE
97 aircraft to various targets. The biggest raid was by 20 Hampdens to Hamburg, where 1 person was killed, 3 injured and 44 bombed out, but no fires were started. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, BELGIUM, FRANCE
97 aircraft to various targets. The biggest raid was by 20 Hampdens to Hamburg, where 1 person was killed, 3 injured and 44 bombed out, but no fires were started. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley lost.

---

13 Blenheims on a sea sweep and to France and Belgium. The docks at Rotterdam were bombed. 1 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND
98 aircraft to many targets. The largest raid, by 30 Hampdens and Wellingtons, was to Berlin but, because of bad weather, only 4 aircraft reached that target. No losses.
5 Hampdens minelaying off Copenhagen; 1 lost. 1 O.T.U. sortie.

GERMANY, HOLLAND
98 aircraft to many targets. The largest raid, by 30 Hampdens and Wellingtons, was to Berlin but, because of bad weather, only 4 aircraft reached that target. No losses.
5 Hampdens minelaying off Copenhagen; 1 lost. 1 O.T.U. sortie.

---

6 Blenheims to France. 3 aircraft bombed Cherbourg harbour. No losses.

---

GERMANY, BELGIUM, HOLLAND
28 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Duisburg, Emden, Antwerp and Flushing. No losses.

GERMANY, BELGIUM, HOLLAND
28 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Duisburg, Emden, Antwerp and Flushing. No losses.

---

14 Blenheims. 5 aircraft attacked various targets, mostly in France. No losses.

1 Blenheim to the Dortmund-Ems Canal returned early because of lack of cloud cover.

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
81 aircraft to Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, Magdeburg and to airfields in Belgium, Holland and France. 2 Hampdens lost.
8 Hampdens minelaying off Brest.

.
LEAFLET RAIDS AND SEAPLANE-BASE PATROLS,
17/18 February to

---

GERMANY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
81 aircraft to Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, Magdeburg and to airfields in Belgium, Holland and France. 2 Hampdens lost.
8 Hampdens minelaying off Brest.

---

4 Blenheims dispatched but lacked cover and returned early.

---

.)
83 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 5 Group at the outbreak of the war and flew Hampdens, Manchesters and Lancasters from Scampton, with a short detachment to Coastal Command at Lossiemouth in February/March 1940. Transferred to 8 Group in August 1942 and flew Pathfinder operations from Wyton until returned to 5 Group for that group's own marker force in April 1944 and flew from Coningsby until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
5
Group Hampdens - 205 bombing, 72 minelaying, 6 'night-fighter' over English cities
5
Group Manchesters - 21 bombing, 10 minelaying, 2 leaflet
5
Group Lancasters (May to August 1942) - 26 bombing, 8 minelaying, 1 leaflet
8
Group Lancasters - 167 bombing
5
Group Lancasters (April 1944 to May 1945) - 105 bombing
Total - 524 bombing, 90 minelaying, 6 'night-fighter', 3 leaflet = 623 raids
Sorties and Losses
5
Group Hampdens - 1,987 sorties, 43 aircraft lost (2.2 percent)
5
Group Manchesters - 152 sorties, 9 aircraft lost (5.9 percent)
5
Group Lancasters (May to August 1942) - 262 sorties, 4 aircraft lost (15 percent)
8
Group Lancasters - 1,740 sorties, 56 aircraft lost (3.2 percent)
5
Group Lancasters (April 1944 to May 1945) - 1,380 sorties, 31 aircraft lost (2.2 percent)
Total - 5,521 sorties, 143 aircraft lost (26 percent)
25 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
An original squadron on the outbreak of war; 6 Hampdens flew a sweep over the North Sea on the first day of the war.
Victoria Cross: Sergeant John Hannah, Antwerp,

11 Blenheims. Only 2 aircraft bombed. No losses.

---

KIEL
11 Hampdens; 1 lost. Kiel reports only a few bombs in the suburb of Wellingdorf, with no casualties.

KIEL
11 Hampdens; 1 lost. Kiel reports only a few bombs in the suburb of Wellingdorf, with no casualties.

---

7 Blenheims; all turned back.

---

10 Wellingtons to docks at Le Havre and Boulogne. The weather was bad and only 3 reported bombing these targets; fires were seen at Le Havre. No losses.

10 Wellingtons to docks at Le Havre and Boulogne. The weather was bad and only 3 reported bombing these targets; fires were seen at Le Havre. No losses.

---

1 Blenheim to Haamstede airfield turned back.

---

GERMANY, ITALY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
97 aircraft to many targets. 2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden were lost. Hamburg, target for approximately 10 Wellingtons, reports 15 fires and casualties of 7 killed, 32 injured and 236 bombed out, some only temporarily.
8 Hampdens minelaying off the island of Rgen in the Baltic; 1 aircraft lost.

---

; transferred to 8 Group in August 1942 and served as a Pathfinder squadron for the remainder of the war. Equipped with Halifaxes and Lancasters; based at Leeming and Linton-on-Ouse in 4 Group, and at Graveley in 8 Group.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
4
Group Halifaxes - 109 bombing, 6 leaflet
8
Group Halifaxes - 146 bombing, 5 minelaying
8
Group Lancasters - 202 bombing
Total - 457 bombing, 6 leaflet, 5 minelaying = 468 raids
Sorties and Losses
4
Group Halifaxes - 717 sorties, 35 aircraft lost (4.9 percent)
8
Group Halifaxes - 1,776 sorties, 65 aircraft lost (3.7 percent)
8
Group Lancasters - 2,216 sorties, 27 aircraft lost (1.2 percent)
Total - 4,709 sorties, 127 aircraft lost (2.7 percent)
6 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Introduced the Halifax to operational service.
An original Pathfinder squadron and suffered 8 Group's first operational loss, in the group's first raid to Flensburg on

GERMANY, ITALY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
97 aircraft to many targets. 2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden were lost. Hamburg, target for approximately 10 Wellingtons, reports 15 fires and casualties of 7 killed, 32 injured and 236 bombed out, some only temporarily.
8 Hampdens minelaying off the island of Rgen in the Baltic; 1 aircraft lost.

---

9 Blenheims to Holland and Northern Germany. 5 aircraft bombed targets. No losses.

---

GERMANY
64 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 German cities. The largest raid was by 18 Wellingtons to Berlin but only 1 aircraft reached that target. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY
64 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 German cities. The largest raid was by 18 Wellingtons to Berlin but only 1 aircraft reached that target. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

---

12 Blenheims dispatched but only 1 aircraft bombed (Haamstede airfield). 1 aircraft lost.

---

ESSEN, COLOGNE, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
91 aircraft. The largest raid was by 63 aircraft to the Krupps factory at Essen. The British Official History makes comment on the reports submitted by the crews of different groups (2, 3 and 5 Groups) taking part in this raid. Bomber Command Headquarters found many inconsistencies and came to the conclusion that a lot of crews who had reported successful attacks on Essen must have been some distance from that target. The only bombing photographs developed showed some woods. It was probably a typical experience of this period.
It is possible that the 'many fires' reported by some crews were at a decoy fire site in open country, an early example of a device which the Germans would later use whenever possible. The largest decoy site for the city targets in the western part of the Ruhr was near the small town of Rheinberg, a few miles north-east of Duisburg. By coincidence, it was near Rheinberg that a large post-war Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery was established for British airmen who were killed in this part of Germany. Of the 3,326 graves in the cemetery, 2,895 are of R.A.F. men.
3 Hampdens were minelaying off Brittany ports and there were 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses from any of the above operations.

ESSEN, COLOGNE, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
91 aircraft. The largest raid was by 63 aircraft to the Krupps factory at Essen. The British Official History makes comment on the reports submitted by the crews of different groups (2, 3 and 5 Groups) taking part in this raid. Bomber Command Headquarters found many inconsistencies and came to the conclusion that a lot of crews who had reported successful attacks on Essen must have been some distance from that target. The only bombing photographs developed showed some woods. It was probably a typical experience of this period.
It is possible that the 'many fires' reported by some crews were at a decoy fire site in open country, an early example of a device which the Germans would later use whenever possible. The largest decoy site for the city targets in the western part of the Ruhr was near the small town of Rheinberg, a few miles north-east of Duisburg. By coincidence, it was near Rheinberg that a large post-war Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery was established for British airmen who were killed in this part of Germany. Of the 3,326 graves in the cemetery, 2,895 are of R.A.F. men.
3 Hampdens were minelaying off Brittany ports and there were 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses from any of the above operations.

---

GERMANY, ITALY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
106 aircraft to many targets. 4 Whitleys were prevented from taking off from Honington because of a German air raid there. 1 Wellington lost. There were 2 O.T.U. sorties.

GERMANY, ITALY, OCCUPIED COUNTRIES
106 aircraft to many targets. 4 Whitleys were prevented from taking off from Honington because of a German air raid there. 1 Wellington lost. There were 2 O.T.U. sorties.

---

10 Blenheims. 1 aircraft bombed an airfield near Le Havre. No losses.

---

14 Blenheims and Hampdens to airfields and to a seaplane base at Lorient. No losses.

14 Blenheims and Hampdens to airfields and to a seaplane base at Lorient. No losses.

---

7 Blenheims. 3 aircraft bombed at Calais and Boulogne. 1 aircraft lost.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
111 aircraft to many targets; the largest raid was by 25 Wellingtons to Gelsenkirchen. 2 Blenheims lost. There were 3 O.T.U. sorties.

GERMANY, FRANCE
111 aircraft to many targets; the largest raid was by 25 Wellingtons to Gelsenkirchen. 2 Blenheims lost. There were 3 O.T.U. sorties.

---

6 Blenheims. 3 bombed at St-Brieuc airfield and Lorient. No losses.

GERMANY, FRANCE
77 aircraft to many targets; the largest raid was by 24 Wellingtons to Gelsenkirchen but only 6 aircraft reached that target. Because of bad weather, only 19 of all aircraft dispatched bombed their primary targets. 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, FRANCE
77 aircraft to many targets; the largest raid was by 24 Wellingtons to Gelsenkirchen but only 6 aircraft reached that target. Because of bad weather, only 19 of all aircraft dispatched bombed their primary targets. 1 Whitley lost.

---

9 Blenheims. 2 aircraft bombed targets in France. No losses.

---

GERMANY
72 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets. 1 Hampden was mistakenly shot down by a Spitfire soon after its take-off. A further Hampden and a Whitley were lost. Only 15 aircraft reached primary targets.
Evening of

GERMANY
72 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets. 1 Hampden was mistakenly shot down by a Spitfire soon after its take-off. A further Hampden and a Whitley were lost. Only 15 aircraft reached primary targets.
Evening of

---

INTRUDER OPERATION
35 Blenheims to attack known Luftwaffe bomber airfields in France and Belgium because intelligence information had been received that a large-scale German raid was to take place this night on an unknown English city. 10 Blenheims carried out bombing attacks on airfields with results which were recorded as 'generally unobserved' The German raid duly took place on Coventry. The Blenheims all returned safely.

---

BERLIN, HAMBURG, AIRFIELDS
82 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys; the largest raid to Berlin by 50 aircraft, but only 25 of these reported reaching the city. The raids on the airfields - Schiphol and Soesterberg - were also to frustrate the suspected German bombing raid on England. 3 Hampdens were sent minelaying off Brest and Lorient.
10 aircraft - 4 Hampdens, 4 Whitleys, 2 Wellingtons - were lost from the bombing raids, the heaviest night loss of the war so far.

BERLIN, HAMBURG, AIRFIELDS
82 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys; the largest raid to Berlin by 50 aircraft, but only 25 of these reported reaching the city. The raids on the airfields - Schiphol and Soesterberg - were also to frustrate the suspected German bombing raid on England. 3 Hampdens were sent minelaying off Brest and Lorient.
10 aircraft - 4 Hampdens, 4 Whitleys, 2 Wellingtons - were lost from the bombing raids, the heaviest night loss of the war so far.

---

1 Blenheim to Lorient turned back.

---

HAMBURG, AIRFIELDS
67 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Hamburg in 2 separate waves 8 hours apart. Returning crews reported good bombing conditions. Hamburg records show that 68 fires were started and that heavy damage - for this period of the war - was caused at the Blohm & Voss shipyard. 26 people were killed, 102 injured and 1,625 bombed out. This was almost certainly the most successful Bomber Command raid of the war so far.
56 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys - mostly Blenheims - continued the raids on Luftwaffe bomber airfields in the occupied countries.
All operations on this night were free from loss.

HAMBURG, AIRFIELDS
67 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Hamburg in 2 separate waves 8 hours apart. Returning crews reported good bombing conditions. Hamburg records show that 68 fires were started and that heavy damage - for this period of the war - was caused at the Blohm & Voss shipyard. 26 people were killed, 102 injured and 1,625 bombed out. This was almost certainly the most successful Bomber Command raid of the war so far.
56 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys - mostly Blenheims - continued the raids on Luftwaffe bomber airfields in the occupied countries.
All operations on this night were free from loss.

---

6 Blenheims to Northern Germany. 4 aircraft bombed but none of the targets were in Germany. No losses.

---

HAMBURG
130 aircraft to 4 targets in Hamburg. Weather conditions were unfavourable. Only 60 aircraft reported bombing Hamburg; 25 bombed alternative targets. Hamburg records show 6 fires, 2 people killed, 36 injured and 786 bombed out. Kiel, 50 miles north of Hamburg, had 5 people killed and 16 injured on this night. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Blenheim were lost and 5 more aircraft crashed in England.
12 further aircraft bombed airfields and 3 were minelaying, all without loss.

HAMBURG
130 aircraft to 4 targets in Hamburg. Weather conditions were unfavourable. Only 60 aircraft reported bombing Hamburg; 25 bombed alternative targets. Hamburg records show 6 fires, 2 people killed, 36 injured and 786 bombed out. Kiel, 50 miles north of Hamburg, had 5 people killed and 16 injured on this night. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Blenheim were lost and 5 more aircraft crashed in England.
12 further aircraft bombed airfields and 3 were minelaying, all without loss.

---

5 Blenheims to Northern Germany turned back.

---

THE RUHR
49 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Gelsenkirchen and Hamm; only 22 reported bombing primary target. 2 Whitleys bombed Lorient. No losses.

THE RUHR
49 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Gelsenkirchen and Hamm; only 22 reported bombing primary target. 2 Whitleys bombed Lorient. No losses.

---

5 Blenheims to Northern Germany. 1 aircraft bombed a tanker but scored no hits. No losses.

---

MERSEBURG
11 Whitleys to the Leuna synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg. 1 Whitley to Le Havre recalled. No losses.

MERSEBURG
11 Whitleys to the Leuna synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg. 1 Whitley to Le Havre recalled. No losses.

---

5 Blenheims to Northern Germany but none reached a target. 2 aircraft had combats with Ju 88s but all returned safely.

---

GERMANY, PILSEN
63 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany and to the _koda Works at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia. Only 17 aircraft reported bombing their primary targets. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

GERMANY, PILSEN
63 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany and to the _koda Works at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia. Only 17 aircraft reported bombing their primary targets. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.

---

3 Blenheims dispatched but turned back.

---

DUISBURG, AIRFIELDS, LORIENT
68 aircraft - 43 to Duisburg, 17 to airfields and 8 to the submarine base at Lorient. Good bombing was reported at Duisburg and the airfields but Lorient was completely cloud-covered. 1 Whitley lost.

DUISBURG, AIRFIELDS, LORIENT
68 aircraft - 43 to Duisburg, 17 to airfields and 8 to the submarine base at Lorient. Good bombing was reported at Duisburg and the airfields but Lorient was completely cloud-covered. 1 Whitley lost.

---

6 Blenheims; 3 of them bombed various targets in Holland. No losses.

, after only a little over a year in command. He became Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, the second deputy to Portal. His place at 5 Group was taken by Air Vice-Marshal N. H. Bottomley.) Three weeks after Peirse's appointment, he received a long directive from the Air Ministry. Oil was to be his continuing priority target - to be attacked by his best crews in the best weather conditions which were presented. But there was also a long list of other important targets: the bombing of named industries and railways in German cities, targets in Berlin, in Italy, a continuation of minelaying, more attacks on Channel ports in case the Germans should think again of an invasion in 1941, attacks on airfields where German bombers were based. There was nothing fresh in the list but the new commander-in-chief protested that he could not attack all these targets and still carry out a sizeable offensive against oil. A clarification of the directive was thus issued which, in simple terms, said, 'concentrate on the oil and attack the other targets if the opportunities arise'.
There are two aspects of these orders on which particular comment can be made. The first is the utter unreality of some of the forecasts being made about the effectiveness of the attacks by the available strength of aircraft against the oil targets. A typical raid of this coming period was on a synthetic-oil plant near Cologne whose name would become familiar to bomber crews in another oil campaign four years later - Wesseling. On

---

24 Blenheims on widespread cloud-cover raids. 1 aircraft bombed a factory at Solingen in the Ruhr and 6 aircraft bombed targets in Holland and France. No losses.

---

THE RUHR, BORDEAUX
95 aircraft to Dortmund, Duisburg and Wanne-Eickel and to an aircraft factory at Bordeaux. 2 O.T.U. aircraft and 1 Blenheim carried out leaflet raids over France and Holland and 3 Hampdens were minelaying off Lorient. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

THE RUHR, BORDEAUX
95 aircraft to Dortmund, Duisburg and Wanne-Eickel and to an aircraft factory at Bordeaux. 2 O.T.U. aircraft and 1 Blenheim carried out leaflet raids over France and Holland and 3 Hampdens were minelaying off Lorient. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

---

GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
70 aircraft to widespread targets. 4 aircraft - 2 Whitleys, 1 Blenheim, 1 Wellington - lost. 3 Hampdens laid mines in the Elbe.

GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
70 aircraft to widespread targets. 4 aircraft - 2 Whitleys, 1 Blenheim, 1 Wellington - lost. 3 Hampdens laid mines in the Elbe.

---

HAMBURG, FRANCE
42 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to Hamburg. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost. Hamburg was completely covered by cloud but Hamburg records show 4 fires, 2 people killed, 34 injured and 86 bombed out.
8 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Boulogne docks and 3 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany. No losses.

HAMBURG, FRANCE
42 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to Hamburg. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost. Hamburg was completely covered by cloud but Hamburg records show 4 fires, 2 people killed, 34 injured and 86 bombed out.
8 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Boulogne docks and 3 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany. No losses.

---

KIEL, WILHELMSHAVEN
36 Hampdens, Whitleys and Wellingtons; targets were difficult to locate. Wilhelmshaven reports only 1 bomb on an air-raid shelter, which was empty, and 2 bombs in open ground. Kiel reports sirens but no bombing incidents. 1 Wellington lost.

KIEL, WILHELMSHAVEN
36 Hampdens, Whitleys and Wellingtons; targets were difficult to locate. Wilhelmshaven reports only 1 bomb on an air-raid shelter, which was empty, and 2 bombs in open ground. Kiel reports sirens but no bombing incidents. 1 Wellington lost.

---

2 Blenheims to Belgian airfields turned back.
8. An old man killed in a raid at Stuttgart in 1940, possibly the first fatal casualty in that city.

---

GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
69 aircraft to widespread targets but less than half found primary targets. 2 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay. No losses from any operation.

GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
69 aircraft to widespread targets but less than half found primary targets. 2 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay. No losses from any operation.

---

7 Blenheims, only 2 bombed; 1 of these hit a merchant ship outside Wilhelmshaven harbour. No losses.

---

COLOGNE, FRANCE
62 aircraft to 5 targets in Cologne, less than half reported bombing there. 1 Whitley lost.
8 aircraft to Channel ports and 4 minelaying off Brittany; no losses.

COLOGNE, FRANCE
62 aircraft to 5 targets in Cologne, less than half reported bombing there. 1 Whitley lost.
8 aircraft to Channel ports and 4 minelaying off Brittany; no losses.

---

6 Blenheims to Coxyde-les-Bains on Belgian coast to bomb a hotel - the Terynick - believed to be in use as a German headquarters. 2 aircraft bombed this target and 1 direct hit was claimed. No losses to the Blenheims.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
77 aircraft to many targets, the largest raid being by 24 Blenheims to DÜSSELDORF. 1 Blenheim lost.

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
77 aircraft to many targets, the largest raid being by 24 Blenheims to DÜSSELDORF. 1 Blenheim lost.

---

GERMANY, PORTS, AIRFIELDS
42 aircraft to Bremen, Cologne, the Channel ports and airfields; 1 Blenheim lost. 2 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and 1 O.T.U. sortie.

GERMANY, PORTS, AIRFIELDS
42 aircraft to Bremen, Cologne, the Channel ports and airfields; 1 Blenheim lost. 2 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and 1 O.T.U. sortie.

Wilhelmshaven
10 Hampdens, only 3 reported bombing the target. The Wilhelmshaven civil diary has no entry for this night. No aircraft losses.

Wilhelmshaven
10 Hampdens, only 3 reported bombing the target. The Wilhelmshaven civil diary has no entry for this night. No aircraft losses.

---

6 Blenheims; 2 aircraft bombed targets. No losses.

---

Lorient
9 Whitleys encountered thick cloud and only 4 bombed. No losses but 4 aircraft crashed in England.

Lorient
9 Whitleys encountered thick cloud and only 4 bombed. No losses but 4 aircraft crashed in England.

---

GERMANY
20 Blenheims and Whitleys to Duisburg, Essen and Mannheim; only 5 aircraft bombed these targets. 1 Blenheim lost and 4 more aircraft crashed in England.

GERMANY
20 Blenheims and Whitleys to Duisburg, Essen and Mannheim; only 5 aircraft bombed these targets. 1 Blenheim lost and 4 more aircraft crashed in England.

---

7 Blenheims; 3 aircraft bombed. No losses.

---

DÜSSELDORF, TURIN
83 aircraft to DÜSSELDORF and Turin; only 30 reached these targets. 1 Blenheim and 1 Wellington lost. 3 Hampdens minelaying off Brest.

DÜSSELDORF, TURIN
83 aircraft to DÜSSELDORF and Turin; only 30 reached these targets. 1 Blenheim and 1 Wellington lost. 3 Hampdens minelaying off Brest.

---

5 Blenheims to Lorient and Caen airfield abandoned the flight.

---

5 Whitleys to Gelsenkirchen; only 1 bombed; no losses.

5 Whitleys to Gelsenkirchen; only 1 bombed; no losses.

---

ANTI-LUFTWAFFE OPERATIONS
55 Blenheims, Hampdens and Whitleys to Luftwaffe bomber airfields in the Occupied Countries. 2 Hampdens lost. A further 20 Hampdens carried out 'interruption patrols', attempting to engage German bombers raiding Bristol, but with no success. 1 O.T.U. sortie to Paris.

ANTI-LUFTWAFFE OPERATIONS
55 Blenheims, Hampdens and Whitleys to Luftwaffe bomber airfields in the Occupied Countries. 2 Hampdens lost. A further 20 Hampdens carried out 'interruption patrols', attempting to engage German bombers raiding Bristol, but with no success. 1 O.T.U. sortie to Paris.

---

2 Blenheims; 1 bombed Brest and 1 Zeebrugge. No losses.

---

DÜSSELDORF, OSTEND, AIRFIELDS
69 aircraft, mostly to DÜSSELDORF. 5 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden, 1 Whitley - lost. 4 Hampdens minelaying off Brest.

DÜSSELDORF, OSTEND, AIRFIELDS
69 aircraft, mostly to DÜSSELDORF. 5 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden, 1 Whitley - lost. 4 Hampdens minelaying off Brest.

---

DÜSSELDORF, BORDEAUX, LORIENT, AIRFIELDS
90 aircraft; many crews reported good bombing. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties. 19 Hampdens patrolled over Bristol but made no contact with German bombers.

DÜSSELDORF, BORDEAUX, LORIENT, AIRFIELDS
90 aircraft; many crews reported good bombing. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties. 19 Hampdens patrolled over Bristol but made no contact with German bombers.

---

5 Blenheims; 4 aircraft bombed various targets. No losses.

---

BREMEN, PORTS
39 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Bremen, Antwerp, Boulogne and Lorient. 1 Blenheim lost.

BREMEN, PORTS
39 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Bremen, Antwerp, Boulogne and Lorient. 1 Blenheim lost.

---

GERMANY, PORTS
62 aircraft to many targets; only 6 reached their primaries. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost. 5 Hampdens minelaying in the River Gironde; 1 was lost.

GERMANY, PORTS
62 aircraft to many targets; only 6 reached their primaries. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost. 5 Hampdens minelaying in the River Gironde; 1 was lost.

---

1 Blenheim to Schiphol airfield turned back.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
42 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Mannheim and many other cities but less than half reached their targets. 1 Blenheim and 1 Wellington lost. 20 Hampdens attempted interceptions of Germany bombers over Birmingham without success.

GERMANY, FRANCE
42 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Mannheim and many other cities but less than half reached their targets. 1 Blenheim and 1 Wellington lost. 20 Hampdens attempted interceptions of Germany bombers over Birmingham without success.

---

1 Blenheim to Emden turned back.

---

DUISBURG
15 Hampdens and Whitleys; the force was recalled. One aircraft did not receive signal and bombed Duisburg. No losses.

DUISBURG
15 Hampdens and Whitleys; the force was recalled. One aircraft did not receive signal and bombed Duisburg. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims to Lorient and Brest turned back.

---

BREMEN, KIEL
33 Wellingtons and Whitleys. Most bombed but no results seen because of complete cloud cover. The Kiel diary has no mention of bombs in the town. 1 Whitley lost.

BREMEN, KIEL
33 Wellingtons and Whitleys. Most bombed but no results seen because of complete cloud cover. The Kiel diary has no mention of bombs in the town. 1 Whitley lost.

BERLIN, FRANKFURT, KIEL
71 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys; less than half bombed primary targets. Kiel reports bombs in the naval yard and in other parts of Kiel with 2 people killed (1 a soldier) and 5 injured and some houses destroyed. 3 Whitleys lost.
8 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany without loss.

BERLIN, FRANKFURT, KIEL
71 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys; less than half bombed primary targets. Kiel reports bombs in the naval yard and in other parts of Kiel with 2 people killed (1 a soldier) and 5 injured and some houses destroyed. 3 Whitleys lost.
8 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany without loss.

---

MANNHEIM
This raid to Mannheim was probably the most interesting operation of this period of the war. Bomber Command was authorized by the War Cabinet to carry out a general attack on the centre of a German city in retaliation for the recent heavy bombing of English cities, particularly Coventry and Southampton. Mannheim was chosen and a force of 200 bombers was prepared under the code-name Operation Abigail Rachel. Weather forecasts indicated that conditions over the bomber airfields would deteriorate and the force was cut to 134 aircraft - 61 Wellingtons, 35 Whitleys, 29 Hampdens and 9 Blenheims - but this was still the largest force sent to a single target so far.
The raid was opened by 8 Wellingtons, flown by the most experienced crews available, who attempted to start fires in the centre of Mannheim using all-incendiary bomb loads. Following crews were supposed to use these fires as a guide and attempt to cause as much destruction as possible. For the first time in more than fifteen months of war, Bomber Command was deliberately aiming at a target which was not primarily military or industrial in nature. The general area of the centre of Mannheim was the target. It was an early forerunner of what the R.A.F. would later call 'area bombing' and the Germans called 'terror bombing'.
The weather over the target was mainly clear of cloud and there was a full moon; the Mannheim defences were not heavy. Bomber Command's own records - the Operations Record Book and the Night Bombing Sheets give figures varying between 82 and 102 aircraft claiming to have bombed Mannheim. But the raid was not a success. The early Wellington 'fire-raisers' were not accurate and the largest fires were not in the centre of the city. The resultant bombing by the main force of bombers was scattered.
The Mannheim report (55 pages long!) shows that the majority of the bombs fell in residential areas. 240 buildings were destroyed or damaged by incendiary bombs and 236 by high-explosive bombs; included in these figures are 13 commercial premises, 1 railway station, 1 railway office, 1 school and 2 hospitals. The hospitals did not sustain serious damage although at one of them, a military hospital, 28 people, including 13 soldiers and 9 nursing sisters, were injured by flying glass caused by the blast of a nearby high-explosive bomb. 4 barges or river steamers were damaged. The total casualty list was: 34 dead, 81 injured and 1,266 bombed out. Of the dead, 13 were male civilians, 1 was a soldier, 18 were women and 2 were children. Of the bombed out, 223 were in the town of Ludwigshafen on the other side of the Rhine.
2 Hampdens and 1 Blenheim were lost and 4 more aircraft crashed in England.

when 134 bombers carried out what would later be described as an 'area bombing' raid on Mannheim as retaliation for recent German bombing.
Air Marshal Peirse had just cause to resist some of the demands made upon his force; Bomber Command was losing rather than gaining strength. When Peirse took over in October, the theoretical strength of the operational squadrons had doubled since the outbreak of the war. The daily return to the Air Ministry's War Room now showed a strength of 532 aircraft - 217 Blenheims, 100 Wellingtons, 71 Hampdens, 59 Whitleys and 85 Battles. There was much difficulty in finding a useful role for the large force of Blenheims now that the invasion threat had passed and the Battles, which had come back from France, were obsolete and would fly their last operation on the night of 15/16 October. In the five months to be covered by this coming period of the diary, the Blenheim strength would fall to 150 aircraft, which could only be used in limited roles, and the Battles would depart completely. The Whitleys and Hampdens, both due for replacement by more modern types of aircraft, did no more than hold their own in numbers but the sturdy and reliable Wellingtons would almost double their strength, mainly in the establishment of 1 Group as a regular night-bombing force with this type. Operations under the new commander-in-chief thus commenced with a force of only 230 aircraft of types suitable for night operations in winter, of which a proportion were always manned by inexperienced crews or were suffering from servicing problems. Peirse's realistic maximum strength for night operations was no more than 150 aircraft.
So the pattern of raids continued, with a greater emphasis on Germany but with a significant slackening of numbers dispatched. Most of the operations were by night, with small numbers of aircraft sent to many targets still being the normal routine. But the new commander does seem to have selected the best moonlit night in each month and gathered his strength of aircraft for a concentration of effort on one German city. In this way, Hamburg was attacked by 130 aircraft in the middle of November and Mannheim and Gelsenkirchen by similar numbers in December and January. The relaxation of pressure did allow for the less experienced crews to be introduced to operations more gradually; these 'freshman crews' were usually sent to a relatively safe target on the coast of one of the occupied countries until judged ready to tackle more distant targets.
The employment of the 2 Group Blenheims continued to pose major problems. At least four squadrons left for conversion to Wellingtons with other groups but those squadrons which remained saw little action. A small proportion of the strength available continued to be used on night raids but daylight operations brought little satisfaction. In January 1941, a new type of Blenheim operation was introduced, the Circus. In this, a handful of Blenheim bombers was dispatched with a large escort of the R.A.F. day fighters now available in Britain and, like the Blenheims, freed from the threat of invasion. The targets attacked by the Blenheims were rarely of importance but the true purpose of these operations was to draw the Luftwaffe fighters into action. The British fighters would then join combat and, in this way, it was hoped, a successful war of attrition against the Luftwaffe could be waged. The whole concept was hampered by the limited range of R.A.F. fighters and only a small area of northwest France around the Pas de Calais and parts of Belgium could be reached. The Luftwaffe could join battle or decline to do so as it wished. Some thought it a poor employment of resources but the alternative was to keep unemployed the large forces of day bombers and fighters which might one day be needed to defend Britain from invasion if the Germans did resurrect their plans and whose successors would certainly be needed on that dimly distant day when Allied forces could re-invade Europe.
Night-bombing operations proceeded steadily in October and November, though with many more aircraft than before turning back or failing to find their designated primary targets for weather reasons. With midwinter came a definite reduction in the scale of operations and this period really just fizzled out on the quietest of notes in January and early February. The general level of operations during the whole period was less than half that of any time since the German invasion of France and the Low Countries in May 1940.

MANNHEIM
This raid to Mannheim was probably the most interesting operation of this period of the war. Bomber Command was authorized by the War Cabinet to carry out a general attack on the centre of a German city in retaliation for the recent heavy bombing of English cities, particularly Coventry and Southampton. Mannheim was chosen and a force of 200 bombers was prepared under the code-name Operation Abigail Rachel. Weather forecasts indicated that conditions over the bomber airfields would deteriorate and the force was cut to 134 aircraft - 61 Wellingtons, 35 Whitleys, 29 Hampdens and 9 Blenheims - but this was still the largest force sent to a single target so far.
The raid was opened by 8 Wellingtons, flown by the most experienced crews available, who attempted to start fires in the centre of Mannheim using all-incendiary bomb loads. Following crews were supposed to use these fires as a guide and attempt to cause as much destruction as possible. For the first time in more than fifteen months of war, Bomber Command was deliberately aiming at a target which was not primarily military or industrial in nature. The general area of the centre of Mannheim was the target. It was an early forerunner of what the R.A.F. would later call 'area bombing' and the Germans called 'terror bombing'.
The weather over the target was mainly clear of cloud and there was a full moon; the Mannheim defences were not heavy. Bomber Command's own records - the Operations Record Book and the Night Bombing Sheets give figures varying between 82 and 102 aircraft claiming to have bombed Mannheim. But the raid was not a success. The early Wellington 'fire-raisers' were not accurate and the largest fires were not in the centre of the city. The resultant bombing by the main force of bombers was scattered.
The Mannheim report (55 pages long!) shows that the majority of the bombs fell in residential areas. 240 buildings were destroyed or damaged by incendiary bombs and 236 by high-explosive bombs; included in these figures are 13 commercial premises, 1 railway station, 1 railway office, 1 school and 2 hospitals. The hospitals did not sustain serious damage although at one of them, a military hospital, 28 people, including 13 soldiers and 9 nursing sisters, were injured by flying glass caused by the blast of a nearby high-explosive bomb. 4 barges or river steamers were damaged. The total casualty list was: 34 dead, 81 injured and 1,266 bombed out. Of the dead, 13 were male civilians, 1 was a soldier, 18 were women and 2 were children. Of the bombed out, 223 were in the town of Ludwigshafen on the other side of the Rhine.
2 Hampdens and 1 Blenheim were lost and 4 more aircraft crashed in England.

---

MANNHEIM, AIRFIELDS
9 Whitleys to Mannheim, 8 Blenheims to airfields in France. No losses.

when 134 bombers carried out what would later be described as an 'area bombing' raid on Mannheim as retaliation for recent German bombing.
Air Marshal Peirse had just cause to resist some of the demands made upon his force; Bomber Command was losing rather than gaining strength. When Peirse took over in October, the theoretical strength of the operational squadrons had doubled since the outbreak of the war. The daily return to the Air Ministry's War Room now showed a strength of 532 aircraft - 217 Blenheims, 100 Wellingtons, 71 Hampdens, 59 Whitleys and 85 Battles. There was much difficulty in finding a useful role for the large force of Blenheims now that the invasion threat had passed and the Battles, which had come back from France, were obsolete and would fly their last operation on the night of 15/16 October. In the five months to be covered by this coming period of the diary, the Blenheim strength would fall to 150 aircraft, which could only be used in limited roles, and the Battles would depart completely. The Whitleys and Hampdens, both due for replacement by more modern types of aircraft, did no more than hold their own in numbers but the sturdy and reliable Wellingtons would almost double their strength, mainly in the establishment of 1 Group as a regular night-bombing force with this type. Operations under the new commander-in-chief thus commenced with a force of only 230 aircraft of types suitable for night operations in winter, of which a proportion were always manned by inexperienced crews or were suffering from servicing problems. Peirse's realistic maximum strength for night operations was no more than 150 aircraft.
So the pattern of raids continued, with a greater emphasis on Germany but with a significant slackening of numbers dispatched. Most of the operations were by night, with small numbers of aircraft sent to many targets still being the normal routine. But the new commander does seem to have selected the best moonlit night in each month and gathered his strength of aircraft for a concentration of effort on one German city. In this way, Hamburg was attacked by 130 aircraft in the middle of November and Mannheim and Gelsenkirchen by similar numbers in December and January. The relaxation of pressure did allow for the less experienced crews to be introduced to operations more gradually; these 'freshman crews' were usually sent to a relatively safe target on the coast of one of the occupied countries until judged ready to tackle more distant targets.
The employment of the 2 Group Blenheims continued to pose major problems. At least four squadrons left for conversion to Wellingtons with other groups but those squadrons which remained saw little action. A small proportion of the strength available continued to be used on night raids but daylight operations brought little satisfaction. In January 1941, a new type of Blenheim operation was introduced, the Circus. In this, a handful of Blenheim bombers was dispatched with a large escort of the R.A.F. day fighters now available in Britain and, like the Blenheims, freed from the threat of invasion. The targets attacked by the Blenheims were rarely of importance but the true purpose of these operations was to draw the Luftwaffe fighters into action. The British fighters would then join combat and, in this way, it was hoped, a successful war of attrition against the Luftwaffe could be waged. The whole concept was hampered by the limited range of R.A.F. fighters and only a small area of northwest France around the Pas de Calais and parts of Belgium could be reached. The Luftwaffe could join battle or decline to do so as it wished. Some thought it a poor employment of resources but the alternative was to keep unemployed the large forces of day bombers and fighters which might one day be needed to defend Britain from invasion if the Germans did resurrect their plans and whose successors would certainly be needed on that dimly distant day when Allied forces could re-invade Europe.
Night-bombing operations proceeded steadily in October and November, though with many more aircraft than before turning back or failing to find their designated primary targets for weather reasons. With midwinter came a definite reduction in the scale of operations and this period really just fizzled out on the quietest of notes in January and early February. The general level of operations during the whole period was less than half that of any time since the German invasion of France and the Low Countries in May 1940.

MANNHEIM, AIRFIELDS
9 Whitleys to Mannheim, 8 Blenheims to airfields in France. No losses.

---

MANNHEIM, MILAN
17 Wellingtons and 9 Whitleys to Mannheim, 5 Wellingtons to the Pirelli factory at Milan. Fires were claimed started near Mannheim main railway station and 3 aircraft which reached Milan claimed a 'terrific blaze' there. 1 Wellington was lost.

MANNHEIM, MILAN
17 Wellingtons and 9 Whitleys to Mannheim, 5 Wellingtons to the Pirelli factory at Milan. Fires were claimed started near Mannheim main railway station and 3 aircraft which reached Milan claimed a 'terrific blaze' there. 1 Wellington was lost.

---

5 Blenheims to France turned back.

---

COLOGNE, THE RUHR, FRANCE
85 aircraft to Cologne, Duisburg, Gelsenkirchen and on small raids on Boulogne and airfields, but only 23 aircraft bombed primary targets. 1 Blenheim lost. 8 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany.

COLOGNE, THE RUHR, FRANCE
85 aircraft to Cologne, Duisburg, Gelsenkirchen and on small raids on Boulogne and airfields, but only 23 aircraft bombed primary targets. 1 Blenheim lost. 8 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany.

---

5 Blenheims on cloud-cover raids but only 1 aircraft bombed, at Flushing docks. No losses.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
125 aircraft to Berlin, Gelsenkirchen and the Channel Ports. 4 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay. No losses.
The 6 Wellingtons dispatched by 103 and 150 Squadrons to Ostend were the first Wellingtons from 1 Group.

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
125 aircraft to Berlin, Gelsenkirchen and the Channel Ports. 4 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay. No losses.
The 6 Wellingtons dispatched by 103 and 150 Squadrons to Ostend were the first Wellingtons from 1 Group.

---

1 Blenheim to Le Havre turned back.

---

GERMANY, ITALY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
71 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets. 5 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay. 1 O.T.U. sortie. No losses.

GERMANY, ITALY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM
71 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to many targets. 5 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay. 1 O.T.U. sortie. No losses.

---

GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE
59 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 targets but less than half bombed primaries. 1 Wellington lost. 3 Hampdens minelaying off Cuxhaven and 1 O.T.U. sortie.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE
59 Blenheims, Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 targets but less than half bombed primaries. 1 Wellington lost. 3 Hampdens minelaying off Cuxhaven and 1 O.T.U. sortie.

---

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
43 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Ludwigshaven, Mannheim and to the ports. 1 Whitley lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties.

GERMANY, CHANNEL PORTS
43 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Ludwigshaven, Mannheim and to the ports. 1 Whitley lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties.

6 Hampdens to aircraft factory at Bordeaux; 3 aircraft bombed and hits were seen on the airfield near by. No losses.

6 Hampdens to aircraft factory at Bordeaux; 3 aircraft bombed and hits were seen on the airfield near by. No losses.

---

FRANCE
75 aircraft to aircraft factory at Bordeaux and to ports and airfields. 1 Blenheim and 1 Wellington lost; 4 aircraft crashed in England.

FRANCE
75 aircraft to aircraft factory at Bordeaux and to ports and airfields. 1 Blenheim and 1 Wellington lost; 4 aircraft crashed in England.

---

PORTS
59 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Boulogne and Lorient. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost. 7 Hampdens minelaying off Kiel and St-Nazaire.

PORTS
59 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Boulogne and Lorient. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost. 7 Hampdens minelaying off Kiel and St-Nazaire.

---

GERMANY, FRANCE
27 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Frankfurt, Hamm, Boulogne and airfields, but few aircraft reached these targets. 2 Wellingtons were lost.

GERMANY, FRANCE
27 Blenheims, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Frankfurt, Hamm, Boulogne and airfields, but few aircraft reached these targets. 2 Wellingtons were lost.

---

2 Blenheims to north Germany turned back.

22 Blenheims on single flights to Germany and Holland. 6 aircraft bombed various targets. 2 aircraft lost.

9 Blenheims to Germany turned back.

---

BREMEN
141 aircraft to Bremen and in smaller raids to ports in Holland, Belgium and France. Many fires seen in target area.
Bremen reports accurate bombing, particularly by the first wave of aircraft, which hit the Focke-Wulf factory in the southern suburb of Hemelingen. 2 other industrial firms received serious damage and several others light damage. A large fire was started in stacks of straw and hay at an army depot. Fire units from outside Bremen were called in to help and the firemen had a difficult time in the prolonged bombing raid in a temperature of - 12 Celsius. The bombing spread to the town centre where 14 housing units (blocks of flats) were destroyed and 313 damaged, though much of the damage consisted only of broken windows. 11 people were killed (including 3 firemen) and 30 people injured.
No aircraft were lost but 4 crashed in England.

BREMEN
141 aircraft to Bremen and in smaller raids to ports in Holland, Belgium and France. Many fires seen in target area.
Bremen reports accurate bombing, particularly by the first wave of aircraft, which hit the Focke-Wulf factory in the southern suburb of Hemelingen. 2 other industrial firms received serious damage and several others light damage. A large fire was started in stacks of straw and hay at an army depot. Fire units from outside Bremen were called in to help and the firemen had a difficult time in the prolonged bombing raid in a temperature of - 12 Celsius. The bombing spread to the town centre where 14 housing units (blocks of flats) were destroyed and 313 damaged, though much of the damage consisted only of broken windows. 11 people were killed (including 3 firemen) and 30 people injured.
No aircraft were lost but 4 crashed in England.

---

1 Blenheim to Dortmund-Ems Canal turned back.

---

BREMEN
47 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Bremen and small raids to Emden and Amsterdam. 1 Whitley lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties.
This raid was not as effective as that of the previous night. About 15 bomb loads hit Bremen, mainly in the town centre and harbour area, where a store of 50,000 new jute sacks was burnt out. Reinforcement fire units were called in over icy roads and through snow showers from as far away as Hannover and Hamburg. 7 houses were destroyed and 576 damaged, mostly lightly. 8 people were killed and 44 injured.

BREMEN
47 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to Bremen and small raids to Emden and Amsterdam. 1 Whitley lost. 2 O.T.U. sorties.
This raid was not as effective as that of the previous night. About 15 bomb loads hit Bremen, mainly in the town centre and harbour area, where a store of 50,000 new jute sacks was burnt out. Reinforcement fire units were called in over icy roads and through snow showers from as far away as Hannover and Hamburg. 7 houses were destroyed and 576 damaged, mostly lightly. 8 people were killed and 44 injured.

---

BREMEN
71 aircraft dispatched and reported good bombing results with numerous fires. Bremen again reports many fires and some casualties. Hamburg, to which no bombers were dispatched, also records 12 fires, 6 of which were classified as large, but no casualties. 1 Whitley lost.

BREMEN
71 aircraft dispatched and reported good bombing results with numerous fires. Bremen again reports many fires and some casualties. Hamburg, to which no bombers were dispatched, also records 12 fires, 6 of which were classified as large, but no casualties. 1 Whitley lost.

---

2 Blenheims turned back.

---

BREST, HAMBURG
53 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to attack major German naval units believed to be in Brest harbour. Cloud and heavy Flak produced indecisive bombing results. 24 Blenheims to Hamburg but weather conditions were poor and Hamburg records contain no mention of any attack.
Minor Operations: 9 Wellingtons to Duisburg, 4 Blenheims to Rotterdam, 5 Hampdens mine-laying off Lorient and 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses in any operation on this night.

BREST, HAMBURG
53 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to attack major German naval units believed to be in Brest harbour. Cloud and heavy Flak produced indecisive bombing results. 24 Blenheims to Hamburg but weather conditions were poor and Hamburg records contain no mention of any attack.
Minor Operations: 9 Wellingtons to Duisburg, 4 Blenheims to Rotterdam, 5 Hampdens mine-laying off Lorient and 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses in any operation on this night.

---

4 Blenheims; 1 aircraft bombed Flushing. No losses.

---

12 Hampdens minelaying at Brest, Lorient and St-Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost.

12 Hampdens minelaying at Brest, Lorient and St-Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost.

---

3 Blenheims; 1 aircraft bombed and hit a tanker off the Hook of Holland. No losses.

1 Blenheim to Bremen turned back.

5 Blenheims to Holland turned back.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN, EMDEN
48 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys, 32 to Wilhelmshaven, 16 to Emden. The target at Wilhelmshaven was the battleship Tirpitz. Crews reported bombs straddling the Tirpitz and many fires. Wilhelmshaven reports heavy damage in various parts of the town with 12 people killed and adds the comment that this was the first large raid for the local air-raid services.
9 Hampdens minelaying in the Elbe. No losses from any operation.

WILHELMSHAVEN, EMDEN
48 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys, 32 to Wilhelmshaven, 16 to Emden. The target at Wilhelmshaven was the battleship Tirpitz. Crews reported bombs straddling the Tirpitz and many fires. Wilhelmshaven reports heavy damage in various parts of the town with 12 people killed and adds the comment that this was the first large raid for the local air-raid services.
9 Hampdens minelaying in the Elbe. No losses from any operation.

---

1 Blenheim to Antwerp turned back.

---

GELSENKIRCHEN
135 aircraft - 60 Wellingtons, 36 Blenheims, 20 Hampdens and 19 Whitleys - to bomb synthetic-oil plants. Only 56 aircraft reported bombing the designated targets. Gelsenkirchen reports bombs in the city and in the surrounding towns of Buer, Horst and Hessler. One person was killed in Gelsenkirchen. 1 Whitley lost.
Minor Operations: 15 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 1 Blenheim to Calais and 4 Hampdens mine-laying in Kiel Bay. No losses.

GELSENKIRCHEN
135 aircraft - 60 Wellingtons, 36 Blenheims, 20 Hampdens and 19 Whitleys - to bomb synthetic-oil plants. Only 56 aircraft reported bombing the designated targets. Gelsenkirchen reports bombs in the city and in the surrounding towns of Buer, Horst and Hessler. One person was killed in Gelsenkirchen. 1 Whitley lost.
Minor Operations: 15 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 1 Blenheim to Calais and 4 Hampdens mine-laying in Kiel Bay. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims of 114 Squadron were escorted by 72 fighters in this first Circus operation. The Blenheims bombed a German ammunition depot in the Fort de Guines, south of Calais. None of the Blenheims were lost.
2 further Blenheims dispatched on cloud-cover raids to Emden and Nordholz turned back.

---

12 Whitleys to attack warship in Brest harbour. No losses.

12 Whitleys to attack warship in Brest harbour. No losses.

---

19 Blenheims on widespread cloud-cover raids; 9 bombed targets. 1 aircraft lost.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN
35 Hampdens and Wellingtons; 17 claimed to have bombed primary targets. No losses. Wilhelmshaven reports 1 house burnt down, a barn destroyed by an exploding Flak shell and a boy killed by a falling Flak-shell splinter.
Minor Operations: 11 Wellingtons to Turin and 5 Hampdens minelaying in the Baltic north of Lbeck. 1 Wellington, of 9 Squadron, returning from Turin force-landed in Vichy France and the crew destroyed the plane by fire before being interned.

WILHELMSHAVEN
35 Hampdens and Wellingtons; 17 claimed to have bombed primary targets. No losses. Wilhelmshaven reports 1 house burnt down, a barn destroyed by an exploding Flak shell and a boy killed by a falling Flak-shell splinter.
Minor Operations: 11 Wellingtons to Turin and 5 Hampdens minelaying in the Baltic north of Lbeck. 1 Wellington, of 9 Squadron, returning from Turin force-landed in Vichy France and the crew destroyed the plane by fire before being interned.

---

6 Blenheims; 1 bombed Flushing docks. No losses.

---

BREST, MINOR OPERATIONS
26 Hampdens and Wellingtons to Brest, 21 Blenheims to airfields in France, 9 Wellingtons to Italy, 3 Wellingtons to Regensburg, 8 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and Lorient, 3 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Wellington lost from the Italian raid.

BREST, MINOR OPERATIONS
26 Hampdens and Wellingtons to Brest, 21 Blenheims to airfields in France, 9 Wellingtons to Italy, 3 Wellingtons to Regensburg, 8 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and Lorient, 3 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Wellington lost from the Italian raid.

---

1 Blenheim to Nordhorn airfield, just over the German border with Holland, did not return.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN, FRENCH PORTS
24 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Wilhelmshaven, Dunkirk and Boulogne. Good bombing claimed at Wilhelmshaven but the town diary has no entry; cloud over the French ports. 12 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany ports. No losses from any operation.

WILHELMSHAVEN, FRENCH PORTS
24 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Wilhelmshaven, Dunkirk and Boulogne. Good bombing claimed at Wilhelmshaven but the town diary has no entry; cloud over the French ports. 12 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany ports. No losses from any operation.

---

3 Blenheims turned back.

2 Blenheims; 1 bombed a ship off Dutch coast but scored no hits. No losses.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN
96 aircraft; most crews reported good bombing results. 1 Whitley lost. Wilhelmshaven reports much damage and many fires. Among buildings destroyed or damaged were: the head post office, the main police station, an army barracks, a naval technical school, the main dock offices, 7 large commercial premises and 2 hospitals. At least 22 fire-fighting teams were called in from towns in a radius of 120 km; the men of these teams had to travel in open vehicles over icy roads and then had to fight fires in freezing temperatures. 21 people were killed and 34 injured. The diarist says: 'The year of 1941 would bring many more heavy raids but none causing such heavy damage as this one.'
Minor Operations: 8 Wellingtons and 1 Whitley to Emden and Rotterdam. No losses.

---

, the Air Ministry had sent Sir Richard Peirse the most concise, clear and forceful directive yet produced. It was assumed that 'oil position of the Axis Powers will be passing through their most critical period … during the next six months' and that, if the scale of attack on Germany's synthetic-oil industry could be increased, 'there will be widespread effects on German industry and communications, while it is even probable that within this time an appreciable effect may be felt in the scale of effort of her armed forces'. Sir Richard Peirse was therefore told that 'the sole primary aim of your bomber offensive, until further orders, should be the destruction of the German synthetic oil plants'. A list of seventeen places where oil was being produced from nearby deposits of cheaply mined brown coal (lignite) was added and it was judged that a reduction of 80 percent in Germany's internal production of oil could be achieved if the first nine of these plants could be destroyed. The leading nine plants were: Leuna, Plitz, Gelsenkirchen (the Nordstern plant), Zeitz, Scholven/Buer, Ruhland, Bhlen, Magdeburg and Ltzkendorf.
The intentions of Sir Richard Peirse on receiving these orders were quite clear. He would wait for the February new moon, make the large once-a-month attack on a large industrial city to which he had become accustomed, and then set to work to concentrate on those oil plants. The serious attack on the oil targets would, of course, be carried out almost entirely by night. He would be able to dispatch 265 aircraft on his February 'big night'; this was fifty-six more than the previous highest total, achieved in September 1940. Hannover would be chosen for this attack. The number of aircraft Peirse would send to Hannover would be 222, which well exceeded the previous largest concentration on one target, 135 to Gelsenkirchen in the January 1941 moon period. There should be no reason why a substantially increased effort by the current types of bombers should not be available for operations for a prolonged period, and new, improved, types were also beginning to appear. The Manchester and the four-engined types, Stirling and Halifax, the new generation of aircraft with much increased bomb-carrying capacity and, it was hoped, better all-round performance, were all due to make their operational dbut within the next month. There was only one change in command at this time: Air Vice-Marshal D. F. Stevenson succeeded Air Vice-Marshal J. M. Robb in the command of the still operationally trouble-ridden 2 Group.
The new period was due to get off to a good start but would then run into further weather problems. The clearest of conditions were needed for the finding of the oil plants; when these conditions were not available, the bombers had to be sent to less important targets. It was in this way that Cologne, the comparatively short-range target and one that was outside the main Ruhr Flak and searchlight defences, came to be chosen for attack on numerous nights of marginal weather conditions. When the weather was really bad, the bomber force often had to be stood down completely. Sometimes risks were taken to keep the offensive going and the bombers suffered heavy casualties in crashes around their home airfields or in the more distant parts of the United Kingdom to which they were sometimes diverted. Nearly three quarters of the aircraft casualties incurred in the following weeks would be the result of crashes in the United Kingdom.
Unhappily for Bomber Command, the great oil offensive never really got under way. Frustrated immediately by the weather, it was soon to be cut off completely by yet another diversion of effort. The clear run for which Bomber Command Headquarters had hoped was destined to last for just one month.

WILHELMSHAVEN
96 aircraft; most crews reported good bombing results. 1 Whitley lost. Wilhelmshaven reports much damage and many fires. Among buildings destroyed or damaged were: the head post office, the main police station, an army barracks, a naval technical school, the main dock offices, 7 large commercial premises and 2 hospitals. At least 22 fire-fighting teams were called in from towns in a radius of 120 km; the men of these teams had to travel in open vehicles over icy roads and then had to fight fires in freezing temperatures. 21 people were killed and 34 injured. The diarist says: 'The year of 1941 would bring many more heavy raids but none causing such heavy damage as this one.'
Minor Operations: 8 Wellingtons and 1 Whitley to Emden and Rotterdam. No losses.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN
81 aircraft attempted to follow up the successful raid of the previous night but fewer crews found the target. Wilhelmshaven reports only light damage with 2 people killed. 5 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 2 Whitleys, 1 Hampden - lost.
Minor Operations: 3 Wellingtons to Emden and Rotterdam, 2 Blenheims to Boulogne, 4 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

WILHELMSHAVEN
81 aircraft attempted to follow up the successful raid of the previous night but fewer crews found the target. Wilhelmshaven reports only light damage with 2 people killed. 5 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 2 Whitleys, 1 Hampden - lost.
Minor Operations: 3 Wellingtons to Emden and Rotterdam, 2 Blenheims to Boulogne, 4 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

---

1 O.T.U. leaflet sortie to Paris and Lille.

1 O.T.U. leaflet sortie to Paris and Lille.

---

1 Blenheim to Flushing turned back.

12 Blenheims to Germany and Holland; 2 aircraft bombed at Flushing and Ghent. 1 aircraft mistakenly shot down over Lowestoft by anti-aircraft fire.

---

DÜSSELDORF
28 Wellingtons and 12 Blenheims. No losses.

DÜSSELDORF
28 Wellingtons and 12 Blenheims. No losses.

8 Blenheims to oil targets in Holland turned back.

1 Blenheim to Holland turned back.

---

HANNOVER
10 Whitleys and 7 Wellingtons to attack the main post office and telephone exchange. No losses.

HANNOVER
10 Whitleys and 7 Wellingtons to attack the main post office and telephone exchange. No losses.

---

1 Blenheim to Antwerp but turned back. It then had a combat with a Ju 88 off the Essex coast and claimed hits on it.

1 Blenheim to Amsterdam turned back.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN
25 Wellingtons and 9 Hampdens. The target was the Tirpitz but it could not be located and only 19 aircraft reported bombing in the target area. Wilhelmshaven reports many houses and an old water-tower destroyed and 18 people killed with many injured. No aircraft lost.

WILHELMSHAVEN
25 Wellingtons and 9 Hampdens. The target was the Tirpitz but it could not be located and only 19 aircraft reported bombing in the target area. Wilhelmshaven reports many houses and an old water-tower destroyed and 18 people killed with many injured. No aircraft lost.

7 Blenheims to Holland turned back.

3 Blenheims; 1 aircraft bombed a ship off the Dutch coast but scored no hits. No losses.

---

BOULOGNE
13 Wellingtons but cloud obscured bombing results. No losses.

BOULOGNE
13 Wellingtons but cloud obscured bombing results. No losses.

---

5 Blenheims with a large fighter escort in a Circus operation. 4 aircraft bombed Boulogne docks. No losses to Blenheims.

---

BREST
12 Hampdens to attack warships but cloud prevented accurate bombing. 2 Hampdens minelaying off Lorient. No losses.

BREST
12 Hampdens to attack warships but cloud prevented accurate bombing. 2 Hampdens minelaying off Lorient. No losses.

---

1 Blenheim; turned back.

---

BRITTANY PORTS
7 Wellingtons to Brest and 11 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and Lorient. No losses.

BRITTANY PORTS
7 Wellingtons to Brest and 11 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and Lorient. No losses.

---

7 Blenheims; 1 bombed a gun position on Borkum airfield. No losses.

---

An increased effort was dispatched with the approach of the full moon period and, for the first time in night raids, the aircraft of each group were allocated their own separate target area.
DÜSSELDORF
30 Hampdens but heavy cloud over target. 1 aircraft lost.
BREST, LE HAVRE
38 Wellingtons; a direct hit was claimed on a cruiser at Brest. No losses.
BORDEAUX AIRFIELD, CALAIS
31 Whitleys; good bombing results claimed at Bordeaux but the freshmen crews found Calais covered by cloud. No losses.
DUNKIRK, OSTEND, QUIBERON, AIRFIELDS
37 Blenheims; no losses.
6 Hampdens minelaying off St-Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost.

An increased effort was dispatched with the approach of the full moon period and, for the first time in night raids, the aircraft of each group were allocated their own separate target area.
DÜSSELDORF
30 Hampdens but heavy cloud over target. 1 aircraft lost.
BREST, LE HAVRE
38 Wellingtons; a direct hit was claimed on a cruiser at Brest. No losses.
BORDEAUX AIRFIELD, CALAIS
31 Whitleys; good bombing results claimed at Bordeaux but the freshmen crews found Calais covered by cloud. No losses.
DUNKIRK, OSTEND, QUIBERON, AIRFIELDS
37 Blenheims; no losses.
6 Hampdens minelaying off St-Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost.

---

12 Blenheims on Circus operation to St-Omer airfield; 9 bombed. 1 further Blenheim to Le Havre turned back. No losses.

BOULOGNE, DUNKIRK
25 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 24 Whitleys to Dunkirk. The force attacking Boulogne included a Photographic Reconnaissance Unit Wellington but its cameras failed. 1 Wellington lost.

BOULOGNE, DUNKIRK
25 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 24 Whitleys to Dunkirk. The force attacking Boulogne included a Photographic Reconnaissance Unit Wellington but its cameras failed. 1 Wellington lost.

---

BOULOGNE, DUNKIRK
37 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 27 Hampdens to Dunkirk. Good bombing results claimed at both targets. 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

BOULOGNE, DUNKIRK
37 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 27 Hampdens to Dunkirk. Good bombing results claimed at both targets. 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

9 Blenheims to Holland and Germany; 2 aircraft bombed at Flushing and Rotterdam. No losses.

---

MANNHEIM
15 Hampdens; the target was cloud-covered and no bombing results were seen. No losses.

MANNHEIM
15 Hampdens; the target was cloud-covered and no bombing results were seen. No losses.

---

11 Blenheims; 4 aircraft bombed various targets. No losses.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN
23 Hampdens; the target was cloud-covered and only 1 aircraft claimed to have bombed there; 13 other aircraft bombed estimated position of target. Wilhelmshaven diary has no entry. No losses.

WILHELMSHAVEN
23 Hampdens; the target was cloud-covered and only 1 aircraft claimed to have bombed there; 13 other aircraft bombed estimated position of target. Wilhelmshaven diary has no entry. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims on Circus raid to Dunkirk - all bombed - and 6 other Blenheims on cloud-cover raids; 4 of these bombed various targets. No losses.
Operational Statistics,

---

(120_ 24-hour periods)
Number of days with operations: 83
Number of nights with operations: 93
Number of daylight sorties: 567, from which 9 aircraft (1.6 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 6,030, from which 117 aircraft (1.9 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 6,597, from which 126 aircraft (1.9 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage in period: 4,350 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 54.7 sorties, 1.0 aircraft lost, 36.1 tons of bombs dropped
Public Record Office AIR 22/31-49 for the whole wartime years.
'Aircraft' now means a mixed force of Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys.
Aircraft shot down over Britain by German Intruders and those accidentally shot down by British defences are counted as 'lost' in all statistical rsums; the bomber involved was usually destroyed and there were rarely any survivors.
The sea sweeps, which had been such a regular feature of recent Blenheim operations, were now discontinued for the time being, All later Blenheim daylight operations are cloud-cover raids by single aircraft unless otherwise stated.
Vol. 1, pp. 224-5.
Public Record Office AIR 24/200 and AIR 14/2670.
This was the first occasion when one type of aircraft was ope rated by more than one group in a night. From this point diary references to Wellingtons dispatched can mean that Wellingtons from 1 and/or 3 Groups are operating, unless there is need to be more specific. The majority of the Wellington effort continued to be dispatched by 3 Group for many months to come.
The prospect for Bomber Command's future operations now appeared to be more favourable than at any time since the beginning of the war. There was no military action in the West that could distract from the bomber effort. There could be no threat of a German invasion of England until the early summer, and even then only if the Luftwaffe could defeat Fighter Command first. The bombers available and suitable for operations were now more numerous than ever before. The increasing number of experienced crews had not been pressed too hard in recent weeks; many new crews had received a valuable introduction to operations in raids on the easy 'freshman' targets. The German night-fighter defences had still not been reinforced to any dangerous extent and it was hoped that the worst of the winter weather was now over.
On

---

HANNOVER
222 aircraft - 112 Wellingtons, 46 Hampdens, 34 Blenheims, 30 Whitleys - to industrial targets in Hannover. 4 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 1 Blenheim, 1 Hampden - were lost and 3 more aircraft were shot down in England by German Intruders.
183 aircraft claimed to have bombed their primary targets; 32 aircraft bombed alternative targets. Crews reported good visibility, large explosions and many fires started. No report is available from Hannover.
ROTTERDAM
43 aircraft to oil-storage tanks at Rotterdam. Included in this force were 3 Stirlings, of 7 Squadron, making the first operational flights of this new type of aircraft. There were no losses.
The 119 Wellingtons provided by 3 Group on this night represented the first time a group had dispatched more than 100 aircraft.

---

to Rotterdam. To 8 Group in August 1942 and served as a Pathfinder squadron until the end of the war. Equipped with Stirlings from October 1940 to August 1943 and with Lancasters from July 1943 (there was an overlapping of types in July and August 1943). Based at Oakington throughout its operational service.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
3
Group Stirlings - 167 bombing, 11 minelaying
8
Group Stirlings - 82 bombing, 7 minelaying
8
Group Lancasters - 279 bombing
Total - 528 bombing, 18 minelaying = 546 raids
Sorties and Losses
3
Group Stirlings - 918 sorties, 41 aircraft lost (4.5 percent)
8
Group Stirlings - 826 sorties, 37 aircraft lost (4.5 percent)
8
Group Lancasters - 3,316 sorties, 87 aircraft lost (26 percent)
Total - 5,060 sorties, 165 aircraft lost (3.3 percent)
27 Stirlings were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Introduced the Stirling to operational service.
An original Pathfinder squadron.
Introduced (with 35 Squadron) H2S to operations.
Suffered third highest percentage losses in Bomber Command.
Carried out most bombing raids in 8 Group heavy-bomber squadrons.
Suffered highest overall and percentage losses in 8 Group.
Suffered highest percentage losses in Stirling squadrons.
9 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 3 Group from the outbreak of the war to August 1942, with a short detachment to Lossiemouth in April 1940 for service with Coastal Command. In 5 Group from August 1942 to the end of the war. Equipped with Wellingtons in 3 Group and with Lancasters in 5 Group. Based at Honington in 3 Group and at Waddington and Bardney in 5 Group.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
3
Group Wellingtons - 272 bombing, 7 minelaying, 8 leaflet
5
Group Lancasters - 289 bombing, 12 minelaying
Total - 561 bombing, 19 minelaying, 8 leaflet = 588 raids
Sorties and Losses
3
Group Wellingtons - 2,333 sorties, 66 aircraft lost (2.8 percent)
5
Group Lancasters - 3,495 sorties, 111 aircraft lost (3.2 percent)
Total - 5,828 sorties, 177 aircraft lost (3.0 percent)
22 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war except for the short detachment to Coastal Command in April 1940. Flew operations and sustained casualties on the second day of the war.
Victoria Cross: Flight Sergeant G. Thompson, posthumously, Dortmund-Ems Canal,

HANNOVER
222 aircraft - 112 Wellingtons, 46 Hampdens, 34 Blenheims, 30 Whitleys - to industrial targets in Hannover. 4 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 1 Blenheim, 1 Hampden - were lost and 3 more aircraft were shot down in England by German Intruders.
183 aircraft claimed to have bombed their primary targets; 32 aircraft bombed alternative targets. Crews reported good visibility, large explosions and many fires started. No report is available from Hannover.
ROTTERDAM
43 aircraft to oil-storage tanks at Rotterdam. Included in this force were 3 Stirlings, of 7 Squadron, making the first operational flights of this new type of aircraft. There were no losses.
The 119 Wellingtons provided by 3 Group on this night represented the first time a group had dispatched more than 100 aircraft.

---

6 Blenheims to Channel ports turned back.

---

BREMEN
79 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys but only 27 claimed to have bombed Bremen. No aircraft lost but 22 aircraft - 11 Wellingtons, 7 Whitleys and 4 Hampdens - crashed in England when unexpected fog descended on most of the bases. Most of their crews parachuted safely but 5 men were killed.
HANNOVER
18 Wellingtons and 11 Hampdens. No losses.
1 Wellington to Rotterdam bombed there.

---

to Rotterdam. To 8 Group in August 1942 and served as a Pathfinder squadron until the end of the war. Equipped with Stirlings from October 1940 to August 1943 and with Lancasters from July 1943 (there was an overlapping of types in July and August 1943). Based at Oakington throughout its operational service.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
3
Group Stirlings - 167 bombing, 11 minelaying
8
Group Stirlings - 82 bombing, 7 minelaying
8
Group Lancasters - 279 bombing
Total - 528 bombing, 18 minelaying = 546 raids
Sorties and Losses
3
Group Stirlings - 918 sorties, 41 aircraft lost (4.5 percent)
8
Group Stirlings - 826 sorties, 37 aircraft lost (4.5 percent)
8
Group Lancasters - 3,316 sorties, 87 aircraft lost (26 percent)
Total - 5,060 sorties, 165 aircraft lost (3.3 percent)
27 Stirlings were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Introduced the Stirling to operational service.
An original Pathfinder squadron.
Introduced (with 35 Squadron) H2S to operations.
Suffered third highest percentage losses in Bomber Command.
Carried out most bombing raids in 8 Group heavy-bomber squadrons.
Suffered highest overall and percentage losses in 8 Group.
Suffered highest percentage losses in Stirling squadrons.
9 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 3 Group from the outbreak of the war to August 1942, with a short detachment to Lossiemouth in April 1940 for service with Coastal Command. In 5 Group from August 1942 to the end of the war. Equipped with Wellingtons in 3 Group and with Lancasters in 5 Group. Based at Honington in 3 Group and at Waddington and Bardney in 5 Group.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
3
Group Wellingtons - 272 bombing, 7 minelaying, 8 leaflet
5
Group Lancasters - 289 bombing, 12 minelaying
Total - 561 bombing, 19 minelaying, 8 leaflet = 588 raids
Sorties and Losses
3
Group Wellingtons - 2,333 sorties, 66 aircraft lost (2.8 percent)
5
Group Lancasters - 3,495 sorties, 111 aircraft lost (3.2 percent)
Total - 5,828 sorties, 177 aircraft lost (3.0 percent)
22 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war except for the short detachment to Coastal Command in April 1940. Flew operations and sustained casualties on the second day of the war.
Victoria Cross: Flight Sergeant G. Thompson, posthumously, Dortmund-Ems Canal,

BREMEN
79 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys but only 27 claimed to have bombed Bremen. No aircraft lost but 22 aircraft - 11 Wellingtons, 7 Whitleys and 4 Hampdens - crashed in England when unexpected fog descended on most of the bases. Most of their crews parachuted safely but 5 men were killed.
HANNOVER
18 Wellingtons and 11 Hampdens. No losses.
1 Wellington to Rotterdam bombed there.

---

1 Blenheim to oil depot on Kiel Canal turned back.

4 Blenheims; 1 bombed Calais docks. No losses.

---

GELSENKIRCHEN
44 Wellingtons to the Nordstern oil plant but only 9 aircraft claimed to have hit the target. No losses. On the return of the bombers to England, what appeared to be a German aircraft landed among Hampdens of 57 Squadron at Feltwell. The flarepath was extinguished and the aircraft took off again.
HOMBERG
22 Blenheims and 22 Wellingtons to oil plant; 16 claimed to have bombed target. No losses.
11 Hampdens minelaying in Gironde; 1 lost.

GELSENKIRCHEN
44 Wellingtons to the Nordstern oil plant but only 9 aircraft claimed to have hit the target. No losses. On the return of the bombers to England, what appeared to be a German aircraft landed among Hampdens of 57 Squadron at Feltwell. The flarepath was extinguished and the aircraft took off again.
HOMBERG
22 Blenheims and 22 Wellingtons to oil plant; 16 claimed to have bombed target. No losses.
11 Hampdens minelaying in Gironde; 1 lost.

---

5 Blenheims; 1 bombed Calais docks. 1 aircraft lost.

---

STERKRADE
73 aircraft - 46 Wellingtons and 27 Whitleys - to the Holten oil plant. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.
HOMBERG
37 Blenheims and 33 Hampdens; the local oil plant was difficult to identify because of searchlight glare but 40 aircraft bombed. No losses.
BOULOGNE
43 aircraft to docks; many fires seen. No losses.

STERKRADE
73 aircraft - 46 Wellingtons and 27 Whitleys - to the Holten oil plant. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.
HOMBERG
37 Blenheims and 33 Hampdens; the local oil plant was difficult to identify because of searchlight glare but 40 aircraft bombed. No losses.
BOULOGNE
43 aircraft to docks; many fires seen. No losses.

---

9 Blenheims to Holland and France. 5 aircraft bombed oil-storage tanks and shipping at various docks. No losses.

5 Blenheims; 4 turned back; 1 lost.

1 Blenheim to oil depot on Kiel Canal but bombed alternative target, docks at Ijmuiden.

1 Blenheim to oil depot at Ghent turned back.

---

WILHELMSHAVEN
34 Wellingtons; 19 bombed; 1 lost. Wilhelmshaven diary has no entry.
42 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.
Minor Operations: 7 Whitleys to DÜSSELDORF, 7 Blenheims to airfields in France and Holland, 3 Wellingtons to Boulogne. 1 Wellington lost.

WILHELMSHAVEN
34 Wellingtons; 19 bombed; 1 lost. Wilhelmshaven diary has no entry.
42 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.
Minor Operations: 7 Whitleys to DÜSSELDORF, 7 Blenheims to airfields in France and Holland, 3 Wellingtons to Boulogne. 1 Wellington lost.

---

2 Blenheims; turned back.

---

BREST
29 Wellingtons dispatched to attack warships in harbour but only 11 bombed. No losses but 4 aircraft crashed in England.

BREST
29 Wellingtons dispatched to attack warships in harbour but only 11 bombed. No losses but 4 aircraft crashed in England.

---

3 Blenheims; 1 bombed Boulogne docks. No losses.

---

BOULOGNE
35 Wellingtons and 17 Blenheims. The Blenheims were recalled but 26 Wellingtons bombed. 1 Wellington lost.
Minor Operations: 16 Whitleys and 1 Blenheim to Calais, 3 Blenheims to Den Helder and 6 O.T.U. sorties to Paris. No losses.

BOULOGNE
35 Wellingtons and 17 Blenheims. The Blenheims were recalled but 26 Wellingtons bombed. 1 Wellington lost.
Minor Operations: 16 Whitleys and 1 Blenheim to Calais, 3 Blenheims to Den Helder and 6 O.T.U. sorties to Paris. No losses.

---

BREST
57 aircraft - 30 Wellingtons, 18 Hampdens, 6 Manchesters, 3 Stirlings - to bomb warships. No losses. The Manchester sorties, from 207 Squadron, were the first operational flights by this type of aircraft; 1 Manchester crashed in England.
1 Wellington bombed Boulogne docks.

BREST
57 aircraft - 30 Wellingtons, 18 Hampdens, 6 Manchesters, 3 Stirlings - to bomb warships. No losses. The Manchester sorties, from 207 Squadron, were the first operational flights by this type of aircraft; 1 Manchester crashed in England.
1 Wellington bombed Boulogne docks.

---

4 Blenheims; 1 bombed Flushing docks. No losses.

---

DÜSSELDORF
80 aircraft - 43 Wellingtons, 22 Hampdens, 15 Whitleys. 1 Wellington lost.
64 aircraft bombed through complete cloud cover. A detailed report from DÜSSELDORF lists the results of approximately 7 loads of bombs which fell in the city. 4 small fires were soon put out; the only claim for compensation was by a farmer for 1,000 Reichsmarks (£100) damage to a barn. 1 civilian was slightly hurt fighting a fire and 2 Flak gunners slightly injured when a high-explosive bomb fell near their position.
Minor Operations: 17 Blenheims to airfields, 4 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Boulogne and 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

DÜSSELDORF
80 aircraft - 43 Wellingtons, 22 Hampdens, 15 Whitleys. 1 Wellington lost.
64 aircraft bombed through complete cloud cover. A detailed report from DÜSSELDORF lists the results of approximately 7 loads of bombs which fell in the city. 4 small fires were soon put out; the only claim for compensation was by a farmer for 1,000 Reichsmarks (£100) damage to a barn. 1 civilian was slightly hurt fighting a fire and 2 Flak gunners slightly injured when a high-explosive bomb fell near their position.
Minor Operations: 17 Blenheims to airfields, 4 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Boulogne and 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

12 Blenheims on a Circus operation; 11 aircraft bombed Calais. 1 Blenheim on cloud-cover raid to Germany turned back. No losses.

---

COLOGNE
126 aircraft of all types except Stirling to 2 targets in Cologne. 106 aircraft bombed and reported large fires. Cologne only reports 10 high-explosive and 90 incendiary bombs on the western edge of the city and more bombs in 3 village areas to the west. (This was out of 353 high-explosive and 15,060 incendiary bombs carried by the bomber force.)
Minor Operations: 9 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Boulogne and 5 Hampdens minelaying off Cuxhaven. 1 Blenheim lost.

COLOGNE
126 aircraft of all types except Stirling to 2 targets in Cologne. 106 aircraft bombed and reported large fires. Cologne only reports 10 high-explosive and 90 incendiary bombs on the western edge of the city and more bombs in 3 village areas to the west. (This was out of 353 high-explosive and 15,060 incendiary bombs carried by the bomber force.)
Minor Operations: 9 Blenheims and Wellingtons to Boulogne and 5 Hampdens minelaying off Cuxhaven. 1 Blenheim lost.

8 Blenheims on widespread cloud-cover raids; 7 aircraft bombed at Flushing, Den Helder and Lorient. No losses.

WILHELMSHAVEN
116 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys in an attempt to bomb the battleship Tirpitz in Wilhelmshaven harbour. 75 crews reported bombing but Wilhelmshaven has no diary report. 1 Blenheim lost.
6 Blenheims to Boulogne but only 2 bombed. No losses.

---

COLOGNE
131 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 2 targets in Cologne. 5 Whitleys and 1 Wellington lost; 14 further aircraft were abandoned and crashed in fog over England with 12 crew members killed, 2 missing and 5 injured.
Cologne reports a sharp raid, particularly in the dock areas on both banks of the Rhine near the city centre. A military stores and fodder depot and 13 warehouses and other commercial buildings were burnt out. 2 Rhine passenger steamers were sunk and 3 more damaged. 6 assorted commercial premises suffered serious damage. 80- 90 houses were destroyed and 160 badly damaged. 21 people were killed and 35 injured.
3 Wellingtons to Boulogne. No losses.

COLOGNE
131 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 2 targets in Cologne. 5 Whitleys and 1 Wellington lost; 14 further aircraft were abandoned and crashed in fog over England with 12 crew members killed, 2 missing and 5 injured.
Cologne reports a sharp raid, particularly in the dock areas on both banks of the Rhine near the city centre. A military stores and fodder depot and 13 warehouses and other commercial buildings were burnt out. 2 Rhine passenger steamers were sunk and 3 more damaged. 6 assorted commercial premises suffered serious damage. 80- 90 houses were destroyed and 160 badly damaged. 21 people were killed and 35 injured.
3 Wellingtons to Boulogne. No losses.

---

1 Blenheim bombed a seaplane base on the island of Sylt.

---

BREST
54 aircraft, mostly Wellingtons, to bomb warships at Brest. 1 Wellington lost.
Minor Operations: 13 Blenheims to airfields and 2 Blenheims to Rotterdam oil tanks. 1 aircraft lost.

BREST
54 aircraft, mostly Wellingtons, to bomb warships at Brest. 1 Wellington lost.
Minor Operations: 13 Blenheims to airfields and 2 Blenheims to Rotterdam oil tanks. 1 aircraft lost.

---

COLOGNE
71 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys. 1 Hampden lost.
Partial cloud hampered bombing but many fires were reported. Cologne records no bombs in the main city but a few on western outskirts. An opencast coal mine claimed 300-500 Reichsmarks (£30-£50) compensation for damaged equipment.
Minor Operations: 8 Wellingtons bombed Boulogne without loss. 7 aircraft to Brest with 1 Stirling lost. This was the first Stirling to be lost; Squadron Leader J. M. Griffiths-Jones, D.F.C., of 7 Squadron, and his crew all died; their names are on the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing.
The night squadrons of Bomber Command were stood down because of bad weather for the next week.

COLOGNE
71 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys. 1 Hampden lost.
Partial cloud hampered bombing but many fires were reported. Cologne records no bombs in the main city but a few on western outskirts. An opencast coal mine claimed 300-500 Reichsmarks (£30-£50) compensation for damaged equipment.
Minor Operations: 8 Wellingtons bombed Boulogne without loss. 7 aircraft to Brest with 1 Stirling lost. This was the first Stirling to be lost; Squadron Leader J. M. Griffiths-Jones, D.F.C., of 7 Squadron, and his crew all died; their names are on the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing.
The night squadrons of Bomber Command were stood down because of bad weather for the next week.

---

1 Blenheim to Ghent turned back.

6 Blenheims on a Circus operation; they bombed Boulogne docks without loss.

5 Blenheims to oil depots in Belgium and Holland; 1 aircraft bombed Sluiskil. No losses.

8 Blenheims to Holland and German islands; 2 aircraft bombed Den Helder. No losses.

. The initial emphasis was on the U-boat and long-range aircraft threats. The directive repeated Churchill's own words: 'We must take the offensive against the U-boat and the Focke-Wulf wherever we can and whenever we can. The U-boat at sea must be hunted, the U-boat in the building yard or in dock must be bombed. The Focke-Wulf, and other bombers employed against our shipping, must be attacked in the air and in their nests.' There was a list of targets: Kiel, with three U-boat shipbuilding yards. Hamburg, with two yards, Bremen and Vegesack, each with one yard; the cities of Mannheim and Augsburg with their marine diesel-engine factories (Augsburg was soon removed from the list because of its extreme range for the approaching shorter nights); Dessau and Bremen again with aircraft factories; Lorient, St-Nazaire and Bordeaux with their U-boat bases; the Focke-Wulf Kondor airfields at Stavanger in Norway and at Mrignac near Bordeaux. The Air Ministry did secure one concession; Sir Richard Peirse was allowed to devote a proportion of the operational effort on the old oil targets. The written directive was later amended by verbal order when the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau came into Brest from their successful Atlantic sweep. A great tonnage of bombs was due to be thrown at those two ships.
Sir Richard Peirse was not happy to be taken off the strategic bombing of Germany just when he felt that his force was on the verge of potential success in the improving weather of spring. But Sir Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff, was probably less unhappy and did not oppose the order from Churchill. Portal, sometimes known as 'the big thinker', was coming to realize that Bomber Command's claims of accurate results in the bombing of the comparatively small oil targets were not justified. The Official History makes this comment:
Whether Sir Charles Portal really believed that this directive would get the Admiralty out of its 'mess' or not, it was in effect the Admiralty which had got the Air Ministry out of a 'mess', for if Bomber Command had, at this stage, been left free to carry out the oil plan it would probably have done a great deal more damage to its prestige than to its targets.
There were a few further words in the directive which were of the utmost significance to the unfolding story of the bombing war. In that 9 March directive, signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman, Vice-Chief of the Air Staff, were these words referring to the list of German cities connected with the U-boat and long-range aircraft threat: 'Priority of selection should be given to those [targets] in Germany which lie in congested areas where the greatest moral [sic] effect is likely to result.' In a small amending directive, written on 18 March and signed by the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Vice-Marshal Harris, Harris writes of Mannheim and the newly added target of Stuttgart, with its U-boat engine and accessory factories, 'Both are suitable as area objectives and their attack should have high morale value.' In other words, the general bombing of city areas in an effort to break the morale of German civilians was progressively being introduced as a Bomber Command weapon. Freeman and Harris did not originate these ideas; they were merely putting the wishes of Portal and the Air Staff on paper. There were senior officers, however, besides Portal who were moving at various speeds to the conclusion that, until Bomber Command received some of the sophisticated aids to bombing accuracy being prepared, 'area bombing' against German cities with a view to breaking civilian morale was the most useful means of employing the bomber force. A pattern in the operations of Bomber Command thus developed during the coming period. One part of a force dispatched to a city might be given a specific industrial or port installation as its target while other parts of the force were directed to aim at the city centre in order to create general destruction, dislocation and disorder. It was now reckoned that really accurate bombing of small targets was possible on only the nine most moonlit nights in the month, even by experienced crews. During the remainder of the month, most bombing would become area bombing even though the aiming points were nominally industrial. These methods would inevitably produce heavier civilian death tolls. For example, during the coming four months during which the bombing was directed in support of the maritime campaign, Hamburg would suffer 331 deaths in eighteen raids compared with 125 deaths in its first seventy-two raids of the war, and Kiel would have 254 deaths in seventeen raids compared with only twenty-five deaths in its first sixteen raids.
So, the bomber squadrons were sent to attempt the destruction of the ports of Germany and France and the inland towns connected with the manufacture of U-boats and long-range bombers. 2 Group would join in the shipping offensive, being pressed more vigorously than in recent months in a variety of operations along the German-controlled coastline of Europe. There was still no basic increase in bomber strength; the transfers of squadrons to Middle East and to Coastal Command cancelled out the increase in new squadrons formed. The new types of aircraft being introduced made their first flights to Germany, but not in any strength during the coming period. It was the old Wellington which was emerging as the undisputed backbone of Bomber Command's strength. The original Wellington group, 3 Group, was now the most powerful in Bomber Command; the Wellington was also in service with 1 Group and some of the 4 Group squadrons would start operating this reliable aircraft in May. Wellingtons sometimes comprised more than half of a force of bombers dispatched. The first of many Canadian squadrons, 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, started to operate in June, flying Wellingtons in 4 Group, and the first 4,000-pound bombs would be dropped during the next few weeks. The only change of command in the coming period was the departure of Air-Vice-Marshal Bottomley from 5 Group on 12 May; Bottomley moved to the Air Ministry to replace as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Vice-Marshal Harris, who was sent to lead an R.A.F. delegation to the United States. The new commander of 5 Group was Air Vice-Marshal J. C. Slessor.
The maritime campaign ran its full four-month course, uninterrupted by bad weather or diversion to any other priority. It is difficult to assess the overall benefits produced by the bombing. Much damage was caused in the German ports where U-boats were made and this must have affected new construction, although production figures do not reveal any dramatic setback. The bombing of the U-boat bases in France certainly moved the Germans to action and they commenced the construction of huge, bomb-proof shelters for the U-boats which operated from the French ports. A major effort was directed on to the warships sheltering in Brest, not in the expectation that accurate bombing would pound these ships to destruction but in the hope that an odd hit now and then would prevent their sailing out into the Atlantic again. This was achieved. Not much is known about the bombing of the long-range aircraft factories and bases. As for the secondary aim of lowering morale in the German cities selected for attack, the optimists who felt that the German spirit would crack were as much in error on this subject as they would continue to be throughout the rest of the war. It can be said, however, that this coming period of bombing had a greater effect upon the German war effort than the continuation of the oil campaign would have done; there had never been the slightest chance that the strength of bombers available and the methods being employed in 1941 could have stopped Germany's supply of synthetic oil.
Elsewhere, the war unfolded dramatically. On 30 March, a German offensive in North Africa drove back the British forces which had made such good earlier progress against the Italians. On 6 April, the Germans invaded Greece and Yugoslavia and, on 22 June, came that great watershed, the German invasion of Russia.

1 Blenheim on weather reconnaissance turned back.

---

COLOGNE
19 Hampdens; 1 aircraft lost.
Some fires were claimed to have been started. Cologne reports 24 people killed and 60 injured but no serious industrial damage was caused.
LE HAVRE
8 Blenheims and 6 Halifaxes. This was the first Halifax operation of the war. No aircraft were lost but the Halifax of Squadron Leader Gilchrist, 35 Squadron, was mistakenly shot down over Surrey by an R.A.F. fighter while returning from the raid. Only the pilot and one other man survived.
ST-NAZAIRE
14 Whitleys; only 4 bombed the main target. No losses.

COLOGNE
19 Hampdens; 1 aircraft lost.
Some fires were claimed to have been started. Cologne reports 24 people killed and 60 injured but no serious industrial damage was caused.
LE HAVRE
8 Blenheims and 6 Halifaxes. This was the first Halifax operation of the war. No aircraft were lost but the Halifax of Squadron Leader Gilchrist, 35 Squadron, was mistakenly shot down over Surrey by an R.A.F. fighter while returning from the raid. Only the pilot and one other man survived.
ST-NAZAIRE
14 Whitleys; only 4 bombed the main target. No losses.

---

4 Blenheims to Holland; 2 bombed. No losses.

---

KIEL
27 Wellingtons; many hits claimed on shipyards. Kiel reports 6 people killed and 17 injured. No aircraft lost.

KIEL
27 Wellingtons; many hits claimed on shipyards. Kiel reports 6 people killed and 17 injured. No aircraft lost.

---

6 Blenheims to Holland; 2 aircraft bombed a merchant ship near Ijmuiden but no hits reported. No losses.
Operational Statistics, 10/11 February to

---

(30 days/nights)
Number of days with operations: 21
Number of nights with operations: 16
Number of daylight sorties: 94, from which 2 aircraft (2.1 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 1,635, from which 26 aircraft (1.6 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 1,729, from which 28 aircraft (1.6 percent) were lost, but 70 further aircraft crashed in England
Approximate bomb tonnage in period: 1,517 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 57.6 sorties, 0.9 aircraft lost, 50.6 tons of bombs dropped
Official History, Vol. IV, pp. 132-3.
Bomber Command now suffered a new diversion from its main campaign. German successes at sea, particularly by U-boats on the North Atlantic convoy run, had been running at a dangerously high figure in recent months. Nearly 900 British, Allied and neutral ships carrying stores for Britain had been sunk by German naval forces and aircraft since the fall of France the previous summer. The Royal Navy was short of escort vessels; there was not yet even continuous surface-escort cover for convoys over the whole Atlantic run. Long-range air escort was non-existent. The German battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were out in the Atlantic, sinking or capturing twenty-two merchant ships. No British warship was fast enough to catch these modern ships and then have the ability to engage them successfully. Other, larger German ships, like the battleship Bismarck, were almost ready to sail and carry on this work. Long-range German bombers, Focke-Wulf Kondors, were also a scourge for British merchant shipping. What Hitler had failed to achieve by air attack and intimidation in 1940, his U-boats, surface warships and maritime bombers were close to achieving in 1941. Britain faced the possibility of its absolutely vital ocean links with the Americans being severed. The Prime Minister issued a simple instruction. For the next four months, Bomber Command's main operational effort was to be directed against those targets which housed the sources of the threats to British shipping.
The Air Ministry passed on these orders to Bomber Command in a directive dated

---

HAMBURG
88 aircraft - 40 Hampdens, 25 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons, 4 Manchesters, 3 Halifaxes - to attack the Blohm & Voss U-boat yards and other industry. This was the first time that Manchesters and Halifaxes had been sent to a target in Germany. No aircraft were lost from this raid.
Hamburg reports that 20 high-explosive and 300-400 incendiary bombs fell in the Blohm & Voss yard, causing damage to the main office block and other parts of the premises, including two slipways on which U-boats were being built. 4 other shipbuilding firms were hit and a large harbour warehouse and its contents were burnt out. A total of 205 fires (18 classed as large) were started; 8 people were killed, 96 injured and 414 bombed out.
BREMEN
86 aircraft - 54 Wellingtons, 32 Blenheims - dispatched, the Wellingtons to attack the Focke-Wulf aircraft factory and the Blenheims the town centre. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Blenheim lost. Photographic reconnaissance showed that 12 high-explosive bombs hit the aircraft factory.
BERLIN
72 aircraft - 30 Hampdens, 28 Wellingtons, 14 Whitleys - to two targets. 3 aircraft, one of each type, lost.
The bombing was very scattered with more bombs in the southern districts of the city than elsewhere. 60 buildings of many kinds were hit, though none was classed as destroyed and only 3 as being severely damaged. 11 people were killed, 24 injured and 80 bombed out.
Minor Operations: 8 aircraft to Calais and Boulogne. 2 O.T.U. sorties, 1 Hampden minelaying in the Elbe. 1 Wellington from the Boulogne raid was lost.
Total effort for the night: 257 sorties, 7 aircraft (2.7 percent) lost.

HAMBURG
88 aircraft - 40 Hampdens, 25 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons, 4 Manchesters, 3 Halifaxes - to attack the Blohm & Voss U-boat yards and other industry. This was the first time that Manchesters and Halifaxes had been sent to a target in Germany. No aircraft were lost from this raid.
Hamburg reports that 20 high-explosive and 300-400 incendiary bombs fell in the Blohm & Voss yard, causing damage to the main office block and other parts of the premises, including two slipways on which U-boats were being built. 4 other shipbuilding firms were hit and a large harbour warehouse and its contents were burnt out. A total of 205 fires (18 classed as large) were started; 8 people were killed, 96 injured and 414 bombed out.
BREMEN
86 aircraft - 54 Wellingtons, 32 Blenheims - dispatched, the Wellingtons to attack the Focke-Wulf aircraft factory and the Blenheims the town centre. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Blenheim lost. Photographic reconnaissance showed that 12 high-explosive bombs hit the aircraft factory.
BERLIN
72 aircraft - 30 Hampdens, 28 Wellingtons, 14 Whitleys - to two targets. 3 aircraft, one of each type, lost.
The bombing was very scattered with more bombs in the southern districts of the city than elsewhere. 60 buildings of many kinds were hit, though none was classed as destroyed and only 3 as being severely damaged. 11 people were killed, 24 injured and 80 bombed out.
Minor Operations: 8 aircraft to Calais and Boulogne. 2 O.T.U. sorties, 1 Hampden minelaying in the Elbe. 1 Wellington from the Boulogne raid was lost.
Total effort for the night: 257 sorties, 7 aircraft (2.7 percent) lost.

---

6 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Calais/Marck airfield; all bombed. No Blenheims lost.

---

HAMBURG
139 aircraft - 53 Wellingtons, 34 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys, 21 Blenheims, 5 Manchesters, 2 Halifaxes. 6 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 2 Whitleys, 1 Blenheim, 1 Hampden -were lost and 1 Manchester was shot down soon after take-off by an Intruder, the first Manchester lost on operations. There was only one survivor from the Manchester crew, which was captained by Flying Officer Hugh Matthews of 207 Squadron.
In Hamburg, the Blohm & Voss shipyard was again hit and there was much other damage including a large fire in a timber-yard and a direct hit on the main fire station which damaged the reserve fire-hose store. A total of 119 fires - 31 large - were started; 51 people were killed, 139 injured and 95 bombed out. This was the heaviest death toll in Hamburg so far in the war.
Minor Operations: 14 aircraft to oil-storage tanks at Rotterdam, 3 O.T.U. sorties, 1 Hampden minelaying at Ameland. No losses.

HAMBURG
139 aircraft - 53 Wellingtons, 34 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys, 21 Blenheims, 5 Manchesters, 2 Halifaxes. 6 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 2 Whitleys, 1 Blenheim, 1 Hampden -were lost and 1 Manchester was shot down soon after take-off by an Intruder, the first Manchester lost on operations. There was only one survivor from the Manchester crew, which was captained by Flying Officer Hugh Matthews of 207 Squadron.
In Hamburg, the Blohm & Voss shipyard was again hit and there was much other damage including a large fire in a timber-yard and a direct hit on the main fire station which damaged the reserve fire-hose store. A total of 119 fires - 31 large - were started; 51 people were killed, 139 injured and 95 bombed out. This was the heaviest death toll in Hamburg so far in the war.
Minor Operations: 14 aircraft to oil-storage tanks at Rotterdam, 3 O.T.U. sorties, 1 Hampden minelaying at Ameland. No losses.

---

4 Blenheims on sea sweep; 2 bombed ships off Ostend but scored no hits. No losses.

---

GELSENKIRCHEN
101 aircraft - 61 Wellingtons, 21 Hampdens, 19 Whitleys - to bomb oil plants. 1 Wellington lost.
Gelsenkirchen reports its worst raid of the war so far. The city itself was not badly hit; the worst damage was caused by Flak shells exploding on descent! But one of the oil plants, the Hydriewerk Scholven, was hit by an estimated 16 aircraft bomb loads. Much damage was caused, 5 fires started and 5 workmen killed. The company housing estate near by was also bombed. Total casualties were 9 killed. Production at the plant stopped completely but it is not stated for how long.
DÜSSELDORF
24 Blenheims. No losses.
ROTTERDAM
7 Whitleys and 5 Blenheims attacked the oil-storage tanks and fires were started. No losses.

GELSENKIRCHEN
101 aircraft - 61 Wellingtons, 21 Hampdens, 19 Whitleys - to bomb oil plants. 1 Wellington lost.
Gelsenkirchen reports its worst raid of the war so far. The city itself was not badly hit; the worst damage was caused by Flak shells exploding on descent! But one of the oil plants, the Hydriewerk Scholven, was hit by an estimated 16 aircraft bomb loads. Much damage was caused, 5 fires started and 5 workmen killed. The company housing estate near by was also bombed. Total casualties were 9 killed. Production at the plant stopped completely but it is not stated for how long.
DÜSSELDORF
24 Blenheims. No losses.
ROTTERDAM
7 Whitleys and 5 Blenheims attacked the oil-storage tanks and fires were started. No losses.

---

4 Blenheims on coastal sweep; shipping bombed off Dunkirk and Ostend. No losses.

---

LORIENT, DÜSSELDORF
37 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Lorient submarine base but haze prevented accurate bombing. 21 Hampdens to DÜSSELDORF. 5 Blenheims on a 'special operation', probably airfield Intruder work. 4 of them bombed Vannes airfield.
There were no aircraft losses on this night.

LORIENT, DÜSSELDORF
37 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Lorient submarine base but haze prevented accurate bombing. 21 Hampdens to DÜSSELDORF. 5 Blenheims on a 'special operation', probably airfield Intruder work. 4 of them bombed Vannes airfield.
There were no aircraft losses on this night.

---

5 Blenheims to Brittany coast returned because of fog.

9 Blenheims to bomb oil tanks and shipping at Flushing. All bombed but cloud prevented observations. No losses.

---

BREMEN, WILHELMSHAVEN
57 Hampdens, Wellingtons, Whitleys and 1 Stirling (the first Stirling to attack a German target) to Bremen; 21 Blenheims to Wilhelmshaven. No aircraft lost over Germany but 1 Wellington shot down by an Intruder. Good bombing results reported at both targets.
2 Blenheims and 1 Stirling to Rotterdam. No losses.

BREMEN, WILHELMSHAVEN
57 Hampdens, Wellingtons, Whitleys and 1 Stirling (the first Stirling to attack a German target) to Bremen; 21 Blenheims to Wilhelmshaven. No aircraft lost over Germany but 1 Wellington shot down by an Intruder. Good bombing results reported at both targets.
2 Blenheims and 1 Stirling to Rotterdam. No losses.

---

11 Blenheims on sweeps of enemy coasts; all aircraft bombed ships but scored no hits. No losses.

---

KIEL
99 aircraft - 40 Hampdens, 34 Wellingtons, 23 Whitleys, 2 Manchesters; none lost. Kiel reports this as its heaviest raid so far, with special mention of increased incendiary attack. Damage was caused in the Deutsche Werke U-boat yard and in many city-centre-type buildings - large shops, banks, hospitals. 5 people were killed and 10 injured.
WILHELMSHAVEN
44 Blenheims; 1 was lost.
ROTTERDAM
19 aircraft; no losses.

KIEL
99 aircraft - 40 Hampdens, 34 Wellingtons, 23 Whitleys, 2 Manchesters; none lost. Kiel reports this as its heaviest raid so far, with special mention of increased incendiary attack. Damage was caused in the Deutsche Werke U-boat yard and in many city-centre-type buildings - large shops, banks, hospitals. 5 people were killed and 10 injured.
WILHELMSHAVEN
44 Blenheims; 1 was lost.
ROTTERDAM
19 aircraft; no losses.

---

4 Blenheims on an uneventful sea sweep to Brest and the Channel Islands.

---

COLOGNE
36 Wellingtons; none lost. Cologne records 2 industrial buildings damaged, 4 houses destroyed, 6 people injured.
1 Wellington and 1 Stirling to Rotterdam without loss.

COLOGNE
36 Wellingtons; none lost. Cologne records 2 industrial buildings damaged, 4 houses destroyed, 6 people injured.
1 Wellington and 1 Stirling to Rotterdam without loss.

---

10 Blenheims to enemy coast; many trawlers and small vessels bombed. No losses.

---

LORIENT
21 Whitleys and 3 Manchesters to attack the U-boat base. No aircraft lost.
42 Hampdens on minelaying operations off Brest, Lorient, and St-Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost.
1 Blenheim attacked Le Bourget airfield.

LORIENT
21 Whitleys and 3 Manchesters to attack the U-boat base. No aircraft lost.
42 Hampdens on minelaying operations off Brest, Lorient, and St-Nazaire. 1 aircraft lost.
1 Blenheim attacked Le Bourget airfield.

---

9 Blenheims to Frisian Islands. Many attacks made on ships and 1 tanker was claimed hit. No aircraft losses.

---

LORIENT
66 aircraft - 34 Wellingtons, 19 Blenheims, 12 Hampdens, 1 Stirling - to bomb the U-boat base but bad visibility caused poor bombing. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.
Minor Operations: 6 aircraft to Ostend, 7 Hampdens minelaying off Bordeaux, 1 O.T.U. sortie. 1 Wellington lost on the Ostend raid.

LORIENT
66 aircraft - 34 Wellingtons, 19 Blenheims, 12 Hampdens, 1 Stirling - to bomb the U-boat base but bad visibility caused poor bombing. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.
Minor Operations: 6 aircraft to Ostend, 7 Hampdens minelaying off Bordeaux, 1 O.T.U. sortie. 1 Wellington lost on the Ostend raid.

---

6 Blenheims on coastal sweep. 1 aircraft attacked a convoy off Holland. No aircraft lost.

5 Blenheims on coastal sweep. 2 aircraft attacked 5 minesweepers and a destroyer off the Frisians but scored no hits. No aircraft lost.

---

The Operations of this night were typical of those dispatched on nights of no moon and marginal weather conditions. Small forces of bombers were sent, more with the intention of causing general damage in German cities than of obtaining any outstanding bombing success.
BERLIN
35 Wellingtons and 28 Whitleys; bombing results were not seen because of cloud and heavy Flak. No losses.
KIEL
31 Hampdens; none lost. Bombing was very scattered but one heavy bomb destroyed a house, killing 10 and injuring 6 people who were sheltering in the basement cellar.
HANNOVER
26 Blenheims; 1 lost. Bomb bursts and one big fire were seen in the target area.
Minor Operations: 7 aircraft to Calais and Rotterdam, 5 Hampdens minelaying off Kiel. No losses.

The Operations of this night were typical of those dispatched on nights of no moon and marginal weather conditions. Small forces of bombers were sent, more with the intention of causing general damage in German cities than of obtaining any outstanding bombing success.
BERLIN
35 Wellingtons and 28 Whitleys; bombing results were not seen because of cloud and heavy Flak. No losses.
KIEL
31 Hampdens; none lost. Bombing was very scattered but one heavy bomb destroyed a house, killing 10 and injuring 6 people who were sheltering in the basement cellar.
HANNOVER
26 Blenheims; 1 lost. Bomb bursts and one big fire were seen in the target area.
Minor Operations: 7 aircraft to Calais and Rotterdam, 5 Hampdens minelaying off Kiel. No losses.

---

9 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. 1 fishing vessel was sunk off the Dutch coast. 1 aircraft lost.

5 Blenheims off Holland and the Frisian Islands. Convoy attacked and 1 ship claimed as hit. No aircraft lost.

18 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. Several aircraft attacked small ships. No aircraft lost.

10 Blenheims on coastal sweeps; warships and a submarine were attacked but no hits were scored. No aircraft lost.

---

COLOGNE
38 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling. 1 Wellington lost.
DÜSSELDORF
39 aircraft - 22 Hampdens, 13 Whitleys, 4 Manchesters. 1 Manchester and 1 Whitley lost.
Minor Operations: 13 aircraft to Brest, Calais and Dunkirk. No losses.

COLOGNE
38 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling. 1 Wellington lost.
DÜSSELDORF
39 aircraft - 22 Hampdens, 13 Whitleys, 4 Manchesters. 1 Manchester and 1 Whitley lost.
Minor Operations: 13 aircraft to Brest, Calais and Dunkirk. No losses.

---

18 Blenheims on coastal sweeps but no shipping seen.

4 Blenheims off Belgium and Holland. 1 aircraft attacked a tanker heavily defended by Flak ships. 6 further Blenheims to attack the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, now reported off Brest after their raid on shipping in the Atlantic; the Blenheims returned because of lack of cloud cover. No losses on this day.

---

25 Hampdens minelaying off Brest; only 14 succeeded in laying mines. 1 aircraft lost.

25 Hampdens minelaying off Brest; only 14 succeeded in laying mines. 1 aircraft lost.

---

12 Hampdens to Brest turned back, no cloud cover. 6 Blenheims off the Frisians attacked a cargo vessel. No losses.

---

BREST
109 aircraft - 50 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 16 Blenheims, 15 Hampdens, 4 Manchesters - attacked the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in Brest harbour but no hits were achieved.
Minor Operations: 13 Wellingtons to Calais, 10 Hampdens minelaying off Brest, 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses on this night.

BREST
109 aircraft - 50 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 16 Blenheims, 15 Hampdens, 4 Manchesters - attacked the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in Brest harbour but no hits were achieved.
Minor Operations: 13 Wellingtons to Calais, 10 Hampdens minelaying off Brest, 2 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no losses on this night.

---

20 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from France to Germany. Two destroyers were bombed from low level and one was hit; other ships were attacked and some hit. This was the first day of what was known as 'Fringe Operations', when the Blenheims were ordered to attack land targets along the coasts they were patrolling. Several German gun positions and a parade of troops were attacked in Holland. 2 Blenheims lost.

BREMEN
28 Wellingtons; haze and cloud prevented accurate bombing. 1 aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Emden and 5 to Rotterdam. 1 aircraft each from 9 and 149 Squadrons dropped the first 4,000-lb bombs of the war on Emden. These 'high-capacity' blast bombs, called 'blockbusters' or 'cookies' by the British and 'Luftminen' by the Germans were due to become one of Bomber Command's main weapons. No aircraft lost.

---

12 Blenheims to Belgian coast; several ships were attacked. No losses. 11 Hampdens to Brest turned back; 1 lost.

---

and flew operations from Driffield until February 1942, by which time most of the squadron had been posted to the Middle East.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
104 Squadron flew 373 Wellington sorties and lost 13 aircraft (3.5 percent) in 60 bombing raids.
105 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Returned from the Advanced Air Striking Force in France in June 1940 and posted to 2 Group. While with 2 Group, flew Blenheims at first and then Mosquitoes in the day-bomber role, sometimes suffering heavy losses. Based at Honington, Watton, Swanton Morley, Horsham St Faith and Marham. The squadron was detached to Malta from July to October 1941 while still equipped with Blenheims.
105 Squadron was retained in Bomber Command when 2 Group left in May 1943 and flew Oboe Mosquito night-bomber operations with 8 Group until the end of the war. It was based at Marham and Bourn during this period.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
2
Group Blenheims - 99 bombing, 10 reconnaissance
2
Group Mosquitoes - 127 bombing
8
Group Mosquitoes - 487 bombing, mostly using Oboe
Total - 713 bombing, 10 reconnaissance = 723 raids
Sorties and Losses
2
Group Blenheims - 692 sorties, 22 aircraft lost (3.2 percent)
2 Group Mosquitoes - 548 sorties, 26 aircraft lost (4.7 percent)
8
Group Mosquitoes - 4,947 sorties, 10 aircraft lost (0.2 percent)
Total - 6,187 sorties, 58 aircraft lost (0.9 percent)
10 Blenheims were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Continuous duty as a bomber squadron throughout the war, counting the Advanced Air Striking Force and Malta periods.
Carried out more bombing raids than any other squadron in Bomber Command (though many of the raids with 8 Group were with small numbers of aircraft and incurred very light casualties).
Introduced the Mosquito to Bomber Command service and pioneered the Mosquito in the daylight-bombing role; carried out the first daylight raid to Berlin on

19 Blenheims to Belgian, Dutch and Danish coasts; many targets attacked. 1 aircraft lost.

12 Hampdens to Brest were recalled. 1 aircraft did not receive the signal and went on to bomb the German warships in Brest harbour. 11 Blenheims to the French coast but no targets were seen. No losses.

---

BREST
90 aircraft - 51 Wellingtons, 27 Whitleys, 11 Blenheims, 1 Stirling - reported that the warships were difficult to locate. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley were lost and 1 Wellington was shot down over England by an Intruder.
Minor Operations: 15 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and La Pallice; 1 aircraft lost. 7 aircraft to Ostend and Rotterdam.

BREST
90 aircraft - 51 Wellingtons, 27 Whitleys, 11 Blenheims, 1 Stirling - reported that the warships were difficult to locate. 1 Blenheim and 1 Whitley were lost and 1 Wellington was shot down over England by an Intruder.
Minor Operations: 15 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and La Pallice; 1 aircraft lost. 7 aircraft to Ostend and Rotterdam.

---

14 Blenheims to French and Danish coasts; shipping attacked and 1 trawler hit. 1 aircraft lost.

---

BREST
54 aircraft - 39 Wellingtons, 11 Hampdens, 4 Manchesters; 1 Hampden was lost.
A direct hit was claimed on one of the German cruisers.
German records show that one bomb fell in the dry dock in which the Gneisenau was lying. The bomb remained in the water left in the bottom of the dock alongside the cruiser. Further bombs hit the Continental Hotel in Brest just as the evening meal was being served. Several German naval officers, including some from the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, were believed to have been killed.
Next day the captain of the Gneisenau decided it would be safer to move his ship and he did so, mooring at a buoy out in Brest harbour. While there, Gneisenau was attacked by a Coastal Command Beaufort daylight torpedo bomber which scored a direct hit and inflicted serious damage that required six months to repair. The Beaufort was shot down and its crew all killed; its pilot, Flying Officer K. Campbell, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
Minor Operations: 16 aircraft to Cologne, Rotterdam and Dunkirk but thick cloud prevented good bombing. 6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

BREST
54 aircraft - 39 Wellingtons, 11 Hampdens, 4 Manchesters; 1 Hampden was lost.
A direct hit was claimed on one of the German cruisers.
German records show that one bomb fell in the dry dock in which the Gneisenau was lying. The bomb remained in the water left in the bottom of the dock alongside the cruiser. Further bombs hit the Continental Hotel in Brest just as the evening meal was being served. Several German naval officers, including some from the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, were believed to have been killed.
Next day the captain of the Gneisenau decided it would be safer to move his ship and he did so, mooring at a buoy out in Brest harbour. While there, Gneisenau was attacked by a Coastal Command Beaufort daylight torpedo bomber which scored a direct hit and inflicted serious damage that required six months to repair. The Beaufort was shot down and its crew all killed; its pilot, Flying Officer K. Campbell, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
Minor Operations: 16 aircraft to Cologne, Rotterdam and Dunkirk but thick cloud prevented good bombing. 6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

10 Hampdens to Brest but only 1 aircraft bombed, because of cloud. 1 aircraft lost.

14 Blenheims to Belgian and Dutch coasts. Shipping and harbours were attacked. No losses.

---

BREST
71 aircraft - 65 Wellingtons, 4 Manchesters, 2 Whitleys; only 47 aircraft located the target in bad weather. No losses.
Minor Operations: 19 aircraft to Calais, Rotterdam and airfields, 24 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany and Frisians. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

BREST
71 aircraft - 65 Wellingtons, 4 Manchesters, 2 Whitleys; only 47 aircraft located the target in bad weather. No losses.
Minor Operations: 19 aircraft to Calais, Rotterdam and airfields, 24 Hampdens minelaying off Brittany and Frisians. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

---

25 Blenheims to Dutch and Danish coasts. Several ships were attacked and 8 aircraft bombed industrial targets at Ijmuiden. 1 aircraft lost.

---

KIEL
229 aircraft - 117 Wellingtons, 61 Hampdens, 49 Whitleys, 2 Stirlings - on the largest raid to one target so far in the war. 2 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys lost.
Visibility was perfect and bright moonlight toned down the intensity of searchlights. The raid lasted nearly 5 hours and, at the end of it, the Kiel electric-light supply failed. Numerous fires were started requiring outside reinforcement of the fire services. Widespread damage of naval, industrial and civilian housing was caused. Particular damage is reported in the eastern dock areas and the night shifts at the Deutsche Werke and at the Germania Werft, both making U-boats, were sent home during the raid and both yards were out of action for several days. A fire in a naval armaments depot burnt for 2 days. 88 people were killed and 184 injured.
BREMERHAVEN
24 Blenheims. No losses.
Minor Operations: 9 aircraft to Emden, 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

. The concentration of bombers over the target - averaging 121 per hour - exceeded Bomber Command's previous best rate of 80 per hour; there were no collisions. A record tonnage of bombs was dropped, although the exact tonnage is in doubt, official records giving 412 and 470 tons. A significant tactical point was the mass use of flares and the selection of some experienced crews to open the raid, thus foreshadowing some of the 'pathfinding' methods to be used later in the war. Gee was not used, being not yet ready for operations. The raid was considered a great success and the destruction caused in the factory received much publicity.
The report from Billancourt says that 300 bombs fell on the factory, destroying 40 percent of the buildings. Production was halted for 4 weeks and final repairs were not completed for several months. A post-war American estimate says that the production loss was nearly 2,300 lorries. Unfortunately, French civilian casualties were heavy. There were many blocks of workers' apartments very close to the factory. Few people had taken shelter when the sirens sounded; they had often sounded before when bombers were flying to and from Germany. 367 French people were killed; this too was a record, being more than double the death toll of any R.A.F. raid on a German city so far in the war. 72 people were killed in just one block of flats. A further 341 people were classed as badly injured and some of these would die later. 9,250 people lost their homes. A prominent Billancourt citizen, Georges Gorse, was serving with the Free French forces in London at the time and wrote as follows:
If we want the liberation of France, we have to clench our teeth and accept that the English bomb occupied Paris just as the Germans bombed London, that some French people perish under Allied bombs, just as much victims of Germany as the casualties of the 1940 campaign and the men shot at Nantes or Paris. The workers of Boulogne-Billancourt truly saw in the raids of March a promise of liberation. And those who died have also brought 'their own contribution to the coming of dawn'.
This well-publicized view must have been shared by the people of Billancourt because they elected M. Gorse as Mayor with a large majority after the war.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Emden, 4 Blenheim Intruders to Dutch airfields but these were recalled. 4 Lancasters minelaying off the north-west German coast, 2 Whitleys on leaflet flights to France. 1 Wellington lost on the Emden raid.
Total effort for the night: 249 sorties, 2 aircraft (0.8 percent) lost. The Lancaster mining sorties, flown by 44 Squadron, saw the introduction into operational service of this new type of aircraft.

KIEL
229 aircraft - 117 Wellingtons, 61 Hampdens, 49 Whitleys, 2 Stirlings - on the largest raid to one target so far in the war. 2 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys lost.
Visibility was perfect and bright moonlight toned down the intensity of searchlights. The raid lasted nearly 5 hours and, at the end of it, the Kiel electric-light supply failed. Numerous fires were started requiring outside reinforcement of the fire services. Widespread damage of naval, industrial and civilian housing was caused. Particular damage is reported in the eastern dock areas and the night shifts at the Deutsche Werke and at the Germania Werft, both making U-boats, were sent home during the raid and both yards were out of action for several days. A fire in a naval armaments depot burnt for 2 days. 88 people were killed and 184 injured.
BREMERHAVEN
24 Blenheims. No losses.
Minor Operations: 9 aircraft to Emden, 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

17 Blenheims on coastal operations. Many targets were attacked. There were no losses.

---

KIEL
160 aircraft - 74 Wellingtons, 44 Whitleys, 29 Hampdens, 12 Manchesters, 1 Stirling. 4 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden, 1 Manchester - lost and 9 further aircraft crashed in England.
The bomber crews claimed another successful raid. From the Kiel reports, it seems that this attack fell more in the town than in the dock areas. A long list of buildings damaged includes a bank, a museum, an engineering college and the gasworks. Gas and electricity were cut off and in some areas the water supply also failed, causing great difficulty. 125 people were killed and 300 injured. This casualty list is believed to be the heaviest of the war so far in a German town. 8,000 civilians and 300 naval personnel were bombed out and large numbers of civilians decided to leave the city by any means possible, including on foot. These two raids on Kiel in consecutive nights were probably the most successful of the war on any target till then.
BREMERHAVEN
22 Blenheims; claimed good bombing. No losses.
Minor Operations: 10 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and Calais, 5 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 2 Blenheims to Emden. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

---

. The concentration of bombers over the target - averaging 121 per hour - exceeded Bomber Command's previous best rate of 80 per hour; there were no collisions. A record tonnage of bombs was dropped, although the exact tonnage is in doubt, official records giving 412 and 470 tons. A significant tactical point was the mass use of flares and the selection of some experienced crews to open the raid, thus foreshadowing some of the 'pathfinding' methods to be used later in the war. Gee was not used, being not yet ready for operations. The raid was considered a great success and the destruction caused in the factory received much publicity.
The report from Billancourt says that 300 bombs fell on the factory, destroying 40 percent of the buildings. Production was halted for 4 weeks and final repairs were not completed for several months. A post-war American estimate says that the production loss was nearly 2,300 lorries. Unfortunately, French civilian casualties were heavy. There were many blocks of workers' apartments very close to the factory. Few people had taken shelter when the sirens sounded; they had often sounded before when bombers were flying to and from Germany. 367 French people were killed; this too was a record, being more than double the death toll of any R.A.F. raid on a German city so far in the war. 72 people were killed in just one block of flats. A further 341 people were classed as badly injured and some of these would die later. 9,250 people lost their homes. A prominent Billancourt citizen, Georges Gorse, was serving with the Free French forces in London at the time and wrote as follows:
If we want the liberation of France, we have to clench our teeth and accept that the English bomb occupied Paris just as the Germans bombed London, that some French people perish under Allied bombs, just as much victims of Germany as the casualties of the 1940 campaign and the men shot at Nantes or Paris. The workers of Boulogne-Billancourt truly saw in the raids of March a promise of liberation. And those who died have also brought 'their own contribution to the coming of dawn'.
This well-publicized view must have been shared by the people of Billancourt because they elected M. Gorse as Mayor with a large majority after the war.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Emden, 4 Blenheim Intruders to Dutch airfields but these were recalled. 4 Lancasters minelaying off the north-west German coast, 2 Whitleys on leaflet flights to France. 1 Wellington lost on the Emden raid.
Total effort for the night: 249 sorties, 2 aircraft (0.8 percent) lost. The Lancaster mining sorties, flown by 44 Squadron, saw the introduction into operational service of this new type of aircraft.

---

, being based at Syerston and Lindholme. Transferred to Coastal Command in May 1942 and flew maritime operations until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
304 Squadron flew 464 Wellington sorties and lost 18 aircraft (3.9 percent) in 99 bombing raids and 1 leaflet raid.
305 (ZIEMIA WIELKOPOLSKA) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Also formed from ex-French Air Force Poles in August 1940. Flew Wellingtons in 1 Group between April 1941 and August 1943, being based at Syerston, Lindholme, Hemswell and Ingham. Transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and flew Mitchells and Mosquito bombers until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
305 Squadron flew 1,063 Wellington sorties and lost 30 aircraft (2.8 percent) in 160 bombing and 51 minelaying raids.
311 (CZECHOSLOVAK) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Formed in July 1940 from Czechoslovak airmen who had been serving in France. Operated with 3 Group from September 1940, flying Wellingtons from Honington and East Wretham. Posted to Coastal Command in April 1942 and flew Liberators on long-range maritime operations until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
311 Squadron flew 1,029 Wellington sorties and lost 19 aircraft (1.8 percent) in 152 bombing raids.
POINTS OF INTEREST
The first Allied squadron to fly operations in Bomber Command.
The only Czechoslovak squadron in Bomber Command.
320 (DUTCH) SQUADRON
SERVICE
After serving as a maritime squadron in Coastal Command, 320 Squadron was transferred to 2 Group in March 1943 and started converting to Mitchells, but the squadron was not ready for operations when 2 Group left Bomber Command a few weeks later. The squadron later operated with the 2nd Tactical Air Force until the end of the war. It was the only Dutch squadron in Bomber Command but flew no operational sorties while in Bomber Command. Based at Attlebridge.
342 (LORRAINE) SQUADRON
SERVICE
After serving as a Blenheim squadron in Africa and the Middle East from December 1941 until early 1943, this Free French squadron was posted to 2 Group and started to convert to Bostons, but this process was not complete and no operations had been flown when 2 Group left Bomber Command. The squadron subsequently flew Bostons and Mitchells in the 2nd Tactical Air Force until the end of the war.
346 (FRENCH) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Formed as a Halifax squadron in 4 Group on

KIEL
160 aircraft - 74 Wellingtons, 44 Whitleys, 29 Hampdens, 12 Manchesters, 1 Stirling. 4 aircraft - 2 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden, 1 Manchester - lost and 9 further aircraft crashed in England.
The bomber crews claimed another successful raid. From the Kiel reports, it seems that this attack fell more in the town than in the dock areas. A long list of buildings damaged includes a bank, a museum, an engineering college and the gasworks. Gas and electricity were cut off and in some areas the water supply also failed, causing great difficulty. 125 people were killed and 300 injured. This casualty list is believed to be the heaviest of the war so far in a German town. 8,000 civilians and 300 naval personnel were bombed out and large numbers of civilians decided to leave the city by any means possible, including on foot. These two raids on Kiel in consecutive nights were probably the most successful of the war on any target till then.
BREMERHAVEN
22 Blenheims; claimed good bombing. No losses.
Minor Operations: 10 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and Calais, 5 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 2 Blenheims to Emden. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.

---

20 Blenheims to Belgian, Dutch and Danish coasts. Many attacks on ships and land targets. No losses.

---

BERLIN
80 aircraft - 36 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 17 Whitleys, 3 Stirlings. 5 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling, 1 Whitley - lost.
Minor Operations: 9 aircraft to Vegesack, 7 to Emden and 3 Hampdens minelaying in the East Frisians. 2 Wellingtons lost from the Vegesack raid and 1 Wellington from the Emden raid. The Wellington lost on the Emden raid was from 12 Squadron, which was flying its first operation with Wellingtons on this night; the pilot was the squadron commander, Wing Commander V. Q. Blackden, who was killed and is buried at Lemsterland in Holland.

BERLIN
80 aircraft - 36 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 17 Whitleys, 3 Stirlings. 5 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling, 1 Whitley - lost.
Minor Operations: 9 aircraft to Vegesack, 7 to Emden and 3 Hampdens minelaying in the East Frisians. 2 Wellingtons lost from the Vegesack raid and 1 Wellington from the Emden raid. The Wellington lost on the Emden raid was from 12 Squadron, which was flying its first operation with Wellingtons on this night; the pilot was the squadron commander, Wing Commander V. Q. Blackden, who was killed and is buried at Lemsterland in Holland.

---

21 Blenheims on coastal raids in the Frisians and the German Bight. Several targets were attacked. 1 aircraft lost.

---

BREST
53 aircraft - 36 Wellingtons, 12 Blenheims, 5 Manchesters - reported good bombing. It was later established that 4 bombs hit the Gneisenau, recently damaged by a Coastal Command torpedo bomber, during this raid and 50 Germans were killed and 90 injured. 1 Wellington lost.
DÜSSELDORF
29 Hampdens and 24 Whitleys. 5 Hampdens lost.
Minor Operations: 11 Wellingtons to Bordeaux/Mrignac airfield and claimed hits there, 3 Wellingtons to Rotterdam. 1 aircraft lost from the Mrignac raid.

BREST
53 aircraft - 36 Wellingtons, 12 Blenheims, 5 Manchesters - reported good bombing. It was later established that 4 bombs hit the Gneisenau, recently damaged by a Coastal Command torpedo bomber, during this raid and 50 Germans were killed and 90 injured. 1 Wellington lost.
DÜSSELDORF
29 Hampdens and 24 Whitleys. 5 Hampdens lost.
Minor Operations: 11 Wellingtons to Bordeaux/Mrignac airfield and claimed hits there, 3 Wellingtons to Rotterdam. 1 aircraft lost from the Mrignac raid.

---

20 Blenheims to Emden, Heligoland, Rotterdam and shipping patrols. 1 aircraft lost.

20 Blenheims to DÜSSELDORF, Gelsenkirchen and inland targets in Holland. 1 aircraft lost.

---

BREST
66 aircraft - 35 Wellingtons, 13 Whitleys, 12 Hampdens, 6 Manchesters. Only 37 aircraft bombed at Brest, in poor cloud conditions; most other aircraft bombed Lorient as an alternative. No losses.
BORDEAUX
24 aircraft attacked Mrignac airfield; 1 Wellington lost.
6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

BREST
66 aircraft - 35 Wellingtons, 13 Whitleys, 12 Hampdens, 6 Manchesters. Only 37 aircraft bombed at Brest, in poor cloud conditions; most other aircraft bombed Lorient as an alternative. No losses.
BORDEAUX
24 aircraft attacked Mrignac airfield; 1 Wellington lost.
6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

---

16 Blenheims to industrial targets in Holland and to Borkum. These targets were not reached but shipping was attacked. 1 aircraft lost.

---

17 Hampdens minelaying off La Pallice and 11 Whitleys bombing at Mrignac airfield. No losses.

17 Hampdens minelaying off La Pallice and 11 Whitleys bombing at Mrignac airfield. No losses.

---

16 Blenheims attacked Leyden and Haarlem power stations. 14 Blenheims on shipping patrols; a convoy off Holland was bombed. 1 Blenheim lost.

---

BREST
94 aircraft - 46 Wellingtons, 25 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 3 Stirlings - but bombing was poor because of cloud. No losses.

BREST
94 aircraft - 46 Wellingtons, 25 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 3 Stirlings - but bombing was poor because of cloud. No losses.

---

29 Blenheims on coastal operations from France to Norway. 4 ships were attacked and 2 of these were claimed as sunk. Borkum was also bombed. 1 aircraft lost.

---

KIEL
96 aircraft - 49 Wellingtons, 21 Whitleys, 19 Hampdens, 5 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings. 1 Wellington lost.
Cloud hindered the bombing and Kiel reported only light damage compared to recent raids. 5 people were killed and 13 injured.
BOULOGNE
23 'freshmen' crews attacked the docks. 1 Whitley lost.
5 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

KIEL
96 aircraft - 49 Wellingtons, 21 Whitleys, 19 Hampdens, 5 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings. 1 Wellington lost.
Cloud hindered the bombing and Kiel reported only light damage compared to recent raids. 5 people were killed and 13 injured.
BOULOGNE
23 'freshmen' crews attacked the docks. 1 Whitley lost.
5 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

---

30 Blenheims on coastal raids. 11 aircraft bombed various targets. No losses.

---

BREMEN
107 aircraft - 62 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 21 Hampdens; mist and cloud prevented accurate bombing. Only 74 aircraft claimed to have bombed in the Bremen area. 1 Whitley and a Photographic Reconnaissance Unit Wellington accompanying the raid were lost.
Minor Operations: 9 Hampdens minelaying, of which 1 was shot down in England by an Intruder, 3 Wellingtons to Calais and Dunkirk, 1 O.T.U. sortie.

BREMEN
107 aircraft - 62 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys, 21 Hampdens; mist and cloud prevented accurate bombing. Only 74 aircraft claimed to have bombed in the Bremen area. 1 Whitley and a Photographic Reconnaissance Unit Wellington accompanying the raid were lost.
Minor Operations: 9 Hampdens minelaying, of which 1 was shot down in England by an Intruder, 3 Wellingtons to Calais and Dunkirk, 1 O.T.U. sortie.

---

35 Blenheims on coastal operations bombed ships - claiming 1 probably sunk - and Cherbourg docks. 1 aircraft lost.

---

BERLIN
118 aircraft - 50 Wellingtons, 39 Hampdens, 28 Whitleys, 1 Stirling - to two aiming points but haze prevented concentrated bombing. 8 aircraft - 5 Whitleys, 2 Hampdens, 1 Wellington - lost.
Minor Operations: 13 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Rotterdam, 10 Wellingtons to Cologne, 3 Wellingtons to Mannheim, 6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and the Frisians, 1 O.T.U. sortie. 3 Wellingtons were lost from the Cologne raid.
The 11 aircraft lost this night represent the largest total lost in night operations so far (not counting aircraft crashed in the United Kingdom).

BERLIN
118 aircraft - 50 Wellingtons, 39 Hampdens, 28 Whitleys, 1 Stirling - to two aiming points but haze prevented concentrated bombing. 8 aircraft - 5 Whitleys, 2 Hampdens, 1 Wellington - lost.
Minor Operations: 13 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Rotterdam, 10 Wellingtons to Cologne, 3 Wellingtons to Mannheim, 6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and the Frisians, 1 O.T.U. sortie. 3 Wellingtons were lost from the Cologne raid.
The 11 aircraft lost this night represent the largest total lost in night operations so far (not counting aircraft crashed in the United Kingdom).

---

20 Blenheims and 6 Hampdens on operations to enemy coasts. A convoy off Holland was bombed and barges containing troops were also attacked. 1 Blenheim and 1 Hampden lost.

34 Blenheims and 2 Hampdens on coastal operations. Many attacks on ships were made; 2 large merchant ships were hit and believed sunk; a tug was definitely sunk. No aircraft lost.

---

5 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

5 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

---

22 Blenheims on coastal operations; 3 ships hit. No aircraft lost.

---

COLOGNE
61 aircraft - 37 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys, 11 Hampdens, 1 Stirling. Weather conditions were unfavourable and it was a poor raid. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost.
ROTTERDAM
17 Wellingtons and 7 Whitleys attacked the oil-storage depot without loss.
9 Hampdens minelaying off Brest without loss.

COLOGNE
61 aircraft - 37 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys, 11 Hampdens, 1 Stirling. Weather conditions were unfavourable and it was a poor raid. 2 Hampdens and 1 Wellington lost.
ROTTERDAM
17 Wellingtons and 7 Whitleys attacked the oil-storage depot without loss.
9 Hampdens minelaying off Brest without loss.

---

36 Blenheims - 18 to Le Havre power station and 18 on shipping patrols. Le Havre was not reached and both forces made attacks on ships. No losses.

14 Blenheims on coastal sweeps off Norway. 3 aircraft bombed a cargo ship, scoring one hit. No losses.

---

BREST
24 Wellingtons and 2 Stirlings; the warships were not located because of intense Flak and searchlights. 1 Wellington lost. 6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest; no losses.

BREST
24 Wellingtons and 2 Stirlings; the warships were not located because of intense Flak and searchlights. 1 Wellington lost. 6 Hampdens minelaying off Brest; no losses.

---

31 Blenheims and 6 Hampdens on sweeps of Belgian, Dutch and German coasts. Ships and land targets bombed. 1 Blenheim lost.

---

BREST
67 aircraft - 30 Wellingtons, 25 Whitleys, 10 Hampdens, 2 Stirlings. No losses. Hits were claimed on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau but there is no confirmation of this.
14 Hampdens minelaying - 7 off Lorient, 7 off the East Frisians. No losses.

---

and flew Wellingtons and Halifaxes from Driffield, Pocklington and Topcliffe until posted to Coastal Command in October 1942. Returned to Bomber Command in March 1943 and operated from Leeming in 6 Group from 11/12 March (when the squadron lost 4 out of its 15 Halifaxes flying on the first raid, to Stuttgart). Transferred to 8 Group in April 1943 and operated as a Pathfinder squadron until the end of the war, flying Halifaxes and Lancasters from Gransden Lodge.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
4
Group Wellingtons - 86 bombing
4
Group Halifaxes - 34 bombing, 2 leaflet
6
Group Halifaxes - 13 bombing
8
Group Halifaxes - 29 bombing
8
Group Lancasters - 288 bombing
Total - 450 bombing and 2 leaflet raids
Sorties and Losses
4
Group Wellingtons - 522 sorties, 20 aircraft lost (3.8 percent)
4
Group Halifaxes - 396 sorties, 26 aircraft lost (6.6 percent)
6
Group Halifaxes - 55 sorties, 4 aircraft lost (7.3 percent)
8
Group Halifaxes - 330 sorties, 12 aircraft lost (3.6 percent)
8
Group Lancasters - 2,549 sorties, 50 aircraft lost (2.0 percent)
Total - 3,852 sorties, 112 aircraft lost (2.9 percent)
POINTS OF INTEREST
First Canadian squadron in Bomber Command and the only Canadian Pathfinder squadron; carried out more bombing raids than any other Canadian squadron.
Carried out most Wellington bombing raids in 4 Group.
Carried out an unusually high proportion of bombing raids throughout its career and suffered heavy casualties; the only long-serving heavy squadron not to have flown any minelaying operations.
408 (GOOSE) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Formed on

BREST
67 aircraft - 30 Wellingtons, 25 Whitleys, 10 Hampdens, 2 Stirlings. No losses. Hits were claimed on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau but there is no confirmation of this.
14 Hampdens minelaying - 7 off Lorient, 7 off the East Frisians. No losses.

---

24 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from Norway to the Channel Islands. A tanker was bombed and hit off Norway; a fishing vessel was sunk and a radio station ashore was bombed. No losses.

---

KIEL
69 aircraft - 39 Wellingtons, 19 Whitleys, 10 Hampdens, 1 Stirling. 1 Whitley lost. Kiel reports a very scattered attack with no serious damage and 1 person killed and 3 injured.
Minor Operations: 12 aircraft to Le Havre, 10 to Ostend, 9 to Wilhelmshaven (where several houses were hit and a woman and 2 children killed), 8 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians and off Copenhagen, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

KIEL
69 aircraft - 39 Wellingtons, 19 Whitleys, 10 Hampdens, 1 Stirling. 1 Whitley lost. Kiel reports a very scattered attack with no serious damage and 1 person killed and 3 injured.
Minor Operations: 12 aircraft to Le Havre, 10 to Ostend, 9 to Wilhelmshaven (where several houses were hit and a woman and 2 children killed), 8 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians and off Copenhagen, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

27 Blenheims on sweeps of German and Danish coasts. Several attacks were made and at least 2 ships were hit. 1 aircraft lost.

---

KIEL
62 aircraft - 38 Wellingtons, 14 Whitleys, 10 Hampdens. 1 Wellington lost. Kiel reports a scattered raid; places hit are listed: private housing, an old folks' home, a coal-yard, a Catholic church, a mental home. 7 people were killed, all at one place, and 8 were injured.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Bremerhaven, 4 each to Emden and Rotterdam, 3 to Berlin, 7 Hampdens minelaying off Aalborg, Denmark, and in the East Frisians. No losses.

KIEL
62 aircraft - 38 Wellingtons, 14 Whitleys, 10 Hampdens. 1 Wellington lost. Kiel reports a scattered raid; places hit are listed: private housing, an old folks' home, a coal-yard, a Catholic church, a mental home. 7 people were killed, all at one place, and 8 were injured.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Bremerhaven, 4 each to Emden and Rotterdam, 3 to Berlin, 7 Hampdens minelaying off Aalborg, Denmark, and in the East Frisians. No losses.

---

25 Blenheims on sea sweeps off Germany and Norway. 1 ship was damaged but 3 aircraft were lost while attacking convoys.

---

HAMBURG
28 Hampdens and 22 Wellingtons. 1 Hampden lost. Cloud and heavy defences made bombing difficult. 44 aircraft claimed to have bombed but Hamburg records indicate approximately 16 bomb loads only in the city with no fires caused, 6 people killed, 12 injured and 121 bombed out.
4 Wellingtons attacked Emden without loss.

HAMBURG
28 Hampdens and 22 Wellingtons. 1 Hampden lost. Cloud and heavy defences made bombing difficult. 44 aircraft claimed to have bombed but Hamburg records indicate approximately 16 bomb loads only in the city with no fires caused, 6 people killed, 12 injured and 121 bombed out.
4 Wellingtons attacked Emden without loss.

---

18 Blenheims on coastal patrols attacked shipping but without scoring hits. 6 Blenheims, 2 Hampdens and 1 Stirling attempted cloud-cover raids to industrial targets in Germany; 2 Blenheims bombed Osnabrck and 2 Hampdens attacked targets in Holland. No losses.

10 aircraft - 6 Hampdens, 3 Blenheims, 1 Stirling - on cloud-cover raids to Germany. Only the Stirling reached Germany and bombed Emden. 4 of the Hampdens bombed targets in Holland and ships. No losses.
6 Blenheims of 101 Squadron inaugurated Channel Stop in the Straits of Dover. In this operation, Blenheims with fighter escort attempted to prevent all German ships passing through this narrow part of the Channel by day. Motor torpedo boats attempted to keep up the blockade by night. It became a hard-fought battle between the Blenheims and German Flak ships and fighters. 1 fishing vessel was sunk on this day but 1 Blenheim was lost.

---

BREST
22 Wellingtons and 3 Stirlings; only 9 aircraft bombed in poor weather conditions. No losses.
5 Hampdens minelaying off La Rochelle. 2 aircraft lost.

BREST
22 Wellingtons and 3 Stirlings; only 9 aircraft bombed in poor weather conditions. No losses.
5 Hampdens minelaying off La Rochelle. 2 aircraft lost.

---

COASTAL RAIDS
39 aircraft - 36 Blenheims, 2 Hampdens, 1 Stirling - operated over a wide area. Many attacks were made and 1 cargo ship was hit in a convoy off Norway, but 2 Blenheims attacking the convoy were shot down.

---

MANNHEIM
71 aircraft - 42 Wellingtons, 15 Whitleys, 14 Hampdens. 1 Wellington was lost.
A report from Mannheim shows that approximately 15 aircraft bomb loads fell in Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. 4 houses were destroyed and 59 other buildings damaged but most of this was light damage. 2 small industrial premises were affected and suffered production loss of between 3 and 15 days. 4 people were killed and 4 injured.
ROTTERDAM
31 aircraft - 12 Hampdens, 11 Wellingtons, 8 Whitleys - to attack the oil depot. Fires were started but not in the oil depot. No losses.

MANNHEIM
71 aircraft - 42 Wellingtons, 15 Whitleys, 14 Hampdens. 1 Wellington was lost.
A report from Mannheim shows that approximately 15 aircraft bomb loads fell in Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. 4 houses were destroyed and 59 other buildings damaged but most of this was light damage. 2 small industrial premises were affected and suffered production loss of between 3 and 15 days. 4 people were killed and 4 injured.
ROTTERDAM
31 aircraft - 12 Hampdens, 11 Wellingtons, 8 Whitleys - to attack the oil depot. Fires were started but not in the oil depot. No losses.

---

13 Blenheims on sweeps of Dutch and German coasts. 3 aircraft attacked a convoy off Holland. The defences of the convoy - 8 Flak-ship escorts for just 1 tanker, together with an Me 110 air cover - illustrate how the recent Blenheim operations forced the Germans to increase their protection of coastal shipping. 1 Blenheim was shot down attacking this convoy and another badly damaged; no hits were scored on the tanker.

KIEL
81 aircraft - 43 Wellingtons, 25 Whitleys, 13 Hampdens. No losses.
The Kiel area was found to be completely cloud-covered and only 49 aircraft bombed the estimated position of the target. Kiel reports no bomb damage and no casualties. 28 aircraft bombed alternative targets.
Minor Operations: 10 Stirlings to Berlin but only 3 reached the city, 2 Wellingtons to Rotterdam. No losses.

---

22 Blenheims on coastal operations to Holland. Bombs were dropped on the naval base at Den Helder and on ships at sea. 1 aircraft lost.
3 Hampdens on cloud-cover raid to Emmerich turned back.

25 Blenheims on operations from France to Norway. 2 ships attacked off the Frisians were claimed probably sunk and a 2,000-ton ship off Ostend was also claimed sunk, the first success of the Channel Stop operation. No aircraft lost.

---

HAMBURG
95 aircraft - 49 Wellingtons, 21 Whitleys, 19 Hampdens, 3 Manchesters, 3 Stirlings. 3 aircraft - 1 Hampden, 1 Manchester, 1 Whitley - were lost. Good bombing results were claimed. Hamburg reports no outstanding incidents but 26 fires were started - 13 large, 3 people were killed, 16 injured and 206 bombed out.
EMDEN
17 Wellingtons and 6 Whitleys. Ground haze spoiled bombing. 1 Wellington lost.
Minor Operations: 11 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians, 3 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 8 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

HAMBURG
95 aircraft - 49 Wellingtons, 21 Whitleys, 19 Hampdens, 3 Manchesters, 3 Stirlings. 3 aircraft - 1 Hampden, 1 Manchester, 1 Whitley - were lost. Good bombing results were claimed. Hamburg reports no outstanding incidents but 26 fires were started - 13 large, 3 people were killed, 16 injured and 206 bombed out.
EMDEN
17 Wellingtons and 6 Whitleys. Ground haze spoiled bombing. 1 Wellington lost.
Minor Operations: 11 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians, 3 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 8 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

21 Blenheims on coastal operations from France to Holland. Some ships attacked off Gravelines were hit but 2 Blenheims were shot down.

---

COLOGNE
101 aircraft - 37 Wellingtons, 35 Whitleys, 27 Hampdens, 2 Manchesters; none lost. There was 9/10ths cloud and bombing was poor. Cologne reports approximately 8 to 10 bomb loads in the city, causing minor property damage, but 11 people were killed and 14 injured.
BREST
33 aircraft - 29 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings, 1 Manchester; claimed accurate bombing of the docks. No losses.
Minor Operations: 9 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Rotterdam, 1 O.T.U. sortie; no losses.

COLOGNE
101 aircraft - 37 Wellingtons, 35 Whitleys, 27 Hampdens, 2 Manchesters; none lost. There was 9/10ths cloud and bombing was poor. Cologne reports approximately 8 to 10 bomb loads in the city, causing minor property damage, but 11 people were killed and 14 injured.
BREST
33 aircraft - 29 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings, 1 Manchester; claimed accurate bombing of the docks. No losses.
Minor Operations: 9 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Rotterdam, 1 O.T.U. sortie; no losses.

---

12 Blenheims on coastal operations from France to Denmark. 1 fishing vessel was hit. No aircraft lost.

---

BREST
97 aircraft - 54 Wellingtons, 21 Hampdens, 21 Whitleys, 1 Stirling. No aircraft lost. Direct hits were reported on the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau but these are not confirmed.
Minor Operations: 10 Wellingtons to Le Havre, 9 Blenheims to Antwerp and Rotterdam. No losses.

BREST
97 aircraft - 54 Wellingtons, 21 Hampdens, 21 Whitleys, 1 Stirling. No aircraft lost. Direct hits were reported on the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau but these are not confirmed.
Minor Operations: 10 Wellingtons to Le Havre, 9 Blenheims to Antwerp and Rotterdam. No losses.

---

11 Blenheims on operations off the French coast. Ships were bombed but there were no hits. 1 Stirling to Bremen turned back. No losses.

---

MANNHEIM
141 aircraft - 70 Wellingtons, 33 Hampdens, 30 Whitleys, 4 Manchesters, 4 Stirlings. No losses. There was 10/10ths cloud all the way to the target and this hampered navigation but 121 aircraft claimed to have bombed in the target area.
A very detailed report from Mannheim lists the results of the raid. Approximately 25 bomb loads hit the city. 1 house and a barn were destroyed, 4 houses were badly damaged and 199 lightly damaged (mostly broken windows and roof tiles). There were 19 small fires. 1 electricity pylon collapsed; 1 water main was broken. Casualties: 4 people killed. Farm animals: 50 rabbits and chickens killed. Effect on industrial production: nil.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Boulogne, 4 to Cherbourg, 4 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians. No losses.

MANNHEIM
141 aircraft - 70 Wellingtons, 33 Hampdens, 30 Whitleys, 4 Manchesters, 4 Stirlings. No losses. There was 10/10ths cloud all the way to the target and this hampered navigation but 121 aircraft claimed to have bombed in the target area.
A very detailed report from Mannheim lists the results of the raid. Approximately 25 bomb loads hit the city. 1 house and a barn were destroyed, 4 houses were badly damaged and 199 lightly damaged (mostly broken windows and roof tiles). There were 19 small fires. 1 electricity pylon collapsed; 1 water main was broken. Casualties: 4 people killed. Farm animals: 50 rabbits and chickens killed. Effect on industrial production: nil.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Boulogne, 4 to Cherbourg, 4 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians. No losses.

---

18 Blenheims on operations along coasts from France to Germany. Several ships were attacked. 2 aircraft lost. 1 Stirling to Emden turned back but attacked a ship at sea.

---

HAMBURG
115 aircraft - 50 Wellingtons, 31 Whitleys, 27 Hampdens, 4 Manchesters, 3 Stirlings; few aircraft identified their targets, because of poor visibility. 81 aircraft claimed to have bombed Hamburg, 22 aircraft claimed to have attacked alternative targets. Hamburg records indicate some 12 bomb loads in the city. Crews reported large fires throughout the city but Hamburg only lists 4 fires - none large, with 2 people injured and 33 bombed out. No aircraft were lost from the raid.
LE HAVRE
16 Wellingtons; 1 lost.
AMELAND
10 Blenheims attacked a convoy by moonlight; no aircraft lost.
There were 7 minelaying sorties to Quiberon Bay and 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

HAMBURG
115 aircraft - 50 Wellingtons, 31 Whitleys, 27 Hampdens, 4 Manchesters, 3 Stirlings; few aircraft identified their targets, because of poor visibility. 81 aircraft claimed to have bombed Hamburg, 22 aircraft claimed to have attacked alternative targets. Hamburg records indicate some 12 bomb loads in the city. Crews reported large fires throughout the city but Hamburg only lists 4 fires - none large, with 2 people injured and 33 bombed out. No aircraft were lost from the raid.
LE HAVRE
16 Wellingtons; 1 lost.
AMELAND
10 Blenheims attacked a convoy by moonlight; no aircraft lost.
There were 7 minelaying sorties to Quiberon Bay and 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

16 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. 1 ship was attacked. 1 aircraft lost.

---

BREST
89 aircraft - 43 Wellingtons, 28 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens; hits were claimed on both German cruisers in clear visibility but the hits are not confirmed. No aircraft losses.
ST-NAZAIRE
15 Wellingtons; 1 lost.
Minor Operations: 6 Blenheims on shipping strike off Ameland, 3 Stirlings to Bremen, 2 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Blenheim lost on the shipping operation.

---

and flew Fortresses in the daylight role but this was not successful and the Fortresses were phased out later in the year; the squadron was disbanded in February 1942. Re-formed again on

BREST
89 aircraft - 43 Wellingtons, 28 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens; hits were claimed on both German cruisers in clear visibility but the hits are not confirmed. No aircraft losses.
ST-NAZAIRE
15 Wellingtons; 1 lost.
Minor Operations: 6 Blenheims on shipping strike off Ameland, 3 Stirlings to Bremen, 2 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Blenheim lost on the shipping operation.

---

6 Blenheims on a sweep off Norway. 1 Flak ship was hit. 1 aircraft lost.

---

HAMBURG
188 aircraft - 100 Wellingtons, 78 Hampdens, 9 Manchesters, 1 Stirling - 119 aircraft to shipyard targets and 69 to the city. 3 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
Returning crews claimed good bombing results and this is borne out by the Hamburg reports. 83 fires were started of which 38 were classed as large. The source from which most of the Hamburg information comes, Hans Brunswig, selects 2 incidents for description, a large fire at an oil depot - the Deutschen Erdlwerken - from which many new lessons were learnt by the fire services (Brunswig was a fire officer), and the complete destruction by a 4,000-lb bomb of 10 substantial apartment buildings in the street named Tielch in a closely built-up area of the Barmbek district where 79 people were killed. These new bombs are described as causing many problems for the air-raid services. 185 people were killed in Hamburg on this night, 518 injured and 1,966 bombed out. It was the highest fatal casualty figure in Germany so far in the war.
BREMEN
133 aircraft - 78 Whitleys, 55 Wellingtons - to shipyards and city targets. 3 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys lost.
Good bombing was claimed in clear weather conditions. Bremen reports widespread bombing in the town but no hits in the vital A.G. Weser submarine yards. The only casualties mentioned are 2 prisoners of war killed and 22 injured when a wooden camp in or near the harbour was hit by high-explosive bombs.
KIEL CANAL, BREMERHAVEN
23 Blenheims, most in an unsuccessful attempt to seal the Kiel Canal by sinking ships in it. 4 of the Blenheims were sent to Bremerhaven to attack the liner Europa but only the general dock area was bombed. No aircraft losses.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Rotterdam, 5 to Berlin, 4 to Flushing, 3 to Emden and 3 minelaying in the Frisians. 1 Wellington lost on the Berlin raid.
Total effort for the night: 364 sorties, 10 aircraft (2.7 percent) were lost. The effort on this night was a new record, the previous record being 265 sorties on

---

but still less than the 367 French people killed at Billancourt earlier in this month.
Lbeck was not raided by the full strength of the R.A.F. again during the war, A Swiss diplomat who was president of the International Red Cross later negotiated an agreement with Britain that the port would not be bombed again because it was being used for the shipment of Red Cross supplies.
Minor Operations: 2 Blenheims Intruding over Holland, 7 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 14 aircraft on leaflet flights to France. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 257 sorties, 12 aircraft (4.7 percent) lost.

. 13 aircraft (35 percent) were lost in what was a most disappointing set of raids.

HAMBURG
188 aircraft - 100 Wellingtons, 78 Hampdens, 9 Manchesters, 1 Stirling - 119 aircraft to shipyard targets and 69 to the city. 3 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
Returning crews claimed good bombing results and this is borne out by the Hamburg reports. 83 fires were started of which 38 were classed as large. The source from which most of the Hamburg information comes, Hans Brunswig, selects 2 incidents for description, a large fire at an oil depot - the Deutschen Erdlwerken - from which many new lessons were learnt by the fire services (Brunswig was a fire officer), and the complete destruction by a 4,000-lb bomb of 10 substantial apartment buildings in the street named Tielch in a closely built-up area of the Barmbek district where 79 people were killed. These new bombs are described as causing many problems for the air-raid services. 185 people were killed in Hamburg on this night, 518 injured and 1,966 bombed out. It was the highest fatal casualty figure in Germany so far in the war.
BREMEN
133 aircraft - 78 Whitleys, 55 Wellingtons - to shipyards and city targets. 3 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys lost.
Good bombing was claimed in clear weather conditions. Bremen reports widespread bombing in the town but no hits in the vital A.G. Weser submarine yards. The only casualties mentioned are 2 prisoners of war killed and 22 injured when a wooden camp in or near the harbour was hit by high-explosive bombs.
KIEL CANAL, BREMERHAVEN
23 Blenheims, most in an unsuccessful attempt to seal the Kiel Canal by sinking ships in it. 4 of the Blenheims were sent to Bremerhaven to attack the liner Europa but only the general dock area was bombed. No aircraft losses.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Rotterdam, 5 to Berlin, 4 to Flushing, 3 to Emden and 3 minelaying in the Frisians. 1 Wellington lost on the Berlin raid.
Total effort for the night: 364 sorties, 10 aircraft (2.7 percent) were lost. The effort on this night was a new record, the previous record being 265 sorties on

---

13 Blenheims on sweeps of French and Norwegian coasts. 1 ship was hit and seen to be abandoned by its crew. 1 aircraft was lost.

---

MANNHEIM/LUDWIGSHAFEN
146 aircraft - 69 Wellingtons, 42 Whitleys, 24 Hampdens, 11 Manchesters. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.
Mannheim's records show a successful raid on these two neighbouring cities. Totally destroyed buildings: military 1, war industry 4, other commerce 29, houses and shops 19. 11 railway wagons full of industrial fuel were burnt out. A large number of buildings of many kinds were damaged. 22 large and medium industrial plants suffered various production interruptions because of the damage. Casualties were: 64 killed, 122 injured and 3,533 bombed out (2,134 in Mannheim and 1,399 in Ludwigshafen). One third of the bombed out would return to their homes later.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Berlin, 5 to Calais, 4 to Texel, 2 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians. No losses.

---

but still less than the 367 French people killed at Billancourt earlier in this month.
Lbeck was not raided by the full strength of the R.A.F. again during the war, A Swiss diplomat who was president of the International Red Cross later negotiated an agreement with Britain that the port would not be bombed again because it was being used for the shipment of Red Cross supplies.
Minor Operations: 2 Blenheims Intruding over Holland, 7 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 14 aircraft on leaflet flights to France. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 257 sorties, 12 aircraft (4.7 percent) lost.

. 13 aircraft (35 percent) were lost in what was a most disappointing set of raids.

MANNHEIM/LUDWIGSHAFEN
146 aircraft - 69 Wellingtons, 42 Whitleys, 24 Hampdens, 11 Manchesters. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.
Mannheim's records show a successful raid on these two neighbouring cities. Totally destroyed buildings: military 1, war industry 4, other commerce 29, houses and shops 19. 11 railway wagons full of industrial fuel were burnt out. A large number of buildings of many kinds were damaged. 22 large and medium industrial plants suffered various production interruptions because of the damage. Casualties were: 64 killed, 122 injured and 3,533 bombed out (2,134 in Mannheim and 1,399 in Ludwigshafen). One third of the bombed out would return to their homes later.
Minor Operations: 5 aircraft to Berlin, 5 to Calais, 4 to Texel, 2 Hampdens minelaying in Frisians. No losses.

---

5 Blenheims on shipping strike off La Pallice; ships were attacked but not hit. No aircraft lost.

---

HAMBURG
119 aircraft - 60 Wellingtons, 35 Hampdens, 23 Whitleys, 1 Manchester - to shipyards, Altona power-station and the general city area. 3 Wellingtons and 1 Whitley lost.
The raid was carried out in perfect visibility. 128 fires - 47 large - were started in Hamburg with the worst of the fires in the city-centre area where a large department store (Ksters), a bank and part of the Hamburg Stock Exchange were among buildings destroyed by fire. 31 people were killed, 151 injured and 837 bombed out.
BERLIN
23 aircraft, of which only 12 reported bombing targets in the city. 3 aircraft - 2 Stirlings and 1 Manchester - lost.
Minor Operations: 18 Blenheims to the Dutch coast, 6 Wellingtons to Emden, 1 Hampden minelaying in the Frisians. There were no losses. A Wellington whose pilot, Pilot Officer Ball of 103 Squadron, and his crew were flying their first operation, claimed an Me 110 and a Ju 88 shot down on the Emden raid.

HAMBURG
119 aircraft - 60 Wellingtons, 35 Hampdens, 23 Whitleys, 1 Manchester - to shipyards, Altona power-station and the general city area. 3 Wellingtons and 1 Whitley lost.
The raid was carried out in perfect visibility. 128 fires - 47 large - were started in Hamburg with the worst of the fires in the city-centre area where a large department store (Ksters), a bank and part of the Hamburg Stock Exchange were among buildings destroyed by fire. 31 people were killed, 151 injured and 837 bombed out.
BERLIN
23 aircraft, of which only 12 reported bombing targets in the city. 3 aircraft - 2 Stirlings and 1 Manchester - lost.
Minor Operations: 18 Blenheims to the Dutch coast, 6 Wellingtons to Emden, 1 Hampden minelaying in the Frisians. There were no losses. A Wellington whose pilot, Pilot Officer Ball of 103 Squadron, and his crew were flying their first operation, claimed an Me 110 and a Ju 88 shot down on the Emden raid.

---

HAMBURG
92 aircraft - 91 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling. 3 Wellingtons lost.
Good bombing was reported in clear conditions. Hamburg reports 88 fires - 26 large, 11 people killed, 44 injured and 1,096 bombed out. This series of 3 raids in 4 nights made a big impression on Hamburg. Brunswig reports that there were 3,000 separate bombing incidents causing damage resulting in claims for 100 million Reichsmarks (£10 million). It may be significant, however, that there was no mention of industrial damage in any of the reports; this shows the continuing tendency to attack general city areas rather than the industrial targets, which were often so difficult to find. The morale of Hamburg was further affected when the Battleship Bismarck, built in Hamburg, was sunk in the Atlantic on 27 May.
BREMEN
81 aircraft - 48 Whitleys, 31 Hampdens, 2 Manchesters. 1 Hampden lost.
62 aircraft claimed good bombing results. Bremen reports many bombs in the harbour area. A floating dock at A.G. Weser was sunk when hit by 2 bombs; several industrial premises in the dock area were damaged. The report goes on to stress, however, that most of the damage was in the general town area where 24 houses were destroyed, 49 seriously damaged and nearly 1,000 damaged. An office building at the Focke-Wulf factory was hit, by chance the Bremen report suggests. 8 people were killed and 31 injured.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Dieppe, 2 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 1 Stirling to Bordeaux. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 180 sorties, 4 aircraft (2.2 percent) lost.

HAMBURG
92 aircraft - 91 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling. 3 Wellingtons lost.
Good bombing was reported in clear conditions. Hamburg reports 88 fires - 26 large, 11 people killed, 44 injured and 1,096 bombed out. This series of 3 raids in 4 nights made a big impression on Hamburg. Brunswig reports that there were 3,000 separate bombing incidents causing damage resulting in claims for 100 million Reichsmarks (£10 million). It may be significant, however, that there was no mention of industrial damage in any of the reports; this shows the continuing tendency to attack general city areas rather than the industrial targets, which were often so difficult to find. The morale of Hamburg was further affected when the Battleship Bismarck, built in Hamburg, was sunk in the Atlantic on 27 May.
BREMEN
81 aircraft - 48 Whitleys, 31 Hampdens, 2 Manchesters. 1 Hampden lost.
62 aircraft claimed good bombing results. Bremen reports many bombs in the harbour area. A floating dock at A.G. Weser was sunk when hit by 2 bombs; several industrial premises in the dock area were damaged. The report goes on to stress, however, that most of the damage was in the general town area where 24 houses were destroyed, 49 seriously damaged and nearly 1,000 damaged. An office building at the Focke-Wulf factory was hit, by chance the Bremen report suggests. 8 people were killed and 31 injured.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Dieppe, 2 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 1 Stirling to Bordeaux. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 180 sorties, 4 aircraft (2.2 percent) lost.

---

8 Blenheims on coastal operations in Skagerrak. 1 ship was attacked but not hit. No losses.

---

MANNHEIM/LUDWIGSHAFEN
105 aircraft - 42 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 18 Whitleys, 4 Manchesters. 65 of these aircraft were detailed for Mannheim and 40 for Ludwigshafen.
Haze made identification of targets difficult. The local report suggests that no more than 10 aircraft succeeded in bombing the two targets. Damage was scattered and light. 5 people were killed and 3 injured.
26 aircraft reported that they had bombed alternative targets and there is an interesting report from Cologne where 16 aircraft reported bombing. Visibility must have been better at Cologne because direct hits were scored on several industrial premises and 1 bomb which hit the Hacketuer Barracks killed 92 soldiers in an air-raid shelter. 8 other people were killed in Cologne.
Minor Operations: 4 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 2 O.T.U. sorties.
111 sorties were dispatched on this night without any loss.

MANNHEIM/LUDWIGSHAFEN
105 aircraft - 42 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 18 Whitleys, 4 Manchesters. 65 of these aircraft were detailed for Mannheim and 40 for Ludwigshafen.
Haze made identification of targets difficult. The local report suggests that no more than 10 aircraft succeeded in bombing the two targets. Damage was scattered and light. 5 people were killed and 3 injured.
26 aircraft reported that they had bombed alternative targets and there is an interesting report from Cologne where 16 aircraft reported bombing. Visibility must have been better at Cologne because direct hits were scored on several industrial premises and 1 bomb which hit the Hacketuer Barracks killed 92 soldiers in an air-raid shelter. 8 other people were killed in Cologne.
Minor Operations: 4 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 2 O.T.U. sorties.
111 sorties were dispatched on this night without any loss.

---

44 Blenheims on coastal sweeps over a wide area. No ships were seen but docks at St-Nazaire and Heligoland were bombed. 2 aircraft were lost.

20 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. Convoys were attacked off Rotterdam and near Heligoland and 3 ships were claimed as sunk. 1 aircraft was lost.

---

HANNOVER
101 aircraft - 55 Wellingtons, 27 Hampdens, 18 Whitleys, 1 Stirling - with the main post office and telephone exchange as the aiming point, signifying that this was mainly an area attack. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
Minor Operations: 14 Manchesters and Stirlings to Berlin, 11 Wellingtons to Dieppe, 9 Whitleys to Boulogne. 1 Manchester lost on the Berlin raid.

HANNOVER
101 aircraft - 55 Wellingtons, 27 Hampdens, 18 Whitleys, 1 Stirling - with the main post office and telephone exchange as the aiming point, signifying that this was mainly an area attack. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
Minor Operations: 14 Manchesters and Stirlings to Berlin, 11 Wellingtons to Dieppe, 9 Whitleys to Boulogne. 1 Manchester lost on the Berlin raid.

---

8 Blenheims on coastal sweeps off Norway. 1 ship was claimed as sunk near Bergen. 1 aircraft lost.

---

COLOGNE
93 aircraft - 48 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 1 Stirling. 1 Whitley lost.
Bombing conditions were poor and Cologne reports only 7 high-explosive bombs in the city with 11 houses damaged and 1 person injured.
Minor Operations: 11 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 8 Blenheims on shipping searches - 1 ship claimed hit, 2 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

COLOGNE
93 aircraft - 48 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 1 Stirling. 1 Whitley lost.
Bombing conditions were poor and Cologne reports only 7 high-explosive bombs in the city with 11 houses damaged and 1 person injured.
Minor Operations: 11 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 8 Blenheims on shipping searches - 1 ship claimed hit, 2 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

5 Blenheims on an uneventful sweep off Cherbourg.

---

COLOGNE
95 aircraft - 44 Wellingtons, 28 Whitleys, 23 Hampdens. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
Lack of moonlight and intense searchlights made identification of targets difficult but 82 aircraft claimed good bombing results. Cologne reports scattered bombing over a wide area but with some concentration in the southern districts of the city. 1 industrial building was destroyed and 22 damaged. 30 private houses were destroyed and 100 damaged. In the city centre, the Rathaus, a hospital, a department store and a well-known caf, Caf Bauer, were all damaged. 20 people were killed and 24 injured.
Minor Operations: 15 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Boulogne, 14 Blenheims to Rotterdam. No losses.

---

KIEL
70 aircraft - 33 Wellingtons, 19 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens - to shipyards and the city. No losses. Kiel reports only a light raid with no serious damage but 5 people killed and 10 injured.
Minor Operations: 3 Whitleys to Emden, 4 Hampdens minelaying off Kiel. No losses.

COLOGNE
95 aircraft - 44 Wellingtons, 28 Whitleys, 23 Hampdens. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
Lack of moonlight and intense searchlights made identification of targets difficult but 82 aircraft claimed good bombing results. Cologne reports scattered bombing over a wide area but with some concentration in the southern districts of the city. 1 industrial building was destroyed and 22 damaged. 30 private houses were destroyed and 100 damaged. In the city centre, the Rathaus, a hospital, a department store and a well-known caf, Caf Bauer, were all damaged. 20 people were killed and 24 injured.
Minor Operations: 15 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Boulogne, 14 Blenheims to Rotterdam. No losses.

---

KIEL
70 aircraft - 33 Wellingtons, 19 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens - to shipyards and the city. No losses. Kiel reports only a light raid with no serious damage but 5 people killed and 10 injured.
Minor Operations: 3 Whitleys to Emden, 4 Hampdens minelaying off Kiel. No losses.

45 Blenheims on extensive coastal sweeps and on Circus operation to Bthune. No ships were seen but Heligoland town was attacked by machine-gun fire and an oil depot near Bthune was bombed. 2 Blenheims were lost.

16 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from Holland to Denmark. 1 ship was attacked but not sunk. No losses.

20 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. 1 ship was hit off Holland. No losses.

---

COLOGNE
51 aircraft - 24 Hampdens, 22 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings. None lost. The target was completely cloud-covered and bombing was poor. Cologne records only 13 high-explosive bombs and 200 incendiaries in the city, with 25 buildings damaged and 11 people injured.
2 Whitleys attacked Boulogne without loss.

---

and the squadron became operational in 5 Group in August 1941. Flew Hampdens from Swinderby and Wigsley until April 1942 when transferred to Coastal Command to become a torpedo-bomber unit, in which role the squadron flew until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
455 Squadron flew 424 Hampden sorties and lost 14 aircraft (3.3 percent) in 92 raids - 56 bombing, 29 minelaying and 7 leaflet.
POINTS OF INTEREST
The first Australian squadron to fly in Bomber Command.
458 (AUSTRALIAN) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Ground crew formed in Australia in July 1941 and the squadron became operational in 4 Group in October 1941. Flew Wellingtons from Holme-on-Spalding Moor until December but then transferred to the Middle East in February 1942, the aircraft of the CO., Wing Commander Mulholland, D.F.C., being shot down into the sea while flying to Malta. Served as a torpedo-bomber squadron in the Middle East until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
458 Squadron flew 65 Wellington sorties and lost 3 aircraft (4.6 percent) in 10 bombing raids.
460 (AUSTRALIAN) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Formed as a Wellington squadron in 1 Group and commenced operations on

COLOGNE
51 aircraft - 24 Hampdens, 22 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings. None lost. The target was completely cloud-covered and bombing was poor. Cologne records only 13 high-explosive bombs and 200 incendiaries in the city, with 25 buildings damaged and 11 people injured.
2 Whitleys attacked Boulogne without loss.

---

23 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. Shipping was attacked and 1 ship was hit. 1 aircraft lost.

30 Blenheims on sweeps in the Frisians and off Denmark. Several ships were hit but German fighters were very active and 4 Blenheims were lost.

---

48 Hampdens on minelaying operations off Brest and St-Nazaire; bad weather was encountered and only 27 aircraft laid mines. There were no losses.

48 Hampdens on minelaying operations off Brest and St-Nazaire; bad weather was encountered and only 27 aircraft laid mines. There were no losses.

---

12 Blenheims on uneventful shipping sweeps off the Frisian Islands.

---

38 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

38 Hampdens minelaying off Brest. No losses.

---

PRINZ EUGEN
52 Wellingtons and 12 Stirlings searched over a wide area of sea for the cruiser Prinz Eugen after her partner ship, the Bismarck, had been sunk in the Atlantic. Nothing was seen.
14 Blenheims on shipping sweeps off Holland and Germany and 9 Blenheims attacked Lannion airfield, claiming German aircraft on the ground destroyed. No losses.

---

COLOGNE
46 Whitleys and 18 Wellingtons to city centre but Cologne only records 31 high-explosive bombs and 300 incendiaries in the whole city although these damaged 167 buildings; 11 people were killed and 39 injured. No aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 24 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Boulogne, 36 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and St-Nazaire. 1 Hampden lost.

COLOGNE
46 Whitleys and 18 Wellingtons to city centre but Cologne only records 31 high-explosive bombs and 300 incendiaries in the whole city although these damaged 167 buildings; 11 people were killed and 39 injured. No aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 24 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Boulogne, 36 Hampdens minelaying off Brest and St-Nazaire. 1 Hampden lost.

---

7 Blenheims to the mouth of the River Elbe. 1 ship was attacked but not hit. 1 aircraft lost.

---

KIEL
14 Whitleys to bomb Tirpitz encountered thick cloud and storms. Only 3 aircraft claimed to have bombed Kiel, which reports, 'Considerable rain but luckily no bombs.' 1 Whitley lost.

KIEL
14 Whitleys to bomb Tirpitz encountered thick cloud and storms. Only 3 aircraft claimed to have bombed Kiel, which reports, 'Considerable rain but luckily no bombs.' 1 Whitley lost.

12 Blenheims on a coastal sweep but nothing seen. 1 Stirling on a photographic reconnaissance flight to Mnster turned back.

44 Blenheims on extensive shipping operations in cloudy weather. Some of the Blenheims tried again to block the Kiel Canal and several ships were bombed in that area. It is believed that 2 ships were sunk in the canal, blocking it for at least 10 days. 2 Blenheims lost.

---

DÜSSELDORF
150 aircraft - 68 Wellingtons, 43 Hampdens, 39 Whitleys - to two aiming points but cloud conditions caused difficulties and only 107 aircraft claimed to have bombed DÜSSELDORF. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.
DÜSSELDORF records only light and scattered damage with 5 people killed and 13 injured.
DUISBURG
25 Wellingtons; thick haze prevented accurate bombing. No aircraft lost.
BERLIN
8 Stirlings and 3 Wellingtons. 1 Stirling lost.

DÜSSELDORF
150 aircraft - 68 Wellingtons, 43 Hampdens, 39 Whitleys - to two aiming points but cloud conditions caused difficulties and only 107 aircraft claimed to have bombed DÜSSELDORF. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost.
DÜSSELDORF records only light and scattered damage with 5 people killed and 13 injured.
DUISBURG
25 Wellingtons; thick haze prevented accurate bombing. No aircraft lost.
BERLIN
8 Stirlings and 3 Wellingtons. 1 Stirling lost.

54 Blenheims on coastal sweeps and airfield raids from Norway to Belgium. A 500-ton ship was claimed hit by 4 bombs. 2 aircraft lost.

9 Blenheims on sweeps from Belgium to Norway. Ships were attacked off Zeebrugge. No aircraft lost.

3 Blenheims to Cherbourg. Nothing was seen.

22 Blenheims on shipping searches from the Frisians to Norway. A ship was set on fire off Terschelling. 3 aircraft lost.

---

BREST
30 Wellingtons and 3 Stirlings to bomb the Prinz Eugen, which had now come into Brest from the Atlantic. No hits were scored and no aircraft were lost.

BREST
30 Wellingtons and 3 Stirlings to bomb the Prinz Eugen, which had now come into Brest from the Atlantic. No hits were scored and no aircraft were lost.

---

DORTMUND
37 Whitleys; poor bombing owing to industrial haze. No losses.

DORTMUND
37 Whitleys; poor bombing owing to industrial haze. No losses.

---

18 aircraft - 12 Blenheims, 4 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings - operated on enemy coasts. Ships were attacked off Dunkirk, The Hague and Terschelling but without sure sinkings. 2 Blenheims and 2 Wellingtons lost.

8 Blenheims bombed shipping off Stavanger. 2 Stirlings to Emden turned back but one claimed to have shot down an Me 109. No losses.

---

BREST
104 aircraft - 39 Hampdens, 38 Wellingtons, 27 Whitleys - to bomb the 3 German warships now at Brest. Many bombs fell in the dock area but there were no hits on the ships. No aircraft lost.
9 Hampdens minelaying in Quiberon Bay. None lost.

BREST
104 aircraft - 39 Hampdens, 38 Wellingtons, 27 Whitleys - to bomb the 3 German warships now at Brest. Many bombs fell in the dock area but there were no hits on the ships. No aircraft lost.
9 Hampdens minelaying in Quiberon Bay. None lost.

---

BREMERHAVEN
25 Blenheims to Bremerhaven and north-west Germany but 19 turned back. 1 aircraft sank a trawler and 1 aircraft bombed Ijmuiden docks. 1 aircraft lost.

---

DÜSSELDORF
92 Wellingtons and 6 Stirlings; haze prevented accurate bombing. 6 Wellingtons lost.
DUISBURG
80 aircraft - 36 Whitleys, 35 Hampdens, 9 Halifaxes. 8/10ths cloud over target but good bombing reported. 1 Whitley lost.
There are no reports from the two main targets but Cologne reports bombs from aircraft which were either mistaking Cologne for the correct target or using it as an alternative. The main railway station was hit by 7 bombs and much damage was caused. Dock areas, a wagon works and 173 houses were also damaged. 14 people were killed and 36 injured. Because of its position just outside the main defences and industrial haze of the Ruhr, Cologne was always likely to be attacked in this way.
BOULOGNE
24 Wellingtons and 5 Whitleys; 1 of each type lost.
Minor Operations: 2 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 20 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay and the Frisians, 12 O.T.U. sorties. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.
Total effort for the night: 241 sorties, 10 aircraft (4.1 percent) lost.

DÜSSELDORF
92 Wellingtons and 6 Stirlings; haze prevented accurate bombing. 6 Wellingtons lost.
DUISBURG
80 aircraft - 36 Whitleys, 35 Hampdens, 9 Halifaxes. 8/10ths cloud over target but good bombing reported. 1 Whitley lost.
There are no reports from the two main targets but Cologne reports bombs from aircraft which were either mistaking Cologne for the correct target or using it as an alternative. The main railway station was hit by 7 bombs and much damage was caused. Dock areas, a wagon works and 173 houses were also damaged. 14 people were killed and 36 injured. Because of its position just outside the main defences and industrial haze of the Ruhr, Cologne was always likely to be attacked in this way.
BOULOGNE
24 Wellingtons and 5 Whitleys; 1 of each type lost.
Minor Operations: 2 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 20 Hampdens minelaying in Kiel Bay and the Frisians, 12 O.T.U. sorties. 1 minelaying Hampden lost.
Total effort for the night: 241 sorties, 10 aircraft (4.1 percent) lost.

---

12 Blenheims on coastal sweeps and to Brest. There was insufficient cloud for the Brest raid but other Blenheims attacked and hit a cargo ship off Gravelines. No aircraft lost.

---

SOEST
91 Hampdens to the railway yards but visibility was poor and only 42 aircraft bombed the primary target. 2 aircraft lost.
SCHWERTE
80 Whitleys and 4 Wellingtons to railway yards but ground haze was encountered and only 41 aircraft bombed the primary target. 3 Whitleys lost.
HAMM
82 Wellingtons to attack the railway yards claimed good bombing results. No losses. Hamm reports that 7 bombs fell in the town. 6 exploded but did not cause any serious damage. The seventh bomb blew up later, killing 2 bomb-disposal men, the only fatal casualties of the raid.
OSNABRCK
61 Wellingtons to railway yards claimed good bombing. 1 aircraft lost. Local records describe this as a 'lively attack'.
HLS
11 Halifaxes and 7 Stirlings to the chemical works. Fires were started in the target area. No losses.
Minor Operations: 2 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 1 Wellington to Emden. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 339 sorties, 6 aircraft (1.8 percent) lost. 4 Wellingtons of 405 (Vancouver) Squadron sent to Schwerte on this night represent the first operational flight by the first of many Canadian squadrons to serve in Bomber Command.

SOEST
91 Hampdens to the railway yards but visibility was poor and only 42 aircraft bombed the primary target. 2 aircraft lost.
SCHWERTE
80 Whitleys and 4 Wellingtons to railway yards but ground haze was encountered and only 41 aircraft bombed the primary target. 3 Whitleys lost.
HAMM
82 Wellingtons to attack the railway yards claimed good bombing results. No losses. Hamm reports that 7 bombs fell in the town. 6 exploded but did not cause any serious damage. The seventh bomb blew up later, killing 2 bomb-disposal men, the only fatal casualties of the raid.
OSNABRCK
61 Wellingtons to railway yards claimed good bombing. 1 aircraft lost. Local records describe this as a 'lively attack'.
HLS
11 Halifaxes and 7 Stirlings to the chemical works. Fires were started in the target area. No losses.
Minor Operations: 2 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 1 Wellington to Emden. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 339 sorties, 6 aircraft (1.8 percent) lost. 4 Wellingtons of 405 (Vancouver) Squadron sent to Schwerte on this night represent the first operational flight by the first of many Canadian squadrons to serve in Bomber Command.

---

4 Blenheims to Norway recalled.

---

BREST
110 aircraft - 69 Wellingtons, 37 Hampdens, 4 Stirlings - to attack the 3 warships now at Brest but haze and smoke-screens concealed the targets and no hits were scored. No aircraft lost.
SCHWERTE
36 Whitleys and 6 Wellingtons to railway yards which were not located so the town was bombed instead. 1 Whitley lost.
Minor Operations: 5 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 4 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 12 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

BREST
110 aircraft - 69 Wellingtons, 37 Hampdens, 4 Stirlings - to attack the 3 warships now at Brest but haze and smoke-screens concealed the targets and no hits were scored. No aircraft lost.
SCHWERTE
36 Whitleys and 6 Wellingtons to railway yards which were not located so the town was bombed instead. 1 Whitley lost.
Minor Operations: 5 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 4 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 12 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

30 Blenheims on coastal sweeps, to Brest and on a Circus operation to St-Omer airfield. 1 aircraft lost.

---

COLOGNE
29 Hampdens. The target was completely cloud-covered. 25 aircraft bombed estimated positions but Cologne reports only light damage with approximately 2 bomb loads in the city, 1 person killed and 1 injured. No aircraft lost.

COLOGNE
29 Hampdens. The target was completely cloud-covered. 25 aircraft bombed estimated positions but Cologne reports only light damage with approximately 2 bomb loads in the city, 1 person killed and 1 injured. No aircraft lost.

---

23 Blenheims on sweeps of Dutch and German coasts but most turned back because of lack of cloud cover. Ships off Terschelling and in the Ems estuary were attacked. 1 aircraft lost.

---

COLOGNE
49 Wellingtons and 42 Hampdens to railway targets but Cologne reports only 3 or 4 bomb loads in the city with minor damage, 1 person killed and 2 injured. 1 Hampden lost.
DÜSSELDORF
31 Whitleys and 28 Wellingtons to railway targets but visibility was poor and bombing was scattered. No aircraft lost.
HANNOVER
16 aircraft; a large fire was started. No losses.
Minor Operations: 10 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys to Dunkirk, 4 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 1 O.T.U. sortie. The 2 Whitley freshmen crews sent to Dunkirk were both lost.

COLOGNE
49 Wellingtons and 42 Hampdens to railway targets but Cologne reports only 3 or 4 bomb loads in the city with minor damage, 1 person killed and 2 injured. 1 Hampden lost.
DÜSSELDORF
31 Whitleys and 28 Wellingtons to railway targets but visibility was poor and bombing was scattered. No aircraft lost.
HANNOVER
16 aircraft; a large fire was started. No losses.
Minor Operations: 10 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys to Dunkirk, 4 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 1 O.T.U. sortie. The 2 Whitley freshmen crews sent to Dunkirk were both lost.

---

25 Blenheims on coastal sweeps off Holland and Germany. Several ships were attacked including a trawler well out to sea and suspected of being a radio warning ship. One of the Blenheims attacking this ship was so low that it hit the trawler's mast and crashed into the sea. 3 Blenheims were lost on this day.

---

COLOGNE
105 aircraft - 47 Hampdens, 39 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons, 3 Halifaxes - but again bombing was poor with only 55 high-explosive bombs and 300 incendiaries recorded in Cologne, causing scattered damage, but 19 people were killed and 17 injured. 2 Whitleys and 1 Wellington lost.
DÜSSELDORF
65 Wellingtons and 7 Stirlings, haze prevented target identification. 58 aircraft claimed to have bombed DÜSSELDORF but the records show only 2 heavy bombs in the southern suburb of Wersten, which destroyed several houses, killing 4 people and injuring 23. A few bombs were reported in 4 other towns around DÜSSELDORF. No aircraft lost.
9. Thirty Wellingtons dispatched by 57 and 75 (New Zealand) Squadrons at Feltwell. This was a typical effort by 3 Group, which provided so much of the early strength of Bomber Command. The target for twenty-eight of these aircraft was DÜSSELDORF; the diary entry shows their bombing results. Two of the aircraft, flown by 'freshman' crews, bombed Boulogne. All the Wellingtons returned safely. The airfields shown on the bottom left of the board are the diversion airfields allocated to the Feltwell aircraft in the event of bad weather on their return.
DUISBURG
39 Wellingtons; 1 lost.
BOULOGNE
7 Wellingtons; none lost.
Total effort for the night: 223 sorties, 4 aircraft (1.8 percent) lost.

COLOGNE
105 aircraft - 47 Hampdens, 39 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons, 3 Halifaxes - but again bombing was poor with only 55 high-explosive bombs and 300 incendiaries recorded in Cologne, causing scattered damage, but 19 people were killed and 17 injured. 2 Whitleys and 1 Wellington lost.
DÜSSELDORF
65 Wellingtons and 7 Stirlings, haze prevented target identification. 58 aircraft claimed to have bombed DÜSSELDORF but the records show only 2 heavy bombs in the southern suburb of Wersten, which destroyed several houses, killing 4 people and injuring 23. A few bombs were reported in 4 other towns around DÜSSELDORF. No aircraft lost.
9. Thirty Wellingtons dispatched by 57 and 75 (New Zealand) Squadrons at Feltwell. This was a typical effort by 3 Group, which provided so much of the early strength of Bomber Command. The target for twenty-eight of these aircraft was DÜSSELDORF; the diary entry shows their bombing results. Two of the aircraft, flown by 'freshman' crews, bombed Boulogne. All the Wellingtons returned safely. The airfields shown on the bottom left of the board are the diversion airfields allocated to the Feltwell aircraft in the event of bad weather on their return.
DUISBURG
39 Wellingtons; 1 lost.
BOULOGNE
7 Wellingtons; none lost.
Total effort for the night: 223 sorties, 4 aircraft (1.8 percent) lost.

---

23 Blenheims on a large Circus operation to a power-station near Bthune which was accurately bombed. No Blenheims were lost but 10 of the escorting fighters were shot down.

---

COLOGNE
43 Hampdens and 33 Whitleys; thick haze obscured targets. 1 Whitley lost. Cologne reports only light bombing: 17 high-explosive bombs, 100 incendiaries, 11 people injured, 39 buildings damaged.
DÜSSELDORF
57 Wellingtons; none lost. Thick haze.
DUISBURG
26 Wellingtons; none lost. Thick haze.
Minor Operations: 11 aircraft to Hannover, 8 each to Boulogne and Rotterdam, 4 minelaying in Frisians, 8 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 198 sorties, 1 aircraft (05 percent) lost.

COLOGNE
43 Hampdens and 33 Whitleys; thick haze obscured targets. 1 Whitley lost. Cologne reports only light bombing: 17 high-explosive bombs, 100 incendiaries, 11 people injured, 39 buildings damaged.
DÜSSELDORF
57 Wellingtons; none lost. Thick haze.
DUISBURG
26 Wellingtons; none lost. Thick haze.
Minor Operations: 11 aircraft to Hannover, 8 each to Boulogne and Rotterdam, 4 minelaying in Frisians, 8 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 198 sorties, 1 aircraft (05 percent) lost.

---

6 Blenheims on a Circus operation to a German camp at Bois de Licques. No Blenheims lost.

---

BREMEN
100 aircraft - 39 Hampdens, 37 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys. 3 Wellingtons and 3 Whitleys lost. Low cloud hindered the attack.
BREST
57 Wellingtons and 8 Stirlings; none lost. Haze and smoke-screens prevented identification of warship targets.
There were 2 O.T.U. sorties.

BREMEN
100 aircraft - 39 Hampdens, 37 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys. 3 Wellingtons and 3 Whitleys lost. Low cloud hindered the attack.
BREST
57 Wellingtons and 8 Stirlings; none lost. Haze and smoke-screens prevented identification of warship targets.
There were 2 O.T.U. sorties.

---

36 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Le Havre docks. Only 9 aircraft bombed. No Blenheims lost.

---

COLOGNE
28 Wellingtons; 1 lost. Good bombing was claimed but Cologne only reports 60 incendiary bombs in the city with no casualties.
DÜSSELDORF
20 Whitleys; 1 lost. Ground haze.

COLOGNE
28 Wellingtons; 1 lost. Good bombing was claimed but Cologne only reports 60 incendiary bombs in the city with no casualties.
DÜSSELDORF
20 Whitleys; 1 lost. Ground haze.

---

11 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. 1 ship was claimed sunk off the Frisians. No aircraft lost.

---

KIEL
115 aircraft - 47 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 13 Stirlings, 11 Halifaxes - in an attempt to identify and bomb the Tirpitz. No aircraft succeeded in doing so and the city was attacked instead. 2 Wellingtons lost. Kiel reports: much cloud, a few bombs dropped, 1 person injured, 'Flak fire in all directions', 1 barrage balloon shot down.
Minor Operations: 5 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 4 Hampdens on unspecified 'special tasks' to Essen and Cologne, 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

KIEL
115 aircraft - 47 Wellingtons, 24 Hampdens, 20 Whitleys, 13 Stirlings, 11 Halifaxes - in an attempt to identify and bomb the Tirpitz. No aircraft succeeded in doing so and the city was attacked instead. 2 Wellingtons lost. Kiel reports: much cloud, a few bombs dropped, 1 person injured, 'Flak fire in all directions', 1 barrage balloon shot down.
Minor Operations: 5 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 4 Hampdens on unspecified 'special tasks' to Essen and Cologne, 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

23 Blenheims on coastal sweeps and a Circus operation to St-Omer airfield. The airfield was bombed and a ship attacked off the Dutch coast. 1 Blenheim was lost.

---

COLOGNE
68 Wellingtons; cloud and haze were encountered. Out of 500 high-explosive and nearly 5,000 incendiary bombs carried by the bombers, none are recorded as dropping inside Cologne's boundaries, only a few in villages to the west. No aircraft lost.
DÜSSELDORF
28 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys dispatched and claimed many fires started. No aircraft lost. DÜSSELDORF reports 2 loads of bombs in the city and 1 in nearby Neuss. There were no casualties and the only damage caused was broken windows.
Minor Operations: 18 Manchesters to Boulogne, 10 Wellingtons to Dunkirk, 2 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Manchester was shot down by an R.A.F. fighter over England and its crew were killed.

COLOGNE
68 Wellingtons; cloud and haze were encountered. Out of 500 high-explosive and nearly 5,000 incendiary bombs carried by the bombers, none are recorded as dropping inside Cologne's boundaries, only a few in villages to the west. No aircraft lost.
DÜSSELDORF
28 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys dispatched and claimed many fires started. No aircraft lost. DÜSSELDORF reports 2 loads of bombs in the city and 1 in nearby Neuss. There were no casualties and the only damage caused was broken windows.
Minor Operations: 18 Manchesters to Boulogne, 10 Wellingtons to Dunkirk, 2 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Manchester was shot down by an R.A.F. fighter over England and its crew were killed.

---

17 Blenheims on coastal searches and a Circus operation. No ships were seen; Hazebrouck railway yards bombed. No Blenheims lost.

---

BREMEN
45 Wellingtons and 25 Hampdens; the targets were haze-covered and bombing was scattered. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.
WILHELMSHAVEN
16 Wellingtons and 11 Whitleys. Wilhelmshaven reports bombing only in Cciliengroden, a village on the coast 4 km to the south, where one house was hit and 'several' people were killed and wounded.
3 Wellingtons to Emden and 1 Hampden to DÜSSELDORF without loss.

BREMEN
45 Wellingtons and 25 Hampdens; the targets were haze-covered and bombing was scattered. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.
WILHELMSHAVEN
16 Wellingtons and 11 Whitleys. Wilhelmshaven reports bombing only in Cciliengroden, a village on the coast 4 km to the south, where one house was hit and 'several' people were killed and wounded.
3 Wellingtons to Emden and 1 Hampden to DÜSSELDORF without loss.

---

39 Blenheims on coastal sweeps and a Circus operation to Choques power-station. 2 Blenheims lost.

---

COLOGNE
44 Wellingtons and 18 Whitleys. 1 Wellington lost. Cologne reports a few bombs but no casualties.
DÜSSELDORF
30 Hampdens and 11 Manchesters. No aircraft lost. Crews report: 'Fires started.'
KIEL
26 aircraft - 13 Stirlings, 10 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons. 1 Halifax lost. Little damage in Kiel but 1 person was killed and 8 injured when a large bomb appeared to explode in the air above the old town. The casualties are believed to have been in the open, watching a bomber trying to escape from a large searchlight cone. The bomber escaped from the mass of Flak being fired at it.
Minor Operations: 2 aircraft to Boulogne, 1 each to Bremen, Emden and Hannover, 1 minelaying in the Frisians, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

COLOGNE
44 Wellingtons and 18 Whitleys. 1 Wellington lost. Cologne reports a few bombs but no casualties.
DÜSSELDORF
30 Hampdens and 11 Manchesters. No aircraft lost. Crews report: 'Fires started.'
KIEL
26 aircraft - 13 Stirlings, 10 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons. 1 Halifax lost. Little damage in Kiel but 1 person was killed and 8 injured when a large bomb appeared to explode in the air above the old town. The casualties are believed to have been in the open, watching a bomber trying to escape from a large searchlight cone. The bomber escaped from the mass of Flak being fired at it.
Minor Operations: 2 aircraft to Boulogne, 1 each to Bremen, Emden and Hannover, 1 minelaying in the Frisians, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

18 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Comines power-station. No Blenheims lost.

---

COLOGNE
32 Whitleys and 22 Wellingtons; the main city passenger station was the aiming point. No aircraft lost. Cologne reports only 11 bombs, 5 houses damaged, no casualties.
KIEL
25 Hampdens and 23 Wellingtons to dock areas. 1 Wellington lost. Kiel reports only a light raid with 11 people injured.
DÜSSELDORF
23 Wellingtons and 8 Manchesters, no losses.
Minor Operations: 3 Wellingtons to Emden, 1 to Boulogne and 2 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Wellington was lost from the Emden raid and the one sent to Boulogne was shot down into the sea off Harwich by 'friendly' anti-aircraft fire.

---

in 5 Group. Flew Hampdens (and one Manchester sortie on the Thousand-Bomber Raid to Cologne) from Syerston and Balderton from August 1941 until posted to 4 Group in September 1942 in preparation for the formation of 6 Group. Became a founder squadron of 6 Group on

COLOGNE
32 Whitleys and 22 Wellingtons; the main city passenger station was the aiming point. No aircraft lost. Cologne reports only 11 bombs, 5 houses damaged, no casualties.
KIEL
25 Hampdens and 23 Wellingtons to dock areas. 1 Wellington lost. Kiel reports only a light raid with 11 people injured.
DÜSSELDORF
23 Wellingtons and 8 Manchesters, no losses.
Minor Operations: 3 Wellingtons to Emden, 1 to Boulogne and 2 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Wellington was lost from the Emden raid and the one sent to Boulogne was shot down into the sea off Harwich by 'friendly' anti-aircraft fire.

---

24 Blenheims on Circus operations to Hazebrouck and St-Omer, 10 Blenheims on coastal sweep but no ships seen. 1 Blenheim lost.

---

BREMEN
56 Wellingtons and 8 Whitleys; severe electrical storms prevented most aircraft reaching the target. 1 Wellington lost.
KIEL
30 Hampdens and 17 Wellingtons. 1 Hampden lost. Kiel reports light damage with 1 person killed.
Minor Operations: 6 aircraft to Rotterdam, 1 each to Cologne and DÜSSELDORF, 1 Hampden minelaying in Frisians, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

BREMEN
56 Wellingtons and 8 Whitleys; severe electrical storms prevented most aircraft reaching the target. 1 Wellington lost.
KIEL
30 Hampdens and 17 Wellingtons. 1 Hampden lost. Kiel reports light damage with 1 person killed.
Minor Operations: 6 aircraft to Rotterdam, 1 each to Cologne and DÜSSELDORF, 1 Hampden minelaying in Frisians, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

23 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Comines power-station but the target was not reached. No Blenheims lost.

---

COLOGNE
32 Wellingtons and 19 Whitleys; electrical storms allowed only 7 aircraft to claim attacks on the main target. 1 Wellington lost. Cologne reports no bombs.
DÜSSELDORF
30 Hampdens and 14 Wellingtons encountered thick cloud, snow and icing. Results of bombing not observed. 1 Wellington lost.
KIEL
41 aircraft - 18 Manchesters, 15 Stirlings, 8 Halifaxes - but ground haze spoiled bombing. 2 Manchesters lost. Light damage and no casualties in Kiel.
Minor Operations: 3 Wellingtons to Emden, 1 Hampden minelaying in Frisians, 3 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

COLOGNE
32 Wellingtons and 19 Whitleys; electrical storms allowed only 7 aircraft to claim attacks on the main target. 1 Wellington lost. Cologne reports no bombs.
DÜSSELDORF
30 Hampdens and 14 Wellingtons encountered thick cloud, snow and icing. Results of bombing not observed. 1 Wellington lost.
KIEL
41 aircraft - 18 Manchesters, 15 Stirlings, 8 Halifaxes - but ground haze spoiled bombing. 2 Manchesters lost. Light damage and no casualties in Kiel.
Minor Operations: 3 Wellingtons to Emden, 1 Hampden minelaying in Frisians, 3 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

23 Blenheims on a Circus operation to a steelworks at Lille which was bombed accurately. No Blenheim losses.

---

BREMEN
73 Wellingtons and 35 Whitleys; they encountered storms, icing conditions and, reported for the first time in Bomber Command records, 'intense night-fighter attacks'. 11 Whitleys - 31 percent of the Whitleys dispatched - and 3 Wellingtons were lost, the heaviest night loss of the war so far. No report is available from Bremen but many of the bombers must have found their way by mistake to Hamburg, 50 miles away. This city reports 76 bombing incidents, 14 fires, 7 people killed, 39 injured and 55 bombed out and 5 bombers shot down by night fighters over the city.
VEGESACK
28 Hampdens to attack U-boat construction yards. No losses.
Minor Operations: 4 aircraft to Dunkirk, 3 to Emden, 1 to Cologne, 1 to DÜSSELDORF, 3 Hampdens to the Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

BREMEN
73 Wellingtons and 35 Whitleys; they encountered storms, icing conditions and, reported for the first time in Bomber Command records, 'intense night-fighter attacks'. 11 Whitleys - 31 percent of the Whitleys dispatched - and 3 Wellingtons were lost, the heaviest night loss of the war so far. No report is available from Bremen but many of the bombers must have found their way by mistake to Hamburg, 50 miles away. This city reports 76 bombing incidents, 14 fires, 7 people killed, 39 injured and 55 bombed out and 5 bombers shot down by night fighters over the city.
VEGESACK
28 Hampdens to attack U-boat construction yards. No losses.
Minor Operations: 4 aircraft to Dunkirk, 3 to Emden, 1 to Cologne, 1 to DÜSSELDORF, 3 Hampdens to the Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

24 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Comines. 18 Blenheims to Bremen turned back. 6 Stirlings to Bremerhaven did not reach the target. 1 Stirling lost in the sea.

---

34 Hampdens minelaying in Elbe and Heligoland areas, no losses.

34 Hampdens minelaying in Elbe and Heligoland areas, no losses.

---

BREMEN
106 aircraft - 52 Wellingtons, 30 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys - of which 69 claimed good bombing results. 7 aircraft - 4 Wellingtons, 2 Hampdens, 1 Whitley - lost.
HAMBURG
28 aircraft - 13 Stirlings, 7 Wellingtons, 6 Manchesters, 2 Halifaxes. 4 Stirlings and 2 Wellingtons lost. Hamburg reports much damage with 8 people killed, 115 injured and 465 bombed out, also a large fire which completely destroyed a store containing 650 tons of rice and 200 tons of animal foods. 3 bombers were shot down over Hamburg by night fighters and the rice-store fire may have been started by a crashing bomber.
3 Hampdens laid mines in the Frisians without loss.

BREMEN
106 aircraft - 52 Wellingtons, 30 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys - of which 69 claimed good bombing results. 7 aircraft - 4 Wellingtons, 2 Hampdens, 1 Whitley - lost.
HAMBURG
28 aircraft - 13 Stirlings, 7 Wellingtons, 6 Manchesters, 2 Halifaxes. 4 Stirlings and 2 Wellingtons lost. Hamburg reports much damage with 8 people killed, 115 injured and 465 bombed out, also a large fire which completely destroyed a store containing 650 tons of rice and 200 tons of animal foods. 3 bombers were shot down over Hamburg by night fighters and the rice-store fire may have been started by a crashing bomber.
3 Hampdens laid mines in the Frisians without loss.

---

28 Blenheims and 6 Halifaxes on cloud-cover raids to north-west Germany. 17 aircraft bombed at Bremen, Kiel, Norderney and Sylt. 1 Blenheim and 1 Halifax lost. 18 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Pont--Vendin power-station without loss.

THE RUHR
64 aircraft - 32 Wellingtons, 18 Whitleys, 14 Hampdens - to Cologne, Duisburg and DÜSSELDORF. 2 Hampdens and 2 Whitleys lost. No reports of successful bombing.

---

39 Blenheims and 6 Stirlings to various targets, mostly in north-west Germany. Only 6 aircraft bombed. 2 Blenheims and 1 Stirling lost.

---

BREST
52 Wellingtons; good bombing claimed. 2 Wellingtons were lost on this raid and 1 of them is believed to have crashed alongside the Prinz Eugen. A bomb, possibly from the crashing Wellington, struck the Prinz Eugen, exploding inside the ship and causing serious damage. The executive officer and 60 other sailors were killed.
5 Wellingtons to Cherbourg; 1 was shot down by an R.A.F. fighter in Wiltshire.

BREST
52 Wellingtons; good bombing claimed. 2 Wellingtons were lost on this raid and 1 of them is believed to have crashed alongside the Prinz Eugen. A bomb, possibly from the crashing Wellington, struck the Prinz Eugen, exploding inside the ship and causing serious damage. The executive officer and 60 other sailors were killed.
5 Wellingtons to Cherbourg; 1 was shot down by an R.A.F. fighter in Wiltshire.

---

12 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Lille power-station. 2 Blenheims lost.

---

BREMEN
67 aircraft - 57 Wellingtons, 6 Stirlings, 4 Halifaxes. Cloud and haze were encountered but good fires were claimed. 1 Wellington lost.
COLOGNE
33 Whitleys and 9 Wellingtons; haze covered the target. Cologne records only 20 incendiary bombs in the city and no casualties. 1 Wellington lost.
DUISBURG
39 Hampdens; only 18 claimed to have bombed Duisburg. 2 aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Cherbourg, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

BREMEN
67 aircraft - 57 Wellingtons, 6 Stirlings, 4 Halifaxes. Cloud and haze were encountered but good fires were claimed. 1 Wellington lost.
COLOGNE
33 Whitleys and 9 Wellingtons; haze covered the target. Cologne records only 20 incendiary bombs in the city and no casualties. 1 Wellington lost.
DUISBURG
39 Hampdens; only 18 claimed to have bombed Duisburg. 2 aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Cherbourg, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

12 Blenheims on a Circus operation to Hazebrouck. 1 Blenheim lost.

---

ESSEN
61 Wellingtons and 29 Whitleys to Essen, attacking the Krupps armaments works and railway targets. 2 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys lost.
Returning crews reported that bombing was difficult because of thick cloud. Essen reports only light housing damage with 2 people injured, but many bombs fell in the towns of Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg, Hagen and Wuppertal as well as in other places.
BREMEN
39 Hampdens and 29 Wellingtons. Good bombing was claimed despite cloud and haze. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
5 Wellingtons were sent to bomb Gilze-Rijen airfield. No losses.

ESSEN
61 Wellingtons and 29 Whitleys to Essen, attacking the Krupps armaments works and railway targets. 2 Wellingtons and 2 Whitleys lost.
Returning crews reported that bombing was difficult because of thick cloud. Essen reports only light housing damage with 2 people injured, but many bombs fell in the towns of Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg, Hagen and Wuppertal as well as in other places.
BREMEN
39 Hampdens and 29 Wellingtons. Good bombing was claimed despite cloud and haze. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
5 Wellingtons were sent to bomb Gilze-Rijen airfield. No losses.

---

32 Blenheims on various operations.
12 aircraft carried out a determined low-level raid on Bremen despite the lack of any cloud cover; 4 of them were shot down. For his leadership on this raid, Wing Commander Hughie Edwards, the Australian commander of 105 Squadron, was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Other targets attacked by the Blenheims were Norderney and Choques power-station. Total Blenheim losses on this day were 6 aircraft.

---

BREST
65 Wellingtons and 23 Whitleys; smoke-screens prevented accurate bombing of warship targets. 1 Whitley lost.
LORIENT
25 Hampdens and 22 Wellingtons; hits were claimed on the U-boat base in perfect visibility. No aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 4 aircraft to Cherbourg, 2 each to Cologne and Dortmund, 1 each to DÜSSELDORF and Hamborn, 5 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 2 O.T.U. sorties. The 2 Hampdens sent to Dortmund were lost.

---

.
One of only two Oboe squadrons in Bomber Command.
106 SQUADRON
SERVICE
A training squadron on the outbreak of war. Became operational in September 1940 and flew continuously with 5 Group until the end of the war. Equipped with Hampdens, Manchesters and Lancasters; based at Finningly, Coningsby, Syerston and Metheringham.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Hampdens - 106 bombing, 44 minelaying
Manchesters - 19 bombing, 14 minelaying, 3 leaflet
Lancasters - 346 bombing, 24 minelaying, 1 leaflet
Total - 471 bombing, 82 minelaying, 4 leaflet = 557 raids
Sorties and Losses
Hampdens - 1,230 sorties, 55 aircraft lost (4.5 percent)
Manchesters - 151 sorties, 9 aircraft lost (6.0 percent)
Lancasters - 4,364 sorties, 105 aircraft lost (2.4 percent)
Total - 5,745 sorties, 169 aircraft lost (2.9 percent)
18 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Suffered highest percentage losses in Hampden squadrons.
Victoria Cross: Sergeant N. C. Jackson, Schweinfurt,

BREST
65 Wellingtons and 23 Whitleys; smoke-screens prevented accurate bombing of warship targets. 1 Whitley lost.
LORIENT
25 Hampdens and 22 Wellingtons; hits were claimed on the U-boat base in perfect visibility. No aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 4 aircraft to Cherbourg, 2 each to Cologne and Dortmund, 1 each to DÜSSELDORF and Hamborn, 5 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 2 O.T.U. sorties. The 2 Hampdens sent to Dortmund were lost.

---

14 Blenheims on coastal sweeps off the Frisians and Holland, 3 Stirlings, escorted by fighters, to Lille and Abbeville. No losses.

---

MNSTER
65 Wellingtons and 29 Whitleys; 1 Whitley lost. Crews reported a successful raid in good visibility and only light defences from this target, which had not been attacked for 5 months. Mnster reports 21 people killed but no other details.
OSNABRCK
39 Hampdens; good bombing reported. 3 aircraft were lost.
BIELEFELD
33 Wellingtons; good bombing reported, including the gasworks, believed to have blown up. No aircraft losses.
Minor Operations: 13 Halifaxes and 3 Stirlings to Magdeburg, 14 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 7 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 5 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 208 sorties, 3 aircraft (1.4 percent) lost.

MNSTER
65 Wellingtons and 29 Whitleys; 1 Whitley lost. Crews reported a successful raid in good visibility and only light defences from this target, which had not been attacked for 5 months. Mnster reports 21 people killed but no other details.
OSNABRCK
39 Hampdens; good bombing reported. 3 aircraft were lost.
BIELEFELD
33 Wellingtons; good bombing reported, including the gasworks, believed to have blown up. No aircraft losses.
Minor Operations: 13 Halifaxes and 3 Stirlings to Magdeburg, 14 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 7 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 5 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 208 sorties, 3 aircraft (1.4 percent) lost.

---

21 Blenheims on coastal sweeps; 2 lost. 9 Stirlings, escorted by fighters, to Le Trait shipyards and Lille without loss.

---

BREST
88 Hampdens and 21 Wellingtons; smoke-screens concealed the warships. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.
MNSTER
47 Wellingtons; 2 lost. Crews claimed many fires in the target area but Mnster reports only 30 incendiary bombs in the town and no casualties.
DORTMUND
31 Whitleys and 15 Wellingtons. 2 Whitleys lost. Haze was present over the target but fires were claimed.
Minor Operations: 5 Wellingtons to Rotterdam and 2 to Emden, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 215 sorties, 6 aircraft (2.8 percent) lost.

BREST
88 Hampdens and 21 Wellingtons; smoke-screens concealed the warships. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.
MNSTER
47 Wellingtons; 2 lost. Crews claimed many fires in the target area but Mnster reports only 30 incendiary bombs in the town and no casualties.
DORTMUND
31 Whitleys and 15 Wellingtons. 2 Whitleys lost. Haze was present over the target but fires were claimed.
Minor Operations: 5 Wellingtons to Rotterdam and 2 to Emden, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
Total effort for the night: 215 sorties, 6 aircraft (2.8 percent) lost.

---

20 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. Aircraft of 105 and 139 Squadrons made an attack on a convoy off Holland and hit 2 ships but lost 3 aircraft. 8 Stirlings made escorted raids to Northern France without loss.
Operational Statistics, 12/13 March to

---

(117 days/nights)
Number of days with operations: 106
Number of nights with operations: 87
Number of daylight sorties: 2,189, from which 87 aircraft (4.0 percent) were lost
Number of night sorties: 10,532, from which 234 aircraft (2.2 percent) were lost
Total sorties: 12,721, from which 321 aircraft (2.5 percent) were lost
Approximate bomb tonnage in period: 11,849 tons
Averages per 24-hour period: 108.8 sorties, 27 aircraft lost, 101.3 tons of bombs dropped
Official History, Vol. IV, p. 133.
Official History, Vol. 1, pp. 165-6.
Official History, Vol. IV, p. 135.
Some of the details of this raid on Brest and later raids on the German warships come from Scharnhorst and Gneisenau by Richard Garrett, David & Charles, 1978.
Feuersturm ber Hamburg, op. cit. pp. 89-92. As noted earlier, many Hamburg reports come from this source.
Four months to the day after being forced to turn its attention from Germany to help with the war at sea, Bomber Command was released and was free to resume its main task. The danger at sea had receded, temporarily at least, and, because the main strength of both the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe was now deep into Russia, the prospects once again appeared to be favourable for an uninterrupted resumption of the bombing offensive against Germany.
A new directive arrived at Bomber Command Headquarters on

---

COLOGNE
114 Wellingtons; 3 lost. Crews reported perfect weather and good bombing. Cologne reports its heaviest raid in 1941 with much damage in the centre and in the eastern areas of the city. There were 300 individual damage locations with 174 fires of which 62 were classed as large. The Maria Himmelfahrt church was burnt out, 3 railway lines were completely cut. 138 dwellings were destroyed and 7 industrial buildings badly damaged. Personnel casualties were: 45 killed, 114 injured and 5,450 bombed out.
OSNABRCK
54 Whitleys and 18 Wellingtons; 3 Whitleys lost. Good bombing of railway yards claimed. Osnabrck reports bombing in the south-western suburbs with no casualties and 3 buildings damaged but no mention of railway damage.
MNSTER
49 Wellingtons; 3 lost. The only report from Mnster says many bombs in the town and 9 people killed.
MNCHENGLADBACH
40 Hampdens; 2 lost.
Minor Operations: 14 Halifaxes and 3 Stirlings to Frankfurt, 5 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Halifax lost.
Total effort for the night: 301 sorties, 12 aircraft (4.0 percent) lost.
Sergeant J. A. Ward, a New Zealand second pilot in a 75 Squadron Wellington, was awarded the Victoria Cross for an action on this night. His aircraft was damaged by a night-fighter attack while returning from Mnster and a fire broke out near the starboard engine. Sergeant Ward climbed out on to the wing, making holes in the canvas covering of the geodetic framework of the aircraft to obtain hand- and footholds. He was able to beat out sufficient of the fire to enable the Wellington to return to England.

---

by climbing out on to the wing of his aircraft to put out a fire. Sergeant Ward was killed when his Wellington was shot down on the Hamburg raid; his grave is in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission plot in Hamburg's main cemetery.

---

; later killed in action on a raid to Hamburg on

COLOGNE
114 Wellingtons; 3 lost. Crews reported perfect weather and good bombing. Cologne reports its heaviest raid in 1941 with much damage in the centre and in the eastern areas of the city. There were 300 individual damage locations with 174 fires of which 62 were classed as large. The Maria Himmelfahrt church was burnt out, 3 railway lines were completely cut. 138 dwellings were destroyed and 7 industrial buildings badly damaged. Personnel casualties were: 45 killed, 114 injured and 5,450 bombed out.
OSNABRCK
54 Whitleys and 18 Wellingtons; 3 Whitleys lost. Good bombing of railway yards claimed. Osnabrck reports bombing in the south-western suburbs with no casualties and 3 buildings damaged but no mention of railway damage.
MNSTER
49 Wellingtons; 3 lost. The only report from Mnster says many bombs in the town and 9 people killed.
MNCHENGLADBACH
40 Hampdens; 2 lost.
Minor Operations: 14 Halifaxes and 3 Stirlings to Frankfurt, 5 Wellingtons to Boulogne, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Halifax lost.
Total effort for the night: 301 sorties, 12 aircraft (4.0 percent) lost.
Sergeant J. A. Ward, a New Zealand second pilot in a 75 Squadron Wellington, was awarded the Victoria Cross for an action on this night. His aircraft was damaged by a night-fighter attack while returning from Mnster and a fire broke out near the starboard engine. Sergeant Ward climbed out on to the wing, making holes in the canvas covering of the geodetic framework of the aircraft to obtain hand- and footholds. He was able to beat out sufficient of the fire to enable the Wellington to return to England.

---

11 Blenheims on coastal sweep off Denmark and to targets in Northern France; 1 aircraft lost.
90 Squadron made the first raid of the war using Fortresses when 3 aircraft of this type were sent to bomb Wilhelmshaven. 2 aircraft were able to bomb; all returned safely. Wilhelmshaven reports accurate bombing of the dock area and of a post office which was completely destroyed. 14 people were killed and 25 injured.

---

HAMM
45 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys; only 31 aircraft were able to bomb in the target area. 4 Whitleys and 3 Hampdens lost.
MNSTER
51 Wellingtons; 1 lost. Large fires were claimed in the railway-station area. Mnster recorded 15 people killed.
BIELEFELD
33 Wellingtons to attack a power-station. No losses.
MERSEBURG
13 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling to the Leuna oil plant. 1 Halifax lost.

---

by climbing out on to the wing of his aircraft to put out a fire. Sergeant Ward was killed when his Wellington was shot down on the Hamburg raid; his grave is in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission plot in Hamburg's main cemetery.

---

; later killed in action on a raid to Hamburg on

. It opened thus:
Sir,
I am directed to inform you that a comprehensive review of the enemy's present political, economic and military situation discloses that the weakest points in his armour lie in the morale of the civil population and in his inland transportation system. The wide extension of his military activities is placing an ever-increasing strain on the German transportation system and there are many signs that our recent attacks on industrial towns are having great effect on the morale of the civil population.
2 … I am to request that you will direct the main effort of the bomber force, until further instructions, towards dislocating the German transportation system and to destroying the morale of the civil population as a whole and of the industrial workers in particular.
There was no mention of oil; it was finally realized that Bomber Command did not have the ability to make any impression on Germany's oil supplies at this stage of the war. The directive went on to list specific targets for attack. During the moon period of each month, the bombers were to be sent to a ring of targets around the Ruhr - Hamm, Osnabrck, Soest, Schwerte, Cologne, Duisburg and DÜSSELDORF - the destruction of whose railway installations should isolate the Ruhr and prevent war materials being moved from that large industrial area to Germany's fighting fronts. Inland waterway targets were also listed. On nights with no moon, the bombers were directed to attack the general city areas of Cologne, DÜSSELDORF and Duisburg which, all being situated on the distinctive Rhine, should be the easiest targets to find on dark nights. When the weather was unfavourable for raids on the Rhine city areas, more distant targets were listed for general attack: Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Stuttgart. This directive would remain in force for the remainder of the summer and well into the autumn. The only minor diversion from raids on Germany was the requirement to pay occasional visits to U-boat bases in France and to the German warships in Brest harbour.
Although Sir Richard Peirse now had a reasonably clear run in what could be expected to be good flying weather, his force was still showing no increase in strength. The creation of new squadrons was still matched by the removal of squadrons for duty elsewhere. The new types of aircraft recently brought into service - Manchesters, Stirlings and Halifaxes - were meeting many technical problems when introduced to operational life and the combined numbers of these available during the coming period would never reach fifty aircraft. The main strength for night raids would continue to be provided by the Wellingtons, Whitleys and Hampdens, which had served so stoutly for what would soon be two years of war. The first Australian squadron to serve in Bomber Command commenced operations in August; this was 455 Squadron flying Hampdens from Swinderby. An interesting new aircraft about to appear as a high-altitude day bomber was the American-built B-17, the Flying Fortress. The only command change was the departure on 26 July of Air Vice-Marshal A. Coningham, who had commanded 4 Group since before the outbreak of war, for a position in the Middle East in which he would prove very successful. He was replaced by Air Vice-Marshal C. R. Carr, a New Zealander who would command 4 Group until almost the end of the war.
The new period got off to a good start with intensive operations to inland German targets and, although there was some slackening because of periods of unfavourable weather, particularly in August and October, the tonnage of bombs dropped was greater than in any previous period of the war. The pattern of recent months, with larger forces being dispatched in the moon period of each month and smaller raids to lower-priority targets on the darker nights, was continued. Most of the midsummer raids had to be confined to the Ruhr and Rhineland areas because of the shorter nights, but the bombers started to reach out to more distant targets as the nights lengthened. In this way, Italian cities appeared on the target lists again in the autumn. German reports will continue to illustrate the poor bombing results during this period. When a local expert in Cologne, Erich Quadflieg, was asked about a series of raids in 1941 which produced only a few bombs in Cologne, or sometimes even none, he was surprised to hear that 80 or 90 or even more than 100 bombers had been dispatched. The Cologne people had reckoned the true numbers to be three to five aircraft, with the larger numbers quoted in Britain's wartime newspapers being 'Churchill's propaganda'.
But, if the effort and the bomb tonnage increased, so did Bomber Command's casualties. The German night fighters were at last becoming established. Although much of the Luftwaffe departed to Russia, the growing night-fighter force remained; a German return shows 134 twin-engined night fighters with trained crews available in the West on

---

HAMM
45 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys; only 31 aircraft were able to bomb in the target area. 4 Whitleys and 3 Hampdens lost.
MNSTER
51 Wellingtons; 1 lost. Large fires were claimed in the railway-station area. Mnster recorded 15 people killed.
BIELEFELD
33 Wellingtons to attack a power-station. No losses.
MERSEBURG
13 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling to the Leuna oil plant. 1 Halifax lost.

---

15 Blenheims on uneventful sweep off the Frisians. 3 Stirlings to Mazingarbe; 1 lost.

---

AACHEN
82 aircraft - 39 Hampdens, 27 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons - on general area attack. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
This was the first large raid on Aachen and the town was heavily bombed with many hits in the central areas. Property damage is listed as follows: 91 commercial premises hit of which 19 were destroyed; 1,698 houses (possibly housing units' in apartment blocks) destroyed or seriously damaged; the cathedral, the town hall and 2 hospitals were seriously damaged and 2 other churches were hit. Personnel casualties: 60 killed, 85 civilians and 21 air-raid workers injured, 3,450 people bombed out.
OSNABRCK
57 Wellingtons; 2 lost. Crews report 'Bursts in target area; several fires', but local reports show that no bombs fell in Osnabrck, only a few in two nearby villages - Holte and Georgsmarienhutte - with 1 person killed and 1 injured.
1 Wellington bombed Le Havre and returned safely.

AACHEN
82 aircraft - 39 Hampdens, 27 Whitleys, 16 Wellingtons - on general area attack. 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
This was the first large raid on Aachen and the town was heavily bombed with many hits in the central areas. Property damage is listed as follows: 91 commercial premises hit of which 19 were destroyed; 1,698 houses (possibly housing units' in apartment blocks) destroyed or seriously damaged; the cathedral, the town hall and 2 hospitals were seriously damaged and 2 other churches were hit. Personnel casualties: 60 killed, 85 civilians and 21 air-raid workers injured, 3,450 people bombed out.
OSNABRCK
57 Wellingtons; 2 lost. Crews report 'Bursts in target area; several fires', but local reports show that no bombs fell in Osnabrck, only a few in two nearby villages - Holte and Georgsmarienhutte - with 1 person killed and 1 injured.
1 Wellington bombed Le Havre and returned safely.

---

24 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from Le Havre to Cherbourg. Many aircraft attacked ships and land targets. 1 Blenheim was lost.
3 Stirlings to Chocques power-station in France. 1 aircraft lost, possibly shot down by an R.A.F. fighter (reports conflict).

---

COLOGNE
98 Wellingtons and 32 Hampdens to two aiming points in the city centre and to the Humboldt works. Bad weather prevented an accurate attack and only 62 aircraft reported bombing in the Cologne area. Cologne reports only 3 high-explosive and 300 incendiary bombs, a few buildings lightly damaged and 1 person injured. 2 Wellingtons lost.
2 Wellingtons bombed Boulogne docks without loss.

COLOGNE
98 Wellingtons and 32 Hampdens to two aiming points in the city centre and to the Humboldt works. Bad weather prevented an accurate attack and only 62 aircraft reported bombing in the Cologne area. Cologne reports only 3 high-explosive and 300 incendiary bombs, a few buildings lightly damaged and 1 person injured. 2 Wellingtons lost.
2 Wellingtons bombed Boulogne docks without loss.

---

6 Stirlings to Le Trait shipyard and Hazebrouck. No losses.
10. The first of the four-engined bombers, Stirlings of 7 Squadron at Oakington. The aircraft in the foreground was lost on the Thousand-Bomber Raid to Bremen on

---

WILHELMSHAVEN
36 Hampdens; good bombing results were claimed with no aircraft lost. Wilhelmshaven reports most of the bombs fell in open ground around the city and in the harbour. 1 fishing vessel was damaged and 1 barrack hut burnt down. 2 people were killed.

WILHELMSHAVEN
36 Hampdens; good bombing results were claimed with no aircraft lost. Wilhelmshaven reports most of the bombs fell in open ground around the city and in the harbour. 1 fishing vessel was damaged and 1 barrack hut burnt down. 2 people were killed.

---

38 Blenheims on sweeps off Dutch coast. Several attacks were made on ships. 1 aircraft lost.
3 Stirlings to Arques 'ship-lift' near St-Omer but most bombs missed the target and fell in the village. No aircraft lost.
11. The tail gunner in a Stirling with his four 0.303-inch machine guns, the standard defensive weapons of the wartime bombers. Just visible above the gunner's head are three spare bulbs for the reflector gun-sight. In a Stirling, the tail gunner was nearly eighty feet behind the pilot!

---

BREMEN
33 Hampdens and 28 Wellingtons; 2 Hampdens lost.

BREMEN
33 Hampdens and 28 Wellingtons; 2 Hampdens lost.

---

GERMAN PORTS
69 Wellingtons, 47 to Bremen, 20 to Vegesack and 2 to Emden. All forces encountered thick cloud and icing. 16 aircraft claimed to have bombed at Bremen, 1 at Vegesack but none at Emden. 2 aircraft were lost from the Bremen force.

GERMAN PORTS
69 Wellingtons, 47 to Bremen, 20 to Vegesack and 2 to Emden. All forces encountered thick cloud and icing. 16 aircraft claimed to have bombed at Bremen, 1 at Vegesack but none at Emden. 2 aircraft were lost from the Bremen force.

---

29 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from Cherbourg to Holland and to Hazebrouck railway yards. Many targets were attacked. 2 aircraft lost.
One of the Blenheims lost on this day was, according to our calculations, the 1,000th Bomber Command aircraft lost so far in the Second World War. Of these losses, 328 had occurred during day operations and 672 by night. The casualty rate by day so far in the war - 4.2 percent - was exactly double the 2.1 percent of the night casualty rate. A total of 40,346 sorties had been flown, 7,737 by day and 32,609 by night. Approximately 28,642 tons of bombs had been dropped since the beginning of the war.

---

BREMEN
78 Wellingtons and 19 Whitleys to 3 aiming points, the shipyards, the goods station and the Altstadt. Crews reported 'the whole town was ablaze'. 4 Wellingtons lost.
HANNOVER
85 aircraft - 44 Hampdens, 21 Wellingtons, 14 Halifaxes, 6 Stirlings - to a rubber factory and the city centre. Many fires were observed. 2 Wellingtons lost.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 10 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians and Elbe. No losses.

BREMEN
78 Wellingtons and 19 Whitleys to 3 aiming points, the shipyards, the goods station and the Altstadt. Crews reported 'the whole town was ablaze'. 4 Wellingtons lost.
HANNOVER
85 aircraft - 44 Hampdens, 21 Wellingtons, 14 Halifaxes, 6 Stirlings - to a rubber factory and the city centre. Many fires were observed. 2 Wellingtons lost.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 10 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians and Elbe. No losses.

---

DUISBURG
38 Wellingtons; bombing was difficult because of cloud and Flak. 4 aircraft lost.

DUISBURG
38 Wellingtons; bombing was difficult because of cloud and Flak. 4 aircraft lost.

---

ROTTERDAM
36 Blenheims in low-level attacks on shipping in the docks. Dutch reports later told of 22 ships being damaged in this raid. 4 Blenheims were shot down by the intense Flak. 5 further Blenheims carried out sweeps off the Dutch coast without loss.

---

HAMBURG
107 aircraft - 51 Wellingtons, 32 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys - encountered bad visibility. 52 aircraft reported bombing in the general area of Hamburg; 52 aircraft bombed alternative targets. 3 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
Hamburg reports 4 fires - none large, no major damage area, only 1 person injured but 154 bombed out.
Minor Operations: 9 aircraft to Boulogne but the target was cloud-covered and only 3 aircraft bombed, 5 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

HAMBURG
107 aircraft - 51 Wellingtons, 32 Hampdens, 24 Whitleys - encountered bad visibility. 52 aircraft reported bombing in the general area of Hamburg; 52 aircraft bombed alternative targets. 3 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden lost.
Hamburg reports 4 fires - none large, no major damage area, only 1 person injured but 154 bombed out.
Minor Operations: 9 aircraft to Boulogne but the target was cloud-covered and only 3 aircraft bombed, 5 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

COLOGNE
50 Wellingtons and 25 Hampdens; claimed to have caused many fires. No aircraft lost. Cologne reports only 68 bombs of all types, no serious damage and no casualties.
5 Wellingtons sent to Rotterdam were unable to locate the target and 1 was shot down in England by an Intruder.

COLOGNE
50 Wellingtons and 25 Hampdens; claimed to have caused many fires. No aircraft lost. Cologne reports only 68 bombs of all types, no serious damage and no casualties.
5 Wellingtons sent to Rotterdam were unable to locate the target and 1 was shot down in England by an Intruder.

---

5 Stirlings on cloud-cover raids to Holland and Germany turned back; 1 aircraft was lost in the sea. 3 Blenheims operating the Channel Stop attacked ships near Gravelines and scored hits but all 3 aircraft were shot down. Losses on this day were thus 50 percent.

21 Blenheims on coastal sweeps from Belgium to the Frisians. Ships were attacked and some set on fire. 2 aircraft lost. 3 Stirlings on an escorted raid to Lille power-station; 1 Stirling lost.

---

HANNOVER
49 aircraft - 20 Whitleys, 17 Wellingtons, 12 Hampdens - with the main railway station as aiming point. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.
35 Hampdens on minelaying operation in mouths of the Elbe and Weser rivers. No losses.

HANNOVER
49 aircraft - 20 Whitleys, 17 Wellingtons, 12 Hampdens - with the main railway station as aiming point. 1 Wellington and 1 Whitley lost.
35 Hampdens on minelaying operation in mouths of the Elbe and Weser rivers. No losses.

---

12 Blenheims on a coastal sweep off French coast. 1 ship was hit. 2 Blenheims lost. 3 Stirlings on a raid to Hazebrouck turned back.

---

COLOGNE
113 aircraft - 46 Wellingtons, 39 Hampdens, 25 Whitleys, 3 Stirlings - to attack railway targets but thick cloud resulted in scattered bombing. Cologne reports only minor damage and 3 people killed.
Minor Operations: 15 Wellingtons and 9 Whitleys to Rotterdam caused fires in the dock area, 9 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no aircraft losses from any operation on this night.

COLOGNE
113 aircraft - 46 Wellingtons, 39 Hampdens, 25 Whitleys, 3 Stirlings - to attack railway targets but thick cloud resulted in scattered bombing. Cologne reports only minor damage and 3 people killed.
Minor Operations: 15 Wellingtons and 9 Whitleys to Rotterdam caused fires in the dock area, 9 O.T.U. sorties.
There were no aircraft losses from any operation on this night.

---

13 Blenheims on coastal sweeps and shallow raids into France. No losses.

---

FRANKFURT
37 Wellingtons and 34 Hampdens on the first large raid against this target. No aircraft lost.
Frankfurt does not record this as a significant raid, merely mentioning 'bomb explosions' in its records, but Darmstadt, 15 miles away, suffered 15 buildings hit and 16 people killed.
MANNHEIM
36 Wellingtons and 8 Halifaxes; the centre of the town as the aiming point. 1 Wellington lost.
Mannheim reports only 4 high-explosive bombs - of which 1 was a dud - and 17 flares or incendiary bombs in the city and in nearby Ludwigshafen. 3 of the bombs fell in a Flak position but damage and casualties are not recorded.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Cherbourg, 2 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 1 O.T.U. sortie. No losses.

FRANKFURT
37 Wellingtons and 34 Hampdens on the first large raid against this target. No aircraft lost.
Frankfurt does not record this as a significant raid, merely mentioning 'bomb explosions' in its records, but Darmstadt, 15 miles away, suffered 15 buildings hit and 16 people killed.
MANNHEIM
36 Wellingtons and 8 Halifaxes; the centre of the town as the aiming point. 1 Wellington lost.
Mannheim reports only 4 high-explosive bombs - of which 1 was a dud - and 17 flares or incendiary bombs in the city and in nearby Ludwigshafen. 3 of the bombs fell in a Flak position but damage and casualties are not recorded.
Minor Operations: 6 Wellingtons to Cherbourg, 2 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 1 O.T.U. sortie. No losses.

---

6 Blenheims to Le Trait shipyards and 6 on a sweep off the French coast. No Blenheim losses.

---

FRANKFURT
63 aircraft - 34 Hampdens, 16 Whitleys, 13 Wellingtons. No losses.
MANNHEIM
29 Wellingtons. No losses.
Minor Operations: 19 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Dunkirk, 5 Hampdens minelaying off Brest, 5 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

FRANKFURT
63 aircraft - 34 Hampdens, 16 Whitleys, 13 Wellingtons. No losses.
MANNHEIM
29 Wellingtons. No losses.
Minor Operations: 19 Wellingtons and Whitleys to Dunkirk, 5 Hampdens minelaying off Brest, 5 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

17 Blenheims on coastal operations; ships were attacked and set on fire but 6 Blenheims were lost. 12 further Blenheims on raids to Northern France; no losses.
There was an important development on this day in the continuing bombing campaign against the three German warships - Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen - sheltering in Brest. The Scharnhorst had not been hit in any recent bombing and the Germans had moved her stealthily to La Pallice, a small port more than 200 miles further south. A large tanker covered with camouflage netting was left in the Scharnhorst's old berth at Brest. Scharnhorst was spotted by reconnaissance aircraft at La Pallice on 23 July. It was important to attack this powerful ship at once in case she was preparing for another Atlantic shipping foray. A formation of 6 Stirlings made the first attack on the evening of this day. 1 Stirling was shot down by German fighters.

---

MANNHEIM
51 Wellingtons; haze obscured the target. No aircraft lost.
Mannheim reports only 17 high-explosive bombs and an unknown number of incendiary bombs, the only damage recorded being to a water main, broken glass and roof tiles in 12 houses, and crops damaged in some fields of cereals and tobacco. The only casualties recorded are 3 people killed in a village some distance from Mannheim.
FRANKFURT
33 Hampdens; visibility was poor. 1 aircraft lost.
LA PALLICE
30 Whitleys, Bomb bursts were seen in the dock area. No losses.
Minor Operations: 8 Wellingtons to Le Havre and Ostend, 1 Hampden minelaying in the Frisians, 3 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

MANNHEIM
51 Wellingtons; haze obscured the target. No aircraft lost.
Mannheim reports only 17 high-explosive bombs and an unknown number of incendiary bombs, the only damage recorded being to a water main, broken glass and roof tiles in 12 houses, and crops damaged in some fields of cereals and tobacco. The only casualties recorded are 3 people killed in a village some distance from Mannheim.
FRANKFURT
33 Hampdens; visibility was poor. 1 aircraft lost.
LA PALLICE
30 Whitleys, Bomb bursts were seen in the dock area. No losses.
Minor Operations: 8 Wellingtons to Le Havre and Ostend, 1 Hampden minelaying in the Frisians, 3 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

---

BREST
A major daylight operation against the German warships at Brest had been under preparation for some time. The original plan was to send approximately 150 aircraft but this had to be changed at the last minute because of the departure of the Scharnhorst for La Pallice. The force actually dispatched to Brest was 100 aircraft and the tactical plan was as follows:
1.
3 Fortresses bombing from 30,000 ft would, it was hoped, draw up German fighters prematurely.
2.
18 Hampdens, escorted by 3 squadrons of Spitfires with long-range fuel tanks, would complete the process of 'drawing-up' of the fighters.
3.
The main bombing force of 79 Wellingtons, provided by 1 and 3 Groups, would then attack. No fighter escort was available for the Wellingtons.
The operation proceeded according to this plan in clear visibility. 6 hits were claimed on the Gneisenau but these cannot be confirmed. The German fighter opposition was stronger and more prolonged than expected and 10 Wellingtons and 2 Hampdens were lost to fighter attack or Flak.
CHERBOURG
As a diversion for the Brest raid, 36 Blenheims in several waves and all escorted by Spitfires, attacked Cherbourg docks with good bombing results but the diversionary aspect of the plan failed. No German fighters appeared. No Blenheims lost.
LA PALLICE
15 Halifaxes of 35 and 76 Squadrons carried out an entirely unescorted raid on the Scharnhorst at La Pallice. The Halifaxes met fierce fighter opposition and some Flak; 5 were lost and all the remainder damaged. 5 direct hits were scored on the Scharnhorst but 3 of these were armour-piercing bombs which passed straight through the ship, leaving small holes in the bottom only, and the 2 bombs which did explode caused only light damage. The Germans decided, however, that Scharnhorst should return at once for the better repair facilities and Flak cover at Brest and she sailed that night with much water inside the ship (reports vary between 3,000 and 7,000 tons of water). This operation was, therefore, a major success in that it ensured that this powerful warship was forced to stay in harbour for a further prolonged period, 4 months being required for repairs.
The total effort for the day: 151 sorties with 17 aircraft (11.3 percent) lost.

---

KIEL
34 Wellingtons and 30 Hampdens; 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost. Kiel reports only a few bombs with 2 people injured but 5 people were killed in the nearby village of Wellsee.
EMDEN
31 Whitleys and 16 Wellingtons; 2 Wellingtons lost.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 6 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians. No losses.

KIEL
34 Wellingtons and 30 Hampdens; 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost. Kiel reports only a few bombs with 2 people injured but 5 people were killed in the nearby village of Wellsee.
EMDEN
31 Whitleys and 16 Wellingtons; 2 Wellingtons lost.
Minor Operations: 4 Wellingtons to Rotterdam, 6 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians. No losses.

---

HANNOVER
30 Hampdens and 25 Whitleys; bombing results were not observed. 4 Whitleys and 1 Hampden lost.
HAMBURG
43 Wellingtons; 2 lost. Fires in the city and shipyards were claimed. Hamburg reports 4 large fires, 1 person killed and 6 injured with no particularly remarkable incidents.
Minor Operations: 7 Stirlings and 2 Halifaxes to Berlin of which 2 Stirlings and 1 Halifax were lost. 2 Wellingtons to Emden.
Total losses for this night: 10 aircraft out of 109 dispatched (9.2 percent).

, most of them being based in Holland. The early night-fighting technique had been for their pilots to attempt to find the R.A.F. bombers in the beams of searchlights over the target cities. This had rarely proved successful because of the German Flak barrages. The commander of the German night fighters, General Josef Kammhuber, then established a continuous belt of searchlights behind the coast, barring the way to the main bomber targets. The night fighters could thus hunt the bombers free from the danger of Flak. This move brought little improvement, however; the bombers were usually through the belt of searchlights before the German fighters could complete their interceptions. More technology was required. During 1941, Kammhuber was able to establish along the coast a chain of radar 'boxes', areas of sky in which fighters could be controlled from ground stations on to individual bombers passing through the boxes. If the fighter had not completed his interception before reaching the limits of the radar box, it could continue the chase into the searchlight belt which was situated as the next line of defence. The German fighters were next fitted with airborne radar sets and then their chances of successful interception really increased. These developments were now mostly complete. For most of the war to date, the rate of loss for night bombers had remained at a little below 2 percent. The coming period would show a sharp rise and it was the German night-fighter force, particularly the units stationed in Holland, which was responsible for this.
Turning to daylight operations, the recently increased use of 2 Group's Blenheims in low-level attacks on shipping off the coasts of Europe, the costly Channel Stop, and the controversial fighter-escorted Circuses all continued. Attempts to raid inland targets in the expectation that the Germans had not left sufficient day fighters to defend the West produced heavy casualties. Similar attempts to breach the daylight defences by using small forces of the new four-engined bombers brought the same result. The tactical rules of daylight bombing remained unchanged. Unescorted bombers could not survive on any penetration in clear weather.

---

HANNOVER
30 Hampdens and 25 Whitleys; bombing results were not observed. 4 Whitleys and 1 Hampden lost.
HAMBURG
43 Wellingtons; 2 lost. Fires in the city and shipyards were claimed. Hamburg reports 4 large fires, 1 person killed and 6 injured with no particularly remarkable incidents.
Minor Operations: 7 Stirlings and 2 Halifaxes to Berlin of which 2 Stirlings and 1 Halifax were lost. 2 Wellingtons to Emden.
Total losses for this night: 10 aircraft out of 109 dispatched (9.2 percent).

---

2 Fortresses to Hamburg encountered thunderstorms and icing. 1 of the Fortresses bombed Emden. There were no losses.