He flew with a Fairey Battle (type I, serial L5541, code JN-).
June
With the German Blitzkrieg in full flow, British forces were forced onto the retreat. This culminated in the epic evacuation of Dunkirk during the period 26 May - 3 June. Bomber Command aircraft supported ground troops surrounded at Dunkirk with day and night-time operations but the crews were hampered by poor weather and as a result could not always complete their briefed missions. During the Battle of France, the Blenheims of No 2 Group flew 956 sorties and lost 57 aircraft - the equivalent of 4 complete squadrons. With the inevitable entry of Italy into the war, a special force ('Haddock Force') is created in preparation for immediate attacks on that country. Two squadrons of Wellingtons from Nos 99 and 149 were detached to airfields near Marseilles in the south of France and were ready for operations from the 11th of June. There were, however, strong objections about the use of the Wellingtons from the local French civilian and military authorities who feared a reprisal attack from the Germans - one which they felt they could not defend. Despite assurances from the RAF commander (again, it was Air Marshal Barratt) that the planned attacks had the full support of the French Government, the locals protested. It was left to Prime Minister Churchill to contact the French Premier, Reynaud, who confirmed his support. But this failed to convince the authorities in the south. That night, as the aircraft began their take-off run, French soldiers positioned themselves on the runway under orders to stop the British aircraft from leaving. Despite negotiations between senior British and French commanders to allow the raids, 'Haddock Force' was disbanded and returned home the following day. During the night of 11th/12th, the first Bomber Command raids on Italy did occur when 36 Whitleys were ordered to attack industrial targets in Turin. After refuelling the in the Channel Isles the aircraft set of for Italy, but 23 encountered problems over the Alps and turned back. In the end, only 9 aircraft reached Turin, and most bombed railway yards. Two other aircraft bombed Genoa.
Daylights raids for the Blenheims concentrated on airfields in occupied countries with occasional forays into Germany. Night operations were mounted by Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys against widespread targets in Germany and airfields in Holland and France. The Hampdens concentrated on Gardening sorties. Poor weather hampered all operations and many planned attacks were aborted by the crews en-route to their targets.
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