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CopyrightChrisWard2012

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ForewordandAcknowledgementsAsalwaysinmybooksIhaveattemptedtoprovideasmuchdetailaspossibleinthenarrativesection.Thereisinsufficientspacetomakementionofeverylossofanaircraftand/orcrew,andIhave,therefore,featuredparticularsquadronsasbeingrepresentativeofthefortunesofallwithintheGroupoperatingthesameaircrafttypeatthesametime.

IwouldliketoregistermygratitudetothearchivistsinthecollectionsdepartmentattheYorkshireAirMuseumatElvington,BillandMarkNapierandJohnLarder,forselectingandprocessingphotographsforthispublicationandforansweringqueries.Unlessotherwisestatedthephotographsarefromthissource.

AsalwaysIamindebtedtomygoodfriend,AndreasWachtel,forprovidingphotographsofsomeoftheBomberCommandcrewmenwhoseremainsrestinDenBurgCemeteryonTexel.ThebackgroundinformationontheseandtheLuftwaffepilotsinvolvedintheirdemiseresultsfromAndreassexhaustiveresearch.AndreasisalsoresponsibleforbringingtogethertheinformationonthecrewofJohnWilsontowhomthisbookisdedicated.Thedetailsoftheirfinalflightaredescribedintheappropriatesectionofthispublication.

ChrisWard.Lutterworth,May2012.

ThisbookisdedicatedtoJamesHopkinsandtheothersevenoccupantsof77SquadronHalifaxJD413KN-G,whichcrashedinGermanyonthewayhomefromBerlinintheearlyhoursof1September1943.

FlightLieutenantJ.L.Wilson pilot KIA

FlightSergeantR.W.Barlow secondpilot KIA

SergeantJ.F.Hopkins flightengineer PoW

FlightSergeantJ.J.Leicester navigator PoW

SergeantR.A.Sims bomb-aimer KIA

SergeantE.J.Wilson wirelessoperator DoI

SergeantJ.A.Baxter mid-uppergunner KIA

PilotOfficerK.G.Sheward reargunner KIA

TableofContentsTitlePageCopyrightPageForewordandAcknowledgementsDedicationGeneralNotesCHAPTERONE-AWorldWarIIOperationalRecordCHAPTERTWO-QuickReferenceCHAPTERTHREE-TheSquadronsAbbreviationsBibliographyOtherTitlesbyChrisWard

GeneralNotesThisprofileisareferenceworkontheactivitiesofthesquadronduringWorldWarII.BomberCommandoperatedexclusivelyfromstationsintheUK,andusedoverseasbasespurelyforshuttleoperations,orasadvancedstagingpostsforspecificpurposes.Forthisreason,periodsspentondetachmentorpermanentpostingstooverseasCommandsdonotfallwithinthescopeofthiswork.

Thisprofileisnotintendedtoserveasacomprehensivesquadronhistory,buttoprovideasmuchinformationaspossibleinanon-anecdotalform.ThebriefhistorynarrativeisbasicallyanaccountofBomberCommandswar,withtheindividualsquadronsinvolvementinterwovenintoit.ThepublicationslistedintheBibliographyarenotonlyrecommendedreading,butrepresentthebestavailablesourcesofinformationforseriousstudentsofthesubject.TheoperationalrecordisbasedalmostentirelyonthefiguresprovidedintheBomberCommandWarDiariesbyMartinMiddlebrookandChrisEveritt,andIamindebtedtoMartinMiddlebrookforallowingmetousethem.

AnaircraftisincludedinChapter3ifa)itspenttimeonsquadroncharge,nomatterhowbriefly,andirrespectivelyofwhetherornotitoperated;orb)thetypewasusedoperationallybythesquadron.Informationisrestrictedinmostcasestowherefromandwhereto,unlessitcompleteditsservicewiththesquadron,inwhichcasesomedetailofitsdemiseappears.Aircraftwhichfailedtoreturnhavethedateandtargetrecorded.WherenoinformationfollowstheserialnumberofatypestillinusewhenthesquadrondepartedBomberCommandoratwarsend,itcanbeassumedthattheaircraftwasstillonsquadronstrength.However,wherethereisablankspacefollowingtheserialnumberofatypewhichhasbeenwithdrawnfromservicewithBomberCommand,itsignifiesthatIdontknowitsultimatefate.Anabsenceofinformationdoesnotimplythattheaircraftflewnooperationsduringitstimewiththesquadron.

Finally,informationhasbeendrawnfromavarietyofsources,rangingfromRecordsBranchtoindividualswithsquadronconnections,andIamgratefulfortheircontributions.TherewillinevitablybeerrorsandomissionswhendealingwithasubjectasvastasBomberCommand,andIamhappytobecorrectedand/orupdatedbyreaders.

CHAPTERONEAWorldWarIIOperationalRecord4GroupBomberCommandwasbornoutoftheexpansionprogrammepromptedbyeventsinEuropeduringthethirties.ItwasformedatMildenhallon1April1937astheoffspringof3Group,andthefutureBomberCommandchief,AirCommodoreA.T.Harris,wasinstalledasitsfirstAir-Officer-Commandingon12June.BytheendofthemonththeGroupHeadquartershadmovedfromSuffolktotakeupresidenceatLinton-on-OuseinYorkshire,thecountywithwhichtheGroupwouldforeverafterbeassociated.ThestationsatLeconfield,Driffield,DishforthandFinningleywerebroughtintothefoldalongwiththeirresidentunits,respectively,97&166Squadrons,75&215Squadrons,10&78Squadrons,7&76Squadronsand51&58Squadrons,thelasttwomentionedactuallylocatedatBoscombeDownwhileconstructionworkwasinprogressatLinton-on-Ouse.TheGroupinheritedavarietyofaircraft,Heyfords,Whitleys,Virginias,WellesleysandAnsons,whichreflectedtheoperationalandtrainingrolesofthesquadrons.ApartfromtheWhitleyMkI,whichequipped10Squadrononly,theremainingtypeswereobsolete.78and58Squadronswerenexttore-equip,andthusaccountedforthefullmeagreproductionrunofalittleoverthirtymachinesoftheMkI.

Whenwarcameon3September1939,thesquadronsof4Groupalonehadthenecessarytrainingandexperienceinnight-flyingtoventuredeepintohostileterritory,therestoftheCommandhavingbeentrainedfordaylightoperationsinlinewiththetheoryoftheinviolabilityoftheself-defendingbomberformation.Fivesquadrons,10,51,58,77and102weredeclaredoperationalimmediately,while78SquadronwasheldinreserveasaGrouppooltrainingunittofeedfreshcrewsintotheline.10Squadron,knownasShinyTen,wasstillstationedatDishforthandwasunderthecommandofW/CStaton,aWorldWarIpilotinhisearlyforties.51SquadronwascommandedbyW/CSilvesterandresidedatLinton-on-Ouse,astationwhichitsharedwith58SquadronunderW/CPotter.77and102Squadrons,meanwhile,occupiedDriffieldunderthecommandofW/CsBradburyandToogoodrespectively.78SquadronwasthefirsttoreceivetheWhitleyMkV,anddidsoduringSeptember1939.UnderthecommandofW/CHarrison,whohadbeeninpostsinceMarch1937,78SquadronmovedtoTernhillon1Septemberaspartofthescatterarrangement,butreturnedtemporarilytoDishforthonthe15th,whereitsharedthefacilitieswith10Squadron.Onthefirstnightofhostilities,the3/4th,three51SquadronWhitleysandsevenfrom58Squadronwereloadedwithmorethan5millionpropagandaleafletswhichweretobedispensedoverHamburgandBremeninGermanysnorth,andninecitiesintheRuhr.Therewerenolossestotheenemydefences,butthreeoftheWhitleyslandedinFrance,amongthem58SquadronsK8969withthecrewofF/OONeill,whichwaswrittenoffinaforcedlandingaftersevenandahalfhoursintheair.Two102Squadronaircraftfailedtoreturnfromoperationsonthenightofthe8/9th,K8950comingdowneastoftheRuhrtodelivertheentirecrewofS/LMurrayintoenemyhands,whileK8985strayedintoneutralBelgianairspaceandwasforcedtoland.Itscrewbecameinterned,andalthoughtheysoonreturnedtotheUK,theWhitleyremainedandwasultimatelydestroyedduringtheGermaninvasion.58Squadronsustaineditssecond

casualtyonthenightofthe10/11th,whenK8965crashedontake-offfromRheims-Champagneairfieldwhenboundforaleafletingsortie.TheWhitleycaughtfire,butnotbeforeSgtDixonandhiscrewhadscrambledclearwithnothingmorethanafewcutsandbruisesbetweenthem.

TherequirementsofwhattheAmericanswoulddubthePhoneyWardictatedthatonlypaperweaponscouldbedroppedonGermansoilforfearofreprisalsanddamagetocivilianproperty.Consequentlyleafletoperations,knownasnickels,continued,anddespitetheineffectivenessofsucheffortsinpersuadingtheGermanstocapitulate,theyprovidedmuchusefulexperienceandtraininginnight-flyingandnavigationoverenemyterritory.Therewouldbetwenty-twonightsofsuchoperationsbetween3SeptemberandChristmasinvolving113sorties,some,asinthecasecitedabove,launchedfromadvancedairfieldsinFrance.Onthenightof1/2October,three10SquadronWhitleysbecamethefirstAlliedaircrafttooverflyBerlin,andafourth,K9018pilotedbyFlightLieutenantAllsop,hadthedoubtfuldistinctionofbeingthefirstfromthesquadrontofailtoreturn,whenitdisappearedintotheNorthSeasomewhereoffScotlandonthewaybackfromDenmark.On6October58SquadrondepartedLinton-on-OusetemporarilyforBoscombeDown,and78Squadronmovedinonthe15thtojoin51Squadron.Thatarrangementwouldlastonlyuntil9Decemberwhen51SquadrontookupresidenceatDishforth,bywhichtimeMkIVWhitleyshadlargelyreplacedtheunitsMkIIsandIIIs.4GrouplostatotalofsixWhitleystoenemyactionorcrashesduringOctober,butjustoneinNovember.On1NovemberW/CAppletonsucceededW/CBradburyatthehelmof77Squadron.DuringDecembersomeWhitleycrewsfoundthemselvesassignedtoreconnaissanceoperations,dayandnightshippingsweepsandsecuritypatrols,completingalmosteightysortieswithoutloss.Thewinterof1939/40washarsh,andWhitleycrewssufferedunbelievablediscomfortfromtheextremecoldinsidetheirunheatedaircraft.Itspeaksgreatvolumesforthecourageanddeterminationofthecrews,whopressedondeepintoenemyterritory,andoftenspenttenhoursormoreintheair.

1940Forthepurposeofthisbook58Squadronsexperienceswillrepresentthoseof4Groupduringtheyear.

TherewasverylittleoperationalactivitytooccupythecrewsofBomberCommandduringJanuaryandFebruaryasthewinterdeepened,anditwasnotuntiltowardstheendofFebruarythatthefreezingconditionsloosenedtheirgrip.W/CHarrisonconcludedhistimeascommandingofficerof78Squadronon9January,andhewassucceededbyW/CWiblin.4Groupcontinuedwithitspatrolsasconditionsallowed,andonthe12thsentaircraftasfarasPragueandViennaforleafletingandreconnaissance.Thereafter,theweatherclosedinforsixweeks,andaircraftwereliterallyfrozentotheground.W/CBurtontookoverfromW/CToogoodat102Squadroninthemidstofthebigfreezeon5February,andonValentinesDay58SquadronleftBoscombeDownandheadedbacknorthtotakeupresidenceatLinton-on-Ousealongside78Squadron.W/CSilvesterrelinquishedcommandof51Squadronon5MarchandhandedthereinstoW/COwen.ItwasonlyinMarchthatthefirstopportunityarosetodropbombsonaGermanlandtarget,andthiscameinretaliationforaLuftwaffeattackonelementsoftheRoyalNavyatScapaFlowonthe16th,duringwhichastraybombinadvertentlykilledacivilianontheisland

ofHoy.ThetargetselectedwastheseaplanebaseatHrnumontheislandofSylt,andtheoperationbythirtyWhitleysandtwentyHampdenswasmountedonthe19/20th.Theplanallowedthe4Groupforceafour-hourwindowtocarryoutitsattacks,whichwouldbefollowedupbytheHampdensof5Group.10SquadroncontributedeightaircraftledbyW/CStaton,andallreturnedsafelyamidwildclaimsofanoutstandingsuccess,whichwasdulysplashedacrossthefrontpagesofthenationalpress.Therealitywasthatreconnaissanceon6Aprilcoulddetectlittleifanydamagetothebase,butthepropagandavaluetothefolksathomewasmassive.ItisbelievedthatW/CBurtonof102Squadronundertookhisfirstoperationwiththesquadrononthisnight,probablyflyingasasecondpilot.Reconnaissancesortiesoccupiedthecrewsthereafter,andreturningfromoneon6/7April,10SquadronsK9032crashedinLincolnshireafternearlyninehoursintheair,althoughhappilywithoutinjurytothecrewofF/OPryor,whowereabletowalkaway.DuringthecourseofMarchMkVWhitleysfinallyreplacedtheIVsat10and58Squadrons,and51SquadronwouldreceiveitsallotmentinMay.Theother4Groupunitshadbeenoperatingthenewertypesincethebackendof1939.On7April4GroupHeadquartersswappedLinton-on-OuseforHeslingtonHall,an

ElizabethanmansioninavillageclosetoYork.TwodayslatertheGermaninvasionofNorwayandDenmarkbroughtanendtotheshadowboxingwhichhadcharacterizedeventssinceSeptember,anditwasthesignalforthebombingwartobeginhesitantly,butinearnest.WhiletheNavytriedtodoitsbestafterthehorsehadbolted,andwasunablebecauseofthedistancetodirectlysupporttheBritishandFrenchresponseatNarvikinthenorth,BomberCommandtargetedairfieldsinthesouthwhichwerebeingusedbytheenemytobringintroopsandsupplies.Elementsof10,77and102SquadronsdetachedtoaforwardbaseatKinloss,andonthe15/16thraidedtheairfieldatStavangerwithoutloss.Theoperationwasrepeatedonthe20/21st,10Squadronthistimeincompanywith51and58Squadrons,andagainallreturned.Onthe21st,thelongtermofofficeas10SquadronsleadercametoanendforW/CStaton,andW/CSingerbeganashortperiodoftenureascommandingofficer.Onthelastnightofthemonth4GroupreturnedtoSolaairfieldatStavangerandOslosFornebuairfieldwithtwelveWhitleyseach,buttheBattleofNorwayhadbeenlostbeforeitevenbegan,andtheeffortsofBomberCommandcouldnotpreventtheinevitable.58SquadronexperienceditsfirstlossofacrewonthisnightwhenN1465failedtoreturnfromStavanger,andnewseventuallycamethroughthatSgtHeayesandhiscrewhadlosttheirlives.

Thiscampaign,however,wasonlyadressrehearsalforthestormwhichwasabouttobreak.77SquadronmovedbacktoDriffieldon4MayintimefortheendofthePhoneyWar,whichcamewiththeGermanadvanceacrosstheLowCountriesatfirstlightonthe10th.WhiletheBattleandBlenheimsquadronsoftheAdvancedAirStrikingForceand2GroupwerebeingmassacredatMaastrichtandSedan,BomberCommandwassenttoattackcommunicationsandindustryintheRuhrandwestoftheRhine.10SquadronsenttwelveWhitleystooilplantsandmarshallingyardsonthe15/16thandsucceedingnights,includingBremenonthe17/18th,duringwhichanumberofthesquadronscrewsfiredVereylightstoattracttherestoftheforce,thusemployingperhapstheearliestandmostrudimentaryformoftarget-marking.Itwasatimewhen,fortheperiod,quitelargeforceswerebeingcommittedtodelaytheenemysprogress;overninetyaircrafttonorthernFranceonthe20/21st,and120onthefollowingnighttoattackrailwaysinGermany.Even

so,suchwastheneedtoslowtheGermanadvancethattheCommandwasforcedtodivertagoodlyproportionofitsresourcestowardstheendofthemonthtotacticalstrikesagainstconcentrationsoftroopsandarmouredvehicles.Anumberof4Groupairmenwouldsurvivetheearlydaystogoontogreaterthings,andoneofthesewasP/OWomersleyof102Squadron.Onthe21/22nd,heandhiscrewwereforcedtoabandonN1528overFranceduringthecourseofaraidonatargetatEuskirchen,andallarrivedsafelyonthegroundtoreturnhome.In1944Womersleysdistinguishedcareerwouldseehimcommand139Squadron,aMosquitounitinthePathfinderLightNightStrikingForce,andhewasdestinedtofinishthewarasstationcommanderatGransdenLodge,homeofthePathfinders142and405Squadrons.DuringthecourseofthemonthW/CSuttonsucceededW/CPotterascommandingofficerof58Squadron,andW/CGroomtookoverfromW/CBurtonat102Squadrononthe16th.Between26Mayand3JunetheevacuationfromDunkerqueoccupiedsubstantialelementsofBomberCommand,but4Groupplayedonlyaminorrole,supplyingahandfulofWhitleystomakenightattacksonGermanpositionsaroundtheperimeter.ThemonthofJunehadstartedfor77SquadronwiththearrivalofW/CMacDonaldasthenewcommandingofficerinplaceofW/CAppleton.Hehadpreviouslyservedasaflightcommanderwith102Squadron,andhadledtheearliermentionedattackontheseaplanebaseatHrnuminMarch.

Thelargestcommitmentofaircrafttodatesawamixedforceofover140attackmultipletargetsinGermany,includingHomberg,onthe3/4thofJune.ThearrivalatDriffieldonthe5thofacertainPilotOfficerG.L.Cheshiretojointheranksof102Squadronwasprobablybarelynoticed.Whocouldhaveguessedtheextentofhisfutureachievements?HewouldbeginhisoperationalcareerassecondpilottoNewZealanderF/OFrankLoftyLong,andtheyflewtheirfirstsortietogetheronthenightofthe9/10thagainstabridgeatAbbeville.OnthefollowingnighttheirtargetwasabridgeatPoix,butpoorvisibilityforcedthemtobringtheirbombshome.AfewdaysafterCheshiresarrivalonthesquadron,hewasjoinedbyafriendfromhisTrinityCollegeOxforddays.P/OHenryMelvinYoung,laterknownasDinghy,wouldalsowritehisownpageinhistorythreeyearshenceasamemberof617Squadron.Onthe11/12th,4Groupcontributedtoattacksagainstwide-rangingtargetsinItaly,GermanyandFrance.TenWhitleycrewswerebriefedforcommunicationstargetsinsupportofthelandbattle,andasingle10Squadronaircraftfailedtoreturn.Meanwhile,thirty-sixcrewswerebriefedtoattacktheFiatworksatTurin,incommemorationofthatcountrysentryintothewaronthe10th.The10,51and58SquadroncontingentsarrivedatGuernseyintheafternoontotopuptheirfueltanks,while77and102SquadronsstagedatJerseyairport.Electricalstormsandsevereicingontheroutetothetargetpersuadedmanyoftheparticipantstoaborttheirsorties,andonlytenbombedinthetargetarea,causinglittledamagetothefactorycomplex.One77Squadronaircraftfailedtoreturn.The13/14thwasdevotedtocommunicationstargetsinFranceandtheoccupiedcountries,andonthefollowingnighttheWhitleybrigadeprovidedsupportforthegroundforcesinafutileefforttosaveFrancefromimminentcollapse.Onthe15thW/CSingerwaspostedtocommand101Squadron,andhewasreplacedat10SquadronbyW/CSidBufton.OvertheensuingwaryearsheandhisbrotherHalwouldmakemajorcontributionstothebomberwar,althoughmostlyfrombehindadesk.Forfiveconsecutivenightsfromthe17/18thWhitleyswereoverGermany,anditwasonthatfirstnightthat58SquadronsN1463sufferedenginefailureandcrashedinHollandduringasortietotheoiltownofGelsenkirchen.F/SFordandone

memberofhiscrewlosttheirlives,whiletheirthreecolleaguesbecamethefirstfromthesquadrontofallintoenemyhands.OnthefollowingnightthesquadronsN1460crashedinGermanyduringasortietoanotheroiltown,Castrop-Rauxel,andtherewerenosurvivorsfromthecrewofF/OMacInnes.Forthethirdtimeinfournights58SquadronpostedmissinganothercrewtoaRuhrtarget,thistimeEssenonthe20/21st,butatleastthistimeF/OWalkerandhiscrewallsurvivedthedemiseofN1442tobecomePoWs.Francefinallyfellonthe22nd,andmostoftheeffortfortheremainderofthemonthwasdirectedattargetsinGermany.

ItwasatthispointthattheBattleofBritainbegan,andBomberCommandwouldplayitspartbycontinuingtheoffensiveagainstcommunicationsandindustrialtargetsinGermanyandairfieldsintheoccupiedcountries.OnthefirstnightofJulyfiveWhitleysweresenttoKieltoattacktheGermancruiserScharnhorst,and58SquadronsN1461crashedinthetargetarea,killingP/OJonesandallbutoneofhiscrew.Onthe8th10SquadronmovedtoLeeming,whichwouldbehometothesquadronforthenexttwoyears.Thatnightoversixtyaircraftweredespatchedto,amongotherdestinations,northGermanportsandairfieldsinHolland.TwelveofthemwereWhitleys,ofwhichonefrom10SquadronfailedtoreturnfromKiel.ItwasbacktotheRuhrforeightWhitleysonthenightofthe11/12th,whenLeverkusenwasthetargetfor58SquadronsN1424.Itfailedtoreturn,havingcrashedinBelgium,andtherewerenosurvivorsfromthecrewofSgtYoung.Onthe15th78SquadrontookupresidenceatDishforthandwasdeclaredoperational.ItoperatedforthefirsttimefournightslaterwhenfourofitsWhitleyssetouttoraidmarshallingyardsintheRuhr,ledbyAFlightcommanderS/LWildey.Healonebombedhisprimarytarget,railwayinstallationsatRecklinghausenattheeasternendoftheRuhr,whiletheothersattackedalternativetargets.78SquadronsBFlightcommanderduringitsoperationalbaptismwasS/LCharlesJ.N.H.Whitworth.Hewasashort,squatmanwiththecut-glassaccentoftheEnglisharistocracy.Itwas,infact,Whitworthwholed78Squadronssecondforayonthenightofthe20/21st,whenaircraftassemblyplantsatWenzendorfandWismarwereamongtheobjectivesfor4Group.AssignedtoWenzendorf,WhitworthreturnedsafelyinP5001,onlytodiscoverthatanelectricalfaulthadpreventedhisbombsfromreleasing.WewillmeetupwithWhitworthagaininduecourse.Twonightslater58SquadronlostN1472toflakoverGermanyduringasortietoPaderborn,andtherewerenosurvivorsfromthecrewofSgtJones.Happily,thiswouldbethesquadronslastlossformorethanamonth.

Thepolicyofsmall-scaleraidsonmultipletargetscontinuedintoAugust,whiletheBattleofBritainwasragingoverhead.OneoftheweirdandwonderfuldevicesputforwardasaweaponwasRazzle,incendiarypelletsdesignedtosetfiretocropsandwoodedareas,andonthe11thsomeWhitleycrewsweregivenanopportunitytodispensesomeofthesenearCologne.ItwasquicklydecidedthatRazzledidnotpossesswar-winningpotential,andwasconsignedtotheItwasworthatryfile.TheWhitleyBoyswereoutinforceonthenightofthe13/14th,twentyreturningtotheFiatworksatTurin,whileseventeenotherstargetedMilan.One10Squadronaircraftlostanenginetoanightfighter,andmadeitbackasfarastheKentcoastbeforecrashingintotheseawiththelossofthepilotandco-pilot.Onthe14thW/CMacDonaldconcludedhistourascommandingofficerof77Squadron.HewasreplacedbyW/CJarman,whohadarrivedfrom10OTUasthenewBFlightcommanderonthe2nd,andwouldremainatthehelmfora

considerabletime.W/CMacDonaldtookoverat82Squadronin2Group,whereheremainedforfourmonthsbeforebeingscreened.InJanuary1942hewasappointedtocommandXVSquadronin3Group,apositionheoccupieduntilthestartofJune.Amonthlater,andnowaGroupCaptainandstationcommanderatHorshamStFaith,heborrowedaMosquitofrom139Squadron,asdidW/COakshott,commandingofficerof105Squadron,andthepairheadedinbroaddaylightfortheportofFlensburginNorthernGermany.Bothaircraftwereshotdown,andwhileOakshottandhisnavigatorfailedtosurvive,MacDonaldandhiscrewmanspenttheremainderofthewarasguestsoftheReich.Whetherbydesignorinerror,DriffieldfounditselftheobjectiveforaraidbytheLuftwaffeonthe15th,whichleftfive102SquadronWhitleysinruins,N1378,N1413,N1420,P4945andP5022,inadditiontoanumberbelongingto77Squadron.Damagetotheairfieldwassuchthatitwouldbenecessaryforbothsquadronstomoveoutwhilerepairswereundertaken,butuntilthemovetookplacetoLeemingonthe25th,operationscontinuedfrombattle-scarredDriffield.Onthefollowingnightforty-eightWhitleysjoined100otheraircraftundertakingwide-rangingoperationstoGermantargets,amongthemtheKarlZeissopticalworksatJenaintheeastofthecountryandtheM.A.N.factoryinAugsburginthesouth.JustaweekafterbeingforcedoutofDriffield,102SquadronleftLeemingandheadeduptoPrestwick.Thiswasoccasionedbyatemporarydetachmentto15GroupCoastalCommand,underwhoseauspicesitwouldcarryoutconvoyescortduties.OneFlightwaskeptatAldergroveinNorthernIrelandtoincreaseoperationalrange,andthecrewssettledintoaroutineoflong,tediousandgenerallyuneventfulpatrols.(Suchoperationsdonotfallwithinthescopeofthiswork.However,on7OctoberMelvinYoungwouldbeforcedtoditchintheIrishSeaafterenginefailure,andheandhiscrewwouldspendtwenty-twohoursafloatintheirdinghybeforerescuecame.)DistanttargetsinItalyandGermanycontinuedtooccupytheWhitleyforcefortheremainderofthemonth.77Squadronchangedaddressagainonthe28thwithamovetoLinton-on-Ouse,butthiswouldalsoprovetobeatemporaryhome.ReturningfromBerlinonthenightofthe30/31st,58SquadronsP5002ranoutoffuelandwasabandonedovertheYorkshirecoast.P/OClementsandthreeofhiscrewwerepickedup,buttheothercrewmemberfailedtosurvive.Thisprovedtobethefirstofthreefuel-relatedincidentstoafflictthesquadron.

SeptemberbroughtwithittheclimaxoftheBattleofBritain,andforsmallelementsoftheWhitleybrigade,thelongslogtoItalyorBerlinoneachofthefirstsixnightsofthemonth,withotherlong-rangetargetsatMunich,MagdeburgandRegensburgthrowninforgoodmeasure.ReturningfromGenoaonthenightofthe2/3rd,two58SquadronWhitleysranoutoffuelandwereforcedtoditch.N1427camedownofftheKentcoast,andS/LBartlettandhiscrewpaddledashoreintheirdinghy.MeanwhileF/SMooreandhiscrewwererescuedfromthecoldNorthSea,leavingN1459toitswateryfate.4GroupWhitleysjoinedforceswithtypesfromtheotherGroupstoraidindustrialtargetsinBerlinandotherGermanlocationsonthe3/4th,tomarkthefirstanniversaryoftheoutbreakofwar.Thecampaignagainstinvasioncraftintheoccupiedportswasstillinfullswing,andwouldremainsowellintoOctober,evenafterthethreathaddiminishedwiththedefeatoftheLuftwaffeinmid-month.Onthe7/8th,anumberofWhitleyswereemployedonflare-droppingoverBoulognetolightuptheassembledbargesfortherestoftheforce.Onthreeconsecutivenights,fromthe9/10thtothe11/12th,WhitleysattackedBerlinandBremen.Duringthesecondoftheseoperations58SquadronpostedmissingthecrewofP/O

ThompsoninT4134,who,itwaslaterlearned,hadsurvivedandwerePoWs.Thenitwasbacktotheanti-invasioncampaignatDunkerqueandCalaisonthe13/14th,andAntwerponthe14/15th.TheBattleofBritainreachedacrescendoonthe15th,whentheLuftwaffesuffereditsheaviestlossestodate,butitwouldbesometimebeforeinvasionfeverdiminished,andconsequently,theportsofZeebruggeandOstendwereattackedonthe17/18th,andZeebruggeandAntwerponthefollowingnight.Alsoonthe18/19thahandfulofWhitleystargetedHamm,duringwhich58SquadronsP5008succumbedtoanightfighterattackwhichkilledSgtCrosslandandhiscrew.Duringtheremainderofthemonth,WhitleystrekkedtoBerlinafurtherfourtimesandMagdeburgonce,andin-between,supportedtheattacksontheoccupiedports.TheBerlinoperationonthe23/24thinvolved129aircraft,whosecrewswereoptimisticallybriefedforeighteenprecisiontargetswithinthecity.ItwouldtaketheinfamousButtReportelevenmonthshenceforthefutilityofsuchrequirementstobefullyrealized.Twenty-fourhourslater58SquadronsN1470crashedalmostimmediatelyaftertake-offforthecapital,andSgtCornishandtwoofhiscrewwerekilledwhenthebomb-loadwentup.AnindicationoftheenduranceandreliabilityoftheWhitleywasmademanifestonthelastnightofthemonth,when10SquadronsN1483ditchedintheIrishSeaonreturnfromBerlinaftertwelvehoursfortyminutesaloft.HavingcompletelyoverflownEngland,F/OWoodandallofhiscrewwerepickedupbyatrawler,safeandsound,ifalittleshakenbytheirordeal.

On2OctoberW/COwenconcludedhisperiodincommandof51SquadronandwasreplacedbyW/CBrescon.ThatnightsevenWhitleysweresenttoFrankfurtamOder,closetoGermanyseasternfrontierwithPoland,and58SquadronsN1434crashedinGermanywithoutsurvivorsfromthecrewofF/OEsply.Onthe5thSirCharlesPortalrelinquishedhispostasA-O-CBomberCommandafterashorttermofoffice,andwasappointedChief-of-the-Air-Staff.HewasreplacedbyAirMarshalSirRichardPeirse,whowastoundergoatorridtimeatthehandsoftheAirMinistrywithfrequentlyshiftingprioritiesandanever-increasingworkloadoftargets.Alsoonthe5th77SquadronchangedaddressyetagainwithamovetoTopcliffe,and102SquadronreturnedtoBomberCommandfromitsmaritimedutiesonthe10th,takinguptemporaryresidenceatLinton-on-Ouse.Thatnight58SquadronsT4137sufferedenginetroubleonthewayhomefromGelsenkirchen,andcrashedwhiletryingtolandatBirchamNewton,killingP/OHadleyandhiscrew.Onthe14tha4GroupelementwasbriefedforanoperationthatnightonthedistantportofStettinontheBalticcoast.Theyweretoattackthesyntheticoilplantand,happily,allaircraftreturnedtohomeairspace,whichwaswhentheproblemsaroseforanumberofthem,particularlythoseof10Squadron.FlightcommanderS/LFergusonandhiscolleagueshadtoabandonP4952overNorthumberlandwhentheyranoutoffuelafterelevenhoursintheair.Fortunatelytheyallarrivedsafelyontheground,butitwouldprovetobebutatemporaryreprieve.F/LTomlinsonexperiencedhissecondmajorincidentwithinsixweeks,afterasimilarfuelshortageforcedhimtogivetheordertoabandonaircraft.UnlikethetotalsurvivaloftheFergusoncrew,however,whenthewreckageofT4143waspickedoveronthefollowingmorning,thebodiesoftwocrewmemberswerefoundstillinside.Perhapsevenmorepoignantfor10SquadronwasthelossofSgtWrightandhiscrewearlierintheevening,whichhadoccurredafterP4993collidedwithabarrage-ballooncableoverSurreyonreturnfromLeHavre.58SquadronsT4150alsoranlowonfuelonreturnfromStettin,andwassuccessfullycrash-landedinYorkshirebyF/OBrooke.Thesamecrewwasontheorderofbattleforthenightofthe

20/21st,whenanotherdistantlocationwasselectedforattention.TheSkodaworksatPilseninCzechoslovakiawouldoccupythemindsofBomberCommandplannersforsometimetocome,anditwouldprovetobeelusive.Thenightturnedintosomethingofatrialfor58Squadronasitscrewsreturnedtohomeairspace,andF/OBrookewasoncemoretofeature.HewasforcedtoditchP5058intheRiverHumberandsurvivedtheexperience,asdidtheothermembersofhiscrew,twoofwhomhadbeenwithhimsixnightsearlier.P5089ditchedofftheNorfolkcoast,andP/OWildingandhiscrewwerepickedupnonetheworsefortheiradventure.Finally,T4170wascaughtbyanintruderoverYorkshireandshotdown,killingP/OBrownandtwoofhiscrew.Twootherssurvivedwithinjuries,butoneofthemsuccumbedtwodayslater.

November5wasamomentousdayinBomberCommand.Itbroughtwithitthereformationof35SquadronatBoscombeDown,whereitwasattachedtotheA&AEEwiththespecificpurposeofintroducingtheHandleyPageHalifaxintooperationalservice.UnderthecommandoftheportlyfigureofW/CR.W.P.Collings,thesquadronreceiveditsfirstexampleofthetype,L9486,onthe13th.AweeklateritwouldmovenorthtoLeemingandbecome4Groupslatestrecruit.Elsewherethenightlygrindcontinuedandmencontinuedtodie.Itwasalwaystragicwhendeathcametoacrewashomeandsafetywereathand,butitwasafrequentoccurrenceforthecrewsofBomberCommand,particularlyintheearlydays.ReturningfromMilanonthe5/6thofNovember,andafteralmosttwelvehoursintheair,10SquadronsP/OJonesandhiscrewditchedintheseainP5001anddisappearedwithouttrace.Onthefollowingnight58SquadronsP4943waslostwithouttraceduringasortietoHamburg,andthenamesofSgtEltonandhiscrewwereaddedtotheever-expandingsquadronRollofHonour.Onthe7th,58SquadronwelcomedanewcommandingofficerasW/CSmithsucceededW/CSutton.Onthenightofthe12/13th,LenCheshireprovidedevidenceofthepress-onspiritthatwastocharacterizehiswartimecareerwhenpilotingP5005toanoilrefineryatWesselingnearCologne.Inanaircraftseverelydamagedbyenemyaction,fireandanexplodingfireextinguisher,andcompoundedbyinjuriestohiscrew,hetookthebomb-loadtoanalternativetargetintheformofmarshallingyardsatCologneandreturnedhome.ForthisexploithewasawardedtheDSO,thefirstofhismanydecorationsinacareerwhichwouldtakehimtothecommandof76and617Squadrons,andculminateintheawardoftheVictoriaCrossaftercompleting100operations.Amajorblowto10Squadrononthe13/14thwasthelossofthelong-servingW/CFerguson,nowthestand-incommandingofficer,whileW/CBuftonwastemporarilyabsent.FergusonwaslastheardfromfourhoursaftertakingoffforthedistanttownofMerseburg.T4230failedtoreturntoLeemingandwaspresumedlostinthesea.OnthefollowingnighttheWhitleystookabeatingastheresultofanoperationtoBerlin,whenfourfailedtoreturn,oneditchedandonecrashedathome.Thisamountedtosixaircraftoutoftwenty-twodespatched,ormorethan25percent,and58Squadronwasthehardesthitwiththreefailurestoreturn.FlightCommanderS/LWebbwaskilledwiththreeofhiscrewwhenT4174crashedinGermany,andthesolesurvivorwastakenintocaptivity.HewasjoinedbySgtKerrandhisentirecrewfromT4239.FlakaccountedforT4170overGermany,andtherewerenosurvivorsfromthecrewofF/OChampness.102SquadroncompleteditsmovefromLinton-on-OusetoTopcliffeonthe15thwhereitjoined77Squadron,andthistimeitcouldlookforwardtoputtingdownrootsforayear.78SquadronwelcomedanewcommandingofficerduringthecourseofthemonthintheformofW/CCharlesWhitworth,whowas

promotedfromwithintosucceedW/CWiblin.Hewastoenjoyalongandimpressivecareer,particularlyoncehisoperationaldayswerebehindhim,butthatwasstillashorttimeinthefuture.Sixty-eightcrewswereinvolvedinoperationsonthe20/21st,forty-threeofthembriefedforDuisburg.102SquadronscommandingofficerW/CGroomjoinedthecrewofF/OSelbyinP5072,andtheyalllosttheirliveswhentheWhitleycrashedintotheNorthSeaonthewayhome,almostfourandahalfhoursaftertake-off.AnewcommandingofficerwouldnotbeappointeduntiltheNewYear,butinthemeantimeoperationscontinued,andtheRoyalArsenalatTurinwasselectedforattentiononthe23/24th.102SquadronsT4216didntquitemakeitbacktoterrafirmabecauseofashortageoffuel,andthisforcedF/OH.M.YoungtoditchtheWhitleyintheChanneloffthecoastofDevon.Thereafter,heandhiscrewwererequiredtopaddlearoundintheirdinghyuntilrescuecame,thesecondsuchexperienceforYounginamatterofsixweeks.Almostinevitably,YoungacquiredthenicknamethathecarriedtohisuntimelydeathintheseaoffHollandinMay1943,onreturnfrom617SquadronsepicOperationChastise.HiscontributiontothesuccessoftheoperationwasacknowledgedbyGibson,particularlywithregardtohisroleinoverseeingthetrainingofthecrews.ItshouldalsoberememberedthatYoungsbombwasthefirsttobedeliveredaccuratelyagainsttheMhneDam,andalmostcertainlysealedthestructuresfate.

Thepatternofoperationsremainedmoreorlessthesamefortheremainderoftheyear,and58SquadronregistereditsfirstincidentinDecemberonthenightofthe2/3rd.T4207crashedinYorkshireonreturnfromLorient,butSgtGoslingandhiscrewemergedunscathedfromthewreckage.InretaliationforrecentheavyLuftwaffeattacksonBritishcities,includingthedevastatingoneonCoventryinmid-November,SirRichardPeirselaunched134aircraftagainstMannheimon16/17December,thelargestforceyettoasingletarget.Theoperationwasledbyexperiencedcrewswhoweretostartfiresinthecitycentretoactasabeacontothosefollowingbehind.Despiteclearconditions,theinitialbombingwasnotaccurateandtheraidbecamescattered.Nevertheless,240buildingsweredestroyedordamagedandonlythreeaircraftfailedtoreturn.Earlieronthe16thW/CBresconwaspostedfrom51SquadrontobereplacedbyW/CJamesTait,anofficerwhowouldbecomesomethingofalegendasthewarprogressed,andwho,inNovember1944,wouldlead617SquadrontosuccessagainstthemightybattleshipTirpitz.ReturningearlyfromBoulognewithtechnicalproblems,58SquadronsP5098collidedwithaparkedLysanderof4Squadronandbothaircraftburstintoflames.F/OClementsandallbutoneofhiscrewescapedunhurt,butthereargunnerlosthislife.OnthatsamenightthesquadronsT4159crashedintotheseasomewhereofftheDevoncoast,andnotraceofitorthecrewofSgtSmithwaseverfound.

TheBordeauxoperationofthe27/28thwasdirectedatanaircraftfactory,andinvolvednineWhitleysaspartofaforceofseventy-fiveaircraft.Itprovedtobeatestingtimefortwoparticipatingpilotsfrom77Squadronwhowereexamplesofofficerswhowouldgoontodistinguishedcareers,althoughsadly,neitherofthemwouldsurvivethewar.F/LGommwastryingtolandP5111atAbingdonafterelevenhoursintheair,buttheWhitleycrashed,happilywithoutinjurytothoseonboard.F/LGomm,whoselifeandcareerinmanywaysparalleledthatofDambusterW/CGuyGibson,wasfromanexpatriatefamilyresidentinBrazil,althoughhewaseducatedinEngland.(GibsonsparentswereinIndia.)Followinghistourwith77Squadron,hewouldundergoatouronnightfighters,(asdid

Gibson)andeventuallybethefirstcommanderof467SquadronRAAFin1942/43,a5GroupLancasterunit,whichwouldgainafinereputationforefficiencyandperformanceunderhisleadership.Hispersonalreputationwasbasedonleadinghissquadronfromthefront,anditwaswhiledoingthisinAugust1943thathelosthislifeduringanoperationtoMilan.FlightcommanderS/LRobinsonwasalsoexperiencingdifficultieswhilereturningfromBordeauxinT4335,andthisWhitleyeventuallycrashedinSouthWales,againwithoutinjurytothecrew.Thisofficersfuturecareerwouldseehimcommand78Squadronearlyinthecomingyear,andtwicecommand35Squadron,thefirstHalifaxunitintheCommand,andattainthestatusofGroupCaptainandStationCommanderatGraveley,fromwherehewouldflytoBerlininAugust1943afterhisoperationalservicehadofficiallyended,andfailtoreturn.

Ithadbeenacuriousyearinanumberofways,althoughwithoutaprecedenttogoon,thecrewshadprobablynotnoticed.TheunrealityofthePhoneyWarhadbeenshatteredinMay,andfromthenonithadbeenabacks-to-the-wallstruggletopresentadefiantfacetoan,asyet,all-conqueringenemy.Worryingly,thecomingyearwastoproducelittleinthewayofimprovementstoencourageoptimism.Thiswasdespitethefactthatthreenewbombertypeshadbeenputintothehandsofasquadron,eachinpreparationfortheirintroductiontooperationalserviceearlyintheNewYear.LeonardCheshirewastobepartofthis.Heflewhislastoperationfor102SquadronagainstMerignacairfieldinthesouthofFranceon27/28December,andbeforelonghewouldjoin35Squadron,anewly-reformedunitselectedtobloodtheHalifax.ThefactthatBritainwasstillinthewarattheendof1940wasasurprisetomanylookingonfromtheoutside,butiftheconflictwaseventuallytobewon,thefighthadtobetakentoGermanyitselfandBomberCommandwastheonlyoffensivearmwhichcoulddothis.Forthecrewsingeneral,thecomingyearpromisedmoreofthesame,andaseventsweretoprove,muchofitwouldbespenttreadingwater.

1941

FirstquarterTheyearbeganinharshweatherconditionsandwithoperationsdirectedmainlyagainstportsinGermanyandalongtheoccupiedcoast,principallyBremenandWilhelmshaven.TheformerwasthedestinationfortheyearsfirstmajoroperationonNewYearsNight,andtheFocke-Wulfaircraftfactoryreceivedsomehits.Earlierintheday102SquadronhadwelcomedW/CColeasitsnewcommandingofficersomesixweeksafterthelossinactionofW/CGroom.AreturntoBremenonthefollowingnightwasmuchlesseffective,anditresultedinthelossof102SquadronsT4227whichwasshotdownintotheseaofftheYorkshirecoastbyanintruder.Sadlytherewerenosurvivors,andthelossofthiscrew,captainedbyF/ODesmondCoutts,wasabitterblowtoLeonardCheshire.CouttshadservedhisapprenticeshipassecondpilottoCheshire,andhadbeenonthetriptoWesselingwhichhadnotonlyalmostcostCheshirehislifebuthadalsoresultedintheawardofhisDSO.35SquadrondoubleditscomplementofproductionHalifaxesonthe4thwiththearrivalofL9487,andthiswasfollowedonthe12thbyL9489.TragedystruckonthefollowingdaywhenL9487crashedinYorkshireduringafuelconsumptiontest,andF/OHenryDFCandhisfivepassengerswerekilled.AlsoonthatdayW/CWilsonwasappointedtoreplaceW/CTaitat51Squadron,andhewouldpresideoveraloss-free

periodthatwouldtakethesquadronthroughtothesecondweekofFebruary.Meanwhile,W/CTaitandthreeother51SquadroncrewswereattachedtoRingwayonthe15th,alongwithfourcrewsselectedfrom78Squadron.Theyweretotrainintheartofdeliveringairbornetroopsoftherecently-formedXTroopNo11SASBattalionforOperationColossus,aspeciallyconceivedattackontheTraginoaqueductinItaly,whichifsuccessfulwouldbecometheforerunneroffutureairborneoperations.Wilhelmshavenwasthedestinationforeightyaircraftonthenightofthe16/17th,followingupthepreviousnightssuccessfuloperation.Thistime,however,theraidfailedtoproducemorethanlightdamage,and10SquadronregistereditsfirstlossoftheyearwhenT4220failedtoreturnandwaslostwithouttracewiththecrewofF/OSkyrme.OnthepreviousdayanewAirMinistrydirectivehadpointedtoacriticalperiodaheadfortheGermanoilindustry,andalistofseventeenproductionsiteswasdrawnupforattention,thetopnineofwhichrepresentedaround80percentoftotaloutput.ItwouldbeFebruarybeforethedirectivewasputintoeffectbuteventhen,FrenchandGermanportswouldcontinuetofeaturealongwithotherurbantargetsinGermany.

ThebeginningofFebruarysawoperationsdirectedlargelyagainstFrenchports,butareaffirmingoftheOilPlaninJanuarymeantthatthecrewswouldbegoingtoindustrialGermanyuntilthenextAirMinistrydirectivewasissued.On3FebruarytheWhitleysboundforOperationColossusunderW/CTaitflewfromRingwaytoMildenhall,wheretheyremaineduntildepartingforMaltaontheeveningofthe7th.TheyarrivedatLuqaairfieldatdawnonthe8thafteraneleven-hourflight,andhadtolandonastrippittedwithcratersfromtheconstantLuftwaffebombardment.TheplanwasforsixoftheWhitleystocarrymembersofXTroop,whiletwoothersweredetailedtodeliveradiversionaryattackonthemarshallingyardsatFoggiasome30milesaway.Theoperationtookplaceonthenightofthe10/11th,allbutoneoftheaircraftdeliveringitsparachutistsintothecorrectlocation.Unfortunatelyonecrewgotlostanddroppeditstroopsintothewrongvalleyalongwithalargeamountofexplosivesandthatleftinsufficientavailabletodestroytheviaduct,althoughitwasseverelydamaged.The78SquadronWhitleyT4167,whichhadbeenassignedtothediversionarybombingofFoggia,developedengineproblemsandhadtobeabandonedsouthofNaplesbyP/OWotherspoonandhiscrewand,onceontheground,theywerequicklyroundedupbytheItalianmilitary.Asaresultofthis,thenightsonlyloss,theplannedrendezvousbetweenXTroopandaRoyalNavysubmarinewhichwastotakethemhomewascancelledandtheentirecommandoforcejoinedtheWhitleycrewincaptivity.

TheCommandsbigeffortforthemonthwasdirectedatindustrialtargetsinthecityofHanoverandtookplacewhileOperationColossuswasinprogresshundredsofmilesawayontheothersideoftheAlps.The222aircraftdespatchedrepresentedthelargestnumbertodatetoasingletarget,and183crewsclaimedtohavereachedandbombedtheirprimaries.Inhospitableweatherconditionscontinuedtoaffectthenumberofaircraftreachingtargets,however,andonlytwenty-sevenfromseventy-ninegotasfarasBremenonthefollowingnight.Althoughnoaircraftwerelosttothedefences,twenty-twocrashedwhiletryingtolandafterfogshroudedtheirbases.51Squadronwasparticularlyhardhitandsufferedthelossoffouraircraft.SgtsFenton,BowyerandBeddowandcrewsabandonedP4974,P4981andP5013respectivelyoverYorkshire,sustaininganumberofinjuriesintheprocess,andP/OSharpandcrewleftT4217toitsfateoverNorfolkand

alsopickedupanumberofknocks.Operationsatthistimeweremostlylow-key,employingsmallnumbersofaircraftagainstmultipletargetsandwereconsequentlyrarelyeffective.W/CWhitworthdeparted78Squadrononthe14thtobereplacedbyW/CToland,whoseperiodincommandwouldbebriefindeed.ThatnightbecamethefirsttobedevotedtotheGermanoilindustryunderthenewdirective,whenGelsenkirchenandHombergwereattacked.Whitleyswerenotcalledintoactiononthisnight,buttwenty-sevenofthetypeparticipatedinaraidontheHoltenplantatSterkradetwenty-fourhourslater.ThefinalweekofthemonthsawWhitleysraidingDsseldorfonthe21/22ndand24/25th,Calaisonthe23/24thandCologneonthe26/27th;the78Squadronelementonthelastmentionedoccasionledbythenewcommandingofficer.Onreturn,andapparentlyofftrack,P4996crashedintohighgroundinScotland,killingW/CTolandandalltheothersonboard.

ItwasColognethatopenedtheMarchaccountonthe1/2nd,andincontrasttotheraidofafewdayspreviouslythiswasreasonablyeffective,andleftsomeusefuldamageinthedocksareaonbothsidesoftheRhine.Twomore51SquadronWhitleysfailedtoreturn,however,andthecrewsofSgtBeddowandSgtBrucewerepostedmissing.TheformersN1481disappearedintotheseawithnosurvivors,whilethelattersP5108wascrash-landedonasandbankofftheGermancoast,fromwheretheywererescuedbytheenemy.Sadly,therescueaircraftcrashedonlandingandthreeofthecaptiveswerekilled,leavingSgtBruceandoneothertocontinuetheirjourneytoaPoWcamp.(BomberCommandLossesVol2,W.R.Chorley.)Thesameoperationbroughttheendfor10SquadronsSgtHoareandhiscrew,whodisappearedintotheNorthSeainT4265.Thisattackwasfolloweduponthenightofthe3/4th,butthistimeonlythefringesofthecitywerehit.78Squadronsnewcommandingofficerwasappointedonthe6thtofillthegapcreatedbythelossofW/CToland.ThealreadymentionedBasilVernonRobbieRobinsonwasapre-warpilotfromtheNorth-Eastwhowaspromotedfromwithintotakeupthereins.Onthe9thyetanothernewAirMinistrydirectivewasreceived,whichchangedtheemphasisoftheCommandsoperationsfromoiltomaritimematters.UnacceptablyhighshippinglossestoU-boatsintheAtlanticforcedtheWarCabinettoorderanall-outassaultonthismenaceanditspartnerincrime,thelong-rangereconnaissancebomber,theFocke-WulfCondor.Theyweretobehunteddownatsea,intheirbasesandatthepointoftheirmanufacture,andthenewcampaignwouldbeginatHamburginthreedaystime.Meanwhile,thesupplyofHalifaxesto35Squadronhadbeenlittlemorethanatrickle,butfifteencrewswerebythistimeunderinstruction,andsevenweredeclaredoperationaltoenablethesquadrontoventureintobattleforthefirsttime.Intheeventsixcrewstookoffontheeveningofthe10th,ledbyW/CCollingsinL9486.ItwasintendedtobeagentleintroductiontooperationswithanattackonthedocksatLeHavre.Fourcrewsdidactuallylocateandbombthetarget,whileanotherattackedanalternativeobjectiveandthesixthwasforcedtoabortwithflakdamage.OnreturnL9489wasinterceptedbyanRAFfighterovertheSurrey/Hampshireborder,andshotdown.S/LGilchristandoneofhiscrewmanagedtoparachutetosafetyastheonlysurvivors.Gilchristwouldbecomethefirstofficialcommandingofficerof405Squadronlaterintheyear.

ThefirstsalvoesofthemaritimecampaignweredelivereduponHamburgonthenightofthe12/13th.Twenty-fiveWhitleysjoinedfifty-threeotheraircraftandinflictedsomedamageontheBlohm&VossU-boatyards,whileasecondforceraidedBremen,the

home,asalreadystated,ofaFocke-Wulfaircraftfactorywhichalsotookanumberofhits.AthirdcontingentwenttoBerlinwithpoorresults,and102SquadronsT4326fellvictimtoflakoverHollandandcrashed.F/LLoftyLong,LenCheshiresguideandmentorintheearliestdaysofhisoperationalcareer,losthislifewiththreeofhiscrew,whilethesolesurvivorwasmarchedoffintocaptivity.EvengreatersuccesswasgainedatHamburgonthefollowingnight,whentwo35SquadronHalifaxestookpartinwhatwouldbethesquadronslastoperationforamonth.OtherelementsoftheCommandinflictedsomeusefuldamageatGelsenkirchentwenty-fourhourslateraspartoftheoilcampaign.AttacksfollowedonBremenandKielonthe17/18thand18/19threspectively.Thelatterwasthemosteffectiveraidonthistargettodate,butitwasonreturnfromherethat10SquadronsT4202waspartiallyabandonedoverYorkshireafterafiredeveloped.Whenthewreckagewasexaminedonthefollowingmorningthebodyofthepilot,SgtWatson,wasfoundstillatthecontrols.LorientwasthetargetforWhitleysandManchestersonthe20/21st,andthenapartfromaninconclusiveraidonBerlinbyaforcewhichincludedtwenty-eightWhitleysonthe23/24th,minoroperationssawouttheremainderofthemonth.Asimilarincidenttothatofthe18/19thsawanother10Squadronaircraft,Z6477,abandonedbyitscrewintheearlyhoursofthe28th,thistimenearGranthamon5Groupspatch.Itoccurredonreturnfromasmall-scaleraidonDsseldorf,andhappilyitwasresolvedwithoutlossoflifeamongthecrewofS/LHolford.Onthe29ththeGermancruisersScharnhorstandGneisenauwerereportedtobeoffBrest,andbythefollowingdaytheyhadtakenupresidence,thusbeginninganeleven-monthsagawhichwouldbetaxingintheextremeforBomberCommand.Atotalof109assortedaircrafttookoffthatnighttoattackthem,intheeventscoringnohits.

SecondquarterThepresenceoftheScharnhorstandGneisenauatBrestwouldoccupymuchoftheCommandsattentionduringthemonthofApril,andwouldcontinuetodosountiltheinfamousChannelDashepisodeinFebruary1942finallyresolvedthematter.Onthe1stofthemonth4Groupwasboostedbytheadditionofthefirstoftwonewsquadrons.Uptothispoint104Squadronhadbeenatrainingunit,absorbedinto13OTUinApril1940.Nowitwasbeingreformedasafront-lineWellingtonsquadronatDriffield,andhadactuallyreceivedthefirstexamplesofitsMerlin-poweredMkIIs,W5417andW5417on20March.BytheendofAprilthisnumberwouldhaverisentosixteenaircraft.TheadvantageoftheMkIIwasitsabilitytocarrythenew4,000lbcookielightcaseblastbomb,theso-calledblockbuster.ThefirstoperationwouldbemountedinMay,anduntilthenworking-upproceededundertheinitialsupervisionofS/LTomlinson.Onthenightofthe3/4thninetyaircrafttriedagaintohittheGermanlodgersatBrestandfarednobetter,and51Squadronregisteredthelossoftwoaircraft,oneofthemtothesortofunfortunatefriendlyfireincidentwhicharealltoocommoninwar.Z6556fellvictimtothedefencesandcrashedinFrance,killingF/LHarringtonandhiscrew,butT4299wasshotdownbyaHurricaneoverDorset,andalthoughP/OSharpeandthreeofhiscrewsurvivedintact,onemanlosthislife.Two77Squadroncrewsalsoencountereddifficultiesontheirreturnhomeonthisnight,andtheoutcomeforbothwasunfortunate.P4947stalledandcrashedwhileSgtKylewastryingtolandatTopcliffeandhediedwithallbutoneofhiscrew,andSgtDowlingwasdivertedtoTangmerewhereheandtwoothersofhiscrewwerekilledintheattempttolandZ6583.TwomoreattackswentinatBrestonthe4/5thand6/7th,with

justtwoWhitleysparticipatinginthelatter.Itwasaftertheformer,however,thatonecrewclaimedahitononeoftheships,whichcouldnotbeconfirmed.Whatwasconfirmed,however,wasthatanunexplodedbombhadlodgedinthedrydockoccupiedbytheGneisenau,andhercaptaindecidedtomoveheroutintotheharbouronthefollowingdaywhileitwasdealtwith.Despitebeingmooredincomparativelyopenwater,theGneisenauwasprotectedonallsidesbydozensofflakguns,andherpositionmadeanattackbytorpedoalmostimpossible.Nevertheless,aloneCoastalCommandBeaufortdeliveredanear-perfectattackintotheteethofthemostferociousflakbarrageandcausedseveredamagetothevessel,whichwouldtakesixmonthstorepair.F/OCampbellandhiscrewcanhavehadnoillusionsabouttheirchancesofsurvival,andalldiedinthewreckageoftheiraircraftimmediatelyaftertheattack.Inrecognitionofhisgallantry,thepilotwasposthumouslyawardedtheVictoriaCross.78SquadronmovedfromDishforthtoMiddleton-St-Georgeonthe7th.Itwasanew

station,openedinJanuary,andforthetimebeingatleast,78Squadronwouldbeitsonlyresidentunit.Forty-nineWhitleysjoinedforceswith180otheraircrafttodeliveranunusuallytellingblowonKielthatnight,inflictingparticulardamageinthedocksareawheretwoU-boatyardswereputoutofactionforanumberofdays.Justfouraircraftfailedtoreturn,andoneofthetwomissingWhitleyswas102SquadronsZ6468,captainedonthisnightbyW/CCole;heandhiscrewwerekilledwhenitcrashedintothesea.Hisreplacementwouldnotbeappointeduntilthe21st,butinthemeantimethesquadronwouldcontinuetooperateunderoneofitsflightcommanders.Afollow-upatKielonthefollowingnightwasalsoaccurateforthelossofjustfouraircraft,butafurtherninecrashedintheUKontheirreturn.Brestremainedtheprincipaltargetthroughoutthemonth,receivinginallanothersixraids,whileKiel,Cologne,Bremen,BerlinandMannheimalsofeatured.Onthe12thW/CBuftonandonecompleteflightdeparted10SquadrontoconvertontoHalifaxeswith35SquadronatLinton-on-Ouse,inpreparationforthereformationof76SquadronasthesecondHalifaxunit.HewasreplacedascommandingofficerbyW/CV.B.Bennett,nottobeconfusedwithW/CD.C.T.Bennettwhoseperiodofcommandlayinthefuture.Trainingofthe76Squadroncrewsbeganonthe15th,andthatnight35SquadronreturnedtothefraywhensendingfiveHalifaxestoKiel.Kielcontinuedtobeapopulartargetthroughoutthemonth,receivingfurthervisitsfromforcescontainingWhitleysonthe15/16th,24/25th,25/26thandonthelastnightofthemonth.ItwasanoperationtoBrementhatresultedin10Squadronsonlylossofthemonth.Z6557crashedofftheDutchcoastonreturnonthe16/17th,andtookwithitSgtSalwayandhiscrew.WhitleyswerealsopresentatBerlin,Dsseldorf,CologneandMannheimduringthecourseofthemonth,buttheattackscontinuedtobemoreofanuisancevaluethantohaveanymeaningfuleffectonGermanyswareffort.W/CHoweswasappointedtothecommandof102Squadrononthe21st,andtwodayslater4GroupssecondnewWellingtonunitwasformedatDriffield.

405SquadronhadthehonourofbecomingtheveryfirstRCAFbomberunittobeformedoverseasunderArticleXVoftheBACTPagreement.Toavoidconfusionwithotherdominionairforceunits,allCanadiansquadronsweretobenumberedwithinthe400450range.405Squadroncameintoexistenceon23April1941underthetemporarycommandofS/LTomlinsonDFCwho,forthepreviousthreeweeks,hadbeenincommandoffellownewboysandDriffieldresidents,104Squadron.Itisnotcertainthat

hetransferredimmediatelyto405,butS/LBearesteppedintohisshoesat104onthe23rd.Justlike104,405SquadronwastooperatetheMerlin-poweredMkIIWellington,andthesewould,infact,betheonlytwounitsinBomberCommandtobeentirelyequippedwiththevariant.Afewexamplesofthetypehadbythistimefoundtheirwayintoanumberofradial-poweredWellingtonsquadrons,buttheywereadditionaltothestandardequipment.Thefirstfouraircraft,W5487,W5489,W5490andW5491weretakenon405Squadronchargeon6May,andwithinamonthafurthertenwouldbeadded.

ThefirstthreeweeksofMaybroughtahecticroundofoperations,beginningatHamburgonthe2/3rd.Nomajordamageoccurred,anditwasasimilarstoryatCologneonthe3/4th.UnconfirmedhitswereclaimedontheGermancruisersatBrestonthe4/5th,andonthefollowingnightMannheimescapedwithsuperficialdamagedespitetheclaimsby120crewstohavebombedthetarget.EightycrewsmadesimilarclaimsafterraidingHamburgonthe6/7th,butthefactthatonlythirty-threepeoplewerebombedouttellsitsownstory.Itwasbetternewsonthe8/9th,however,when180aircraftreturnedthereandleftdozensoflargefiresburning.Asimultaneousattackby133aircraftonBremenincludedseventy-eightWhitleys,twoofwhichfailedtoreturn.Oneofthemwas10SquadronsP4946,whichditchedofftheDutchcoastonreturn,andthecrewofP/OGuestallfellintoenemyhands.Lateronthe9th,W/CBurnettwasappointedasthenewcommandingofficerof51Squadron,arrivingintimetodespatchasquadroncontingenttothetwintownsofMannheimandLudwigshafenthatnight.ModeratedamagewasinflictedatbothlocationsforthelossofoneWellingtonandasingleWhitley,thelatterP5106of51SquadronwhichwasshotdownbyanightfighteroverHollandonthewayhomewithnosurvivorsfromthecrewofP/OMyers.Thiswasthenightonwhich104Squadronopeneditsaccount,andallofitsparticipantsreturnedhomesafely.ThebusyperiodcontinuedatHamburgonthe10/11th,whenP/OGough,whohadsurvivedatrainingcrashshortlybeforeChristmas,diedwithhiscrewafterP5048disappearedintotheseaonthewayhome.S/LBearerelinquishedhistemporarycommandof104Squadrononthe11thtomakewayforW/CSimonds,buthewouldreturntothehotseatintime.Thenightofthe11/12thwasthesecondoccasiononwhichsimultaneousraidstookplaceagainstHamburgandBremen,thelatterwithastrongWhitleypresence.Eachoperationwasrewardedwitharespectabledegreeofsuccess,butareturntoMannheimandLudwigshafenonthe12/13thwasdisappointing.

S/LTomlinsonundertook405Squadronsveryfirstflightonthe15th,witharoundtripfrombasetoLinton-on-OuseandDishforth,andwasaccompaniedbyamongothersF/OWigham,thesquadrongunneryleader.Meanwhile,WhitleysformedpartofforcessenttoHanoveronthe15/16th,Cologneonthe16/17thand17/18th,andKielonthefollowingnight,noneofwhichproducedanythingoutstanding.Onthe20thW/CGilchrist,aCanadian,waspostedfrom35SquadronatLinton-on-Ousewherehehadbeenaflightcommander,andwasinstalledas405Squadronsfirstofficialcommandingofficer.ItwillberecalledthathehadsurvivedbeingshotdownbyanRAFfighteronreturnfromthefirstHalifaxoperationinMarch.Overthesucceedingthreeweekshewouldoverseethetrainingofthecrewsastheyworkeduptooperationalstatus,butevenwhenthiswasachieved,thesquadronsinitialcontributiontotheoffensivewouldbemodest.ItwasalsogoingtotaketimetobuildupastrongCanadianpresence,andinthemeantimethesquadronwasapolyglotofnationalities,justlikeanyotherintheCommand.S/LBisset

wouldbeappointedAFlightcommanderonthe28th,andS/LKeddyBFlightcommanderonthe30th.Bytheendofitsfirstfullmonth,405Squadronwouldboastnineofficers,238airmenandtwelveaircraft,thelastmentionedallgroundedwithanacellebearingweakness.

Meanwhile,W/CJarmancompletedhistourascommandingofficerof77Squadrononthe21st,andaweeklaterhewasappointedtothecommandof76SquadronassuccessortoW/CBuftonwhowaspromotedtoGroupCaptainandappointedStationCommanderatthenewly-completedstationatPocklington.Jarmanwasreplacedat77SquadronbyW/CHanafin,whohadpreviouslyservedasaflightcommanderwith10Squadron.FollowingKielonthe18/19ththeWhitleybrigadehadnotbeencommittedinnumbersagainuntilthe27/28th,whenformingthebulkofaforcebriefedforCologne.Afewhigh-explosivebombswerescatteredaroundthecity,andover150buildingsweredamagedtosomeextent.FourteenWhitleysattemptedtobombtheTirpitzatKielonthefollowingnight,butthickcloudandstormsdissuadedallbutthreecrewsfrompressingontothetarget.TheTirpitzremainedundamaged,and78SquadronsZ6484wasthesingleBomberCommandcasualty,fallingvictimeithertothedefencesortheconditionsandcrashinginGermanywithfatalconsequencesforSgtCopleyandhiscrew.

DsseldorfreceivedthefirstofitseightraidsofvaryingsizesduringJuneonthenightofthe2/3rd,andreportedonlyscatteredsuperficialdamage.Onthe4th76SquadroncompleteditsmovefromLinton-on-OusetoMiddleton-St-George,whereitnowsharedthefacilitieswith78Squadron.Resultsbyanall-WhitleyforceatDortmundonthe8/9thwereequallyasdisappointingasthoseatDsseldorf,and51SquadronsZ6663crashedinYorkshireonreturn,killingSgtStubbsandhiscrew.Thewell-troddenroutetoBrestwasrejoinedbyHampdens,WellingtonsandWhitleysonthe10/11th,butagainnohitswerescoredontheGermanlodgers,whichhadnowbeenjoinedbythePrinzEugen.Over200aircraftwereinactiononthenightofthe11/12thofJunetoavarietyoftargets,theprincipalonesDsseldorfandDuisburg.Itwasarecordnightfor35Squadron,whichputupnineHalifaxesforthelatter.OnthefollowingnightthesquadronsenteightHalifaxestoHlsincompanywiththreefrom76Squadrononitsfirstoperation.Thiswasabusynightonwhichbriefingstookplaceforthreeothertargets.EightyWhitleycrewswereassignedtorailwayyardsatSchwerte,butinthepresenceofgroundhazeonlyhalftheforcebombed.Thiswasalsotheoperationaldebutfor405Squadron,whichhadeightMkIIWellingtonsandfivecrewsfitandreadytogo.Fourtookoff,andalthoughW5484turnedbackwithmechanicalfailure,theotherscompletedtheoperationandreturnedhomesafely.TheReapernearlyclaimedanother10SquadroncrewonthisnightwhenZ6721wasforcedtoditchfollowinganearlyreturn.Fortunately,P/OLittlewoodandcrewsurvivedtheexperience,andwerepickedupsomehourslaterafterreceivingunexpectedhelpfromthecrewofaHeinkel111,whichhadseenthemstrugglingwiththeirupturneddinghyanddirectedanASRlaunchtotheirrescue.(W.R.Chorley,BomberCommandLossesVol2.)Fortheremainderofthemonth,CologneandDsseldorffeaturedprominently,andwereattackedsimultaneouslyonnofewerthannineoccasionsbyforcesofvaryingsizesbetweenthenightsofthe15thandthe30th.Whitleyswereinvolvedattheformeronthe16/17th,17/18th,23/24th,24/25th,25/26thand26/27th,andatthelatteronthe15/16th,19/20th,21/22ndand25/26th.

W/CSmithwaspostedfrom58Squadrononthe15thafteraseven-monthtouras

commandingofficer.InMarch1943hewouldbeappointedtocommand5Groups9Squadron,onlytobekilledinactionafewweekslater.Hissuccessorat58SquadronwasW/CClarke,whowastoenjoyalengthyspellatthehelm.35SquadronsetanotherrecordwhensendingtenHalifaxestoHanoverincompanywithotheraircraftforasmall-scaleraidonthe15/16ththatstartedalargefire.CologneandDsseldorfwerethemaintargetsonthenightofthe16/17th,anditwastotheformerthata405Squadroncontingentoperatedincompanywith100otheraircraftoffourtypes.Theraidwasdisappointing,scatteringafewbombsacrossthecity,and405SquadronsSgtMacGregorandhiscrewwerelastheardtransmittingonw/tat03.03,fourhoursaftertake-off.W5522neverarrivedback,andpresumablycrashedintotheseaonthewayhome,takingitscrewtoanunknowngraveandendowingthemwiththedubiousprivilegeofbeingthefirstnamesonthesquadronsRollofHonour.Unliketheirsquadroncolleaguesafewnightsearlier,the10SquadroncrewofSgtBradfordhadnoguardianangelintheformofanenemycrewtosavethemwhentheycrashedintotheseaofftheNorthFrisiansonreturnfromBremeninZ6671onthe18/19th,andalllosttheirlives.Onthe20th405SquadronmovedtoPocklington,thestationwhich,asalreadymentioned,hadopenedasrecentlyasAprilunderthecommandofG/CSidBufton.ThebattleshipTirpitzbecameatargetinitsberthatKiel,andtheHalifaxsquadronsweregivenanopportunitytoattackit.Over100aircrafttookpartonthe20/21st,includingsixHalifaxesfrom35Squadronandfivefrom76,butthetargetwasnotidentifiedandthetownbecamethefocusofattention.405SquadronnowhadsixteenWellingtonsoncharge,butonlyhalfwerefitforoperations,alongwitheightcrews.AstheonlyresidentsofPocklingtonforthetimebeing,thesquadronhadthehonouroflaunchingthestationsfirstoffensiveforaylateontheeveningofthe22nd.W5476wasfirstawaywithSgtRichardatthecontrols,anditwasfollowedbysixothersaftertechnicalproblemsgroundedaseventh.Tworeturnedearly,andathirdcrewjettisoneditsbombsafterfailingtolocatethetargetofWilhelmshaven.Thiswasnotanunusualoccurrence,andnotoneofthetwenty-fiveotherparticipatingcrewsmanagedtolandabombwithin4kilometresofthetown.FurtherattemptsweremadeontheTirpitzonthe23/24thand26/27thandbydaylightonthe30th.ThislastoccasioninvolvedsixHalifaxesfrom35SquadronintwovicsledbyJamesTait,whohadrevertedtotherankofSquadronLeaderfollowinghispostingfromthecommandof51Squadron.Heavyandaccurateflakgreetedthesmallforce,butaneffectiveattackwasdeliveredbeforefightersarrivedonthesceneandshotdownL9499.Thiswasthefirst35Squadronaircrafttofailtoreturnfromoperations,anditwaslaterlearnedthatF/LRobisonhaddiedwithfiveofhiscrew.FollowingthisoperationTaitwasawardedthefirstofhisrecordnumberofDSOs.

ThemonthendedwithoperationstoBremenonthe27/28thand29/30th,eachemployingover100aircraft,andageneralattackontheRuhrareaonthenightofthe30thforwhichCologne,DuisburgandDsseldorfweredesignatedtheprimaryobjectives.ThefirstoftheBremenoperationswasadisasterfor4Group,10,77and102Squadronslosingbetweenthemelevenofthethirty-fiveWhitleysdespatched,andtogetherwiththreemissingWellingtonsthisamountedtoanewrecordcasualtyrateforasinglenight.Someofthemorethan100participatingcrewsbombedHamburginerror,andthenightfightersenjoyedamajorsuccess.Itwascertainly10Squadronsworstexperiencetodatewithfourmissingaircraftandcrews.P5016crashedinthegeneraltargetarea,killingSgtKnapeandthreeofhiscrewbutSgtLewis,whosurvived,waslaterreportedshotbytheSSafter

escapingfromaPoWcamp.P5055alsocamedowninnorthGermany,withnosurvivorsfromthecrewofSgtRickcord.SgtShawwaskilledwithhiscrewinT4179,andZ6561washitbyflakandabandonedoverKielBay,SgtGregoryandthreeofhiscrewsurvivingasPoWs.Anexpensiveendto10SquadronsmonthwascompletewhenP5018failedtoreturnfromDuisburgonthelastnightofJuneandP/OBarrettandoneotherwerekilled,andZ6584fellvictimtoanintruderoverNorfolkonreturn,resultinginthedeathsofSgtBeveridgeandoneofhiscrew.

ThirdquarterAfterfourmonthsofmaritime-relatedoperations,JulywouldbringanewfocusfortheCommandingeneral.Therewaslittlechangeinthepatternofoperationsatthestartofthemonth,however,andthesituationatBrestcontinuedtodiverttheCommandsresourcesfrommoreusefultargetsinGermany.Afterablanknightonthe1/2nd,themonthbeganwithWhitleysinvolvedinoperationsinreasonablenumbersonthefollowingeightnights.Chronologically,thefirstobjectiveswereCologneonthe2/3rd,Essenonthe3/4th,Brestonthe4/5th,Mnsteronthe5/6thandDortmundonthe6/7th.ItwasduringtheMnsteroperationthat10SquadronsZ6793fellvictimtoanightfighteroverHolland,andP/OGouldingandhiscrewwerekilled.Dortmundaccountedfortwo77SquadroncrewsafterbothZ6642andZ6652werebroughtdownontoDutchsoil.Thelattercertainlyfellvictimtoflak,buthappilybothcrews,thoseofSgtBizleyandP/OSimmondssurvivedintacttobetakenprisoner.OnthefollowingnightZ6799wasshotdownbyanightfighteralsooverHollandduringthecourseofanoperationtoOsnabrck,andjustonemansurvivedasaPoWfromthecrewoftheexperiencedF/LPetleyDFC.Twonightslater,anoperationtoAachenclaimedthelivesofSgtMcLeanandhiscrewwhenZ6743crashedinBelgium,andthisconcludedanexpensivefirstquarterofthenewmonthfor77Squadron.

Themonthhadbegunfor35SquadronwiththedepartureofW/CCollingstopasturesnewonthe3rd.Hiscareerwouldcontinuetoflourish,andhewasdestinedtoreturntotheoperationalsceneinJune1943asaGroupCaptainandcommandingofficerof8Groups156SquadronatWarboys,arolewhichhewastocombinewiththatofStationCommander.InFebruary1944hewouldbeappointedStationCommanderatanother8GroupstationatBournbeforemovingtoasimilarpostatLittleStaughtoninMarch.Hissuccessorat35SquadronwasW/CRobinson,whohadjustcompletedafour-monthtourascommandingofficerof78Squadron.78SquadronsnewcommandingofficerwasW/CSawyer,whohadcompletedovertwentyoperationswith10Squadronin1940/41beforebecomingafoundermemberandflightcommanderof76Squadron,thesecondunittoreceivetheHalifaxandnowafellowresidentofMiddleton-St-George.AnothernewAirMinistrydirectiveissuedonthe9thindicatedtheenemystransportsystemandthemoraleofthecivilianpopulationastheweakpoints,andattacksonthesewouldformthebasisofthelatestcampaignnowthatthemaritimediversionwasover.ThemajorrailwaycentresringingtheRuhrweretheprimarytargets,torestricttheimportofrawmaterialsandtheexportoffinishedwar-relatedproducts.Railwayswereprecisiontargetsrequiringclearconditionsandtheyweretobeattackedonanynightofferinggoodvisibility,whileonmoonlessnightsarearaidsweretotakeplaceonCologne,DuisburgandDsseldorf.Ondark,dirtynights,thebomberforcewouldroamfurtherafieldintocentralandsouthernGermany,butsomeeffortwouldcontinuetobedirectedattheGermanwarshipsatBrest.

ApredominantlyWhitleyforceclaimedgoodresultsatOsnabrckonthe7/8thbut10Squadronagainlostacrew,thatofSgtBlackinZ6816whichcrashedintotheseaoffYorkshirewithnosurvivors.AsimilarfatepresumablybefellF/SLewisandhiscrew,whodisappearedwithouttraceinZ6627onthefollowingnightwhenHammwasthetarget.Alsoonthisnight78SquadronsT4209wasdamagedbyflak,andhadtobeditchedofftheeastcoast.Theobserver,SgtHafferden,swam9milestotheshoretoraisethealarm,buttheefforttookhimmanyhoursandbythetimethesearchwasinitiated,nosignofSgtMcQuittyandtheremainingmembersofhiscrewcouldbefound.Achangeofleadershipat104SquadronsawS/LBearepromotedfromhisflightcommanderposttoreplaceW/CSimondsonthe20th.Afewdaysearlierthesquadronhadsuffereditsfirstlosssincebeingreformed.Onthenightofthe14/15thW5513wasshotdownbyanightfighteroverHollandwhileboundforHanover,andtherewerenosurvivorsfromthecrewofP/ORowse.Sporadiclossesnowbelongedtothepast,astheenemydefencesbecamemore

organizedandadeptinthefaceofgreaterBomberCommandactivity.Asteadyrateofattritionwouldafflictallfront-linesquadronsfromnowon,andmultiplelossesfromasingleoperationwouldbecomearegularfeature.Ahangoverfromthemaritimecampaign,theGermancapitalshipsatBrestremainedatarget,andacomplicatedmajordaylightoperationwasdrawnupforthe24th.Theplanwasforthreehigh-flyingFortressIsfrom2Groups90Squadrontoattracttheenemyfighters,whileeighteen5GroupHampdensperformedasimilarroleatalessrarefiedaltitudeundertheumbrellaofthreesquadronsofSpitfires.This,itwasintended,wouldallowaforceofseventy-nineWellingtonsfrom1,3and4GroupsandaforceofHalifaxestosneakinandcarryouttheattack.OntheeveoftheoperationreconnaissancerevealedthattheScharnhorsthadslippedoutofBrestandwasnowatLaPallice,some200milesfurthersouth.Consequently,itwasdecidedtosendtheHalifaxestoattacktheScharnhorst,whiletheremainderoftheoriginalplanwentaheadagainstPrinzEugenandGneisenauatBrest.AforwardbasewasusedfortheHalifaxelementatStantonHarcourtfromwheretheytookoffataround10:30hours.WithoutthecomfortofanescortthefifteenHalifaxes,nineofwhichwerefrom35Squadron,weremetbyintenseflakandfighteropposition,despitewhichsufficientdamagewasinflicteduponScharnhorsttonecessitateherreturntoBrestwherebetterrepairfacilitieswereonhand.Thissuccesscost35SquadrontwoHalifaxesand76Squadronthree,andnotoneofthesurvivingtenaircraftescapeddamageentirely.AcombinationofflakandafighteraccountedforL9512,whichwassuccessfullyabandonedbyF/SGreavesandhiscrewwhoweretakenintocaptivity.F/SGodwinandfourofhiscrewperishedwhenL9527wentdown.

405SquadroncontributednineWellingtonstotheattackatBrest,ledbyW/CGilchristinW5551.DespitetheFortressandHampdendistractions,theWellingtonforcemetastrongerthanexpectedfighterresponse,andtheflakdefencefromtheshipsandbatteriesaroundtheportwasalwaysspirited.SixhitswereclaimedontheGneisenaubutthesewereunconfirmed,andtenWellingtonswereshotdown.Itbecameabaddayfor405Squadronwhenthreeofitsaircraftfailedtomakeithome.ThefateofSgtCraigscrewwasquicklyestablished,aftertheyditched300yardsoffthecoastofDevonandwerepickedupbyamotorboat.TheywereabletodescribehowW5581hadundergonefourattacksbyBF109s,duringwhichthereargunnerwaswounded.Heremainedathispost,

however,andclaimedtohaveshotdownatleastoneoftheassailants.Theheavily-damagedWellingtonwascoaxedbackacrosstheChannelatlowlevelbeforelandingonthewater,andanumberofthecrewsustainedslightinjuries.W5530wasalsoattackedbytwofighters,andthereargunnerwasseriouslywoundedintheengagement.SgtScottbroughttheWellingtonhometoacrash-landingatRoboroughnearPlymouthbutthegunner,SgtDarnley,diedlaterinhospital.Evenso,thiscrewwasmorefortunatethanthatofP/OTruemaninW5537whichwaslostwithouttrace,presumablyintheChannel.Finally,W/CGilchristwasshotdownforthesecondtimeinfourmonths,theonlyconsolationonthisoccasionbeing,perhaps,thatitwasatleastbytheenemy.HeandallbutoneofhiscrewbaledoutoverFrance,whilethereargunner,F/OWigham,thesquadrongunneryleader,alonelosthislife.W/CGilchristwasinitiallycaptured,butsomehowmanagedtoescapelaterandmadehiswaybackhomeviaSwitzerland.Twoothermembersofthecrewalsoevadedcapture,andultimatelyreachedGibraltarforpassagehome.S/LKeddyassumedtemporarycommandofthesquadronpendingthearrivalofanewcommandingofficer.Thesameoperationaccountedfor104Squadronssecondlosssinceitsreformation.P/ONichollswasobservedtomaketwopassesoverthetargettoensuretheaccuratedeliveryofhisbombs,buthealsohadatleastfourenemyfightersforcompanyandtheywontheday,sendingW5438crashingintotheseawithoutsurvivors.

AmixedforceofWhitleysandHampdensraidedHanoveronthe25/26th,and10Squadronlosttwocrews.P/OSpiersandcrewdiedinT4231whenitcrashedinBelgium,andZ6624wentintotheNorthSea,takingwithitS/LLandaleandhiscrew.InhisAbschussreportObltzurLippe-WeissenfelddescribedpatrollingintheDenHelderarea,andbeingvectoredontoatargetwhichwasdifficulttofindbecauseofthepoorvisibility.Heeventuallycameuponitat2,200metresandwasthenabletoidentifyitasaWhitleyV.Itwasflyingsoslowlythathehadtodeployhislandingflapstoremainincontact,andcarriedouthisattackfrombelow.Hisfirehithomebetweentheleftengineandthefuselage,andtheengineburstintoflames.Withtheentirewingonfiretheaircraftwentdownvertically,andthewingbrokeawayjustbeforeimpactwiththeseasome15kilometressouth-westofDenHelder.ThebodyofobserverSgtGeorgeWells,aNewZealander,waswashedashoreonTexelon15AugustandwasburiedinDenBurgCemeterywithfullmilitaryhonoursonthefollowingday.ThebodyofhiscrewmateSgtChristiewasrecoveredfromtheseaonthe23rdandhewasburiedonSylttwodayslater.ThebrotherofSgtWellswasdestinedtolosehislifealso,whenthe1651CUStirlinginwhichhewasthereargunnerwaslostduringanoperationtoHamburgon29July.102SquadronalsopostedmissinganotablememberofitsranksafterZ6576wasshotdownintotheNorthSeabyanightfighter.ThepilotwasS/LVerdon-Roe,amemberofthefoundingfamilyoftheAvroAircraftCompany,whodiedalongsidehiscrew.Anothermemberofthisfamilywastolosehislifewith156Squadronlaterinthewar.35SquadronsustainedanotherlosswhenL9507failedtoreturnfromBerlinonthesamenight,anditwaslaterlearnedthatP/OCooperandhiscrewhadperished.TwelveWhitleyswererecalledwhenboundforBoulogneonthe30/31st,buttheorderdidnotaffectT4212whichhadcrashedimmediatelyaftertake-off.Happily,P/OIvesonandhiscrewwereunhurt,andinjustovertwoyearstimehewouldbeappointedtothecommandof76Squadron,apostwhichhewouldholdthroughoutthemainBattleofBerlinandthepre-andpost-invasionperiods.

AugustbeganfortheheavybrigadewithoperationsagainstHamburg,BerlinandKielonthe2/3rd.EightHalifaxeswereassignedtotheBigCity,andalthoughweatherconditionsandthepaucityoftheattackingforcerenderedthemissionineffective,theyallmadeithome.Sadly,thatwasnotthecasefor104SquadronsW5580andthecrewofP/OMcGlashanwhowereforcedtoditchintheNorthSea,presumablyonthewayhomefromtheirbriefedobjectiveofBerlin.Aweeklaterandfollowingstormyweather,adinghywaswashedashoreontheDutchcoastcontainingthebodiesoftwoofthecrew.Thebodyofanothermemberofthecrewcameashoresomeseventeendayslater.Thiswasthefirstmissingcrewinwhatwouldbecomeaveryexpensivemonthfor104Squadron.ThreenightslaterMannheim,KarlsruheandFrankfurtwereraided,witha4Groupcontributionatthelasttwomentioned.ElevenHalifaxescontributedtoaforceofalmost100assortedaircraftsenttoattackrailwaytargetsatKarlsruhe,halfofwhichwere5GroupHampdens.A76SquadronHalifaxwasamongthethreefailurestoreturn,andanotherwas104SquadronsW5485inwhichP/OJonesandhiscrewlosttheirlives.Damagedbyflak,W5517wasalsowrittenoffthatnightaftercrash-landingatHorsham-St-FaithonreturnfromSaarbrcken.SgtStephensonandhiscrewemergedunscathedfromthewreckage,butitwouldbeonlyatemporaryreprieve.Essenescapedwithonlyslight,superficialdamagewhenattackedonthe7/8thbyaforceincludingtwelveHalifaxes,allofwhichreturned.OnlyfourWhitleysaccompaniedfiftyHampdenstoKielonthe8/9th,butoneofthese,10SquadronsZ6815,waslostinthetargetareawithnosurvivorsfromthecrewofP/OLittlewood.AnothertiltatBerlinwaslaunchedonthenightofthe12/13thusingalargerforcethanthatemployedatthestartofthemonth.Intheeventonlythirty-twooftheseventy-strongforcereachedthetarget,andnineaircraftfailedtoreturn,amassive12.9percent.35Squadronscontingentallmadeithome,butL9497hadlostanenginetoflakandcrash-landedinNorfolkwithjustonememberofP/OMcGregor-Cheerscrewsustaininginjury.76Squadronpostedmissingtwocrews,oneofthemcaptainedbyF/LChristopherCheshire,youngerbrotherofLeonard,whoseHalifax,L9530,wasshotdownbyflaknearGermanysnorth-westerncoast.Heandthecrewmembersupfrontsurvivedtofallintoenemyhands,butbothgunnerslosttheirlives.76SquadronlostathirdaircraftandentirecrewwhenL9562stalledandcrashedonapproachtolandandburstintoflames.Itprovedtobeabadnightfor104Squadron,whichpostedmissingthecrewsofflightcommanderS/LBuddenandSgtHolymaninW5461andW5443respectively.Therewerenosurvivorsfromthelatter,butS/LBuddenandhiscrewallbecamePoWs.S/LBuddenwasapre-warpilot,whohadcompletedhisfirsttourofoperationswith51Squadronin1940.Anotherlong-rangeoperationtookseven35SquadronHalifaxesandtwofrom76SquadrontoMagdeburgonthe14/15thtoattackrailwayinstallations.Resultscouldntbedeterminedbecauseofthecloudcover,andL9500failedtoreturnhomehavingcrashedinGermanywiththelossofP/OLisleandcrew.104SquadronsW5486wastakingpartinasimultaneousoperationtoHanoverwhenitwasbroughtdownoverGermanywiththelossofP/ODrewsonandhiscrew.ThevulnerabilityoftheWhitleywasbecomingapparent,andthiswasconfirmedatCologneonthe16/17thwhensevenofthetwenty-ninedespatchedwiththirty-sevenWellingtonsfailedtoreturn.Threeofthemcamefrom10Squadron:Z6586whichcrashedinBelgium,killingP/OSpiersandallhiscrew;Z6794,inwhichSgtLagerandoneofhiscrewdied;andZ6805,fromwhichSgtCraskeandthreeofhiscrewsurvivedasPoWs,onelaterbeingshotfollowingamassescapefromaPoWcamp.Thenewcommandingofficerof405Squadron,W/CFenwick-

WilsonAFCwho,likeW/CGilchrist,wasaCanadianservingintheRAF,arrivedatDriffieldonthe17th.LatethateveningaircraftbegantakingofffromDriffieldforCologne,amongthem104SquadronsW5532.Justthirty-fiveminuteslatertheWellingtoncrashedinLincolnshirekillingallonboard.ThecrewwasthatofSgtStephenson,whohadcrash-landedtheirflak-damagedaircraftatHorsham-St-Faithjustelevendaysearlier.

Itwasonthe18ththatMrD.M.ButtpublishedhisreportontheCommandseffectiveness,andthecontentsweretosendshockwavesreverberatingaroundthecorridorsofWhitehall.Havingporedover4,000photographstakenduring100nightoperationsinJuneandJuly,heconcludedthatonlyatinyfractionofbombswerefallingwithinmilesoftheirintendedtargets.Itwasamassiveblowtomorale,anddemonstratedthatthusfar,theeffortsofthecrewshadbeentotallyineffectiveinreducingGermanyscapacitytowagewar.Theclaimsofthecrewswereshowntobewildlyoptimistic,aswerethoseoftheCommandwhowereusingthemaspropagandaonthefrontpagesofthepress.SirRichardPeirsestenureasC-in-CBomberCommandwouldbeforeverunjustlyblightedbythereportsrevelations.

OnthenightoftheButtstudysrelease,fiveoutofseventeenWhitleyswerelost,againduringanoperationtoCologne,and10SquadronpostedmissingthecrewsofP/OEvill,allkilledinZ6564,andS/LKane,whosurvivedasaPoWwithoneotherwhenZ6672crashedneartheDutch/Germanborder.Itturnedintoanevenworsenightfor51SquadronwhichpostedmissingthreecrewsandlostanotherinEngland.Z6566washitbyflakoverthetarget,anditbecamenecessaryforthecrewtobaleoutoverHolland.Thepilot,SgtJames,gaveuphisparachuteafteroneofhiscrewfoundhistobeunusable,agestureforwhichhewaslaterawardedtheDFM,andhethencrash-landedtheWhitleyandwascapturedalongwiththerestofhiscrew.Whileincaptivityhedevelopedtuberculosisandwasrepatriated,onlytosuccumbtotheillnessin1944.(BomberCommandLossesVol2,W.R.Chorley.)Z6569wasattackedbyanightfighteroverBelgium,duringwhichoneofthecrewwaskilledandP/ORobertshawandtheothersbaledouttofallintoenemyhands.Z6811wentdownoverHolland,killingSgtJamiesonandthreeofhiscrew,andfinally,Z6731crashedinSuffolkonreturnandnonesurvivedfromthecrewofP/OLoney.ThenexttargetfortheHalifaxbrigadewasKielonthe19/20th,whensixaccompanied100otheraircrafttoattackrailwayinstallations.Thickcloudandicingconditionsovernorth-westernGermanydiscouragedalmosthalfoftheforcefrompressingon,andhardlyanybombsfellonthetown.104Squadroncontributedtothisoperationalso,andpostedmissingthecrewofF/LBurtoninW5461,whichdisappearedintothesea.Further10Squadronfatalitiesoccurredonthe22/23rd,whenT4234crashedinWestmorelandonreturnfromLeHavre,andonlythreeofP/OLiebeckscrewsurvived,albeitwithinjuries.

Itwasoddhowanaccidentofsomesort,perhapsaforcedlanding,frequentlyseemedtopresageagreaterdisasterforthecrewinthenearfuture,likethatof104SquadronsSgtStephensonalreadymentioned.Another104Squadronaircraft,W5477,crashedwhiletryingtolandatDriffieldafteratransitflightfromMartleshamHeathwhereithadlandedonreturnfromthepreviousnightsoperations.SgtRichardsonandhiscrewwerealladmittedtohospital,butheandthreeotherswouldbedeclaredfittoflyagainbeforelongwithfatalconsequences.Justtwelvedaysafterthe35SquadroncrewofMcGregor-Cheershadsuccessfullycrash-landedinNorfolkwithadefunctengine,theyfailedtoreturnfrom

DsseldorfinL9572,havingdiedonBelgiansoilduringanineffectivemodestly-scaledoperationonthenightofthe24/25th.ThefirstAustralianWellingtonsquadrontojoin4GroupwasformedatHolme-on-Spalding-Mooronthe25th.ItscommandingofficerwasW/CMulholland,anAustralianoflongserviceintheRAF.TheSquadronsfirsttwoWellingtons,R1490andR1695,wouldarriveonthe30th,followedbyZ1272andZ1273onthefollowingday.AfurtherfifteenwouldbetakenonchargeduringSeptembertobringthesquadronuptofullstrength.Morethan100aircraftsetoffforDuisburgonthenightofthe28/29th,andanotheronlymarginallyusefulresultcost35SquadronthecrewofP/OAdkinsinL9501whichcamedowninGermanywithoutsurvivors.Italsocost104Squadronyetanothercrewinwhatwasbecominganunsustainableattritionrate.W5595failedtomakeithomeforreasonsthatwereneverestablished,andtherewerenosurvivorsfromthecrewofSgtSpickett.Takingthisnightslossintoaccount,thesquadronhadlosttenaircraftandeightcrewsduringAugust,theequivalentofonecompleteflightorhalfthesquadron.

Septemberbeganfor35and76SquadronswiththecontributionoffiveandtwoHalifaxesrespectivelytoaraidonBerlinonthe2/3rd,whilealargerforcewenttoFrankfurt.ItwasanexpensivenightthatresultedintwoemptydispersalstocontemplateatLinton-on-Ouse,thehomeof35Squadron,onthefollowingmorning,thosethatshouldhavebeenoccupiedbyL9508andL9560.F/OJamesandoneofhiscrewdiedintheformer,whileP/OFraserandfourofhiscrewlosttheirlivesinthelatterafteritcamedowninGermany.104SquadronsbadruncontinuedwiththecrashinYorkshireofW5435duringanoperationtoFrankfurt.P/ODohertyandhiscrewallsurvived,buttheysustainedinjuriestosomeextent.W/CJarmanwaspostedtoHQ4Grouponthe4th,andW/CSuttonsucceededhimat76Squadron.He,itwillberecalled,hadcommanded58Squadronforsixmonthsin1940.AfterelevenmonthsatTopcliffe77SquadronmovedtoLeemingonthe5th,andwouldcarryoutitsfirstoperationfromitsnewhomeonthenightofthe6/7th.Thecrewsconductedair-testsinpreparation,andinpoorweather,10SquadronsSgtStuartlandedZ6932atAcklingtontogethisbearings.Ontake-offforbasetheaircraftstruckhigh-tensioncables,crashedandcaughtfire,killingthepilotandtwoothers.Eighty-sixWhitleys,WellingtonsandHampdenstookoffforthetarget,achemicalsfactoryatHls,andreturningcrewsclaimedgoodresults.Sevenaircraftfailedtoreturn,however,andfiveofthemwereWhitleys,ofwhichtwowerefrom77Squadron.Z6668crashedinGermanywithnosurvivorsfromthecrewofSgtMercer,andanightfighteraccountedforZ6824overHolland,killingflightcommanderS/LHanniganandallbutoneofhiscrew,whilethesurvivorwascaptured.Tocompoundtheselosses,Z6654crash-landedontheshoreatCromerwithbattledamagesustainedinabrushwithanightfighter,butP/OHavelockandhiscrewemergedunscathed.Sadly,timewasalsorunningoutforthiscrew,andonlyonememberwouldsurvivetoseetheNewYear.10SquadronsZ6478fellvictimtoanightfighteroverHolland,andSgtPoupardandcrewwerekilled.Z6942alsofailedtoreturntocompleteabadnightfortheShinyTens,buthappilyF/SHolderandallofhiscrewsurvivedasPoWs.Almost200aircraft,includingthirty-oneWhitleys,tookoffforBerlinonthefollowingnightandsomedamagewascreated,althoughnothingofaseriousnature.104SquadronsW5362waslostwithouttracewiththecrewofSgtRichardsonandthreeofthecrewwhohadsurvivedthelandingcrashatDriffieldtwoweeksearlier.

The8thwasthedayonwhich10SquadronbadefarewelltoW/CV.B.BennettandwelcomedinhissteadW/CTuck,whowouldpresideoverthesquadronsimpendingconversionfromWhitleystoHalifaxes.Onthe9thW/CHanafinwaspostedawayfrom77Squadronattheconclusionofhistour,andhewasreplacedbyW/CDavidYoung.Berlinwasthemaintargetonthe7/8thforwhichalmost200aircraftsetoff.OnlysixHalifaxestookpart,fiveofthemfrom35Squadron,andalthoughathirdoftheforceturnedbackbeforereachingthetarget,thosethatpressedonproducedareasonablyeffectiveattackandbombedoutalmost3,000people.AHalifaxcontingentcrossedtheAlpstoraidTurinonthe10/11th,andgoodresultswereclaimedbyreturningcrews.NotamongthemwasthatofF/OWilliams,whowerebeginninganewcareerasPoWsafterL9566wasbroughtdown.Inthemeantime,aWhitleyforcewassenttoattackthedocksatWarnemndeontheBalticcoastonthe11/12th,anditbeganaseriesof10Squadronlossesinvolvingthesea,someendinghappily,othersnot.P5109tookthecrewofP/OPurvistoawaterygraveintheNorthSea,possiblyastheresultoffuelshortage,andthatwasdefinitelythecauseofZ6867sditchingoffBridlington,followingwhichP/OHackingandcrewwerepickedupsafely.AlsogratefultotherescueserviceswerethecrewofSgtRochford,followingtheditchingofftheYorkshirecoastofZ6802onthe20/21st.ThiswasagainthroughfuelshortageonreturnfromWismar,whichtheyhadbombedasanalternativetotheprimarytargetofBerlin.In-betweentheseincidents,onthe15/16th,anunusuallyeffectiveattackfortheperiodfellonHamburgandinflictedmuchpropertydamage.Theeightmissingaircraftincluded35SquadronsL9503,inwhichP/OBrownwaskilled,whilehiscrewsurvivedtofallintoenemyhands.

FourthquarterAsmallforceofWhitleysandWellingtonsdeliveredanineffectiveraidonStuttgartonthe1/2ndofOctober,andalackoffuelforced10SquadronsP/OGodfreytoditchZ6941intheBristolChannelonreturn,fromwhereheandhiscrewwerepickedupsafeandsound.Itwouldbeafulltwomonthsbeforethesquadronsnextcasualtyoccurred,despiteoperationstosomewell-defendedtargetsinthemeantime.ThefirstdestinationofthemonthfortheHalifaxbrigadewasBrestonthe2/3rd,fromwhichallsixparticipantsreturnedsafelywithclaimsofwitnessingbombburstsclosetothewarships.Onthe5thW/CHowardwasappointedasthenewcommandingofficerof102Squadron,andhehadaweektosettleinbeforepresidingoverhisandthemonthsfirstlarge-scaleoperation.ThiswouldbethefirstconcertedefforttotargetthebirthplaceofNazism,thesouthernGermancityofNuremberg.Some152crewsattendedbriefingsonthe12th,includingfifty-fourfrom4GroupWhitleysquadronsandninefromtheHalifaxunits.Mostgotawaybetween19.00and20.00,butitseemsthatfewactuallyarrivedoverthetargetcityandmanyoutlyingcommunitiesfoundthemselvesunderthebombs.Nurembergreportedfewbombsfallingandonlyslightdamage,anditwouldprovetobeanelusiveobjectiveforsomeyearstocome.W/CSawyerledthe78Squadroncontingentonthisnight,anditwouldbehislastoperationascommandingofficer.Onthewayhome,hisaircraftwassubjectedtothirtyminutesofaccuratepredictedflak,whichcameupthroughthecloudsat14,000feet,relentlesslypursuingtheloneaircraftuntilitwasoutofrange.Afollow-upraidtwonightslaterwasequallyineffective,buttheHalifaxcontingentreturnedwithoutincident.

Earlierinthemonth40Squadronof3Groupand4Groups104Squadronhadbeenorderedtoprepareforwhatwasinitiallyintendedtobeatwo-monthtourofdutyonMalta.Accordingly,W/CBeareledfifteenaircrafttoaforwardbaseinmid-monthbeforesettingoutforLuqa.Theytookupresidencethereonthe18th,leavingbehindaskeletonhomeechelonatDriffieldunderthecommandofS/LProtheroe,whosebriefwastorebuildthesquadron.Onthe20th78SquadronmovedtoCroft,anewly-openedsatelliteofMiddleton-St-Georgeafewmilestothesouth-west.Conditions,asatallofthehastilyconstructednewairfieldsspringingupinbombercountry,werespartanandasnapinspectionbytheAOC,AVMRoddyCarr,producedsomeembarrassmentforW/CSawyerandhisbasecommanderG/CTraill.Themovewasnotallowedtointerferewithoperationalrequirements,however,and78Squadronwasexpectedtobeontoplinethroughouttheupheavals.458Squadronwenttowarforthefirsttimeonthenightofthe20/21st,whentenofitsWellingtonswereinvolvedinoperationsagainstEmdenanddocksatAntwerpandRotterdam.Z1218failedtoreturnfromtheAntwerpcontingent,andSgtHamiltondiedwithallbutoneofhiscrew.AfewdaysafterthemovetoCroft,W/CSawyerwasnotifiedofhisimpendingscreeningfromoperationsattheendofthemonth,andthathewastobesucceededat78Squadronbyoneoftheflightcommanders,S/LMercer.AperiodofrelativeinactivityhadensuedaftertheNurembergoperations,whichwasbrokenforsixoftheHalifaxbrigadewhentheyjoinedforceswithWellingtonsandWhitleystoattackMannheimonthe22/23rd.Lessthanhalftheforcearrivedinthetargetareaaftericingconditionswereencounteredandtheoperationfailed.TheHalifaxwasstillverymuchajuniorpartnerinoperationalterms,butthenewMkIIexampleswerebeginningtorolloutofthefactoriesand35Squadronreceiveditsfirsttwoexamples,R9364andV9979,onthe25th.Onthelastnightofthemonth123aircraftsetoffforHamburg,andfollowingarelativelyusefulattackfourWhitleysfailedtoreturn,twoeachfrom51and77squadronswithnotasinglesurvivoramongthem.51SquadronsZ9141crashedintotheWaddenzeeoffTexelafterencounteringtheDo215ofOfwPaulGildnerofII/NJG1outofLeeuwarden.ThebodiesofS/LBarsbyandhiscrewwererecoveredovertheensuingdaysandburiedinDenBurgCemeterywithfullmilitaryhonours.

AnoperationtoKielonthenightofthe1/2ndofNovemberwreckedW/CSawyersintendeddeparturefrom78Squadron.S/LMercerfailedtoreturn,andSawyerspostingwouldhavetobepostponeduntilanewcandidatecouldbefound.AsaresultW/CSawyerwouldremainincommandfortherestoftheyear,althoughnotparticipatinginoperations.Possiblyfrustratedbytherecentrunofbadweather,Peirseplannedamajornightofoperationsforthenightof7/8November,anddespiteafurtherunfavourableweatherforecast,theywereallowedtogoahead.Berlinwastobethemaintarget,andtheoriginalplancalledformorethan200aircrafttobeinvolved.However,doubtsabouttheweatherpromptedthe5GroupA-O-C,AVMSlessor,toobject,andhewasallowedtowithdrawhiscontributionofseventy-fiveaircraftandsendtheminsteadtoCologne.AthirdforceofWellingtonsdrawnfrom1and3GroupswasassignedtoMannheim,andanumberofminoroperationswerealsolaidon.Anewrecordnumberof392sortieswereinvolvedinallthenightsactivities,and169ofthemsetcourseforBerlinoveraperiodofafewhoursthroughouttheevening.10SquadroncontributedfiveWhitleystoaforceofforty-twoofthetypeheadingforthecapital,while35SquadronputupfourHalifaxesand76Squadronfive.Itwasdestinedtobeanightofdisappointmentandlosses,asdemonstratedby51Squadronsexperiences.S/LDickensonledeightWhitleystothe

capital,andfivecrews,thoseofP/OMonroinZ9133,P/OPotterinZ6554,andSgtsBrown,AbercassisandPoheinZ6879,Z9146andZ9165respectivelyallclaimedtohavereachedtheirdestinationandbombedasbriefed,whileSgtEdwardsinZ9164attackedanalternativetarget.77Squadronscontributionwaseightaircraft,ledbyZ6943withW/CYoungatthecontrols.Heandthreeothercrews,thoseofP/OOgierinZ6628,F/LParkininZ6952andP/OHavelockinZ9225,reachedandbombedtheprimarytargetbeforereturningsafelyhomeaftermorethantenhoursintheair.P/OScott-MartinandhiscrewattackedSyltasanalternativetargetinZ6822,andthethreeremainingsortieswereabandonedaltogether.Allofthe35Squadronaircraftbombedtheprimarytargetandreturnedsafely,butlessthanhalfthetotalforcemadeittoBerlin,anddamagewasconsequentlyscatteredandlight.The5GroupattackonColognewasalsototallyineffectiveandaccordingtotheMannheimauthoritiesnobombsfellthere.TheBerlinfailurecosttheCommandtwenty-oneaircraft,andsevenWellingtonsfailedtoreturnfromMannheim.TherewerenolossesfromColognebutafurthernineaircraftwerelostfromtheminoroperations,bringingthemissingtotaltothirty-seven,morethantwicetheprevioushighestforasinglenight.Ofthese,onewasa35SquadronHalifaxwhichwasshotdownbyanightfighteroverHollandduringaRoverpatroltoEssen.P/OWhitakerwaskilledalongwithtwoofhiscrew,andtheremainderfellintoenemyhands.ThisdisastrousnightwasthefinalstrawfortheAirMinistry,andSirRichardPeirsewassummonedtoanuncomfortablemeetingwithChurchilltomakehisexplanations.W/CSuttonwaspostedtoHQBomberCommandonthe9th,leaving76Squadrontemporarilywithoutacommandingofficer.S/LBouwenssteppedintothebreachuntiltheappointmentofanewcommandingofficerinmid-December.Onthe13thC-in-CPeirsewasorderedtorestrictoperationswhilethefutureoftheCommandwasconsideredatthehighestlevel,leavingtheveryexistenceofBomberCommandinthebalance.

Onthe15ththecharismatic,pipe-smokingW/CPickPickardsucceededW/CBurnettasthenewcommandingofficerof51Squadron,freshfromhisstarringroleinthepropagandafeaturefilmTargetforTonight,inwhichheplayedthecaptainofWellingtonFforFreddie.Thisparalleledhisactualcareertodate,havingservedafirsttourwith99Squadronbeforebeingpostedtothecommandof311CzechSquadroninJuly1940andthenservingasaflightcommanderwith9Squadron.Ontheverysameday,andexactlyayearsinceitsarrivalatTopcliffe,102SquadrondepartedforDalton,anewairfieldwhichhadjustopened.Operationswouldcontinuefromhere,buttheendwasinsightforthevenerableandhighlyreliableWhitley,asthesquadronwasearmarkedtobecomethefourthtoreceivetheHalifax.Onthe24th458SquadrongavebirthtoanewAustralianunit,460Squadron,whendonatingfourofficersandmorethan100NCOs.460wouldservewith1GroupandbecomeoneofthemostprolificsquadronsintheCommand.Germanportsandthosealongtheoccupiedcoastdominatedthesecondhalfofthemonth,buttheHalifaxeswerenotheavilycommitteduntilthe25/26thwhenelevenofthemwerejoinedbysevenStirlingsforanotherattemptontheGermancruisersatBrest.Afurtherelevenwerecontributedtoaforceof180aircraftsenttoHamburgonthelastnightofthemonth,andthosereachingthetargetproducedareasonabledegreeofdamage,includingtwenty-twofires,forthelossofthirteenoftheirnumber.OnlyoneHalifaxfailedtoreturn,35SquadronsL9582,fromwhichF/SHamiltonandfiveofhiscrewparachutedintocaptivity.405Squadronshighlyexperiencedflightcommander,S/LBissettDFC*,sentasignalsayinghewasabandoninghissortie,butW5476neverarrivedhomeand

presumablycrashedintothesea.Aseasearchwasmountedonthefollowingday,butnotraceoftheaircraftoritscrewwasfound.ItwasalsoonthislastnightofNovemberthattheReaperreturnedto10Squadronafteralengthyabsence.Z9166wasswallowedupbythecoldNorthSeaonthewayhomefromEmden,andtookwithitthecrewofP/ONelson.ThesquadronslongassociationwiththetrustyoldWhitleywascomingtoanendandjusttwomorewouldbelostbeforetheygavewaytotheHalifax.

Decemberbeganfor77Squadronwithanotherchangeofleadership.TheverypopularandrespectedW/CYoungwaspostedawayonthe2nd,shortlytoassumecommandof76Squadron,apostinwhichhewastoremainforthenextninemonths.InSeptember1942hewouldbepostedtotheMiddleEasttotakecommandofthenewly-forming462SquadronoftheRoyalAustralianAirForce,aunitwhichwouldeventuallyfinditselfpostedto4Groupforashortspellin1944beforecompletingitswartimeserviceasoneof100Groupsheavysquadrons.Thenewcommandingofficerat77SquadronwasW/CDonBennett,whohadbeenreadmittedtotheRAFafteraciviliancareerasanairlinepilot,andhavingmostrecentlypioneeredtheAtlanticFerryservice.AsanairmanBennettundoubtedlyrankedamongthebest,andasanavigatorhewasunrivalled.Hewassomewhatdisappointedatfinding77SquadronstillequippedwithWhitleys,buthewouldmakethebestofthesituationandbringthebenefitsofhisvastexperiencetohiscrews.ItwasduringDecemberthatHalifaxesbegantoarriveatDaltontoallow102Squadrontobegintheconversionprocess.Thefirst,R9390,turneduponthe3rd,andworkinguptooperationalstatusbeganimmediatelyunderthelikesofP/OWallyLashbrook,formerlyof35Squadron.AConversionFlightwouldbeformed,butthatwouldnthappenuntilearlyJanuary.Theevolutiontooperationalstatuswastoproveaveryslowprocess,largelybecauseoftheconstantmodificationstothetype,andinthemeantime,thesquadronwouldsoldieronwiththeWhitley.

Themonthwouldfollowasimilarpatternofoperations,withportsreceivingthebulkoftheattention.10SquadronspenultimatelossofaWhitleyoccurredwhenZ9162crashedonlandingonreturnfromanabortivesortietoDunkerqueonthe7/8th,anddespitehavingretaineditsbombloadandcatchingfire,thecrewofSgtBarberscrambledawayunhurt.Colognewasraidedbyasmallforceonthe11/12thand35SquadronpostedmissingthecrewofP/OBuckleyinL9600,whichwentdownofftheBelgiancoastwithoutsurvivors.Returningfromthesameoperation10SquadronsZ9188crashedinYorkshire,injuringP/OKennyandthreeofhiscre