Action This Day

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300 Sqn (Polish) (Ingham – Wellington IV) 8.7.42

During the afternoon 10 crews were briefed for operations on WILHELMSHAVHN. This raid was not so successful as three of our crews failing to complete the mission, one through enemy interception, one due to engine failure and the other to a navigational error, the latter however attacked <unreadable> area, but did not observe results. On this raid unusually intense flak was encountered, but the remaining seven aircraft pressed home their attacks and the captains all report that very large fires were left burning in the target area. Unfortunately, aircraft J-1489 captained by Sgt. Syzchowiak failed to return from this operation. The captain ditched his aircraft owing to engine having been hit. Unfortunately the front gunner Sgt. Rawski was thrown forward and down toward the lower escape hatch when the aircraft hit the sea and it sank immediately the crew were unsuccessful in their efforts to help him. The rest of the crew were picked up by a Sea Rescue Boat and landed at Grimsby. The captains head was slightly injured and all suffered from exposure, but have now completely recovered.

ADDENDUM – Wellington IV Z1489 BH-J. Crew: Sgt. L Szychowiak PAF, F/O E Slomkowsi PAF, Sgt. B Molik PAF, Sgt. E Jelonik PAF, Sgt. J Rawski PAF. T/o 2347 Ingham, claimed shot down into the Innenjade by the floating Flak battery ‘Medusa’ (M Flak Abt. 222) at 0154 hours. Heavily damaged Z1489 ditched off Great Yarmouth. The claim by ‘Medusa’ was officially confirmed as the 41st confirmed victory of the II. Marine Flak Brigade. Sgt. Rawski is commemorated on the Northolt Memorial.

Wilhelmshaven – 285 aircraft – 137 Wellingtons, 52 Lancasters, 38 Halifaxes, 34 Stirlings, 24 Hampdens – to attack the dock areas. 5 aircraft – 3 Wellingtons, 1 Halifax, 1 Lancaster – lost.

Photographs showed that most of the bombing fell in open country west of the target. Wilhelmshaven reports damage to housing and a variety of other premises: the harbourmaster’s residence and offices, a dockyard restaurant, a department store, and a bus garage with 30 buses inside which were all destroyed. 25 people were killed and 170 injured.

Base Changes
1 Sqn (Hurricane IIB/C) moved to Acklington
64 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Hornchurch
232 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Llanbedr
312 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Harrowbeer

First and Last Operational Missions
41 Sqn (Debden) flew its last OM in the Spitfire VB
400 Sqn RCAF (Odiham) flew its first OM in the Mustang I
485 Sqn RNZAF (King’s Cliffe) flew its first OM in the Spitfire VB
616 Sqn (Kenley) flew its first OM in the Spitfire VI

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142 Sqn (Grimsby – Wellington IV) 9.7.42

The Squadron was ordered to minelay. Ten aircraft took off. One returned early owing to port engine being unserviceable, one aircraft mines safe the reason for this not being known, and one (F/O Critchison and crew) failed to return.

ADDENDUM – Wellington IV Z1324 QT-A. Crew: F/O SB Critchison, P/O JEH Edmond RCAF, Sgt. WE Hudson, Sgt. HS Stock, Sgt. JC Skelton. T/o 2337 Grimsby, shot down by Oblt. Ludwig Becker (26th victory) 6./NJG2 into the sea NE Terschelling at 0112 hours. P/O Edmond is buried on the island of Schiermonnikoog in Vredenhof Cemetery; the rest are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Minelaying – 59 aircraft to Heligoland and the Frisian Islands. This was the only aircraft lost.

Base Changes
66 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Ibsley
174 Sqn (Hurricane IIB) moved to Fowlmere
203 Sqn (Baltimore IV/Maryland I) moved to LG-X

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75 Sqn (Feltwell – Wellington III) 10.7.42

OPERATIONS. – DAYLIGHT ATTACK ON DUSSELDORF

Four aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 500 lbs was carried, but results were disappointing. Well. III X3279, captained by Sgt. Wilmshurst failed to return to base. There was no A.A. fire, searchlights, or enemy a/c reported. There was approx. 6/10th Cumulus on route. Navigation was excellent.

ADDENDUM – Wellington III X3729 AA-?. Crew: Sgt. JC Wilmshurst RNZAF, Sgt. JD Gould RNZAF, Sgt. RE Sharp RNZAF, F/Sgt. PD Lowther RNZAF, Sgt. RJ Hirst RNZAF. Presumed lost over the sea. Sgt. Sharp and F/Sgt. Lowther, rest in Sage War Cemetery; their three companions are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Base Changes
2 Sqn SAAF (Kittyhawk I) moved to LG.97
4 Sqn SAAF (Kittyhawk I) moved to LG.97

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101 Sqn (Bourn – Wellington III) 11.7.42

War Operations – Mine Laying – Captains – S/Ldr. Freeman, P/O. Angel, W/O. Ollier, F/Sgt. Roberts, F/Sgt. Williams, Sgt. Foxcroft, Sgt. Mahoney, Sgt. Fotheringham. 8 A/C detailed. 1 A/C attacked primary target. 1 A/C attacked alternative target, 4 A/C returned mines, 2 A/C missing.

ADDENDUM – Wellington III Z1751 SR-? Crew: S/Ldr FCG Freeman, P/O LR Goad, Sgt SH Hughes, Sgt, SRH De Laspee, P/O RM lee. T/o 2150 Bourn. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Wellinton III BJ583 SR-? Crew: P/O AA Angel, F/Sgt GT Morris RCAF, F/Sgt AJ Gerein RCAF, F/Sgt EJ Howe RCAF, Sgt RM Wilkinson. T/o Bourn to lay mines off Heligoland. P/O Angel, F/Sgt Morris, F/Sgt Gerein, and Sgt Wilkinson are buried in Sage War Cemetery. Sgt Howe is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

41 Wellingtons and 8 Stirlings minelaying off Heligoland, in the Frisians, and in the Langeland Belt. These were the only
aircraft lost.

First formal decoration ceremony held in Eighth AF takes place when Gen Spaatz pins DSC on Maj
Charles C Kegelman for extraordinary gallantry and heroism during the raid of 4 July.

Base Changes

260 Sqn (Kittyhawk I) moved to LG.97

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460 Sqn RAAF Sqn (Breighton – Wellington IV) 12.7.42

Twelve aircraft took part in a “gardening” operation. Wellington Z1328 (U) failed to return and the crew AUS 407534 Sgt. MOYLE A.L., AUS 404948 Sgt. BRAYNE F.C., AUS 402551 Sgt. SHARKEY R.J.B., AUS 404950 Sgt. BELFORD T.D., AUS 403875 Sgt. PERRY R.J. and AUS 407844 Sgt. DREYER L.C.U. are reported missing presumably through the result of enemy action.

ADDENDUM – Wellington IV Z1328 UV-U. T/o 2235 Breighton to lay mines in the Nectarines region. Hit by heavy Flak of M.Flak Abt. 226 (Nordeney) and crashed in flames in North Sea 3-4 km N. of Nordeney at 0047 hours. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Minelaying – 55 aircraft to Lorient, St. Nazaire, and the Frisians. 1 Hampden and 1 Wellington lost.

8th AF – American crews flew in 6 of 12 Boston’s bombing Abbeville airfield. This was their last introductory flight with the Boston’s of 2 Group. The crews were from the 15th (Light) BS, and had flown 13 sorties with the RAF’s 226 Squadron and had lost 3 crews.

Base Changes
40 Sqn SAAF TR (Non-Op) moved to Wadi Natrun
130 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Warmwell
174 Sqn (Hurricane IIB) moved to Manston
208 Sqn (Hurricane I/IIA/Tomahawk IIB) moved to LG.100
254 Sqn (Blenheim IVF) moved to Dyce

First and Last Operational Missions
233 Sqn (Gibraltar) flew its last OM’s in the Hudson III/V

[simovitch]

Cool to see the 8th AF making a gradual appearance. And now I see why you want me to add "gardening" missions to BTR...

[warshipbuilder]

Cool to see the 8th AF making a gradual appearance. And now I see why you want me to add "gardening" missions to BTR...

Ahh, you have had a Come to Gardening moment have you?

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35 Sqn (Linton-on-Ouse – Halifax II) 13.7.42

Nine aircraft were detailed to raid DUISBURG where the target was obscured by heavy cloud which thinned sufficiently to enable five aircraft to identify their target visually, the remainder relying on T.R. There were no reports of hits in the target area as results could not be observed. W.1154 (A), Captain F/S CASEY, returned from the target with its port outer engine out of action. The propeller of this engine would not feather and the aircraft became difficult to control. Height was lost until the aircraft crashed near CANTERBURY. The Captain and Flight Engineer, Sgt. WILLIAMS, J.C., remained in the aircraft and were killed. The rest of the crew bailed out and landed safely. W.7761 (N) Captain Sgt. MACDONALD< H.B., returned with a 4000 lb bomb hung up by its lugs. The bomb could not be freed and the aircraft was abandoned and crashed near HARROGATE. In falling, it turned on its back and the bomb was wrenched free, fell and exploded about half a mile from the aircraft. The crew landed safely. One aircraft failed to take off owing to intercom failure.

Duisburg – 291 aircraft – 170 Wellingtons, 39 Halifax’s, 36 Stirling’s, 29 Lancaster’s, 17 Hampden’s. 12 aircraft – 10 Wellingtons, 1 Halifax, 1 Hampden – lost.

253 returning crews reported that they had bombed and started many fires but photographs’ showed that the flares of the leading aircraft, dropped by Gee, were not accurate and part of the bombing fell in open country over the Rhine to the west.

Returning crews reported that Duisburg’s Flak and searchlight defences were not as fierce as in recent raids to that target because of the haze and most of the bomber losses were suffered on the coastal fighter belt.

Duisburg reports much damage in housing areas, 94 buildings being destroyed and 256 seriously damaged with 49 people killed. What BC documents describe as ‘ground sources’ later stated that the Thyssen steelworks and 2 other important war industries were hit.

USAMEAF - B-17s bomb Tobruk harbour, and B-24s hit ships and harbour at Benghazi. Heavy AA fire accounts for the loss of I B-24.

Base Changes
124 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Gravesend
611 Sqn (Martlesham Heath) flew its first OM in the Spitfire VB

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81 Sqn (Hornchurch – Spitfire VB) 14.7.42

Pilots were called for briefing at 17.10 hours for a Roadstead to Ostend. Taking off at 18.11 hours the objective was reached at 18.48 hours. Three minesweepers were well strafed. Sgt. S.P. Moston, wishing to be quite fair, also gave ground defences a share of ammunition. P/O. C. Haw D.F.M. landed at 18.53 hours having had to leave the Squadron and return to base as he was suffering from spots in front of his eyes, reputed to be flies on his windscreen. P/O. A.E. Shackleton made a graceful landing in the North Sea and was quickly picked up by an Air Sea Rescue Launch, his theories about Flak having been shattered.

Base Changes
127 Sqn (Hurricane IIB) moves to LG.172

First and Last Operational Missions
26 Sqn (Gatwick) flies its first OM in the Mustang I
274 Sqn (LG.173) flies its first OM’s in the Hurricane IIB & C

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402 Sqn RCAF (Redhill – Spitfire VB) 15.7.42

The Squadron learned that W/Cdr Finucane had been shot down and was possibly in the channel off Le Touquet. S/L Morrow volunteered to take the Squadron out to search the channel and escort the rescue boats back. While escorting the rescue boats the Squadron was attacked by 15 to 20 FW. 190s. A defensive circle was set up around the boats. The struggle lasted for 25 minutes with the 190s diving in pairs on the Spitfires which were 50 to 500’ above the water. In this lengthy encounter 1 FW.190 was shot down and 2 damaged. P/O WQ Dewar was wounded and had to crash land at Manston. The fact that he was able to bring in the a/c was a fine piece of work. He was wounded in the face and shoulder. F/Sgt Hughes’s aircraft was hit and he was forced to bale out and was subsequently picked up by a rescue boat. He was slightly wounded by shrapnel in his left hand. The destroyed 190 was split up between six members of the Squadron who had fired their guns. The enemy were unable to get any shot’s on the rescue boats. It is regretted that W/Cdr Finucane was not found.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire VB BM296 pilot F/Sgt. JC Huges, shot down by Josef ‘Pips’ Priller (75th victory) JG 26.

USAMEAF – B-24’s strike harbour and ships at Benghazi

Base Changes
123 Sqn (Non-Op) moved to Muqeibila
140 Sqn (Spitfire I) moved to Mound Farm

First and Last Operational Missions
23 Sqn (Ford) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NFII

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15 Sqn (Wyton – Stirling I) 16.7.42

Six A/C detailed to attack the Submarine Slips at LUBECK at dusk. W/Cmdr. Lay turned back owing to lack of cloud cover and being unable to reach the target at the specified time. Bombs dropped live in the vicinity of two ships of 15000 and 10000 tons at 54°25'N 10°43'E. F/O King turned back at HADERSLEY S.W. 5 Miles owing to lack of cloud cover. F/Sgt. Melville failed to return. The remaining three attacked the primary with good results, all pinpointing aiming point, and sighting at time of bombing. Good fires burning near aiming point on their arrival S/Ldr. Barr and P/O. Shoemaker attacked from 900’ and 500’ respectively. F/O Bennitt attacked from 5,000’ at same time being engaged by flak and searchlights. No photographs attempted.

ADDENDUM – Stirling I W7524 LS-D. Crew: P/O RL Melville RAAF, Sgt. DR Barrett, Sgt. R Nicholls,P/O K Arnott, Sgt. HJI Lockhart, Sgt. GA Donovan, Sgt. JEF Waylan, Sgt. LC Masfen. Hit by flak and crashed 2130 in the tidal area of the River Sneum, 8 km SE Esbjerg, Denmark. Sgt’s Donovan and Masfen became pow’s and those who died are buried in Fourfelt Cemetery.

Base Changes
47 Sqn (Wellesley I) moves to St. James
94 Sqn (Hurricane IIC) moves to El Gamil
130 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Perranporth
235 Sqn (Beaufighter VI) moves to Chivenor
350 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Kenley

First and Last Operational Missions
55 Sqn (LG.98) flies its first OM in the Baltimore II

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340 Sqn (Free French) (Westhampnett – Spitfire VB) 17.7.42

The Squadron was sent on a shipping reconnaissance (offensive) but when 5 miles west of St. Valery, a ME109 was seen which caused the formation to penetrate the coast for 2 or 3 miles. Opportunity was taken to fire on casemates and observation posts. Some light A.A. was experienced, which damaged two of our aircraft (Cat B) B, & G. The return was made from 5 miles east of St. Valery direct to base.

USMEAF – B-24s bomb Benghazi harbour. B-17s hit Tobruk.

Base Changes
81 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Fairlop
122 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Hornchurch
416 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire VB) moved to Martlesham Heath
602 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Peterhead

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175 Sqn(Warmwell – Hurricane IIB) 18.7.42

During the afternoon F/LTs. Murcie, and Upshur, P/OsStevenson, and Peters took off for Ibsley from there to attack shipping off Alderney and found 2 Merchant ships of 6/700 tons and two small ships of 50/60 Tons, which they attacked with bombs and machine guns, with the result that one Merchant ship of 600/700 tons as claimed as Cat. 2. Unfortunately poor old Ups (Upshur) bought it and dived into the sea and no trace of his machine or himself could be found. Although he had not been with us long we liked him immensely and we shall miss him very much, and so passes another of our gallant crowd.

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408 Sqn RCAF (Balderton – Hampden I) 19.7.42

At 0500 hrs., two crews took off from this aerodrome on a weather reconnaissance flight and, upon finding weather conditions favourable for daylight operations, advised the station and returned safely to base at 0900 hrs. Six crews were detailed for this daylight operation in the Mols Area 3A and, 5 crews took off from this aerodrome at 0800 hrs., the sixth being canceled prior to take off owing to a damaged rudder caused whilst taxiing. Four of the five crews which took off on this operation returned to base early owing to lack of cloud cover, bringing back their bomb loads. The fifth crew, unfortunately, did not return from this operation and has not been heard of since time of take-off and, reported missing. The names of the crew together with their operational trips and hours are as follows:
Hampden AT227 EQ-L
P/O Edward William SWATTON (112365) (Pilot) Trips – 8, Operational Hours - 44.45
Sgt. BURLEY, Rowland Henry (1159995) (Navigator) Trips – 9, Operational Hours – 47.45
P/O Harold PEARCE (111490) (1st WOP/AG) Trips – 7, Operational Hours – 34.35
Sgt. HAVILLE, Edward (1113420) (2nd WOP/AG) Trips – 6, Operational Hours - 34.40

ADDENDUM – T/o 0840 Balderton, collided with an Me.110 (Uffz Brejzek 5./NJG2) when some 50 km NW of Vlieland. P/O Swatton's body was washed ashore on 7 September 1942, and he rests in Frederikshavn Cemetery, Denmark. His crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Base Changes
46 Sqn (Beaufighter IF) moves to Idku

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41 Sqn (Debden – Hampden I) 20.7.42

At 08-45hrs. “B” Flight at readiness “A” Flight 15mins. S/Ldr.Fee took off at 09-15hrs. for a cannon test and later proceeded to Hornchurch meeting W/Cmdr.Hugo who took over the Hornchurch Wing as a result of the loss of W/Cmdr.Finucane. At 11-30hrs. Squadron readiness with 74 & 111 Sqdns. taking off at 11-45hrs. for Merston as rendezvous. The three Squadrons took off from Merston at 16-00hrs. on an operational ‘Rhubarb’ at Zero feet to Le Havre shooting up anything in sight. S/Ldr.Fee & P/O.Hoare shot up a transport, P/O.Poynton and Sgt.Goodall destroyed a train, the others destroying huts and attacking soldiers. The Squadron returned to Merston at 18-05hrs. without Sgt.Allen who it was presumed hit some wires. P/O.Poynton had a bullet through his wing and F/Lt.Hone had a bullet through his machine that just missed the oil pipe. The Squadron returned to Debden landing at 20-40hrs.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire VB AD356. Sgt. JJ Allen RAAF, KIA.

Base Changes
64Sqn (Non-Op) moved to Martlesham Heath
340 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Ipswich

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301 Sqn (Polish) (Hemswell – Wellington IV) 21.7.42

8 aircraft detailed for operations on DUISBURG. 2 crews missing from that operation

ADDENDUM – Wellington IV Z1405 GR-T. Crew: P/O HL Bock PAF, F/O W Lipowczan PAF, P/O AK Glowacki PAF, Sgt. J Pawlak PAF, Sgt. M Barteczko. T/o 2346 Hemswell. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Wellington IV Z1406 GR-G. Crew: F/O C Lewicki PAF, F/O BE Pesxkowski PAF, F/O K Kuzca PAF, Sgt. R Maliszewski PAF, P/O P Kuderski PAF, Sgt. J Fusniak. T/O 2336 Hemswell, coned by 13./III./Flak Rgt. 64, hit by 3./schw. Flak Abt. 353 and 1./schw. Flak Abt. 471, exploded and crashed at Herne near Wanne-Eichel. Sgt. Fusniak was blown from his turret and landed, by parachute, near a railway track. Despite being wounded and badly shocked he clambered into a coal truck, where he was found during a search of the train at the German-Dutch frontier. He spent the next month in hospital and then was taken to Lamsdorf. Those who died are buried in the Reichswald War Cemetery. For Sgt. Fusniak, it was his second brush with death for on 30 January 1942, he was the sole survivor from an 18 OUT Wellington crash on Bucden Pike on the north Yorkshire moors.

Duisburg – 291 aircraft – 170 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 36 Stirlings, 29 Lancasters, 17 Hampdens. 12 aircraft – 10 Wellingtons, 1 Halifax, 1 Hampden – lost.

253 crews reported that they had bombed and started many fires but photographs showed that the flares of the leading aircraft dropped by Gee, were not accurate and part of the bombing fell in open country over the Rhine to the west.

Duisburg reports much damage in housing areas, 94 buildings were destroyed and 256 seriously damaged, with 49 people killed. What BC documents describe as ‘ground sources’ later stated that the Thyssen steelworks and 2 other important war industries were hit.

Eighth AF - Gen Eisenhower assigns to Eighth AF the mission of carrying out, in collaboration with RAF, the degree of air ops with the view of attaining air domination over W France by 1 Apr 43.

Base Changes
120 Sqn (Liberator I/II/III) moves to Ballykelly

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401 Sqn RCAF (Gravesend – Spitfire VB) 22.7.42

0500 hours Squadron at readiness. 0522 hours Blues Section airborne to patrol Convoy “Peewit”, off Beachy Head. 0526 hours Green Section airborne to patrol Convoy “Shark”, off Dover. 0625 Yellow Section airborne to patrol Hastings, and Black Section to patrol Dover. 0635 Red Section scrambled to patrol Ashford, 10,000 feet. 0722 White Section airborne on “Peewit”. 0725 Blue Section airborne on “Shark”. 0820 Green Section airborne on “Shark”. 0820 hours Red Section scrambled, 20,000 feet. 0845 Squadron 30 minutes available. 1300 Blue Section station defence. Aircrew played the ground crew a game of softball and beat them. 1345 Squadron released. Officers attended a party at Biggin Hill.

ADDENDUM – USAMEAF
B-24s bomb Suda Bay claiming hits on 2 vessels. B-17s hit Tobruk.

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405 Sqn RCAF (Pocklington – Halifax II) 23.7.42

107th Operation – Duisburg
7 Captains bombed the primary area where breaks in the cloud occurred. Some crews were able to obtain glimpses of the Rhine and a built up area in the illumination of flares but others bombed on T.R. and observations of results were very limited. Only one large and few small scattered fires were seen. One a/c returned early with intercom u/s. Another a/c crashed in flames in Pocklington on return and burnt out.

Casualties: “K” Flight Sgt. Albright crashed in flames in New Street in Pocklington and burnt out completely. All members of the crew being killed. The a/c circled the field once but on the next circuit failed to make a landing with engine trouble. After shearing off a corner of a private building it crashed against a school and burst into flames and was completely destroyed. Those killed were: CAN.R73040 F/Sgt. Albright, R.B. Captain, CAN.J7540 P/O G.F. Strong 2nd Pilot, CAN.R70102 F/Sgt. Thurlow, W.C.Observer, 534437 Sgt. Apperson, M.W. Flight Engineer, CAN.R68035 F/Sgt. Hexter, R.W. WOP/AG, CAN.R79143 Sgt. Owens, T.R. AG, 922948 Sgt. Western, A.G. AG, 1006114 Sgt. Colloton, W. Bombardier.

ADDENDUM – Duisburg – 215 aircraft – 93 Wellingtons, 45 Lancasters, 39 Stirlings, 38 Halifaxes. 7 aircraft – 3 Wellingtons, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings – lost.

Much cloud was present over the target and the flares dropped by the leading aircraft were scattered. The bombs which did fall in Duisburg again caused some housing damage and 65 people were killed.

USAMEAF – 98th BG is assigned to the USAMEAF

Base Changes
19 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moved to Colerne
73 Sqn (Hurricane IIC) moved to El Bellah
305 Sqn (Wellington II) moved to Hemswell

First and Last Operational Missions
50 Sqn (Swinderby) flew its first OM in the Lancaster I

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401 Sqn RCAF (Gravesend – Spitfire VB) 24.7.42

0455 hours Red Section Station Defence. Squadron 30 minutes available. 0845 “B” Flight (6 a/c) readiness. 1300 hours Squadron released for training. The Squadron shot up the local gun posts to give them a bit of practice (authorized). 1700 Squadron 30 minutes available. 1730 hours “B” Flight readiness – “A” Flight 15 minutes available. 2100 hours Squadron at readiness. 2143 hours “B” Flight readiness, “A” Flight 15 minutes available. 2302 Squadron released.

USAMEAF – B-17’s attack Tobruk harbour. B-24’s hit harbour at Benghazi. A B-24 crashes on return
to base, killing 1 crew member.


JCS issue statement that HB and MB gps will be shifted from BOLERO assignments to Africa for
TORCH. BOLERO resources are further depleted by decision to send 15 combat gps to Pacific theater.

First and Last Operational Missions
608Sqn (Thornaby) flew its first OM in the Hudson V

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12 Sqn (Binbrook – Wellington II) 25.7.42

OPERATIONS ordered against DUISBURG, 19 aircraft taking part. Captains were SGT HOLGATE, P/O ROWE, S/LDR LEMON, P/O WEYLE, P/O UTZ, F/SGT GOULTER, F/SGT FRANCIS, SGT FOSTER, F/O GARLICK, W/O DAVIES, SGT KEATS, SGT JONES, SGT HART, SGT NORMAN, S/LDR PRESTON, F/LT GOODMAN, W/CDR COLLARD, S/LDR DALRYMPLE-WHITE & SGTDEIGNAN. S/LDR LEMON’s aircraft failed to return and was reported missing. W/CDR COLLARD’s aircraft also failed to return and was reported missing. A message was received from this aircraft at approx 0300 hrs stating that trouble was being experienced and that the crew would probably have to abandon aircraft. No further news was received. SGT KEAT’s aircraft was damaged by flak over the target area, but was able to land safely at Base on return with no casualties. SGT FOSTER’s aircraft developed coolant leak in starboard engine on return journey and force landed on beach at DONNA NOOK near NORTH COATES. Aircraft was damaged by belly landing, but no casualty to crew. The remaining aircraft all returned safely.

ADDENDUM – Wellington II Z8502 PH-. Crew S/L PC Lemon, Sgt HT Norris, P/O HW Fluck, Sgt FE Peters, Sgt K Woodcock, F/O GP King. T/o 2340 Binbrook, shot down by Hptm Gerhard Friedrich (2nd victory) Stab III./NJG1, 6 km W Zieuwent at 0212 hours. All captured except for Sgt King who is buried in the Roman Catholic Churchyard, Ruurlo, Netherlands.

Wellington II Z8591 PH-0. Crew: W/C RC Collard, Sgt JW Naden, Sgt GD Pepper, Sgt JC Sedgley, F/L N Thom RCAF. T/o 0014 Binbrook. Hit by flak while flying at 10,000 feet over the target area. Set course for base but control could not be maintained. Transmitted “Probably have to bale out, after which the bomber crashed 0230 into the Arkemeense Polder between Buschoten and Nijkerk, Netherlands. All captured except for Sgt Naden who is buried in Oud Leusden General Cemetery at Amersfoort.

DUISBURG – 313 aircraft – 177 Wellingtons, 48 Stirlings, 41 Halifaxes, 33 Lancasters, 14 Hampdens. 12 aircraft – 7 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 1 Stirling – lost.

Thick cloud covered the target area. Duisburg again reports property damage, though not as heavy as the last two raids. 6 people killed.

Eighth AF - Lt Col Albert P Clark, Executive Officer of 31st FG, is shot down while flying an RAF fighter (412 Sqn RCAF) on a sweep over France, thus becoming the first Eighth AF fighter pilot to be shot down in ETO. He survives and is taken prisoner by the Germans.

First and Last Operational Missions
120 Sqn (Ballykelly) flies its last OM in the Liberator IIIA
124 Sqn (Gravesend) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VB
456 Sqn RAAF (Valley) flies its first OM in the Beaufighter VIF