‘As Evening Shadows Fall’ ‘Operation Millennium’ 30th May 1942 As evening shadows fall as they did on this day 72 years ago, 30th May 1942, Bomber Command unleashed its might in the form of one a 1,000 aircraft bombing raid, and the first of the ‘Thousand Bomber Raids.’ onto the Nazi War making machinery. Bomber Command dispatched 1,096 aircraft, 1,047 aircraft to attack the industrial target of Cologne while the remaining 49 aircraft were briefed to do an ‘Intruder’ role, attacking German held airfields en-route. A total of 678 aircraft were from the four main Groups of Bomber Command; No, 1 Group 156 aircraft, No.3 Group 222 aircraft, No.4 Group 147 aircraft and No.5 Group 153 aircraft. The remaining force of 369 aircraft came from two O.T.U. Groups; No.91 Group 257 aircraft, No.92 Group 108 aircraft and Flying Training Command 4 aircraft. W/C J.C McDonald and S/L R.S. Gilmour from No.15 Squadron stationed at Wyton, Huntingdonshire were the first to take off at 22.30 hrs. No.3 Group aircraft operating Gee equipped aircraft were the ‘target markers’ Of the 1,047 aircraft dispatched a total of 868 aircraft actually bombed, and in the 90 minutes dropped 1,455 tons of explosives with ²/₃ of these being incendiaries which started over 2,500 separate fires of which over 1,700 were classified as ‘large’. Records indicate a total of 3,300 buildings destroyed, 2,090 buildings seriously damaged and a further 7,420 buildings suffering light damaged. From the 12,810 building destroyed or damaged 2,560 were either industrial or commercial buildings, 36 firms suffered a complete collapse in production, 70 firms lost between 50% and 80% production and over 222 firms suffered up to 50% loss in production. Living accommodation was heavily effected 13,010 flats/apartments destroyed, 6,360 seriously damaged and 22,270 lightly damaged. Such was the loss of the Nazi War Making Machinery due to area bombing that 135,000 to 150,000 inhabitants of Cologne out of 700,000 left the city. ‘AND IN THE MORNING’ The cost was high, 53 aircraft (4.84%), 1 Lancaster, 1 Whitley, 4, Hampdens, 4 Halifaxes, 4 Manchesters, 4 Stirlings and 34 Wellingtons from Cologne and 1 Blenheim aircraft from the Intruder sorties were ‘Struck off Charge’ From the 53 aircraft ‘Struck off Charge’ there were a total of 266 aircrew casualties, 193 airmen killed, 8 airmen injured, 59 airmen became Prisoners of War and 6 airmen evaded capture. ‘AND IN THE MORNING’ On Sunday morning, 31st May 1942, the media and Churchill made great speculation of Bomber Commands success, but over 266 telegrams were dispatched, changing the lives of so many families for ever. Bravery of one such airmen on this night was P/O L.T. Manser, No.50 Squadron, who was killed saving his crew, the testimonies of his five fellow aircrew were instrumental in a posthumous Victoria Cross being awarded to their skipper; gazetted Friday, 23rd October 1942. So many killed a total of 193 adding to the final list of over 55,000, never to be acknowledged by Churchill and his Government in the victory celebrations. To be honoured not by the Government of today, but of the drive and determination of families and friends, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, wives and children of those that served and waited and still wait in vain for their loved ones to return… Per Ardua Ad Astra Over 266 telegrams were sent to families of the injured and missing airmen, from the 53 Aircraft ‘Struck off Charge’ 31st May 1942, 193 airmen died and never returned home to their loved ones! Squadron Rank Name Air Force CGS F/L BATTEN H.A.C. RAF CGS F/S CONNOR J.R. RAF CGS W/O JAMBOR O. RAF CGS FS McLEAN Ck j. RAF CGS P/O JOHNSON D.M. RAF 9 SQD SGT PEXMAN K.R. RAF 9 SQD SGT HARNETT T.J. RCAF 9 SQD F/L HODGES M.R. RAF 9 SQD SGT JONES H.L. RAF 9 SQD F/S NEWBY T.E. RAF 9 SQD F/S STEWART C.N.D. RAF 10 SQD SGT ENGLISH M.F. RCAF 10 SQD SGT MOORE A.R. RAF 10 SQD SGT WALKER F. RAF 12 O.T.U. P/O FERRER R.L.W. RAF 12 O.T.U. P/O LUCKI A. RCAF 12 O.T.U. SGT McKENZIE J.D. RCAF 12 SQD SGT BROWN J. RAF 12 SQD SGT CALLAGHAN W.J. RAF 12 SQD F/L PAYNE A.B. DFC RAF 12 SQD SGT SIGLER B. RAF 12 SQD SGT WISE J. RAF 12 SQD SGT PRAAGST G.C. RAAF 12 SQD SGT BOTTEMLEY H. RAF 12 SQD F/S HOLDEN R.G.K. RAAF 12 SQD P/O WADDELL A.A. RAAF 12 SQD F/S SEIFERT A.A. RCAF 12 SQD F/S MASSON E.S. RAF 12 SQD SGT BRETT J. RAF 12 SQD SGT DRAPER A.S. RAF 12 SQD SGT EVERATT G.H. RAF 12 SQD SGT HOOLEY H. RAF 12 SQD F/S MOODIE D.M. RCAF 12 SQD P/O SHEARER W.B. RAAF 14 O.T.U. F/L CAMERON W.L. RCAF 14 O.T.U. SGT SHERIDAN J.E. RCAF 14 O.T.U. F/S PORTER M.F. RAF 14 O.T.U. SGT EAST E.H. RAF 14 O.T.U. SGT FALK F.H. RAF 14 O.T.U. P/O GORTON W.H. RAF 14 O.T.U. P/O WOOLNOUGH V.E. DFM RAF 14 O.T.U. F/S HOLMES C. RAF 14 O.T.U. SGT KNOWLING J.H. RAF 14 O.T.U. P/O LITTLE H.S. RAF 15 O.T.U. W/O GREEN S.M. RAF 15 O.T.U. F/S LYONS T.L. RAF 15 O.T.U. W/O GREEN S.M. RAF 15 O.T.U. SGT COLLINS R.J. RAAF 22 O.T.U. P/O TALLIS D.A.R. D.F.M. RAF 22 O.T.U. SGT EDWARDS D.H. RNZAF 22 O.T.U. F/S MATHEWS C.J. RAF 22 O.T.U. SGT BARCLAY P.G. RCAF 22 O.T.U. P/O CALDWELL W.F. D.F.M. RAF 22 O.T.U. F/L HAMMAN A.C. DFC* RAF 22 O.T.U. W/O NEESOM E. MiD RAF 22 O.T.U. SGT HARRISON R.R. RCAF 22 O.T.U. F/S HAWKINS W.S. RAF 22 O.T.U. F/O BLAKE H.R. DFC RNZAF 22 O.T.U. F/O MacLEAN RCAF 22 O.T.U. SGT CRESWELL R.N.A. RCAF 22 O.T.U. F/S WANBON J.R. D.F.M. RAF 22 O.T.U. SGT GRATTAN N. RCAF 22 O.T.U. F/O TAIT L.J. RAF 22 O.T.U. P/O FULLERTON W.A. D.F.M. RAF 22 O.T.U. F/S NAPIER J.K. D.F.M. RAF 22 O.T.U. SGT ARMSTRONG R.A. RCAF 22 O.T.U. F/S SANDERS R.M. RAF 23 O.T.U. SGT BOLTON G.F. RAF 23 O.T.U. SGT BROODBANK R.A. RAAF 23 O.T.U. SGT DONN-PATTERSON J. RAAF 23 O.T.U. SGT GLENTO-WRIGHT M.L. RAAF 23 O.T.U. SGT JOHNSON W.R.C. RCAF 26 O.T.U. SGT GARRICK J.H.G. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT HALL J.M. RNZAF 26 O.T.U. F/O WHITING W.R.H. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT WILLIAMS R.C. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT YOUNG A.N. RNZAF 26 O.T.U. P/O AUGUST D.C. RAF 26 O.T.U. F/S BARKER F.F. DFM RAF 26 O.T.U. F/S FORD E.J. DFM RAF 26 O.T.U. F/S THOMPSON J. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT CAMLIN B.B. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT DIXON J.J. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT FLETCHER D.H. RAF 26 O.T.U. P/O WHITE A.C. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT VINCENT D.S.B. RAF 26 O.T.U. SGT SMITH H.L. RAF 49 CF SGT ASH M.S. RAF 49 CF F/S BLOCK D. RAF 49 CF P/O CARTER J.P. RAF 49 CF SGT HAYNES G.C. RAF 49 CF SGT RAMSEY J.C. RAF 49 CF SGT YEATES L.J. RAF 49 CF SGT WELCH A.G. RAAF 49 SQD P/O FLOYD P.N. RAF 49 SQD SGT SMITH J. RAF 61 SQD F/O BLUETT P.F.B. RAF 61 SQD F/S CHARLES J.H. RCAF 61 SQD F/S FAWKES R.G. RAF 61 SQD P/O UNDERWOOD J.B. RAF 61 SQD P/O USHER B. RNZAF 61 SQD SGT WILLIAMSON A. RAF 61 SQD P/O PATEY J.D. RCAF 78 SQD SGT BOLTON G. RAF 78 SQD SGT CAIE A. RAF 101 SQD SGT ARNOLD W.H. RAF 101 SQD P/O DE F GARDNER A. RAF 101 SQD SGT HART R.E. RAF 101 SQD SGT PEARSON D. RAF 101 SQD SGT SPOONER I.B.H. RAF 103 SQD SGT HALLAM H.R. RAF 103 SQD SGT JONES W.K. RAF 103 SQD SGT LESLIE A. RAF 103 SQD F/S ONIONS W. RAF 103 SQD SGT ROGERSON M.B. RAF 103 SQD SGT SANSOM B.W. RAF 106 SQD P/O MANSER L.T. RAF 106 SQD SGT BAIRD D.W. RAF 106 SQD SGT BEE A.M. RAF 106 SQD SGT FINCH E.W. RAF 109 SQD SGT CURRIE R.A. RAF 109 SQD SGT MILLER D. RAF 109 SQD F/S WITTS H.H. RAF 114 SQD P/O FOX J.J. RNZAF 114 SQD SGT LEONARD J. RAF 114 SQD SGT SMITHERSON A. RAF 115 SQD SGT BOYLE M. RAF 115 SQD F/S CRAMPTON W.F. MiD RAF 115 SQD SGT EDWARDS E. RAF 115 SQD SGT McLEOD W.A. RAF 115 SQD SGT SPROSTON H. RAF 142 SQD F/L CANDLER P.T. MiD RAF 142 SQD P/O GREGORY W.E. RAF 142 SQD SGT LOWDEN N.A. RAF 142 SQD SGT THORTON F.W. RAF 142 SQD SGT MALLON L.W. RAF 142 SQD P/O CHAFFEY G.H. RCAF 142 SQD F/S SMYTH J.W. RCAF 142 SQD SGT WATSON G.S. RAF 142 SQD P/O McALEAVEY J.M. RCAF 142 SQD SGT MacKEAND I.C. RAF 150 SQD SGT AIRD K. RAF 150 SQD SGT BECK L. RAF 150 SQD SGT DEAN J.C. RAF 150 SQD SGT SHAW S.B. RAF 150 SQD SGT PEVERILL R.G. RAF 150 SQD SGT MUSTOE G.L. RAF 156 SQD SGT CATLEY R. RAF 156 SQD SGT COOKE L.F. RCAF 156 SQD SGT HOLMES J.H. RAF 156 SQD SGT MALIN P.G.A. RAF 156 SQD SGT PEEL R. RAF 156 SQD P/O BAIN J.D.N. DFC RCAF 156 SQD SGT BRUNTON A.T. RAF 156 SQD F/S CORMACK W.T. RCAF 156 SQD P/O EVANS E. RAF 156 SQD P/O NEWTON L. RAF 156 SQD SGT NORMINGTON D.H. RAF 158 SQD F/O DE T SKIPWITH G. RAF 158 SQD SGT OBRIEN R.C. RCAF 158 SQD P/O REASON W.A. RCAF 158 SQD SGT SCHOFIELD A. RAF 158 SQD SGT WALLER W.L. RAF 158 SQD P/O EDGAR A.R. D.F.M. RAF 158 SQD S/L HARKNESS D.J. DFC RAF 158 SQD F/L LOVETT B.J. RAF 158 SQD P/O RADCLIFFE H.A. RAF 158 SQD SGT MERCER H. RAF 214 SQD SGT BUNNING G.C. RAF 214 SQD SGT CRUISE R.S. RAF 214 SQD P/O DAVIES W. RAF 214 SQD P/O DENT H. RAF 214 SQD P/O DIMOND S.S. RAF 214 SQD SGT MUIR C.H. RAAF 214 SQD SGT MUNDAY J.H. RAF 214 SQD SGT McGRATH P.G. RAF 218 SQD SGT ALLEN T.H. RAF 218 SQD F/S BORROWDALE J.L. RAF 218 SQD P/O DAVIS A.W. RAF 218 SQD SGT WHITE E.J. RAF 218 SQD SGT ENGLAND K.W.G. RCAF 218 SQD SGT GUNTRIP R.J. RAF 405 SQD (RCAF) SGT ACTON N. RAF 405 SQD (RCAF) SGT HENNING D. RAF 405 SQD (RCAF) SGT WADMAN L.A. RCAF 405 SQD (RCAF) F/S WELSH G.A. RCAF 405 SQD (RCAF) P/O SANKEY G.E. RAF 405 SQD (RCAF) SGT McLEAN A.F. RNZAF 405 SQD (RCAF) SGT PICKETT W.F. RCAF 1502 FLIGHT P/O BOX D.G. RNZAF 1502 FLIGHT F/S GODBEHERE J.H. RCAF 1502 FLIGHT SGT ORMAN W.H. RAF 1652 H.C.U. SGT MANLEY K.J.A. RAF May they all rest in peace, each one a ‘Warrior of the Skies’ Per Ardua Ad Astra
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 04:50:41 +0000
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