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102 SQUADRON - Bomber, Armstrong Whitworth AW38 Whitley When the next leaflet raid was made - again on the Ruhr - four nights later, two of the six crews involved failed to return. Subsequently it was learned that one of these crews had forced - landed in then neutral Belgium and had been interned, and that the other had forced - landed in Germany and been made prisoners of war. The squadron's first bombing attack of the war was made on 12/13th December 1939, when a Whitley engaged on a security patrol of Sylt attacked what appeared to be lights indicating a seaplane alighting area. Italy's declaration of war on 10/11th June 1940, brought a swift reply. The following night seven of the squadron's Whitleys set out from an advanced base in the Channel Islands (Jersey airport) to attack the Fiat Works at Turin. Thunderstorms and severe icing were encountered and five aircraft had to return early. The other two reached Turin, where one bombed the primary target whilst the other bombed an alternative target. No 102 Squadron will always be associated with the name of Leonard Cheshire. On the night of 12/13th November 1940, Pilot Officer - as he then was - GL Cheshire was captain of Whitley V P5005 "N - Nuts" detailed to attack an oil refinery at Wesseling, not far from Cologne. It appears that he arrived in the target area within a few minutes of the ETA but owing to intercom trouble was unable to discover his exact position until some twenty minutes later, by which time the target was blanketed by cloud. He decided to attack the railway marshalling yards at Cologne instead and while he was approaching this target his aircraft was suddenly shaken by a succession of violent explosions. The cockpit filled with black fumes and Cheshire lost control of the aircraft, which dived about 2,000 feet, with its fuselage on fire. Cheshire regained control, the fire was extinguished and the Whitley, with a gaping hole in its fuselage, was brought safely back to base after, being in the air for 81/2 hours. Cheshire gained an immediate DSO. He was later awarded the DFC for operations with No 102 Squadron. Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940 Fatalities 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (in progress) 11-12/05/1940: Mönchengladbach 19 Hampdens and 18 Whitleys bomb road and rail targets in München-Gladbach - the first raid on a German town. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost; 4 people killed. RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - road/rail communications in Monchen-Gladbach. 51 Sqn. 6 aircraft all bombed, one damaged by Flak. 58 Sqn. 3 aircraft all bombed, opposition severe. 77 Sqn. 3 aircraft all bombed, one lost. 102 Sqn. 6 aircraft all bombed. 1 damaged by Flak. 14-15/05/1940: Mönchengladbach, D 18 Wellingtons, 12 Whitleys and 12 Hampdens attack Aachen, München-Gladbach and Breda and Roosendaal respectively. 1 Hampden lost. Minelaying carried out by 22 Hampdens off German and Danish coasts. RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - road/rail communications - Monchen-Gladbach. 77 Sqn. 7 aircraft all bombed, moderate opposition. 102 Sqn. 5 aircraft all bombed, moderate opposition. 16-17/05/1950: Maastricht, NL and Aachen, D 6 Hampdens and 6 Wellingtons bomb oil targets in the Ruhr with 1 aircraft being lost. 9 Whitleys attack communications sites without loss. Bombing - road/rail communications and troops - Maastricht, Aachen. 77 Sqn. 6 aircraft. One returned early, six bombed. 102 Sqn. Three aircraft, all bombed.' 18-19/05/1940: Hannover, D Oil refineries and railways in Germany along with enemy troops in Belgium attacked by 24 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys and 12 Hampdens (60 aircraft in total). Bombing - oil refinery at Hannover. 51 Sqn. Four aircraft. Three bombed, one lost. 58 Sqn. Four aircraft. Three bombed. 77 Sqn. Seven aircraft. Six bombed, one shot down by Bf110, crew rescued. Bf110 claimed destroyed. 102 Sqn. Eight aircraft. Seven bombed. 19/20/05/1940: Gelsenkirchen 36 Hampdens, 30 Wellingtons and 12 Whitleys despatched to a number of targets in France, Belgium and Germany. 2 Whitleys lost. Bombing - oil targets at Gelsenkirchen and Dorsten. 58 Sqn. Six aircraft. All bombed from low-level (2 - 8,000 feet). Severe opposition. 77 Sqn. Two aircraft. Both bombed, one badly damaged by Flak. 102 Sqn. Four aircraft. Extremely severe opposition, two lost. Type: Whitley Mk.V 20-21/05/1940: Ribemont, F 77 aircraft from 92 despatched (32 Wellingtons, 24 Whitleys and 18 Blenheims) continue the RAF's attempt to halt the German advance in northern France. Bombing - road/rail communications at Catillon-Hannapes, Julich and bridges over River Oise. 10 Sqn. Six aircraft. Five bombed from low level (2 - 6,000 feet). 51 Sqn. Six aircraft, four bombed. 77 Sqn. Seven aircraft. Six bombed, one lost. 102 Sqn. Five aircraft. Four bombed, one lost. Five Aircraft were detailed to fly a Mission to destroy bridges across the River Oise in Northern France and to disorganize and interfere with enemy movements Type: Whitley Mk.V Serial number: N1380, DY-R Operation: Ribemont Lost: 20/05/1940 Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) David W.H. Owen, RAF 39332, 102 Sqdn., age 22, 20/05/1940, Hamegicourt Churchyard, F Pilot Officer (Pilot) Dennis F.S. Holbrook, RAF 41703, 102 Sqdn., age 20, 20/05/1940, Hamegicourt Churchyard, F Sergeant (Obs.) Duncan H.J. Barrett, RAF 580865, 102 Sqdn., age unknown, 20/05/1940, Hamegicourt Churchyard, F Leading Aircraftman (W. Op.) Reginald J. Newberry, RAF 549885, 102 Sqdn., age 20, 20/05/1940, Hamegicourt Churchyard, F Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op. Air) Michael D. Dolan, RAF 631053, 102 Sqdn., age 19, 20/05/1940, Hamegicourt Churchyard, F Airborne 2029 20May40 from Driffield to bomb a bridge spanning the River Oise ar Ribemont. Crashed 2330 near Hamegicourt (Aisne), 10 km SSE of St-Quentin, France, fallen a victim to enemy anti-aircraft fire The mission required low level flying despite the known presence of enemy anti aircraft fire and aircraft. The records reveal all 5 aircraft they reached their targets and completed their tasks. Four of the aircraft returned to Driffield during the early hours of the morning of 21th May. source: GreasbyLibrary, BBC WW2: People's War (on which this operation is dated one day earlier). 21-22/05/1940: Euskirchen, D A force of 124 aircraft (52 Whitleys, 47 Wellingtons, 25 Hampdens) attack German railway lines. 3 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost. Bombing - road/rail communications at Euskirchen, Julich and Rheydt. 10 Sqn. Ten aircraft. All bombed (2 - 6,000 feet). 51 Sqn. 12 aircraft, all bombed. One FTR. 58 Sqn. 12 aircraft, all bombed. Moderate to severe opposition. 77 Sqn. Seven aircraft. One returned early U/S, six bombed. 102 Sqn. Nine aircraft. Two returned early U/S, one FTR Type: Whitley Mk.V Serial number: N1528, DY-E Operation: Euskirchen Lost: 22/05/1940 P/O G.H. Womersley P/O R.F. Beauchair Sgt J. Derbyshire AC1 H.F. Hurt AC2 A. Sedgley Airborne 2124 21May40 from Driffield. Abandoned, 0100 22May40, near Metz (Moselle), France. The crew returned, via Paris, arriving at Driffield 25May40. Cause of abandonment not established. P/O R.F.Beauchair is also reported as P/O R.F.Beauclair. 23-24/05/1940: road/rail communications, F 50 Hampdens, 48 Wellingtons and 24 Whitleys bomb communications and transport targets in Germany, Holland, Belgium and France. 2 Hampdens and 1 Whitley lost. 25-26/05/1940: Bapaume, F and Ruhr, D 103 aircraft (38 Wellingtons, 36 Whitleys, 29 Hampdens) raid communications and troops over large area of front line. 2 Hampdens, 1 Wellington lost. Bombing - road/rail communications at Bapaume and oil targets Ruhr. 10 Sqn. Eleven aircraft. All bombed. 51 Sqn. ten aircraft. Nine bombed. 77 Sqn. Eight aircraft, seven bombed. All experienced moderate to severe opposition. 102 Sqn. Seven aircraft, all bombed. One damaged by Flak and one crashed on return [?]. Aircraftman 2nd Class George Main, RAF 632772, 102 Sqdn., age unknown, 25/05/1940, Ayr Cemetery, Ayrshire, UK 27-28/05/1940: Dortmund, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Cologne Bombing - Dortmund, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Cologne. 10 Sqn. Eleven aircraft. Ten bombed. One enemy aircraft claimed destroyed by tail gunner. One bombed Bassingbourn in error. 51 Sqn. Nine aircraft. Eight bombed, one attacked by enemy aircraft but evaded undamaged. 58 Sqn. Five aircraft, all bombed. One damaged by Flak. 77 Sqn. Nine aircraft. One returned early U/S, eight bombed. 102 Sqn. Two aircraft. One returned early U/S, one bombed. 28-29/05/1940: road/rail communications, F 34 Wellingtons and 13 Whitleys concentrate on German forces at Dunkirk. 1 Whitley lost. Bombing - road/rail communications at Givet, Avesnes, Guise and Hirson. 77 Sqn. Eight aircraft. One returned early U/S, one FTR. 102 Sqn. Six aircraft. One returned early U/S, four bombed. 01-02/06/1940: Hamburg, D 37 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys despatched to attack a number of oil and communications sites in Hamburg, Osnabruck and Hamm, Germany. Only 25 aircraft find suitable targets. 102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Hamburg. Weather filthy, primary not attacked. Two aircraft bombed alternatives. 03-04/06/1940: Gelsenkirchen, D Bombing - oil plants at Gelsenkirchen. 77 Sqn. Eleven aircraft to Gelsenkirchen. All bombed, one crashed on return. 102 Sqn. Eleven aircraft to Gelsenkirchen. Two returned early, nine bombed. 04-05/06/1940: Gelsenkirchen, D Bombing - oil plants at Gelsenkirchen. 77 Sqn. Four aircraft to Gelsenkirchen. Three bombed, one FTR. 102 Sqn. Six aircraft to Gelsenkirchen, all bombed. 05-06/06/1940: Somme/Aisne, F Bombing - troops and transport, France. 102 Sqn. Six aircraft to Somme/Aisne. All bombed. 08-09/06/1940: Sedan, F Bombing - arms dumps and communications in France. 102 Sqn. Nine aircraft to road/rail comms Sedan. One returned early, eight bombed, one damaged by Flak. 09-10/06/1940: Abbeville and St. Valery, F Bombing - road and rail communications in France. 102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Abbeville and St. Valery. All bombed. back up 10-11/06/1940: Abbeville, F Bombing road and rail communications in France. 102 Sqn. Seven aircraft to Abbeville. All bombed. back up 11-12/06/1940: Turin and Genoa, Italy 12-13/06/1940: Aulnoye, F Bombing - road and rail communications in France. 102 Sqn. Four aircraft to Aulnoye. One returned early, two bombed. back up 13-14/06/1940: Charleville/Dormans, F Bomber Command: 4 Group. Bombing - road/rail communications in France. 102 Sqn. Ten aircraft to Charleville/Dormans. Nine bombed. back up 14-15/06/1940 102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to Oberhausen and Cologne. All bombed, one damaged. back up 18-19/06/1940: Sterkrade 19-20/06/1940 102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to marshalling yards at Schwerte. All bombed. 20-21/06/1940: Ludwigshaven, D 77 Sqn. Seven aircraft to industrial plant Ludwigshaven. One returned early. Six bombed. Opposition severe.102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to industrial plant Ludwigshaven. Two returned early, one damaged by Flak and force landed at Manston. 22-23/06/1940: Wedau/Cologne, D Bombing - industrial works at Wedau/Cologne. 102 Sqn. Six aircraft. All bombed. Opposition moderate. 24-25/06/1940: Ludwigshaven, D 77 Sqn. Eight aircraft to aluminium works Ludwigshaven. Weather filthy. Seven bombed. 102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to aluminium works Ludwigshaven. Two returned early, six bombed. 26-27/05/1940: Ludwigshaven, D Bombing - aluminium works. 77 Sqn. Five aircraft to Ludwigshaven. One returned early and landed at Bircham Newton after two aircrew baled out. Four bombed. 102 Sqn. Five aircraft to Ludwigshaven. Two returned early, one bombed primary, one bombed alternative.
This page is dedicated to the men of 102 Squadron. |