Hi all, Would anyone know which Bomber Squadrons took part in the first raid on Berlin, 25th August 1940. Thanks in anticipation.
sent to Berlin include: 12 Handley Page Hampden bombers Nos. 61 and 144 Squadrons; 9 Vickers Wellingtons of No. 99 Squadron; Six of them could not find or identify their targets and they brought bombs back or jettisoned them in a sea with only three aircraft bombing their targets 8 Vickers Wellingtons of No. 149 Squadron; 9 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers of No. 51 Squadron 5 Whitley bombers of No. 78 Squadron. 44, 49, 50, 58 & 83 Squadrons Aircraft claiming successful attacks are from 44, 49, 50, 58, 61, 83 and 99 Squadron
Follow up, list of aircraft lost on the above mission: Hampden P4416 - 49 Squadron - lost with out trace Hampden P2070 - 50 Squadron - Forced landed Lautersheim Germany Hampden P2124 - 50 Squadron - Ditched of Scarborough Hampden P1354 - 83 Squadron - Ditched in the wash Hampden P4380 - 83 Squadron - Ditched off Grimsby Hampden X2895 - 83 Squadron - Crashed at Bolden Co Durham.
Wellington bomber crews photographed at a press event after the first raid on Berlin, which took place on the night of 25/26 August 1940 Source: File:Vickers Wellington - RAF Bomber Command 1940 HU104669.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
This records says: the squadrons involved were: 51 Squadron AIR 27/491/22 detail of work carried out August 1940; and AIR 27/491/21 summary of events August 1940 61 Squadron AIR 27/576/18 detail of work carried out August 1940; and AIR 27/576/17 summary of events August 1940 78 Squadron AIR 27/660/4 detail of work carried out August 1940; and AIR 27/660/3 summary of events August 1940 99 Squadron AIR 27/788/20 summary of events August 1940 144 Squadron AIR 27/980/18 detail of work carried out August 1940; and AIR 27/980/17 summary of events August 1940 149 Squadron AIR 27/1000/22 detail of work carried out August 1940; and AIR 27/1000/21 summary of events August 1940 44 Squadron were involved in attacks on a power station (designated target B57) and an aerodrome (designated target H324) on 25/26 August 1940. 50 Squadron were also involved in the attack on target B57. Most of the aircraft were unable to locate their targets (and many were even unable to locate their secondary targets). Source: Which RAF squadrons and aircraft types took part in the bombing of Berlin on the 25th of August 1940?
Brilliant, thanks for the info. I'll download docs while their still free at TNA. Very much appreciated Temujin.
