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11/12 August, 1940; RUHR - "RAZZLE":
Recent intelligence reports suggested that Germany's armament
reserves were being stored in numerous areas within the Black
Forest. British scientists soon came up with an unusual weapon
with which to counter these 'scattered' objectives. Given the
curious name of 'Razzle', it consisted of two square sheets of
celluloid about six inches long, and in the middle, surrounded
by damp cotton-wool, was placed a piece of phosphorus. The idea
was for the 'razzle' to be dropped into the forest and once the
cotton-wool dried, the phosphorus would smoulder and set light
to the celluloid which burnt with a fierce flame for about 10
seconds. Pilots were requested to plan routes to their primary
targets so that they passed over areas of the Black Forest. So
it was on the night of the 11th August, that the squadron received
the unusual order; '9 to stand-by for 'Razzle' and to destroy
the oil refinery at A 108'.
P/O Richard Gower and crew in R-Robert,
were shot down by flak over Dortmund. All the crew were killed
and are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Hampden L4036 (EA-R)
P/O R.F. Gower Pilot (Killed)
P/O E.A. Harris NAV (Killed)
Sgt A.J. Baum W/OP (Killed)
Sgt
P.W.N. Jelley A/G (Killed)
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