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30/31 May, 1942; COLOGNE (THE FIRST 1,000
BOMBER RAID)
The Squadron was able to detail 13 aircraft, but 1 became unserviceable
and had to be withdrawn. The maximum effort required resulted
in 83 Squadron borrowing 3 Manchesters from 49's Conversion Flight.
With a full moon beginning to rise, 49's Manchesters (along with
13 Lancasters from 83 Squadron) started taking off from Scampton
at 22.50hrs. A record 1,047 aircraft were dispatched, of which
sadly, a record 41 failed to return.
The Cologne attack was a dramatic success for Bomber Command
and a great boost to the morale of the country. This 1,000 bomber
raid, and the two that followed, would be a turning point in
the history of Bomber Command. The publicity confirmed Bomber
Command as one of the main forces taking the war to the enemy,
and its commander 'Bomber' Harris would forever remain in the
public eye.
P/O Philip Floyd (L7290) held his flak
shattered aircraft steady whilst his grateful crew jumped to
safety. Before the pilot could escape, the aircraft plunged into
the ground instantly killing P/O Floyd and front gunner, Sgt
John Smith. Those crew members who escaped by parachute landing
in the Mulheim-Oberhausen area. The 2nd pilot, Sgt Randall RAAF,
was posted missing, but the remaining 4 crew members survived
to become POW's.
Manchester L7290
P/O P.N. Floyd Pilot (Killed)
Sgt
D.E. Randall RAAF 2nd Pilot (P.o.W.)
Sgt
J.R. Valentine NAV (P.o.W.)
Sgt
F.E. Woodrow RNZAF W/AG (P.o.W.)
Sgt J. Smith A/G (Killed)
Sgt E. Probert A/G (P.o.W.)
Sgt
J.F. Wight A/G (P.o.W.)
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