Post by andypspotter on May 30, 2017 23:38:18 GMT
The RAF conducted its first ever 1,000 bomber raid. Cologne was the target.
On the evening of 30 May 1942, over 1,000 bombers took off for Cologne as part of a dramatic new strategy by Arthur Harris, the recently appointed head of Bomber Command.
That year, Bomber Command typically had around 400 aircraft on a given day, so Harris called in favours. Coastal Command agreed to help and Flying Training Command also lent planes.
At the eleventh hour, Coastal Command withdrew its cooperation as part of the ongoing turf war between the Admiralty and the Royal Air Force, but 'Bomber' Harris was able to scrape together the necessary planes from Bomber Command’s instructional units and trainee crews.
In total, 1,047 bombers took off: more than two and a half times more than on any other single operation to date.
There were 602 Wellingtons, 131 Halifaxes, 88 Stirlings, 79 Hampdens, 73 Lancasters, 46 Manchesters, and 28 Whitleys.
On the evening of 30 May 1942, over 1,000 bombers took off for Cologne as part of a dramatic new strategy by Arthur Harris, the recently appointed head of Bomber Command.
That year, Bomber Command typically had around 400 aircraft on a given day, so Harris called in favours. Coastal Command agreed to help and Flying Training Command also lent planes.
At the eleventh hour, Coastal Command withdrew its cooperation as part of the ongoing turf war between the Admiralty and the Royal Air Force, but 'Bomber' Harris was able to scrape together the necessary planes from Bomber Command’s instructional units and trainee crews.
In total, 1,047 bombers took off: more than two and a half times more than on any other single operation to date.
There were 602 Wellingtons, 131 Halifaxes, 88 Stirlings, 79 Hampdens, 73 Lancasters, 46 Manchesters, and 28 Whitleys.