antarmike Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 (edited) The RAF launches the first 1,000 bomber raid. 1,047 bomber head out to Cologne. It is a mixed bag of front line aircraft, boosted by numerous aircraft (and crews!) from training squadrons and OCU's Some aircraft were concidered worn out and that is why they had passed to OCU's. But the decision was made that the propoganda effect of a 1000 + bomber raid was worth the risk of flying some clapped out heaps with inexperienced crews on this raid. There were 602 Vickers Wellingtons, 131 Handley page Halifaxes, 88 Short Stirlings, 79 Handley Page Hampdens, 73 Avro Lancasters, 46 Avro Manchesters, and 228 Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys. The raid killed 469 people on the ground and caused extensive damage to the City. Flying Officer Leslie Manser is posthumously given the VC for for staying at the controls of his stricken 50 squadron Manchester to give his crew a chance to bail out. Edited May 31, 2008 by antarmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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