THE RUHR
59 Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 6 targets in the Ruhr; 1 Whitley lost. 16 Hampdens minelaying and on sea reconnaissance, 1 lost. 5 O.T.U. sorties.
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6 Blenheims made a sea sweep, 1 aircraft bombed De Kooy airfield in Holland. No losses.
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GERMANY, HOLLAND
79 Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons and Whitleys to 5 targets in Germany, to airfields in France, and minelaying. 4 Hampdens and 1 Blenheim lost. 4 O.T.U. sorties.
11 Hampdens of 49 and 83 Squadrons were ordered to make low-level bombing attacks on the Dortmund-Ems Canal at a point, near Mnster, where the canal crosses the River Ems by means of twin aqueducts. These were an important bottleneck link in the German inland-waterway system. The aqueducts had been attacked by 5 Group Hampdens on previous occasions and damaged. The German defences had now been increased and low-level attacks were subject to intense light Flak. 2 Hampdens were shot down but 8 aircraft managed to drop their bombs and caused damage which was still holding up barge traffic more than a month later.
For making a particularly determined attack, in which his Hampden was badly hit, Flight Lieutenant R. A. B. Learoyd of 49 Squadron was awarded Bomber Command's first Victoria Cross of the war. The Dortmund-Ems canal would need to be attacked on many future occasions and a second Victoria Cross would be earned here in 1945, again by a member of 5 Group.
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50 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 5 Group from the outbreak until the end of the war but detached for short periods to Coastal Command in late 1939 and in 1940. Equipped with Hampdens, Manchesters and Lancasters; based at Waddington, Lindholme, Swinderby (twice) and Skellingthorpe (twice).
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Hampdens - 266 bombing, 88 minelaying, 14 leaflet
Manchesters - 15 bombing, 10 minelaying, 9 leaflet
Lancasters - 339 bombing, 26 minelaying
Total - 620 bombing, 124 minelaying, 23 leaflet = 767 raids
Sorties and Losses
Hampdens - 2,299 sorties, 57 aircraft lost (2.5 percent)
Manchesters - 126 sorties, 7 aircraft lost (56 percent)
Lancasters - 4,710 sorties, 112 aircraft lost (2.4 percent)
Total - 7,135 sorties, 176 aircraft lost (2.5 percent)
26 Hampdens and 27 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Except for three short periods, continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war.
Victoria Cross: Flying Officer L. T. Manser, posthumously, 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne,
