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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AIRFIELDS
29 Blenheims to France and Holland; 16 bombed but 12 were lost, including 11 out of the 12 aircraft from a formation provided by 82 Squadron which was caught by German fighters while attacking Hamstede airfield in Holland. This was the second time during the summer of 1940 that a formation from this squadron was almost completely destroyed. 6 Blenheims on a sea sweep and 2 Blenheims on photographic reconnaissance to the Dortmund-Ems Canal operated without loss.
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GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
62 Hampdens and Wellingtons to 5 widely spread targets in Germany, 35 Whitleys to Milan and Turin - the first raid on Italy since the end of the Battle of France - 6 Blenheims to airfields and a seaplane base at Brest and 2 Wellingtons to photograph Stettin and Swinemnde on the Baltic coast. 98 of the 105 aircraft on these mostly lengthy operations reported that they had carried out their tasks, 1 Hampden was lost from the force bombing Germany and 1 Whitley returning from Italy crashed in the sea.
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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,
