The story
20 Blenheims on coastal sweeps. 1 ship was hit off Holland. No losses.
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COLOGNE
51 aircraft - 24 Hampdens, 22 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings. None lost. The target was completely cloud-covered and bombing was poor. Cologne records only 13 high-explosive bombs and 200 incendiaries in the city, with 25 buildings damaged and 11 people injured.
2 Whitleys attacked Boulogne without loss.
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and the squadron became operational in 5 Group in August 1941. Flew Hampdens from Swinderby and Wigsley until April 1942 when transferred to Coastal Command to become a torpedo-bomber unit, in which role the squadron flew until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
455 Squadron flew 424 Hampden sorties and lost 14 aircraft (3.3 percent) in 92 raids - 56 bombing, 29 minelaying and 7 leaflet.
POINTS OF INTEREST
The first Australian squadron to fly in Bomber Command.
458 (AUSTRALIAN) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Ground crew formed in Australia in July 1941 and the squadron became operational in 4 Group in October 1941. Flew Wellingtons from Holme-on-Spalding Moor until December but then transferred to the Middle East in February 1942, the aircraft of the CO., Wing Commander Mulholland, D.F.C., being shot down into the sea while flying to Malta. Served as a torpedo-bomber squadron in the Middle East until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
458 Squadron flew 65 Wellington sorties and lost 3 aircraft (4.6 percent) in 10 bombing raids.
460 (AUSTRALIAN) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Formed as a Wellington squadron in 1 Group and commenced operations on
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You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.