The 50 Sqdn left from Lindholme at 1940-12-10 at 22:40. Loc or duty Mannheim
On Wednesday 10 December 1940, a member of the 50 Sqdn, Flying Officer E B Liddell, took off from Lindholme in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on Back to Normandy. You can find the other details of this mission by searching here. Training and cargo flights are not separately mentioned as a mission. The plane left at 22:40.
He flew with a Handley Page Hampden (type I, serial X3117, code VN-).
Information by David Stone
At 2240hrs on 10/12/1940 50 Squadron Hampden I, X3117, took off from RAF Lindholme to attack Manheim. X3117 was hit by flak it crashed near Trier on the 10 or 11 December 1940.
It is believed that a previous mission, X2994 VN, crashed in West Raynham, Norfolk on Friday 08/11/1940 Friday, 08 November 1940.
X2994 VN is believed to have ditched in the sea. Sgt Atkinson reported to his brother that he received on informal medal from the squadron that was blue in colour to represent a watery landing, green for a land based crash?
Above info from Chorley's Bomber Command Losses Vol 1,1939-1940, 50 Sqd records and personal information by William Atkinson (brother)
-Flying officer E B Liddell
-Pilot Officer R G Ash
-Sgt E McConnell
-Sgt A S Atkinson
F/O Liddell's brother was Alvar Lidell MBE, a famous BBC news reader.
The crew were initially buried in Macken Cemetery and interned in the Rheinberg British cemetery 04/06/1947
Campaign report of the USAAF:
No report
Campaign report of the RAF:
December
The night of 16/17 December will be remembered as the first area attack carried out by Bomber Command. The raid on Mannheim, code-named Operation Abigail Rachel, was authorised in retaliation for recent heavy bombing of English cities (particularly Coventry) and a force of 200 aircraft was prepared. In the end, 134 aircraft were sent - still the largest number to a single target. The attack was opened by 8 Wellingtons using incendiaries which, it was hoped, would start a fire and aid identification of the target. Figures vary, but no more than 102 aircraft actually bombed Mannheim, and the majority of bombs fell away from the city centre as the fire-raising Wellingtons had missed the centre of the city. The casualties for the night totalled 34 dead with 81 injured.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
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