115 Squadron

15/16 May 1940

Wellington Mk IC - P9229 - KO-S

T/O Marham - 2335. Target oil refineries, Duisburg, Germany.

ORB. Marham 15/5/40. 2055. Oil Targets.
Eight aircraft, S/L. MARWOOD-ELTON, F/O. WELLS, F/L. NEWMAN's section, and F/L. PRINGLE's section,
10 from 38 Squadron, 9 from FELDWELL, and 6 from HONINGTON, attacked oil factories near DUISBERG.
(opr. Instr. No.31, App. C.32. Form B135, App C.31.)

0145. First aircraft returned. Last returned at 0530.

F/S. PRINGLE took off at first at 2055 in O. P.9299. but returned with engine trouble,
he left A.C. BUTLER who was sick and took off again in S. P.9229.

Blown off course by high wind and crashed in high ground between Bernay and Rouen, France.
All crew were killed except Cpl. FALLOWS who dies later.
First RAF casualties of the strategic bombing war.

39 Wellingtons, 36 Hampdens and 24 Whitleys (99 aircraft in total) despatched to 16 targets in the vital Ruhr industrial area of Germany.
81 aircraft report bombing their primary or secondary objectives.
1 Wellington lost.

6 Wellingtons and 6 Whitleys also raided targets in Belgium without loss.

These are the first Bomber Command raids to the east of the Rhine and mark the beginning of Bomber Command's Strategic Offensive.

Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk, Bomber Command Campaign Diary 1940