RAF Special Duties by Pateman Colin

Author:Pateman, Colin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fonthill Media
Published: 2014-12-29T16:00:00+00:00

In February 1945, the Stirling bombers that had struggled to perform to the high demands of jamming operations were eventually exchanged for the superior Halifax. No. 199 Squadron was the last squadron within Bomber Command to operate in the outdated Stirling aircraft, and the long overdue upgrade was well received. Stirling LJ525 was replaced with a Halifax that also carried the ‘Jolly Roger’ skull-and-crossbones artwork.

Harold flew a total of forty Special Duties operations with No. 199 Squadron before the war concluded; he was promoted to squadron leader and given command of ‘B’ Flight. He and his crew had escaped unscathed, and had the satisfaction of knowing that they had protected to the best of their ability the lives of hundreds of air crew personnel who flew on bombing operations into Germany.

The last operation for No. 199 Squadron took place on the night of 2 May 1945, providing ‘Mandrel’ protection for a raid over Kiel. Intelligence reported that large contingents of motorised troops were converging on the port, where an armada of shipping was assembled. It was feared that these forces were reinforcements for the Wehrmacht in Norway, which was still largely intact at that time. Eighty-nine Halifax aircraft were provided by No. 100 Group to support what was to be the last operation by Bomber Command in the Second World War. Within this contingent of Halifaxes were six from No. 199 Squadron, including RG373 and RG375—two aircraft in which Harold and his crew had flown during the final months of the war. Tragically, while over the target area these two aircraft collided, with terrible consequences. Both aircraft were completely destroyed, crashing at Meimersdorf, just south of Kiel. Thirteen air crew, the majority of whom were on their second tour of duty, lost their lives and now rest in Kiel War Cemetery. They were the last men to be killed during hostile operations for Bomber Command.

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