Operations

As part of the Allied focus on German oil production in 1944, twenty-six bombers of 75 (NZ) Squadron departed Mepal on the evening of 20 July for a raid against the synthetic oil refinery at Homberg, in the Ruhr Valley. It turned out to be the worst night in the Squadron’s history.

The liberation of France depended on a continuous delivery of supplies across the English Channel. The supply fleet had to be protected from seaborne attack by German E-boats. The task of reducing this threat fell to Bomber Command, led by 617 Sq. with New Zealander Les Munro at the forefront of these missions.

Although Allied senior air leaders had identified the German oil industry as a key target system for strategic bombing as early as 1940, Sir Arthur wanted Bomber Command to focus on German industries and cities. This was to change after D-Day.

As much as research paints a picture of Bomber Command operations, first-hand accounts provide a rich understanding of what airmen experienced. Bruce Cunningham Bruce flew Lancaster IIs with 514 squadron and was shot down (now thought to be by friendly fire) in May 1944.

Just days after D-Day the first of the German long range reprisal weapons programme, the V-1 rocket-propelled missile left its launching pad in Northern France, crossed the English Channel and crashed near the centre of London. Operation Crossbow was the code name for combined Anglo-American operations against this new threat.

Just days after D-Day, the first 12,000-pound ‘Tallboy’ bombs were dropped by No.617 Squadron on a railway tunnel near Saumur, in an effort to block the tunnel and prevent the railway line from being used by German reinforcements being transported to the invasion area.