The story
GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE
42 Battles, Blenheims and Hampdens to bomb a variety of targets and minelaying but only 13 bombed and 9 laid mines. On its outward flight,1 Battle was shot down into the sea off Skegness by R.A.F. fighters and 3 Hampdens ditched in the sea on their return flights.
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HOLLAND
12 Blenheims to attack airfields, only 5 bombed, 1 lost.
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THE RUHR
43 Wellingtons and Whitleys attacked 7 targets in the Ruhr. No losses.
A proportion of these aircraft released leaflets as a secondary task. This economical method of carrying leaflets to Germany and on flights across occupied countries became a regular practice and continued for the remainder of the war, although training aircraft continued to make leaflet-only flights to France and Belgium. Bomber Command delivered at least 1,500 million leaflets during the war.
There's more to discover
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.