78 Squadron Whitley Recon 18 Dec 1940 - 8 a.m.,
 

A single Whitley took off to recon ahead of the Wilhelmshaven raid. Does anyone have the pilots / aircrew names - used up my free TNA quota

Cheers

Andy B

Re: 78 Squadron Whitley Recon 18 Dec 1940 - 8 a.m.,
 

Took a quick look at the F541 for Dec. 1940 using the preview function. Found nothing for 18 December; found no takeoffs at 0800 hours on any date in that month.

Then took a quick look at the F540 (using the preview function again). It states there were no ops on 18 Dec.

Re: 78 Squadron Whitley Recon 18 Dec 1940 - 8 a.m.,
 

I assume you mean 18 December 1939 (not 1940). There is a description of that raid here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle...nd_Bight_(1939)


There is mention of the Whitley here: https://www.tracesofwar.com/articles...ember-1939.htm

"In the morning of 18 December, before sunrise, a Whitley of 78 Squadron took off from RAF Dishforth in Yorkshire. The aircraft crossed the North Sea in the direction of Helgoland. Arriving at 08:00 the sky was half cast over, which would provide the bombers the required coverage. A message was sent to headquarters of Group 3. The message was forwarded to the squadrons. Take off was to take place at 09:30. Over King’s Lynn in Norfolk the 24 Wellingtons were to assemble in formation."

However, I checked the F540 report for 78 Squadron for that date (using the preview function as Steve did) and there is no mention of any activity for the Squadron on that date. There don't appear to be any F541 reports on file for 1939 for the squadron.


UPDATE: I believe it was 51 squadron that did the weather recon patrol. On this link: https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C2503133

go to page 32 (of 659). A weather mission (2 planes?) was planned to go from Borkum to Wangerooge and from Stylt to Wangerooge.

On this link, go to page 10 at the bottom.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8451294

The mission was flown to arrive over their objectives at dawn.

Page 2 of this has plane ids and crew lists:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8451295

Whitley IV K.9047
S/Ldr W.H.N. Turner, P/O A.C. Peach, Sgt R. G. Bruce, LAC D.S. Edmundson, A.C.2. Boyd.

Whitley IV K.9048
F/O T. K. Milne, P/O B.W. Hayward, Sgt J. B. Ritchie, LAC. A.W.D. Lyne, A.C.2. F Hargreaves

Re: 78 Squadron Whitley Recon 18 Dec 1940 - 8 a.m.,
 

78 Sqn was a training squadron in 1939/40 and was not at Dishforth either on 18.12.39

51 Sqn sent two Whitleys to Hornum and Borkum at 04:00 and 04:05 hrs, they both returned at 09:45

So the article is right about the base and the type of aircraft but not the number of aircraft or the squadron involved

Martin

Re: 78 Squadron Whitley Recon 18 Dec 1940 - 8 a.m.,
 

Sincere apologies for the delay in my thanking Martin, R S Swank, and Steve R

Very much appreciated

Andy B