[MW Giles]

Form 540

Saturday 1st. March
Weather. Fair until evening then cloudy with rain. Vis: Moderate to good all day. Wind: SWly backing Sly. when rain started.

Attack on COLOGNE
12 Aircraft detailed. 10 aircraft attacked the primary target causing explosions and extensive fires. 2 aircraft (F/Lt Long and F/O. Frampton) returned with intercom. and wireless unserviceable. 1 aircraft (S/Ldr C.E.E Florigny, Sgt R.F. Martin, Sgt W. Hool. Sgt A. Bush and P/O R.C. Rivaz) forcelanded in the sea when returning. There was a gale of wind blowing at the time and the dinghy was swept away from the aircraft before S/Lde Florigny could get into it. He was last seen on the sinking fuselage of the aircraft and, it is feared, was drowned. The remainder of the crew were picked up by a trawler after some 8 hours in the dinghy. Weather over the target was slight cloud with gaps sufficient to pick out target clearly. Opposition: Moderate flak and searchlights.

Form 541

18:41 hrs 1/3/41 to 06:30 hrs 2.3/41

12 Aircraft were detailed to attack COLOGNE
Weather: Slight cloud over the target with gaps sufficient to pick out target clearly.
Opposition: Moderate flak and searchlights.

Whitley V DY-J

S/Ldr O.A. Morris
P/O F.H.J. Ashley
Sgt F. Summers
Sgt L.E.D. Lindsay
Sgt R.C. Smith

Time Up 18:56
Time Down 06:30 Bircham Newton

Attacked primary target at 13,000ft. 1 stick. Fires burning on arrival, no results seen from own bombs.

Reference NLG 989

Nothing further