[RodM]

Hi Marcel and Martin,

I think the second annotation is a 'red herring'.

As Martin states, 83 a/c of No. 5 Group were assigned to the raid (under Part C); only 71 are accounted for by Base, including only 11 from Syerston (under Part F). The bomber loads correctly account for all 83 a/c, when the hand-written amendment of 23 a/c from Syerston cayying load A is considered (Part N).

Thus, 23 aircraft from Syerston were detailed for the raid, with all to carry load A (bearing in mind that the Form B was a statement of intent and not a statement of what was later executed).

The fundamental issue here is that you appear to have a copy of the Form B as first transmitted by telex. No doubt amendments to the original Form B were transmitted at a later time (these would correct errors on the original form and/or amend the number of aircraft or composition and distribution of the bomb loads). This usually means that the contents of the file must be checked to see what amendments to the Form B were later issued, provided that they are still on file.

Cheers

Rod