WILHELMSHAVEN AND BRUNSBUTTEL
{{webimage,wardiaries.jpg,float:right;width:150px;,Book no longer in print}}After an early Blenheim reconnaissance, 15 Blenheims and 14 Wellingtons were dispatched to bomb German warships. 5 planes from each force failed to find targets in low-cloud conditions. Most of the remaining Blenheims carried out low-level attacks on the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer and on the cruiser Emden in Wil- helmshaven harbour. At least 3 bombs hit the Admiral Scheer but they failed to explode; the Emden was damaged and suffered some casualties when a Blenheim crashed on to it. 5 Blenheims were shot down, all or most by anti-aircraft (Flak) fire; 107 Squadron lost 4 of its 5 planes on the raid. The first Bomber Command casualties of the war are believed to have been Flight Lieutenant W. F. Barton and his crew - Flying Officer J F Ross, navigator, and Corporal J L Ricketts, wireless operator/gunner - of 107 Squadron, all killed when Blenheim N6184 was shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire of the Admiral Hipper.
Little is known of the Wellington attacks on ships at Brunsbuttel in the mouth of the Kiel Canal. 4 crews reported that they had found targets to bomb. Owing to navigation error, 2 bombs were dropped on the Danish town of Esbjerg, 110 miles north of Brunsbuttel, and 2 people were killed there. Some of the Wellingtons were attacked by German fighters and 2 Wellingtons were lost.
Total effort for the day: 30 sorties, 7 aircraft (23.3 per cent) lost. The Bomber Command War Diaries, Middlebrook and Everitt
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After an early Blenheim reconnaissance, 15 Blenheims and 14 Wellingtons were dispatched to bomb German warships. 5 planes from each force failed to find targets in low-cloud conditions. Most of the remaining Blenheims carried out low-level attacks on the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer and on the cruiser Emden in Wil- helmshaven harbour. At least 3 bombs hit the Admiral Scheer but they failed to explode; the Emden was damaged and suffered some casualties when a Blenheim crashed on to it. 5 Blenheims were shot down, all or most by anti-aircraft (Flak) fire; 107 Squadron lost 4 of its 5 planes on the raid. The first Bomber Command casualties of the war are believed to have been Flight Lieutenant W. F. Barton and his crew - Flying Officer J F Ross, navigator, and Corporal J L Ricketts, wireless operator/gunner - of 107 Squadron, all killed when Blenheim N6184 was shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire of the Admiral Hipper. Little is known of the Wellington attacks on ships at Brunsbuttel in the mouth of the Kiel Canal. 4 crews reported that they had found targets to bomb. Owing to navigation error, 2 bombs were dropped on the Danish town of Esbjerg, 110 miles north of Brunsbuttel, and 2 people were killed there. Some of the Wellingtons were attacked by German fighters and 2 Wellingtons were lost. Total effort for the day: 30 sorties, 7 aircraft (23.3 per cent) lost. The Bomber Command War Diaries, Middlebrook and Everitt
