Base: Manston
Time Up: 2300 hrs - Time Down - 0105.
Op: Strike - Attack on docks at Le Havre

Released 2 x 500 GP bombs from 9500ft. Target not seen clearly, bursts unseen. Hit balloon cable at Dover on return and made Manston on one engine. Gunner misunderstood order and bailed out successfully. It is unknown at this stage if the aircraft was abandoned or if the AG bailed out on his own... The ORB does note a landing time so the latter is the most probable...

All lost:

Sgt J Mingham - Obs	P/O SG Collier - Pilot	Sgt W Powell - WAG

The following images were kindly sent in by Vikki Watmough.

P/O Collier & Sgt Powell with Blenheim TR-E

Sgt Mingham & Sgt Powell with Blenheim TR-E

During WWII, the RAF used three-letter codes to identify their aircraft from a distance. Two large letters were painted before the roundel, which signified the squadron to which the aircraft belonged, and another letter was painted after the roundel which indicated the individual aircraft. Aditionally, there was the individual serial number for each aircraft, which was painted in a much smaller size, usually somewhere at the rear of the aircraft: (more)

Codes used by RAF 59 Squadron:

PJ Sep 1938 - Sep 1939
TR Sep 1939 - Oct 1942
1 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944
WE Jul 1944 - Oct 1945
BY Oct 1945 - Jun 1946, Dec 1947 - Oct 1950