During a raid on Bremen, 11 out of 35 Whitleys are shot down. For the first time, RAF reports describe ‘intense night-fighter attacks’ posing an even greater danger than flak

Low-level daylight raid by Blenheims on Bremen. Wing Command ‘Hughie’ Edwards wins the VC for leading his formation to attack at low level through a ‘hail of fire’, even flying under high-tension cables. Blenheim squadrons also continue their daylight shipping strikes, despite horrendous casualties.

Throughout the summer of 1941, Blenheim squadrons pressed home their extremely dangerous low-level daylight attacks ‘in the most gallant manner’. Churchill compared the courage of the aircrews with the Charge of the Light Brigade (at Balaclava during the Crimean War). Like that famous event, the Blenheims’ losses continue to mount

Sgt James Ward (RNZAF) wins VC for climbing out onto the wing of his burning Wellington in flight to smother an engine fire during a raid on Munster.

First operation by RAF Bomber Command using B-17 Flying Fortresses - by day against docks at Wilhelmshaven

Daylight raid by 54 Blenheims on power stations near Cologne. 10 Blenheim lost.

The Butt Report into night-bombing effectiveness is completed and reveals that only one in four crews dropped bombs at night within 5 miles of their target.

This shocking news resulted in Bomber Command’s operations being severely curtailed over the winter of 1941-42

Last daylight raid by RAF Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses.

The Fortresses had been part of experimental daylight raids by small numbers of heavy bombers including Stirlings and Halifaxes - but these attacks proved ineffective and were curtailed. Within 3 months America had entered the war and would need all available B-17s for USAAF operations.

152 aircraft sent to Nuremberg. The city officials record only a few bomb strikes, but in towns and villages 10 miles, 65 miles and even 95 miles away buildings are hit.

An extreme example of how, at night, in difficult weather conditions with changeable wind speeds, aircraft could get hopelessly lost, particularly trying to locate inland targets far from discernable landmarks.

Final Blenheim
‘shipping-sweep’

The terrible toll on Blenheim crews, attacking heavily-armed ships in daylight, could no longer be justified.

21 of 169 aircraft lost from raid on Berlin - an appalling 12.4% loss rate - and only the outskirts of the city were affected.

This was the last major raid on Berlin until January 1943.  The next day, the Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command at the time, Air Marshal Sir Richard Pierse was called to explain the depressing results of the Butt Report into bombing efficiency to Prime Minister Winston Churchill.  A few days later a ‘conservation’ order was issued - operations were reduced so Bomber Command could recover and build up strength.  RAF bombing had been shown by the Butt Report to be at best a thorn in the Germans’ side - yet the Command consumed enormous amounts of war resources.  Its future lay in doubt as completing demands for those resources from the Navy and the Army ate away at its strength.

Japanese attack Pearl Harbour

Britain, USA and China all declare war against Japan

Hitler then declared war on the USA, despite being already locked in conflict with Russia.  Now Britain had both Russia and America as allies.  But the defeat of Nazi Germany would take a further three and a half years of bitter warfare

Turning point: A new leader and a new aircraft for Bomber Command

154 aircraft attack the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau battleships and the docks at Brest. A smoke-screen prevents accurate bombing but large fires are seen. No aircraft lost.

On the 11th/12th February these two German warships escaped along the English Channel under cover of bad weather in the infamous ‘Channel Dash’. They were later damaged by mines dropped by Bomber Command aircraft.

Unsuccessful attempt to bomb the German battleship Tirpitz.

The Tirpitz was targeted a total of 10 times by the Royal Navy and RAF. It would finally be sunk by Bomber Command in 1944

New Air Ministry directive to Bomber Command prioritises area-bombing.

Churchill’s War Cabinet had recognised the problems of precision-bombing at night. Area-bombing had been championed by Churchill’s scientific advisor, Lord Cherwell.  He proposed a policy of what he called ‘de-housing’ whereby the destruction of industrial workers’ houses in the vicinity of factories was justified on the grounds it would damage civilian morale and disrupt German war production.  Instructions to area-bomb German cities were received by Bomber Command before the arrival of their new commander.

Air Marshal (Sir) Arthur Harris becomes Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command

Raid by 235 bombers against the huge Renault works at Billancourt, producing lorries for the Germany army

This raid was the first trial of a new tactic: A very concentrated attack by the light of flares continuously dropped during the raid, so the target would remain constantly visible. It was hoped defences would be overwhelmed by the concentration of aircraft over the target in a short space of time. The raid proved successful - 224 aircraft bombed accurately and this tactic would be soon used on targets in Germany.

First Avro Lancaster operations (mining-laying over sea)

The Lancaster would prove to be the most successful bomber of WW2 - powerful and manoeuvrable, it could carry a larger payload of bombs than any other aircraft.

First major use of GEE on night raid against Essen

GEE was the first of several crucially important navigational aids which would greatly improve bombing accuracy.

First 8000 lb bomb dropped - on Essen.

The new bigger Lancaster was showing what it could do. Later in the war it would drop 22,000 lbs (10 ton) bombs with pinpoint accuracy.

Daylight raid by new Lancaster heavy bombers - flying at low level to attack an important U-boat engine factory at Augsburg. The leader of the 44 Sqn section, Sqn Ldr John Nettleton, receives the VC for his outstanding leadership.

Launching an attack on such a long-range target in daylight made this daring raid a gamble. The factory was hit - but at heavy cost.

First ‘Thousand-Bomber’ raid 1,047 RAF bombers attack Cologne.

Harris’ dramatic and massive attack showed the world that Bomber Command could wreak devastation against the Nazi homeland.

On this raid, F/O Leslie Manser, aged 20, awarded the VC.

Manser’s aircraft was badly damaged by flak. Despite this, he bombed successfully. His Manchester was hit again but he refused to bail out - holding the aircraft steady until all his crew had jumped to safety. In doing so he sacrificed his own chance of escape and was killed when the plane crashed.

First bombing-reconnaissance operation by new Mosquito light bombers - against Cologne.

The Mosquito was a unique aircraft - an unarmed bomber relying on exceptional speed to escape enemy fighters

Second ‘Thousand-Bomber’ raid (956 aircraft) - against Essen.

Third ‘Thousand-Bomber’ raid (960 aircraft) - to Bremen.

Harris had demonstrated Bomber Command’s potential as a massive weapon to strike back at Nazi Germany. Although the scale of recent raids could not be sustained, Harris’ long battle of attrition against Germany’s industrial heartland had begun.