Battle of Heligoland Bight 1939

The Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe's Baptism of Fire

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
Cover of the book Battle of Heligoland Bight 1939 by Robin Holmes, Grub Street Publishing
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Author: Robin Holmes ISBN: 9781909166868
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing Publication: January 19, 2010
Imprint: Grub Street Publishing Language: English
Author: Robin Holmes
ISBN: 9781909166868
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
Publication: January 19, 2010
Imprint: Grub Street Publishing
Language: English

The story of the first British bombing raid of the Second World War, of why Bomber Command flew by night and of the Wellington Mk.1A are all closely linked together. It is a story of the stone age of strategic bombing.

On the 4th of September 1939 Squadron Leader Paul Harris led 149 Squadron to Brunsbüttel, Wilhelmshaven in a Mk. 1 Wellington L4302. On the way he ordered that the guns of his airplane be tested, only to make the horrifying discovery that not one of them worked. He was flying to Germany in an aircraft that was completely defenseless. Not wanting to turn back on the first raid of the war he made the decision to press on regardless.

On the 18th of December he flew to Wilhelmshaven once again and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the first major encounter between the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe. This time he flew a Wellington Mk.1A, N2980, or “R” for Robert, and this time his guns worked and were red hot. Out of a total 11,461 Wellington bombers produced, Paul Harris’ old Wimpy is now the only one left that fought back against Nazi tyranny and survived to rest now in Brooklands Museum

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The story of the first British bombing raid of the Second World War, of why Bomber Command flew by night and of the Wellington Mk.1A are all closely linked together. It is a story of the stone age of strategic bombing.

On the 4th of September 1939 Squadron Leader Paul Harris led 149 Squadron to Brunsbüttel, Wilhelmshaven in a Mk. 1 Wellington L4302. On the way he ordered that the guns of his airplane be tested, only to make the horrifying discovery that not one of them worked. He was flying to Germany in an aircraft that was completely defenseless. Not wanting to turn back on the first raid of the war he made the decision to press on regardless.

On the 18th of December he flew to Wilhelmshaven once again and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the first major encounter between the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe. This time he flew a Wellington Mk.1A, N2980, or “R” for Robert, and this time his guns worked and were red hot. Out of a total 11,461 Wellington bombers produced, Paul Harris’ old Wimpy is now the only one left that fought back against Nazi tyranny and survived to rest now in Brooklands Museum

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