Code: P23597
RAF Form 441. Approximately 28 x 43.5cm (opened out). Document relating to a Bomber Command raid to industrial targets around Mainz in Germany by a Halifax crew of 158 Squadron on 1st February 1945. It names the aircraft captain Flight Lieutenant William McLennan (DFC, 158314) and Navigator, Pilot Officer Eric Geoffrey Huband (DFC, 184967). This was part of a 340 strong aircraft raid with 293 Halifaxes, 40 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitoes of 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. Cloud cover made accurate bombing difficult and many bombs fell outside the target area. Huband's raid chart gives the weather forecast and details the flight from take off at 1635hrs, crossing the coast at 1811hrs, sighting of the target at 1930hrs, bombs being dropped at 1934hrs, crossing the coast again at 2101hrs and landing at base at 2312hrs. It comes with the section of plotting map used on the raid. The route to and from the target has been marked in pencil with times recorded at various points. Very scarce original documents that were actually completed on the bombing raid. Stock code P23597.
2 sheets plus map.
Some raid details sourced from The Bomber Command War Diaries - Middlebrook & Everitt.
