1 November
Formed at R.A,F. Station Molesworth.
4 January
1942 Transferred to R.A.F. Station
Breighton.
12 March
1942 First operation to Emden.
30 May
1942 Participated in first 1000
bomber
operation - Cologne.
5 March
1943 Commencement of the battle
of the Ruhr.
14 May
1943 Squadron transferred to
R.A.F. Station
Binbrook.
25 July
1943 Conclusion of the battle
of the Ruhr.
Squadron despatched 597 bombers lost 29
crews.
2 August
1943 Battle of Hamburg.
12 August
1943 Attack on Milan in which
squadron became
first to complete 1000 sorties on
Lancaster bombers.
17 August
1943 Attack on Peenemunde.
18 November 1943
Commencement of the battle of Berlin
2 December 1943
Five squadron crews lost in attack on Berlin.
24 March
1944 Battle of Berlin concludes,
squadron
completed 317 sorties, greatest number of
any Bomber Command Squadron, losing
23 aircraft.
6 June
1944 Invasion of Europe.
7 March
1944 First squadron to complete
5000 sorties
on Lancasters.
25 April
1945 Last operation on Berchtesgaden.
8 May
1945 War in Europe concludes.
21 July
1945 Squadron selected for Tiger
Force for service
in Pacific.
October
1945 Squadron disbanded .
COMMANDING OFFICERS
Wing Commander
- A.L.G. Hubbard, DSO,DFC - Nov. 1941 - Sept. 1942
Wing Commander
- K.W. Kaufman, DFC - Sept. 1942 -
Dec. 1942
Wing Commander
- J. Dilworth, DFC - Dec. 1942
- Feb. 1943
Wing Commander
- C.E. Martin, DSO, DFC - Feb. 1943 - Sept. 1943
Wing Commander
- R.A. Norman, DSO, DFC - Sept. 1943 - P.O.W. 8/10/43
Wing Commander
- F.A. Arthur, DFC - Sept. 1943
- Jan. 1944
Wing Commander
- H.D. Marsh, DFC - Jan.
1944 - May 1944
Wing Commander
- J.K. Douglas, DFC - May 1944 - Oct.
1944
Wing Commander
- K.R.J. Parsons, DSO, DFC- Oct. 1944 - Nov. 1944
Squadron Leader - J.
Clark, DFC
- Nov. 1944 - K.I.A. 13/12/44
Wing Commander
- J. Roberts, DFC - Dec.
1944 - Jan. 1945
Wing Commander
- M.G. Cowan, DSO - Jan.
1945 - July 1945
Wing Commander
- P.H. Swan, DSO, DFC - July 1945 - Oct. 1945
NARRATIVE
The squadrons first operation to Emden on 12 March 1942 followed four months
of intensive training under the guidance of the C.O., Wing Commander A.L.G.
Hubbard, DFC and the two Flight Commanders, Squadron Leaders C.L. Gilbert,
DFC and A.D. Frank, DFC.
Hubbard and
Gilbert were both Australians who joined the R.A.F. on short service commissions
before the war, whilst Frank was an R.A.F. officer attached to the squadron
until succeeded by Squadron Leader J.W.E. Leighton, DFC, another Australian
serving in the R.A.F.
Five crews,
led by Gilbert and Frank, participated in the attack on Emden which was
not particularly successful because of bad weather conditions but all aircraft
returned safely. This modest introduction to operations was followed by
a series of attacks on U-Boat installations along the French coast, completed
with only one loss.
The squadron
played a minor role in Bomber Command's first major attack on a city when
Lubeck was raided on 28 March, 1042 and sent three crews to Rostock on
24 April, devastating the city.
On 30 May 1942,
Cologne became the first target for a 1000 bomber raid in which the squadron
despatched 18 crews, all returning safely from this highly successful attack,
creating enormous damage to the German war industry. This attack was followed
by 1000 bomber raids to Essen and Bremen in June, to which the squadron
contributed 19 and 20 aircraft for the loss of two crews.
Pilot Officer
W.L. Brill was the first member of the squadron to be decorated when he
received an immediate award of the DFC for his courage in the attack on
Gennevilliers on the night of 29/30 May, 1942.
In the period
from its first operation on 12 March, 1942 to 28 August, 1942, the squadron
became fully involved in Bomber Commands campaign against the German war
industry, attacking 69 targets from which 26 crews were lost, including
two flight commanders, Squadron Leaders C.L. Gilbert and J.W.E. Leighton.
The German anti-aircraft
defences were considerably strengthened during 1941-42 with the searchlights
and guns of the Kammhuber Line stretching along the whole of the enemy
held coast. In support of the Kammhuber Line was a closely integrated network
of ground controlled interception boxes each containing a ground controller
who directed the enemy fighters onto a bomber as soon as it entered the
area. A deep gun defended zone which worked in conjunction with these defences,
completed the enemy network.
460 Squadron
crews had become increasingly conscious of the German night fighters and
numerous attacks had occurred. Pilot Officer J.A. Falkner's aircraft was
attacked on the night of the 25th June, 1942 during the raid on Bremen,
first by a Ju-88, which his rear gunner, Sergeant R.C. Witney shot down,
followed by attacks from two Me-109's. On the 6th July, Sergeant J.C. Pearson's
crew were attacked by a Me-109 whilst bombing L'Orient-Ile de Quiberon
which his rear gunner, Sergeant P.C. Henderson destroyed and who, on the
17th September, in a raid on Osnabruck, claimed a Ju-88 as probably
destroyed. Three nights before, in an attack on Dusseldorf, Sergeant E.K.F.
Brasher's aircraft was attacked by a Ju-88 which seriously damaged his
aircraft but his rear gunner Sergeant K.C. Bennett gave their attacker
a long, accurate burst which caused the fighter to go into a climbing turn
to port, stalled and fell away enveloped in flames. Brasher's received
an immediate award of the DFM for bringing his badly damaged Wellington
back to base but was killed in action two days later. Similarly, Henderson
was awarded a DFM for his actions against night fighter attacks.
On 22nd September,
1942, Pilot Officer D.T. Gault was shot down in an attack on Stuttgart
but evaded capture, returning to England six weeks later. He was transferred
to Coastal Command but was lost on his first trip with his new squadron.
In September
1942, the squadron temporarily left the line to re-equip with multi-engined
Halifax bombers but on the 20th October it was decided to re-arm the squadron
with Lancasters. The crews were sorry to lose their faithful Wellingtons
but the change from twin to four engined aircraft, symbolised the changing
nature of R.A.F. Bomber Command's strategic campaign.
1943 heralded
the first year in which the Allies were on the offensive and the month
of March saw the commencement of the battle of the Ruhr which would do
enormous damage to the heart of the German war machine, an area described
by the crews laconic humour, as "Happy Valley".
It was fortuitous
that at this particular period when the crews were to be called upon to
make enormous sacrifices, there came two officers whose appointments were
almost simultaneous and whose contributions were of incalculable value
to the squadron.
The first was
Group Captain H.I. Edwards as Station Commander, the first airman to win
the VC, DSO, DFC in WW2. His courage, leadership and inspiration was largely
responsible for the extraordinary operational record the squadron achieved
for the remainder of the war. About the same time Wing Commander C.E. Martin
DFC was appointed Squadron Commander in succession to Dilworth and was
the first graduate of the Empire Training Scheme to Command a squadron
in Bomber Command and he likewise set the highest standards of leadership.
The Battle of
the Ruhr officially opened on the night of the 5th March, 1943 when 369
aircraft bombed Essen under perfect conditions, the squadron sending ten
crews without loss. In the course of the next four months until the 25th
July, 1943 when this campaign concluded, the squadron crews visited the
heavily industrialized cities of Essen six times, Duisburg on five occasions
and Cologne four times as well as the other Ruhr targets of Dortmund, Bochum,
Dusseldorf, Krefeld, Wuppertal, Oberhausen, Mulheim and Gelsenkirchen.
In addition, the young crews were called upon to make other far reaching
attacks on Berlin, Nuremburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Spezia, Pilsen, Turin
and Hamburg. The Squadron lost three crews in the attack on the vast Skoda
works at Pilsen and four nights later another three crews were lost in
a heavy attack on Berlin. In addition to the aircraft lost on this raid,
another six were damaged, among them Flight Sergeant H.L. Fuhrmann's whose
Lancaster was badly damaged by fire from an armed ship while flying over
the Baltic. Both he and his navigator, Flying Officer C.B. Anderson were
seriously wounded but despite these difficulties they managed to fly their
aircraft back to Britain where Fuhrmann made a crash landing and immediately
collapsed from his wounds. Fuhrmann received an immediate award of the
DFM and Anderson the DFC for their courage, skill and fortitude.
The squadrons
heavy operational commitments were not in any way disrupted by its transfer
to Binbrook on the 14th May, 1943, the aircrews and ground staff flying
over in Lancasters, whilst the main body were transported in Horsa gliders.
The last raid
of this phase of the Ruhr campaign was on Essen on 25th July, 1943 when
599 bombers, including 23 from the squadron, again inflicted heavy damage.
This was the heaviest attack yet mounted on that city. Thus ended a particularly
important phase of Bomber Command's campaign which created much physical
disorganisation on the centres contained in the Ruhr and Rhineland.
The squadron
operated on 46 nights and despatched 597 Lancasters against main targets
in Germany and Italy and another 20 on mine laying from which 29 crews
did not return.
Bomber Command
now opened its spring offensive against the more scattered but equally
important war industries throughout Germany. This begun with a series of
three devastating raids against Hamburg on 24-27-29 July 1943, the first
one of which created a firestorm of unprecedented intensity, causing enormous
alarm among German authorities. A force of 740 aircraft, including 26 from
the squadron participated in this attack which was followed by similar
forces in the subsequent raids, the squadron losing three crews including
Fuhrmann's.
These were followed
by heavy attacks Remcheid, Turin, Mannheim, Nuremburg and three on Milan,
during which the squadron became the first in Bomber Command to complete
1000 sorties in Lancasters, a great tribute to its spirit and efficiency.
On 17 August 1943, Bomber Command undertook one of its most critical operations
when it successfully attacked and destroyed the German Research centre
at Peenemunde. The squadron despatched 24 crews on this raid with no losses
and from which Flight Sergeant D. Rees earned the CGM for beating off repeated
fighter attacks and also his great skill in the previous raid on Milan
when he flew through the alps on three engines and lost another over the
target before making the long return flight.
Wing Commander
C.R. Martin completed his second tour of operations in September 1943 and
was succeeded by Wing Commander R.A. Norman DFC who was shot down on the
first operation of his second tour on 8 October in an attack on Hanover.
He in turn was replaced by Wing Commander F.A. Arthur DFC who had completed
his first tour and had the distinction of being only the second navigator
in Bomber Command to lead a squadron and the first Australian.
The spring offensive
finished with a successful attack on Kassel on 22 October, 1943 with 22
crews from the squadron. During this period, the squadron operated on 28
nights for the loss of another 18 crews, including three in raids on Berlin
on 3 September and 8 October, 1943
To this stage
of the war, Bomber Command had devastated the Ruhr and other industrial
targets throughout Germany but yet the capital, Berlin, though attacked
on numerous occasions had not suffered to the same extent as other centres
of Germany's war potential.
The campaign
to cripple Berlin commenced in earnest on 18 November when over 300 bombers
attacked the capital accompanied by elaborate diversionary raids to disperse
German night fighters, including a major operation by 395 aircraft on Mannheim.
In the period
18 November, 1943 to 30 March, 1944, Bomber Command attacked Berlin on
16 occasions as well as 14 other major targets including Nuremburg. On
the last night a total of 608 bombers were despatched, 95 being shot down,
including 3 from the squadron.
It was Bomber
Command's most devastating period in six years of war when 1117 aircraft
were lost, including 36 from the squadron, among them were the crews of
three flight commanders. Squadron Leaders E.G.M. Corser DFC, L.J. Simpson
DFC and E.A.G. Utz DFC.
In the Berlin
attack on the night of the 2 December, 1943, five squadron crews were lost,
including two war correspondents. Three others came back on three engines.
On the night of 16 December, four crews crashed on their return from Berlin
because of the appalling weather conditions that covered the base.
The squadron's
magnificent reputation was enhanced even further when, for the winter months
November - February, it flew 501 sorties, a record for any Bomber Squadron
and on the night of 22 March, 1944, it dropped a record of 131 tons of
bombs in an attack on Frankfurt. The squadron's 316 sorties on the German
capital, during this period, was also the most of any in Bomber Command.
Two crews also
created memorable records. Warrant Officer R.A.N. Douglas DFC completed
14 of the 16 attacks on Berlin, the most for any crew doing their first
tour and Flight Lieutenant A. Wales DFC, DFM, completed a similar number,
the greatest for a second tour crew.
And so with the
Nuremburg fiasco and the end of March coinciding, the winter offensive
against Germany, the prime objective of which had been Berlin, drew to
a close.
The liberation
of Europe was now at hand and Bomber Command's campaign was largely diverted
to targets associated with the impending invasion.
The squadron
played its part in successful attacks on marshalling the yards at Villeneuve-St
Georges, Aulnoye, Aachen, Louen, Lyons and Tregnier during April-May, 1944
when losses declined. In addition to these attacks on railway centres,
heavy raids were carried out on gun emplacements and ammunition dumps.
Although on these
operations losses were lighter, a mining operation in Danzig Bay on 4 April
cost the squadron four crews from the twelve despatched, whilst three crews
including another Flight Commander, Squadron Leader E.G.D. Jarman DFC were
missing on Friederickshafen on 27 April and five crews were lost in the
attack on the Panzer Corps camp at Mailly-le-Camp on 3 May which was sufficient
cause for the crews not to become over complacent.
The invasion
of Europe on the 6 June, 1944 was supported by widespread raids on Foret
du Core, Ardouval, Coquereaux, Bois des Jardinio and Foret de Nieppe with
several heavy attacks on German positions around Caen in support of the
British and Canadian armies. Another record was achieved in August, 1944
when the squadron dropped 1867 tons.
Another phase
of Bomber Commands strategic bombing came into force in October, 1944 when
it turned its attention to German Synthetic oil plants as well as a return
to industrial targets in the Ruhr.
Group Captain
H.I. Edwards left Binbrook as Station Commander in November, 1944 to take
up a senior staff appointment on Mountbatten's SEAC staff. His passing
from the squadron was a matter of great moment because of his enormous
influence on its operational performance.
Squadron Leader
Jack Clark DFC, who had assumed command of the squadron, was shot down
on 12 December in an attack on Essen and this popular officer, who had
done his first tour on 460, was greatly missed.
The squadron
maintained its heavy operational commitments on a wide variety of German
targets as 1944 drew to a close then right through to the end of the war.
Another Flight Commander, Squadron Leader J.C. Holmes was lost in the attack
on Chemnitz on 5 March, 1945. The squadron's Bomber Command record for
the number of sorties flown in the last winter of the war, broke its its
previous record and on 7 March, 1945, in the attack on Dessau, it became
the first to complete 5000 sorties in Lancasters.
Its last attack
was on Hitler's Eagles Nest at Berchtesgaden on 25 April, 1945 when 20
aircraft took off into a clear sky for the daylight raid. Flying Officer
H.C. Payne showed typical 460 fortitude when, after being seriously damaged
by flack which destroyed three of his motors, he courageously stayed with
the aircraft when he heard that one of his crew had snagged his parachute.
He miraculously crash landed safely, so saving two lives.
In May, 1945
the squadron participated in "Operation Manna" which involved dropping
food on the starving Dutch people in Holland and after peace came on 8
May, 1945, it was engaged in "Exodus", the repatriation of British Commonwealth
prisoners of war from Brussels.
However the war
against Japan still continued and the squadron was selected to join "Tiger
Force", which was to be Bomber Command's contribution to the strategic
bombing of Japan.
Wing Commander
P.H. Swan DSO, DFC, a distinguished Australian Pathfinder, was appointed
to command the squadron which was transferred to East Kirkby.
However the dropping
of the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August, 1945, forced
the surrender of Japan on 14 August.
Tiger Force had
no part to play and 460 Squadron flew its last flight when Wing Commander
Swan took off in Lancaster RF191 to salute the Australian World War 1 Memorial
at Amiens.
The Lancaster
"G" George, presently an exhibit in the Australian War Memorial, completed
90 operations on 460 Squadron and in October, 1944 was flown home by Flight
Lieutenant E. Hudson DFC, who had completed two tours of operations on
the squadron.
460 Squadron
suffered higher casualties than any other unit of the Australian Army,
Navy or Air Force in World War 11 and its record during three and a half
years of war was phenomenal.
Total number of sorties
6,264
Tonnage of bombs dropped. (Most in Bomber Command)
24,856
Number of operational hours flown.
30,526
Number of enemy aircraft destroyed.
7
Number of enemy aircraft damaged.
34
Number of enemy aircraft probably destroyed.
6
Number of squadron aircraft lost on operations.
169
Number of squadron aircraft lost in crashes.
31
Number of aircrew killed or died of wounds.
1,018
Number of raids flown.
368
Peter Firkins.