Traces of World War 2 
RAF - No. 99 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

99 SQUADRON - Bomber, Vickers Wellington
Bomber Command - 3 Group

History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks



On 8 September 1939, No 99 Squadron entered WW II with the first of many leaflet-dropping missions over Germany. The first bombing raids were launched on 17 April 1940 during the German invasion of Norway. European bombing operations continued until January 1942 when the Squadron was deployed to India.

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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with losses are.

10-11/05/1940, Waalhaven, NL
15-16/05/1940: Maastricht, NL
21-22/05/1940: Dinant, B. 1 Plane lost, 6 KIA
29-30/05/1940: St-Omer, F. 3 Planes lost, 1 KIA
11-12/06/1940: Operation Haddock (called off)
19-20/06/1940: Ruhr, D. 1 Plane lost

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Fatalities 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (in progress)

Pilot Officer (Pilot) John N. Carter, RAF 72448, 99 Sqdn., age 19, 03/03/1940, West Row Baptist Churchyard, UK
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op.) Peter W. Corvan, RAF 549742, 99 Sqdn., age 19, 03/03/1940, West Row Baptist Churchyard, UK
Leading Aircraftman James C. Forster, RAF 524766, 99 Sqdn., age 27, 03/03/1940, Newmarket Cemetery, UK
Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op.) Frank Hart, RAF 631366, 99 Sqdn., age unknown, 03/03/1940, Wath-upon-Dearne Cemetery, UK
Sergeant (Obs.) Arthur K. Saxon, RAF 581022, 99 Sqdn., age 27, 03/03/1940, West Row Baptist Chapelyard, UK
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Alexander Stewart, RAF 70819, 99 Sqdn., age unknown, 03/03/1940, Dalziel (Airbles) Cemetery, UK

Aircraftman 1st Class John Booth, RAF 630373, 99 Sqdn., age 19, 18/04/1940, missing
Corporal Robert S. Bryson, RAF 524310, 99 Sqdn., age 22, 18/04/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Francis A.B. Haynes, RAF 610705, 99 Sqdn., age 19, 18/04/1940, missing
Pilot Officer John G.C. Salmond, RAF 33476, 99 Sqdn., age 20, 18/04/1940, missing
Flying Officer Abraham F. Smith, RAF 39346 (South Africa), 99 Sqdn., age 26, 18/04/1940, missing
Sergeant Edward H. Williams, RAF 580927, 99 Sqdn., age 20, 18/04/1940, missing

Flight Sergeant (Pilot) John W.L.G. Brent, RAF 355953, 99 Sqdn., age 35, 01/05/1940, Plumstead Cemetery, UK
Sergeant (Obs.) Peter C. Cunningham, RAF 580784, 99 Sqdn., age 22, 01/05/1940, Edlesborough (St. Mary) Churchyard, UK
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op./Air Gnr.) Donald Lilley, RAF 631565, 99 Sqdn., age 19, 01/05/1940, Alverthorpe (St. Paul) Churchyard, UK
Flying Officer (Pilot) Herbert G. Muller, RAF 39558, 99 Sqdn., age 28, 01/05/1940, Richmond Cemetery, Surrey, UK
Aircraftman 1st Class (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Michael J. O'Sullivan, RAF 621221 (Ireland), 99 Sqdn., age 20, 01/05/1940, West Row Baptist Churchyard, UK
Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) Gerard A.H. Poole, RAFVR 76015, 99 Sqdn., age 31, 01/05/1940, Southend-on-Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery, UK

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10-11/05/1940: Waalhaven, NL

During the late evening and the night several bomber flights from the RAF paid a visit to Waalhaven. These 36 Wellington medium bombers dropped a total of 58 tonnes of bombes [each plane dropped 18 off 200 lbs bombs] on the airfield itself and the direct surroundings. The only enemy opposition they faced was the light FLAK that had been flown in during the 10th [2 cm AA]. The majority of the planes operated from an altitude of 2,000 - 2,500 feet - well within the range of the FLAK. The raids started around 2230 hours and lasted until about 0400. No aircrafts were shot down and only one crew member returned home wounded [from shrapnel].

- 6 Wellingtons No.9 Sq. Afb. Honington [S/L Peacock]
- 3 Wellingtons No.37 Sq. Afb. Marham [jointly with 75 Sq., S/L Glencross]
- 6 Wellingtons No.38 Sq. Afb. Marham [F/L MacFadden]
- 3 Wellingtons No.75 [NZ] Sq. Afb. Feltwell [jointly with 37 Sq., S/L Glencross]
- 6 Wellingtons No.99 Sq. Afb Newmarket [S/L Bertram]
- 6 Wellingtons No.115 Sq. Afb. Marham [unknown]
- 6 Wellingtons No.149 Sq. Afb. Mildenhall [S/L Harrie]

Source: War over Holland

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15-16/05/1940: Maastricht, NL

Six Wellington Mk.I medium bombers of No.99 squadron from Newmarket. Hits [on the bridges?] were reported. All planes returned safely.

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21-22/05/1940: Dinant, B

Type: Wellington 1C
Serial number: L7803, LN-?
Operation: Dinant
Lost: 22/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) John P. Dyer, RAF 39073 (Canada), DFC, 99 Sqdn., age 27, 22/05/1940, Belval Communal Cemetery, F
Flying Officer (Pilot) Owen L. Williams, RAF 39091, 99 Sqdn., age unknown, 22/05/1940, Belval Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) John H. Lawrenson, RAF 580791, 99 Sqdn., age unknown, 22/05/1940, Belval Communal Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (Air Gnr.) Charles R.A. Lovejoy, RAF 518071, 99 Sqdn., age 26, 22/05/1940, Belval Communal Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op. Air) Edward Morton, RAF 629523, 99 Sqdn., age unknown, 22/05/1940, Belval Communal Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op. Air) Stanley C. Ogilvie, RAF 632492, 99 Sqdn., age 21, 22/05/1940, Belval Communal Cemetery, F

Airborne 2120 21May40 from Newmarket. Crashed near Belval (Ardennes), 6 km WNW of Charleville-Mezieres, France.

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Type: Wellington Mk. IC
Serial number: R3196, LN-?
Operation: St-Omer
Lost: 30/05/1940
Airborne 2130 29/05/1940 from Newmarket. Abandoned 0315 30May40 short of fuel, at Brettenham, 3 miles E of Thetford, Norfolk. Two injuries reported. P/O C.J.A.C. Brain [?] No crew names appended.

Type: Wellington Mk. IC
Serial number: P9241, LN-?
Operation: St-Omer
Lost: 30/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) James C. Young, RAF 41094, 99 Sqdn., age 25, 30/05/1940, New Shildon (All Saints) Churchyard, UK
Other names of crewmembers unknown.
Airborne 2130 29May40 from Newmarket. Crew ordered to bale out after running low on fuel. The pilot then force-landed 0300 30May40 at Kilverstone Hall, Thetford, Norfolk. One member of the crew was killed and another injured.

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Unsuccessful attack by 99 Squadron and 149 Squadron RAF on Genoa and Turin by Wellingtons based in France June 1940

Prior to the Italian declaration of war, the British and French governments had jointly agreed that in the eventuality of Italy joining forces with Germany, the Allies would commence air operations against her. Thus a force of bombers code-named 'Haddock Force' was created, comprising Wellingtons from Nos. 99 and 149 Squadrons of 3 Group. 'Haddock Force' was to be based on the French airfields at Salon and Le Vallon, to which an advance party had been despatched on June 7th. On the morning of June 11th, the Wellingtons of No. 99 Squadron arrived at Salon where they were immediately refuelled and bombed-up for a raid on Italian industrial targets that night. However the local French Air Force commander, backed up by a deputation from local authorities were aware that the Italians had already bombed Cannes and Nice that morning. They were fearful of possible Italian attacks in retaliation and objected to such a raid. Despite protests from the RAF commander that they had the approval of the French government and the personal intervention of Churchill to the French Premier Reynaud, the local authorities refused to budge. As the Wellingtons began to taxi out the airfield was blocked by French Army trucks and other vehicles. In order to prevent a clash the raid was called off and the Wellingtons ordered back to England to prevent sabotage by the French.

The RAF had taken out insurance by moving 4 Group (10, 51, 58, 77 and 102 Sqdns.) Whitleys to the Channel Islands. The aircraft took off from the small airfields at Jersey and Guernsey bound for the Fiat aero-engine works at Turin and the Ansaldo factories at Genoa as the alternative. Electrical storms of great severity hampered the force and caused twenty crews to abort.

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19-20/06/1940: Ruhr, D

Type: Wellington Mk. IC
Serial number: R3200, LN-O
Operation: Ruhr
Lost: 20/06/1940
F/L P.C. Pickard
P/O Thomas
Sgt Broadley
Sgt Hannigan
Sgt Harniman
Sgt Mills
Airborne 2212 19Jun40 from Newmarket. Hit by Flak in the starboard engine and with the port engine failing the Wellington was ditched 0320 20Jun40 30 miles off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The crew were eventually rescued after spending 13 hours in their dinghy, which at one stage drifted into a coastal minefield.

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Sources

Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lost Bombers
Royal Air Force - 99 Squadron
RAF against odds (Time, USA, 27/05/1940)
RAF History - Bomber Command
RAF Museum: British Military Aviation in 1940
RAF Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940
The Royal Air Force, 1939-1945
The Second World War - a day by day account
War over Holland

Books

W.R. Chorley, Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 1, 1939/40, Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0 904597 85 7
Squadron Leader A.G. Edgerley, 'Each Tenacious. A History of No. 99 Squadron', Square One Publications, 1993.
Errol Martyn, For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services Since 1915 (Vol One: Fates 1915-1942)

Links

Discussion Groups
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
RAF Commands Forum

Other
Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
Code Names & RAF Vocabulary

Air Aces
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
Australian Wargraves
Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War
British Aircraft Directory
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
Canada's Air Force History
HMS Cavalier
Ciel de Gloire (in French) RAF Squadrons
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
Eagles Squadrons (American pilots in the RAF)
Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
The Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
Order of Liberation (in French/English/Spanish)
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
RAF Upwood
RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Test Flying Memorial
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de

Aircraft crashes on the North Yorkshire Moors, England
Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
Luftfahrt-Archäologie in Schleswig Holstein (in German)
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
WW1 Cemeteries


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This page is dedicated to the men of 99 Squadron.

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2008. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if the original sources and this source are mentioned with appropriate links. For this site: link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html