Messages of Congratulation

Messages of congratulation passed on by AOC-in-C Bomber Command, Arthur Harris, to 617 Squadron at RAF Scampton.

Transcript

TO: A.O.C. HEADQUARTERS NO. 5 GROUP (REPEATED SCAMPTON – 617 SQUADRON)
FROM: A.O.C. BOMBER COMMAND

I HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATION ON OPERATION CHASTISE WHICH PLEASE CONVEY TO ALL CONCERNED.

(1) FROM SECRETARY OF STATE. BEGINS. THE WAR CABINET HAVE INSTRUCTED ME TO CONVEY TO YOU AND TO ALL WHO SHARED IN THE PREPARATION AND EXECUTION OF LAST NIGHT’S OPERATIONS – PARTICULARLY TO WING COMMANDER GIBSON AND HIS SQUADRON – THEIR CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GREAT SUCCESS ACHIEVE. THIS ATTACK, PRESSED HOME IN THE FACE OF STRONG RESISTANCE, IS A TESTIMONY ALIKE TO THE TACTICAL RESOURCE AND ENERGY OF THOSE WHO PLANNED IT, TO THE GALLANTRY AND DETERMINATION OF THE AIRCREWS AND TO THE EXCELLENCE OF BRITISH DESIGN AND WORKMANSHIP. THE WAR CABINET HAVE NOTED WITH SATISFACTION THE DAMAGE DONE TO GERMAN WAR POWER. ENDS.

(2) FROM SECRETARY OF STATE. BEGINS. MY WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU TO [?] TO WING COMMANDER GIBSON AND ALL MEMBERS OF 617 SQUADRON ON THE BRILLIANT COMPLETION IN SPITE OF HEAVY LOSS OF LAST NIGHT’S HAZARDOUS OPERATION. THE THOROUGH TACTICAL PLANNING THE ENERGY AND DRIVE BEHIND THE SPECIAL PREPARATIONS AND FINALLY THE DETERMINED EXECUTION OF THIS OPERATION HAVE COMBINED TO DEAL A GRIEVOUS BLOW TO THE ENEMY AND ARE WORTHY OF THE HIGHEST PRAISE. ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR. ENDS.

(3) FROM A.O.C.-in-C. COASTAL COMMAND. BEGINS. 17/5. WELL DONE 5 GROUP AND SCAMPTON. A MAGNIFICENT NIGHT’S WORK. SLESSOR. ENDS.

(4) FROM A.O.C.-in-C. FIGHTER COMMAND. BEGINS. 18/5. HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL IN FIGHTER COMMAND ON YOUR MAGNIFICENT EXPLOIT IN WRECKING THE MOHNE AND EDER DAMS, PROBABLY THE GREATEST AND MOST FAR-REACHING DESTRUCTION YET WREAKED ON GERMANY IN A SINGLE NIGHT. LEIGH MALLORY.

The messages come from the War Cabinet; Archibald Sinclair, the Secretary of State for Air; John Slessor, AOC-in-C Coastal Command, and Trafford Leigh-Mallory, AOC-in-C Fighter Command.