British Military Aviation in 1941
1 January
The first mobile Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) radar station, at
Sopley, is sited and manned by this date.
1-2 January
Approximately 20,000 incendiary devices are dropped during an attack on
Bremen, by 95 Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command aircraft.
2-3 January
The Italian Air Force contingent in Belgium (Corpo Aereo Italiano) mounts
its last raid on the United Kingdom, when four Fiat BR20 bombers attempt
to bomb Ipswich.
10 January
Vickers Wellingtons operating from Malta bomb the Italian Fleet anchorage
at Naples. The battleship Guilio Cesarei is badly damaged and the Italian
Navy withdraws its remaining battleships further north to Genoa.
10 January
The first ‘Circus’ operation – daylight raids by small numbers of bombers
with large fighter escorts against short-range ‘fringe’ targets, with
the aim of bringing enemy’s fighters to battle – is mounted. Bristol Blenheims
of No.114 Squadron, escorted by nine squadrons of fighters, attack the
Foret de Guines.
10 January
During an attack by Luftwaffe Junkers Ju87 Stukas on convoy Excess south
of Malta, the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is struck by six bombs
and seriously damaged. The carrier subsequently puts into Valetta harbour
in Malta, for repairs.
16 January
The Luftwaffe mounts its first heavy attack on Malta, targeted on the
carrier HMS Illustrious. Despite generating some 200 sorties against the
carrier, the Luftwaffe is unable to prevent it from sailing for Alexandria
on 23 January.
27 January
In the first combined operation between Malta’s reconnaissance and strike
aircraft, the German vessel Ingo (3,950 tons) is sunk by the Fairey Swordfish
of No.830 and No.806 Squadrons Fleet Air Arm.
5 February
The Air Training Corps is constituted by Royal Warrant.
6 February
The Royal Air Force’s Air Sea Rescue Service takes up its duties for the first
time. Its title is chosen to differentiate it from the contemporary Naval
Sea Rescue Service.
10-11 February
The first operation by British airborne forces (Operation Colossus) is
carried out by 38 men of ‘X’ Troop, No.11 Special Air Service Battalion,
against two aqueducts at Traqino in Southern Italy. ‘X’ Troop are dropped
by six Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys of No.78 Squadron, led by Wing Commander
J.B. Tait and a further two aircraft, one of which fails to return, mount
a diversionary raid on Foggia. The paratroopers succeed in destroying
the end pier of Traqino Viaduct, however, they are captured before they
can rendezvous with the submarine HMS Triumph for retrieval.
11 February
The first four-engine bomber design to enter service with RAF Bomber Command,
the Short Stirling, makes its operational debut. Three Stirlings of No.7
Squadron form part of a force of 43 aircraft that attack oil storage tanks
at Rotterdam.
12 February
Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters make their first appearance over
Malta, escorting German bombers.
24-25 February
The first operational use of Avro Manchester in attacks on Brest in France.
26 February
A severe German raid on the airfield at Luqa destroys six RAF Vickers
Wellington bombers and damages a further 9 aircraft. Subsequently, No.148
Squadron is recalled from Malta to the Middle East on 9 March 1941 and
the squadron returns to Malta on 12 April.
28 February
No.11 and No.113 Squadrons (Bristol Blenheims), No.33 Squadron (Hawker
Hurricanes) and No.208 Squadron (Westland Lysanders) reinforces the Royal
Air Force contingent in Greece.
10-11 March
The first operational use of Handley Page Halifax bombers takes place
against targets at Le Havre in France.
11 March
House Resolution HR1776 is passed by the United States’ Congress. This
Resolution authorises the ‘Lend-Lease’ (or ‘Lease-Lend’) programme – the
device by which the USA provided war material to over 38 nations in lieu
of credits or loans. The United Kingdom is the first recipient of Lend-Lease.
Prior to the inception of the programme, Britain had been obliged to pay
for all of the weapons and equipment purchased from United States manufacturers,
a financially crippling requirement. United States-manufactured aircraft
ordered by the British Purchasing Commission for the Royal Air Force after
March 1941 are provided via Lend-Lease.
29 March
RAF Bomber Command begins a prolonged bombing campaign against the French
port of Brest, with the aim of damaging the German Navy battlecruisers
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau (and subsequently the cruiser Prinz Eugen),
preventing them from leaving the port to attack shipping in the Atlantic.
In the 10 months following this date, Bomber Command mounts 2,928 sorties
against the port, 171 of which are in daylight. Although few of the weapons
dropped hit the ships, the need to defend the port does draw away resources
more profitably used elsewhere. The warships retired to Germany on 12
February 1942.
31 March – 1 April
The first two 4,000 pound High Capacity bombs to be dropped by RAF Bomber
Command are delivered by a Vickers Wellington of No.149 Squadron flown
by Squadron Leader K. Wass and a Wellington of No.9 Squadron flown by
Pilot Officer Franks. The target for both weapons is Emden.
The 4,000 pound High Capacity Mk1 bomb was formally introduced into service
in January 1942. However, by that time no fewer than 402 such weapons
had already been dropped on operations!
3 April
The Iraqi Revolt: pro-Axis Iraqi politician Raschid Ali, backed by four
generals, seizes power in Baghdad from the regent Abdullah Illah. The
later fled to the Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, 50 miles west
of the capital. Royal Air Force forces are present at Habbaniyah under
the terms of the 1930 Anglo-Iraqi Treaty.
3 April
Operation Winch: twelve Hawker Hurricanes are flown off the deck of the
aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and all arrive safely on Malta.
6 April
A posthumous Victoria Cross is awarded to Flying Officer K. Campbell for
an attack on the German battlecruiser Gneisenau while docked in the port
of Brest in France. He was flying a Bristol Beaufort N1016 (OA-X) of No.22
Squadron, RAF Coastal Command.
6 April
27 divisions of the German Army, including seven Panzer (armoured) divisions,
enter Greece and Yugoslavia and both countries are rapidly overrun.
22 April
Following the surrender of the Army of the Epirus and heavy air fighting
over Athens, British forces begin to make preparations to evacuate Greece.
24 April
The Iraqi Revolt: 400 men of King’s Own Royal Regiment are flown by No.31
Squadron from Shaibah to RAF Habbaniyah to reinforce the armoured cars
of No.1 RAF Armoured Car Company in the ground defence role.
24 April
A further 23 Hawker Hurricanes are flown to Malta to reinforce the defences
(Operation Dunlop). Malta’s air strength is subsequently further bolstered
by the arrival of detachments from No.21 Squadron (Bristol Blenheim, replaced
by a detachment from No.139 Squadron in May) on 27 April and No.252 Squadron
(Bristol Beaufighter) on 1 May.
25 April
The Defence (Women’s Forces) Regulations of this date declare that all
personnel enrolled in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) are members
of the Armed Forces of the Crown. The Air Council is empowered to apply
the Air Force Act to the WAAF in such a manner as it sees fit and instructions
to this end are issued by the Air Council on 12 June 1941.
30 April
The Iraqi Revolt: following the further deterioration of relations between
Britain and Raschid Ali’s government, Iraqi forces totalling 9,000 troops
and 28 pieces of artillery lie siege to RAF Habbaniya from positions overlooking
the station. Habbaniya contains only training units, including No.4 Flying
Training School with a large complement of elderly Hawker Audax and Fairey
Gordon biplane trainers, and Airspeed Oxford twin-engine trainers. 70
training aircraft are rapidly adapted to carry light bombs, and six Gloster
Gladiators arrive from Egypt to supplement the three Gladiator trainers
on the station. These aircraft are formed into four ad hoc ‘bombing’ squadrons
and a fighter flight.
1 May
The last Commonwealth forces are evacuated from Greece.
2 May
The Iraqi Revolt: Air Vice-Marshal H.G. Smart has been instructed to restore
the British position in Iraq and therefore decides to attack the besieging
Iraqi forces around Habbaniya. At 0445hrs, ten Vickers Wellingtons of
No.70 Squadron flying from Habbaniyah attack the Iraqi positions. Soon
afterwards Hawker Audaxes, Fairey Gordons and Airspeed Oxfords from No.4
Flying Training School also attack.
The Iraqis respond by heavy shelling of the station and adjacent airfield.
Aircraft are forced to take-off under observed shellfire and make of an
improvised landing ground on the station golf course. A total of 193 sorties
are flown during the day, for the loss of two aircraft in the air and
one on the ground. Iraqi shelling is noticeably reduced.
4-6 May
The Iraqi Revolt: continuous attacks by aircraft of No.4 Flight Training
School suppress the Iraqi artillery and other forces on the plateau and,
their morale broken, they decamp during the night of 5-6 May. Royal Air
Force and British and Empire ground forces then set about restoring the
Regent to power.
10-11 May
The Luftwaffe launches its last major raid in the night Blitz against
the United Kingdom. Between 2315hrs and 0524hrs, 507 aircraft from Luftflotten
2 and 3 drop 711 tonnes of high explosive and 86,173 incendiaries over
London. Casualties amongst the population of London are finally assessed
as 1,436 killed and 1,762 badly injured and 2,154 fires are started across
the capital. Ten Luftwaffe aircraft are lost.
13 May
The Iraqi Revolt: German aircraft arrive at Mosul in northern Iraq to
support Raschid Ali’s revolt but under constant harassing attack from
Royal Air Force units in Iraq they achieve little.
15 May
The first flight by a British jet-propelled aircraft, the Gloster Whittle
E28/39 Pioneer, takes place at RAF Cranwell. The aircraft is flown by
test pilot D.E.G. ‘Gerry’ Sayer on a flight lasting 17 minutes.
19 May
Following intense air attacks by the Luftwaffe, the last RAF airworthy
aircraft on Crete is evacuated to Egypt. The Luftwaffe have established
complete air superiority over the island and its surrounding waters.
20 May
Operation Merkur (Mercury): the German invasion of the island of Crete, begins with
an airborne assault by the Luftwaffe’s 7th Parachute Division. Although
Allied ground units on Crete, and naval vessels in the surrounding waters,
fight tenaciously, the defenders are forced to withdraw from the island
during the period 28 May to 1 June.
18,000 British and Commonwealth troops are evacuated by the Royal Navy
– 2,000 men are killed during the battle for Crete and a further 12,000
taken prisoner. Royal Navy losses around the island are also extremely
heavy. However, the defenders, for their part, inflicte heavy casualties
on the Luftwaffe paratroop and airlift units that take part in the assault
– over 4,000 men are killed, mostly from 7th Parachute Division and 220
of the 600 Junkers Ju52 transport aircraft used in the operation are destroyed.
Mercury was to be the last large-scale airborne operation mounted by the
Luftwaffe during the Second World War.
20 May
The German battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen pass
through the Kattegat en route for the North Atlantic convoy routes.
21 May
A Royal Air Force photographic reconnaissance Supermarine Spitfire of
the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit sights the Bismarck in a Fjord near
Bergen in Norway.
21 May
Operation Splice: 46 Hawker Hurricanes are flown to Malta, however, only
four aircraft are retained, together with the pilots of No.249 Squadron.
A detachment from No.82 Squadron (Bristol Blenheim) also arrive on the
island.
22 May
A Martin Maryland photographic reconnaissance aircraft of No.877 Squadron
Fleet Air Arm confirms that the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen have left Bergen.
24 May
The Bismarck and Prinz Eugen are engaged in surface action by HMS Hood
and HMS Prince of Wales. During the engagement Hood is sunk and Prince
of Wales damaged, however, Bismarck is also sufficiently damaged to require
her to break off her attempt to enter the North Atlantic and head for
Brest on the Atlantic coast of France. Shadowing British warships subsequently
lose contact with the Bismarck off Greenland.
26 May
The Bismarck is sighted by Ensign Leonard B. Smith of the United States
Navy, approximately 550 miles west of Lands End. Although the United States
is not yet at war with Germany, Ensign Smith is flying as a member of
the crew of a Consolidated Catalina of No.209 Squadron piloted by Pilot
Officer D.A. Briggs. Fairey Swordfish aircraft from the carrier HMS Ark
Royal later cripple the Bismarck in a torpedo attack.
27 May
The Bismarck, able to steam only in slow circles, is sunk by gunfire and
torpedoes from Royal Navy surface forces at 1101hrs.
6 June
Operation Rocket: 43 Hawker Hurricanes arrive to reinforce Malta, together
with the personnel of No.46 Squadron.
12 June
Fourteen Bristol Beaufort torpedo aircraft from No.22 and No.42 Squadrons
fly a search from Leuchars and Wick for the German pocket battleship Lutzow,
which has been sighted off the coast of Norway. Flight Sergeant R.H. Loveitt
successfully locate the battleship by moonlight and carry out a successful
torpedo attack, which forces the ship to return to Kiel in Germany for
repairs. Flight Sergeant Loveitt is subsequently awarded the Distinguished
Flying Medal for this action.
12-13 June
RAF Bomber Command drops 445 tons of bombs on the Ruhr – the heaviest
tonnage delivered to date.
12-13 June
The first operational sortie over Germany by a bomber squadron of the
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Four Vickers Wellingtons of 405 (Vancouver)
Squadron RCAF bomb Schwerte Marshalling yards. The RCAF eventually provide
an entire bomber group [No.6 (RCAF) Group] in Bomber Command.
14 June
British Commonwealth forces in North Africa launch Operation Battleaxe
in an attempt to drive Axis forces out of Cyrenaica and relieve the siege
of Tobruk. The offensive is supported by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadrons of 253 Wing, with two squadrons
of Hawker Hurricanes and one each of Bristol Blenheims and Curtiss Tomahawks.
The South African Air Force also commits one squadron of Hurricanes and
a Squadron of Martin Marylands. The offensive is a costly failure and
points to the need for improved ground air co-operation.
15 June
The air defences of Malta are reinforced by Hawker Hurricanes flown off
the aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal and HMS Victorious and of the 47 aircraft
despatched, 43 arrive safely. A further 64 aircraft are flown in by the
end of the month.
22 June
The first ‘Gee’ chain ground stations at Daventry, Ventnor and Stenigot
are completed. Gee was a medium range radio aid to navigation and target
identification which employed ground transmitters and an airborne receiver.
The navigator plots returns on the screen of the receiver on a special
Gee chart.
22 June
The German armed forces launch Operation Barbarossa – the invasion of
the Soviet Union. The Luftwaffe will play a key role in the campaigns
on the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1945.
24 June
The first aircraft are delivered from America to West Africa via the South
Atlantic route.
4 July
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Wing Commander H.I. Edwards in recognition
of the gallantry
displayed by this officer during Operation Wreckage, a daylight bombing
raid on Bremen in Germany. The aircraft involved was Bristol Blenheim
IV V6028 ‘GB-D’, No.105 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command.
7-8 July
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Sergeant J.A. Ward for climbing onto
the wing of an aircraft in flight in an attempt to extinguish a fire while
returning from an attack on Munster in Germany. The aircraft involved
was Vickers Wellington L7818, No.75 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF Bomber
Command.
8 July
The Royal Air Force (RAF) makes the first daylight attack on Wilhelmshaven
using Fortress I. This is the first operational use of the Boeing B17.
20 July
RAF Ferry Command is formed, under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir
Frederick Bowhill. This new formation takes over the work of the Atlantic
Ferry Organisation, which is tasked with ferrying aircraft from the USA
to the United Kingdom.
1 August
A Short Sunderland of No.230 Squadron becomes the first Royal Air Force
(RAF) maritime reconnaissance aircraft to be shot down during an attack
on an enemy submarine by the submarine under attack. While searching for
a hostile submarine reported to be somewhere in the Gulf of Sollum, the
crew of the Sunderland sight the Italian submarine Delfino on the surface
and immediately proceed to attack. The Sunderland releases six depth charges,
which do not permanently damage to the Delfino, however, machine gun fire
from the submarine damages the aircraft so severely that it subsequently
crashes. Four survivors from the twelve-man crew of the Sunderland are
rescued by the Delfino.
3 August
The United Kingdom develops a ‘Catafighter’ scheme to provide limited
air cover over North Atlantic convoys. A Hawker Sea Hurricane launched
from HMS Maplin destroys a German Focke-Wulf Fw200 shadowing the convoy.
6 August
The Vickers Wellington bombers of No.38 Squadron arrive on Malta. The
squadron returns to Egypt on 25 October.
9-12 August
In meetings on United Kingdom and United States warships in Placentia
Bay, Newfoundland Churchill and Roosevelt draft the Atlantic Charter.
This pledges their countries to preserve world freedom and at the end
of hostilities improve world conditions.
12-13 August
RAF Bomber Command drops 82 tons of High Explosive on Berlin, in the heaviest
raid on the German capital to that date.
25 August
No.1419 (Special Duties) Flight is expanded to squadron status as No.138
Squadron.
27 August
The Type VIIC U-boat U-570 is attacked by two Lockheed Hudsons of No.269
Squadron off Iceland and so heavily damaged that it is unable to submerge.
The U-570 then surrender to Hudson ‘S’ of No.269 Squadron, piloted by
Squadron Leader J.H. Thompson, which continues to circle the aircraft
until relieved by a Coastal Command Consolidated Catalina. Naval forces
arrive and tow the U-boat to Iceland and U-570 is eventually repaired
and sailed to the United Kingdom, becoming HM Submarine Graph.
7 September
Hawker Hurricane I fighters of No.81 and No.134 Squadrons fly off HMS
Argus to land on a Soviet airfield at Vaenga, near Murmansk, to help re-enforce
local fighter defences.
15-16 September
Sergeant J.A. Ward VC is killed in action when the Vickers Wellington
Ic ‘X3205’ of No.75 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, he is
piloting is hit by anti-aircraft fire during a raid on Hamburg and crashes
in the target area. He and three members of the crew are later buried
in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf and two others that survived are taken prisoner.
20 September
The first sorties are flown by Hawker Hurricane fighter-bombers based
on Malta against Italian airfields on Sicily.
9 October
Western Desert Air Force Headquarters is formed at Maaton Bagush in Libya
under the command of Air Vice Marshal Arthur Coningham.
10 October
Two Hawker Hurricane squadrons, No.81 and No.134 Squadrons, are formed
into No.151 Wing under the command of Wing Commander H.N.G. Ramsbottom-Isherwood
and despatched to north Russia to strengthen the air defences around Murmansk
and other ports receiving supplies from Britain. The pilots include Pilot
Officer Neil Cameron, who later becomes a Marshal of the Royal Air Force
and Chief of the Defence Staff. The Hurricanes are later handed over to
the Soviet Naval Air Arm.
16 October
In the first phase of Operation Callboy, further Fleet Air Arm torpedo
bombers, eleven Fairey Albacores and one Fairey Swordfish, are flown to
Malta from the deck of HMS Ark Royal.
28 October
Air Headquarters, West Africa, is formed under command of Air Commodore
E.A.B. Rice.
29 October
Between June and October 1941, Allied forces sank 220,000 tons of Axis
shipping on the Convoy routes between Italy and North Africa. Of this
total, 110, 000 tons was sunk by Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm aircraft,
with three quarters of the tonnage falling victim to Malta-based aircraft.
In response to this threat to Axis supply lines to North Africa, Hitler
orders the transfer of Luftflotte 2 from the Russian Front to the Mediterranean
with the aim of neutralising Malta (Führer Directive No.38). This
formation includes several Geschwaders of Junkers Ju88 bombers and Junkers
Ju87 Stuka dive-bombers, as well as Messerschmitt Bf109 and Bf110 fighters.
10 November
During a speech at the Mansion House, Prime Minister Winston Churchill
states that “We now have an Air Force which is at least equal in
size & number, not to mention quality, to the German Air Force”.
12 November
Further reinforcements for the Malta defences, in the shape of 37 Hawker
Hurricanes, are flown from the aircraft carriers HMS Argus and Ark Royal.
However, HMS Ark Royal is torpedoed by the German submarine U-81 on her
return journey to Gibraltar and sinks on 14 November.
18 November
British Commonwealth Forces launch a second offensive, Operation Crusader,
in the Western Desert. Air Marshal Tedder, Air Officer Commanding in Chief
Middle East, succeeds in assembling a formidable force of aircraft under
the control of A.V.M. Coningham’s Desert Air Force. In all, the British
Commonwealth air forces dispose of sixteen squadrons of fighters (Hawker
Hurricanes, Curtiss Tomahawks and Bristol Beaufighters), eight squadrons
of bombers (Bristol Blenheims and Martin Marylands) and three tactical
reconnaissance squadrons (Hurricanes and Douglas Bostons). The Royal Air
Force quickly establishes a measure of air superiority and although the
land offensive achieves initial success it fails to push the Axis forces
back to Benghazi.
30 November
Whitley VII, No.502 Squadron, Z9190, fitted with ASV Mk II long range
radar scores Coastal Command’s first ASV destruction of an enemy submarine
the U-206 in the Bay of Biscay.
6 December
Two Japanese convoys, escorted by warships, are sighted heading west 80
miles southwest of Cape Cambodia by Hudsons of No.1 Squadron, Royal Australian
Air Force, based at Khota Bharu in Malaya.
7 December
Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary and Romania.
7 December
Two Consolidated Catalina flying boats of No.205 Squadron, based at Seletar
in Singapore, are despatched to shadow a Japanese convoy and one aircraft
is lost to Japanese fighters.
7-8 December
Hudsons attack Japanese transports and barges landing troops at Kota Bharu
in Malaya. One transport is destroyed and two damaged, and two Hudsons
are lost. Japanese troops also land Singora in Siam and Patani, 130 miles
northwest of Kota Bharu.
8 December
Britain and the USA declare war on Japan.
8-9 December
In the aftermath of the Japanese landings in northern Malaya, Royal Air
Force (RAF) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadrons mount an intensive
series of attacks on enemy troop positions, landing areas and airfields.
Such heavy losses are suffered that the RAF is virtually a spent force
after the first day of operations.
9 December
The Victoria Cross is posthumously awarded to Squadron Leader A.S. King-Scarf
for a bombing raid on Singora airfield in Thailand, flying in a Bristol
Blenheim I L1134 (PT-F) of No.62 Squadron. Due to Malayan campaign records
being destroyed, the authorities did not hear of Scarf’s actions until
1946 when the Victoria Cross is gazetted.
11 December
Germany and Italy declare war on the USA and the USA declares war on Germany
and Italy.
21 December
The Luftwaffe begin a renewed air offensive against Malta. Heavy raids
are mounted on the airfield at Luqa on 26 and 29 February, during the
course of which 21 Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft are destroyed on the
ground.
21-22 December
A Fairey Swordfish equipped with ASV of No.812 Squadron Fleet Air Arm
sinks German U-451. This is the first submarine to be destroyed by an
aircraft at night.
23 December
Buffaloes of No.67 Squadron destroy six bombers and four fighters of the
Japanese invasion force over the Burmese capital, Rangoon. The Royal Air
Force (RAF) loses five Buffaloes.
25 December
Hong Kong surrenders to invading Japanese forces.
25 December
In the second air attack on Rangoon, the Royal Air Force (RAF) disperses
the attacking force, destroying eighteen bombers and six fighters before
they reach the capital. Pilots of No.67 Squadron claim to have destroyed
a further twelve aircraft over Rangoon itself.