30th January 1943 was the tenth anniversary of Hitler’s rise to power.
To coincide with the commemorative rallies, the first daylight raids over Berlin took place on that day when Mosquitoes carried out two attacks timed to disrupt speeches being delivered by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göering and Joseph Goebbels, the Third Reich’s Propaganda Minister, at the main broadcasting station.
The first, in the morning, comprised three Mosquito B Mk. IVs from 105 Squadron, which carried out a low-level attack on the Haus des Rundfunks, headquarters of the German State broadcasting company, at 11:00, when Göering was due to address a parade commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Nazis’ gaining power. It was an hour before Göering could finally take to the lectern, reportedly “boiling with rage and humiliation”. The mission gave the lie to Göering’s claim that enemy aircraft would never fly over the Reich. In the afternoon of the same day, three Mosquitoes from 139 (Jamaica) Squadron went to Berlin to attempt to interrupt a speech by Goebbels, and once again bombed at the exact time he was meant to start speaking, 16.00, although this attack was not quite as disruptive as the earlier one.
Only one aircraft was lost during these raids. Mosquito DZ367 GB-J, of 105 Sqn, flown by Squadron Leader D.F. Darling was shot down near Altengrabow, with both Darling and his navigator, Flying Officer William Wright, being killed.
Göering was not amused:
“ In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy.
The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again.”
— Hermann Göering, January 1943
In the photograph below, Flying Officer A. Whickham (left), a Mosquito pilot, and his navigator, Pilot Officer W. Makin, pose for an official portrait in the imposing setting of the Air Council Room at the Air Ministry in Whitehall on 31 January 1943, the day after their participation on the first daylight raid on Berlin.
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First off, the painting is a pure propaganda poster that in no way reflects the actual attack. The actual bombing was done from 25,000 feet. Both Mosquito waves flew from Norfolk to the Baltic Sea over Denmark / North Germany at low level. After crossing the German Baltic Coast north of Berlin at low level, the Mosquito’s climbed to 20,000 – 25,000 feet and bombed at that altitude. After bombing the Mosquitos turned west and descended to low level to make the return trip to Norfolk.
Extracts from the Squadron Operations Books.
105 Squadron Operations Record Book AIR-27-827-1 F540 Summary of Events January 1943
Marham 30.1.43
Three Mosquito aircraft detailed to attack BERLIN.
1. S/Ldr. R.W. Reynolds DFC & P/O E.B. Sismore
2. F/Lt J. Gordon & F/O R.G. Hayes.
3. F/O A.T. Wickham & P/O W.E.D. Makin.
These aircraft took off at 0845 hours and set course at 0849 hours. The target was successfully reached by all aircraft on E.T.A. 1100 hours and bombed at this specified time, interrupting speech by Herr Goring. Hits were not observed owing to broken cloud. By Photographs taken verified target as BERLIN. All these aircraft returned safely to base.
105 Squadron Operations Record Book AIR-27-827-2 F541 Record of Events January 1943.
1. 30.1.43 Mosquito DZ413 S/Ldr. R.W. Reynolds DFC – P/O E.B. Sismore, Berlin, Time Up 0849 Down 1339
2. 30.1.43 Mosquito DZ408 F/Lt J. Gordon – F/O R.G. Hayes, Berlin, Time Up 0849 Down 1352
3. 30.1.43 Mosquito DZ372 F/O A.T. Wickham – P/O W.E.D. Makin, Berlin, Time Up 0849 Down 1326
Aircraft 1. Target successfully bombed at 1100 hours – height 25,000 feet. Bursts unobserved owing to cloud.
Aircraft 2. Observer released bombs which were dropped in long stick on railway junction on north side of town. Bursts unobserved owing to cloud covering rest of town.
Aircraft 3. Bombs dropped on E.T.A but lakes West of Berlin recognised and built-up area seen through gap in cloud. Results not observed due to cloud.
139 Squadron Operations Record Book AIR-27-960-12 F541 Record of Events Jaunary 1943
30.1.43 Mosquito Mark IV D.K.337. F/Sgt. P.J.McGEEHAN – F/O.R.C.MORRIS. Duty – Bombing Raid. Time Up 1325 Time Down 1825. Target : BERLIN. (Daylight Raid).Flight carried out at low level over North Sea to point north of Heligoland then inland approximately to LUBECK. Shortly afterwards climb was started to 20,000 feet. Course was altered from SCHWERM, then above cloud. BERLIN appeared in brilliant sunshine on E.T.A. The clouds having broken abruptly, bombs were dropped at 1600 hours and 1 burst was observed approximately 1/2 mile to south of centre. Heavy flak was encountered and evasive action taken. 2 fighters were seen, but these were evaded. The rest of the trip to the Dutch coast was done at low level. Flak was again encountered crossing FRISIANS. Base was reached without further event.
30.1.43 Mosquito Mark IV D.K.379. SGT. J. MASSEY – SGT.R.C.FLETCHER. Duty – Bombing Raid. Time Up 1325 Time Down 1825. Target : BERLIN. (Daylight Raid) Low level flight over North Sea as far as LUBECK, after which the aircraft start to climb to 20,000 feet. This height was reached about 50 miles from BERLIN, the aircraft then being above cloud until the outskirts of the capital was seen. Bombs were released on. S.W. part of the city at 1552 hours. No opposition was encountered over the city, only one F.W.190 seen, which was invaded using cloud cover. Made for home at 15,000 until near HANOVER when aircraft descended to low level and return to base with no further incident.
30.1.43 Mosquito Mark IV D.K.376. S/L.D.F.W.DARLING(DFC) – F/O.W.WRIGHT . Duty – Bombing Raid. Time Up 1325 Time Down – . Target : BERLIN. Failed to Return.
well done bet it pissed them off bravo
We know the Mosquito drove Goering especially potty – “green with envy” in fact!
Best,
The TPM Team
Mossies put the kibosh on Herrs Göering & Goebbels do you have list of pilots that flew on this mission and if you do can you list them thank you