Bombed Bremen from 50 feet

Bombed Bremen from 50 feet

RAF bomber crews who carried out attacks on Bremen, one in daylight and from height of 50 feet are listed for gallantry awards. Goes on with lists and describes actions of Pilot Officer Waples 21 Squadron, Pilot Office Alister Stewart Ramsay, 105 Squadron, Distinguished Flying Cross. Sergeant Douglas Prior Quinn. 106 Squadron, Flight Sergeant Frederick John Patterson and Sergeant Norman Joseph Giblin, 21 Squadron who were awarded Distinguished Flying Medal. Account of action for award of Distinguished Flying Cross for night fighter Wing Commander David Frances William Atcherley, 25 Squadron and Distinguished Flying Medal for Sergeant J K Henson.

One newspaper cutting

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OHudsonJD173116-151001-030005

Bombed Bremen From 50 Feet
[Picture]
Sergeant Norman J. Giblin, R.A.F.V.R., awarded the D.F.M, now missing.
DARING R.A.F. bomber crews who carried out raids on Bremen, one in daylight and from a height of 50ft., are in a list of awards for gallantry.
They are: -
Pilot – Officer Waples, R.A.F. R.A.F.V.R., No. 21 Squadron, and Pilot-Officer Alister Stewart Ramsay, R.A.F.V.R., No 105 Squadron who receive the D.F.C.; Sgt. Gerald Douglas Prior Quinn, No. 106 Squadron, who gets a bar to his D.F.M.; and Flt-Sgt. Frederick John Patterson and Sgt. Norman Joseph Giblin, R.A.F.V.R., No. 21 Squadron. and Sgt. Robert Hesketh Nuttall, No. 115 Squadron, who get the D.F.M.
Sergeant Giblin was born at Preston in 1920. His father lives at Withington, Manchester. He was a local government officer before enlisting in the R.A.F.V.R. in April, 1939, as air observer.
Pilot-Officer Waples, Flt-Sergt. Patterson, and Sergt. Giblin were pilot, wireless operator-air gunner, and observer of a plane which successfully bombed Bremen from low level last month.
On the return journey the plane was attacked by two fighters, but Flt-Sergt. Patterson, by his timely and accurate instructions, enabled the pilot to take successful avoiding action. Then the aircraft was attacked by three fighters, but Flt.-Sergt. Patterson destroyed one and assisted his pilot again by giving him invaluable evasive instructions.
The parents of Sergeant Giblin, who live in Old Moat-lane. Withington, have been informed that he is missing. They are confident he will “turn up”, for it is not the first time he has failed to return from an operational flight. Last November he dropped into the North Sea, but was picked up by a convoy and came home safely.
Sergeant Giblin, who is 20, was educated at St. Bede’s College, Manchester, and was an accountant in the Manchester Corporation Electricity Department. His father, Mr J.J Giblin, is a Corporation bus guard.
THROUGH BALLOON BARRAGE
Pilot-Officer Ramsay and Sergt. Quinn were the air observer navigator and wireless operator air gunner of the leading aircraft of a formation which made a daylight bombing attack on Bremen on July 4. Flying through a balloon barrage and meeting with most determined and accurate fire from the ground, they attacked the town centre from 50 feet up.
Sergt. Quinn was wounded in the leg, but remained at this post, maintaining wireless watch and assisting Pilot-Officer Ramsey materially in navigating the aircraft safely back to its base.
Sergt. R. Hesketh Nuttall was rear gunner in an aircraft which attacked Bremen one night this month.
D.F.C FOR NIGHT FIGHTER
The D.F.C. also goes to Wing Commander David Francis William Atcherley of No. 25 squadron. He has carried out a large amount of operational flying at night and has destroyed three enemy aircraft at night. His father lives at York.
Sgt. Henson, though shot in the neck during a daylight attack on Merville Aerodrome, remained at the controls for an hour and landed his machine safely. The observer stopped the flow of blood from Henson’s neck by placing his thumb over a vein.