THE BOMBER BATTLE OF BERLIN
No.207 was one of many squadrons sent to bomb perhaps the toughest wartime target of all: Germany’s capital city. Even by Bomber Command standards, the ‘battle’ of Berlin was particularly bloody.
Berlin was nearly 600 miles from bomber bases in eastern England. The combination of the distance to be flown over enemy territory and the city’s heavy defences made it a fearsome target.
“Berlin was first attacked on August 25, 1940, but at that stage of the war the raids were small scale; accurate navigation was difficult and the bombloads were small”
The German capital was first attacked by RAF Bomber Command on August 25, 1940, but at that stage of the war the raids were small scale; accurate navigation was difficult and the bombloads were small. The September 23/24 raid on Berlin was the first time Bomber Command had directed its main effort – on this occasion 129 aircraft – against a single city. Searchlights and ground mist
made observation difficult, but 112 aircraft reported finding the target. Three failed to return.
Nicknamed the ‘Winged Lions’ on account of the red feline on the unit’s badge, 207 Squadron had reformed at Waddington in late 1940 to introduce the new t…
