The Battle of Heligoland Bight 1939 : the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe's baptism of fire

The story of the first British bombing raid of the Second World War, of why Bomber Command flew by night and of the Wellington Mk.1A are all closely linked together. It is a story of the stone age of strategic bombing.On the 4th of September 1939 Squadron Leader Paul Harris led 149 Squadron to Brunsbüttel, Wilhelmshaven in a Mk. 1 Wellington L4302. On the way he ordered that the guns of his airplane be tested, only to make the horrifying discovery that not one of them worked. He was flying to Germany in an aircraft that was completely defenseless. Not wanting to turn back on the first raid of the war he made the decision to press on regardless.On the 18th of December he flew to Wilhelmshaven once again and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the first major encounter between the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe. This time he flew a Wellington Mk.1A, N2980, or “R” for Robert, and this time his guns worked and were red hot. Out of a total 11,461 Wellington bombers produced, Paul Harris’ old Wimpy is now the only one left that fought back against Nazi tyranny and survived to rest now in Brooklands Museum The story of the first British bombing raid of the Second World War, of why Bomber Command flew by night and of the Wellington Mk.1A are all closely linked together. It is a story of the Stone Age of strategic bombing. On the 4th of September 1939 Squadron Leader Paul Harris led 149 Squadron to Brunsbuttel, Wilhelmshaven in a Mk. 1 Wellington L4302. On the way he ordered that the guns of his airplane be tested, only to make the horrifying discovery that not one of them worked. He was flying to Germany in an aircraft that was completely defenseless. Not wanting to turn back on the first raid of the war he made the decision to press on regardless. On the 18th of December he flew to Wilhelmshaven once again and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the first major encounter between the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe. This time he flew a Wellington Mk.1A, N2980, or "R" for Robert, and this time his guns worked and were red hot. Out of a total 11,461 Wellington bombers produced, Paul Harris' old Wimpy is now the only one left that fought back against Nazi tyranny and survived to rest now in Brooklands Museum Author Robin Holmes, in the course of extensive underwater research, located and organized the recovery of the aircraft from its resting place in Loch Ness. 'The Battle of Heligoland Bight' tells the dramatic history of the plane, its crew, the German opposition they encountered and the battles they fought.

This illustrated history chronicles the first British bombing raid of WWII and the early lessons learned about strategic bombing. On the 4th of September 1939, Squadron Leader Paul Harris led 149 Squadron to Brunsbüttel, Wilhelmshaven in a Vickers Wellington Mk. 1 medium bomber. On the way he ordered that the guns of his airplane be tested, only to make the horrifying discovery that not one of them worked. Though he was flying completely defenseless, he chose to press on. On the 18th of December, Harris flew to Wilhelmshaven once again and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the first major encounter between the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe. This time he flew a Wellington Mk.1A—codenamed "R" for Robert—and his guns were red hot and ready. Of all the Wellington bombers that fought the Luftwaffe, Paul Harris' old Wimpy is the only one left, preserved at the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, England.

Content: Preface / by Group Captain P.I. Harris, DFC -- Introduction to Vickers Wellington Mk 1A "R for Robert" -- 1. A very good cottage on the foundations of a castle -- 2. La drôle de guerre -- 3. 149 (East India) Squadron, Mildenhall -- 4. The Battle of Heligoland Bight -- 5. Blood, toil, tears and sweat -- 6. Hidden away for all time -- Appendix A: Personal recollections of the Battle of Heligoland Bight -- Appendix B: Memories of peace / by C.G. Grey -- Appendix C: The Marienkäfer (Lady-Bug) Squadron / by Wolfgang Falck -- Appendix D: Claims and losses -- Vickers Wellington Mk III cutaway drawing with key -- Glossary. The story of the first British bombing raid of the Second World War, of why Bomber Command flew by night and of the Wellington Mk.1A are all closely linked together. It is a story of the stone age of strategic bombing. On the 4th of September 1939 Squadron Leader Paul Harris led 149 Squadron to Brunsbüttel, Wilhelmshaven in a Mk. 1 Wellington L4302. On the way he ordered that the guns of his airplane be tested, only to make the horrifying discovery that not one of them worked. He was flying to Germany in an aircraft that was completely defenseless. Not wanting to turn back on the first raid of Presents the story of the first British bombing raid of World War II. Abstract: Presents the story of the first British bombing raid of the Second World War, of why Bomber Command flew by night and of the Wellington Mk 1A are all closely linked together. This title tells the dramatic history of the plane, its crew, the German opposition they encountered and the battles they fought. Read more... Robin Holmes. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.