British Military Aviation in 1941 - Part 1

Part 2

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!

Part 2