The RAF's first mission into German territory took place immediately following the declaration of war.
Whilst Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was making his historic radio broadcast to the nation to announce that Britain was at war with Germany, a young Scottish RAF pilot was climbing aboard his Bristol Blenheim bomber aircraft. The Blenheim wasn’t carrying bombs, it was loaded with aerial photography equipment and along with a Royal Navy observer they were set to take part in the first RAF mission into enemy territory to capture images of German Battleships at the port of Wilhelmshaven.
Wilhelmshaven has long been a vital strategic port and shipyard to Germany's navy and with war in Europe now a reality, the British needed up to date reconnaissance photographs on the ports as well as the location of key ships of the German fleet.
A lone Bristol Blenheim aircraft and a three man crew was dispatched.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:40 History of Wilhelmshaven
02:25 History of Bristol Blenheim
03:53 Mission Brief
05:05 War is Declared
07:39 Back at Base
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