|
Cyril Moore
No.40 Squadron - Tunisia, North
Africa
Bomber delivery to Cairo then transfer to Tunisia, North Africa
28th July 1943 –29th August 1943
Hani West Airfield, Tunisia, North Africa 30th August 1943 –18th
November 1943
Oudna Airfield, Tunis North Africa
19th November –15th December 1943
Cyril left 30 Operational training Unit at the end of July 1943. He helped ‘ferry’ a Wellington bomber number HF581 from Bournemouth in southern England to Egypt prior to joining his new Squadron for his second more intense operational tour of duty. Cyril was transferred to No. 40 Squadron RAF on 30th August 1943. This squadron flew Wellington Bombers. The Squadron was based in Tunisia, North Africa supporting the Allied invasion of Italy. North Africa was in the hands of the Allies at this stage. The German and Italian forces in Africa had surrendered in May 1943. Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, had been successful.
No. 40 Squadron RAF was part of 205 group RAF. It was under the operational command of the 15th United States Army Air Force. Each force operated independently. It was the only RAF bomber force to ever operate under foreign command. It was a major part of the Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force (MASAF) which in turn was part of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF). The primary difference between USAAF and RAF operations was that the USAAF operated by day while RAF bombers operated primarily by night.
Cyril’s bomber Squadron main objectives bombing Italy were: to destroy the German Airforce; to participate in the destruction of oil refineries, rubber plants, munitions factories and naval bases; to support land operations in Italy, mainly by deep steady bombardment of enemy positions, roads, bridges, train lines and marshalling yards.
Most people have heard about the RAF bombing missions over Germany. RAF Bomber Command veterans like Cyril commonly referred to the air operations in Italy as ""the forgotten war". It's a term that was as true during WWII as it is now. The reasons for this are many, but the fact of it is especially tragic considering the incredible job the RAF aircrew did under the most unusual, and terrible, of conditions. There have been a number of books written about the American daylight bombing missions from Italian airfields but the role of the RAF night operations over the same targets was, and is, largely ignored or forgotten
Cyril’s Squadron was based at a temporary airfield called Hani West. About 100 miles south of Tunis near the costal town of Sousse there is a large salt lake called Sebkhel de sidi El Hani. The area north of the lake is known as Sidi El Hani. During 1943 it was the location of a number of
temporary airfields. The daily routine Hani West airport started at 3am when the American ground crews started their a daily inspections of their bombers that included starting up and very noisily revving all four engines in every USAAF aircraft. About an hour later the American aircrews came out and did the same before they took off. About this time, Cyril would be landing in his Wellington bomber after having completed another night bombing raid. Cyril would have to attend a debriefing followed by breakfast before going to bed in his tent. By about midday something like peace descended on the airfield, apart from an occasional airworthiness flight test. The Americans would land in the afternoon having completed their daylight bombing raid. At about dusk Cyril, having been to a briefing, would climb up and strap into the rear gunner position in his Wellington Bomber. The pilot would warm up the engines and take off. The whole cycle would then repeat itself.
CYRIL'S OPERATIONAL FLYING LOG - No. 40 Squadron
JULY 1943
28th July 1943
07.45hrs took off in Wellington HF581 flown by Sgt Ricketts Posted Air Gunner, Flew from RAF Hurn to Ras el Ma, Morocco, North Africa, Flying time 9 Hour 15 minutes
30th July 1943
08.00hrs took off in Wellington HF581 flown by Sgt Ricketts Posted Air Gunner, Flew from Ras el Ma, Morocco to Castel Benito, a very big ex-Italian built military airfield some 25 miles south of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, in North Africa, Flying time 7 Hours
31st July 1943
07.15hrs took off in Wellington HF581 flown by Sgt Ricketts Posted Air Gunner, Flew from Castel Benito to Cairo West Airport in Egypt, Flying time 6 Hours 45 minutes
AUGUST 1943
2nd August 1943
07.15hrs took off in Wellington HF581 flown by Sgt Ricketts Posted Air Gunner, Flew from Cairo West to Fayio, Flying time1 Hours 10 minutes
Douglas Dakota DC-3
18th August 1943
07.15hrs took off in Dakota FD842 flown by Flight Lieutenant Smith. Flew as a passenger from Cairo West to Benina, Libya North Africa , Flying time 4 Hours 20 minutes
18th August 1943
12.45hrs took off in Dakota FD842 flown by Flight Lieutenant Smith. Flew as a passenger from Benina, Libya back to Castel Benito, North Africa , Flying time 3 Hours
19th August 1943
10.10hrs took off in Dakota 8521 flown by Lieutenant Jones. Flew as a passenger from Castel Benito to Tunis, Tunisia in North Africa , Flying time 2 Hours 20 minutes
No. 40 RAF Bomber Squadron based at Hani West
Airfield, Tunis, North Africa 30th August –18th November 1943
30th August 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Civvitavecchia (28 of 48)
18.45hrs took off in Wellington R340 flown by Flying Officer Greenway. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 28th bombing mission,
Ops to Civvitavecchia, Flying time 6 Hours 15 minutes
(Civitavecchia is a busy port north west of Rome on the Italian west coast. On Monday 30th August 1934 American B-25 Mitchell bomber's of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) bombed the Civitavecchia railway marshalling yards and port complex in a daylight attack. Cyril’s Squadron of Wellingtons completed a follow up night bombing raid on the same target.)
SEPTEMBER 1943
(On 3rd September, 1943, General Bernard Montgomery and the 8th Army landed at Reggio in Italy. There was little resistance and later that day British warships landed the 1st Parachute Division at Taranto, Italy. Six days later the US 6th Corps arrived at Salerno. These troops faced a heavy bombardment from German troops and the beachhead was not secured until 20th September)
5th September 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Villa Literno (29 of 48)
18.45hrs took off in Wellington HF764 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 29th bombing mission,
Ops to Villa Literno, Flying time 5 Hours 25 minutes
( Villa Literno is north west of Naples. It has a large railway station and freight yard. It is that the junction of two railway lines)
7th September 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Viterbo (30 of 48)
18.15hrs took off in Wellington HF764 flown by Warrant Officer Judd. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 30th bombing mission,
Ops to Viterbo, Flying time 6 Hours 50 minutes
(Viterbo is north of Rome and was bombed because it’s airport was being used by the Military. Unfortunately the pretty medieval old town suffered heavy damage)
8th September 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Battipaglia (31 of 48)
18.15hrs took off in Wellington HF764 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 31st bombing mission,
Ops to Battipaglia, Flying time 6 Hours 50 minutes
(This mission was to help Allied ground forces trying to fight their way up Italy as part of the battle for Salerno south west of Naples. The enemy troops and transport marshalling yards around the Battipaglia – Eboli road were the target of heavy bombing by the USAAF during daylight hours and the RAF at night)
13th September 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Pompeii (32 of 48)
18.15hrs took off in Wellington HF796 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 32nd bombing mission,
Ops to Pompeii, Flying time 6 Hours 30 minutes
(Pompeii had a port used by the Axis
Military)
15th September 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Pompeii (33 of 48)
18.15hrs took off in Wellington HF764 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 33rd bombing mission,
Ops to Pompeii, Flying time 6 Hours 20 minutes
(Pompeii had a port used by the Axis
Military)
17th September 1943 -
Night Bombing Operation Cerveteri (34 of 48)
18.45hrs took off in Wellington HF764 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 34th bombing mission,
Ops to Cerveteri, Flying time 6 Hours 05 minutes
( Civitavecchia is a busy port north west of Rome on the Italian west coast. On Monday 30th August 1934 American B-25 Mitchell bomber's of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) bombed the Civitavecchia railway marshalling yards and port complex in a daylight attack. Cyril’s Squadron of Wellingtons completed a follow up night bombing raid on the same target.)
21st September 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Bastia - Corsica (35 of 48)
18.45hrs took off in Wellington LN342 flown by Squadron Leader Bodman. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 35th bombing mission,
Ops to Bastia - Corsica, Flying time 6 Hours 50 minutes
(Bastia was an Axis Military Navy port on the island of Corsica.)
23rd September 1943 - Night Bombing Operation San Giusto - Pisa (36 of 48)
18.25hrs took off in Wellington LN342 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 36th bombing mission,
Ops to San Giusto - Pisa, Flying time 7 Hours 45 minutes
(San Gjusto to the south of Pisa was the sight of a military airport and a large railway marshalling yard. On 23rd September 1943, General Dwight D. Eisenhower took the Italian surrender aboard HMS Nelson off Malta. The German Army continued to fight ferociously in southern Italy and the Allied armies made only slow progress as the moved north towards Rome.)
OCTOBER 1943
1st October 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Formia (37 of 48)
18.25hrs took off in Wellington LN342 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 37th bombing mission,
Ops to Formia, Flying time 7 Hours 45 minutes.
(Formia was an Axis Military Navy port north west of Naples. The Allied 5th Army took Naples on 1st October 1943 and later that day the 8th Army captured the Foggia airfields where later Cyril will spend his last days on hostile European soil.)
10th October 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Terracina (38 of 48)
16.40hrs took off in Wellington HE612 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 38th bombing mission,
Ops to Terracina, Flying time 6 Hours 5 minutes
(Terracina was an Axis Military Navy port north west of Naples.)
12th October 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Civvitavecchia (39 of 48)
01.10hrs took off in Wellington LN348 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 39th bombing mission,
Ops to Civvitavecchia, Flying time 6 Hours
( Civitavecchia is a busy port north west of Rome on the Italian west coast. On Monday 30th August 1934 American B-25 Mitchell bomber's of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) bombed the Civitavecchia railway marshalling yards and port complex in a daylight attack. Cyril’s Squadron of Wellingtons completed a follow up night bombing raid on the same target on 12th October 1943. On 13th October the new Italian government declared war on Germany.)
14th October 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Talamone (40 of 48)
18.35hrs took off in Wellington HE612 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 40th bombing mission,
Ops to Talamone bit of action, Flying time 6 Hours 55 minutes
(Talamone was an Axis Military Navy port north west of Naples.)
30th October 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Perugia (41 of 48)
16.10hrs took off in Wellington LN318 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Air Gunner, This was Cyril’s 41st bombing mission,
Ops to Perugia, Flying time 7 Hours 25 minutes
(Perugia is a town in the mountains of central Italy halfway between Florence and Rome. It is major road and rail junction used by the Axis Military.)
NOVEMBER 1943
1st November 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Viareggio (42 of 48)
15.30hrs took off in Wellington LN318 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 42nd bombing mission,
Ops to Viareggio, Flying time 7 Hours 55 minutes
(Viareggio was an Axis Military Navy port north of
Pisa. It was also a major road and rail junction used by the
Military)
2nd November 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Fiano Romano (43 of 48)
19.10hrs took off in Wellington LN318 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 43rd bombing mission,
Ops to Fiano Romano, Flying time 6 Hours 40 minutes
(Fiano Romano is a town north east of Rome)
4th November 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Florence – Leghorn – La Spezia - Nickel (44 of 48)
17.30hrs took off in Wellington HE850 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 44th bombing mission,
Ops to Florence – Leghorn – La Spezia - Nickel,
Flying time 8 Hours 25 minutes
(Cyril bombed the Italian naval base at La Spezia, between Genoa and Pisa)
10th November 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Recco (45 of 48)
17.30hrs took off in Wellington LN318 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 45th bombing mission,
Ops to Recco, Flying time 8 Hours 30 minutes
(Recco was targeted because of the railway viaduct on the main railroad line from Genoa to Pisa.)
12th November 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Pontassieve (46 of 48)
16.48hrs took off in Wellington LN318 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 46th bombing mission,
Ops to Pontassieve, Flying time 7 Hours 50 minutes
(Pontassieve is a town near the mountains of central Italy by Florence. It was an important road and rail junction used by the Axis Military.)
18th November 1943
11.00hrs took off in Wellington HE850 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, Kairouan - Oudna, Flying time 55 minutes
No. 40 RAF Bomber Squadron
now based at Oudna Airport Tunis North Africa
19th November –15th December 1943
24th November 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Turin
11.00hrs took off in Wellington HE850 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, Ops to Turin – DNCO (Did Not Complete Operation) Landed Sardinia, Flying time 1 Hour 35 minutes
25th November 1943
10.57hrs took off in Wellington HE850 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, Sardinia - Base, Flying time 55 minutes
27th November 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Grosseto (47 of 48)
11.00hrs took off in Wellington HE850 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 47th bombing mission
Ops to Grosseto, Flying time 6 Hour 50 minutes.
(Grosseto is a town between Rome and Pisa. It was an important road and rail junction used by the Axis Military but the nearby Airfield was the real target.)
DECEMBER 1943
1st December 1943 - Night Bombing Operation Pontassieve (48 of 48)
19.30hrs took off in Wellington LN318 flown by Sgt Ricketts. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 48th and last bombing mission
Ops to Pontassieve, Flying time 6 Hour 40 minutes
(Pontassieve is a town near the mountains of central Italy by Florence. It was an important road and rail junction used by the Axis Military. This was the second time Cyril had bombed this target)
15th December 1943
12.00hrs took off in Wellington LN318 flown by Squadron Leader Bodman. Posted Rear Gunner, Tunis to new base Cerignola Italy. Flying time 3 Hour 25 minutes
(Cyril had completed 48 combat bombing missions but had flown two additional bombing missions where his pilot had to turn back. He had taken off and faced going into battle 50 times. The Allied armies captured Rome on 24th June 1944. They pursued the German 10th Army and took Florence on 12th August and Rimini 21st September 1944. It was not until the last few days of April 1945 that the Germans in Italy surrendered. It was a very hard fight with many casualties)
|
