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Cyril Moore
No.460 RAAF Squadron at RAF Molesworth
& RAF Breighton
RAF Molesworth - 15th December 1941 to 24th December 1941
RAF Breighton - 1st January 1942 to 6th May 1942
 Cyril was posted to No. 460 Squadron a newly formed Royal Australian Air force (RAAF) Squadron commanded by Australian Wing Commander A.L.G. Hubbard, based at RAF Molesworth. It was formed at on 15 November 1941 the same date he joined. It was a Wellington equipped bomber squadron in No 8 Group. The Squadron Code on their Wellington Bombers was UV. It looks like Cyril was allowed Christmas 1941 off, but he had to report back to a different station on New Years day. This was because No 8 Group was disbanded in an RAF internal structure reshuffle. The squadron was transferred to No 1 Group and moved to RAF Breighton after only 9 days at RAF Molesworth.
The squadrons spent most of the winter training. It's first operation was a
bombing mission to Emden on 12 March 1942.
CYRIL'S OPERATIONAL FLYING LOG - No. 460 Squadron RAF
Molesworth
DECEMBER 1941
15th December 1941
13.10hrs took off in Wellington Z1388 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Molesworth and landed at RAF Waltam and then returned to RAF Molesworth, Flying time 2hours 45 minutes
28th December 1941
11.50hrs took off in Wellington Z1278 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Kimbolton, landed and then returned to RAF Molesworth, Flying time 40 minutes
28th December 1941
15.00hrs took off in a different Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Kimbolton, landed and then returned to RAF Molesworth, Flying time 40 minutes
29th December 1941
13.45hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew to calibrate the D/F IN/T, Flying time 2 hours 15 minutes
.
CYRIL'S OPERATIONAL FLYING LOG - No. 460 Squadron RAF
Breighton
No. 460 Squadron Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) was still involved in training, Operations began on 12/13 March 1942 during an attack on Emden and it became a regular participant in Bomber Command operations until September.
JANUARY 1942
1st January 1942
15.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and landed at RAF Thurleigh and then returned to RAF Breighton, Flying time 1 Hour 10 minutes
4th January 1942
10.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and to RAF Molesworth and then returned to RAF Breighton, Flying time 1 Hour 5 minutes
22nd January 1942
12.40hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and to RAF Duxford, Harwell, Pershore, Sywell and then returned to RAF Breighton, Flying time 3 Hours
28th January 1942 11.05hrs took off in Wellington Z1284 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and to Holmf, Snaita and then returned to RAF Breighton, Flying time 30 minutes
28th January 1942
15.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and to Waltham and then returned to RAF Breighton, Flying time 40 minutes
FEBRUARY 1942
8th February 1942
13.20hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Wing Commander Hubbard & Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and landed at RAF Polebrook, Flying time 50 minutes
9th February 1942
11.45hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Wing Commander Hubbard & Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Polebrook and landed at RAF Breighton, Flying time 1 hour
11th February 1942
16.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and landed at RAF Holme, Flying time 20 minutes
11th February 1942
16.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Holme and landed at RAF Breighton, Flying time 20 minutes
12th February 1942
15.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1388 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton and landed at RAF White Waltham, Flying time 1 Hour 40 minutes
12th February 1942
17.10hrs took off in Wellington Z1388 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF White Waltham and landed at RAF Breighton, Flying time 1 Hour 40 minutes
14th February 1942
15.25hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Rear to sea firing practice, Flying time 2 Hours
15th February 1942
11.20hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Carrell. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton to RAF Grimsby and returned, Flying time 1 Hour 30 minutes
16th February 1942
14.25hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Squadron Leader Gilbert & Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton to RAF Lakenheath, RAF Holme and returned, Flying time 1 Hour 55 minutes
18th February 1942
15.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1383 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Rear Test, Flying time 1 Hour
24th February 1942
16.40hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Rear Test, Flying time 1 Hour 10 minutes
25th February 1942
12.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1284 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Rear Test, Flying time 35 minutes
25th February 1942
16.25hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Cooney. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew from RAF Breighton to RAF Grimsby and returned, Flying time 50 minutes
MARCH 1942
10th March 1942
11.15hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 45 minutes
12th March 1942
10.15hrs took off in Wellington Z1392 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 1 hour
12th March 1942 – Night Bombing Operation Emden (5 of
48)
19.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1392 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 5th bombing mission
Operation to Emden. Failed to find target – Believed bombed Oldenburg, Flying time 4 hours 35 minutes.
(Emden is a very important seaport in the north west of Germany near the border with Holland. It is on the mouth of the Rhur River that leads down to the industrial heartland of Germany. 5 Wellingtons bombers were sent to bomb Emden. 1 recorded bombed "believed Emden"; 2 recorded bombed "believed Oldenburg"; 1 recorded bombed a fully-lighted but unidentified airfield; & one Wellington bomber failed to return.)
15th March 1942
14.45hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, Rear Test, Flying time 45 minutes
16th March 1942
11.55hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew to RAF Waltham landed. Flying time 35 minutes
Took off from RAF Waltham at 1450 and returned to base, Flying time 35 minutes
22nd March 1942
14.50hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 45 minutes
23rd March 1942
11.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
25th March 1942
11.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, Flew to RAF Grimsby and returned to base, Flying time 1 hour
25th March 1942 – Night Bombing Operation Essen (6 of
48)
20.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, This was Cyril’s 6th bombing mission
Operation to Essen – target Bombed Front Gunnet hit by Flack. Balloon Cable Broken by starboard wing, Flying time 6 hours 20 minutes.
(Essen is an town in the industrial Rhine Rhur area of Germany. 254 aircraft were involved in this raid on Essen - 192 Wellingtons, 26 Stirlings, 20 Manchesters, 9 Hampdens, 7 Lancasters - in the largest force sent to 1 target so far. 9 aircraft failed to return to the UK which included - 5 Manchesters,, 3 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden. Visibility was good and 181 crews claimed to have bombed Essen, many claiming hits on the Krupps works armaments industrial complex, but bombing photographs showed that much of the effort was drawn off by the decoy fire site at Rheinberg, 18 miles west of Essen. Essen's report says that only 9 high-explosive bombs, 700 incendiaries and 1,627 leaflets were dropped there. 1 house was destroyed and 2 seriously damaged. 5 people were killed and 11 injured.)
25th March 1942 Wrong date
11.15hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
30th March 1942
15.45hrs took off in Wellington Z1334 flown by Sgt Hallett. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
APRIL 1942
10th April 1942
11.00hrs took off in Wellington Z21249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
10th April 1942 – Night Bombing Operation Essen (7 of
48)
22.06hrs took off in Wellington Z21249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner This was Cyril’s 7th bombing mission,
Base – Essen – Base. Target bombed very heavy flak, Flying time 5 hours 50 minutes
(Essen is an town in the industrial Rhine Rhur area of Germany. 254 aircraft were involved in this raid on Essen. 254 aircraft were sent on this raid - 167 Wellingtons, 43 Hampdens, 18 Stirlings, 10 Manchesters, 8 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters. 14 aircraft were lost - 7 Wellingtons, 5 Hampdens, 1 Halifax, 1 Manchester. Crews were given a forecast of clear weather over Essen but cloud was met instead. The bombing force became scattered and suffered heavily from the Ruhr Flak defences. Bombing was poor. Essen reports 12 houses destroyed, no serious industrial damage, 7 people killed and 30 injured. Total bombs in Essen were approximately 6 aircraft loads from the 172 aircraft claiming to have bombed there. Not a good hit rate.)
11th April 1942
17.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1278 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
14th April 1942
11.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
14th April 1942 – Night Bombing Operation Dortmund (8 of
48)
23.50hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner. This was Cyril’s 8th bombing mission,
Base – Dortmund – Landed RAF Boscombe Down – Lack of Petrol, Flying time 7 hours 50 minutes.
(Dortmund is an town in the industrial Rhine Rhur area of Germany. 208 aircraft were used in this bombing operation of Dortmund - 142 Wellingtons, 34 Hampdens, 20 Stirlings, 8 Halifaxes, 4 Manchesters - a force which was several times greater than any previously sent to this city. 5 Wellingtons and 4 Hampdens were lost and did not return. 132 aircraft claimed to have bombed Dortmund but bombing photographs showed that bombs fell across a 40-mile stretch of the Ruhr. Dortmund reported 1 unspecified industrial building destroyed, 1 military establishment severely damaged, 4 dwelling-houses destroyed and 31 damaged with 4 people killed and 27 injured)
15th April 1942
14.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner. RAF Boscome Down return to Base. Flying time 1 hour 30 minutes.
17th April 1942
10.45hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
17th April 1942 – Night Bombing Operation Hamburg
23.50hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner. This bombing mission did not count towards tour of duty,
Target Hamburg – Target not bombed due to electrical failure Flying time 1 hours 50 minutes
(Hamburg is Germany’s major port. It is an industrial area that included a Navel dock and U-boat submarine pens. 173 aircraft took part in this raid - 134 Wellingtons, 23 Stirlings, 11 Halifaxes, 5 Manchesters. Some Aircraft were lost including 7 Wellingtons and 1 Manchester bomber. 107 crews claimed to have bombed the target but the German estimate was that no more than 50 aircraft had attacked Hamburg. There were 75 fires in Hamburg - 33 classed as large - 23 people were killed and 66 injured.)
22nd April 1942
12.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
27th April 1942
11.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, North Sea Sweep for A/C (Rearcrew) No Luck, Flying time 4 hours 30 minutes
28th April 1942 – Night Bombing Operation Kiel (9 of
48)
23.50hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner. This was Cyril’s 9th bombing mission,
Target Kiel and bombed Flying time 7 hours 50 minutes
(Kiel was a major German naval port and U-boat base in the North of Germany just to the right of the base of Denmark. 88 aircraft took part in this raid - 62 Wellingtons, 15 Stirlings, 10 Hampdens, 1 Halifax. 6 aircraft were lost including 5 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden bomber. 54 aircraft claimed good bombing results in bright moonlight but against strong Flak and fighter defences. Post-raid photographs reported 'no new damage' but the Kiel records show that damage was caused at all 3 shipyards, to the hospital of the Naval Academy and to the university library as well as to private housing. 15 people were killed and 74 injured)
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/images/kiel0442.jpg
30th April 1942
11.45hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
MAY 1942
1st May 1942
10.15hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, local Flying, Flying time 1 hour
3rd May 1942
11.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1401 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
4th May 1942
11.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 25 minutes
4th May 1942 – Night Bombing Operation Stuttgart (10 of
48)
22.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner. This was Cyril’s 10th bombing mission,
Ops as ordered to Stuttgart Flying time 7 hours 50 minutes
(Stuttgart is a major city in central Germany with a large industrial area. 121 aircraft took part in this bombing mission - 69 Wellingtons, 19 Hampdens, 14 Lancasters, 12 Stirlings, 7 Halifaxes. It was the first large raid on this city. 1 Stirling bomber did not return back to the UK. A proportion of the force was detailed to attack a specific factory target, on this occasion the Robert Bosch factory, which made dynamos, injection pumps and magnetos. On this night, 10/10ths cloud covered the whole area and the raid was a failure. Bombs were scattered across a wide area of Stuttgart and the surrounding countryside. 13 people were killed and 37 injured in Stuttgart. The Bosch works were not hit. A decoy site near Lauffen, 15 miles north of Stuttgart, attracted many bombs.)
5th May 1942
08.15hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, RAF Holme - Base, Flying time 20 minutes
6th May 1942
15.30hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner, NFT, Flying time 30 minutes
6th May 1942– Night Bombing Operation Stuttgart (11 of
48)
22.00hrs took off in Wellington Z1249 flown by Sgt Levitus. Posted Rear Gunner. This was Cyril’s 11th bombing mission,
Ops as ordered to Stuttgart Flying time 7 hours 55 minutes
(Stuttgart is a major city in central Germany with a large industrial area. This was the second time Cyril flew to Stuttgart. 97 aircraft - 55 Wellingtons, 15 Stirlings, 10 Hampdens, 10 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes were given the task of bombing the city and the Bosch factory. 5 Wellingtons and 1 Halifax bomber were lost on this raid. This third raid on Stuttgart was another failure, with crews again blaming ground haze for their inability to identify the city. Stuttgart's records show that no bombs fell in the city, though a few fell in woods to the west. The decoy fire may have been responsible for a raid which developed on the large town of Heilbronn, only 5 miles from the decoy fire site but 20 miles from Stuttgart. More than 150 buildings were hit in Heilbronn and 7 people died there.)
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