When the war broke out, the RAF Bomber Command had 23 operational bomber squadrons with 280 aircraft. Early in the war, the main targets of raids were warships and airfields, attacked in daylight. The British launched night-time bombing campaigns against German industry in 1940. However, bombers often failed to identify individual factories in darkness and their bombs were scattered.
In 1941, a major effort was needed against German warships and U-boats. British airplanes were targeted by German night-fighters and anti-aircraft guns. They suffered heavy losses and morale was low. In 1942, the RAF was under the command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris. Harris ordered “area bombing” campaigns, targeting whole cities. The city of Köln was bombed on 30th-31st May 1942. Over 1,000 bombers dropped 2,000 tonnes of high explosives on the German city in a window of ninety minutes. They destroyed downtown Köln, and hundreds of civilians were killed and thousands were left homeless.
In 1943, the RAF Bomber Command was joined by the US 8th Air Force. They launched major raids on the Ruhr valley. A year later, the combined Allied bomber force started to overwhelm the Germans. On 1st March 1943, Berlin was bombed by 302 aircraft. On 22nd November 1943, 764 bombers dropped bombed on the German capital, destroying 3,000 buildings and killing 2,000 civilians. 26 bombers were lost as casualties.
In 1945, the RAF had 108 squadrons with over 1,500 aircraft. They targeted oil production plants and communication lines and starved the Germans of fuel for their machine guns. Between 13th and 15th February 1945, American and British bombers destroyed the city of Dresden in eastern Germany. Between 22,000 and 25,000 civilians were killed. However, Dresden was neither a major industrial centre nor key to the Germans’ war effort. The bombing of Dresden stirred controversy in Britain.
Casualties: in Hamburg, 49,000 civilians were killed by Allied bombing; 35,000 civilians were killed in Berlin, including 4,000 in November 1943; Allies bombing raids on Germany killed over 400,000 civilians and destroyed entire cities; 55,000 RAF aircrew were killed on bombing missions.
James was the son of James Falshaw and Catherine Jane Cook.
James attended Oakham School between 1923 and 1927. He was in School House. His school achievements are listed below:
After school, James worked in Engineering industry. He married Barbara of Hunstanworth, Chester-le-Street, Durham. He enlisted in the RAF, 15 Squadron in 1935. He was a Sergeant (Flight Engineer).
The Royal Air Force badge.
James was killed in 1943 in a bombing raid. He was in a Stirling bomber. 243 aircrafts took off from RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire on a raid to Köln at 6:35pm. Nine aircrafts were shot by a night flyer and crashed near Limburg, Belgium. All the Stirling crew were killed and buried at St Truiden. James was 34.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Summer term 1945, Vol.59.
He was reburied in grave 10.E.2-8 at Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium.
http://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=99&articleid=1551&displayorder=1
Keith was born in Nottingham. He was the son of Walter John Constance Sneath Dexter of Little Chalfont, Buchinghamshire, later of Stevenson Farm, Stradishall, New Market, Suffolk. He had a sister, Phyllis.
Keith attended Oakham School between 1923 and 1928. He was in Junior House and then moved to School House. His school achievements are listed below:
The Oakhamian Magazine commented upon his rugby prowess.
Winter 1928 Rugby review: ‘A much improved wing three-quarter – does not possess much speed but showed determination in the second part of the season. A good kick with right foot.’
After school, Keith works as an Inspector in the Metropolitan Police. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and became a pilot with 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds. He enrolled in the Air Training Corps on 20th April 1941. He was shot down and killed with all his crew on 16th June 1943 on operations against Köln. 212 Aircraft were dispatched and 14 were declared missing. Keith was declared missing and presumed dead on 17th June 1943. He was 32.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Spring term 1944, Vol.59.
Keith received the 1939-1945 Star, the Aircrew Europe Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945.
The 1939-1945 Star. The Air Crew Europe Star. The Defence Medal 1939-1945. The War Medal 1939-1945.
He is buried in grave 106, plot JJB at Eindhoven General Cemetery, Netherlands.
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/769
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939%E2%80%931945_Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Crew_Europe_Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Medal_(United_Kingdom)
Morgan was the son of George Henry and Mary Ford of Oakham.
Morgan attended Oakham School between 1924 and 1929. He was in the Day Boys. His school achievements are listed below:
After school, Morgan joined 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He became a Sergeant (Wireless operator and Air Gunner). On 29th June 1941, Morgan took off from RAF Coningsby, flying a Hampden I, AD895 on a mission to Bremen. His aircraft was shot down in the night and crashed near Utersen, 23km from Hamburg. All the crew was killed in the crash. Morgan was 28.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Winter term 1941, Vol.56.
He is buried in grave 1.E.7-9 at Sage War Cemetery, Niedersachsen, Germany. He is remembered on the Memorial Cross at Oakham.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/226637
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=72704
William was the son of Frank Thomas and Marion Heath of Knighton Road, Leicester.
William attended Oakham School between 1923 and 1925. He was in Hodge Wing and then moved to School House. His school achievements are listed below:
After school, William married Phyllis Christine of Brixham, Devon, and had two sons. He worked in insurance. When the war broke out, he enlisted in the Royal Marines.
The Royal Marines badge.
He served on board HMS Royal Albert as Captain. The ship was part of the Elbe Squadron. In 1946, she was a shore establishment based at Cuxhaven, the former German Kriegsmarine base. William died in an accident on active service on 4th March 1946, two weeks before demobilisation. He was 35.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Summer term 1946, Vol.59.
He is buried in grave 2.B.23 at Munster Heath War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Edward was the son of Alfred Parker and Rowena Mary Parker, née Johnson. He was born in West Bridford, Nottinghamshire.
Edward attended Oakham School between 1924 and 1926. He was in Wharflands. His school achievements are listed below:
After Oakham and the War
After school, Edward became a bank clerk. He married Doris Taylor in Leicester. Edward volunteered for the Royal Air Force as an airman on 1st September 1939. He was called up on 28th October 1939 and was commissioned a Sergeant with 49 Squadron on 1st December 1939.
The Royal Air Firce badge.
Edward was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal on 6th August 1940 for gallantry: “On the night of 8th June, 1940, this officer was first pilot of an aircraft loaded with four 500-lb. bombs, detailed for bombing operations. Just after taking off the port engine failed, and P/O. Parker could gain neither height nor speed on only one engine. Reducing speed to 80 M.P.H. he switched off his engine and "felt" the aircraft into the nearest field in complete darkness. The aircraft crashed, however, and immediately burst into flames. P/O. Parker got clear to find that his navigator and air gunner were safe, but the wireless operator was lying stunned near the burning aircraft. With complete disregard for his own safety, and knowing that the bombs might explode at any moment he returned and carried his wireless operator to safety. While he was doing so, a bomb exploded but P/O. Parker saved the airman further injury by throwing him to the ground. This officer displayed exceptional coolness, resourcefulness and courage throughout, and in face of extreme danger undoubtedly saved the life of his wireless operator.”
His EGM was exchanged for the George Cross. He was transferred to 29 Squadron in November 1940. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 22nd November 1940 for carrying out 43 operational flights against the enemy.
The Empire Gallantry Medal. The George Cross. The Distinguished Flying Cross.
He was also awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star, the Defence Medal 1939-1945 and the War Medal 1939-1945.
The Air Crew Europe Star. The Defence Medal 1939-1945. The War Medal 1939-1945.
Edward died on 17th January 1943 while flying a Lancaster with 61 Squadron during a raid on Alexander Platz Railway Station, Berlin. He was 32.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Summer term 1943, Vol.58.
He is buried in grave 1.F.3 at Berlin War Cemetery, Germany.
http://www.49squadron.co.uk/personnel_index/detail/Parker_ED
http://www.vconline.org.uk/edward-d-j-parker-egm/4589403733
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=100984
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Gallantry_Medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cross
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Crew_Europe_Star
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Medal_(United_Kingdom)
George was the son of Ernest A. and Ada Shardlow of Leicester.
George attended Oakham School between 1925 and 1929. He was in Hodge Wing and then moved to School House. He was in the O.T.C. Unfortunately, we do not possess further information on his life at school.
After school, George worked as a Director in a printer firm. He married Patricia. When the war broke out, he served as Captain with 129 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (21st Battalion, City of London Regiment), Royal Artillery.
The Royal Artillery badge.
George died of natural causes whilst on action service in Western Europe. He was 33.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Winter term 1945, Vol.59.
He is buried in grave 6.A.19 at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2356805/shardlow,-george-edward/
John was the son of Herbert and Margaret Elizabeth Sharpe.
John attended Oakham School between 1926 and 1930. He was in the Day Boys. He was in the O.T.C. His school achievements are listed below:
After school, John married Joan Mildred of Downham, Market, Norfolk. He served as Sergeant (Flight Engineer) with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, Royal Air Force.
The Royal Air Force badge.
John was killed during mining sortie. He was 27.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Winter term 1943, Vol.58.
He is buried in grave 2.J.1 at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
George was the son of John Thomas and Margaret Louisa Towns, of Whissendine, Rutland.
George attended Oakham School between 1932 and 1938. He was in the Day Boys. He was a house prefect. His school achievements are listed below:
Oakham School Cricket 1st XI, 1937 - George is standing on the far left.
Oakham School Rugby 1st XV, 1937 - George is sitting bottom right.
The Oakhamian Magazine commented upon his rugby and cricketing prowess:
Summer 1937 Cricket review: ‘A promising batsman with a sound defence; a good field.’
Winter 1937 Rugby review: ‘Rather small for a centre three-quarter; started the season well but went off; defence sound and handling good; must cure a tendency to run back into the ruck in attack.’
After school, George worked at Barclays bank. He served as Sergeant (Observer) with 156 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
The Royal Air Force badge.
At 23:13pm on 28th June 1942, George was flying in a Vicker Wellington Mk III, taking off for an operation to Bremen. The aircraft was shot down and crashed at Westrum Kreis Meppen. All five crew died. George was 21.
Roll of honour in the Oakhamian Magazine, Summer term 1943, Vol.58.
