Bistol Blenheim Mk IV
Bristol Blenheim Mk IV V6028 GB-D
105 Squadron, Wg Cdr Hughie Edwards VC, DFC, Swanton Morley, July 1941.
On the 4th of July 1941 Wg Cdr Hughie Edwards DFC set
out on his 36th operational sortie, a low level bombing raid on the industrial
complex at Bremen designated Operation 'Wreckage' it was a repeat of a
previously unsuccessful attempt against the same target on the 30th of
June. Leading a total force of 15 Blenheims, nine from 105 Squadron and
six from 107 Squadron at Great Massingham Wg Cdr Edwards, in Blenheim
Mk IV, V6028, 'D' held the bombers in a tight formation up to the target
area; then, as the crews had been briefed the Blenheims were to separate
into loose line-abreast and select individual targets. Once each Blenheim
had completed its task it was to be every man for himself on the run-out
and return to base. Crossing the North Sea at a mere 50ft above the water
the Blenheims crossed into Germany just south of Cuxhaven, then swung
southwards to Bremen. The Blenheims made their final approach jinking
their way through the outer defence ring of tethered barrage balloons
and dodging overhead telegraph cables. Edwards broke R/T silence to order
the rest into the planned 'spread' formation, the object being to get
his men across the target as quickly as possible before the flak defences
were able to predict accurately the bombers' position. Nevertheless, the
flak gunners were already throwing up a curtain of terrifying opposition
at the raiders' height. Holding his buffeting Blenheim steady, Edwards
ran across the dock area and released his bomb load, then, keeping as
low as possible, ran across the heart of Bremen until he reached the outer
suburbs. For those 10 minutes or so he was under constant attack by flak,
his aircraft being hit repeatedly along the belly of the fuselage, with
one shell bursting in the rear cockpit and wounding his gunner, Sgt G.
Quinn DFM.
Banking left, Edwards circled Bremen to observe results and to watch the
other Blenheims as these roared over the city on a mile-wide frontage.
Three
of the original 15 had aborted the sortie shortly after take-off, but
the remaining 12 led by Edwards pressed home their attack. Two of 105
Squadron's aircraft became flak victims, both crashing in flames, while
107 Squadron also lost two crews to the pulverising ground fire, including
its commander Wg Cdr L. V. E. Petley.
All the Blenheims suffered flak damage as they twisted their way over
and away from the target, one of them 'retreating' with severed telegraph
cables trailing from its wings and tail unit. Edwards having completed
his 'recce', headed towards Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven. Skirting Heligoland,
he then flew out to sea at zero altitude for some 100 miles north of the
Frisians before finally turning west for home. Landing back at base just
before noon, he was the last survivor to return. His gunner, Quinn, was
extracted from his gun turret by Coles crane and whisked away for medical
attention, while the ground crew studied the damage to Edwards' Blenheim,
much of the port wingtip missing, no port aileron, a cannon shell in the
radio rack, telephone wires round the tail wheel and the under-fuselage
looking like a colander with its shell holes.
Immediate awards to the survivors of 'Wreckage' included four DFMs, a
DFC, and a Bar to Sgt Quinn's DFM; while on the 22nd of July came the
award of a Victoria Cross to Hughie Edwards for the highest possible standard
of gallantry and determination'.
Edwards' subsequent wartime career was equally distinguished gaining him
a DSO in January 1943 and promotion to Group Captain a month later. Remaining
in the RAF after the war Hughie Edwards rose to Air Commodore before finally
retiring in September 1963 and returning to his native Australia. Further
honours followed and included elevation to knighthood in 1974 and appointment
as Governor of West Australia. Air Cdre Sir Hughie Edwards VC, KCMG, CB,
DSO OBE, DFC died at his Darling Point home in New South Wales on 5 August
1982, Australia's most decorated airman.
Scale 1:72 Wingspan 9.4" (238 mm) Base
size 12.28" x 8.8" (312mm x 225mm) (No. 14)
Weight not including base 1 lb 6 ozs (625 grams)
Limited Edition of 100 only
Price £195.00 plus £7 UK p&p (£30 USA p&p)
