Thursday 16 March 2017

Avro Manchester - British users

In November 1940, the Manchester entered officially in service with the reformed No.207 Squadron where at least 80 of them were in active by December 1940. Its first mission was an air raid agains the French por of Brest in February 1941but, by April all of them were grounded due to engine troubles and switched back to the obsolete Handley Page Hampden, however in August the operations were resumed even with the initial problems.
While the modifications to correct al those troubles were being conducted, an air raid against Berlin was carried out in November 1941 where of 400 bombers, only 15 of them were Manchester, and when, on 3rd March 1942 a force of 200 bomber attacked the Renault factory, close to Paris, only 25 of them were Manchester.
They took part in the raid on Cologne of 30th May 1942 when 1047 bombers were sent to bomb the city, among them 35 Manchester. In that raid the Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded to the Flying Officer Leslie Manser while piloting a Manchester during the raid.
The last raid of the Manchester was against Bremen, on 25th June 1942 and shortly after, all of them were retired from the active duty. It persisted in second line duties, mainly training and some experimental ones (with the RAF Coastal Command) until 1943 when it was completely retired.












Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Manchester
2. https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/forgotten-aircraft-avro-manchester/

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