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On the 10th May 1940 the German Army launched massive ground attacks against The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France supported by the formidable power of the German Air Force with its extensive numerical superiority over the Allies. By the evening of the 13th May the situation had become extremely grave as the Germans began to cross the River Meuse in considerable strength. This threatened the front and also the whole area around Reims where the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force was based. The RAF squadrons in France had already incurred very heavy losses in intensive operations during the first three days of the invasion. Shortly before midnight on the 13th May the AASF was ordered by its commanding officer, Air Marshall Barratt, to prepare to attack three pontoon bridges in the Sedan sector and two in the Dinant area on the following day. Both attacks were given the highest priority. During the night information was received to the effect that the French had destroyed the bridges at Dinant and had attacked German road convoys and troop movements in the same area. The AASF Squadron were therefore instructed to concentrate on the pontoon bridges at Sedan from dawn on the 14th May. 103 Squadron was on stand by at 03:30 and eight Fairey Battles led by F/O Havers took off at 05:05. A fighter escort by Hurricanes from 73 Squadron was provided. As they arrived in the target area they found there were four pontoon bridges over the River Meuse and one over the River Cheres, all within a radius of six miles from Sedan. The eight Battles attacked and one bridge was seen to be hit. No fighter opposition was encountered but there was considerable light flak and small arms fire. All eight Battles returned although Sgt C D Parry was badly wounded by ground fire. He managed, with great difficulty, to fly back to the vicinity of the Squadron airfield at Betheniville and crash-landed. He was later awarded DFM. Four Battles from 150 Squadron took off later that morning with fighter escort and made further attacks. Despite considerable opposition from light flak they managed to score several hits and escaped back to their airfield at Ecury. Shortly after a single Bristol Blenheim from 114 Squadron carried out an armed reconnaissance around Sedan-Givonne-Boullion to report on enemy troop movements. Large numbers of German troops and motor transport were noted in the area. A shallow dive bombing attack was made on a German column near Bosseval and the aircraft sustained some damage. The French Air Force launched three attacks with fighter escort in the area of Sedan later that morning and into the afternoon. As the afternoon progressed the pressure was still on in the Sedan area and it became imperative that a major effort was required by the AASF to try and stem the German advance. Orders were given that every available bomber was to be made ready and a plan was devised with the French Air Force for concerted attacks to take place in the Sedan area throughout the rest of the day. The air battles of the previous four days had already taken a heavy toll and the 10 bomber squadrons of the AASF had only 71 aircraft operational between them for the operations that afternoon. | |
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