Which Squadrons…?

I’m not sure what is meant by the original text – here is a transcript if it helps

It was under a heading ‘Famous Firsts’

“Among New Zealanders who took part in the first flight made by fighters over Germany was Pilot Officer O.R. Chapman, of Timaru. They strafed an enemy camp, a factory, a gasometer and barges. The aircraft were Mustangs.”

And the other I mentioned was:

“First air raid over germany was led by a Wanganui airman, Wing Commander H.I. Dabinett, who in peacetime had led RAF units in flight past the Arc de Triumphe in Paris in 1939.”

I don’t know if the latter means a bombing raid or the earlier leflets raids. i think the first bombers over Germany were Whitleys in the first week of the war, dropping paper, weren’t they?

Which Squadron flew the first ever flight made by Allied fighters over Germany? It including Pilot Officer O.R. Chapman of Timaru, New Zealand. They flew Mustangs and strafed an enemy camp, a factory, a gasometer and some barges.

Any ideas?

Doesn’t seem to fit. The Polish Wing from Northolt flew over Germany in the area of Aachen in the summer of 1943 (I don’t have the date at hand) on a B-17 escort mission. It was recorded in the RAF Northolt Combat Diary as the first Allied fighters over Germany since the start of this war.
Assuming the Northolt entry is correct, I presume you mean the first Allied fighter mission scheduled to attack targets in Germany. Unless P/O Chapman was with no. 124 Sqn at the time, as this was also part of the Northolt Wing at the time, but flew Spitfires, not Mustangs.

Yes, I totally agree with you both having thought about it. I wonder if the reference I take this from means the first sortie to fly from England, not France?

Doubt it. Intruder Beau’s and Mossies spent much time over there hunting nightfighters and bombers.

Moggy

Yes, I totally agree with you both having thought about it. I wonder if the reference I take this from means the first sortie to fly from England, not France?

Or perhaps it has the aircraft type mixed up. Or it is all bull. It was written in a 1945 issue of RNZAF Contact magazine which I just received today among many other stats and feats performed involving RNZAF pilots, etc.

Did RAF Mustangs fly over Germany before USAAF ones?

I’d agree with Moggy. I would recommend reading “Fighter Pilot” by Paul Richey as he served in France in 1939/40 with No. 1 Squadron RAF. He mentions regular trips over Germany at that time, to intercept recce flights etc. “Fighter Pilot” has recently been republished and I would highly recommend to read it as it’s a great insight to the Battle of France.

Excerpt from the RAF’s timeline at http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/line1939.html

3 Sep 1939 – At 11 am Britain declares war on Germany to be followed at 5pm by France. Australia and New Zealand also declare war on Germany. A Bristol Blenheim of No. 139 Sqn, Wyton, carries out the RAF’s first operational sortie of the war – photographic reconnaissance of the German naval base of Wilhelmshaven.

Cheers

Justyn

Which Squadron flew the first ever flight made by Allied fighters over Germany? It including Pilot Officer O.R. Chapman of Timaru, New Zealand. They flew Mustangs and strafed an enemy camp, a factory, a gasometer and some barges.

Any ideas?

That has to be way off beam. It must have been a Hurricane Squadron in 1939-40

Moggy