February 1942 saw the appointment of Air Chief Marshall Arthur Harris as C.-in-C., Bomber Command, which in many ways was a significant event. The situation facing Britain was bleak indeed; the North African theatre had developed into a seesawing conflict where any success was cancelled by a reverse, due to the Afrika Korps and its energetic commander, Erwin Rommel. In the Far East, Britain suffered its greatest military defeat, following the fall of Singapore and Hong Kong.
Closer to home the Battle of the Atlantic had developed into a virtual struggle for Britain’s survival, and in a beleaguered island the RAF offered the one opportunity to sustain any kind of offensive. For two costly years Bomber Command had maintained a night bombing offensive on a variety of targets. The dedication of its crews was never in question but deficiencies in navigation and small bomb loads led to disappointing results. Added to that was an unacceptable loss rate; all of which highlighted a great sacrifice for no appreciable result.
The Thousand Plan
Harris’s appointment coincided with a new bombing directive, which authorised the undermining of Germany’s civil population, especially industrial workers. With Prime Minister Churchill’s approval, Harris proposed a single raid of great magnitude against a selected target. It would not be a piece-meal effort of one or two squadrons; instead every available aircraft from Bomber and Training Command was mustered, which yielded a total of 800 aircraft.
Bomber Command’s ‘Thousand Plan’ had fallen short, but by a drastic combing-out of pupils as well as instructors from Training Command the total was realised. The final choice of targets for the night of May 30 was reduced to just two, Hamburg or Cologne; with the weather forecast for Cologne promising slightly better conditions than Hamburg. The die was cast; Cologne would be forced to endure the ‘Thousand Plan’.
Fatal Flak Damage
Two Manchester squadrons were among the armada that was despatched on the momentous raid, one of which was No.50 based at Skellingthorpe in Lincolnshire. Flying Officer Leslie Thomas Manser from No. 50, was captain and first pilot of Manchester L7301. On his approach to the objective his aircraft was coned by searchlights and subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire. Despite this he maintained course and bombed successfully from 7,000 feet. Relentless flak continued to harass the damaged Manchester; and in an effort to escape he took violent evasive action, which reduced his altitude to 1,000 feet. Further damage was inflicted, in particular to the port engine that was seriously over-heating. A return to base became problematical but Manser was equally determined to bring his crew home safely.
Manser’s Sacrifice
In the midst of their problems the troublesome port engine burst into flames and took some time to extinguish. Finally it expired completely, reducing the airspeed to a dangerous level. Crewmembers made preparations to abandon the aircraft, by then barely controllable; and with the likelihood of a crash inevitable. At that point the aircraft was over Belgium and Manser ordered the crew to bale out; but refused the offer of a parachute for himself. Instead he remained at the controls and sacrificed himself in order to save his crew. Manser’s valour and determination were recognised with the award of a posthumous V.C. This was gazetted on 23 October 1942.
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