OPERATION MANNA april 29 1945 HOLLAND

**Andre1967** · 25th March 2018, 11:09

Goodmorning,

May I kindly ask you for a specific question ?? I am looking for the serials of the first two Lancaster Bombers that flew the first test run on operation manna. UK < > Holland dropping food. april 29 1945. One happened to be named "bad penny" but If someone can help me with what squadron and crew and serial I would be happy!!

many thanks for all the help

**alieneyes** · 25th March 2018, 14:08

Andre,

"Bad Penny" was NX579, No. 101 Sqn. Piloted by F/S Bob Upcott of Windsor, Ontario. Up at 1207, returned at 1444. 274 bags of food dropped. http://www.badpennybook.com/bios.html

Second aircraft was PB350, No. 101 Sqn. Piloted by P/O Peter Collett of Sydney, Australia. Up at 1215, returned at 1442, 284 bags of food dropped.

Dave

**David Wallace** · 25th March 2018, 14:13

There were four food drops on the 29th that began at 13.00. The first drop was at Lieden - Valkenburg A/F and involved 4 Oboe Mosquitos (2 from 109 Squadron and 2 from 105 Squadron) who marked the drop zone drop from 28,500’ with red target indicators for 59 heavies from 1 Group. No indication of any test runs being made, the Mosquitos were first on target and the main force was right behind them on all drop zones.. The other drops were at The Hague (Racecourse), The Hague (Ypenburg A/F) and Rotterdam (Waalhaben A/F). All the heavies were 1 Group except Ypenburg which had 32 heavies from 1 Group and 32 from 3 Group.

**Steve Smith** · 25th March 2018, 14:36

Following on from David's post. No.3 Group provided 94 Lancaster's on the 29th April operation.

Kind regards
Steve

**David Wallace** · 25th March 2018, 15:16

Steve is right - the drop at Rotterdam Waalhaben A/F was 4 Oboe Mosquitos and 67 heavies of 3 Group, no 1 Group aircraft on that drop. My original post was incorrect on that target.

**Andre1967** · 25th March 2018, 15:28

THANKS !!! you made my day . I am happy with these kind of details!! just great. And the USAF B-17's started may 1st on Chowhound am I right?

**allan125** · 25th March 2018, 18:00

Hello Andre

Just a very minor point, but it depends if you are taking this information further - it was the USAAF during WW2, the actual USAF celebrated their 70th Birthday on 18th September 2017, and you are correct, as the USAAF, they started on 1st May with Operation Chowhound.

cheers

Allan