Andrew McPherson
Encyclopedia
Flying Officer
Andrew McPherson DFC (1918–1940) was a pilot with RAF Bomber Command
in World War II
.
He is notable for being the pilot of Bristol Blenheim
bomber N6125 of No. 139 Squadron RAF
, which was the first British aircraft to cross the German coast after Britain had declared war on Germany
. His mission on 3 September 1939 was to look for potential targets in North Germany
and the German fleet on the Schillig Roads near the port of Wilhelmshaven
from an altitude of 24,000 feet. He took off from RAF Wyton
in cold, cloudy weather and experienced severe icing on the aircraft. Amongst the ships he and his crew observed were the battleship Admiral Scheer and the cruiser Emden
.
Their sightings were reported upon their return to base as the aircraft wireless transmissions failed. An air raid was then ordered on the ships by 15 Blenheims from No. 107 Squadron
, No. 110 Squadron
, and No. 139 Squadron RAF. The weather conditions were very bad when they set off on their bombing mission the next morning, many bombs did not detonate and 4 aircraft from 107 Squadron were shot down, with two survivors becoming the first Bomber Command airman to be taken prisoner in World War II. An aircraft from No. 110 Squadron was also shot down and crashed into the bow of the cruiser Emden (curiously the pilot killed in the crash was also named Emden).
For his role in the action Flying Officer McPherson was presented with one of the first two DFCs
of the war by King George VI
himself. On 12 May 1940 he was killed when his Blenheim was shot down by German Messerschmitt Bf 109
fighters whilst on a mission to bomb armoured columns in Belgium.
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
Andrew McPherson DFC (1918–1940) was a pilot with RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He is notable for being the pilot of Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
bomber N6125 of No. 139 Squadron RAF
No. 139 Squadron RAF
No. 139 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was fighter unit in World War I and a bomber unit from World War II until the 1960s.-Formation and World War I:...
, which was the first British aircraft to cross the German coast after Britain had declared war on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. His mission on 3 September 1939 was to look for potential targets in North Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the German fleet on the Schillig Roads near the port of Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
from an altitude of 24,000 feet. He took off from RAF Wyton
RAF Wyton
RAF Wyton is a Royal Air Force station near St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, England.In terms of organisation RAF Wyton is now part of the combined station RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow, a merger of Wyton with two previously separate bases, RAF Brampton and RAF Henlow. Wyton is the largest of the three. It...
in cold, cloudy weather and experienced severe icing on the aircraft. Amongst the ships he and his crew observed were the battleship Admiral Scheer and the cruiser Emden
German cruiser Emden
The German light cruiser Emden was the only ship of its class. The third cruiser to bear the name Emden was the first new warship built in Germany after World War I....
.
Their sightings were reported upon their return to base as the aircraft wireless transmissions failed. An air raid was then ordered on the ships by 15 Blenheims from No. 107 Squadron
No. 107 Squadron RAF
No. 107 Squadron RAF was a bomber unit in the RAF in both World War I and World War II and during the Cold war was operational on Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles.-Formation and World War I:...
, No. 110 Squadron
No. 110 Squadron RAF
-Formation and World War I:No. 110 Squadron RFC was formed on 1 November 1917, at Rendcomb, Gloucestershire and was equipped with B.E.2c aircraft. The squadron moved to Kenley the following year and re-equipped with the DH.9A - the first squadron to employ this aircraft. Its original complement of...
, and No. 139 Squadron RAF. The weather conditions were very bad when they set off on their bombing mission the next morning, many bombs did not detonate and 4 aircraft from 107 Squadron were shot down, with two survivors becoming the first Bomber Command airman to be taken prisoner in World War II. An aircraft from No. 110 Squadron was also shot down and crashed into the bow of the cruiser Emden (curiously the pilot killed in the crash was also named Emden).
For his role in the action Flying Officer McPherson was presented with one of the first two DFCs
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
of the war by King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
himself. On 12 May 1940 he was killed when his Blenheim was shot down by German Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
fighters whilst on a mission to bomb armoured columns in Belgium.