The attack was successful, two bridges were destroyed and several huts were burned in the area. Only one aircraft failed to return, Flight Lieutenant Cullen’s Spitfire LF.VIII of 452 Squadron was missing. He was last seen recovering from a dive-bombing run having successfully released his payload.
The Photo Recon pilot had no wingman, no flight, no formation. He flew alone in radio silence for hours at a time, navigating on dead reckoning all over mainland Europe; in his unarmed Spitfire he had only its altitude and speed, along with his wits and airmanship as protection.
“August 24, 1942 was a particularly hot day, as I recall. It was to be a hot day in more ways than one…”
Air Commodore Peter Mallan Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC Born in 1917, Pete Brothers learnt…
Making-History 