| “Royal Air Force de Havilland Mosquitoes version B Mark IV of Number 105 Squadron in flight. Serial number DZ353, closest to the camera, departed the Royal Air Force (RAF) Base at Woodall Spa in Lincolnshire at 2347 Hours on June 8, 1944. At the time it was detailed to Number 627 Squadron. Flight Lieutenant Harry Steere (February 7, 1914 – June 9, 1944) was the pilot and Flying Officer Kenneth W. Gale (April 12, 1920 – June 9, 1944) was the navigator. DZ353 was attacking the railroad marshaling yards at Rennes, France when it was hit by flak. The aircraft crashed near Orgères after striking trees. Steere’s citation in the London Gazette on June 23, 1944, read: “Recently, this officer piloted an aircraft detailed to attack gun emplacements sited on the French coast. In spite of continuous heavy anti-aircraft fire, Flight Lieutenant Steere spent much time over the target area in order to identify accurately the precise target. Finally, his aircraft was struck by a shell which severely damaged the starboard elevator, forcing the aircraft into an uncontrollable climb. Displaying great coolness, Flight Lieutenant Steere promptly transmitted clear instructions to his deputy to assume control of the operation. He afterwards succeeded in regaining a measure of control and flew the damaged aircraft back to this country. He displayed a high degree of skill, courage and devotion to duty. This officer has completed a large number of varied sorties.” At the time of Steere’s death, he was credited with having shot down 11 German aircraft, many during the Battle of Britain, 5 of which shared with other pilots, and 2 probably destroyed. In addition, 1 shared German aircraft was unconfirmed as destroyed. Harry is commemorated on the Battle of Britain Monument in London and on the WW2 Memorial at Oldershaw Grammar School in Wallasey. Gale served as part of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was killed on his 88th mission. RAF Mosquito DZ367, furthest from the camera, made its 1st operation with Number 105 Squadron around the time this photo was made, December 16, 1942. On January 30, 1943, Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda (“Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda”) and Gauleiter of Berlin Joseph Goebbels (October 29, 1897 – May 1, 1945) planned radio speeches to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ascension of Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reich Chancellor”) Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) to power. 3 Mosquitoes of Number 105 Squadron were ordered to bomb the Haus des Rundfunks, headquarters of the German State broadcasting company, in Berlin, to disrupt the Nazi festivities and did so at 1100 Hours. Mosquito DZ367 left RAF Marham at 1325 Hours, Squadron Leader Donald F. W. Darling (April 5, 1918 – January 30, 1943) at the controls, and Flying Officer William Wright (March 8, 1909 – January 30, 1943) as navigator. DZ367 was in the 2nd wave due to strike the Haus des Rundfunks in the afternoon, the last of 3 bombers inbound at 1400 Hours; German anti-aircraft was ready. Darling and Wright in DZ367 were shot down over Altengrabow, and both were killed in the crash. The other 2 105 Squadron Mosquitoes attack delayed the broadcast for an hour, and deeply embarrassed Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946) who was furious, and had denied that Allied bombers would penetrate German defenses. His speech clearly showed the strain of the attack. It was an hour before Goering could finally take to the lectern, reportedly “boiling with rage and humiliation.” The mission gave the lie to Goering’s claim that enemy aircraft would never fly over the Reich. He had boasted that if Allied aircraft attacked Germany, he would be called “Meyer” – which had antisemitic connotations. Initially, in 1940, with German victories, it was seen as a joke, but increasingly the Nazi government and the German people took little comfort in it as Allied aircraft bombed day and night. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1831.jpg |
| Image Size | 210.69 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1672 x 1240 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Royal Air Force Official Photographer |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 1, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Norfolk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | Royal Air Force Museum Charles Brown Collection |
| Record Number | 2724340A-C5FA-4875-BB2D5E2C2B84E415-5948-1 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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