Page 70 - William B. Lake

First Operation

nd
May 2 1945 Take off: 13.13pm. Return: 16.07pm.

Rotterdam – Operation Manna Lancaster RA 563 Q-Queen2
450 Lancasters from No 1 and 3 Groups dropped 1250 tons food from an altitude of
200 meters for the Hague, Leiden and Rotterdam on the airfields Waalhaven,
Ypenburg and Valkenburg. The first operation of the RAF in which 600 tons food
was dropped over occupied Holland in which the airmen participated with great
enthusiasm had thoroughly been prepared for weeks. Flying at low altitude had been
rehearsed as well as dropping precisely on the appointed fields. The items dropped
were: meat, vegetables, milk sugar, butter, tea, cheese, yeast and chocolate. A large
portion of this food was canned. Some aircraft carried over 600 pounds.