1939 September War Declared
MILDENHALL
Posted to Mildenhall as engineer to 3 Group 149 Squadron
Given command of Wellingtons
Appointed Wing Commander
HELIGOLAND – December 3, 1939
‘We escaped into a cloud from that’, RK’s view of early Bomber Command strategy
Bomber Command trained as a long range daylight striking force, in tight formation, the principle being they could better direct massive fire power.
The objective was an armed reconnaissance over the Heligoland area:
‘The war cabinet were anxious to obtain the sinking of a German ship but our objective was simple but silly – no civilian may be killed or injured and only naval ships could be attacked at sea. We were virtually forbidden to drop our bombs on land. If a man transgressed from this ruling, punishment was severe. We’d be taken off flying and put in the Ops room”
(See Grp Capt Harris article?)
December 3 at 7.05 GMO from Mildenhall
24 Wellingtons in 4 battle flights
3 from 38 Squadron (37?)
9 from 115 Squadron (IX?)
12 from 149 Squadron (Kellett)
Led by Wing Commander Kellett
Approached Heligoland from the North, turning south saw warships at anchor. Faced considerable flack both from batteries on the island and war ships. Wellington’s released bombs. Hits claimed one cruiser and two trawlers and one flank battery damaged. 4 Messerschmitts Bf109D’s scrambled. Luftwaffe successfully fought off by turret gunners.
Escaped into a cloud before 8 following Messerschmitts could intercept.
Comment from Fly Past magazine:
“This action engineered in Bomber Command a false optimism since the ‘self defending’ bomber theory now appeared to have been proved.”
Paul Harris account, given to me by Tim Harris
“KELLETT ARRIVED JUST IN TIME. ONE OF THE RAF’S MOST BRILLIANT PILOTS, HE HELD THE W0RLD’S LONG-DISTANCE RECORD LEADING THREE WELLESLEYS FROM EGYPT TO AUSTRALIA. HE WAS ONE OF A SMALL HANDFUL OF YOUNG SENIOR OFFICERS IN THE GROJP CAPABLE OF LEADING P FORMATION. HE LED BRILLIANTLY ON THE WILHELMSHAVEN RAID. WE SURVIVED BECAUSE OF HIM, AND THE TWO SQUADRONS THAT FAILED TO FORMATE ON HIM SUFFERED INEVITABLE AND GRIEVOUS LOSSES. THEIR SURVIVORS ACCUSED KELLETT OF FLYING TOO FAST SO THAT THEY COULD NOT KEEP UP. THIS TOTALLY UNTRUE ACCUSATION WAS REPEATED IN THE RAF OFFICIAL HISTORY OFTHE WAR, AND MUST BE REFUTED. THE TRUTH IS THAT THE LEADERS OF THE TWO SQUADRONS, 9 & 37, HAD NEVER FLOWN WITH KELLETT BEFORE, AS I HAD, HAD THEIR OWN IDEAS, DIFFERENT FROM OURS, AND SO FAILED TO MAINTAIN FORMATION LTH US. BUT THEY WERE NOT TOTALLY TO BLAME; THE FAULT LAY ALSO WITH THE OLD NON-FLYING STAFF OFFICERS OF HIGHER COMMAND AT H:Q 3 GROUP AND BOMBR COMMAND.”
Paul Harris Address WellingtonPDF
WILHEMSHAVEN – 10th December 1039
Following on from the apparently successful armed reconnaissance of Heligoland.
The aim was armed reconnaissance over major German ports of Bremershaven and Wilhemshaven.
December 18 at 10.00 GMO from Mildenhall
24 Wellingtons in 4 battle flights
9 from 9th Squad
6 from 37 Squad
9 from 149 Squad (Kellett)
Led by Wing Commander Kellett
Two thirds of the way, one turned back with propeller trouble and due to radio silence his no 2 peeled off on ‘follow my leader’ basis. The British were unaware that there were 3 Freya radar sets on the islands – they thought they were the only ones with radar! However, due to communication problems and frank disbelief, there was delay in ordering the German interception and the Wellingtons arrived at 12.10 with no hostile fire. Passed over Bremershaven, turned west over shipyards to Jade Bay. Carried out triangular search, then turned for home.
Baryer cruises engaged but out of range. Formation moved to Frisian Island. Split into 2 groups, one south and one towards Heligoland.
12.30 10 Bf109d’s and 2 Bf109Es attacked the leading section. One Wellington shot down, crash landed on mud flats. He and crew taken prisoner. Instead of opening his bomb doors, Cheese Lemon lowered his flaps by mistake and descended great height but managed to weave his way home.
Briden’s plane could be seen with petrol streaming out. Ditched successfully 50 miles off Cromer but unrecovered.
FO Speirs went down in flames.
Out of 22 plans 12 shot down.
RK: “It was a complete farce. We had no self sealing tanks, and silly 1st world war chaffer guns, hopeless against the heavy flak we received. One good thing was we got rid of the C in C, Ludlow Hewitt”.
(My own pilgrimage to Heliogoland in June 2013 (on the way to Istanbul) is here
Part of the August 2019 resurection of Richard in the project led by Jack Waterfall. These supplied by Richard James (thank you Richard)
Kellett Heligoland December 1939 statsPDF
Kellett Heliogoland 9 Sqn ORB 3 Dec 39PDF
Kellet newspaper article with photo
From Jack: Pathe News rushes: RAF bomber crews (R.A.F. – Royal Air Force) look over maps and charts. They walk out to their Wellington planes which are parked on the airfield. Various shots of the crews before they get into planes.
Richard James then visited the RAF pub, The Eagle
Received from Tim Harris, from the archive of his father, Paul Harris, who flew with Richard on the Heliogoland raids.
At the end Searby says: I have immense respect for Richard Kellett. I have never spoken to him or clapped eyes on him yet everything I have heard is good – a modest and very courageous officer.
WELLINGTON Searby letter Scan_20200407 (3)
WELLINGTON Searby archive Scan_20200407 (4)
More Kellett history has appeared through Doug Aylwards research into Heligoland. A letter 
Richard wrote to Charles Garner Richardson, informing him that his son, Valentine’s body not found and presumed dead.
Kalikellett 