2 Group Bomber Command and the Rotterdam Raid

With Erik Parker
Never Mind the Dambusters – Series 4

In this episode, Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies turn their attention to a little-known Bomber Command raid on Rotterdam, carried out during the early years of the Second World War by the light bomber squadrons of 2 Group.

While Rotterdam is most often associated with the devastating Luftwaffe attack of May 1940, this episode explores a lesser-known British operation — one that sheds light on early-war RAF thinking, morale, and the determination to maintain an offensive presence in Western Europe.

Our guest is Erik Parker, a historian whose interest in aviation was shaped by growing up in the North East of England, surrounded by flying and flyers. During lockdown, Erik’s research led him to uncover the story of this raid through the experiences of his neighbour Jack Onions, an RAF airman whose extraordinary pre-war and early-war career offers a vivid window into the formative years of Bomber Command.

In this episode, we discuss:

Erik Parker’s aviation background and what drew him to this story
The early-war role of 2 Group within Bomber Command
Why light bombers remained central to RAF operations before 1943
Jack’s remarkable RAF career, from pre-war service to early combat
The planning and execution of the Rotterdam raid
Routes, tactics, and flying at extreme low level
The experiences of individual crews during the operation
Losses suffered and how the raid was received at the time
What the raid achieved — and what it reveals about early Bomber Command strategy
Jack’s later career and life after the raid

Why This Episode Matters

This episode challenges the idea that Bomber Command’s story begins with the heavy bomber offensive. Instead, it highlights a formative period when light bomber crews operated under intense pressure, often with limited resources, helping to shape the RAF’s evolving approach to the air war.

Further Reading

Listeners interested in learning more about this raid and the men involved can find associated material via:

The RAF Watten website

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You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .

You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here