Ludlow-Hewitt and Operation Nickel

At the outbreak of war RAF Bomber Command fielded 23 operational squadrons — roughly 500 bombers (Vickers Wellingtons, Handley Page Hampdens, Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys). Its theoretical mission was the strategic bombing of the Ruhr basin to strangle German industry. But in September 1939 Chamberlain had forbidden any bombing of industrial or urban targets for fear of German reprisals against British cities — a moral protection of civilians by doctrine.

Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt, 53, had commanded Bomber Command since 1937. He thought the restrictive doctrine militarily questionable. His bombers were given substitute missions: leaflet drops over Germany (Operation Nickel), photographic reconnaissance, bombing of limited military targets (naval bases, isolated armament works).

Between 3 September 1939 and 29 February 1940 Bomber Command flew 78 Nickel missions over Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Bremen — roughly 12 million leaflets dropped. The leaflets carried flattering photographs of Hitler set against unflattering ones of Goering, statistics on Allied agricultural output, and German-language texts arguing the futility of the war.

Aircrew thought the missions absurd. From November 1939 several crews refused them or turned back. Ludlow-Hewitt had to decide what to do with these leaflet missions.