article_snippet: family friend Simon Gooch and the family of Bomber Command hero John Collier discovered that the airman's first mission took place mere hours after war against Germany was declared on September 3, 1939.
article_snippet: the airman's first mission was one of the first bombing missions of war against Germany and involved searching for German warships in the North Sea.
article_snippet: Mr Gooch went on to become one of the most decorated pilots of the early years of the conflict in the desperate days when Britain seemed certain to be invaded and then defeated.
article_snippet: Mr Gooch second war career came in planning bombing missions as Britain and Britain Allies gradually gained the upper hand.
article_snippet: Later Mr Gooch would plan the pinpoint missions to stop the Germans' revolutionary rocket weapons that John feared might swing the conflict back in the Nazis' favour.
article_snippet: The brave airman's first mission took place mere hours after war against Germany was declared .
article_snippet: RAF Bomber Command's role during World War Two was to bomb the enemy's airbases, shipping, troops, communications and other industries connected to the German war effort.
article_snippet: The job fell to RAF air crews - some of who were just 18 - who flew increasingly heavier types of long-range bombers.
article_snippet: Bomber Command flew almost every day and mostly at night during the war to avoid being shot down - but this meant it was difficult to locate small targets.
article_snippet: Larger four-engine bombers and improved navigation equipment then followed to create a formidable fighting force.