On the day that war was declared on Germany, a Blenheim Mk IV, "N6215", piloted by Flying Officer Andrew McPherson was the first British aircraft to cross the German coast to perform a high altitude reconnaissance mission upon the German Navy in the vicinity of Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony. The following morning, 15 Blenheims from three squadrons set off on one of the first bombing missions to attack the ships spotted on the previous day. RAF Coastal Command were soon using the Blenheim with the stated mission of protecting British shipping convoys off the east coast.