This squadron attack utilized all radio and radar aids available to RAF Bomber Command.

Allied Air Offensive (April 1944 onwards)

The problem for the Wehrmacht was that there was no roof on Festung Europa. The Allies had set about destroying the Luftwaffe and as a result the Luftwaffe by 1944 was no longer capable of defending German cities, let alone French rail lines. As Supreme Commander, Eisenhower demanded control over all Allied air forces and had directed the 8th Air Force and Bomber Command to redirect their operations to France. This was a difficult decision because with P-51 long-range fighter escorts the Allies were inflicting damage on both the Luftwaffe and German war industries. Under Eisenhower, targeting shifted to destroy the Luftwaffe and Luftwaffe facilities in France, and to disrupt rail communications, especially rail lines supporting German forces, such as ran through Vierzon in Central France. The Wehrmacht depended heavily on French railroads to move men and equipment but bombing rail lines was not very effective as the Germans became expert in rapidly replacing raillines - easy to do with slave labor. Destroying locomotives, and rail junctions with maintenance facilities and bridges was much more disruptive.

H2S and Fishpond

H2S was airborne radar equipment designed for use as an aid to navigation and blind bombing. It was developed by Dr Bernard Lovell at the Telecommunications Research Establishment . It was designed to produce a map on a a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) PPI (Plan Position Indicator) of the area over which the aircraft flew.The PPI display showed a circular map of the terrain with the radar beam illuminating prominent relief features and towns at their true ground positions and bearings. The top of the PPI display always represents true north and the position of the aircraft is represented by the centre of the PPI scan, which is normally at the centre of the map. This revolutionary system was introduced into service in December, 1942. Bomber Command's continued losses to German nightfighters led to a variety of warning devices being developed.

The RAF's tail warning radar Monica had entered service in early 1943. Tail mounted and pointing rearwards, it provided audible bleeps as a warning of an aircraft approaching from the rear. However, a German night fighter could 'hide' among the bleeps generated by other bombers in the stream.

By March 1943 the Germans had examples of Monica from shot-down aircraft and it became dangerous to use once they equipped their nightfighters to track Monica emissions. Although partly superseded by FISHPOND, Monica remained in use until mid 1944. According to Bill Gunston, by that time Monica had been responsible for more bomber losses than any other single device in the War. [Night Fighters - A Development and Combat History; Bill Gunston, p11]

Fishpond had been introduced in 1943. It utilised that part of H2S's signal not used for mapping, which radiated between the ground and the aircraft, and gave warning of other aircraft in the vicinity. Fishpond's PPI screen was fitted in the radio operator's position. Unfortunately, it was given to false warnings which led to its withdrawal in late 1944.

Allied Losses Database ND842

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 12 August 2024, 16:42