617 Squadron: The Dambusters at War by Bennett Tom

Author:Bennett, Tom [Bennett, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2020-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6: Pölitz, 21/22 December 1944

The oil installation at Pölitz, north-east of Stettin, was the target for No 5 Group, Bomber Command on the night of 21/22 December 1944. It was one of the very few occasions that 617 was called upon to operate at night with the other squadrons of the Group and was undertaken by the 617 crews with a great deal of misgiving. They were to use their Tallboy bombs and all previous experience had indicated that the Pathfinder Force procedure could not mark targets accurately enough for such bombs to be used to the maximum of their devastating effect. Even the OBOE system at its most accurate had proved ineffective for the standard of target-marking required, and Pölitz was a target at extreme range with very little natural or physical features to help the target-marking crews of Nos 83 and 97 Squadrons. Target indicators of various hues were to be laid and many of 617 aircrew knew from experience that the problem of identifying the most accurate marker could be well-nigh insoluble.

This was to prove an operation of limited effectiveness, but one which for domestic reasons was to provide bitter memories and have a lasting and detrimental effect on the bodies and minds of some of the aircrew who took part. Nothing that has happened over the years has convinced them other than that they were the victims of a foolhardy gamble that should never have been made, in circumstances where those who ordered the gamble were at no personal risk.

The Pölitz operation was to leave scars within 617 Squadron that would evoke bitter resentment for many years. The conduct of the final stages of the operation demonstrated an almost criminal lack of appreciation of the tiring effect such a long-duration operation inevitably had on aircrew, both physically and mentally. It showed that the best interests of the airborne aircrew were not always paramount in the minds of senior officers on the ground. It also demonstrated churlish and obstinate adherence to rules by support services that even now seems unbelievable.

This episode relates the 617 aspect of this unfortunate night with reference to the experiences of crews of other squadrons affected by decisions which, at best, were risky and which, perhaps, should never have been taken.

***

21 December 1944 was a cold and foggy day, with intermittent drizzle, and the aircrews of 617 Squadron were not surprised when the news came through that no operations were planned for the Squadron that day. Lectures and discussions were laid on in the various aircrew sections and the aircrew were informed that they would be ‘stood down’ after lunch.

Flying Officer Mark Flatman, Flight Lieutenant John Pryor, Flying Officer Slater and Squadron Leader Brookes were readily given permission by Wing Commander Tait to form a duck-shooting party. They set off for the Wainfleet Sands area, armed with their own shotguns and a plentiful supply of ammunition drawn from the clay-pigeon shooting stocks held in the station armoury. Their object was to supplement the poultry supplies to the Messes for the looming Christmas celebrations.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.