Out of the Italian Night by Maurice G. Lihou

Author:Maurice G. Lihou
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473817012
Publisher: Pen & Sword Aviation

CHAPTER EIGHT

MUNICH

THERE was still no news of the Lane, force that was supposed to occupy the new camp. However, at briefing a few days later, the rest of the crews were advised that they were to fly over the Alps to Munich. They were to carry out Churchill’s promise to attack the soft underbelly of Europe.

The raid was to be a grand affair. Ten Halifaxes from 614 Squadron were to act as Pathfinders. The main bombing force for the attack was to consist of thirteen Liberators from 240 Wing, thirty-two Wimpys from 231 Wing, of which seventeen were from 37 Squadron (Lee’s Squadron), thirteen Wimpys from 236 Wing and twenty-two from 330 Wing. The Pathfinders were to mark the target and landfall positions, and the whole attack was to be stage-managed by a controller flying high above the target area giving instructions over the area by radio. They were to assemble at the edge of the lake twenty-eight miles from the target at 16,000 feet and run in together, losing height to the bombing height of 14,000 feet.

The edge of the lake, the landfall position nominated ‘A’, was to be marked with sky markers, and they were advised that it should take eight minutes to reach the target marked with yellow target indicators, at an airspeed of about 210 miles an hour. Extra fuel tanks were installed on the aircraft and the bomb load reduced to six 500-pound bombs. Needless to say, as the crews left briefing, they were grumbling about the raid and what the hell the powers that be were trying to do. Did they realise the conditions under which they operated in Italy? Nevertheless, there was a job to do, and the old saying, ‘Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die’, was very much in vogue.

It was with some trepidation that they set off. They were airborne at 8.50 p.m. and were expected to be over the target at half past midnight. The weather forecast was fine, with a slight ground haze and about 5/10ths cumulus cloud over the target. Icing level for the whole trip was low. This was the most heavily defended target they had ever been called upon to attack. It was also the most organised raid inasmuch as, instead of bombing independently as they had been used to doing in the past, they now had to attack under instruction from a controller.

Lee’s main concern was the weather over the Alps. They didn’t have much room for manoeuvre, flying over peaks 12 to 14,000 feet high if the weather closed in. He need not have worried, because when they got to the Alps the weather was fine, although cloudy, and the visibility was very good. They could see for miles around. How spectacular the panorama of the mountains of the Alps looked at night. The peaks of some of them even seemed to be on the same level as they were, whilst others disappeared, their peaks lost in the clouds around them.

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