The Mighty Eighth at War by Martin Bowman

Author:Martin Bowman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783830015
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-08-19T04:00:00+00:00

24 Also in April 1944, Generalmajor Adolf Galland, the Luftwaffe fighter commander, revealed to his superiors that since January that year the day fighter arm had lost more than 1,000 pilots. He estimated that each enemy raid was costing Germany about 50 aircrew and at that rate the time was fast approaching when the Luftwaffe would lose air control over Germany.

25 ‘It was not until September when words and pictures finally convinced my crew that I had not dreamed my wild story. A confidential report published by the 2nd Bombardment Division entitled: Target Victory came to group operations. As squadron navigator of the 68th Squadron I was in a position to obtain a copy, which described in great detail the destruction that I had witnessed. Not a train moved through the Châlons marshalling yard for two months. By this time, the invasion was three weeks old and this important rail community was denied the German defenders. At long last I was vindicated.’

McClane was appointed Squadron Navigator on 30 August 1944. He adds: ‘The position of Squadron Navigator called for the rank of Captain and I was recommended for promotion to this grade on 4 October, but I was not given my Captaincy. The ‘Table of Organization’ called for only one Captain Squadron Navigator. The dates reported could not overlap even one day, which it did in my case. I never let it bother me. I was so young and looked like a kid; I never expected it to happen anyway. It would have been almost embarrassing to have been a Captain in my training after I returned home to the ZOI and besides, I was happy just to be alive.’

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