As promised,this was the "brief"we was given.
No333 then went out on there Recce Flt and come back with the following goods.
The Recce Flt has strict orders not to engage the enemy.
Now dont think this is a short straw(ang on,who keeps mentioning height !!!!) because we fly the mssion that we give a breif on and we know what to expect(yeah ok the mission builder make it that simple .
Heres the breif..........
Over the past 3 months, enemy air opposition had been fairly sporadic against the Wing. The Germans would no longer be content to send out single or small mixed groups of fighters to attack the Beaufighters and Mosquitos.
On the 7th December, Staffels from JG5 moved into southern Norway and from this point the Strike Wing would be met with up to 40 enemy fighters, including Fw190's and Me109's, nearly every time the wing flew a strike operation.
The Luftwaffe had 50 109's and 30 190's in operation from several bases including Gossen, the Mustang escorts were going to be kept very busy for the next for months...........
* * * ALL PILOTS WILL FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONAL INFORMATION * * *
Mission 1 of 1
Banff Strike Wing 07 - Wing Op
7th December 1944 ZERO:- 08:10 hours
OPERATIONAL INFORMATION:-
RAF Banff No 333 and No 235 Squadrons
RAF Dallachy No 404 Squadron
RAF Peterhead No 315 Squadron
No 333 Squadron - Reconnaissance Briefing
Gentlemen,
Today it is our intention to strike back at the Luftwaffe with a large scale attack on the airbase at Gossen.
Volunteers are required from 333 Sqd to fly a Photo/Recon mission to obtain photos of the airbase which will then be used as intelligence for the main attack.
Your navigators have been provided with cameras for this mission.
PATROL AREA(S):-
Gossen - Grid G14
METHOD:-
Take off from Banff. Fly at low level or as weather dictates. Navigate to patrol area(s).
Note the positions of aircraft on the gorund, fuel / ammo dumps and hangers. Also take note of flak installations and density.
DO NOT ATTACK ANY ENEMY SHIPPING.
DO NOT ENGAGE ANY ENEMY AIRCRAFT UNLESS IN SELF DEFENCE.
Maximum of 6 x No 333 Squadron (Banff) Call Sign:- W E A V E R
AIRCRAFT:- De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI
SKIN: Mosquito_TP_333Sqn (A-N)
FUEL & WEAPON LOAD: 100% Fuel and default weapons (NO ROCKETS / BOMBS)
NOTES:-
In order to have your "photos" developed, you must have sucessfully landed your a/c at either Banff, Dalachy or Peterhead.
If you ditch in the sea, get captured or are KIA, your information is deemed to have been lost.
Any 333 Sqd pilot who flys the Recon mission AND LANDS AT A FRIENDLY BASE extra cumulative points.
All other Squadrons - Briefing (Rover patrol)
Follow the flight briefing / directions as given by the Recon Flight Leader of No 333 Squadron.
No 235 Squadron (Banff) Call Sign:- M E R I T
AIRCRAFT:- De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI
SKIN: MosquitoVI_TP_235Sqn (A-N)
FUEL & WEAPON LOAD: 100% fuel, 8 x 60lb rockets and 2 x 500lb bombs
No 404 Squadron (Dallachy) Call Sign:- S I L V O
AIRCRAFT:- Bristol Beaufighter Mk X
SKIN: Beaufighter_TP_404Sqn (A-N)
FUEL & WEAPON LOAD: 100% fuel and 8 x 60lb rockets
No 333 Squadron (Banff) Call Sign:- W E A V E R
AIRCRAFT:- De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI
SKIN: Mosquito_TP_333Sqn (A-N)
FUEL & WEAPON LOAD: 100% fuel, 8 x 60lb rockets and 2 x 500lb bombs
No 315 Squadron (Peterhead) Call Sign:- P O R T A L
6 x AIRCRAFT:- Mustang Mk III
SKIN: Default
FUEL & WEAPON LOAD: 100% Fuel and 2 x 75gal Droptanks
METHOD:-
Take off from respective airfields. Follow directions / waypoints of 333 flight leaders. Fly low-level or as weather dictates.
Proceed to target area and attack the airbase.
315 Squadron to provide top cover escort to and from the target area AND whilst the attack is in progress.
Return to base and land or ditch if required in "safe area" as detailed below.
METEOROLOGICAL REPORT:-
General Weather: Poor
Cloud Height: 1900 m
Wind Velocity: 3 m/s
Wind Direction: 280 Deg
Gust: Moderate
Turbulance: Moderate
SIGNALS:-
No. 333 Squadron call sign - W E A V E R
No. 235 Squadron call sign - M E R I T
No. 404 Squadron call sign - S I L V O
No. 315 Squadron call sign - P O R T A L
Ground Control call sign – P I O N E E R
MISSION POINT AWARD:-
The mission point will be awarded if the RED WON message in displayed AND at least 3 Mosquitos and 3 Beaufighters make it back to a friendly base.
A "Vickers Warwick" with a detachable lifeboat will be patrolling in grid D11 for the second mission ONLY. Any pilot who ditches safely in this
area will be deemed to have been "rescued" and returned to base. His aircraft will still be lost however.
INTEL:-
Luftwaffe fighter defense has increased with large numbers of fighters operating from Gossen and Herdla. Flak defense of enemy airbases is expected to be heavy and concentrated.
NOTES:-
This mission will be a combined Wing Op. Escort will be on seperate comms chanel.
Good Luck
Bunster
EXTRA NOTES:-
More details will posted later this week, however I thought you ought to have some warning about this mission so you could adjust your Tuesday training to suit.
The "photos" will have to be taken using Fraps or some such other method of taking screen shots. The screen shots must be from within the cockpit of the aircraft, no outside views.
You will need to post these photos into a place where the rest of the Strike Wing can see and study them. A post in the Ops Room would seem the best idea.
You may if you wish fly the mission earlier on Sunday than normal or indeed any other night so you have time to get the photos posted. Try to avoid TP nights.
Any questions ?
_________________
F/Lt Bunny DSO* DFC*
145 Squadron B Flight Leader, Blue Section
Executive Officer 145 Squadron.
And heres the results we come back with that the Squadrons of Banff had to decipher and decide what was there options.......
BANFF 07 RECONNAISSANCE REPORT
Reconnaissance reports that over Gossen the weather was clear with scattered cloud. Some ground haze was present making individual targets hard to see. Photographs were taken as follows:
1. From south of Gossen providing an overview of the island.
2. From the NW so that all of the airfield and harbour can be seen. The aircraft appear to be a mix of bombers and fighters, with the fighters concentrated to to the east of the runway. Out of shot to the right was a transport ship that appeared to be stationary.
3. The cluster of building and vehicles to the eastern end of the runway.
4. The harbour that is north of the eastern end of the airfield.
5. One further picture from the NW.
Some 88 flak bursts were seen. Predominantly the flak appears to be of small calibre (37mm and 20mm) but quite dense. Lingering in the target area is definitely NOT recommended. To the SW of the island was a flak battery of what appeared to be 88s. All flak is protected by sandbags and/or revetments.
The recommended method of attack is for an anti-flak force to proceed the main strike force by 30 seconds. Using rockets at least some of the flak should be taken care of in one pass. Thereafter the main strike force should attack from the SE with targets assigned beforehand.
Note: During recon an Arado float plane was shot down, and one Mosquito, piloted by F/O. Merlin, came under attack by two FW190s that were then destroyed by F/Lt Mosie and F/O Madmick.
Photographs:
Ill post the results afyer ive had my Dinner
S!
Cheese
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