Give me some "holy sh... did that just happen" ideas

[PeterPanPan]

Originally Posted by Snuff_Pidgeon

... It is always best to keep a cool head and not attack the defenceless ...

I agree, but the point here is that not all the Luftwaffe Operated Red Cross aircraft were defenceless. Some of them abused their position and were armed or simply were not on humanitarian missions - they were providing support to combat missions or on recce flights, all under the guise of the Red Cross.

So the question was, as an allied pilot, what do you do?

Here's the RAF communiqé in full, issued in July 1940:

Enemy aircraft bearing civil markings and marked with the Red Cross have recently flown over British ships at sea and in the vicinity of the British coast, and they are being employed for purposes which His Majesty's Government cannot regard as being consistent with the privileges generally accorded to the Red Cross.

His Majesty's Government desire to accord to ambulance aircraft reasonable facilities for the transportation of the sick and wounded, in accordance with the Red Cross Convention, and aircraft engaged in the direct evacuation of the sick and wounded will be respected, provided that they comply with the relevant provisions of the Convention.

His Majesty's Government are unable, however, to grant immunity to such aircraft flying over areas in which operations are in progress on land or at sea, or approaching British or Allied territory, or territory in British occupation, or British or Allied ships.

Ambulance aircraft which do not comply with the above requirements will do so at their own risk and peril.
1940

So, it seems to me that allied pilots must make their own decisions on whether to shoot or not based on the position and actions of each Red Cross aircraft they see. This could make for some interesting game play.

PPanPan