2 interviews with WW2 veterans...

[FPSOlkor]

Pilot of Pe-2
http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/pilo...ov/potapov.htm
and HSU navigator of DB-3
http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/pilo...bin/gunbin.htm
As usual - comments, thoughts, discussions are welcome.
Feel free to post to other forums...

[bf-110]

Didn´t read both interviews entirely,but,what was that ilumation crew?
They had a "flashlight" on plane and pointed it to targets?

[Igo kyu]

Originally Posted by bf-110

Didn´t read both interviews entirely,but,what was that ilumation crew?
They had a "flashlight" on plane and pointed it to targets?

Dropped parachute flares? That was my guess.

[FPSOlkor]

As the description sais, they were similar to brit pathfinders. They used SABs - Illumination aviation bomb:
Svetyashchayasya aviatsionnaya bomba (illuminating aviation bomb). SABs of various calibers burned for 3–10 minutes with a strength of 2–2.6 million candle power. Both FOTABs and SABs employed a parachute to slow the rate of fall of the incandescent element.

[bf-110]

Interesting,but then the bombers needed to be fast,or the surprise element was gone.

[FPSOlkor]

Well, actually raid could last up to 4-5 hours. Point is that illuminators had located the targets, lightened it, (Flack crews were unable to see bombers ABOVE the bright light source) bombers began bombing target, setting it on fire, which was used by following crews.

[MD_Titus]

surprise is worth nought if the bombs aren't on target, illuminating the target makes it all the easier.