Bomb aimers briefing 13 February 1945 - Dresden

Bomb aimers briefing 13 February 1945 - Dresden

Indicates two bomb loads, one for six aircraft the second for seven. Includes H-hour, weight calculations, preselection and distributor settings, heights and false height settings and other notes. On the reverse, objective 'to burn an enemy industrial area'. Includes marking and tactics, bombing details, camera settings, route height rules and other notes. Sheet two indicates two further bomb loads for five and seven respectively for target Dresden. Includes preselection and distributor settings, heights and false height settings. Annotated with marginal weight calculations. Reverse is blank form not filled in.

1945-02-13

Two, two sided form documents filled in

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SChattertonJ159568v10204, SChattertonJ159568v10205
SChattertonJ159568v10206, SChattertonJ159568v10207

[Underlined] NO. 44 (RHODESIA) SQUADRON. [/underlined]

[Underlined] AIR BOMBERS BRIEFING. [/underlined]

Date 13.2.45 Target DRESDEN. “H” HOUR 2215

Petrol 2154

[Calculations] [Tables of bomb loads and preselection Load A]

[Calculations] [Tables of bomb loads and preselection Load B]

[Table of aircraft heights]

[Underlined] BOMBING W/V. [/underlined]

B/S. Wind to Main Force [deleted] V.H.F. or [/deleted] W/T H-5. 1st H for H.E. load. 2nd C for Inc. load.

Bombsight levelled to 59,000 lbs.

[Page break]

TO BURN AN ENEMY INDUSTRIAL AREA.

M. POINT IS SPORTS GROUND 2000x 330°(T) FROM “A”.

[Underlined] MARKING AND TACTICS. [/underlined] H-11 P.B.M. Green T.I’s on A.P.

H-9, -7, -4 Flares on Δ.

As soon as poss. after-9. Mosq. will mark M. Point with R.T.I’s. If accurate backed up.

If cloud – Sky Wanganui Green with Red stars for T.O.T.

(i) Red T.I’s as planned.

(ii) Attack R. & G. direct.

(iii) Red direct

(iv) Wanganui – aim centre bomb [inserted] “Bomb Wanganui” [/inserted] of stick 12,000’ HDG. 096°(M) at conc. Sky Markers. Zero W/V. 160 R.A.S. HDG. reciprocal of bombing W/V H-5.

[Boxed] Sector 162° - 134° 17 secs. Ht. 13000 – 14750 [/boxed]

[Underlined] BOMBING. [/underlined]

Height Band [deleted] 8000’ [/deleted] Min. Bombing Height 10,000

T.O.T H+3; +6. Max T.O.T. [deleted] PORT [/deleted] H+15.

[Deleted] Track/ [/deleted] Sector 162-134. Orbit PORT.

Overshoot 1. 17 secs. Overshoot 2. –

Basic Delay (Low T.V. Bombs) Load “A” NIL Load “B” –

[Underlined] CAMERA. [/underlined]

Photo-Flash .6 Time 24 approx. secs.

100% Compo. Film.

Clear Camera in Flight/ [deleted] Dispersal. [/underlined]

[Underlined] NAVIGATION. [/underlined]

BRIEFING OFFICER [Signature]

Climb on Tr. to 12-14,000, maintain over Front – short of a climb to Ht.

Lose Ht. in steps. To 1500-3000 above ground level to 9°E – climb to recross front. – cross European coast not less 5000’.

[Page break]

SHEET 2.

[Underlined] NO. 44 (RHODESIA) SQUADRON. [/underlined]

[Underlined] AIR BOMBERS BRIEFING. [/underlined]

Date 13-2-45 Target DRESDEN “H” HOUR 2215

[Calculations] [Bomb loads and Preselection Load C]

[Calculations] [Bomb loads and Preselection Load [deleted] B [/deleted] D]

[Table of aircraft heights]

HALS. 2200

8

[Page break]

BRIEFING OFFICER [Signature]