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Ruhland, Dresden, Cottbus and Gorlitz as seen on the radar screen |
This is a story about Pathfinders (Mickey Ships), a combined
USAF-RAF mission, the biggest gaggle of airplanes with Fireball Able leading the parade, a
brand new bombing technique called "Cat and Mouse," some anxious moments, a real
lesson in the value of training and practice, plus some incredible luck.
It happened on the 390th Mission #218 to Duren on 16 November 1944 when it was decreed
that the Allies would achieve a major breakthru of the Siegfried Line to establish winter
positions along the Rhine River. The spearhead of the effort was to be every airplane that
could drop a bomb. The initial wave was the 8th Air Force, followed by the RAF and then
the 9th Air Force. No evasive routes... just fly there directly, bomb and go home.
Since this was a close support mission, very elaborate precautions were taken to prevent a
repetition of the unfortunate situation that killed General McNair and many other
Americans on a similar close support mission at St. Lo earlier.
The bombing technique to be used was known as Micro H, or colloquially as "Cat and
Mouse." Instead of using the conventional H2X (Mickey) radar bombing system where the
radar beam was pointed at the intended target, and thru a bombing computer, used in
conjunction with the Norden bombsight, picked the right release point, a new system was to
be used where the pathfinder receiver was tuned to ground beacons in friendly territory.
The theory was that one beacon (the cat) would be used to kill drift by flying a series of
rhumb lines around it while the other (the mouse) would be used to calculate rate. The
objective was to improve accuracy because measurements could be made more precisely from
the beacons than they could from reflected signals from the ground.
The only rub was that both beacons had to be received and displayed on the radar scope at
the same time. Fine in theory, but difficult in practice due to the poor stability of the
airborne receiver.
Prior to the actual mission, we had a number of practice missions and learned that the
Mickey Operator would frequently lose one beacon or the other and that it was necessary to
retune the receiver at the R/T unit (in the waist portion of the airplane). The Mickey
Operator was unable to do this, hence my story.
While the mind gets misty after 40 years (it's the second thing to go) certain memories
stand out loud and clear.
We were to lead this incredible stream of airplanes to the target and Colonel Moller was
to be the Command Pilot. Obviously, everything was to function perfectly. Normally, I was
not allowed to fly combat missions because someone on high was afraid I might divulge
classified data regarding the H2X if I went down. However, in this case the "Old
Man" gave me a special dispensation to go (my 6th mission) and it turned out that his
judgment was good.
After takeoff, assembly, etc., we made landfall and were pleased to note that we were
receiving both of the requirement beacon signals and established our course accordingly.
Upon reaching the IP and turning toward the target, we could only receive one beacon and
the tuning control was at its full clockwise position. The training and practice now paid
off. I hooked up to a walk-around oxygen bottle and proceeded to the Radar unit in the
waist, hooked up to the intercom, extracted the special tuning tool I had brought for the
occasion and called the Mickey Operator. Thru his manipulation of his tuning control,
following my instructions, in conjunction with my operation of the special tuning tool, we
were able to again receive both beacons and proceeded to the target through "moderate
flak" that you could frequently hear. Training and practice paid off. (Remember how
much we enjoyed those training missions?)
Then near disaster struck in the form of a piece of flak which I still possess. I was
still sitting on the framework of the radar when this piece entered from below (I was
facing forward), cutting the left legstrap of my parachute harness and coming to rest in
an electrical junction box on the port side of the airplane.
The bomb run was successfully completed and we returned home. I regret that I can't
remember which lead crew I flew with, but they did a super job.