“Heavy Flak” referred to anything of 88mm and higher while “Light Flak” consisted of Quick Firing 20, 30 or 40mm Guns. In reports “Heavy Flak” did not refer to the Concentration or Degree of Flak but to the Calibre observed. If there is a Cloud cover below, the Searchlights light up the Clouds and you are silhouetted for the Fighter above you.įlak – Anti-Aircraft Fire. If this happens and they suddenly go off, then you know a Fighter has found you. Sometimes they search for you & Cone you. Sometimes they send a series of dots in your direction. Searchlights co-operate with the Fighters in many different ways. So every now and then have your Pilot do steep turns so you can search below the Aircraft for Fighters. Invariably the Bombs Explode and the Bomber disintegrates. ![]() His favourite position, if he can get it, is to come from Below & Climb up to 300yds from you, directly underneath, stall his Aircraft and Rake your Fuselage with Machine-Gun & Cannon Fire. On any of these be sure and search on the opposite side of your Aircraft for the real Attacker. He sends one behind you on your Tail or has one come out of the Moon. He sends one Aircraft along your Course with Identification Lights on. – If your own Guns Fail or are Damaged during an Attack use your ingenuity to Outwit the Attacker.Īt Night Jerry has a big bag of tricks for Decoys. ![]() – Remember: To Be Surprised is to be Lost. – All Aircraft approaches are considered to be Enemy until identified otherwise. – The Aim of Enemy Fighter is to Destroy the Aim of a Bomber Air Gunner is to get safely to Target & Back to Base. – If on Reconnaissance Aircraft your job is to return with Information not to seek Combat with Enemy Aircraft. – If using Tracer at night, remember it tends to momentarily destroy your Night Vision hold your Fire until necessary. – Never turn away from an Attack, always Towards. – Patrol across the Sun, never into or away from it. – Never Fly Straight or Dive when under Attack. – Conserve your Ammo if you’re Fired upon from Long Range, instruct Pilot to use Evasive Action. – If Gun-fire, search for Fighter take Evasive Action. – Search Sky before Take-off & Landing, your Aircraft is most vulnerable. Later, with the Advent of the 4-Engined Bombers with 7 Crew Members, this Combined Role was no longer necessary. The 3 round windows towards the bottom of the picture look into the Bomb Bay, and were there to enable to Crew to check that all the Bombs had been released.Īt the beginning of the War “ Wireless-Air Gunners” ( WAG’s) played a Dual Role, being responsible for Radio Operations as well as the Operation of the Gun Turret. Inside the Lancaster, looking forward towards the Cockpit. The Ground Crew which were associated with each Aircraft took immense pride in “ their” Aircraft and would joke that they were only “ loaning” the Bomber for a few hours and that the Aircrew were “ not to break it.” Their contributions to the successes of the effort cannot be overemphasised. ![]() ![]() Generally working Outside, the conditions, especially in the Winter, were often windswept, wet & cold. Dozens of others were required to prepare each Lancaster for Flight and the Ground Crew were most appreciated by the Aircrew. Of the 2500 Personnel which were housed on a Wartime Bomber Command Airfield, only 10% were Aircrew. The Extensive Team Required to Keep a Lancaster Fully OperationalĢnd Row down, Corporal Mechanic, 4 Aircraftsmen (Mechanics), Engineer Officer, Fitter (Armourer), 3 Armourers, Radio Mechanic, 2 Instrument Repairers, 3 Bomb Handlers, Fitter.ģrd Row from bottom: Bomb Train with WAAF Driver & Bombing-up Crew.Ģnd Row from bottom : Flight Maintenance Crew, from left as follows: NCO Fitter, Mechanic, NCO Fitter, 5 Mechanics, Electrical Mechanic, Instrument Repairer, 2 Radio Mechanicsīottom Row, from left: Flying Control Officer, WAAF Parachute Packer, Meteorological Officer Aircrew: Pilot, Navigator, Air Bomber, Flight Engineer, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 2 Air Gunners
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