May-June 1944

[antarmike]

During the last two weeks of May running into early June the RAF and USAAF attack costal radar and battery sites along the whole of the English Channel coast. By D Day 80% of the german costal Radar network had been knocked out.

[Joris]

And the rest was jammed during the landing operations.

[Tony B]

Back to 617 squadron. Several stations on the Conetine Penensula , seemed to lead a 'charmed life' the were bombed but always 'near misses' . On the night prior to D-Day 617 flew a slow zig zag pattern down the coast dropping radar reflecting window. It was apparently boring, pains taking work, initially the squadron had been hoping for a more exciting task. However the result was the German's became convinced that a large convoy of ships was travelling at 4 knots down the sea way. The 'Convoy' was fired on by batteries based in the Channel Islands and French coast.

[Tony B]

Update on the 617 operation. It was code named Taxable. The aircraft flew at 3,000 feet, at 200 mph. The course was held for 32 seconds then 180' and a reciprical for 30 seconds. Window was dropped every 12 seconds. The operation required 8 aircraft in line abreast at 1 mile interval. Each aircraft carried 2 piolts and 2 navigators.

[GPWdriver]

Operation Glimmer - Stirlings 214 Sqn, window dropping Boulougne.

 

Operation Titanic - Halifaxes, Stirlings and Hudsons dropping "Ruperts" i.e. dummy parachutists and SAS teams to spread mayhem. It worked.

 

RAF Stirlings, USAAF Fortresses and Liberators provide Mandrel screening to the invasion force.

 

101 Squadron from "Mudford" Magna use their ABC equipment to disrupt enemy broadcasts.

 

Nowadays we could do all of this by starting an internet rumour and watching the panic spread.........:-D

[Tony B]

Or do what a friend of mine did when he was getting bored with an excersise. Sent everyone involved an e mail. when it opened the message was, Congratulations! you have just released a virus that has crashed your systems! Others apparently went ape but the umpires decided it was perfectly reasonable, all go home early.