First Visit to Berlin

WEATHER: Moonlit
INSERTS: None
RADAR: None (map used for
       limited plotting only)

British propaganda had been touting
"Berlin next!" since the "true"
beginning of the highly destructive
area bombing campaign in March,
1943. After Hamburg, the Germans
were terrified that the same thing
could happen to their capital. The
use of Window by Bomber Command 
since Hamburg had rendered their
radar-controlled Himmelbett-box
defense obsolete. All night-
fighters were therefore ordered to
convert immediately to Major Hajo
Herrman's Wild Boar night combat
tactics. The Germans first tested 
the new system on 17-18 August,
massing their night-fighters over
Berlin in anticipation of an attack.
However, the RAF had decieved them -
the true target was Peenemunde. The
chance for the Wilde Sau finally came
on 24-25 August, 1943. The first RAF
massive attack on Berlin commenced,
but German ground controllers had
correctly determined the target this
time. With good weather and massed
searchlights providing excellent vi-
sibility, the German night-fighters
(many single-engined) had a field
day - the British lost 56 bombers.

ORDERS: Bomb your assigned target in
the Berlin area. Return home by a
route of your discretion. Avoid be-
coming one of the 56 <g>.

