by Desdichado on Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:33 am
I've read many works concerning the bombing of Germany by RAF Bomber Command. In several of the books, mention was made of RAF losses inflicted by Luftwaffe intruders who would attack the returning bombers as they were coming in to land or in the circuit. Others mention surprise attacks carried out by raiders who attacked the bombers on the ground before they could take off. I don't know how many RAF bombers were lost in this way but it doesn't look like the Luftwaffe fully exploited this tactic which, by all accounts, was successful when used. I've compiled a few questions that I hope someone will be able to answer.
Does anyone know why the Luftwaffe never formed a specialist unit dedicated to following the bomber stream home in order to strike when the British were most vulnerable? If so, who was responsible for its creation?
Presumably the Luftwaffe was able to replicate IFF to enable them to cross into British airspace with the bomber stream. Did the Luftwaffe fit any of its night-fighters with British IFF technology?
Luftwaffe signals knew when a raid was to take place by monitoring the signals broadcast by wireless operators when each bomber went through its pre-raid air test. Although the target could not readily be ascertained, the intruders could have been scrambled and on their way to eastern England, especially on the long winter nights when the RAF would often take off any time between eleven and midnight. RAF fighter command would have not been able to cover each airfield with a protective screen of night-fighters so the chances of a successful intruder operation were quite good.
By employing intruders in greater numbers than they did, the Luftwaffe might have prevented many bombers from getting anywhere their targets and would also cause panic and confusion on the ground. Granted, in the long run the British would have adopted counter measures to the intruders but there was a window of opportunity there for the Germans to strike a heavy blow against the RAF. I wonder why they didn't exploit it more than they did.
Regards - D