Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Bombercrew.com Forum -> Bombercrew.com Forum -> Bomber Stream Organisation
Post Info TOPIC: Bomber Stream Organisation
Maillecolle


Corporal

Status: Offline
Posts: 12
Date:
Bomber Stream Organisation
Permalink   

Hello to all,

Does anyone could help me about a Stream Organization during a night mission done by RAF.

I read that each aircraft of a  Squadron took off from his base each minute (each Squadron sent an average number of 20/25 aircrafts - that's what I think). Each aircraft was making circles above the aerodrome untill the last one took off. Then each Stream went to a "meeting point" where every Squadron met at a very accurate time to form a giant Stream on its way to the target. 

I would like to know how this stream was made. In a USSAF I know that they could flew like this :

Squadron Leader 7 aircrafts : Ahead 3 aircrafts in V formation , then 4  aircrafts behind in V formation, the 4th behind

Low Squadron : same formation as before but behind the Squadron Leader on the left at a lower level.

High Squadron : same formation as before, behind the Squadron Leader on the right at a higher level 

Far behind (3 spare aircrafts )

I think that each stream of 20/25 aircrafts of this kind made a giant stream in V formation with the same organization than what I explained before.

Can anyone confirm this or explain how it was, if not which book could explain a Bomber Stream Organization.

Thanks in advance

 

Maillecolle

 

 

 

 

 

 



__________________
Maillecolle
dawallace


Wing Commander

Status: Offline
Posts: 109
Date:
Permalink   

The Bomber Command main force did not fly in an organized bomber stream or formations on night operations like the USAAF flew in daylight. Crews were given a route to take and a time to be over the target at the briefing, a window of about 5 minutes. Formation flying at night with no lights, flak and German fighters attacking would have resulted in a great many collisions, and they had enough of those as it was. Bomber Command did do some daylight formation flying using Oboe on small targets but never at night.

Cheers

Dave Wallace



-- Edited by dawallace on Tuesday 4th of February 2014 07:35:30 AM

__________________
Maillecolle


Corporal

Status: Offline
Posts: 12
Date:
Permalink   

Thanks for your help

Best regards

Maillecolle

__________________
Maillecolle
PeteT


Wing Commander

Status: Offline
Posts: 147
Date:
Permalink   

As I am also interested in this subject, I have started a thread for you at sas.raf38group.org/forum/viewtopic.php to see if I can get any additional feedback.

Response to date supports what Dave has said regarding aircraft flying independently.

Regards

Pete



-- Edited by PeteT on Tuesday 4th of February 2014 11:05:37 AM

__________________

Researching:

- CA Butler and the loss of Lancaster ME334

- Aircrew Training WWII (Basic / Trade / Operational)

- No. 35 Squadron [From Thetford to Scampton]

 

[Always looking for COPIES of original documents / photographs etc relating to these subjects]
dawallace


Wing Commander

Status: Offline
Posts: 109
Date:
Permalink   

The way it worked for Bomber Command was that a basic route and timing was sent from Bomber Command HQ to the Bomber Command Groups by teleprintiner on a FORM A. The Groups would then send operational instructions on a FORM B to their stations, specifying the number of aircraft from each squadron, bomb loads, time over target and route. The Groups would often add a waypoint or two to direct their aircraft to the first waypoint specified by BCHQ. Aircraft  leaving the various bomber stations in eastern England would merge into a bomber stream at that first BCHQ specified waypoint before crossing the enemy coast. An example can be found here: 

http://www.rcaf434squadron.com/crash-site/the-ruurlo-crash-site/877420

This route map is for attacks on Sterkrade and a series of V1 targets in France. You can see how they laid routes together for different targets to confuse the Germans. Solid lines are outbound routes to the target, dashes are return route home. The flags show combats with enemy fighters.



-- Edited by dawallace on Tuesday 4th of February 2014 10:20:40 AM



-- Edited by dawallace on Tuesday 4th of February 2014 10:57:06 AM

__________________
Maillecolle


Corporal

Status: Offline
Posts: 12
Date:
Permalink   

Thank you Pete for your help and the other thread you begun on the other forum.

Best Regards

Michel

__________________
Maillecolle
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Bombercrew.com Forum -> Bombercrew.com Forum -> Bomber Stream Organisation
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard