WW2 original Bomber Command Map

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Cigar Man, Jan 8, 2021.

  1. Cigar Man

    Cigar Man History Buff

    I have a WW2 map (pictured) that I believe was used by bomber command. Can anyone add pertinent information? Appreciate it.
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Route looks like RAF Tholthorpe to Cologne, the map is dated 1943 at bottom right, updated 1944 bottom left so its a 1944-45 operation, if it is Tholthorpe it would be either 420 or 425 squadron (both RCAF squadrons). The book Bomber Command war diaries contains some route maps so it may be possible to match with that and confirm a date (assuming they didn't use the same route over and over)

    edit - just looked at Bomber Command War Diaries and it doesn't have route map, odd I could have sworn it did, I wonder what book I was thinking of
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2021
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  3. AlanW

    AlanW Senior Member

    Night of 30/31st Oct 44 might, but "only might possibility" fit, with slight difference on route map, can't find any others at this time.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    The map is entitled "Captains of Aircraft Map" and would be issued on the ops briefing. It would be the planned route, indicating airspeed, height and route to and fro the target. Some crews in the light of their ops experience might have a different approach in executing the outbound and homebound routes over enemy territory. Shown on the outbound and homebound routes is the Suffolk coastal crossings which were common to Bomber Command ops direct into the Cologne target shown and that was the Southwold area.

    The captain would add notes to the map arising from information given by intelligence officers who would have displayed at the front of the briefing, a large map. The Captain of the aircraft would discuss the planned route with his navigator pointing out areas which may give flak problems and these areas would be discarded...this direct route into Germany, even with the philosophy of "the bomber stream" was fraught with difficulty having to pass through the Luftwaffe Kammhuber radar /night fighter screen.

    Also at the front of the briefing might well be the Station Commander in addition to the Squadron Commander. There is abundant evidence in the archives recording the briefing stage before ops.

    The call signs of the Master Bomber, Main Force and Alternative (may relate to alternative target force) are noted.It would appear that "bomb on colours" are at the top of the notes.

    One point about ops planning it was thought by some ops crews that the planners, formerly having ops experience had been too long away from front line operations to be up to speed with the latest experience of raids.


    I remember reading about the Nuremburg disastrous raid at the end of March 1944,when a crew on debriefing reported that they had not seen an enemy night fighter to and fro the target. The reason put was that the skipper, from his own experience of ops determined how he approached, successfully bombed. and left the target area and in doing so, did not adhere to the planners plan.

    From the route map it looks as if the aircraft was Finningley as their base for some unknown reason.
     
  5. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    The start point seems to be North West of York so not Finningley, I estimated RAF Tholthorpe comparing direction and distance in relation to Hull and York - first turning point seems to be around Finningley
     
  6. AlanW

    AlanW Senior Member

    Looking at the map again it might also be Linton on Ouse ?
     
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  7. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    From the route map, it shows a route from what I agree appears to be Tholthorpe to Finningley where the outbound and homebound routes are clearly shown. Why Finningley was used and the route indicates that there must have been a landing there and not a turning point. Finningley, apart from early in the war was not used for bomber ops but used basically for B.C training, chiefly by Nos 25 and 18 OTUs....although the former OTU made up the 1000 or so aircraft for the raid on Cologne in May 1942 and raids later on Essen and Bremen.

    Linton upon Ouse is virtually on the Ouse so the map reference suggesting it was Tholthorpe, which is further north of the Ouse at Linton, I would say is correct.
     
  8. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Remembering those crews of the 64 Lancasters and 31 Halifaxes who FTR from the moonlight raid on 30/3 April 1944 to Nuremberg.

    Per Ardua Ad Astra
     
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  9. Little Friend

    Little Friend Senior Member

    A very good book I bought last year.
    DSCF7318.JPG
    DSCF7319.JPG
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 24, 2021

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