The Peenemunde Raid

WEATHER: Moonlit
INSERTS: None
RADAR: None (use map for limi-
       ted plotting only!)
On the night of 17-18 August, 1943,
the hammer of Bomber Command fell
upon Peenemunde, on the Baltic 
coast. Peenemunde was the site of
rocketry research and production
of the V-2 rocket. British intel-
ligence had gotten a whiff of the
target's importance, convincing
higher political authority that a
massive raid was required to prevent
a future devastating rocket campaign
against England. Bomber Command's
resulting plan was the only true ex-
ample of British nighttime precision
bombing during World War Two.
The mission profile was quite un-
usual. The bombers were required to
fly at 6000 ft. - quite low in com-
parison to their normal bombing al-
titudes - to ensure maximum accuracy.
Also unusual was the fact that the
attack was to take place in full 
moonlight; most missions were con-
ducted when it was as dark as pos-
sible. The extra illumination could
prove tragic should German night
fighters find the force in time.
British planners had a few cards up
their sleeve in this regard as well.
A combination of Window and diversion-
ary raids left most German night-
fighters over Berlin, 100 miles away.
Thus, fighter opposition did not ap-
pear until the third wave was departing
the target.                            
ORDERS: Since fighter opposition will
be minimal, try to bomb accurately on
your run, or Harris will send you back
tomorrow night!

