Ban on strafing "civilian targets" in occupied Eur

[Lagarto]

Until when?
I just read that one of 78 FG pilots, Lt. Peter Pompetti, got a written reprimand from Major General Kepner, CO 8th Fighter Command, and was almost removed from flying status, for having strafed a train engine on 6 February 1944, somewhere in Low Countries (does anyone know where exactly?)
With time, this ban was obviously lifted and fliers allowed to target at will anything that moved. Any details on this issue higly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

[Nash]

From AMerican Bombardment Policy Against Germany, RAF Airpower Journal, by Richard G Davis:

On October 29, either in response to the American
initiative, or as part of an effort to clarify its own
policy, the RAF issued new instructions to all its
commands. Spaatz adopted it as the official policy
of the Eighth as well.4 The Allies drew a sharp distinction
between the bombing of enemy occupied
territory and Germany itself. In British, Allied, or
neutral territory occupied by the Germans the
following rules applied:
1. Bombing confined to ‘military objectives’ only.
2. Bombing of civilian populations, as such, forbidden.
3. It must be possible to identify the objective.
4. The attack must be made with reasonable care to
avoid undue loss of civilian life and if any
doubt exists as to accuracy or an error would
involve the risk of serious loss to a populated
area, make no attack, and
5. Observe the provisions of the Red Cross
conventions.

The Allies limited daylight attacks to locomotives
and freight trains, but forbade attacks on passenger
trains and attached locomotives. At night
all rail traffic was subject to attack. However, the
instructions included a blanket clause. Subject to
the provisions of avoiding loss of civilian life, it
allowed the attack of any objective ‘the destruction
of which is an immediate military necessity.’

The British continued to limit Allied attacks
throughout 1943 and the first months of 1944.
Naturally, the target list changed over time. The
discovery of the CROSSBOW/V-1 system added a
large number of new targets. On November 26,
1943, the British suspended bombing and strafing
attacks on all electrical power installations in
France and the Low Countries because they would
produce no immediate or large effect on the
enemy’s war effort and, ‘on the other hand create
much distress among the civilian population, and
may prejudice the success of our future military
operations in those countries.’12
On the same day the Allies also discontinued
fighter attacks on ‘the railway transportation system
particularly locomotives, trains, and signal
boxes in occupied North-West Europe,’ but noted
that such attacks in conjunction with support of
the cross-channel invasion could be planned and
would be authorized when appropriate.13 By May
20, 1944, the Allies had resumed fighter attacks on
all trains, including passenger trains, in occupied
territory.

You can read the whole article in http://www.raf.mod.uk/downloads/documents/airpoweraut03.pdf

It's just over 2mb to download.

[Franek Grabowski]

A very interesting document is published in Spit&Polish booklet covering Chailey airfield. Recommended.