[glider1]

On the Wesel Bridges My probably incorrect understanding of the planning of the operation was that a joint meeting was held at which the Army USAAF and RAF were represented and the allocation of resources was made at that meeting. The air plan was put together before the battle atarted and the USAAF 8th air force had the target from the begining.

Your book looks interesting but ypur comments raise some questions. Some units of 2TAF (122 wing) were told to ease up for a short while around 1st March but in addition some Typhoon units were reequiping with Tempest which took them out of the action (485 and 349 squadron) others were transfering from rocket firing to bombing which needed re training, (183 squadron), some were disbanding (257 Squadron). Some Spitfire units were re equiping with Spit XVI (74 Squadron) plus the weather was very poor and after a period of intensive operations I would expect that the aircraft would need some TLC and the pilots a rest. As I pointed out and no doubt you are aware, operations did continue at a high intensity and on the last day included Airfields and shipping strikes. As you are well aware airfields and shipping strikes are arguably the most dangerous targets around.

To dismiss this as a defeat and withdrawal from combat is just wrong factually. If I am incorrect then please explain these attacks. The combat diary is interesting but when you remember that a low approach was the most dangerous and the low level of the cloud would dictate a low approach the amount of AA fire becomes a factor.

You seem to have a great belief with the Dive Bomber, its worth remembering that the Vengence was replaced in the Far East with a FB the P47.

Re the difficulty in shooting down the IL 2. If it was so impervious then why were approximately half of IL 2 losses caused by Flak?

Finally to call the Typhoon unarmoured is just wrong. It had the normal armoured seat, armour either side of the pilot and the engine in front of him. Some reports have mentioned an armoured floor but I have not been able to check up on that so will leave it open. Either way the pilot was very well protected. It may not have been proof against a 20mm but I suspect the Il 2 wasn't either, see above comment.

Going back to the Wesel bridge. How would the Russian forces have destroyed it. The IL didn't carry a big enough bomb and would have been shot to bits by AA fire. The Pe 2 didn't carry the right weapons so what are you left with?