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Re: How did NSG 20 find their targets at night?
Assuming they didn't just get lucky ... and assuming they had any idea that the HQ was even there ...
The NSG units were not big on precision bombing as ULTRA decrypts of their targets and their bombloads confirm (and Allied Intelligence summaries attest). The targets are repeatedly assigned as"concentrations", "localities" (i.e. built-up areas) and "traffic." Bombloads, where stated, tend to include a significant proportion of SD (fragmentation) and AB (cluster) munitions. My book on NSG 9 includes a first hand account from a Ju 87 pilot of the difficulties of aiming bombs at night.
The NSGs in the West would often send a proprtion of their planes out as flare-droppers to illuminate the target area. They also navigated by visual and radio beacons and starshell fired by Flak guns at fixed intervals or flares fired by front line troops. EGON guidance was introduced for NSGs (November 1944 in Italy for example) and NSG 20 used it to mark a crossroads where paratroops were to be dropped at the opening of the Ardennes offensive in December. You may be able to find Signals Intelligence reports that identify nights when EGON traffic was overheard in the West - the ground station had to talk the pilot on to the target.
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