multiple sorties at night?

[Nick Powell]

Hi All
It was suggested that I post this question here.
I am a regular on the RAF commands forum and there is a similar thread running there that is generating some discussion!
My son came home from school after a history lesson having been told that German bomber crews would make more than one trip to London in a single night, can anyone advise if this is correct or not.
It stems from a discussion about the length of time that a raid would take.There seems to be an assumption that because civilians sometimes spent 12 hours in a shelter that that was how long a raid took!I explained that it would have been different groups coming in one after the other essentially several raids in one night so it made sense to stay put in the shelter.
His teachers explanation was that a crew would return to base re arm and fly straight back to London thus allowing a raid to go on all night! A rolling raid.
What was the case?

TIA nick

[rldunn]

Yes, there were multiple sorties at night. This was especially significant March-early May 1941 when bombers flying multiple sorties gave the impression of more Luftwaffe bomber strength in the West than was actually the case. At that time many bombers were redeployed to the Mediterranean and Balkans for operations and to Germany for refitting. On some occasions (10 May 41 is one example, I believe) a few crews even flew three sorties.

RLD

[Nick Powell]

Thanks RLD
The discussion is on the RAF commands forum [link below].
Can I ask you for a source for this information.I will be asked for one if I site your posting there!
Thanks for the reply

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?t=623
all the best
Nick

[Chris Goss]

On interviewing Guenther Vestewig of 1/KG 2 some years ago, he stated that they flew 2 missions on 3-4 Mar 43 and on the second mission, watched his friend Fw Herbert Richter being shot down by Flak off Dover

[ju55dk]

Originally Posted by Nick Powell

Hi All
It was suggested that I post this question here.
I am a regular on the RAF commands forum and there is a similar thread running there that is generating some discussion!
My son came home from school after a history lesson having been told that German bomber crews would make more than one trip to London in a single night, can anyone advise if this is correct or not.
It stems from a discussion about the length of time that a raid would take.There seems to be an assumption that because civilians sometimes spent 12 hours in a shelter that that was how long a raid took!I explained that it would have been different groups coming in one after the other essentially several raids in one night so it made sense to stay put in the shelter.
His teachers explanation was that a crew would return to base re arm and fly straight back to London thus allowing a raid to go on all night! A rolling raid.
What was the case?

TIA nick

It was not a commen ocurrence but did happen from time to time, with experienced crews. I do have evidence in Flugbücher from KG 30! Also get the book from Peter W. Stahl Kampfflieger zwischen Eismeer und Sahara wich states that on some nights he flew 2 missions!

Junker

[Nick Powell]

Thank you for all your replies it has cleared up a discussion both within my household and on the RAF commands forum.
My reading of the situation is that it happened on occasions but not regularly or on a large scale, would that be an accurate assessment?
Thanks one and all.
Nick Powell
PS IS IT OK TO CUT AND PASTE REPLIES FROM HERE ON THE OTHER FORUM AS LONG AS CREDIT IS GIVEN?

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Hi Nick,

Your teacher (smart teacher BTW) is entirely correct: On the night of 21/22 January 1944 (i.e. Baby Blitz) the crews of I./KG66, the pathfinder unit, had to "work double shifts" in order to provide the required capacity for an attack on London.

Regarding coping with the stress and fatigue of 2 missions in 1 night: As one former Beobachter (navigator) told me, they used chocolate spiced up with a stimulant (Pervitin, IRRC) to get them through.

BTW: From Montdidier (France) to London and back takes 2 hrs and 15 minutes if you're flying a Ju 88S-1.

Regards,

Marcel

[Juha]

Hello Nick
also Ken Wakefield in his article on Oper. Steinbock in The Blitz Then and Now Vol 3 mentions that in 21/22 Jan 44 at least some crews flew double missions.
Also in the book on 10/11 May 41 great attack on London IIRC the writer (Collins, Connors?) mentioned double missions.

Juha

[bill norman]

At the risk of duplicating what has already been said, my frined Willi Schludecker of KG2 tells me that he and his crew occasionally flew two operations per night over the south of England during the Baedecker raids.

[Nick Powell]

Thank you all very much indeed for your replies and examples.
This has been an excellent introduction to the forum thanks every one!
Nick