Intruder Aircraft

[Doyle]

Hi all, I was reading on a website that 418 RCAF Intruder Sqd aircraft didn't carry AI radar, was this indicative of all Intruder Squadrons?

[John Beaman]

I do not know the timeframe of the squadron operations you are talking about, but, RAF intruder a/c did not carry AI over occupied Europe until the specialized Serrat operations with Beaufighters in 1943 and then, later, Mosquito NF support operations for Bomber Command.

The reason is they did not want AI to fall into German hands. After several H2S sets fell into German hands, the ban was eventually lifted lifted.

There are several good books on the subject, including Alfred Prices, "Instruments of Darkness", a primer for such operations.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by John Beaman

I do not know the timeframe of the squadron operations you are talking about, but, RAF intruder a/c did not carry AI over occupied Europe until the specialized Serrat operations with Beaufighters in 1943 and then, later, Mosquito NF support operations for Bomber Command.

The reason is they did not want AI to fall into German hands. After several H2S sets fell into German hands, the ban was eventually lifted lifted.

There are several good books on the subject, including Alfred Prices, "Instruments of Darkness", a primer for such operations.

Hey thanks for that, I kind of had in the back of my mind that the reason early intruder operations were AI free was because of the risk of the sets falling into German hands.