Luftwaffe data from ULTRA

[RodM]

Hi SES,


thanks for your reply. I should point out that many of the raids analysed in March 1945 re: the L/F claims were relatively low level affairs (i.e. 8,000 - 14,000 ft). In one case the ORS made the statement that the L/F reported by crews for one loss could've been actually a night fighter.

Also, on the scant number of reports that I have, the ORS damage teams who inspected damaged bombers that returned home, were well aware of the damage caused by night fighters and the calibre of the weapons used. An interesting ORS Report, finished in May 1945, analysed in detail the contributory factors that lead to the loss of the bombers shot down during 'Gisela' on the 3/4 March 1945. It was seen as an unprecedented opportunity, mainly because they could analyse a number of shot down aircraft that they normally wouldn't have access to (for obvious reasons!).

The report concluded from inspection of the wreckage and interrogation of surviving crew members that:

(i) fire is the major agent for the destruction of aircraft shot down by night fighters (as opposed to hitting the pilot or a vital aircraft component)

(ii) there was no significant difference between the damage suffered by the shot down bombers and the damage suffered by bombers returning from raids

(iii) a significant proportion of fighter attacks are a complete surprise to the crew.

Cheers

Rod

[SES]

Thanks Rod,
Yes the Schräge Musik was a nasty piece of kit.
bregds
SES

[RodM]

Hi SES,


some of the following files from the British National Archives may be of interest to you. These are files that I have noted but have not investigated yet. I should add that there is a whole range of technical files in AIR 40 series, that I haven't noted, dealing with specific radar and radio devices. The last two are listed for the benefit of the board community:

AIR40/1394 Germany: the history of German night fighting; A.D.I.(K) Report No. 416/1945 1945 Dec
AIR40/1395 Germany: G.A.F. night fighters; developments in night fighting and organisation and control on the Western Front 1945 Jan.- Mar
AIR40/1386 Germany: report on G.A.F. night fighter system; a post mortem 1946
AIR40/1343 Beacon Bible : German visual and radio beacons, code-names and locations 1944 Apr.-1945 Feb
AIR40/2472 History of German night fighting 1940-45
AIR14/1377 Countermeasures against transmissions to enemy night fighters
HW13/64 German RDF and techniques for control of interceptions of bomber formations 1940-41
AIR13/65 Surveys and analyses of German night defence methods
AIR14/2503 Enemy night fighter defences
HW2/99 Reports on enemy a/c activity in response to Allied operations. Reports by Det ''A'', Cheadle Apr-May 45
AIR51/292 Intelligence section: Signals: German Air Force radio telegraphy (R/T) activity: night fighters 44-45




AIR40/1691 Official regulations re credit for victories achieved by the G.A.F. and associated arms. Translated from Luftwaffen Verordnungsblatt 28 April 1941
AIR40/1471 Translations No. 86: German combat reports Aug. 1944 - Feb 1945




A couple of late additions in response to the request on your web site for more info about operating procedures re: Jagdschloss. The following files, especially the first listed, may have information relevant to what you are looking for:

AIR 40/321 Germany: air scientific intelligence technical translations and interim report Jagdschloss 1944 Oct.-1946 Feb.
AIR 40/3019 Interim report: Jagdschloss (new German ground radar) 1944 Jan 01 - 1944 Dec 31
AIR 20/1689 German "Jagdschloss": report 1944 Oct.
AIR 20/1701 "Jagdschloss": report 1945 Apr.
AIR 51/290 Intelligence section: Signals: Enemy radar apparatus: ground Jagdschloss 01/10/1944 - 31/03/1945

[SES]

Hi RodM,
That was very kind and very useful, will certainly procecute. London is not THAT far away.
bregds
SES

Tease: Have you figured out where I live?

[RodM]

Hi SES,


in response to your tease and in an effort that could lead to public embarrassment if I am wrong, I would say Denmark! However, I will not state this with authority as I usually like to confirm any information against two independant sources!

Cheers

Rod

[SES]

Hi Rod,

Clue 1: 05 ON LT 8

Clue 2: http://www.gyges.dk/LUMA%20Guide%20ver%202.pdf and http://www.gyges.dk/LUMA.xls

just me feable way of anouncing a very useful research tool, which recently became available through a tri-lateral effort.

bregds
SES

[RodM]

Hi SES,


that appears to place you at or near Årestrup...

Cheers

Rod