RAF Mustang Escorts

[odybvig]

When the Fw 190's attacked the Lanc's over Bergen, the escorting Polish Mustang was lone gone, they had gone elsewhere on free hunt. One of the reason that the Polish Sqn was replaced as escorting Sqn over West Norway

Best
Olve Dybvig
www.luftwaffe.no

[Franek Grabowski]

Never heard this story. Are you sure you are not confusing anything?

[odybvig]

Yes, I am sure I am not confusing anything

Best
Olve Dybvig

[Franek Grabowski]

It was not mentioned in any documents I have seen but it was clearly noted in the ORB of 315 Sqn that they were unable to cover bombers over target, as they were flying each on his own.

[odybvig]

The attack I am speaking of is on 12 january 1945.
16 Lancaster from 9 Sqn and 16 Lancaster from 617 Sqn all loaded with tall boy bombs made a sortie to the u-boat pens in Bergen. Escorte was by 315 Sqn. On the trip to Bergen the Lanc's where flying in loose gaggle formation and near Bergen tighten up the formation to get more bombers over the target on shorter time. On arrivel on Bergen the 315 Sqn was gone. Nobody saw them. Neither the bomber pilots or the German pilots from 9./JG 5. And they are not mention in any of the documents on the German side. I have talked to pilots on both side and they all tell the same story. No Mustangs.
Three Lancaster was brought down and several had to be scraped after arrivel to their homebase, due to heavy Flak and enemy fighters.
The Polish pilots was not especial popular by the RAF pilots

Best
Olve Dybvig
www.luftwaffe.no

[kjetilk]

From the ORB of 9 sqdn 12. January 1945:

"...After seeing the fighter escort at the concentration we never saw them again, except from one which stood off and watched us near the end of the attacks. One Lanc. seen shot down on fire and go straight down into the sea from 16, 000 ft. The Fw 190's were fireing selv destroying shells."

Not particular popular losing the escort and then attacked by Fw 190's......

Kjetil

[Franek Grabowski]

Yes, I know what is in the ORB, I know what is in ORB of 617 Sqn as well as a couple of other ORBs. There is nothing that supports Olve's words, however. Quite to the contrary, the quote clearly says that they appeared at rendes-vous point and one of them was seen at the end of attacks. So, they were somewhere around but not visible for particular crew.
A few points against:
Squadron flew in heaviest condition for 2,5 months, and it was their time for rotation;
they flew escorts for strike wings and mission to Bergen was exceptional if not unique;
there were no complaints from strike wings and I am awared of quite a few people still appreciating their Polish escorts;
Bomber Command airmen had little experience in tight daylight formations;
there were 11 Mustangs to cover the whole operation, not too much to make a proper escort on a little bomber stream.
Olve, while while this may be an exemplary mission for a lack of coordination, there is nothing that I am awared of, that allows your conclusions. I expect some proofs.