First kill with oblique cannon

[Smith]

I trust no one minds me reinvigorating an older thread. My interest in this stems from the fact that my Uncle, rear gunner in Lancaster EE147 of 619 squadron, lost his life over Peenemunde on 17/18 August 1943, in as yet unexplained circumstances (that's a whole other thread some day).

Martin Middlebrook alleges in his book about the raid that this night was the first in which Schräge Musik was used "operationally" by which I suspect he means "not experimentally", and I note above Tony, you (and your co-author Emmanuel Gustin) argue that proposition a little differently, as Schräge Musik having "a good opportunity to prove itself".

I note also on another thread hereabouts (RodM re. Ultra) that (RAF) aircraft damaged by upward directed fire were assumed to have been damaged by light flak.

And Hinchcliffe in his book "The Other Battle" discusses the 'scarecrow' phenomenon reported by crews (large fires and explosions in the bomber stream) as most likely being aircraft burning then exploding as a result of Schräge Musik attacks. But this being misconstrued as above.

My question ... was Schräge Musik operational for the best part of two years without the RAF being at all aware of it ? What a coup.

Don