Did Radio Traffic Provide Warning of 8 AF Raids?

[atckyrre]

On a related note:

August 8 1944 about 45 planes from 4FG escorted the Langham wing Beaufighters on a flight to Norway. As they approached the shore the Beaufighter pilots were worried because the Americans in their Mustangs were chatting on the radio. When radio silence was prompted the the Americans replied something like this: "Don't you want the Germans to come and fight us?"
To my knowledge 4FG nor any other american escort units were used again for Strike Wing escort missions.

Kyrre

[drgondog]

It could be said that the 4th FG was low on the list of 8th Fighter Command Groups on operational radio security - unless Blakeslee was leading.

He was leading that day so the breach would have been suprising.

[atckyrre]

Originally Posted by drgondog

It could be said that the 4th FG was low on the list of 8th Fighter Command Groups on operational radio security - unless Blakeslee was leading.

He was leading that day so the breach would have been suprising.

I don't have the references at hand but if I remember correctly Blakeslee, or at least whoever was leading the formation, had to return to base quite early due some fault.

K

[drgondog]

Blakeslee for sure was the initial mission commander on that raid - which did not fare well fro 4FG due to the flak (maybe forewarned) when they left escort to look for targets of opportunity.

Having said that, just about any fighter commander in VII Fighter Command would have had the attitude that they WANTED the Germans to come up and fight - although some may have had more discipline and tact in execution of the assigned mission - which was protect the RAF that day..