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[CJE]

8th Air Force
I'd like to know which crew members took part to pre-mission briefings (all of them or only pilots, copilots, bombers and navigators) and if these briefings were held at the Squadron or Group level ?
Thanks.

[Boomerang]

Hello CJE:

There is quite a comprehensive description of the briefing process in Jeffrey Ethell and Alfred Price's Target Berlin - Mission 250: 6 March 1944, if you have access to that publication - it really is a gripping account.

In summary, they indicate:

• initial briefing for all bomber aircrew at Group level, by Group CO, Operations, Intelligence and Met officers
• followed by more detailed briefings for all aircrew specialties ie pilots/co-pilots, navigators, bombardiers, radio operators, gunners

No doubt others can add to the above.

Cheers

Don (Boomerang)

[DavidIsby]

The main briefing was normally at the group level. Originally for all aircrew, after D-Day many groups had a separate briefing (shorter) for gunners.

[CJE]

Hi Boomerang!

followed by more detailed briefings for all aircrew specialties ie pilots/co-pilots, navigators, bombardiers, radio operators, gunners

You mean: separate briefings?

[DavidIsby]

There would gather together in different corners of the briefing room. The lead navigator would brief the navigators on the route, navigation, landmarks and beacons, lead pilot would brief the pilots, bombardiers would have time to study target photographs, radio operators would get call signs and frequencies, etc.

[CJE]

Thanks.

[Boomerang]

Hello CJE and David:

I have been a little slow to respond, my family quite unreasonably wanted my time over the last couple of days.

I don't pretend to have any claim to expertise on this issue, so I will quote the book I mentioned verbatim:

Following the main briefing the crews left the room and went to the more detailed briefings for each of the aircrew specialties: for the pilots and copilots, the navigators, the bombardiers, the radio operators and the gunners.

The above is in the context of a book which relates directly to the 8AF attack on Berlin on 6 March 1944.

Cheers

Don (Boomerang)

[CJE]

Thanks. That's nice of you to have spent some time answering me.