low level attack sth London 20 jan1943

[Chris Goss]

Bill: I suggest you read my book giving the rationale for such attacks. Unfortunately if one adheres to Clauswitz notion of total war, what is and what is not a legitimate target becomes blurred

[Amber 4]

Chris thank you,
I am not close minded or bigoted as my post may have suggested and have two very close German friends. I think what came across was a recollection of my adolescent emotions on that day and indeed I know it is a question of c'est la guerre.
I will most definitely try to track down your book, I am sure it has been mentioned to me before, is it the one with the jabo's low level view of St.Leonards during one of those incidents and is it still in print.
I'll spend a bit of time online tonight, I might get lucky.
Thanks again and regards.
Bill

[Chris Goss]

Bill: Close minded and bigoted not! Yes it is in print-just go to Amazon and put in my name-this is the cheapest place to get a copy!

[Franek Grabowski]

Griffon
I think American attacks are a little bit overestimated. Also, I recall a man talking that they put their striped KL clothing on roofs of their lorries (they were riding them to the place of forced employment) and this was recognised by American airmen. He also recalled their guards being chased by Thunderbolts. Hard to believe, is not it?

[Griffon]

well Franek, actually I do not think that the attacks of US escort fighters are overestimated, but I would not go as far as label US fighter pilots killers or worse because of those attacks.
it is a natural occurence in war that bad things happen, to put it mildly.
and towards the end of the war, there were so much US fighters around and not enough LW fighters to shoot at, that some of the escorts simply looked for targets of opportunity and then shot at anything that moved.
it must have been hard to tell if a cyclist was a Wehrmacht soldier, riding along, or just a civilian.
the same is true for any oxen-cart, train or car.
I do not know if you are familiar with the famous movie "Thunderbol! by William Wyler.
this contains some graphic scenes of TBolts, shooting up targets on the road, and you cannot tell at all if those were civilian or military targets.

with hindsight, and for later generations it is easier to judge and deem actions right or wrong, you have to understand the times though.

my own dad (born in 1930) recalls several occasions being chased while riding his bicycle by marauding TBolts and Mustangs who seemingly took great joy in scaring the hell out of the boys on the bikes.
and of course he has a different view about those things than I have.
when I see a Mustang or a TBolt at shows like Duxford, I am usually amazed and view those birds as reminders of times long gone now;
when I showed the pictures of my last Duxford visit to him and we came to the Mustang pictures, he just said "those were the schweinehunde that loved to chase us while riding our bikes"

you see, for different people, there were entirely different experiences with US escort fighters....

[Franek Grabowski]

Well, all I can say that Polish Sector (and other ones) received explicit order not to strafe civilian targets after unclear and unfortunate speech by a RAF General/Marshall. It is reproduced in a book about Chailey ALG.
Anyway, I believe it is worth to list all such incidents, even of only to check if it is a myth or not.
PS Some posts disappeared from the thread, what the ***?

[Amber 4]

Chris,
Thanks again. Amazon came up trumps, I'm really looking forward to receiving the book.
Bill