GrandFather WWII

[k9kiwi]

The two yellow stripes denote a "leader" aircraft, usually equiped with H2S radar. There would be two or three of these for each squadron and they were used to guide the rest of the bombers into the stream and onto the target.

Like the earliest form of pathfinder force.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

not quite, the two yellow stripes were used by a few squadrons only and denoted aircraft carrying G-H equiptment, which 514 sqn's Mk.IIs never did so quite where that comment came from is beyond me, something to ponder

[k9kiwi]

My mistake on the G-H V H2S eauipment. I was wondering the same thing about the fin marking.

Also being shot down in 43, kinda muddies the water for V1 raids.

The earliest reference from the RAF archive shows the following enigmatic report.

30/31 December 1943

10 Lancasters of 617 Squadron and 6 Pathfinder Mosquitos attempted to destroy a V1 site which had been missed on an earlier raid, but the markers were 200 yards from the target and, with the Lancasters' bombs well grouped around these, the site was again undamaged. No aircraft lost.

With this from 29/30 Dec

8 Mosquitos to Magdeburg, 6 to Düsseldorf, 5 to Leipzig, 4 to Bristillerie - a suspected V-weapon site near Cherbourg - and 3 to Leverkusen, 6 RCM sorties, 2 Beaufighters on Serrate patrols, 5 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians and off French ports, 4 OTU sorties. No losses.

1 November 1943 reveals

38 Lancaster IIs - Nos 3 and 5 Groups - made the first large-scale test of the G-H blind-bombing device and attempted to bomb the Mannesmann tubular-steel works on the northern outskirts of Düsseldorf while the main raid was taking place. 5 had to return early and 2 more were lost; the equipment in 16 other aircraft failed to function leaving only 15 aircraft to bomb the factory on G-H. The device later became a most useful blind-bombing device when it was produced in sufficient numbers for a major part of Bomber Command to be fitted with it.

Now as 514 was part of three group, it is potentailly possible for the stripe markings to have been applied for these raids.

Source Royal Air Force - Home

[the lancaster kicks ass]

it may not have been out of the question for that one raid however there was no other way that a 514 sqn Mk.II would've carried the fin markings...........