Which theater of War Would you choose for flying?

[the lancaster kicks ass]

if you got to the target wtihout being shot up first......................

[Lightning Guy]

I think night-flying would drive you mad. Long periods of time where absolutely nothing might happen but death could litterally come at any moment. At least at day you had a reasonable chance of seeing an attacker.

[dead parrot]

Well, that's what radar is for. But seriously, I think the fact that night fighting was more like a battle of detection and wits makes it more interesting, somehow. Though of course, I didn't have to do it, so what do I know...

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i'd imagine there was a high risk of mid air collisions up there at night??

[Lightning Guy]

That's true too. But at best an aircraft had radar covering a few degrees forward and a few degrees rearward and most lacked this rear-warning system. Did the Germans have equipment to home in on a Mossie's radar like they could home in on H2S? Was Schrage Musik used against the NF Mossies? Scary thoughts.

[dead parrot]

I wonder what the loss rate for night fighters escorts were compared to their day counterparts? I would imagine lower combat losses (due to less encounters(??)) but more chances of accidents?

[Lightning Guy]

That would probably be right. You would still run the risk of flak though.

[Erich]

From the Luftwaffe point of view, the nf's were like lone wolf's and although a staffel of Ju 88's as an example would be up in the air at the same time, it was highly unlikely the German a/c would be in close proximity to one another as the RAF and even US bomber stream were miles long. There was actually more fear of flak just right over the target as at night it was mostly the case to intercept all RAF a/c on the route in and the route going back out to England. The Schräg waffen was not used against the mossie just forward firing weapons, and yes the Rückswart(rear warning radar) could pick up the Mossie AI.

simply sep[akeing for day time activies there were much more 109's/Fw 190's in the air and tons of P-51's as escorts for interception compared to the Mossie squadrons supplied to ward off N.F.'s of which there were some obviously but were in essence told to protect individual areas at night so there wer not the en-masse that was seen during the day......does this make any sense ?

E ♪

[dead parrot]

Originally Posted by Erich

From the Luftwaffe point of view, the nf's were like lone wolf's...

Yeah, again this is why I think night fighting over Europe would be so interesting. An intense cat and mouse game, trying to detect and pounce on the opponent before he does the same to you.

[Lightning Guy]

Probably hard on your nerves though.

[BlackWolf3945]

ETO is the way 'ta go...


Fade to Black...

[Huckebein]

I'd say the ETO for beautiful landscape, (relatively) short distances and benevolent inhabitants (for a British pilot). On the other hand, air-air combat over Europe often got particularly vicious, despite the odd shows of valour and comradeship between opposing pilots. I just wouldn't enjoy being caught in a fierce 1943 Channel Front dogfight I don't think...

[Lightning Guy]

The Western Front was far more congenial that the Eastern.

[dead parrot]

I think the Western Front and Eastern Front were like different wars, almost. I'm about halfway into Beevor's Stalingrad, and the sheer scale of the fighting, losses, and horror is just awesome. An Axis pilot bailing out over Soviet territority would be as likely to be lynched by civilians as anything, and if the Soviet pilot survived his ramming attack and the SS interrogators, he'd be off to a POW camp with less than 1 in 3 chance of surviving the war... That was a hard war there.

[plan_D]

Both sides brought it on themselves. In the West, the British and Germans were gentlemen at war, both being warrior nations with long standing war history. And chivilric standings they would treat one another with the most respect, or at least the old fashioned Prussian soldiers would.

On the East both sides hated one another, the Germans saw Slavs as unter-menschen and the Slavs saw the Germans as the worst enemy in the world. In 1941 some Russian and Eastern European towns, and cities waved the invading Germans in because they hated the rule of Stalin. But even since 1939 when the Polish massacred hundreds of German civilians in Bromberg the hatred was present.
Eventually when the Wehrmacht, along with the Waffen-SS passed through the villages and towns the Einzatgruppen came in. Mopping up civilians and taking them away. This had a backlash to the front, which whipped the Russian into returning the favour. Which made the Germans on the front do it back.

Another thing is the Russians were brave, crazy and/or drunk. ( ) So the fighting in the air, and on the ground was going to be fierce. Russians were all too willing to ram a plane when out of ammo, anything to stop the Iron Beast which was the Third Reich. On top of that, Russia was where a lot of armoured battles took place. Which were always fierce, with the mass of T-34s against the Panthers and Tigers. Although, the desert had its fair share of armoured conflicts. On equal footing, and hte perfect terrain for armoured tactics. Rommel knew that all too well, unlucky for Guderian he had the Eastern Front from in 1941, and after 'failing' at Tula was relieved of his post. The best general in the war for Gods sake, only stopped by the OKW and OKH. Panzer Army 2 had been fighting for 4 months, non-stop. They needed repair, rest, replacements, fuel but the OKH pushed them further and further. Guderian was up to the task until it was just too much.

Well, I got in the flow there. So there's some reading for you.