This Sunday mission is a very special mission,more to follow,heres the Brief.........
Operations Order to 67 Wing, 75 Wing, repeated to 71, 75 Wings and North Eagle. From Panther:
Operation Order 617 dated 12.5.40 timed 0815:
Confirming telephone instructions, two sections of Battles of 12 Squadron are to attack Bridges 190 degrees AM30, 2 miles and 180 degrees AM30, 4 miles. Time over target 0915 hours. One section against each bridge. Aim of attack is to destroy or damage bridges. Ten fighter aircraft No. 1 Squadron are to provide support for battles during execution of this mission. Officer commanding bomber and fighter formation should concert method of co-operation.
German ground and anti-aircraft defences are likely to be strong in the neighbourhood of target. Bomber Command aircraft will be operating against targets in same area at about the same time. Two squadrons of Air Component aircraft will also be operating over the same area simultaneously.
BoF34
Mission to be flown by No1,No145 and No601,No43, twelve volunteers are needed to crew the six Battles the rest will fly the Hurricanes, separate comms channels for bombers/fighters
12th May 1940 ZERO:- 08:50 hours – Maubuege (south of Mons)
OPERATIONAL INFORMATION:-12 Squadron:
There are two bridges over the Albert canal west of Maastricht, they are only four miles apart the Veldwezelt bridge is the northerly bridge with an alignment of roughly east-west (WNE-ESE), the Vroenhoven bridge has an alignment of roughly SW-NE) both are vital to the German advance, Two sections of Battles will attack the bridges, No1 squadron Hurricanes will provide escort by flying ahead of the battles and clearing the path, one section of hurricanes will provide close escort to the battles during transit, Battles will Transit at 5000ft until the front line where they will split to carry out the prescribed attacks(see method)
Hurricane RV with Battles at Charleroi at 5000ft, if RV is not made then set a course for Maastricht to be overhead at 09:15 at the latest. Battles do not wait to RV with No1 if they are not at Charleroi do not deviate from course
AIRCRAFT:-Hawker Hurricane MkI 12lbs
SKIN:- Squadron Personal Skins for ALL Hurricanes
FUEL & WEAPON LOAD:- 100%
AIRCRAFT:-Fairey Battle
SKIN:- TP_ skins
FUEL & WEAPON LOAD:- 100% 4x250lb
METHOD:- Section Alpha will carry out a low level attack on the Vroenhoven bridge in BH15 East
Section Echo will carry out a dive bombing attack from 9000ft on Veldwezelt Bridge in BH15 NE
INTELLIGENCE:- Expect heavy resistance from Ground and Air forces. Study the map as the bridges are visible to each other and we must avoid attacking one and not the other
METEOROLOGICAL REPORT:-
5/10ths cloud at 9000ft extending to 12,000ft.
Wind 120 at 02 knots.
Visibility Good.
SIGNALS:-
No. 1 Squadron call sign - F I L M S T A R
No. 12 Squadron call sign - FOX
Ground Control call sign T O P H A T
MISSION POINT AWARD:- 1 Mission Point will be awarded if one battle executes attack on Bridge and returns to home base.
Mission by Mothyp
No1 Cheese
Blue 2
No1 Squadron
Tangmere Pilots
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