ATAG's 1st Bomber Night this Weekend

[klem]

Originally Posted by IvanK

.........................
In addition CH stations were very directional. The coverage being at right angles to the array.
...............This directionality also being the reason that CH couldn't see inland ... the area behind the Towers being blind. Once the targets crossed the coast CH radar was useless ... the plots then only possible from Observer corps observations.

And for a little entertainment for those that don't know the story...

The Transmitters had an electronic screen at their rear, part of the assembly. It was, I believe, a mesh tuned to the opposite polarity of the transmitted signal so that no effective transmission was made to the rear, or at least very little. Anyway the screen failed one day in September 1939 three days after the declaration of war. When an unexpected aircraft was detected approaching the Thames from the East/NE Hurricanes of 56 Squadron were scrambled to intercept. Because of the failed screen these aircraft created a 'reflection' on the observers scopes and were interpreted as more enemy aircraft. More aircraft were sent up to meet the threat. Then more .... In the ensuing confusion a section of three 74 Squadron Spitfires shot down two of 56 Squadron's Hurricanes, causing the first RAF death in action of the war and what later came to be known to us all as "friendly fire". Remember this was before anyone had seen any fighter action let alone what a 109 might really look like in the sky. Sailor Malan, the Flight Leader of the six 74 Sqdn Spitfires claimed he called to his subsection of three that the aircraft were friendly and to break off but the subsection never heard the call and one of them was still saying 60 years later that there wasn't a call.

Anyway, this became known as "The Battle of Barking Creek".

It did have one positive outcome, the RAF looked long and hard at its procedures, everyone trained a lot more and were ready when it really mattered.

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by klem

In the ensuing confusion a section of three 74 Squadron Spitfires shot down two of 56 Squadron's Hurricanes, causing the first RAF death in action of the war and what later came to be known to us all as "friendly fire". Remember this was before anyone had seen any fighter action let alone what a 109 might really look like in the sky. Sailor Malan, the Flight Leader of the six 74 Sqdn Spitfires claimed he called to his subsection of three that the aircraft were friendly and to break off but the subsection never heard the call and one of them was still saying 60 years later that there wasn't a call.

So there was no action in Fall of France or the low countries... No air cover over dunkirk?!

I think you wrote this wrong and really you are explaining the inexperience of the RAF in saying that THAT particular squadron had not seen these things...

[klem]

Originally Posted by 5./JG27.Farber

So there was no action in Fall of France or the low countries... No air cover over dunkirk?!

I think you wrote this wrong and really you are explaining the inexperience of the RAF in saying that THAT particular squadron had not seen these things...

No, this was "September 1939 three days after the declaration of war". No one had seen any fighter action at that time.

I was commenting on the radar system and how it was supposed to be blind to the rear (as written in Ivank's post). On this occasion there was a failure of the radar and it led to incorrect plots, confusion and a regrettable death.

Just a little story for those interested.

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by klem

No, this was "September 1939 three days after the declaration of war". No one had seen any fighter action at that time.

I was commenting on the radar system and how it was supposed to be blind to the rear (as written in Ivank's post). On this occasion there was a failure of the radar and it led to incorrect plots, confusion and a regrettable death.

Just a little story for those interested.

Ah yes I just read it again... The inexperience of the RAF. Thanks for clearing that up!

Reminds me of miller and miller and mitchell and webb in spitfire pilots.

[CadMan]

RADAR coverage BOB period

[TomcatViP]

What a surprise !! no Ground coverage above France !

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by TomcatViP

What a surprise !! no Ground coverage above France !

Ermmm yes there is.