The FReeper Foxhole Studies USAAF Night Fighters at War ~ Part 2 of 3 - Jan. 17, 2004

http://www.usaaf.net/ww2/night/index.htm ^ | Stephen L. McFarland

[SAMWolf]

Morning Iris7.

Despite enormous political and numerical difficulties, in late 1943 and early 1944 the Nachtjagd came close to the decisive defeat of Bomber Command. There ingenuity and determination despite their limitations cannot be overvalued.


The "Wild Boar" concept was created by Major Hajo Hermann in July 1943. "Wild Boars" or "Wilde Sau" was the code name for operating single engine day fighters against the bombers as they were making their bomb runs into the target and illuminated by the defense's searchlights.

While initially successful due to encountering nearly perfect circumstances, the difficulties of operating single-engined fighters without blind flying equipment at night became overwhelming, and losses in landings and accidents became prohibitive.

The "Wild Boars" were rapidly eclipsed by the "Tame Boars" or "Zahme Sau", which were twin engined night fighters that were scrambled to orbit a visual beacon as soon as the approximate course of the bomber force was known. Ground Controllers directed the "Tame Boars" into the Bomber Stream by a radio running commentary. In the final stages of interception, the air turbulence created by hundreds of aircraft warned the fighters that they were near their targets. On clear moon lit nights they could search visually for their targets, otherwise they relied upon their airborne AI Radar. By 1944 the Lichtenstien SN2 Radar, that was highly resistant to jamming by Windows was in use by the Luftwaffe.

Windows was strips of tin foil cut to the same length as the frequency of enemy Radar, and dropped from the Bomber streams by the tens of thousands, filling the enemies Radar Screens with false Radar returns.

[SAMWolf]

Morning GailA. Good to see the bicuits and Gravy this morning.

[SAMWolf]

Morning PE.

[SAMWolf]

Isn't it a kick seeing early electronic equipment. It's always so "hugh" and looks so science fictiony

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.

[SAMWolf]

1931 James Earl Jones Mississippi, actor (Darth Vader, Exorcist II, Soul Man)

I've always like James Earl Jones

[SAMWolf]

Hiya Mayor. You guys reaching any decent temperatures yet?

[Professional Engineer]

1930 Thomas P Stafford Oklahoma, astronaut (Gemini 6, Gemini 9, Apollo 10)

1962 NASA civilian pilot Neil A Armstrong takes X-15 to 40,690 m

Righteous explorer dudes.

[Professional Engineer]

The science fictiony look has always fascinated me.

I just got an no-way from Msdrby. How'm I supposed to bring up the youngins'?

[SAMWolf]

Women just don't understand a man's need to play with gadgets. :-(

[Professional Engineer]

She does to a large degree. I could always use the garage or attice I spuppose. BTW This is one of HER gadgets:

[SAMWolf]

Nice! I like her gadgets, where does the magazine go? ;-)

[Professional Engineer]

Magazine for ya'

[SAMWolf]

LOL!

When I was in Germany one of my squad memebers had a Civil war pistol. We'd go out to the range and fire it every so often, the problem was getting the lead to make the balls. As far as I know the Motor Pool never did figure out where all the battery leads from deadlined vehicles went. ;-)

[Professional Engineer]

LMAO. My dad does a lot of handloading. He has expirimented with casting his own 50~55 grain bullets for 222 and 243 varmit shooting. He's never met a wheel weight that he didn't want to bring home.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Snippy and Sam. I'm on and off today but wanted to say hello.

Nice thread Snippy, thanks.

[SAMWolf]

He's never met a wheel weight that he didn't want to bring home

HE should hang around the tire ships and see if they'll give him the old ones they pull off.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Victoria. Weekend's here and I'm going be running around doing honey doos. Got some yard cleanup to do too.

[SAMWolf]

oops ships = shops

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Sam. I know what you mean by running around, lol. I'm doing the same.