[SMARTY]

My dad crewed bombers in S. England before Normandy.

He said Cherbourg (small peninsular mass extending into the E. Chanel) was surrounded and cut off. The allies didn't want to back track for it ... so they just bypassed it.

After bombing runs, some Crews returning to bases in S. England had stuff hung-up in the bomb bay or had unused stuff, they'd try to jettison it flying over Cherbourg or in the Chanel, rather than risk landing with it on borad.

[Bratch]

After bombing runs, some Crews returning to bases in S. England had stuff hung-up in the bomb bay or had unused stuff, they'd try to jettison it flying over Cherbourg or in the Chanel, rather than risk landing with it on borad.

IIRC, that's what knocked out Glenn Miller's plane.

According to popular theory. We'll never know for certain.

[Calvin Locke]

One of the theories on the loss of Glen Miller was that his plane was off course, and flew into a designated bomb drop area of the Channel at the wrong time.

I've seen one combat film of a heavy bomber having its stabilizer destroyed by a bomb from the high flight.

It nose-dived out of camera view. I doubt anybody got out.