History Channel

"John B" wrote in message ...


B17's being used during the day in Europe as they were precision bombers
not carpet bombers as the RAF were ?

A B-17 carried the same bomb load as a Mosquito... and was far less accurate.
See further Operation Jericho. Compare and contrast to, well, any B-17 raid
ever made.


The Light Night Striking Force of Mosquitos during one phase of the war made bombing raids to Berlin on 43 consecutive occasions without a break. Sometimes the same aircraft would make a second raid on the same night. The Light Night Striking Force flew 553 sorties during April 1943 for the loss of only one aircraft.

The LNSF used to operate in the most appalling weather and one night Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett was visited by Mrs. Ogden Reid of the New York Herald Tribune. She had asked to witness the start of a raid. This distinguished lady of the American press arrived with a member of the British Government and was immediately driven to the end of the runway by Bennett. Fog caused heavy bomber raids to be cancelled but as the mist swirled around the signal caravan at the end of the runway Mosquitos could be seen taxying on from both directions to save time, lining up and taking off for Berlin in quick succession. She turned to Bennett and said, "I see they have got a bulge - they're carrying a "Blockbuster" aren't they?" She asked what it weighed and Bennett told her 4000 lbs which was 500 lbs more than a B-17 Flying Fortress could carry to Berlin. In any case, he pointed out; a Fortress would not accommodate a 4000 lb "cookie" because it was too large for its bomb bay. The famous Press lady pondered for a few moments before replying "I only hope the American public never realises these facts."



January 1, 1945 to April 21, 1945



"A tally at this point showed that Berlin had been the target for close
on 3,900 sorties and that about 4,470 tons of bombs had fallen from the
Mosquitos of 8 Group on to the capital, between 1 January, 1945 and
21 April, 1945. One thousand four hundred and fifty-nine x 4,000 lb.

(1,459X 4,000 lbs.)
bombs were dropped on the city. In addition 71/88 Oboe Mosquitoes
bombed Berlin during April.

From: Mosquito by C. Martin Sharp & Michael J. F. Bowyer.