Contact Admin. The second is the IFF bayonet transmitter-receiver aerial. The third is the gas detector yellow lozenge. I remember TK-B as the first extended bomb-bay Lanc that I ever worked on, and only a couple of times. TK-A was cut off square at the end of the bomb bay. Best; Rear Gunner — Sgt M. Both targets were accurately bombed in clear weather conditions. The marking and bombing, from only 8, ft, were particularly accurate and damage of a most severe nature was inflicted on Pforzheim.
His Lancaster was twice attacked over the target by a German fighter. Captain Swales could not hear the evasion directions given by his gunners because he was broadcasting his own instructions to the Main Force.
Captain Swales continued to control the bombing until the end of the raid and must take some credit for the accuracy of the attack. He set out on the return flight but encountered turbulent cloud and ordered his crew to bale out. This they all did successfully but Captain Swales had no opportunity to leave the aircraft and was killed when it crashed.
The marking must have been extremely accurate; a German report states that high-explosive and 11, incendiary bombs fell on the Krupps works. The target was a synthetic-oil plant which was actually in Bergkamen, just north of Kamen.
The target area was covered by cloud and the raid was based on Oboe and H 2 S markers. All aircraft landed safely. No results were seen but the bombing appeared to be concentrated. According to his flight log, he spent 30 minutes in a Boeing B17, better known as a Flying Fortress. This was the largest number of aircraft sent to a target so far in the war. The attack was accurate and this great blow virtually paralysed Essen until the American troops entered the city some time later.
