The Thousand Plane Raid

"Gentlemen, the target for tonight is Cologne!"

The time is 6:00 P.M., Saturday, May 30th, 1942. On scores of airfields along the east coast of England, the preparations have been pressed forward feverishly all week. For this is to be the biggest bomber raid yet launched by either side in World War II.

In this single raid, Bomber Command has committed its entire force—every plane that will fly, and every man, including service squadrons, flight instructors, student bomber crews, and volunteers who have finished their tours of duty.

This night one thousand planes will take off to bomb Cologne. They will encounter overcast and icing conditions, radar-controlled night fighters, searchlights, and intensive flak.

By morning the result will be known — either Cologne has been smashed or R.A.F. Bomber Command will have ceased to exist!

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Sources

Prologue

I MOTIVATION

1. Who Started it?

2. "Give it 'Em Back!"?

3. Crisis for Bomber Command

4. Harris and Saundby

5. "If Only We Could Put up a Thousand ..."

6. Is it Feasible?

7. To Destroy the City of Cologne

8. Moment of Decision

II PREPARATIONS AT THE STATIONS

III BRIEFING AND INTRUSION

IV THE RAID

V ASSESSMENT

Gee system, Appendix A.