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(3)
(d) Precision bombing would have been difficult.
The pilot and observer drew special attention to two further points:-
a) When the smoke screen was viewed looking towards the
moon the smoke glistened and was very similar in appearance to the surface of the sea or to mist; but when viewed with the moon behind the aircraft the smoke was only distinguishable from the ground by the fact that details of hedges, etc. were removed.
windows open
(b) The observations were made under exceptionally clear
conditions in an aircraft (Fairey Battle) with all
the addition of even a small amount of industrial or natural haze would have materially assisted the smoke - when flying with windows closed the smoke was much less visible and its effectiveness improved.
19th December.
There was a clear sky with brilliant moonlight. The wind tended to be on the high side for effective smoke screen operations. Smoke was emitted from 10.30 p.m. to 1 a.m. and on the ground the screen appeared to be good.
Aerial observation was carried out by two aircraft (i) the Battle used on the two previous occasions and (2) a Wellington detailed to carry out special photographic reconnaissance over the target.
(1) Battle.
The pilot and observer, who were over the target area for 40 minutes, reported that:-
(a) There was no difficulty in locating the target area. (b) The smoke cloud (2000 yards wide x 4-5 miles long)
assisted location of the target area when looking towards the moon; it did not assist location when the moon was behind the aircraft.
(c) At 5000 feet the target was visible with the moon
behind but not with the moon in front; at 2,000 feet the target was not visible approach looking into the moon.
(a) It was doubtful whether an aimed bombing attack
could have been delivered from 5,000 feet with the moon ahead with the moon behind it would have been possible; from 2,000 feet an aimed bombing attack would not have been possible.
The pilot and observer commented that from a distance of a few miles the screen might have been mistaken for a patch of mist or fog. They drew attention again to the fact that their report was based on observations made with the "perspex" windows open; when the windows were closed the screen was much less visible and its effectiveness improved.
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