The Dulabine Shipyard bombing mission is turned back due to overcast. On the ground in Emstad, the German commander, Oberst Erhland is frustrated that he can not attack due to fighter maintenance problems. It will be at least 5 days before the weather overcast clears. Erhland orders Hauptman Schmidt, his maintenance officer to take the time to repair his fighters (18 are in need of repair, 7 are unserviceable). Erhland also talks with his Radar Officer Hauptman Schiller. Back at the 918th's Base, General Britt is waiting and introduces Gallagher to Dr Michael Rink from the Signal Corps. He has a new airborne radar device called Bomb through Overcast (BTO) Radar. Three aircraft sortie on a test mission to bomb Duronde, the BTO performs perfectly and they get an 80% success rate over the target. Dr. Rink has a heart condition and collapses as they complete the mission and his assistant Master Sergeant Zemler has to take over. On the ground, the Germans try and figure out how the Americans are bombing, Schiller thinks they may be bombing by radar. Erhland takes his 5 working fighters up to attack the B-17's but has no success. All three B-17s return safely. They christen a new B-17 "Rink's Raidar" in honour of the success. Over the next 3 days they successfully bomb Rocheville, Emstad & Rocheville(again). On the next mission to Zeupthin, the German Radar under Schiller triangulates their position and they groups is badly mauled by flak. In "Rinks Raidar" the lead Pilot, Major Rice and the bombardier, Lieutenant Gurney are killed and BTO operator Master Sergeant Zemler is hit in the face. Co-pilot Captain Fowler takes over. He and Komansky land the plane. The Group loose 12 aircraft (6 before the bomb run,4 after, 1 ditched in Channel & 1 "Rinks Raidar" on landing). Zemler thinks that the Germans are honing in on the airborne radar.
Category
📺
TV