parsifal
Colonel
Rear gunners for LW NFs were essential after the British started to mount intruder and escort operations, particualrly after the introduction of Serrate. German AI radar was generally short ranged and with a narrow search arc, so that a quick manouvre by a Mossie could not be followed. the tactics adopted by the escorting Mosquitoes was to execute a quick flick turn once the German NF was about 6000 feet astern. The flick turn was designed to lead to the Mosquito trading places with the pursuing German NF. Once astern of the German, there was no way for the german to detect and re-acquire the allied fighters except by visual.
It was not necessary for the Mosquito to have a rear gunner to nearly such an extent as the Germans. Firstly, the combination of AI Mk VIII and serrate, meant that at a critical point in the war, the allies had very nearly all round detection of most german NFs. In the second instance, once detection astern had been made, the mosquito had the necessary performance to pull away, and outmanouvre the would be attacker.
Of course, things did not always work out that way.....
It was not necessary for the Mosquito to have a rear gunner to nearly such an extent as the Germans. Firstly, the combination of AI Mk VIII and serrate, meant that at a critical point in the war, the allies had very nearly all round detection of most german NFs. In the second instance, once detection astern had been made, the mosquito had the necessary performance to pull away, and outmanouvre the would be attacker.
Of course, things did not always work out that way.....