Corsair: April, 4th, 1944. Planes from HMS Victorious attack Tirpitz. Corsairs cover the bombers.
Hellcat: December 1943. Anti-shipping mission off the coast of Norway
What was the use of Wildcat, Corsair and Hellcat in western Hemisphere?
- Thread starter Vincenzo
- Start date
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Corsair: April, 4th, 1944. Planes from HMS Victorious attack Tirpitz. Corsairs cover the bombers.
Hellcat: December 1943. Anti-shipping mission off the coast of Norway
Catch22
Major
There's also the use of the Corsair in the Football War, if that's of any interest.
- Thread starter
- #23
thank you, can give me the squadron number for Hellcat operation in december '43?
Sorry, it doesn´t say.
- Thread starter
- #25
No.800 was the first FAA Sqn. to be equipped with the F&F. They got their´s in July.
timmo
Airman
timmo
Airman
Chacun à son goût, Watanbe - or words to that effect.
All lovely - in their own way. No direct comparison - one as the first ever fighter 'plane, some flown in anger, some on peacetime missions, some on trials, some to fly in the booze, some to visit the Girlfriend in Ceylon.
I just love flying. Or did!!
= Tim
All lovely - in their own way. No direct comparison - one as the first ever fighter 'plane, some flown in anger, some on peacetime missions, some on trials, some to fly in the booze, some to visit the Girlfriend in Ceylon.
I just love flying. Or did!!
= Tim
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Some of the units that operated the Martlet/Wildcat in the ETO and MTO:
RAF 802 Sqdrn - July 1941
RAF 890 Sqdrn - summer 1942
RAF 892 Sqdrn - summer 1942
RAF 805 Sqdrn - autumn 1941
RAF 806 Sqdrn - HMS Indomitable August 1942
RAF 882 Sqdrn - Operation Torch
RAF 888 Sqdrn - Operation Torch
RAF 893 Sqdrn - Operation Torch
RAF 813 Sqdrn - HMS Vindex
RAF 881 Sqdrn - HMS Illustrious
RAF 819 Sqdrn - HMS Activity
RAF 882 Sqdrn (On 26 March 1945 squadron was involved in formation sweep off Norway and downed 4 Bf 109Gs.)
RAF 802 Sqdrn - July 1941
RAF 890 Sqdrn - summer 1942
RAF 892 Sqdrn - summer 1942
RAF 805 Sqdrn - autumn 1941
RAF 806 Sqdrn - HMS Indomitable August 1942
RAF 882 Sqdrn - Operation Torch
RAF 888 Sqdrn - Operation Torch
RAF 893 Sqdrn - Operation Torch
RAF 813 Sqdrn - HMS Vindex
RAF 881 Sqdrn - HMS Illustrious
RAF 819 Sqdrn - HMS Activity
RAF 882 Sqdrn (On 26 March 1945 squadron was involved in formation sweep off Norway and downed 4 Bf 109Gs.)
DBII
Senior Master Sergeant
Timmo, that is an impressive list of planes. Have any stories you would like to share? I would like your thoughs on the Zeke. I know other members would like to hear about the Me 110, I beat even Terry would like to hear about the Wildcat. Grab a seat at the table and I will get the first round.
DBII
DBII
timmo
Airman
DB II
No great deal. I'm not a storyteller. Not like Geoffrey Wellum, the ? youngest BofB pilot - who has just clocked up ½ million sales of his paperback – First Light – alone. Add in the hardback…… the film rights……worth fighting surviving for!! But, as with many others, he went though hell to get there.
So - Zeke? As said elsewhere, no real test. Was taking it up to the Delhi Air Show when it started to spew fuel into the cockpit. Didn't get to Delhi! Rather like another time , taking the Tempest II there – just fumes – had to precautionary land at Cawnpore drink pints of milk to recover my senses.
A very nimble a/c – could outturn anything. When we got it, we had to try to establish what did what. A lesson in resource? See pic –
Wildcat? As said - only 1.30hrs undercarriage problem. A spritely beast!
Me110? Again, as said elsewhere, an old lady. But my stupidity showed when, on selecting full flap for landing, the nose rose up I had to stand on the 'stick' to control it. With hindsight – just trim it out!!
Not very informative but the best I can do.
= Tim
Oh dear - no pic - later??
No great deal. I'm not a storyteller. Not like Geoffrey Wellum, the ? youngest BofB pilot - who has just clocked up ½ million sales of his paperback – First Light – alone. Add in the hardback…… the film rights……worth fighting surviving for!! But, as with many others, he went though hell to get there.
So - Zeke? As said elsewhere, no real test. Was taking it up to the Delhi Air Show when it started to spew fuel into the cockpit. Didn't get to Delhi! Rather like another time , taking the Tempest II there – just fumes – had to precautionary land at Cawnpore drink pints of milk to recover my senses.
A very nimble a/c – could outturn anything. When we got it, we had to try to establish what did what. A lesson in resource? See pic –
Wildcat? As said - only 1.30hrs undercarriage problem. A spritely beast!
Me110? Again, as said elsewhere, an old lady. But my stupidity showed when, on selecting full flap for landing, the nose rose up I had to stand on the 'stick' to control it. With hindsight – just trim it out!!
Not very informative but the best I can do.
= Tim
Oh dear - no pic - later??
Last edited:
timmo
Airman
parsifal
Colonel
The following is an extensive extract from the following site, and includes photos of the damage inflicted on the great battleship following Operation Tungsten:
Tirpitz - The History - Operation "Tungsten"
"Tungsten (3 April 1944)
2 strikes were to be made by 2 wings of 21 Barracuda torpedo dive-bombers, No. 8 wing normally in Furious and No. 52 wing in Victorious, but to meet the requirements of the flying programme it was necessary to use both carriers simultaneously. In order that the wings should fly together 1 squadron from each wing had to be exchanged between the carriers, so for this operation 827 squadron was housed in Victorious in place of 831 squadron who went to Furious. To obtain the maximum effect on Tirpitz it was decided to use 4 types of bomb. 11 aircraft were each to carry three 227 kg (500 lb) SAP, 5 aircraft one 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP, and 5 aircraft either three 227 kg (500 lb) MC or 272 kg (600 lb) A/S bombs. Released from above 1,067 meter (3,500 feet) the 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP bombs were calculated to pierce the battleship's armoured deck, from 610 meter (2,000 feet) the 227 kg (500 lb) bombs should pierce the upper deck and do serious damage above the armoured deck, the 227 kg (500 lb) MC bombs were primarily for effect against personnel manning the AA guns and were therefore carded in the first aircraft to attack in each strike, and the 272 kg (600 lb) A/S bombs would have the same effect if they hit or if near misses should do underwater damage. In the actual attack 9 aircraft of the first strike carried 227 kg (500 lb) SAP and seven 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP and in the second strike 13 aircraft carried 227 kg (500 lb) SAP and only 3 carried 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP. Because of the light wind at take-off only two, not three, 272 kg (600 lb) A/S bombs could be carried per Barracuda.
Victorious was also to fly off 10 Corsairs with each strike to act as fighter escort for the Barracudas and because she was operating more aircraft than she was designed to do the first strike had to be parked on deck for some time prior to take off, an undesirable necessity as the deck was very wet and spray and sleet were freezing on it. Detailed briefing of all the air-crews had been carried out while at sea on 1 April.
At 0416 the first of the Corsairs of 1834 squadron took off from Victorious, followed 8 minutes later by the Barracudas of 827 and 830 squadrons (No. 8 Wing) from the 2 fleet carriers. At the same time 20 Wildcats took off from Searcher and Pursuer and 10 Hellcats from Emperor (800, 881 and 882 squadrons) while Seafires from Furious and Wildcats from Fencer formed a protective umbrella over the force. By 0437 the aircraft had formed up and headed 120° for their target.
As the strike was approaching her, Tirpitz was weighing anchor before going to sea on more post-repair trials. The second anchor was coming in when it was seen that the smoke screen ashore was beginning and 32 aircraft were reported as heading south at a distance of 69 kilometer (43 miles). The alarm was sounded, guns manned and at 0528 the first aircraft were in sight while only a very thin smoke screen covered the fjord. No fire had been observed as the aircraft had flown over a destroyer and merchantman in Lange Fjord but flak began to interfere with the attackers some 5 kilometer (3 miles) from their target. As Tirpitz first sighted the aircraft they were beginning their attack. The Corsairs remained at 3,048 meter (10,000 feet) to cover the Barracudas against counter-attack but the Wildcats and Hellcats came in low over the hills, straffing the battleship with 0.5 machine-gun fire as the Barracudas began their bombing dives at 0529. The attack was made in 2 columns along the fore-and-aft line of the target as practice had shown that errors of range exceeded errors of line. The bombs were meant to be dropped from a height above 914 (3,000 feet) meter to ensure the penetration of the armoured deck but in their enthusiasm and determination to achieve accuracy most of the pilots dived much lower than this. The attack lasted exactly 1 minute. 6 direct hits were claimed and 3 probable hits and the battleship's upper deck was left bloody with wounded men.
As the first strike were attacking the second strike were taking off. 19 Barracudas from 829 and 831 squadrons (No. 52 Wing), 10 Corsairs from 1826 squadron, 19 Wildcats from 896 and 898 squadrons and 10 Hellcats from 804 squadron. At 0537 they formed up and made for Tirpitz whose smoke screen was visible when they were still 64 kilometer from the target. This proved to be no deterrent. At 0635 the Hellcats again attacked the battleship's AA positions while the Wildcats sprayed the unprotected bridge and upper deck with bullets for a minute before the Barracudas came in to the attack. By 0637 it was again all over, 8 definite and 5 probable hits being claimed, but the 726 kg (1,600 lb) bomb which hit the bows failed to explode. The fighters followed the example of their predecessors by again gunning the German ships and shore installations as they presented themselves on the return flight. There was no interference from the German Air Force. By 0758 all the aircraft had landed back on their carriers except for 2 Barracudas shot down, 1 in each strike, and 1 damaged Hellcat deliberately ditched. British casualties were 9 killed.
Vice-Admiral Moore had planned to repeat the attack on the next day but in view of the damage caused to Tirpitz and the fatigue and reaction of his air-crews after so successful an attack he revised his original intention and ordered a return to base. By 1630 6 April 1944 most of the force was back in Scapa Flow, with only Searcher, who had an engine defect, and the fleet oilers and their escorts remaining to come safely home some 10 hours later.
24 April 1944 an attack, codenamed Operation "Planet", on Tirpitz, involving 40 Barracudas and 40 escort fighters have to be cancelled because of bad weather conditions.
15 May 1944 an attack, codenamed Operation "Brawn", on Tirpitz, involving 27 Barracudas and 36 escort fighters have to be cancelled because of bad weather conditions.
28 May 1944 an attack, codenamed Operation "Tiger Claw", on Tirpitz have to be cancelled before the aircraft could be launched, because of bad weather conditions.
6 weeks later, on 17 July 1944, another attack was mounted by the Fleet Air Arm, Operation "Mascot". The Germans had established an observation post on a mountain top nearby Tirpitz from which fire could be directed at approaching aircraft, particularly barrage fire from the 15 in guns. 44 Barracudas, loaded with 454 kg (1,000 lb) AP and 227 kg (500 lb) bombs were escorted by 18 Corsairs and a like number of Hellcats and 12 Fireflies as they flew from the aircraft carriers Formidable, Indefatigable and Furious. At 0204 Tirpitz received warning of the approach of a large formation of aircraft, AA crews closed up and within 10 minutes the shore-based smoke screen was well established. By 0220 as the aircraft were beginning to attack the target was almost entirely obscured by smoke. A near miss was felt in Tirpitz at 0221 but by 0225 the battleship was totally obscured and no other bombs fell near. One Barracuda and one Corsair were lost.
Good wood I&II (22 August 1944)
Both sides were optimistic in their claims. In fact no hits were obtained by the Hellcats but the British losses were only 1 Barracuda and 1 Hellcat whereas the Germans had claimed no less than 12 aircraft to have been observed shot down. However the escort carrier Nabob was torpedoed by a U-boat but managed to return to harbour, while the CAP shot down 2 Blohm und Voss 138 flying boats that ventured too close to the carrier task force.
6 Hellcats from Indefatigable attacked Tirpitz and again claimed 2 hits with 227 kg (500 lb) bombs. The morning sortie had also attacked other shipping and had damaged 2 small supply ships as well as Tirpitz's sea-planes which were moored nearby.
CAP shot down 2 Blohm und Voss 138 flying boats that ventured too close to the carrier task force."
Tirpitz - The History - Operation "Tungsten"
"Tungsten (3 April 1944)
2 strikes were to be made by 2 wings of 21 Barracuda torpedo dive-bombers, No. 8 wing normally in Furious and No. 52 wing in Victorious, but to meet the requirements of the flying programme it was necessary to use both carriers simultaneously. In order that the wings should fly together 1 squadron from each wing had to be exchanged between the carriers, so for this operation 827 squadron was housed in Victorious in place of 831 squadron who went to Furious. To obtain the maximum effect on Tirpitz it was decided to use 4 types of bomb. 11 aircraft were each to carry three 227 kg (500 lb) SAP, 5 aircraft one 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP, and 5 aircraft either three 227 kg (500 lb) MC or 272 kg (600 lb) A/S bombs. Released from above 1,067 meter (3,500 feet) the 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP bombs were calculated to pierce the battleship's armoured deck, from 610 meter (2,000 feet) the 227 kg (500 lb) bombs should pierce the upper deck and do serious damage above the armoured deck, the 227 kg (500 lb) MC bombs were primarily for effect against personnel manning the AA guns and were therefore carded in the first aircraft to attack in each strike, and the 272 kg (600 lb) A/S bombs would have the same effect if they hit or if near misses should do underwater damage. In the actual attack 9 aircraft of the first strike carried 227 kg (500 lb) SAP and seven 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP and in the second strike 13 aircraft carried 227 kg (500 lb) SAP and only 3 carried 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP. Because of the light wind at take-off only two, not three, 272 kg (600 lb) A/S bombs could be carried per Barracuda.
Victorious was also to fly off 10 Corsairs with each strike to act as fighter escort for the Barracudas and because she was operating more aircraft than she was designed to do the first strike had to be parked on deck for some time prior to take off, an undesirable necessity as the deck was very wet and spray and sleet were freezing on it. Detailed briefing of all the air-crews had been carried out while at sea on 1 April.
At 0416 the first of the Corsairs of 1834 squadron took off from Victorious, followed 8 minutes later by the Barracudas of 827 and 830 squadrons (No. 8 Wing) from the 2 fleet carriers. At the same time 20 Wildcats took off from Searcher and Pursuer and 10 Hellcats from Emperor (800, 881 and 882 squadrons) while Seafires from Furious and Wildcats from Fencer formed a protective umbrella over the force. By 0437 the aircraft had formed up and headed 120° for their target.
As the strike was approaching her, Tirpitz was weighing anchor before going to sea on more post-repair trials. The second anchor was coming in when it was seen that the smoke screen ashore was beginning and 32 aircraft were reported as heading south at a distance of 69 kilometer (43 miles). The alarm was sounded, guns manned and at 0528 the first aircraft were in sight while only a very thin smoke screen covered the fjord. No fire had been observed as the aircraft had flown over a destroyer and merchantman in Lange Fjord but flak began to interfere with the attackers some 5 kilometer (3 miles) from their target. As Tirpitz first sighted the aircraft they were beginning their attack. The Corsairs remained at 3,048 meter (10,000 feet) to cover the Barracudas against counter-attack but the Wildcats and Hellcats came in low over the hills, straffing the battleship with 0.5 machine-gun fire as the Barracudas began their bombing dives at 0529. The attack was made in 2 columns along the fore-and-aft line of the target as practice had shown that errors of range exceeded errors of line. The bombs were meant to be dropped from a height above 914 (3,000 feet) meter to ensure the penetration of the armoured deck but in their enthusiasm and determination to achieve accuracy most of the pilots dived much lower than this. The attack lasted exactly 1 minute. 6 direct hits were claimed and 3 probable hits and the battleship's upper deck was left bloody with wounded men.
As the first strike were attacking the second strike were taking off. 19 Barracudas from 829 and 831 squadrons (No. 52 Wing), 10 Corsairs from 1826 squadron, 19 Wildcats from 896 and 898 squadrons and 10 Hellcats from 804 squadron. At 0537 they formed up and made for Tirpitz whose smoke screen was visible when they were still 64 kilometer from the target. This proved to be no deterrent. At 0635 the Hellcats again attacked the battleship's AA positions while the Wildcats sprayed the unprotected bridge and upper deck with bullets for a minute before the Barracudas came in to the attack. By 0637 it was again all over, 8 definite and 5 probable hits being claimed, but the 726 kg (1,600 lb) bomb which hit the bows failed to explode. The fighters followed the example of their predecessors by again gunning the German ships and shore installations as they presented themselves on the return flight. There was no interference from the German Air Force. By 0758 all the aircraft had landed back on their carriers except for 2 Barracudas shot down, 1 in each strike, and 1 damaged Hellcat deliberately ditched. British casualties were 9 killed.
Vice-Admiral Moore had planned to repeat the attack on the next day but in view of the damage caused to Tirpitz and the fatigue and reaction of his air-crews after so successful an attack he revised his original intention and ordered a return to base. By 1630 6 April 1944 most of the force was back in Scapa Flow, with only Searcher, who had an engine defect, and the fleet oilers and their escorts remaining to come safely home some 10 hours later.
24 April 1944 an attack, codenamed Operation "Planet", on Tirpitz, involving 40 Barracudas and 40 escort fighters have to be cancelled because of bad weather conditions.
15 May 1944 an attack, codenamed Operation "Brawn", on Tirpitz, involving 27 Barracudas and 36 escort fighters have to be cancelled because of bad weather conditions.
28 May 1944 an attack, codenamed Operation "Tiger Claw", on Tirpitz have to be cancelled before the aircraft could be launched, because of bad weather conditions.
6 weeks later, on 17 July 1944, another attack was mounted by the Fleet Air Arm, Operation "Mascot". The Germans had established an observation post on a mountain top nearby Tirpitz from which fire could be directed at approaching aircraft, particularly barrage fire from the 15 in guns. 44 Barracudas, loaded with 454 kg (1,000 lb) AP and 227 kg (500 lb) bombs were escorted by 18 Corsairs and a like number of Hellcats and 12 Fireflies as they flew from the aircraft carriers Formidable, Indefatigable and Furious. At 0204 Tirpitz received warning of the approach of a large formation of aircraft, AA crews closed up and within 10 minutes the shore-based smoke screen was well established. By 0220 as the aircraft were beginning to attack the target was almost entirely obscured by smoke. A near miss was felt in Tirpitz at 0221 but by 0225 the battleship was totally obscured and no other bombs fell near. One Barracuda and one Corsair were lost.
Good wood I&II (22 August 1944)
Both sides were optimistic in their claims. In fact no hits were obtained by the Hellcats but the British losses were only 1 Barracuda and 1 Hellcat whereas the Germans had claimed no less than 12 aircraft to have been observed shot down. However the escort carrier Nabob was torpedoed by a U-boat but managed to return to harbour, while the CAP shot down 2 Blohm und Voss 138 flying boats that ventured too close to the carrier task force.
6 Hellcats from Indefatigable attacked Tirpitz and again claimed 2 hits with 227 kg (500 lb) bombs. The morning sortie had also attacked other shipping and had damaged 2 small supply ships as well as Tirpitz's sea-planes which were moored nearby.
CAP shot down 2 Blohm und Voss 138 flying boats that ventured too close to the carrier task force."
parsifal
Colonel
Part II (follows on from above)
Goodwood III (24 August 1944)
In the afternoon of 24 August 1944, Barracudas, Hellcats, Corsairs and Fireflies from Indefatigable, Formidable and Furious took off in the heaviest attack (Operation "Goodwood III") made by the Fleet Air Arm. The 33 Barracudas all carried 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP bombs, the 10 Hellcats each a 227 kg (500 lb) bomb, and 5 of the 24 Corsairs carried 454 kg (1,000 lb) AP bombs, the remainder with the 10 Fireflies being detailed for antiflak duties. At 1547 the German defences gave an aircraft alarm and the smoke screen was started. The aircraft approached from all directions at heights from 1,981 meter (6500 feet) to 3,048 meter (10,000 feet), diving low into the attack. This was a technique devised out of the lessons of Operation "Tungsten" which made the directing of AA fire very much more difficult for the gunnery control on board Tirpitz. Despite the smoke screen 2 hits were scored for the loss of 2 Hellcats and 4 Corsairs. A 227 kg (500 lb) bomb landed straight on the top of "B" turret dishing its top and temporarily damaging the elevating gear of the starboard gun and destroying the quadruple 2cm AA mounting on it. The other hit was to prove to be the Fleet Air Arm's greatest disappointment. A 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP bomb hit just forward of the bridge on the port side and penetrated not only the upper deck but the armoured deck below, finally coming to rest in No. 4 Switch Room on the lower platform deck, having gone through 14,6 cm (5¾ inches) of decking, mostly armoured steel. It failed to explode and when the Germans finally removed the explosive there was only 45 kg (100 lb) instead of 98 kg (215 lb). Had this bomb exploded it would have wrecked the main fire control room and the switchboard room as well as causing serious flooding. Of this attack the German records state:
"The attack on 24 August 1944 was undoubtedly the heaviest and most determined so far. The English showed great skill and dexterity in flying. For the first time they dived with heavy bombs. During the dive bombing, fighter planes attacked the land batteries which, in comparison with earlier attacks, suffered heavy losses. The fact that an armour-piercing bomb of more than 699 kg (1,540 lb) did not explode must be considered an exceptional stroke of luck, as the effects of that explosion would have been immeasurable. Even incomplete smoke screening upsets the correctness of the enemy's aim and it has been decided from now on to use it in wind strengths up to 9 meters/second (8.2 yards/second) irrespective of possible gaps".
The Germans also ordered a reduction in the required time of notice for smoke from 10 to 7 minutes.
Goodwood IV (29 August 1944)
Gales and fog alternated for the next 5 days until 29 August 1944 when another heavy attack (Operation "Goodwood IV") of 60 aircraft was launched from Formidable and Indefatigable. 4 of the 7 Hellcats flew in with target indicators but the Germans had sufficient warning and the battleship was completely obscured by smoke. The aircraft bombed blindly and although they thought they had 2 hits in fact they had none. 1 Firefly and 1 Corsair were lost and the carrier force withdrew to cover convoy RA-59A briefly before returning to Scapa Flow."[/
Goodwood III (24 August 1944)
In the afternoon of 24 August 1944, Barracudas, Hellcats, Corsairs and Fireflies from Indefatigable, Formidable and Furious took off in the heaviest attack (Operation "Goodwood III") made by the Fleet Air Arm. The 33 Barracudas all carried 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP bombs, the 10 Hellcats each a 227 kg (500 lb) bomb, and 5 of the 24 Corsairs carried 454 kg (1,000 lb) AP bombs, the remainder with the 10 Fireflies being detailed for antiflak duties. At 1547 the German defences gave an aircraft alarm and the smoke screen was started. The aircraft approached from all directions at heights from 1,981 meter (6500 feet) to 3,048 meter (10,000 feet), diving low into the attack. This was a technique devised out of the lessons of Operation "Tungsten" which made the directing of AA fire very much more difficult for the gunnery control on board Tirpitz. Despite the smoke screen 2 hits were scored for the loss of 2 Hellcats and 4 Corsairs. A 227 kg (500 lb) bomb landed straight on the top of "B" turret dishing its top and temporarily damaging the elevating gear of the starboard gun and destroying the quadruple 2cm AA mounting on it. The other hit was to prove to be the Fleet Air Arm's greatest disappointment. A 726 kg (1,600 lb) AP bomb hit just forward of the bridge on the port side and penetrated not only the upper deck but the armoured deck below, finally coming to rest in No. 4 Switch Room on the lower platform deck, having gone through 14,6 cm (5¾ inches) of decking, mostly armoured steel. It failed to explode and when the Germans finally removed the explosive there was only 45 kg (100 lb) instead of 98 kg (215 lb). Had this bomb exploded it would have wrecked the main fire control room and the switchboard room as well as causing serious flooding. Of this attack the German records state:
"The attack on 24 August 1944 was undoubtedly the heaviest and most determined so far. The English showed great skill and dexterity in flying. For the first time they dived with heavy bombs. During the dive bombing, fighter planes attacked the land batteries which, in comparison with earlier attacks, suffered heavy losses. The fact that an armour-piercing bomb of more than 699 kg (1,540 lb) did not explode must be considered an exceptional stroke of luck, as the effects of that explosion would have been immeasurable. Even incomplete smoke screening upsets the correctness of the enemy's aim and it has been decided from now on to use it in wind strengths up to 9 meters/second (8.2 yards/second) irrespective of possible gaps".
The Germans also ordered a reduction in the required time of notice for smoke from 10 to 7 minutes.
Goodwood IV (29 August 1944)
Gales and fog alternated for the next 5 days until 29 August 1944 when another heavy attack (Operation "Goodwood IV") of 60 aircraft was launched from Formidable and Indefatigable. 4 of the 7 Hellcats flew in with target indicators but the Germans had sufficient warning and the battleship was completely obscured by smoke. The aircraft bombed blindly and although they thought they had 2 hits in fact they had none. 1 Firefly and 1 Corsair were lost and the carrier force withdrew to cover convoy RA-59A briefly before returning to Scapa Flow."[/
