Wilde Sau Over Berlin

WEATHER: Moonlit
INSERTS: None
MIN.TIME: 12:15
RADAR: none (no map!!!)

After Hamburg, the order was given
that ALL night fighters were to 
use Wild Boar tactics until a counter
to Window could be developed. The
new tactics were received with mixed
feelings. The night fighter "elite"
regarded Herrmann and his ideas as
a backwards step and an unwanted in-
trusion. Many junior night fighter
crews favored the abandonment of the
Box network, which had always favored
the aces - the best pilots were given
the most "profitable" boxes, and thus
had greater opportunities to gain 
skill (and fame <g>). The first great
Wild Sau operation was a bust, however;
on August 17-18, the Germans massed in
anticipation of an attack on Berlin.
The real blow came at Peenemunde, and
only a few fighters actually engaged 
the enemy. On the 23-24 of that same
month, the target WAS Berlin. German
ground controllers deduced the target an
hour in advance. The searchlight belt
"turned night into day,' and virtually
the entire German night fighter force
was there to pounce on Bomber Command.
The RAF lost 56 bombers and crews.
ORDERS: JG300 is operating tonight in
defense of Berlin. Destroy as many
bombers as you can. Other "real" nacht-
jagers will also be in the area.

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