Trying to interpret Bomber Command ORS diagram, looking for help

Just having a quick look at the second set of images.

If it were aircraft codes, as seems more likely in this set; could the original have colour coded the aircraft lettering so you could distinguish between the various Squadron ‘A’ coded aircraft for example? Although some way of differentiating them without colour would be better so it could be preserved after copying 🙂

Each turning point could be represented an area (as opposed to a point) to record the aircraft passing. Slower aircraft, or possibly the more accurately flown aircraft spend more time in the area and have longer boxes at that altitude. Although differing wind speed/direction at altitudes could also affect this, if not accounted for. Or maybe the longer boxes denote a radius from the turning point. Closer you are, you get a 1 unit box, 3 miles out for example, you get a 3 grid square long box.

The early/late seems to make sense to record whether the aircraft are on time (designated by ‘M’) at the turning points , but I wonder why they don’t have just +1 etc. It could be to make entry into an early computer easier (the letters represent the variables to the computer) or onto some type of coded punch card as they did on the loss cards (along the edges).
The timing page gives a nice histogram.

But perhaps I am over thinking it 🙂

Do you have a copy of the ORS form that this seems to be the workings for?

Greg

Maybe a diagrammatic analysis of bombing heights?

Just a guess!

Ian

Thanks for the offer searchlight, however this particular 619 Squadron crew is already commemorated in display at Newark Air Museum; as briefly mentioned in here!

The daughter of the bomb aimer also has her own website in memory of the crew and it details a lot of the research that has done into the Op that they were lost on. If you are interested I can PM you the weblink.

Good luck with the project.

Addendum: I almost forgot, next week the niece of the rear gunner lost on ME846 is travelling to England and she will be visiting Newark to donate her uncles Log Book to the museum.

Thanks for these responses,

TwinOtter: Yes I previously saw the 207Sqdn info site, a real hive of information and great resource. The 619/Dunholme Lodge Lancaster you looked into, that sounds really interesting too. I’m currently doing some work in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, mapping this raid and telling the story of the men/machines taking part. East Kirkby is of course particularto 57/630Sdns but I’m also considering the whole effort on that night. I’m interested to know if you’d like to contribute any info toward this project?

Greg: You gave me a real ‘a-ha’ moment, thanks! That’s certainly plausible. If you take a look at the first image below f– from a different raid (Caen), turning points and descriptions are written in there rather than coded. I imagine coded turning points correspond to a separate map or code sheet, possibly? The second image below (again for a different raid) has the added detail of ‘Early’ and ‘Late’ on a vertical scale, r/h side. Wonder what that’s all about?

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What it ‘might’ be is a sky map of the German defensive radars.

A reading is represented at each of the turning points by their altitude.
The signals received are identified by a code letter. A very strong return may be indicated by a longer box (such as wave 2, turning point B @ 19,000ft) or the duration of signal.

Although I don’t know why the J band only appears in the 2nd wave, maybe this was the two 101 Sqn Lancasters that accompanied the raid (which were both lost).

So perhaps it was an opportunity to record the radar emissions by 192 Squadron or some such flight?

or more than likely I’ve read too many spy novels. 😎

Greg

Thanks Air Ministry, yes I see the problem now.

Trying again here with a better quality image; any help most appreciated.

I suspect the diagram shows heights of certain aircraft for certain legs of a sortie, but can’t work it out.

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Hi there and welcome searchlight.

Have you seen the following link re the Wessling Raid of 21/22 June 1944?

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/wesseling/

I have been involved in researching a 619 Squadron aircraft that was lost on the raid and I found the site most useful. There are a few typos but nothing too great to worry about.

Like Air Ministry I found the photograph difficult to read, but maybe there could be some clues in the website that help with decoding the data.

Hi searchlight and welcome to the forum.

I looked at your post yesterday and had difficulty making out what is on the chart. Even when I managed to enlarge it (I had to right click and choose “view image”), I could barely read any of the info on it.

The lack of replies suggests that others have had the same problem too?