It depends on a number of factors but it is highly probable that the route was not direct. ‘Dog-leg’ courses would be flown to avoid flak (as you say) but also to avoid giving away the target before the attack began. Earlier in the war crews were I believe, free to set their own route and timings, later the ‘bomber stream’ proper was developed.

Of course they could have been lost; bombers could be routinely tens-of-kilometres off track. Or they could have been pushed off track by the weather or by some technical malfunction.

Thanks for the answer. I do learn more everyday here. (only my English grammar is still poor, but I’m working on it… ;))

If a bomber broke up in mid-air at an operational height 15,000ft say, parts of the wreckage could easily come down several kilometres apart.

Hmm, this could be happend with this Wellington I think.

@RF769: Ik groet u! 😉

I posted it on the API board. Hopefully they can tell me more about the plate. At Wikipedia I saw that the Wellington Mk. IV (if it’s a Wellington Mk IV ;)) were flown by 2 Polish Squadrons. We are going to scan the location a.s.a.p. with my new deepseeker and hopefully we will find some bigger parts in deeper ground. Be continued… 😀

@Cees: Leuk om ook een Nederlander hier op het forum tegen te komen! 😀