3-Group practice of Master Bombers and “Captain of the Aircraft”

**JDCAVE** · 26th January 2023, 06:16

You learn something new every day. A thread on WW2Talk Forum, War in the Air, prompted me to look into the 3-Group operation to operation to Heinsberg, 16-November-1944. 15 Squadron ORBs record the Squadron flew in formation to the target and provided the Master and Deputy Bombers for the attack. W/C Watkins (DSO, DFC, DFM), the Master Bomber was recorded as missing from the attack and S/L Payne (Deputy) is recorded as taking over as Master Bomber on failing to hear from the Master Bomber.

W/C Watkins was the only survivor of the crew and was taken prisoner of war. Records indicate he was an Air Bomber and I presume OC of 15 Squadron. The ORB records he was Captain of the Aircraft and Master Bomber on PB.137 “U” with F/L Saunders as Pilot and Sgt Booth as Air Bomber. The Deputy Master Bomber was F/L Cox on ME.844 “C” with S/L Payne as Pilot and F/Sg Bartholomew as Air Bomber. I have never heard of a Bomb Aimer as Master Bomber before. Watkins’ awards are listed here:

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...INS&qnum=44828

Photo:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205442233

Jim

**bvs** · 26th January 2023, 07:33

Hi Jim
Yes according to Rafweb - WD Watkins was OC XV Sqn

Wg Cdr W D Watkins DFC, DFM 15 Apr 1944 until 21 Nov 1944 when Wg Cdr N G Macfarlane DSO assumed command.

**Richard** · 27th January 2023, 09:57

Hi Jim, 3 Group were the GH specialists, so I half wondered whether the air bomber's role on GH bombing might put him in a better place to act as Master Bomber. Looking at the procedures, there's nothing to suggest this and the Nav seems to be doing a lot of the work. On balance, I think we can discount the idea that the GH Air Bomber is better sighted. Second thought is that W/C Watkins was simply an exceptional AB and leader, but you'd need to obtain his records to get any feel for that!

Cheers,

Richard

**JDCAVE** · 27th January 2023, 14:28

Thanks Richard.

Dad said the pilot didn’t have a good view of the target:

“…there were always aircraft over the top of us…you couldn’t let your eyes rest on any one thing for very long, as a pilot anyway. My eyes were going around and round and round and head was going around and round and round. I couldn’t see the actual target because the view was blocked out for me. I could see parts of it by looking out over the side every once in a while, or from looking out one side or the other I could see the target area…”

Of course the navigator was behind a curtain, so he couldn’t see the target. I have only looked at the 15 Squadron ORBs. No indication from what I can see that G-H was used, but that may have been from another squadron, so more research is required from the ORBs from the other Squadrons. The strike photo I have seen for this raid indicates clear conditions over the target so bombing May have been strictly visual. There was no indication in the ORB summary that “special equipment” was used.

Jim

**Charles Smith** · 27th January 2023, 14:50

The role of Master Bomber in 3 Group was similar to that employed by the PFF and 5 Group. G-H-equipped aircraft would carry two or three types of markers, depending on the conditions over the target area. The type of markers to be dropped was one of his many tasks. 'Master Bombers' were only used by the No.3 Group when operations brought them into proximity to Allied troops. The first use of the ' Master Bomber ' by No.3 Group was on November 11th 1944.

The raid on the 16th was a G-H operation, an all-3 Group affair, and the first daylight operation using a 'Master Bomber'. The previous operation on the 11th was carried out at night.