Schweinfurt
The entire plan depended on a perfect timing. 146 Flying Fortresses, together with nearly 200 escort fighters, which them during the first hour cover give will, should the English coast in Lowestoft leave, in course over the North Sea after Holland fly, southern after Belgium turn off and Germany in southeast direction to fly over Mannheim, then after east swivel and the Messerschmitt - work in Regensburg bombard. The work would have been already at itself a valuable target, but it should serve only as diversionary manoeuvres for the diverson of the German fighters. After the leading formation under the instruction of Curtis LeMay, floww him under the command of Brigadier General Robert Williams further 230 B-17 and a number of escort fighters was started ten minutes, on the way to the ball bearing factories in Schweinfurt.
And in order to make the confusion perfect, a mixed force with middle bombers of the type Typhoon and Mitchell should cross the road of Dover and just as German interceptor fighters as possible to the south, on which Bretangne divert too.
The time of the beginning of operation was set on 8.30 hours. At this time the fog lay still like a thick dripping cover over east England.
LeMays relays on their base at the coast with Norfolk could recognize a clearing up as first. Briefly after 9.00 o'clock became gradually the end of the runway visibly, although the cloud base was still with zero foot.
At 9.30 hours all machines was in the air and formed a far circle, which was enough from Norwich to over The wash-out. Now the remaining units of the 8th should push air Force to them. If they had more than ten minutes distance, would be the entire mission in vain. A larger time interval would make confusion tactics a warning for the entire air defense stations of Germany. With each minute, - and still many should apply -, came the plan passed more and more into the swaying.
Afterwards regarded, one can say easily that it would have been better to break off and on another day shift the operation at this time. But who is able to say, what proceeded in the head of the Brigadier General Frederick L. Anderson, when it sat as solely responsible in its command shelter in High Wycome and did not know which it do should?