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Posted on 01/02/2004 12:01:01 AM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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The Bombing of the Shellhus March 21, 1945 The Shellhus, or in English the Shell-building, was (and still is) situated near the centre of Copenhagen, 500 metres west of the Town hall. It is on the north side of Kampmandsgade between Nyrupsgade and Vester Farimagsgade (see map at right).Since the spring of 1944 the German secret police (Gestapo) had used it as headquarters. In the fall of 1944 several cells were established on the top floor to minimize transportation of prisoners from Vestre faengsel (a large prison in Copenhagen) to interrogation and torture in the Shellhus.  Shellhuset, circa 1940 By the end of 1944 the resistance-movement in Copenhagen was in danger of being rolled up by the Gestapo. Many of the leaders had been arrested and a lot of material was filed in the archives of the Shellhus. Leading members of the resistance-movement requested an attack by air on the Shellhus via SOE in London. By December 1944 the plan was ready, but the German counter attack in the Ardennes stopped the attack. By the end of january 1945 the RAF was ready, but the attack was postponed probably due to the weather. In the middle of March the situation for the resistance-movement became intolerable. A desperate telegram was sent to London beggin for an attack: If the resistance-movement was at all important the RAF had to attack at all costs.  On march 21st at 0855, 20 Mosquitos of the no. 2 light bomber group, escorted by 30 Mustangs from the 11th fighter group took off from RAF Fersfield in Norfolk. 18 of the bombers were Mosquito F.B. Mk. VI and 2 were Mosquito B. Mk. IV from the film production unit (FPU). The bombers carried 44x500 pound bombs. The Mustangs were Mk III's. The formation arrived at Tissoe, a lake in western Zeeland, and split up in three waves: no. 1: 7 Mosquitos (one FPU) and 12 Mustangs, no. 2: 6 Mosquitos and no. 3: 7 Mosquitos (one FPU). Apparently the three waves took different routes to Copenhagen, although they all approached Copenhagen from the south-west. The plan was to find the city of Koge some 30 km (20 miles) south of Copenhagen, then turn and follow the coast to Avedoere where they would turn north towards the Carlsberg brewery, passing it on the East-side. The last checkpoint was "Det Ny Teater", a theatre on the southeastern corner of the most southern of the four lakes. From the theater the planes would attack the Shellhus from the south.  Model used to plan the mission It was only the first wave that followed the planned approach. The two following waves took a more direct course to Copenhagen. The third wave came in from west instead of south. When the first wave passed the goods yard one of the Mosquitos hit a 30 metre lamp post and crashed near the French school (see the map). The rest of the wave found and bombed the target. The second wave got confused by the smoke and flames from the crashed Mosquito. Some realized the mistake before they bombed and turned toward the Shellhus, but only one of the planes were able to bomb the target. One or two of the planes in the 2nd wave dropped their bombs on the French school. The third wave approached Copenhagen from the west, passing the ZOO on their way in. All but one of the planes in the third wave dropped their bombs on the French school killing 123 civilians of whom 87 were children.  The circles represents exploded bombs The Shellhus was hit by 8x500 pound bombs, 6 in the western wing towards Nyropsgade, and 2 in the eastern wing towards Vester Farimagsgade. The west wing collapsed and a fire started. It was a windy day: 12 metres per second from west. The fire spread to the rest of the building and it burned down. At the time of the attack 26 members of the resistance were in the Shellhus: 23 in their cells on the top floor and 3 under interogation on the 5th floor.  The Burning Shell house building in Copenhagen The attack has always been seen as a success because of the many surviving prisoners. Some accounts of the attack state that the bombers targeted the lower parts of the building, trying to avoid damage to the cells on the top floor. The reason for the targeting of the lower parts could be the obvious, that the planes aimed at the centre of the building to be sure to hit some of it. As the author of one of the books about the attack points out: "No pilots, not even the best of RAF, were able to destroy a concrete building without destroying the upper floors."  The reason why so many (18 of 26) prisoners survived is probably that relatively few bombs hit the building. As mentioned above, 6 bombs exploded in the western wing. There were 9 prisoners in this part of the building, 6 were killed instantly and one more died when jumping from the 5th floor to the ground. All 14 prisoners in the southern wing survived (no bombs hit this part of the building). The 3 remaining prisoners were under interrogation on the 5th floor, one died. There were no prisoners in the eastern wing. The German casualties were around 50 Germans and 50 Danes who worked for the Gestapo. Of the 20 Mosquito's taking part in the attack 16 returned. One crashed in the goods yard before bombing and three more were shot down off the coast of northern Zeeland after the attack. 3 Mustangs had to turn around shortly after takeoff.  Mustang fighter flying low over Copenhagen during the attack One Mustang crashed in a park north of the Shellhus. The primary objective for the fighters was to attack AA positions in central Copenhagen. 9 RAF pilots and crew were killed in the attack. 3 are buried at Bispebjerg kirkegaard the remaining 6 crashed over the sea and they were never found. The Museum of Resistance (Frihedsmuseet) has on display one of the models of Copenhagen built and used by the RAF when they planned the attack. The Shellhus of today is the head office of the Shell Oil Company in Denmark. Mounted on the wall of the building is a bronze-cast of a propeller from one of the crashed Mosquito bombers. Below the propeller is a plaque with the names of the RAF crews members who were killed in the attack.
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It's not my imagination, then. I thought this all seemed that way.
That squirrel is hilarious!! Got that lil cutie stuck away. hehehe!
Gotta head to the kitchen to slap some supper together. Poo! Just when I get going. *sigh*
I'll catch y'all in a bit.
I hated when I opened it before smooshing the packet a few times, it always separated.
Now known as the DH98 Mosquito, it was of all-wooden construction with a layer of laminated cedar ply sections separated by a layer of balsa wood. The fuselage consisted of two halves to simplify the fitting of controls and wiring which were then glued together. One great advantage of using these materials was that non-strategic labour such a carpenters could be used to construct the aircraft, leaving steel and metal workers to concentrate on other equally important tasks. Power was provided by two Rolls Royce Merlin 21 engines of 1,250hp.
The Mosquito was a twin-engined aircraft of plywood monocoque construction, designed originally as a fast, unarmed light bomber. This concept was regarded as an aberration by the authorities, but the performance of the Mosquito silenced the critics. At night it operated with impunity over Germany to the end of the war, because the Luftwaffe never had a nightfighter fast enough to intercept it. The Mosquito also served with distinction as fighter-bomber, recconaissance aircraft and nightfighter. It was one of the finest aircraft of WWII, with a versatility only matched by the German Junkers Ju 88.
SIXTY-SEVEN (67) BOOKS ON THE DEHAVILLAND MOSQUITO
FOLLOWING COPYRIGHT PHILLIP TREWEEK
The R1155 is an English LF and HF superheterodyne receiver covering from 75kHz to 18.5mHz in 5 bands, with D/F (Direction Finding) and homing functions. This receiver started development in 1939 by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co and was called the AD.87B/8882B to replace the pre-war T1083 and R1082. The R.A.F. designation was the R1155 and the corresponding transmitter was the T1154, the first units being installed in June 1940. These were still used into the 1950s. Several companies manufactured them, including Marconi, Ekco, Plessy, Philips, and the Gramophone Co. (EMI). They were fitted to many aircraft like the Avro Lancaster and the deHavilland Mosquito.
FOLLOWING COPYRIGHT B. FILLERY
Restored woodwork on the front end of the fuselage of A52-600. The fuselage is mounted in a special turnover carriage for security and ease of working. A cowled engine with prop fitted can be seen in the background.
One of A52-600's bomb bay doors under restoration.
The fuselage of A52-600 mounted in the special roll-over cage that protects it and makes it easier to work on.
No. 4 bulkhead of A52-600.
On this occasion the pilot A.L. Davies and navigator J.S. Reynolds were present.
The wing root position looking forward.
The wing root position - underside.
"Bother," said Pooh, and he called in an air strike.
Pooh was a wise little bear.
I found that most times the "authorities" have their Hotel up their Alpha.
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