Owing to the many days of inclement weather, it seems the V-2 crews were not particularly hindered by the air attacks. They were able to conduct their daily operations, while taking the usual precautions, on an almost uninterrupted schedule. Even so, the RAF Spitfires of No. 602 Squadron of the Coltishall Wing, along with No. 229 Squadron (which later became No. 603), were the primary nuisance to the rocket troops. The new Spitfire XVIs of No. 602 could carry two 250-pound bombs and extra fuel tankage to operate direct from England; however, once captured airfields on the continent like Ursel, Heimond, and Maldegem became available, the squadrons could fly south to recover and, after being refueled and rearmed, fly again to attack The Hague with 1,000 pounds of bombs. Despite the risk to civilians in the densely populated Dutch city, targets were attacked with noteworthy skill and precision. From January 1945, the primary targets were the storage depots, railway sidings, and road bridges. Many of the attacks in February were mounted against Haagsche Bosch (Hague Forest) park. During March of 1945, No. 602 Squadron alone completed 469 sorties, dropping more than 1,300 total bombs.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 06:01:59 +0000
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