Project Aphrodite
Attack target Helgoland
The second and last Anvil service of the US Navy took place on 3 September 1944. After that the allied ones the large V-weapon positions had already conquered, as a target the Uboot basis on Helgoland were selected. This time the employment succeeded, but the man at the radio telecontrol had confounded and let the island with the neighbouring island dune the "Liberator" impact there. The force of the explosion destroyed still nearly a kilometer of the impact place removes houses. Of the US Navy used FM system worked with one in the head of the bomb accommodated TV camera, which supplied pictures to the leading-airplane.
The Castor missions began in September with the FM system of the US Navy similar a remote control with a TV camera in the nose of the airplane. As a goal Helgoland and Heide/Hemmingstedt were selected, since this only a short penetration into opposing territory required and so that the danger of a firing was smaller by the flak.
In place of double AZON equipment a standard transmitting of you receiver AN/ARW-1 in the Castor airplane and the associated transmitter AN/ARW-18 was built in the leading-airplane. The machines started still with two men crew, however now a copilot replaced to the radio operators. Eureka/Rebecca Naviagtionssysteme served for the localization of the airplane if this with poor visibility from the field of vision of the observer shoultd disappear.
Additional assistance for maintaining the visual contact were from the mother airplane by radio switch offable smoke generator in the Castor airplane and the remarkable yellow coat of paint on the top side of the machine.
Anti-aircraft fire shortly before the target
The first Castor start took place on 11 September, as a machine loaded with 21.855 lbs (9,913 kg) Torpex against Helgoland was used. The procedure corresponded to that of the Aphrodite missions using the Doppe AZON devices, with which exception that the leading-airplane on same height as the Baby flew to 2.000 to 2,500 feet (600 to 760 m) height, however with a distance of two to three kilometers behind it and when approximating to the target this distance to ten to twelve kilometers increased.
The remote control during the flight over 400 kilometers was called perfect, until the Baby received only 10 seconds before the target a flak hit, fell into sea and exploded about 200 meters far away from the beach.
Even if the Castor system exhibited substantial improvements in relation to the systems used in former times, then its employment was nevertheless pursued of the misfortune. When the pilot, 1Lt. Richard Lindahl, left its machine with the parachute, the static line of its parachute had been obviously not correctly fastened and it suffered a neck break. Three days later two Castor machines against an oil refinery into Hemmingstedt, missed however due to bad weather its target was inserted.
Instead of Helgoland farm in Sweden hit!
On 15 and 30 October was Helgoland again a target of two double attacks, in addition, this time the "Babies" missed their target. A machine broke others open off the locality Helgoland, two fell into the sea. With fourth fallow the radio contact off, it flew in northeast direction and exploded on a farm in the proximity of Trollhaettan in Sweden. Obviously regarded patient Sweden this incident as a further attempt of a damaged bomber to find rescue in their country. This is to be concluded from it that announced, the crew bailed out over Denmark.