06.00 • Stations 06.30 • Red flare, engine start #1, #2, #3 and #4 06.45 • Chocks pulled from wheels, slowly move towards taxi way in takeoff order 07.00 • green flare, leader takeoff. Within 30 seconds after the planes depart at 30 secons intervals The landing gear and wing flaps are raisedgreen flare, leader takeoff. Within 30 seconds after the planes depart at 30 secons intervals The landing gear and wing flaps are raised • We are on our way ! Temperature: - 40° C

Briefing

Imagine now, the most horrible conditions. To fly on the enemy territory in full day light, locked up in a plane. It makes a freezing cold of approximately -30° C below zero. Your life depends on your flight suit and oxygen mask. If one or the other breaks down, you have little time to react before losing consciousness.The flight suit is a kind of electric heating cover. Oxygen is necessary above 10.000 feet. The aircrafts fly in tightened formation, in a kind of limps narrow in order to be protected from the German fighters. There is the constant danger to enter in collision with the other plane and the tight formation represents an easy target for the German Flak which draws from the ground. Moreover, add dozens German fighters plunging on you coming from all directions. As terrible as you can imagine .. IT WAS STILL WORSE !

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