RAF Electronic Countermeasures Unit WWII

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Anybody have any information on the RAF's ECDU,

Electronic Countermeasures Development (Demonstration) Unit?

It appears as part of Bomber Command 92 group from late
1942 or early 1943 to mid/late 1944, flying Wellingtons and
eventually some Lancasters as well. Based at RAF Oakley.

What I am after is when it joined and left Bomber Command,
as well as what its actual function was.

Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.

[Keith Willshaw]

"Geoffrey Sinclair" > wrote in message
...
> Anybody have any information on the RAF's ECDU,
>
> Electronic Countermeasures Development (Demonstration) Unit?
>
> It appears as part of Bomber Command 92 group from late
> 1942 or early 1943 to mid/late 1944, flying Wellingtons and
> eventually some Lancasters as well. Based at RAF Oakley.
>
> What I am after is when it joined and left Bomber Command,
> as well as what its actual function was.
>
> Geoffrey Sinclair
> Remove the nb for email.
>
>

I thought 92 group was for OTU ?

The references I have see indicate ECM activities being incorporated
in 100 group in November 1943

http://www.bawdeswell.net/rtwebsite/100GroupRAF/100group.htm

One of the major units was 223 Squadron which flew Liberators
modified for the ECM role


Keith

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Keith Willshaw wrote in message ...

>"Geoffrey Sinclair" > wrote in message
...
>> Anybody have any information on the RAF's ECDU,
>>
>> Electronic Countermeasures Development (Demonstration) Unit?
>>
>> It appears as part of Bomber Command 92 group from late
>> 1942 or early 1943 to mid/late 1944, flying Wellingtons and
>> eventually some Lancasters as well. Based at RAF Oakley.
>>
>> What I am after is when it joined and left Bomber Command,
>> as well as what its actual function was.
>>
>I thought 92 group was for OTU ?

Correct, but it was under Bomber Command control.

At the peak in the late 1944 early 1945 time period Bomber Command
controlled

1, 3, 4, 5, 6 (RCAF) bomber groups
8 Pathfinder group
100 Bomber Support group
7 group for the Heavy Conversion Units
91, 92, 93 Groups for the OTUs.

Bomber Command always had a significant training system under
its direct command, the census of 4 February 1943 has 1,148
aircraft with the bomber squadrons versus 1,292 with the OTUs,
307 with the HCUs and 357 with "miscellaneous units".

>The references I have see indicate ECM activities being incorporated
>in 100 group in November 1943
>
>http://www.bawdeswell.net/rtwebsite/100GroupRAF/100group.htm
>
>One of the major units was 223 Squadron which flew Liberators
>modified for the ECM role

The ECM squadrons as of March 1945 were 171, 192, 199 and
462 squadrons, mainly equipped with Halifaxes, 214 squadron
with B-17s and 223 squadron with B-24s. The B-17 was there
because of its altitude performance and deep bomb bay, the B-24
because of its bomb bay, the US types able to hold some of the
jammers the British built bombers could not.

There were also 7 squadrons of Mosquito fighter bombers and
night fighters for more direct action against the Luftwaffe
night fighters.

Also 101 squadron in 1 Group was carrying ABC jammers, the
around 1,000 pounds of extra equipment reducing their bombloads
correspondingly. Many/Most radio operators in the normal bomber
squadrons were trained to use their on board equipment to help jam
German transmissions.

The USAAF contributed the 803rd (Provisional) squadron, first
sorties in June 1944. In August it was renamed the 36th squadron
and moved to a USAAF base. In November its mission was
changed to mainly support the day bombers using the same
tactics as the night support.

The ECDU was probably a training unit for most of its obscure life
but might have had a more active role in early 1943. So far I have
been unable to find even basic formation and disbandment dates.

Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.