http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/tirpitz.html

One aspect which has remained something of a mystery is the total lack of interference from enemy fighters. The first reports of the Lancasters meeting at the rendezvous point were received on the Tirpitz at about 9 a.m., an hour and a half before the aircraft attacked, and fighter protection was requested immediately. It appears that one reason why this request was not granted may have been that the Germans believed that the fighter base at Bardufoss was the intended target for the British bombers.

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On Cajus Bekker´s book on Kriegsmarine he mentions that the German fighters were approaching Tirpitz as they were signalled to return home immediately as bombers were assumed (according to radar)to be closing in on the air field. It seems according to Bekker that there were bombers making a decoy bomber run towards the air field. When it was too late the Germans noted more bombers and they were heading for Tirpitz.

Well, one would think the RAF would know...

Any ideas on this as this has been bit of a mystery?

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The most recent book about the aerial attacks on Tirpitz, 617 squadron historian John Sweetman's ' Tirpitz - Hunting The Beast ' ( Sutton, 2000 ) devotes several pages to an attempted analysis of this mystery. He is forced to conclude that ' Precisely what happened to III/JG.5 at the crucial time, and why, remains obscure mainly because comprehensive records have not survived' (p.157 ).

A combination of confused communication and radar mis-plotting at Bardufoss certainly contributed, and the general consensus is that Major Heinrich Ehrler was 'scapegoated'. Sweetman feels certain that records were deliberately destroyed to cover up a serious blunder or, as is so often the case, a series of blunders leading to a catastrophic outcome.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Thanx Martin!

But does this mean that the RAF says they never made a decoy attack for the the air field? In that case it´d mean the Germans **** it up with their fighters themselves...

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Just read in the " Hell of a bomb" that the place of Tirpitz had just been changed and that´s why there was no smoke ( not ready for action yet ) and the fighters went to the original Tirpitz position and failed to come to aid....

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They feared for Tirpitz's safety with the withdrawal of the Northern Front. It was to be moved to Skarmen Fjord near Narvik, but the RAF arrived 2 days early. (And the Russians didnt follow up, she could have remained at Alta Fjord)

6 aircraft took off (with 2 in reserve) but received orders to return to base, a small feint by the RAF panicked the controllers to cause them to issue a recall? What use are the fighters if they dont protect the Tirpitz?

From "The Tirpitz" by Jochen Brennecke

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Whe're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ - 6 Australian Infantry Div, Bardia January 1941

Extra question: In the " A hell of a bomb" book it is mentioned the radar gap at Hortafjorden was used to get the planes unnoticed deeper into Norway and this was not repaired by Germans for the later operations. Anyone know if the Germans did not notice this or what?

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