This is Tobob’s La Spezia scenery, with contributions from Rami, Dombral, and kelticheart. This package is for CFS2, and will be used for the upcoming DamBusters campaign. Tobob has graciously donated his coastlines and land class to the project, allowing for me to build GSL scenery, with the help of kelticheart and Dombral which approximates the historical setting of La Spezia, Italy in 1943 for the attack by British Lancaster bombers during their return to England from Blida aerodrome as part of "Operation Bellicose" the night of 23/24 June, 1943. A seaplane takeoff point is provided for the scenery by kdriver.
The attack by the British Royal Air Force on La Spezia during their return trip to England from Blida aerodrome in Algeria was the first documented case during the war of what became known as 'shuttle bombing.' This was part of "Operation Bellicose," occurring the night of June 20th / 21st and June 23rd / 24th, 1943. During their leg down to Africa, they struck aircraft assembly plants at Friedrichshafen, Germany before continuing to Algeria.
During the return trip, British Lancasters struck La Spezia, an important Italian Naval base, as they lumbered back toward their bases in England. Their attack on La Spezia was considered a major success; they damaged oil storage facilities as well as armament stores.
Later in 1943, the American Army Air Force would use a similar strategy during the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, as some of the force struck the latter target and continued south to land at Bonê, Algeria. Later in 1944, the USAAF did this again with a larger-scale effort called "Operation Frantic," which was a coordinated effort with the 15th Air Force out of Italy in addition to the 8th Air Force out of England. The Royal Air Force also did this late in 1944 when they sent bombers to Yagodnik in the Soviet Union to attack the Tirpitz in a Norwegian fjord which was too far for Lancasters based in Scotland.
The attack by the British Royal Air Force on La Spezia during their return trip to England from Blida aerodrome in Algeria was the first documented case during the war of what became known as 'shuttle bombing.' This was part of "Operation Bellicose," occurring the night of June 20th / 21st and June 23rd / 24th, 1943. During their leg down to Africa, they struck aircraft assembly plants at Friedrichshafen, Germany before continuing to Algeria.
During the return trip, British Lancasters struck La Spezia, an important Italian Naval base, as they lumbered back toward their bases in England. Their attack on La Spezia was considered a major success; they damaged oil storage facilities as well as armament stores.
Later in 1943, the American Army Air Force would use a similar strategy during the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, as some of the force struck the latter target and continued south to land at Bonê, Algeria. Later in 1944, the USAAF did this again with a larger-scale effort called "Operation Frantic," which was a coordinated effort with the 15th Air Force out of Italy in addition to the 8th Air Force out of England. The Royal Air Force also did this late in 1944 when they sent bombers to Yagodnik in the Soviet Union to attack the Tirpitz in a Norwegian fjord which was too far for Lancasters based in Scotland.
