Jump to content

'Altair' - a Liberator postscript in a bid to kill Hitler


Dances With Wolves

Recommended Posts

Hi folks:

 

I recently posted my completed build of 'Altair' here - http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235012902-hasegawa-172-liberator-altair/ but there's more to this Pathfinder Liberator, her skipper, Tom Scotland and my uncle, Ted Budd than is generally known.

 

The following is a brief summary of Tom's account in his book 'Voice from the Stars - a Pathfinders Story' on the potentially momentous evening of December 24 1944, by my brother Nick.

 

"Christmas menu for the Squadron dinner held in Foggia.

15327496_10154761956604110_8057125373727

 

Ted and Tom nearly missed the Squadron Christmas meal, for an incredible Op that was aborted at short notice.

'Altair' and its crew were tasked at short notice with target marking Berchtesgaden, as intelligence had intercepted messages that the Fuehrer was going to be at the Berghof for Christmas. Mosquitos were to immediately follow up, using 'Altair's' target marking to precision bomb the building, in an attempt to kill Hitler.

As 'Altair' stood ready to depart on the runway on Christmas Eve at Amendola with engines idling, a jeep finally appeared out of the falling snow to give the order to stand down. Intelligence had intercepted communication that Hitler remained in Berlin.

An incredible story of a momentous objective that ultimately never happened, where Tom and Ted  so nearly found themselves unexpectedly flying the mission of their lives, to foreshorten the war and alter the course of history.

I hope Ted, Tom and the crew enjoyed their meal."

That Tom and his crew were selected to lead on such a task speaks volumes for them all. An interesting side note in the history of one Liberator among over 19,000 others.

 

Steve

 

 

Edited by Dances With Wolves
  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is a very interesting story, I'm guessing that the intelligence came from Bletchley Park after opening an ENIGMA signal? It is intriguing to run the 'what if?' scenario through your head had the mission gone ahead succesfully.

 

I wonder how much of the Christmas menu was obtained from the Italian locals supplies? As Stewart says, it certainly doesn't look like a rationed meal!

 

DC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...