Originally published at: Three World War II Bombs Defused in Downtown Cologne, Germany - AVweb
For disposal teams, deactivating 80-year-old ordnance is ‘an everyday job.’
Co;ognr in Germany was the target of the first 1000 bomber raid in WW2. In 1964 as an ex RAF pilot aged 26 now flying for British European Airways as a Viscount First Officer with a Captain who was ex Bomber Command Lancaster pilot. Walking in central Cologne I mentioned how the splendid Cathedral had survived the war. His reply, “Yes, it was the aiming point!” RAF humour, or maybe not! Mac McLauchlan
On the “maybe not” side, that very visible cathedral could have used as an “offset aim point” to strike less visibly clear targets. The Norden bombsight had this capability.