CBS News Radio flashback: Edward R. Murrow describes bombing raid on Berlin in 1943

Key Concepts

• Allied Bombing Raid: A strategic aerial attack by the Royal Air Force (RAF) on Berlin during World War II.
• "D Dog": The specific Lancaster bomber aircraft that Edward R. Murrow flew in during the mission.
• Coning: A defensive tactic used by anti-aircraft searchlight crews to trap an enemy plane in multiple beams of light, making it a target for flak and night fighters.
• Ack-Ack: Slang for anti-aircraft fire.
• "Cookies": Colloquial term for 4,000-lb high-explosive bombs used by the RAF.
• Target Indicators: Flares dropped by pathfinder aircraft to mark the aiming point for the main bomber force.

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1. Overview of the Mission

In 1943, CBS correspondent Edward R. Murrow participated in an RAF bombing raid over Berlin, one of the most heavily defended targets in Nazi Germany. The mission was characterized by extreme danger; of the five radio correspondents who joined the raid, only two survived. The operation resulted in the loss of 41 bombers.

2. Pre-Mission Briefing and Methodology

Murrow describes the briefing process as having an atmosphere of "school and a church," emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

• Intelligence Briefing: Pilots were informed of Berlin’s status as a primary center of German war production.
• Threat Assessment: Intelligence officers detailed the expected density of anti-aircraft (ack-ack) guns and searchlight batteries.
• Logistics: Crews utilized celluloid pads to map out the flight path and target coordinates.

3. The Aerial Attack: Step-by-Step Experience

Murrow’s account provides a visceral, chronological breakdown of the flight into the target area:

• Approach: As the plane reached 30 miles from Berlin, the intensity of the mission escalated. The bomb aimer, "Buzz," identified the target via yellow flares.
• The "Fireworks": The sky was filled with red, green, and yellow flares. Murrow observed other aircraft being targeted, noting the "unreality" of the scene despite the lethal nature of the environment.
• The "Coning" Incident: The aircraft "D Dog" was caught in the searchlights. Murrow describes the blinding white light that illuminated the seams of the wings.
• Evasive Maneuvers: The pilot, Jock, executed a violent corkscrew maneuver, jamming the control column forward and to the left, then pulling into a sharp climbing turn to escape the beams. Murrow notes the physical toll of these maneuvers, describing his inability to stand and the intense fear of being trapped in the light while still carrying a 4,000-lb "cookie" and incendiaries.

4. Observations of Destruction

From his vantage point, Murrow provided a grim description of the bombing’s impact on Berlin:

• Incendiaries: Described as "a fistful of white rice thrown on a piece of black velvet," these small incendiary bombs created a grid-like pattern of fire across the city.
• High Explosives: The 4,000-lb "cookies" were described as "great sunflowers gone mad" as they detonated, causing massive destruction.

5. Notable Quotes

• "The atmosphere was that of a school and a church." — Describing the somber mood of the pre-flight briefing.
• "It seemed that one big searchlight, instead of being 20,000 ft below, was mounted right on our wing tip." — Describing the terrifying proximity of the German searchlights during the "coning" of the aircraft.
• "And the light still held us. And I was very frightened." — A candid admission of the psychological terror experienced during the raid.

6. Synthesis and Conclusion

Edward R. Murrow’s report serves as a primary historical document that captures the harrowing reality of the Allied strategic bombing campaign. By focusing on the technical aspects of the flight—such as the "coning" tactic and the specific ordnance used—and pairing them with his personal emotional response, Murrow humanized the mechanical destruction of war. The high casualty rate among the correspondents underscores the extreme risk inherent in these missions, while his vivid imagery of the burning city provides a stark look at the scale of the aerial bombardment of Berlin.