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Questions and Answers
What beverage does Bob Lally drink when he first joins Hank and Tim at the table?
Why was Bob Lally not invited on trips to the officers' club initially?
What was the crew's response to the news of being taken off combat status?
What reason did Colonel Allen give for the crew not being promoted to lead crew?
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How many missions were remaining for the crew at the time of Bob's announcement?
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What was the crew's main objective during their practice missions?
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Which town was designated as the 'initial point' for the practice bombing runs?
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What evidence indicates that the practice missions were significant according to Major Harlan Thomas?
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What unexpected event occurred while the crew was preparing for their mission?
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What was the unexpected recommendation made by Colonel Allen regarding the mission?
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What is the primary reason for targeting the power plant in Switzerland?
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Why must the bombing of the Swiss power plant appear to be accidental?
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What tactic will the crew use to drop out of formation for the bombing run?
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What is expected to happen to the crew after they complete their mission?
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What percentage of heavy munitions is produced by the factories that the power plant supplies?
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Study Notes
### The Target
- The crew has been taken off combat status and selected for a special mission.
- The mission is to destroy a power plant in Switzerland that provides electricity for German munitions factories, which are located just over the border.
- The bombing must appear to be an accident because the power plant is located in Switzerland, a neutral country.
- The crew will be separated from the Army Air Force with their country's eternal gratitude and their names will be withheld from the press.
The Mission
- The crew will take off with the rest of the group as usual, but will drop out of formation and descend to 10,000 feet before bombing the plant.
- They will then fly back across southern France alone and land at a nearby base, Tibenham.
- Their belongings will be collected and they will be flown back to the States.
- The crew will be listed as "missing in action" until they return.
The Motivation
- Intelligence estimates that the factories being powered by the target plant are producing about 20% of Germany's heavy artillery.
- Destroying the power plant will shorten the war and save Allied lives.
The Crew
- Bob Lally is the pilot and experienced.
- Hank Mucci is concerned about the mission and asks how many lives they can save.
- Tim is suspicious of the mission and thinks it's unnecessary to use Luke as the bombardier.
- Luke is the bombardier and not very experienced in combat, but he is considered special by Colonel Allen, who has been assured by a "mutual friend" in London that Luke will not fail.
The Mission Briefing
- They will be briefed along with the other crews in the morning but must leave all their belongings at the hut.
- They will not land at their usual base after the mission; their crew will be listed as "missing in action" until they are flown to the States.
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Description
Explore a covert operation during World War II where a crew is tasked with destroying a power plant in Switzerland. This mission has heavy implications on the war effort, as the plant supports German munitions factories. Through this quiz, dive into the strategies and motivations behind this special operation.
