I have obtained an aircraft loss card (Lancaster ND389) which shows several of what I think are navigational 'way points' which may indicate the route taken on a bombing raid to Aachen in April 1944. This was from RAF Wyton (83 Sqdn Pathfinder Base), to the Dutch coast, towards Cologne and then south past Aachen, swinging round to the south of the town and approaching it from the East. At this point bombs would have been dropped and the aircraft would return towards the Dutch coast only to be shot down near Antwerp.
The above is the result of a very rudimentary plot of the course. Tthe internet based maps are of varying scales and multiple sheets which makes the gaining of an overall picture something of an impossibility. In any event the 'way points' are few in number which leaves scope for much guesswork. So far I've not been able to obtain a map of a reasonable scale such that a single sheet would cover the area I need - most cover way too far to the east
Full navigational details would have been given at operation briefing, but I wonder if there are any maps, official or otherwise, showing some of the more common routes taken? Places to avoid would have been generally known by mid 1944, so there may have been some commonality to the routes which together with the loss card data might enable me to build up a clearer picture of the route taken in this case.
Any information on how navigation worked would be appreciated. My Grammar School maths teacher was a navigator with Bomber Command but like many who went through it, he said very little.
Co-ordinates on the loss card are not clear but my interpretation is:
Base 5242N 00:5W (RAF Wyton Nr Huntingdon Cambs)
5200N 0330E
5044N 0610E
5200N 0330E
5100N 0620E
Aachen LAT 50.766 LNG 06.0831
