How did the Allied and Luftwaffe target finding equipment and marking compare in terms of accuracy, resistance to countermeasures etc?
In the book 'Caen the Anvil of Victory' the allies and Germans used coloured smoke during the day. At night the infantry would identify their positions with coloured flashlights pointed to the sky. They both used pathfinders. The Allies used a sequence of radio waves, I think three of them, to align their position. When the radio pulse matched their preflight instructions they knew when to drop the bombs; at night anyways. I think in general this is correct but its been awhile. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.c ... navigation http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Robert_Watson-Watt http://www.2worldwar2.com/radar.htm I hope these help in finding what you want.
The Germans pioneered that system during the Blitz (using 2 beams). It produces good accuracy for larger targets (like the London docklands, for example) but is very prone to being dirverted, or various other ECM tricks, once the enemy find out about it. It can also act as a beacon to the enemy nightfighters, who will know exactly where to find you - always a bonus in the days before radar...
It should also be noted that Bomber Command's Pathfinder Force turned into an elite unit in the course of the war, highly skilled at its mission. It is also largely unrecognized today.
