Anti Shipping Aircraft

I believe it was often the case (certainly with the British) that another plane would drop parachute flares behind the target. That would light things up enough to silhouette the target while the attack aircraft approached from the darkness. Hopefully it would also provide enough light to prevent the attack plane from flying into the water.

 

yeap , you are right about this, the plane was called "master of ceremonies " by the germans and was a top priority target for the nightfigthers

 

Re: thoughts

Well, some would say they were very lucky. It is interesting to note that of all the American planes that made torpedo attacks on the Japanese ships at the Battle of Midway, a PBY got the only hit. And her crew had never made a torpedo attack before in their lives, never mind a night one!