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In the predawn darkness of December 6, 1942, a massive assembly of aircraft stood poised on airfields across Norfolk, England. Fortyeight Lockheed Venturas, thirtysix Douglas Bostons, and ten de Havilland Mosquitos – the full might of the RAF's Number 2 Group – readied for an unexpected and very special target.

Wing Commander James PellyFry climbed into his Boston bomber, and at 11:15 AM, he led the first wave into the sky, igniting Operation Oyster. Within fifteen minutes, ninetythree more aircraft followed, forming a massive armada carrying with one of the most dangerous and destructive bomb types developed during the war.

Their objective: the sprawling Philips Radio Works in Eindhoven, deep in Nazioccupied Netherlands. Not only was it producing nearly onethird of the vacuum tubes used in most Nazi radioequipment, but it also housed a secret research facility. The Allies deemed its destruction so important, that they were willing to take the extreme risk of conducting the raid in broad daylight.

Reaching Eindhoven meant flying 200 miles into the teeth of German air defenses. With no fighter escort, the bombers would be alone and vulnerable. Their only protection: a plan to fly at a mere 100 feet, skimming the waves of the North Sea to slip under German radar.

And if they actually made it to the site? They had only 10 minutes to get in and get out…



Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, topsecret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.