NORDLICHT (September 1942) point of clinging to the delusion of precision bombing far longer than bomb survey evidence should have supported The Norden bombsight was equipped with a powerful self-destruct explosive device to keep it out of enemy hands It was a complex piece of top secret technology that demanded high levels of skill and training to use properly It also required visual target identification, which limited effectiveness from high altitude or on cloudy days Its manufacture was so labor-intensive that the Norden was in initial short supply From 1943 Norden devices were used to actually fly bombers during the last stage of approach to target Deployed as “Automatic Flight Control Equipment” (AFCE), the Norden made automatic adjustments to the bomber’s fl ight controls This so increased mid-air collision risk that it was soon decided to use AFCE only in the lead bomber in any group, with pilots following that aircraft to target NORDHAUSEN See V-weapons program NORDLICHT (SEPTEMBER 1942) “Northern Lights.” Formerly code named FEUERZAUBER A German operational plan to finally take Leningrad in September 1942 Troops of German 11th Army were transferred north from the Crimea, with Field Marshal Erich von Manstein chosen to lead the assault He planned to loop around the city and take it from the east His plan was not carried out after preemption by the Soviet Siniavino offensive operation, which began in August Manstein blunted that attack by October 20 He was hurriedly transferred south to take command of Army Group Don in November, to deal with a building crisis literally surrounding German 6th Army at Stalingrad NORDLICHT (SEPTEMBER 1944) “Northern Lights.” Wehrmacht code name for the defense operation and withdrawal from Finland during September 1944 It was renamed BIRKE and carried out in great confusion, but with little Finnish opposition NORDWIND ( JANUARY 1945) “North Wind.” Wehrmacht code name for a limited counteroffensive undertaken in Alsace in January 1945 NORMANDIE-NIEMEN A group of 94 Free French pilots who fought for the Red Army Air Force (VVS) on the Eastern Front after the fall of France Half were killed there See also ace NORMANDY CAMPAIGN ( JUNE 6–AUGUST 19, 1944) The major land campaign conducted by the Western Allies in Europe, officially lasting from June to August 19, 1944 It was carried out under the supreme command of General Dwight Eisenhower, with General Bernard Law Montgomery in charge of all ground 792