I was there, so I can give some feedback on what I perceived to be happening.
68th were local Command.
Timing indicated that there was not going to be a direct assault. That would have been concluded inside 30 minutes. As time rolled by it meant that there was going to be a high level assault, with a high possibility of a low level component as a distraction.
Flashing bases were pretty obviously meant to mislead. Starting at the northern base was an mistake as it was on the direct line of assault and would have started 15 mins earlier if anything meaningful was coming through there. This was confirmed when the flashing moved south and each base flashed just one at a time. When there's more planes the bases flash for much longer in train. This is what happened just before the low level attack commenced and the local CO sorted out the groups as to who was to be expected to do what.
At about this time the high level group north of the coast was sighted.
CO called for the 202s to take on the low assault when it came, while the 68s and 9GIAP stayed high.
When the Hurricanes hit (we were expecting P40s) a small group of 109s were also sent to assist the 202s to get them down.
The B25s were engaged north of the field in about the position that it was estimated they would be going into the bombsight.
The sheer numbers of B-25s and the speed and toughness of the planes saw them brush the defenders aside. The P40 escorts took a toll, as a number of fighters stayed in there blasting away determined to bring at least one down.
All in all, it was a very successful attack as there just wasn't enough firepower to severely disrupt it, yet alone stop it altogether. The escort was strong enough and dedicated to the task.
The hi-lo was foreseen but required a response. This still had the effect of weakening the local defence sufficiently for the high buffs to get through.
Worked pretty well.
A follow up move to stop a second strike from rearmed B25s probably wasn't necessary but was enacted anyway.
Cheers.
