Firestorm in Dresden

13th February 1945: RAF bombing techniques, perfected during the course of the war, culminate in a devastating bombing raid

An Avro Lancaster bomber prepares to take off for a night raid on Germany. Three searchlights (called 'Sandra' lights) form a cone to indicate the height of the cloud base for the departing aircraft.

'Operation Thunderclap' had been under discussion within the Allied Command for some time in 1944. The original idea was for a joint USAAF/ RAF day and nigh…