The Master Bomber in charge of the operation identified the problem and issued corrections to the incoming aircraft.

The Master Bomber allows only 73 of them to bomb th target, and one Halifax is lost.

The Master Bomber had to return to base and his deputies were shot down en route.

He returned to operational duties in May 1944, becoming Master Bomber of 5 Group.

Tim Lane: "Master Bomber was also terrific bloke" (The Age, 23 February 2008)

The follow-up force consisted of several groups, including PFF aircraft, who marked the target based on radio instructions from what would become known as "the Master Bomber".

The Master Bomber became a common feature of large-scale raids from this time on.

As the war wore on, the role of "Master Bomber" was introduced.

The mission is flown and while the target is being attacked, the Master Bomber is shot down, causing the remaining bombers to begin bombing inaccurately.

Hearing and seeing this, Mason takes the Master Bomber's place on the radio, broadcasting corrections and accurate instructions, and the bombing becomes accurate again.