Stories

At the conclusion of the war in Europe in May 1945, Allied forces stood victorious over a shattered Germany. The country was in ruins, its cities devastated by years of aerial bombardment and ground battles. As the war transitioned to peace, one of the more unusual post-war events were the so-called ‘Cook’s or Baedeker Tours’ over Germany  – titled after the famed travel companies. These flights, conducted primarily by the Royal Air Force (RAF), offered politicians, military personnel (including some ground crew and WAAFs), journalists and even some civilians  the chance to witness firsthand the scale of destruction inflicted on German cities and infrastructure.

An aerial photograph taken from a De Havilland Mosquito of the RAF Film andPhotographic Unit
showing severely damaged buildings in the area between Friedrich Hain and Lichtenberg, Berlin.
(Credit: IWM)

The Purpose of “Sightseeing Flights”

The so-called “Cook’s Tours” were organized in the months immediately following Germany’s surrender, with most occurring during the summer of 1945. They were primarily conducted using RAF bombers and transport aircraft.

The flights were not initiated as a morbid form of tourism but as a way to achieve several important objectives. Firstly, the flights allowed Allied personnel and select civilians to witness the destruction firsthand. For many, seeing the results of the bombing campaigns helped them understand the war’s impact on both Germany and the broader conflict. It was a stark visual lesson on the power of modern warfare and the consequences of prolonged conflict.

The flights were also an opportunity for journalists, photographers, and filmmakers to capture images and footage of the devastation. Part documentation and part propaganda, these records were used to inform the public about the war’s impact and to reinforce the need for reconstruction and reconciliation efforts. In some cases, the imagery served as a reminder of the price of war and the importance of preventing future conflicts.

For the Allied military personnel, especially those involved in the bombing campaigns, the flights provided a sense of closure and vindication. Viewing the destruction confirmed that their efforts had played a critical role in defeating the Axis powers. However, it also prompted reflection on the human cost of their actions. In some cases, liberated prisoners of war returning home were offered the chance to view the devastation from the air.

Hamburg after bombing by UK Royal Air Force.
(Imperial War Museum via Wikipedia)

A Bird’s-Eye View of Destruction

For many participants, the experience was both awe-inspiring and deeply sobering. From the air, the devastation of Germany’s cities was laid bare. Vast swathes of urban areas had been reduced to rubble, with only the skeletal remains of buildings standing amid the debris. Roads and railways were often unusable, and the scars of bomb craters and firestorms were visible even from high altitudes.

One British journalist who participated in a flight over Berlin described the scene as follows: ‘The city lay in ruins beneath us, an endless sea of shattered buildings and twisted metal. It was a stark reminder of the destructive power of modern war and the resilience required to rebuild.’ 

Contrasting Emotions

The flights elicited a wide range of emotions from those aboard. For many Allied personnel, the sight of destroyed factories, rail yards, and military installations was a source of pride. It validated the effectiveness of their missions and the sacrifices they had made.

However witnessing the devastation also prompted feelings of sorrow, particularly for the civilian casualties. Many were struck by the realization that entire communities had been obliterated. The flights often led to deeper reflection on the morality and necessity of the bombing campaign. While most participants supported the Allied strategy, the scale of destruction raised questions about its human and ethical cost.

The Public Response

News of the flights and the images they produced were met with mixed reactions in Allied countries. Many citizens viewed them as a justified and necessary exploration of the consequences of war. However, some expressed discomfort with the idea of “sightseeing” over such devastation, seeing it as insensitive or voyeuristic.

The published images would later fuel the emerging debates about the morality and effectiveness of the Allied bombing strategy in defeating Nazi Germany and saving lives overall.

Rebuilding Germany

These flights and photographs also played a significant role in shaping post-war attitudes and policies toward the monumental task of rebuilding Germany. Learning from the mistakes made after World War I – which provided the foundation for the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party – Allied leaders, recognised the need for stability in Europe and committed this time to aiding Germany’s reconstruction through initiatives like the Marshall Plan to establish long-term peace in Europe.

A Cook’s Tour to Cologne

Joan Beech was a WAAF at RAF Bourn was one of those ‘invited along’ on a Cook’s Tour. She recalled the trip in her biography One WAAF’s War:

After the cessation of hostilities, there were hundreds of aircrew cooling their heels in airfields up and down the country with nothing much to do. […] Something had to be found for the men to with their time, so someone had the bright idea of introducing ‘Cook’s Tours’ – trips over France and Germany in a Lancaster for any of the non-flying staff who cared to take advantage of it.

She then gives an account of her own Cook’s Tour which she found deeply uncomfortable and terrifying. The crew of the Lancaster who had done the trip many times at night were very blase until they came to Cologne.

At Cologne we turned for home, circling the great cathedral at what felt like an angle of forty five degrees. The massive stone structure stood out bravely amidst the miles of destruction, and the crew became interested as they hadn’t seen it in daylight before.

Joan recalled that they met up with another Lancaster returning from its own Cook’s Tour, and ‘to my horror the two aircraft then flew wingtip to wingtip all the way home.’ She eventually got back safely, vowing never to get in an aircraft again.

Cologne Cathedral stands, a survivor amongst the city’s destruction. It was an easy navigational marker for Allied bombers. The cathedral endured 14 bomb hits and was heavily damaged, but the structure remained, looming above the rest of the ruined city.
(Credit: IWM)