Geoffrey Sinclair wrote:

In the end the deadline was extended but some
bombers were on their way and the abort flares were fired were not
seen by the first wave. The second wave turned back.


The recall signal was sent too late, the bombers had stopped
listening in order to concentrate on their bomb runs, and
despite flying at 2,300 feet they failed to see the signal rockets
and some 54 He111's unloaded. As noted the second wave did
see the signal flares.


They didn't really need the second wave anyway; here's some photos of
what the first wave accomplished:
http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/images/51422.jpg
http://www.humobisten.nl/weblog/archives/bombing.jpg
http://www.annefrank.org/upload/Them..._rotterdam.jpg
Here's a view after all the destroyed buildings had been demolished and
the debris removed:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-Rotterdam.jpg
Here's some shots of what Warsaw looked like after the Luftwaffe got
done with it:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...aw_burning.jpg
http://en.wikivisual.com/images/6/69/Warsaw_siege3.jpg
http://www.worldfuturefund.org/Import/warsaw.jpg
.... and Guernica:
http://www.spanishrefugees-basquechi...uildings_4.jpg
http://lacucaracha.info/scw/diary/19...guernica_5.jpg
http://lacucaracha.info/scw/diary/19...guernica_1.jpg
http://lacucaracha.info/scw/diary/19...guernica_3.jpg
http://www.sindromedistendhal.com/La...-bombardeo.jpg
So this approach to bombardment by the Luftwaffe "do what we say
immediately, or we'll kill you all."
Goes back to day one of WW II and even before.
And well before British bombs start falling on German cities.
Eunometic reminds me very much of the character Maximilian Schell plays
in the movie "Judgment At Nuremberg"
Defense attorney Hans Rolfe, whose defense tactic is:
1.) They were just following orders.
2.) They didn't know what was going on.
3.) You did it too.
....and, at the end...
4.) They probably had it coming, anyway.
One thing that is very noticeable in those "Signal" articles is how
resistance on the part of the military forces of the invaded countries
is described. They are never "opposing forces", they are never
"defending forces"... they are "the enemy", even when they are defending
their own country, which was invaded without provocation.

Pat