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V-1 flying bombs
Hi guys
As some of you may know I am putting the finishing touches to my latest book - Diver! Diver! Diver! - an account of RAF/Commonwealth/USAAF day and night fighter defence against the V-1 flying bomb assault on the UK in 1944. It is due to be published in June of this year (time is rapidly running out!!) Should anyone have a story/account or something similar they feel should be included relating to fighters shooting down flying bombs, then do please contact me asap. Any contribution that I may be able to use will be acknowledged in the forthcoming book. Cheers Brian |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
I am infrequently in contact with Tarald Weisteen who served on 85 Sqn from 1943 to the end of the war.He shot down the first V-1 to be downed by 85.His final V-1 score was 7.
Stein |
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Hi Stein
Have you any personal accounts of Tarald's operations against the V-1? I do have details of his seven kills but should he have record of the serial numbers of the Mosquitos he flew when making these claims, I would appreciate same. The 85 Squadron ORB listed code letters only - for example, I know that Tarald flew VY-A and VY-B when making his V-1 kills. I hope that you may be able to help further Cheers Brian |
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I have managed to match A/C letters with serials for quite a few of the Mossies he flew at 85 Sqn but not all.The MK.XIX he used for his last V-1 kill on 16th Aug-44 was VY-B (no serial found),all others were obtained flying MM636 VY-A.This serial appears in his logbook in connection with a "green endorsement" re. a single-engine landing during the night of 15/16 June.However,Weisteen has pencilled in the serial MM626 in his logbook.This machine was also on 85 Sqn at the same time as MM636,both transferring to the Swedish Air Force post-war,Swedish researchers have not been able to find what codeletters they wore when serving on 85 Sqn.My guess is as good as yours:Logbook or endorsement? I think I prefer the endorsement.
Stein |
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....and don't forget I have quite a lot on 165 Sqn, including all of their Diver kills. Did I send you a listing of all Divers shot down by crews based at Manston?
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Hi Stein
Thanks for the gen. I note that Erik Fossum flew VY-G when shooting down his three flying bombs. Any idea of the serial? Also of VY-E, VY-F, VY-J, VY-O, VY-P, VY-Q, VY-R, VY-S, VY-W (XVIIs, all of which were involved in V-1 kills) Hi Chris, I will be getting in touch soon. Thanks (yes, you did send me the Manston details). Cheers Brian |
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Fossum's "G" was a Mk. XIX,serial MM648.Mk. XVII VY-C was HK299,"L" was HK347,"R" was HK349.Another Mk. XIX VY-J was TA400.For the other letters I have no serials to tie up with,especially the "B"-Flight machines as no Norwegians were posted to this flight.
I've had access to some 8 or 9 logbooks belonging to Norwegians of 85 Sqn.They served mostly over a long timeperiod,spanning the phase-out/phase-in of the various Mossie versions,i.e. Mk.XII/XIII to XVII,XVII to XIX,XIX to XXX.As the planes were mostly delivered in batches of 3-5 planes at a time,it could possibly be a project to check the various movement card dates versus the first mentioned dates in the ORB.Let's say that the first mention of a new mark VY-A and B ("A"-flight) and VY-L and M ("B"-flight) and we have already identified A and L,there would be a 50% chance of hitting the serials of B and M. |
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Many thanks Stein - at least that's a few more tied up
Cheers Brian |
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Book release date? Publisher? Do you take credit cards?
:D |
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Hello,
I'm not sure of the date/time/crew off hand, but there is a story of a 307 Sqn Mk30 Mosquito colliding with a V-2 after taking off for a night patrol. The aircraft was destroyed along with the V-2, but the crew survived (baled out). I'm at work now, but can pass on more info when i get home, if anyone is interested. Mieszko |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hi Mhuxt - book due out in June (hopefully!) to be published by Grub Street of London. I assume they take credit cards. I will let you know further details asap. Thanks.
Hi Mieszko - thanks, but my book covers V-1 operations only. Sorry! Cheers Brian |
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Hi Mieszko:
I'm interested if you have details. Cheers, Mark |
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Hello Brian and Mark!
Mark here is what I have; On Dec. 12th 1944 w/o Sylwester Wieczorek (pilot) and w/o Henryk Ostrowski of 307 Sqn departed Coltishall on a night "intruder" mission to Holand flying a Mosquito Mk30, MV542/EW-Y. At about 300ft they entered clouds and started circling to gain altitude before heading out towards Holland. About 15min after takeoff while still in the clouds they collided with something. The Mosquito fell into a spin, however the pilot was able to regain control and forceland/crash. Both crew members survived and were told by RAF brass that they collided with a V-2. Wieczorek and Ostrowski were credited with destroying a V-2. The above is was taken from two different books about 307 Sqn. One by Robert Gretzinger, and I forget the author of the other. This is suppose to be the only V-2 destroyed over England. Dumb luck more than anything else, I suppose. Cheers, Mieszko |
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Thanks Mieszko.
Cheers, Mark |
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Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hello George,
Yup, V-2 it is. In the 307 Sqn history "Przez ciemnie nocy" (Through the dark of night) by Andrzej R. Janczak (pgs 256-257) there is a detailed account of the incident, and later in the same book 307 Sqn is credited with one He111/V-1, and one V-2. In Robert Gretzyngier's book, 307 Sqn is also credited with a V-2. Cheers, Mieszko |
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Dear Mieszko
This is very confusing! According to Foreman and his book Fighter Command War Diaries, 307 Sq is not even mentioned on this day!! He does not give credit to anything from 307Sq that day. No victory and no loss!! Luckily I can verify that MV542 is listed as having hit an "object" in the sky on the 12th (RAF Aircraft series by Air Britain) The main question is however HOW it was determined that they were hit by a V-2 rocket and how the "Brass" was able to verify that!! Can anyone verify this from PRO files?? Cheers Stig |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hello Stig,
The only information I have is from the two books I mentioned. Where, when, how the RAF determined what the Mosquito hit beats me. I'll leave it to the historians/researchers to fill in the details. Cheers, Mieszko |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hello Brian,
Don't know if you have this already. But AFAIK this pilot has never been credited as an ace although he had more than 5 plus 5 V1's to his credit. Dates for V1 kills May 9th 44 in a Beau VI - WM-Y July 23rd 44 in a Mosquito XVII - WM-L August 16th 44 in a Mosquito XIX - WM-Y August 16th again in a Mosquito XIX - WM-Y September 9th 44 in a Mosquito XVII - WM-N Details as per Log book. Same crew each kill, Harvey and Southerland. I dont know how many were stopped on the dates given. All for now Alex |
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Hi Alex:
Do you have crew ranks and initials for the above? Is 68 Squadron the correct unit? TIA, Mark |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hi Alex
The Harvey/Sutherland crew are completely unknown to me! Yet, you say you have a copy of Harvey's logbbook? I don't think he would have got a V-1 on 9 May unless he encountered one during a test launch - the V-1 assault against the UK didn't commence until 12/13 June, although a Tempest pilot did shoot down one over the French coast in May (a test launch) As Mark requested, can you provide more details? Cheers Brian |
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Hello Brian,
First off, I said that details as per log book. I never said that I had log book. Harvey's son has that. And if you contact him I know he will be of help.I will send you mail with his e address. Hello Mark, Re 68 Squadron From Fairwood Common. W. Sutherland was at the time noted as a Flight Lieutenant as was Albert. Brenton. Harvey. |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
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I have 307 based at Church Fenton in Dec 1944. It was not based at Coltishall til May 1945. |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Thanks Alex:
Details duly added. Cheers, Mark |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hi Alex
Re Arthur Harvey - I didn't make the PRO this week (still suffering from flu) to check 68 Squadron records, but have noticed that he unfortunately shot down a Mosquito of 604 Squadron on 29/5/44. Is this shown in his logbook? Also, he had been awarded a DSO prior to this. I would appreciate any additional details you may have (I will contact his son shortly). Cheers Brian |
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Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hello Brian,
Re the 29th May shoot down, yes there was a 604 Sqdn Mossy shot down by a Beaufighter over Lyme Bay, but would not know if it was the claim of the 28th made by Harvey for a Ju88 in the Hope Cove area (?) Alex |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hi Alex
Apparently Harvey claimed a Ju188 but it turned out to be Mosq XIII MM503 of 604 Sqn - Flt Lt C.L. Harris baled out and rescued, Sgt Eric Blood baled but dead when found. Cheers Brian |
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Hello brian,
From what i have, MM503 "NG-B" and from Fighter Command Losses vol 3 F/Lt. C. L. Harris (safe) with Sgt. E. B. Hopkinson ( navigator picked up dead). Where details re Blood ? Thanks Alex |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hi Alex
My slip-up here! The navigator's name was Eric Blood Hopkinson. I have had a look at 68 Squadron's records, and sadly Arthur Harvey did shoot down Harris' Mosquito. I have a copy of Harvey's combat report annotated accordingly. In addition, there is no record of any V-1s being claimed by him on the dates you suggested or otherwise. In fact, according to the ORB, he hardly flew during the period in question. UNLESS, of course, the ORB is incomplete, but it appears to have been properly maintained. I don't know what the answer is. Over to you, Alex Cheers Brian |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hello Brian,
As said in earlier part of this thread, this was from his log book via his son. Have you contacted him yet ? Alex |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
Hi Alex
I have just this minute sent an e-mail to Peter. I will let you know the response. Thanks Brian |
Re: V-1 flying bombs
A further query regarding V-1s that one of our French experts may be able to answer. On the night of 16/17 June 1944, a V-1 malfunctioned after its launch and crashed onto a French village, killing ten. Any idea as to which village this was?
Cheers Brian |
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Seems from June 1944. |
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The Royal Navy also detached Firefly NF1s from 746 SQN (NFDU/NFIU) at Ford to Coltishall to assist the Anti He111/V1 operations. One was scrambled on the evening of the 13th December 1944 from Coltishall to go after 3 or four contacts picked up that looked like He 111s/V1 combos. (The pilot's name is unreadable on the Coltishall F540, but the Observer/Radar Operator was a Lt Davies). Anybody have any details of the Coltishall Fireflies? |
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