Re: Banff Wing claim 30 Oct 44
Hi Tom,
Having recently had A Separate Little War come out on Kindle, I'm currently working on the "human aspect" and have trawled the archives and found quite a few air combat and strike reports not known to exist at the time when the paperback came out in 2008. I'm therefore thinking of reworking ASLW, but also release that homage should be paid to North Coates, Langham, Wick and Dallachy perhaps before I redo ASLW.
Kind Regards and hope you enjoyed the read?
Here is the air battle information for the date in question:
On Monday October 30, 1944 235 Squadron Mosquitoes E and Y/235 were on an offensive patrol off the Norwegian Coast in formation with two other Mosquitoes of No 248 Squadron. While flying southwestwards they sighted a Junkers 88 at 800 feet about 3 miles away on the starboard beam. The Mosquitoes at once increased their speed and began a climbing turn to starboard towards the enemy aircraft, which began to weave back and forth like a clocks pendulum. E/235 attacked from the starboard quarter and then from the port quarter opening fire from 400 to 100 yards. The pilot saw his fire hitting the enemy’s port engine, fuselage and starboard wing root. He then saw the port side of the Junker’s was ablaze, inside the Luftwaffe pilot could be seen struggling to maintain control and the aircraft began to lose height rapidly to water level as if preparing to ditch. Y/235 then attacked from dead astern, closing from 100 to 75 yards, cannon and machine gun rounds seared through the metal work on the fuselage and wings. The Junkers 88 was then enveloped in flames and at 45 feet above the water it exploded. Shards metal projectiles cascaded towards Y/235 as it flew through the debris some embedded themselves in their wings. The observer (Flying Officer Valentine ‘Val’ Charles Upton) scribbled the position down using a pencil 60 degrees 55’ N., 04 degrees 35’ E. No survivors were seen. During this engagement the Junker’s 88 defensive fire was well aimed, but neither aircraft suffered damage nor casualties. Aircraft Y/235 had 350 rounds and E/235 had 462 tracer rounds remaining.
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