29/12/44 claims

[Brian]

Hi guys

On 29/12/44 Flg Off Bob Lawrence of 439(RCAF) Squadron flying a Typhoon claimed a FW190 and a Bf109 both of which allegedly flew into the ground without a shot being fired.

Any verification of these claims?

Cheers
Brian

[Bill Walker]

I think you are referring to F/O Robert H. Laurence, DFC (note spelling of last name). He is mentioned several times in Hugh Halliday's book "Typhoon and Tempest, The Canadian Story" and appears to have been quite a character. He reports the combat in his own words on page 97, the two German aircraft spinning in from steep turns at low altitude, after Laurence attacked a German formation while returning from a train busting mission, to even up the numbers in a large scale engagement.

He finished his tour on January 14 1945, with 439 Squadron's highest air-to-air score at the time, 3 destroyed plus one probable. The total of 3 appears to include one on 1 January 1945, in RB233/F, and the two on 29 December. He earned a DFC for all this, and his considerable successes air to ground.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

According to Shores 2nd TAF vol 2 this was the disastrous combat with III./JG 54 when their commander "Bazi" Weiss amongst others was killed.

Also according to Shores, Laurence was chased by the two Fw 190D's when two of them spun in and crashed in two seperate incidents. His thoughts are that the German pilots were not used to the Typhoon and made their disastrous mistakes due to this. The Tiffy was pretty good at low altitude....

Cheers
Stig

[Brian]

Thanks Bill and Stig

Amazing!!

Cheers
Brian