14 Squadron victories

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Wondering if anyone here has further information on the Bf 110 downed by tail gunner Sgt Taylor in FK131/E piloted by Sgt Egeberg on 20 Dec 1942. Or maybe the unit of the attacking German aircraft?

For more on Egebjerg
http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/profil...alpha=e&id=241

Mikkel Plannthin

[bearoutwest]

A short extract from “Air Gunner” by Alan W. Cooper (published 2009), Pen & Sword Aviation.

(Relates the actions of Gil Graham, Marauder tail gunner of 14 Squadron.)
"The 13 July 1943 …… took off with then Wg Cdr, later Group Captain, Maydwell at the controls. They were to reconnoitre the harbours on the west coast of Italy and the south coast of France. On the north coast of Corsica they sighted an Me323, a six engine aircraft, the biggest used in WWII. In its huge cabin was nine tons of flak, a half track vehicle and two VW personnel carriers. It had a crew of nine, a mechanic in each wing and carried four vehicle drivers. Gil’s aircraft immediately attacked the Me323 and put its nose guns out of action. Gil’s Marauder kept in front of the Messerschmitt and Gil shot at it continually with his rear gun. Three bits of the enemy’s engine fell off and it made for the nearest possible landing place: Corsica then occupied by the Germans. This they did on a rocky shore, Gil thought all the crew had been killed but in fact they had survived. The pilot was Walter Honig and now lives in Pforzheim."

This is in the Middle East Chapter, and there are a few more anecdotes, including an incident when on a pre-raid weather reconaissance at low level, they blundered over an airfield full of neatly lined up Heinkels, but flew past so fast that neither Marauder crew or flak gunners had time to react.

In the same chapter, there is reference to Gil Graham damaging an Me 109 (one of two attacking the Marauder). There is no specific mention of the pilot, but the action occurred on 10 June 1943 on a low-level shipping recce flight south of Sicily. It also relates how the mid-upper gunner's turret fuzes keep blowing after a few bursts.

Regards,
...geoff