RAF and dive-bombing.

[tcolvin]

Yes, Juha, I agree.

But Sutherland's bombing of the BIMA building (aka Shell House) in the Hague, which is described, was genuine skip-bombing, with the bombs fused for 11seconds delay and dropped at 400mph from a height of 100ft onto the ground 300yards from the building.

However, the book (which is expensively produced and well-illustrated) contains dicey sentences which raise questions about the author's knowledge; "Typhoons and Tempests were legendary in their ground-attack support of the Allied armies in Europe, but much of this would be 'skip-bombing' and strafing with rockets and cannon rather than dive-bombing".

The Raymond Baxter quotation about maintaining a speed of 360mph in a 70 degree dive is a problem, and cannot be correct. Baxter's autobiography, 'Tales Of My Time', might clarify the matter. You can buy it for £1.20 from Amazon, but I'll get it from the library.

Tony