V-1 flying bombs

[Brian]

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

[mhuxt]

Hi Mieszko:

I'm interested if you have details.

Cheers,

Mark

[Mieszko]

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

[mhuxt]

Thanks Mieszko.

Cheers,

Mark

[George Hopp]

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.

Do you really mean V-2? Perhaps V-1, but destroying a V-2 would truly have been something!! In fact, it would have been unique.

[Mieszko]

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

[Stig Jarlevik]

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

[Mieszko]

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

[Alex Smart]

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

[mhuxt]

Hi Alex:

Do you have crew ranks and initials for the above? Is 68 Squadron the correct unit?

TIA,

Mark