Typhoons at the Hochwald Gap

[Graham Boak]

TC: thanks for the correction.

Macmullin: when you say you downloaded the books, is this via some means of paying Classic (and hence perhaps indirectly the authors) or is it a rip-off?

[Chris Thomas]

Hi McMullin. I was co-author of the 2ndTAF series. You can track the squadron movements in and out of wings in the Wings appendix at the end of Vol.3. By 1945 there were two Typhoon wings in 84 Group; 123 Wg which had absorbed the two 136 Wing sqns (ie. then comprising 164 (FJ), 183 (HF), 198 (TP) and 609 (PR)) and 146 Wing (193 (DP), 197 (OV), 257 (FM), 263 (HE) and 266 (ZH)). 257 Sqn disbanded 5 March 45.

All the 123 Wg units were RP-equipped. By Feb/March 45 all the 146 Wg units were bomb-carrying, except 263 that used RP.

One of the problems you have is that there are no detailed reports for close-support actions as for example, air combat. If you came up with a specific date it would be possible to find which units were involved from 2ndTAF daily summaries (at the NA, Kew), then going to the unit ORBs (NA) for, hopefully, more detail.

It might be better, certainly easier, to recreate a generic scene by reading up on the tactics employed by RP squadrons. I could supply you with serials and corresponding codes for any of the units in the correct time frame. If you can lay your hands on Vol.4 of 2ndTAF, there is a chapter on tactics, with others on weapons and markings which you might find useful. Markings at the time in question were pretty standard - all invasion stripes and the Sky rear fuselage bands were overpainted, spinners were Night (effectively black) and roundels in all positions were what are sometimes referred to as 'C1' ie. narrow white rings and narrow outer yellow rings.

One problem you might have, if illustrating several aircraft, is that the RP sqns in particular operated a mix of new and updated aircraft, so there were 3 and 4 bladers, large and small tailplanes, two different types of RP rail etc. I wrote an article on this topic in Model Aircraft Monthly, July 2009, Vol 8 Issue 7. If you cannot locate it drop me a PM with your email.
Chris Thomas

[macmullin]

Graham : I am not really aware of how E-book companies work, their polices, and practices on how they pay royalties to publishers and their authors. If the publications they are offering are unauthorized by the publishers and their authors - I am not aware of this.

Many of the books I have downloaded in digital format (and I have liked) – I have purchased. For example; I would have never been able to start developing the Stephen Butte's work “My Best Day” with out John Manrho and the late Ron Putz's book 'Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe,s Last hope' (by the way it's a very nice book) - I downloaded it first to see if it would met my needs and then I purchased it on line. The chances are I will do so again for this Classic 2 TAF collection if it is still in print – because I can see that it will serve me well in my future work.

Chris: Thank you so much for the wonderful information and for taking the time to talk to me. I am sure this will help me come up with some ideas for a piece. I will also check out your article in Model Aircraft Monthly in regard to the different RP rails in late version Tiffys. By-the-way I do love the books.

Dale MacMullin

[Chris Thomas]

Dale
I have just checked with Classic and there is no authorised electonic version of 2nd TAF books - or any of the others you mention. What you have innocently purchased are indeed pirate copies.
Chris Thomas

[macmullin]

I just ordered Classic 2nd TAF Vol 1 and Vol 2 from Amazon.ca and I have deleted the digital copies. I will recieve the new books sometime in the first two weeks of July. I am really looking forward to reading them. I will pick up the other two volumes in a short time.

Dale MacMullin

[Chris Thomas]

Thanks Dale. Enjoy the books.