MOSQUITO Serial numbers/letters 1944

[Oxby R]

Hi Brian - Yup. Funny you should ask about divers, as we were talking about them just a couple of weeks ago. He remembers them very well. Said 'they frightened us shitless !' I haven't got exactly what he said on tape, as we were having a beer at the time. But from memory, this is pretty close to what he had to say. You're welcome to use it, if you wish. Best regards, RO.

'At night, everyone for miles around could see these things coming over at one hell of a lick. So you might be one, of maybe two or three aircraft chasing the same diver. The trick was catching 'em. That was a job in itself - even with full boost, we'd only just keep pace. And we could only use that for short bursts really, before the engines would start to complain. We soon learnt a better way - to climb, and stooge about waiting for the tell-tale glow coming from the east. Once they were still some miles off, we'd push the nose down for a spot of 'rattle and roll'. Below, we would watch as the thing would overtake us, but still in a shallow dive - our airspeed would be enough to catch him. If you were lucky, and did manage to get close enough in to fire, it would just be a quick burst - and hope for Christ's sake the bloody thing didn't explode right in front of you. If it did, heaven help you. It was a brown pants business for sure'

[Brian]

Many thanks Richard, the quote is already nice installed in the draft!

Please convey my best wishes to the great man. I do hope that you are putting together his memoirs for publication - that would be some story.

With best wishes
Brian

[Oxby R]

Hi Brian, Apologies for being off-topic. About your book. I might have a few more snippits about Doug's buzzbomb experiences for you - I'll have to take a look. If you'd prefer, we can talk off-forum ? My email is richard.oxby@btinternet.com

Cheers, RO