V-1 flying bombs

[Brian]

Hi guys

As some of you may know I am putting the finishing touches to my latest book - Diver! Diver! Diver! - an account of RAF/Commonwealth/USAAF day and night fighter defence against the V-1 flying bomb assault on the UK in 1944. It is due to be published in June of this year (time is rapidly running out!!)

Should anyone have a story/account or something similar they feel should be included relating to fighters shooting down flying bombs, then do please contact me asap. Any contribution that I may be able to use will be acknowledged in the forthcoming book.

Cheers
Brian

[Stein Meum]

I am infrequently in contact with Tarald Weisteen who served on 85 Sqn from 1943 to the end of the war.He shot down the first V-1 to be downed by 85.His final V-1 score was 7.

Stein

[Brian]

Hi Stein

Have you any personal accounts of Tarald's operations against the V-1? I do have details of his seven kills but should he have record of the serial numbers of the Mosquitos he flew when making these claims, I would appreciate same. The 85 Squadron ORB listed code letters only - for example, I know that Tarald flew VY-A and VY-B when making his V-1 kills.

I hope that you may be able to help further

Cheers
Brian

[Stein Meum]

I have managed to match A/C letters with serials for quite a few of the Mossies he flew at 85 Sqn but not all.The MK.XIX he used for his last V-1 kill on 16th Aug-44 was VY-B (no serial found),all others were obtained flying MM636 VY-A.This serial appears in his logbook in connection with a "green endorsement" re. a single-engine landing during the night of 15/16 June.However,Weisteen has pencilled in the serial MM626 in his logbook.This machine was also on 85 Sqn at the same time as MM636,both transferring to the Swedish Air Force post-war,Swedish researchers have not been able to find what codeletters they wore when serving on 85 Sqn.My guess is as good as yours:Logbook or endorsement? I think I prefer the endorsement.

Stein

[Chris Goss]

....and don't forget I have quite a lot on 165 Sqn, including all of their Diver kills. Did I send you a listing of all Divers shot down by crews based at Manston?

[Brian]

Hi Stein

Thanks for the gen. I note that Erik Fossum flew VY-G when shooting down his three flying bombs. Any idea of the serial? Also of VY-E, VY-F, VY-J, VY-O, VY-P, VY-Q, VY-R, VY-S, VY-W (XVIIs, all of which were involved in V-1 kills)

Hi Chris, I will be getting in touch soon. Thanks (yes, you did send me the Manston details).

Cheers
Brian

[Stein Meum]

Fossum's "G" was a Mk. XIX,serial MM648.Mk. XVII VY-C was HK299,"L" was HK347,"R" was HK349.Another Mk. XIX VY-J was TA400.For the other letters I have no serials to tie up with,especially the "B"-Flight machines as no Norwegians were posted to this flight.
I've had access to some 8 or 9 logbooks belonging to Norwegians of 85 Sqn.They served mostly over a long timeperiod,spanning the phase-out/phase-in of the various Mossie versions,i.e. Mk.XII/XIII to XVII,XVII to XIX,XIX to XXX.As the planes were mostly delivered in batches of 3-5 planes at a time,it could possibly be a project to check the various movement card dates versus the first mentioned dates in the ORB.Let's say that the first mention of a new mark VY-A and B ("A"-flight) and VY-L and M ("B"-flight) and we have already identified A and L,there would be a 50% chance of hitting the serials of B and M.

[Brian]

Many thanks Stein - at least that's a few more tied up

Cheers
Brian

[mhuxt]

Book release date? Publisher? Do you take credit cards?

[Mieszko]

Hello,

I'm not sure of the date/time/crew off hand, but there is a story of a 307 Sqn Mk30 Mosquito colliding with a V-2 after taking off for a night patrol. The aircraft was destroyed along with the V-2, but the crew survived (baled out).
I'm at work now, but can pass on more info when i get home, if anyone is interested.

Mieszko