Terry Bullock DSO DFC

[Brian]

Hi guys

I believe that Bullock shot down a He115 in August 1940 while flying a Hudson of 206 Squadron, and that he sank another by bombing in September 1940.

Has anyone the dates and more details of these actions please?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

The only combats between 206 & He 115s in Aug 40 were 15 Aug (nothing claimed), 27 Aug (prob but not him), 28 Aug (damaged). If indeed he did bomb & sink a He 115 it was in ac W 2020 hrs 6 Sep 40. I would suggest the F540 is your best bet now. Isn't it Bulloch not Bullock?

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Brian,
had you seen this : -



http://www.maritimepatrolassociation...rybulloch.html


Terry was also involved in 3 air to air combats. One with a FW200 and 2 with Heinkel 115s seaplanes. On 28 Aug 1940 he bounced a He115 off the Dutch coast and forced it down onto the water. The Heinkel?s gunner was killed and the aircraft damaged but he had to return to his prime bombing mission. On 6 Sep 1940 he engaged a further He115 85 miles NE of Cromer. He silenced the gunner and damaged both engines forcing the aircraft onto the sea. Further attacks with 250lb bombs created additional damage and Terry left the scene with the damaged Heinkel listing badly to starboard. The FW200 episode on 22 Oct 1942 was inconclusive, the aircraft sighted each other in and out of cloud but Terry did not get a clear shot. On landing he discovered a damaged exhaust and a cannon hole in one propeller blade but it had no effect on the flying properties of the Liberator!

Bruce Lander

[Brian]

Chris and Bruce

Many thanks indeed for your input - just what I was seeking.

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

28 Aug 40 combat was at 0515 hrs in ac R off the Dutch Coast; He 115 damaged. 22 Oct 42 combat was not recorded by Coastal Command as nothing happened of note!

[Peter Clare]

The date for Bulloch's encounter with a FW200 was 22 October 1941 not 22 October 1942. Details below........


Wednesday 22 October 1941

No.120 Squadron RAF Coastal Command

RAF Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland.

Liberator I AM926 F/120

Duty: Anti-aircraft / Anti-submarine escort to Convoy SL.89.

F/L. T M. Bulloch and crew.

Liberator AM926 was airborne at 0500 hrs, its duty to give escort to Convoy SL.89 (Sierra Leone, Freetown to the UK)

At 0825 hrs the convoy was met which consisted of sixteen merchant vessels and two escort vessels, there were two stragglers astern. At 1311 hrs the aircraft was informed by the Senior Naval Officer of a FW Condor in the vicinity of the convoy and the Liberator turned to search, while flying At 700 feet a Condor was sighted about one mile away on the port bow flying at 1,000 feet. The Liberator climbed straight for a head on attack on the Condor and at 500 yards managed to get in two bursts from its front 20mm cannons, the second of which was seen to hit the enemy aircraft. The Condor returned fire with its front cannon registering one hit on a propeller which was not noticed until the return to base. A third burst was fire by the Liberator’s front cannon just before the Condor passed 200 feet overhead. The Liberator dived to prevent stalling and to enable the rear gunner to engage which he did with a two second burst. The Condor also fired from its rear machine gun scoring one hit on an engine casing.

At 1325 hrs another Condor was sighted in the vicinity of the convoy about one mile away flying at 1,000 feet. F/120 climbed to attack the Condor head on and at 500 yards got in a burst from its front cannon but the Condor took evasive action climbing and turning steeply into cloud.

At 1445 hrs a U-boat was sighted with its conning tower awash three miles away on the port bow, the Liberator, flying at 1,500 feet dived steeply and dropped three depth-charges which exploded across the track of the submarine just ahead of its termination. The third depth-charge was estimated to be a hit. After the explosion of the third depth-charge an underwater explosion occurred causing considerable disturbance to the surface over 50-70 feet in diameter just at the end of the U-boats track.

At 1545 hrs another Condor was sighted but it took cover in cloud before it could be engaged. Christmas trees were noted on the Condor and reported.

At 1612 hrs F/120 left the convoy and set course for base, landing at 1905 hrs.

No.120 Squadron ORB.


Report of the action by the Senior Intelligence Officer RAF Station Nutts Corner.


From: - S.I.O. RAF Station, Nutts Corner.
To: - Headquarters, Coastal Command. MOST SECRET
Headquarters, No.15 Group.
Date: - 26th.October 1941.
Ref: - Forms 'Blue'. DAY______________
1 Liberator V 2 FW Condors.
COMBAT WITH CONDORS BY F/120 ON 22/10/41.
1. First Engagement with Condor.

At1310 hrs.on 22/10 while F was carrying out patrol round Convoy SL89 the SNO sent a visual signal 'Condor bearing 250°.' F turned to search in that direction and when flying at 700 to 800 feet observed the Condor about 1500 yards to 1 mile away on the port bow flying at about 1000 feet, about 200 feet below cloud level; distance 10 miles astern of C/V. F immediately turned and climbed by the quickest route to engage the Condor before it could take cover in cloud. At 500 yards F fired a burst of 15-20 rounds from each of the front four cannons. These were low. The nose was pulled further up and at about 300 yards range ^ fired a second burst of about 25-30 rounds. These included tracer and hits were definitely scored on the Condor in the fore part of its belly beneath the wings. The front cannon gun of the Condor returned fire at a very high angle of depression. Jo hits were felt by the crew of F though on return an explosive shell was found to have damaged the propeller of the starboard inner engine. A third burst was fired by F exhausting the magazines, which before the burst was fired, due to a practice burst early in the flight, contained only about 10 shells each. The result of this burst was not observed for at this time the aircraft had got dangerously near to stalling, and the pilot pulled the nose down enabling the rear gunner to fire a burst for about two seconds of about 30 machine gun bullets from each of his Browning; the results of this burst were not observed. The Condor had been climbing during the engagement for just as F began its dive the Condor passed about 200 feet immediately overhead. It was seen at about this time to fire from behind the wing, probably from the rear belly gun, but possibly from the starboard cabin. So hits were felt, though on inspection at base a machine gun bullet was discovered to have hit the outer starboard engine. The rear gunner only saw the Condor for about 4 seconds for it entered cloud just after passing overhead. The cannon magazines were changed, but the Condor was not found again.
2. Second Combat.
F was flying at 500 feet when a Condor was again seen ahead about 1 mile away flying at about 1000 feet with cloud 200 feet above. F again climbed straight to the Condor for a head on engagement. J-'his Condor took more violent evasive action, turning sharply and climbing steeply into cloud. Nevertheless, F got in a burst of about 20 shells from each front cannon gun at about 400 yards. No results were observed as the Condor disappeared immediately in cloud. It emerged 20 seconds later for a few seconds to disappear finally in more cloud.


Particulars of Condor.

The main novel feature observed was the array of masts along the top of the Condor.

These were only seen by one member of the crew, but he was the only one in a position to see, and he was quite definite and certain that there was an array of masts. He was not sure whether there were five or six, but there were certainly more than on a Liberator. He did not see any other aerials, but it must be noted that in all three encounters the view of the Condor other than underneath head on was possible only for a few seconds.
No other peculiar feature was observed; the Condors conformed to past diagrams and photographs. They were painted very dark; most members of the crew said black, one or two dark brown. A swastika on the tail was the only marking.
In all three encounters with the Condors they appeared to be more manoeuvrable than Liberators, having probably faster rate of turn and climb. It was not possible to state their relative speed.
The Condors tactics appear to be to shadow the convoys from below cloud level if that is at a convenient height, and to use cloud as a haven to which to escape. The front cannon gun has a large angle of depression which makes it useful against aircraft which are often likely to attack from below.
Senior Intelligence Officer, Nutts Corner RAF Station.