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  #1  
Old 11th September 2018, 18:23
Kaczmarek Kaczmarek is offline
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"Big Ben" patrol

Hello,

perhaps anyone can tell what is a "Big Ben" patrol ? This was flown by No. 192 Sqdn. Mosquitoes.

Rgds, René
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Old 11th September 2018, 18:47
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Chris Goss Chris Goss is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Anti V2?
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Old 11th September 2018, 18:49
SteveB SteveB is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Hi Rene

"Big Ben" was the codeword for the V2 rocket weapon. "Patrols" were carried out in an endeavour to identify the weapons being launched and then to attack the site of the launch.

Was the 192Sqn patrol at night? I did not know that Mosquitos were involved in these operations...

Steve
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Old 11th September 2018, 18:59
MW Giles MW Giles is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Under the code name Big Ben 192, 214 and 223 Sqns were investigating a suspected guidance system for the V2 rocket trying to identify and jam the signals.

Turns out the V2 was not remotely guided but that was not known/confirmed until later

Regards

Martin
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Old 11th September 2018, 19:39
Kaczmarek Kaczmarek is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Thank you Chris, Steve & Martin for your replies. I have a No. 192 Sqdn. Mossie on a patrol at night between Antwerp and Almelo. So it is very plausible.

Rgds, René
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Old 18th September 2018, 16:21
Allan125 Allan125 is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Hello Rene

Antwerp was also the target of the V2, as well as the V1, and they suffered large loss of life in numerous incidents, see http://www.v2rocket.com/start/chapters/antwerp.html

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Old 18th September 2018, 21:47
RSwank RSwank is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

There is a book written about "Operation Big Ben: The Anti V2 Spitfire Missions" by Craig Cabell.
A preview is here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=pX...2%20V2&f=false
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Old 19th September 2018, 05:19
Col Bruggy Col Bruggy is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaczmarek View Post
Thank you Chris, Steve & Martin for your replies. I have a No. 192 Sqdn. Mossie on a patrol at night between Antwerp and Almelo. So it is very plausible.

Rgds, René
Rene,

Would you mind mentioning the date of the No.192 Sqn Mosquito patrol?

Col.
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Old 19th September 2018, 18:07
MW Giles MW Giles is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Patrols started on 09.09.44 and went on until 27.03.45 and involved 192 Sqn Wellingtons, Mosquitos, Halifaxes and Lightnings (P-38s)


Sorties were often Walcheren-Texel, 40m off Ostend-Ijmuiden, Antwerp-Almelo or Almelo to Ijmuiden

Regards

Martin

Last edited by MW Giles; 19th September 2018 at 19:18.
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Old 19th September 2018, 19:38
Col Bruggy Col Bruggy is offline
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Re: "Big Ben" patrol

Hello,

Thank you.

12/2/1945
No.192 Squadron
Mosquito IV DZ410 'X'

Carried out a 'Big Ben' patrol between ANTWERP and ALMELO.

156923 F/O (Pilot) Joseph REAY RAFVR (later DFC)
154558 F/O (S.O.) Eric George CLARKSON RAFVR

Ditto - 15/2/1945

An excellent book on the subject, is:

Espionage In The Ether:The Wartime Story of Electronic Intelligence and Radio Countermeasures Carried Out by 192 (Bomber Support) Squadron.
William J & John E Rees.
Warrington:Compaid Graphics,1999.

Col.
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