Doesn't it make you sad..

Wow, is the aircraft that the parts your museum has from No. 487 (NZ) Squadron then? Or were their other Ventura squadrons on the raid too? (I have just bought “Ventura Couragious” about Trent, it’s in the post).

I read in Alan Mitchell’s excellent 1944 book “New Zealanders in the Air War” about the first raid that 487 (NZ) Sqn went on. They travelled at low level all the way after taking off, no higher than 50 feet at any time. After crossing into the continent they flew right over a Luftwaffe station and their CO’s aircraft was shot down there by ground fire, killing all aboard from memory in a fireball. It was said they were so low, when one pilot spotted a German soldier on a bicycle on the road they were following, he lowered the undercarriage and knocked him off with it. (obviously an exaggeration that must have evolved in the mess ‘line shooting’ but very funny). Sad to think their CO was killed on the squadron’s first raid but they went on to become a fine unit.

Dave,

Yes, it’s one of 487 sqdn, it crashed at Oostzaan, north of Amsterdam.

Cheers

Cees

There is one for sale at present in South Africa – i think advertised in the AEROPLANE….

Wow, is the aircraft that the parts your museum has from No. 487 (NZ) Squadron then? Or were their other Ventura squadrons on the raid too? (I have just bought “Ventura Couragious” about Trent, it’s in the post).

I read in Alan Mitchell’s excellent 1944 book “New Zealanders in the Air War” about the first raid that 487 (NZ) Sqn went on. They travelled at low level all the way after taking off, no higher than 50 feet at any time. After crossing into the continent they flew right over a Luftwaffe station and their CO’s aircraft was shot down there by ground fire, killing all aboard from memory in a fireball. It was said they were so low, when one pilot spotted a German soldier on a bicycle on the road they were following, he lowered the undercarriage and knocked him off with it. (obviously an exaggeration that must have evolved in the mess ‘line shooting’ but very funny). Sad to think their CO was killed on the squadron’s first raid but they went on to become a fine unit.

Dave,

Yes, couldn’t agree more. But as the South African’s have several surplus Ventura’s in store how about a swap?

Another strange thing is that the RAF Museum has a Ventura (from SA as well) but it is still in store. Such a famous aircraft (remember the infamous raid on May 3rd 1943 on an Amsterdam power factory only one mile from where I used to live). We have in fact the remains of one of these on display in our museum including a large section of wingmainspar. W/Cr Trent won a VC during this raid. They didn’t use only Lancasters you know :diablo:

Cheers

Cees