The thread “What airplane would you most like to fly in” received more than a few comments that some of us would like not only to fly in a warbird, but perhaps go along on a mission.
Here’s the question: knowing what you know now about combat risks and losses, if you had the chance to go back in time, would you fly a combat mission in WWII?
Some examples:
Any takers for a Bomber Command Mission in a Stirling over Germany?
The 617’s Dam raid?
How about the Ploesti Mission?
Flying “the hump” in a C-46?
Remember, we all can’t be Johnnie Johnson’s wingman. 🙂
By: Jules Horowitz - 13th February 2005 at 01:52
Woul you go
I’m glad that I had the experience, but I wouldn’t want to go on another mission. Strange as it may sound, one of the main reasons being the extreme cold of -50 degrees C. for several hours. I and other pilots only wore thin flying jackets over coveralls.
By: Whitleyfreak - 11th February 2005 at 01:27
Pilot, 405 Squadron, Ruhr Valley in a Halifax.
Cheers,
Todd
By: J Boyle - 11th February 2005 at 00:01
I’ll try not to shoot you down then 😉
You missed my dad in 1945! 🙂
By: jetman-2 - 10th February 2005 at 08:28
a little nearer to the present
I would like to fly low over the sea in a Mirage III on the first wave of operation Moked – the air strike against the Egyptian airfeilds.
There was a lot of tension, and no one expected such a devastating success. It must have been a tremendous feeling to gly back knowing that it had succeeded
By: kev35 - 9th February 2005 at 22:16
Any mission as part of a Bomber Command crew. Somewhere towards the front of the aircraft. The isolation of a mid-upper or rear turret might just be a bit too frightening for me.
No, I wouldn’t like to go on any operation, but if I’d ever had to, I’d like to think I would. To experience the comradeship of being part of a crew would be magnificent. But the heartache of losing your friends and the sheer unpredictability of all make it very unnerving. An 88mm shell never differentiated between an experienced or inexperienced crew.
I’m happy trying to repay the debt.
Regards,
kev35
By: station357 - 9th February 2005 at 21:55
P-51 combat air patrols over the Normandy beachhead.
At least there was air superiority so less chance of being shot at!
Also get a ringside seat of what must have been an impressive spectacle…
Regards,
Paul
By: Charley - 9th February 2005 at 21:41
I’m sure that chasing V1s in a Meteor over Kent would be extremely thrilling, almost like a crazy sport. But I’ve known too many vets who lost their mates as well as risking their lives and now have to live on a pittance of a state pension as their reward. If it all happened again, I would not blame any young person who refused to take the risks for a vague promise of a better tomorrow.
By: China Clipper - 9th February 2005 at 20:57
Whirlwind missions
263 Sqn with Westland Whirlwinds 1, taking out shipping in around Cherbourg, St Malo and the Channel Islands.
EN830/Ian,
I’ll gladly be your wingman! I have loved Whirlwinds since I was a kid….
I have a couple of Airfix 1/72 kits unbuilt stashed away, I am saving for someday…
By: AirToAirCombat - 9th February 2005 at 20:48
Twelve O’clock high.
B-17 over Germany.
By: EN830 - 9th February 2005 at 20:17
263 Sqn with Westland Whirlwinds 1, taking out shipping in around Cherbourg, St Malo and the Channel Islands.
By: Bart - 9th February 2005 at 20:12
No !
By: Dan Johnson - 9th February 2005 at 20:02
October 20, 1943 with the Spitfire XII pilots of the Tangmere Wing. 41 and 91 got 9 for no loss that day. I’d go on that one 🙂
Second choice might be in a P38H with the 80th FS Headhunters to Rabaul in late 43.
Third would be in a Malcom hooded P51B/C of the 4th FG on one of the escort missions to Germany in the Spring of 44.
Fourth, I’d go along with ‘my” crew on one of their missions in a B24 from the 736th BS, 454th BG out of San Giovanni, Italy in the winter of 44-45.
Dan
By: J Boyle - 9th February 2005 at 19:45
getting back on topic… Moggy, so that was you I saw you outside a hotel the last time I was in London… 🙂
I’m surprised with the honesty of some of the answers given.
After years of reading about the 8th AF and its missions against Germany, I suppose I’d have to go on a B-17 misssion.
After all if thousands of 18 to 26 year olds HAD to go on dozens of missions, I don’t think I could look myself in the mirror if I thought I was too good to risk my own neck.
I’d like to think I’d have the courage to do what others had done before us, and for us.
By: Auster Fan - 9th February 2005 at 19:24
Thank you, I do. 😎
Moggy
I must check that when we next meet! Does Mrs Moggy know about this??!! She always seems such a sensible lady…….
By: Moggy C - 9th February 2005 at 16:51
Knowing the fickleness of women, the female ATA pilots probably went all gooey at the sight of an operational pilot but would never drop the blackouts for fellow (male) ferry pilots.
Moggy
By: China Clipper - 9th February 2005 at 16:43
A bloke in the ATA; a “target rich environment” then?
By: Moggy C - 9th February 2005 at 16:36
I’m sure you would look lovely with lipstick, false eyelashes and a handbag!!! 😮
Thank you, I do. 😎
However it wasn’t compulsory to be female to be in the ATA, it’s just the women made better newspaper copy.
Moggy
By: Auster Fan - 9th February 2005 at 15:59
I am a total coward.
I hereby enlist in the ATA to ferry brand new aircraft from the factory to the squadrons. If I see any Germans I’d like a nice fast aircraft to run away in.
Moggy
I’m sure you would look lovely with lipstick, false eyelashes and a handbag!!! 😮
By: srpatterson - 9th February 2005 at 15:54
I’d go on a mission with Jules Horowitz…after all, he made it back.
But if the game is pick your plane and pick your mission:
11 Group, Summer 1940…any Spit or Hurri. After all, I seem to recall we Americans won that little battle for you (que Mr. Cruise as the music swells) 🙂
Steve
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th February 2005 at 15:02
Would I go?
I’d like to think I would. Someone has to.
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February 9, 2005 at 3:19 am