RE: WWII aviator/aviatrix interests you most?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-04-02 AT 08:29 AM (GMT)]Sir Wilfird Freeman? Yes, he was a pilot in WW1, but the work he did for the RAF in modernising it & getting it ready for war was, in my opinion, one of the major factors that saved this country in 1940. There were so many things Freeman put into place (Beaverbrook seems to have taken most of the credit, I think he was the original user of ‘spin doctors’!). There’s a very good by Anthony Furse, Wilrid Freeman, you should have a look at, heavy going but lots of information.
Here’s one example: Had it not been for Freeman, giving the OK to Rolls Royce, when they were developing the Merlin (at the time the Merlin couldn’t pass the 100hours max engine power, the engine kept blowing up!). Freeman saw the potential of this powerplant & knew R-R would solve the problems, therefore, he gave it his backing. If this hadn’t happened, I wonder what Mitchell & Camm would’ve put in the front of their respective aeroplanes? This is just one instance of his far sightedness.
Freeman also became Vice Chief of Air Staff in late 1940. Marshall of the RAF, Lord Portal said this of him “Freeman virtually took charge of the internal policy governing the enormous expansion of the RAF” & continued ” …the epitome of wisdom, candour & loyalty… brilliantly successful in foreseeing the needs of the service… a geniusfor distinguishing what is right… for finding the truth & exposing the superficial… [displaying] steadfast courage in making & defending many crucial & difficult decisions.”
And from Lord Hives, “It was the expansion [of the RAF] which was carried out under Freeman’s direction in 1939/40 which enabled the Battle of Britain to be won. Without his farsightedness & imagination, no efforts in 1940 would have yeilded any results.”
If ever there was a man for the moment, Wilfrid Freeman was that person!

C U later,
Neilly

ps Kev, stuff in post.

RE: Most successful aerial operation of WWII?

Any raid which used a Mosquito! Amiens Prison Raid for example.

Biased,
Neilly

RE: WWII aviator/aviatrix interests you most?

Hi Kev,
One word- FOLLY

Neilly

RE: What is the greatest WWII fighter?

These discusions are always interesting, but what makes an aeroplane the greatest? Because aircraft technology moved so fast in WW2 I find it impossible to say one aeroplane was the greatest of them all.
The Spitfire nearly always comes out at the top of most British peoples list, but if you talk to an American, it’ll be a P-51 or Corsair, for example. (these are only example, I’m not being jingoistic!).
Perhaps one of you clever lot out there should make a list that each aircraft could be judged, ie. performance (speed, climb rates, flying duration etc), combat record, etc. These could be mark out of 10 & a total would give us (in theory) the greatest. We could perhaps have some sort of vote,using the poll section on the forum, just a thought.
As for my own greatest? The Spitfire II was the greatest in 1940. 1941 FW 190; 1942 Corsair; 1943 Spitfire IX; 1944 Mustang & 1945 Tempest V.

Neilly

RE: WWII aviator/aviatrix interests you most?

For me, on the flying side, would have to be either Don Bennett or Basil Embry. The exploits of these 2 airman during WW2 come straight out of Boys Own Comic! Both superb pilots, both shot down over enemy territory, both escape (Embry was captured & then escaped) back to England & then both go on to help form specialist RAF units.
On the none flying side of aviation (although this choice was a WW1 pilot), is someone who not many people have even heard of! Without this person, I do not think the RAF would probably lost the Battle of Britain because I seriously doubt whether the likes of RJ Mitchell et al would have had the R-R Merlins for their aeroplanes. There wouldn’t have been the aircraft repair units to repair damaged aircraft & get them back into frontline squadron use. Probably no overseas aircrew training. This person, personally chose the Spitfire, Halifax, Lancaster, Tempest (& one other which I’ll leave off!), for the RAF. He was deeply involved in getting the Merlin engine into the Mustang. His involvement in British Aviation of the 30’s & 40’s was tremendous & his recognition so small!!!
Any ideas who I’m on about?

Neilly

RE: MTO bombers

Hi Kev,
Mosquitoes in the Med? Yes, they were there, 23 Sqd. (for one) flew their night fighters out of Luqa, there were othersqds. & PRU units, too. There were also Mossies in the Far East, too. There were problems with the glue joints in the main spa, several crashed because of wing failure. This was trace to the Canadian built Mosquitoes. The DHC, for some reason, used a different type of glue to the British built Mossie. The other mistake DHC made, they left small gaps in the glue joint, which allowed fungus to get in & compromise the glue. You’ll notice on later built Mosquitoes, they have 2 strips on top & below the wings, these are removeable so the spas can be checked for any problems, such as deterioration of glue joints.

Cheers,
Neilly

ps. I really must copy out that letter, for you, that was in the last edition of Flying Scale Models. I think you’ll find it interesting- problem time!!!:9

RE: MTO bombers

I think the bomber that did the most work flying out of Malta, was the Blenhiem, especially in the early years of the War. The casualty rate was horrendous! They attacked everything from shipping convoys to troop & motorised transport in North Africa. Their loss rate was amongst the worst in any of battle areas of the War. 105 & 107 Sqds. suffered really badly.

Cheers,
Neilly

RE: Warhawks in North Africa

you mean I got the April Fool!
:'( Doh!!!

Neilly