beaufighters

Hi,
I think they weren’t all they were cracked up to be,
they had a wartime poem.

‘when a beau goes in ‘

‘when a beau goes in ,
into the drink,
It makes you think,
because you see, they always sink,
but nobody says ‘ poor lad ‘
or goes about looking sad
because, you see it’s war
It’s the unalterable law’.

extract from poem
by gavin ewart , pg 262, war in the air, 1968.
a great old book .

Beau IIf’s were refered to as flying coffins.

But without them , the anti – shipping war, and night
fighting would have been very different.
Cheers
Jerry

137SQ

Hi,
He was with 137Sq, started with them flying whirlwinds, first known op the channel dash, as a F/O, shot down with Sgt Roberts , on 19-08-42, Dornier 217E-4 , Wn5370 F8+BN, 5/KG40 crashed into the sea 40m NE of Happisburgh Light.
Intercepted JU-88 28 Oct 42, but lost it in clouds,
Dogfight with 190’s Pegwell bay 19 Dec 42,
Destroyed 20 railway engines up to 13 mar ’43 , when he was awarded DFC.
with 137Sq flying hurricane IV’s until posted to 198 as S/L August ’43.
July 43 awarded bar for DFC
7 oct 43 flying typhoon as S/L 198 shared 190 with F/L Fittal.
30 nov 43 shot down 190
tour ended off ops
13-jan 44 shot down goeland & shared 109 with F/O Freeman, { whilst visiting unit flew on op }
returned 198 april 44
may 44 promoted to W/C 136 Wing
18 may 44 shared 109 with F/L Pollock
8 june damaged two 109’s

hope it helps
Cheers
Jerry

photos

Hi,
I would just love to see a photo shoot of it flying over the effiel tower , arc de triomphe and down the Champs Elysées.
Come to think of it , would be nice to be in Paris and see it fly over ….
Bastille day would be good.
cheers
Jerry

pjoto

Hi Alex,
Found one of the photos, but it might be after the period you want, It is HE-A, V6703, Type A roundels, but with a american transport a/c in the background, with old style [ type 1 ?] 1921 to aug ’42 fuselage star.
If you want a scan mail me at [email]jezbrew@yahoo.com[/email]

a couple of links

http://www.ferdinando.org.uk/roy_frederick_ferdinand.htm
http://www.ferdinando.org.uk/roy_frederick_ferdinand_gallery.htm

Cheers
Jerry

I still think it’s a pity the remains of the Beverwijk Whirlwind were scrapped after recovery by the Dutch after the war, oh well…. 😮 .
Cees

Hi,
A very sad story surrounds this crash,
The pilot accidently shot down a blenheim, then flew to attack a heavily defended target instead of returning to base.
There is a fair bit of whirly remains around on the quiet, one day hopefully it will all surface..
Pity the replica project died a death..
Cheers
jerry

true

Hi
True never flew one had the chance to sit in the last one in 1970, but sadly never took up the offer, the cockpit was burnt two years later, offered to the RAF but like 1940 they said no thanks ….
I always value/respect a pilots memories, my apologies if any offence occurred, none was intended, to them it is what they recall as actually happening at the time, But must admit , I always confirm the info.
Presumably the pilot is Iain Dunlop, only one I am aware of going on to hornets, a remarkable flying carrer , think he ended on 747’s ?
Don’t suppose he has his logbook still does he ? I wouldn’t mind a copy of the whirlwind I/D letters of the ones he flew, never mangaged to work those out yet.
Cheers
Jerry

opinions

Hi
Wasn’t going to comment being a whirly fan ,
But must put a few comments right, true pilots memories can paint a better picture, some have great memories others not.

quote
Major problem he had was was handley page leading edge slats, the cables on one side would break and flick roll the aircraft in, engines werent great but the flaps killed more pilots…

Very interesting memory as the flaps :-
were hydraulic control with a torque tube interlink. just check the whirlwind A.P, I could provide a copy of the pages to confirm the fact.

Never come across an accident report to support this theory, flaps killing more pilots, more pilots were killed in action and flying in bad weather that other squadrons couldn’t operate in.

As to rose tinted glasses,
Read coulston 1939 report or S/L Munro’s 1940 report, or the RAE pilots , for a true account of the whirlwind. All praised it, coulston comments that elevator control was better at speed than the hurricane / spitfire.
one engine failure , not so dangerous as a motor cutting on a blenheim.
coulstons critism, lack of fuel capacity , stiff throttle.

I personaly think the proof of the a/c is in the fact it wasn’t withdrawn from service, 1940 to dec ’43, basically un-modified, two squadrons fully equipped, with only 114 production a/c and two prototypes.

As is quoted often ,
a pilot was heard running down the whirlwind, and was asked have you actually flown one [by a whirlwind pilot], and the reply came well not actually, but everyone knows…

Just look at petters future designs , to see further proof, gnat , canberra.

Could go on forever but won’t.
Cheers
Jerry