Simviation Forum - Most improbable V1 kill

Reply #15 - Jul 15^th, 2006 at 10:50am

H Offline
Colonel
2003: the year NH couldn't
save face...
NH, USA

Gender:
Posts: 6837

Quote:

...but Charlie, you're neglecting the fact that its at St. John's! A.

...but Andrew, you're neglecting the fact that Charlie also stated "The displaced airflow of the rocket would probably make it unlikely that the cannonball would get close [to] the very fast moving rocket..."
...which automatically eliminates "impossible" without an argument about whether the rocket hits the cannonball or the cannonball the rocket or how effectively the flight paths would be changed for either missile to completely miss their intended targets. Either way, it could well change the outcome of St. John's steeple chase.
Wink

8)

« Last Edit: Jul 17^th, 2006 at 3:19am by H »

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #16 - Jul 16^th, 2006 at 2:04am

Flt.Lt.Andrew Ex Member

Hahahahahah , well spotted, and well said!

A.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #17 - Jul 16^th, 2006 at 6:32am

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

Quote:

[color=Navy]
...which automatically eliminates "impossible" without an argument about whether the rocket hits the cannonball or the cannonball the rocket or how effectively the flight paths would be changed for either missle to completely miss their intended targets. Either way, it could well change the outcome of St. John's steeple chase.
Wink

Doh...

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #18 - Jul 16^th, 2006 at 11:30am

beaky Offline
Global Moderator
Uhhhh.... yup!
Newark, NJ USA

Gender:
Posts: 14187

Wait, I'm lost... how fast is the steeple going again? That's important.

Grin

I hadn't heard that particular story, but apparently, V1s were relatively easy to kill... a number of them were shot down , and a few were even turned off-course by a fighter pulling up alongside and tipping it with a wing.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #19 - Jul 16^th, 2006 at 12:02pm

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

Quote:

I hadn't heard that particular story, but apparently, V1s were relatively easy to kill... a number of them were shot down , and a few were even turned off-course by a fighter pulling up alongside and tipping it with a wing.

Many were shot down, generally by fighters in Kent or by AAA. It was no coincidence that the first operational jet fighters (Gloster Meteors) in the RAF were based at RAF Manston - the closest airfield to France large enough for them to operate from. Most air to air kills of V1s appear to have come from Meteors, Tempests and late Mk Spitfires...

The tipping story is indeed correct, although it wasn't always necessary to make contact - often placing your wingtip underneath that of the V1 was enough for the wingtip vortices to lift the wing of the V1, in turn hopefully toppling that gyroscopic autopilot, leaving the thing to crash fairly soon after - hopefully in open ground...

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #20 - Jul 16^th, 2006 at 12:43pm

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

Quote:

The tipping story is indeed correct, although it wasn't always necessary to make contact - often placing your wingtip underneath that of the V1 was enough for the wingtip vortices to lift the wing of the V1, in turn hopefully toppling that gyroscopic autopilot, leaving the thing to crash fairly soon after - hopefully in open ground...

I think that only happened a couple of times when the fighter ran out of ammo. I read you had to be very careful not to actually touch the wings or BOOM.........!

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #21 - Jul 16^th, 2006 at 2:55pm

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

...and here's a "Spit" (according to the original caption) doing just that

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #22 - Jul 16^th, 2006 at 3:05pm

ozzy72 Offline
Global Moderator
Pretty scary huh?
Madsville

Gender:
Posts: 37122

Some V-1s were fitted with an anti-tilt device (some kind of wires between the wing and fuselage I believe) once the Germans got wind of the tipping. One Free French pilot ran out of ammo trying to kill one and when he realised it was going to crash into a hospital rammed it at the cost of his own life!

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #23 - Jul 17^th, 2006 at 7:54am

HawkerTempest5 Offline
Colonel
Hawker Tempest MK V
United Kingdom

Gender:
Posts: 3149

Fighter aircraft were often damaged by the exploding V1. Jean Maridor the Free French pilot died engaging a V1 in a Spitfire XIV. I read a story about a chap named James Sheddon. Whilst engaging a V1 in his Tempest his engine over heated and cut out resulting in a forced landing. On inspection it was found that it was not debris from the V1 that had forced him down but a 20mm cannon cartridge lodged in the radiator from the Tempest of W/C Roland Bemont who also claimed a half share in Sheddon’s V1!

Flying Legends

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: