Author Topic: Tempest? (Read 2154 times)

Dextry · « **on:** February 24, 2005, 12:45:20 PM »

I just wanted to know a few things about the Tempest in WW2. When did the Tempest enter service in WW2? Was the Tempest a fighter are a mulit-purpose attack plane? And how was the Tempest K/D in real combat? Any additional information would be great to

Furball · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2005, 12:50:16 PM »

http://www.hawkertempest.se/

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Having flown early production Tempest Vs, the Air Fighting Development Unit recommended that the first RAF squadrons to be formed with the Tempest should be former Typhoons units. It was felt that since the two aircraft were similar in handling characteristics, re-equipping former Typhoon units would speed up the introduction of the Tempest. During January of 1944, No 486 Squadron received its first aircraft at Tangmere, later passing these aircraft to No 3 Squadron. As more Tempests were delivered, both units became fully equipped and were declared operational during late April of 1944.

Darkish · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2005, 01:08:19 PM »

I also recall them being about the only thing we had that were fast enough to catch the Doodlebugs pounding London. Those brave lads would catch up to one and flip it over with their wing!

Guppy35 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2005, 01:21:42 PM »

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Originally posted by Darkish
I also recall them being about the only thing we had that were fast enough to catch the Doodlebugs pounding London. Those brave lads would catch up to one and flip it over with their wing!

AHEM!!!! The Spit drivers were there running down the doodlebugs as well.

First daylight V-1 kill going to RCAF pilot F/L Bruce Moffett in his Spitfire XIV of 91 Squadron.

The first 'tipping' of a V-1 was also a 91 squadron pilot, an Aussie known as "Junior" Collier.

And the Spit XII drivers of 41 Squadron were also hard at it. Terry Spencer being one who tipped a V-1 with a clipped wing Spit XII, somewhat more dangerous then with the full span XIV

Spit IXs with +25 boost were also running them down as were Mossies, and Mustang IIIs flown by the RAF.

Image of a drawing done by Tom Slack in Terry Spencer's logbook to commemorate the V-1 tipping

Dan/Slack

thrila · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2005, 01:29:42 PM »

P61's had a little share in killing V-1's at night.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2005, 04:49:49 PM »

How fast would they have to be going to catch a v1?

Krusty · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:09:55 PM »

Actually I have a book that states they stopped tipping them rather quickly. It was fairly dangerous as it did damage to the wing that was doing the tipping. It was discovered rather quickly that by flying with the wing just below and in front of the buzzbomb that the airflow was disrupted enough to cause the bomb to invert and then dive (very simple guidance, no recovery possible).

Which... when you think about it... amazes me even more because that takes MORE skill than simply smashing your wingtip into the other wingtip!

Pongo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:27:20 PM »

Imagine the casualties the germans could have caused with a tail warining radar or a tipping fuse on those things.

Krusty · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:14:26 PM »

I think by that time the Germans were so disorganized that they would never have known the bombs were being shot down. Late in the war they probably had no intel on anything going on over England

hawker238 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:31:20 PM »

So why were the doodlebugs tipped and flipped and such instead of just being shot up?

bunch · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2005, 11:11:50 PM »

Iirc, anti-tipping agents (i.e. explode on tipping) were installed on some V-1s after the boche learned about this less dangerous method of dealing with the V-1.
If only the same would happen to the waiters at my country club

Angus · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2005, 07:16:35 AM »

A RAF pilot I knew was chasing those in a Mustang III.
He said his Mustang was not quite fast enough to catch them down low, he would need some little extra alt, coming after them in a shallow dive.
They had to be shot at rather long range, because if they blew their 2000 lbs you would not want to be too close.

He said that those Griffon Spits and Tempests were a good bit faster, fast enough to chase them down.

Wilbus · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2005, 07:27:05 AM »

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So why were the doodlebugs tipped and flipped and such instead of just being shot up?

If you fired at them they would pretty much explode in your face, it was found that tipping them was the safer way of dealing with them.

Jester · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2005, 11:12:59 AM »

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Originally posted by thrila
P61's had a little share in killing V-1's at night.

Don't see how that is possible.

The Doodlebug's cruised at about 400 mph. Don't think the Widow could hit quite that fast.

Tiffie's, some model Spits & the Jet Meteor where about the only things that could catch them in level flight. As said above even the Mustang's had to catch them in a dive and if they missed they most likely didn't get another shot.

thrila · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2005, 12:09:11 PM »

442nd night fighter squadron destroyed 5 and the 425th 4, both flying P61's. It's not a lot, obviously down to the difficulty of catching them. I only just discovered P61's got some kills on V-1's myself. The same article also mentioned on night of July 15/16 as 2nd Lt Herman Ernst was lining up a shot on a V-1 a mossie zoomed by and got it.