Author Topic: Should V-1 Flying bombs be considered as kills?  (Read 318 times)

Offline Furball

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Should V-1 Flying bombs be considered as kills?
« on: July 08, 2003, 07:15:46 AM »
was wondering what you think? i think the US claimed aircraft on the ground as kills? Some might argue that its not an aircraft, its a weapon, but were kamikaze aircraft claimed as kills?

I was reading this article http://www.flight-history.com/arch/showstory.php?contentID=22 and noticed Sqn Ldr. J.Berry claimed 61½ V-1's destroyed
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Offline Curval

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Should V-1 Flying bombs be considered as kills?
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2003, 07:38:46 AM »
Buzz bombs were dispatched by aircraft while in flight as well.  I think kill credit is warrented.

If V-2s were taken out on the ground then they should also count as kills...if they were taken out in the air...it would have been a miracle.
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Offline Halo

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Should V-1 Flying bombs be considered as kills?
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2003, 10:11:50 AM »
Excellent question.  Kill counts are as varied as the targets.

Getting credit for killing a V-1 (defenseless flying object) is like skeet or trap shooting (albeit from a moving platform).  

Getting credit for killing a comparable fighter who is aware of you and fighting back is like winning a duel.  

Getting credit for ambushing an unsuspecting fighter is like an assassination.  

Getting credit for strafing an unmanned fighter on the ground is like destroying someone's gun rack.  

Like everything else, the truth is in the details, not the stats.
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Offline icemaw

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Should V-1 Flying bombs be considered as kills?
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2003, 03:00:39 PM »
v1 defensless how would you like to be 300 yards away from a 1000lb exploding bomb that a second or so after the explosion you would be at ground 0 doing 300mph.
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Offline MrCoffee

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Should V-1 Flying bombs be considered as kills?
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2003, 03:22:02 PM »
I would. I think it takes great skill to intercept a V1 or V2. You have to be guided to its area in advance, then spot it, plot your intercept course, catch it, then shoot it within reasonable range so that you dont get blown apart by it as well. Though it may never maneuver against you, its very fast and always blows up back at you. Its dangerous in that way as well and does require similar skills to intercepting a normal bandit so I would consider it a kill. More challenging than intercepting a biplane in a single engine metal skinned monoplane.
« Last Edit: July 08, 2003, 03:25:05 PM by MrCoffee »