Author Topic: Battle of Britian question (Read 622 times)

Crowwe · « **on:** August 17, 2003, 11:41:14 AM »

I've read recently that a few Dornier 17 crewman threw grenades out of their airplanes at attacking fighters, during the Battle of Britian.

Me being highly skeptical, can anyone confirm this?

Chanter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2003, 09:56:34 PM »

Can't confirm it, however, I've also read that (if I remember where, I'll reference it) the crews had sometimes tossed grenades attached to long wires out of the Do-17s. These were supposed to explode on contact with an enemy fighter. Not a very effective or common tactic though.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2003, 09:47:50 AM »

*sniff, sniff...I smell feces.

spiffykraits · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2003, 08:23:58 PM »

Never heard of the Battle of Britian -but I have heard of the Battle of Britain! In fact I was around at the time but a little young, but I remember it.

We did fire wires with grenades attached each end like a bolas arrangement from the ground in clusters into bomber formations as an experimental defence, in the hope that they would wrap round the wings and blow them off, but haven't read of any German crews tossing the things out of aircraft. They didn't work.

GScholz · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2003, 03:51:03 AM »

You were a kid during BoB? Are you one of the kids that were arguing by the riverbank?

"Messerschmitt"
"Heinkel"
"Messerschmitt"
"No they're not! They're Heinkels!"

On a more serious note I think it is great that we have a few people playing AH that was around back then. I wish I knew if Bounder was active in AH. A R/L Lanc crewman flying with us, that's awesome.

spiffykraits · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2003, 12:03:08 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GScholz
You were a kid during BoB? Are you one of the kids that were arguing by the riverbank?

"Messerschmitt"
"Heinkel"
"Messerschmitt"
"No they're not! They're Heinkels!"

On a more serious note I think it is great that we have a few people playing AH that was around back then. I wish I knew if Bounder was active in AH. A R/L Lanc crewman flying with us, that's awesome.

You can identify them from the engine sound (if you were there) without even seeing the aircraft. You got quite good at that if you were on the ground.

Heinkels had a distinctive engine note as the rpms ran out of sync usually.

Dowding · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2003, 06:59:22 AM »

Bounder wasn't around for WW2. In fact I think he's in his 20s or 30s.

You are thinking of Stamper - he flew on Mossies and Lancs during the war.

GScholz · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2003, 06:54:35 AM »

Yes Stamper's the name. He still playing?

Dowding · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2003, 08:25:20 AM »

I visited him last month to help him with some computer problems, but he hasn't been very well. He had a knee operation that had to be re-done and so is recovering from that. Looked fit enough when I saw him and I think he mentioned that he had been playing AH.

Angus · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2003, 04:41:50 AM »

The British actually used wire for defence against low level attack with some success. I'll dig it up for you if you're interested.