Author Topic: V-1 "Buzz Bomb" KILLS (Read 3967 times)

Jester · « **on:** January 13, 2006, 11:22:27 AM »

Am doing a little research and have hit a stump. Does anyone have a source on how many V-1 "Flying Bombs" were shot down by each type of Allied Aircraft?

Only thing I have found so far is 230 by the P-51.

Tks.

Scherf · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2006, 09:11:32 PM »

I've seen the number 480 quoted very often for the mossie, but I have a video copy of an old B&W film which says the mossie shot down 620 (going from memory here) V-1s in the first 9-week barrage.

Would be neat to have these in-game. I heard the Russkie WarBirds ripoff artists managed to coad V-1s into their pirated version.

Jester · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2006, 11:45:17 PM »

Yea, would love to see them in AH on the appropriate ETO maps as AI targets. They would launch at random times at random fixed targets and maybe you would get an automated warning from radar on the Text Buffer if you were near the area they were heading , kind of like a radar steer. Need to be able to take out the launch sites as well - they could stay down the same time ack was set for.

Would be a great historical thing to add to the AvA.

Nashwan · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2006, 12:19:06 AM »

Quote

Does anyone have a source on how many V-1 "Flying Bombs" were shot down by each type of Allied Aircraft?

The figures are usually given as:

Tempest 638
Mosquito 428
Spitfire 303
Mustang 232
Others 158

Jester · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2006, 12:59:49 AM »

Thanks Nashwan! YOU IS DA MAN!

Intersteing to see Mossies got more kills than Spits did! Wouldn't have thought that.

I have also found where the P-61 BLACK WIDOW got a couple and the P-47 THUNDERBOLT had some kills but no hard numbers.

Tks again. !

Scherf · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2006, 03:43:37 AM »

Just had a look in "Mosquito" by Sharp and Bowyer, which is pretty much the Bible of All Things Mossie.

It says that seven Mosquito squadrons on anti-Diver ops full-time (includes 96, 219, 409, 418, 85 and 157 squadrons, I believe 605 is the other one) claimed 471 flying bombs, with "part-time" anti-Diver squadrons (must include 456, 25, 68, 264 and various other squadrons, along with assorted HQ, Station, and at least one Operational Training Unit aircraft) claiming another 152. This corresponds to the 620 given in the video referred to above.

Part of the confusion may result from the fact that as of 5 July 1944, V-1s destroyed over land only counted as half an enemy aircraft destroyed - over the sea it was a full e/a. Don't ask me how this affects numbers reported for Tempests and the like - since they are Not Mosquitos I don't care.

Kweassa · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2006, 05:02:18 AM »

How fast did the V-1 fly?

Wmaker · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2006, 07:24:44 AM »

Around 600-650 km/h...

Angus · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2006, 10:06:30 AM »

Speed close to 400 mph at rather low altitude which is more than 600 km/h.
(1.609x 400)
But, they were not all the same, - some were slower, some faster.
I knew a pilot who had some business with those in a P51C.
I do not know what boost he was running on (65 SQN was his time of the game and I don't have exact dates). But anyway his words were that at low altitude the V-1 would be faster than the P51, the P51 needing a shallow dive to catch up, - while the Tempests and the Spit XIV were able to run the V-1's down on level speed.

Karnak · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2006, 12:48:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Jester
Intersteing to see Mossies got more kills than Spits did! Wouldn't have thought that.

Contrary to what simulation games would have people believe, the Mosquito was actually regarded as fast.

The Spitfire pilot at the 2001 Con, Jack (I don't remember his last name), flew Spit Vs, IXs, XIVs and P-47Ms.The last two are not exactly seen as slow. His one flight in the Mossie was brief, but the impression it left was one of speed.

The dumbest mission he flew was to escort Mosquitos in Spitfire Mk IXs. He said the Spits had to fly at full throttle just to keep up with the Mossies.

These are not the impressions Mossies in sims give.

the Lazy ace · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2006, 01:08:35 PM »

ya them Mossies are made almost entirly of wood

SMIDSY · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2006, 02:54:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by the Lazy ace
ya them Mossies are made almost entirly of wood

and nearly invisible to radar.

Geary420 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2006, 05:18:38 PM »

Kind of an off the wall question, but IIRC wasn't the prefered way to kill them flying alongside and bumping the wing to make it spin out so you didn't blow yourself up? If so what percentage of downed V1's were taken out this way vs. shooting?

Squire · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2006, 05:33:48 PM »

You have to remember its a case of operational assignment as well, the RAFs ADGB (Fighter Command) was the command tasked with the problem, therefore, the USAAF fighters would not have had the # of "anti-diver" sorties as the RAF. The P-47 could certainy have done well, but it wasnt an assigned a/c to that mission.

I beleive the Mosquitos assigned to ADGB were pressed into service as well, which explains the large # of kills for them. There wasnt a lot of LW activity over Britain in mid 1944. The Mossie also had much more loiter time for V-1 BARCAP.

Angus · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2006, 05:37:50 PM »

The tip-off kill was done, and photographed, but the standard was hammering them down with .50's or Hizookas at the longest range possible. No wonder, fly at 420 mph or so into an exploding ball only a 1000 feet ahead of you. (that's 2000-2500 lbs of TNT).
From explosion from being into the disintergration spot would take you some 3 seconds on that speed.

BTW, maybe I forgot to mention. Christopher Shore's "Aces High II" covers the V-1 "Aces" as well as additional information to be added to AH I.

Hehe, "Aces High". Older than the HTC "Aces High", yet younger than the movie (WWI movie with Malcolm McDowell and many other fine gentlemen)