Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 16, 2021 14:11:20 GMT 12
NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN
FLYING BOMBS EXPLODED
PILOT FROM HAMILTON
(Special Correspondent) (Received June 23, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 22.
The first flying bomb to be blown up in mid-air was attacked by Flight-Lieutenant A. E. Umbers, of Dunedin, who has now shot down four and shared a fifth. He contacted his first while flying through an anti-aircraft barrage put up by English gunners.
Flight-Lieutenant Umbers said: “Flak was coming up like hell. I said to myself ‘Beggar this. I am going to get that so-and-so before they get me,' and went right up to 100 yards. The first shots blew it up. Was I frightened! All the sky I was looking at went a violent red and orange. I turned over on my back and found myself flying out on the other side at an angle of 35 degrees, going upwards.”
He added: “The destruction of a flying bomb in bad light requires skill because the red glare from the jet makes it difficult to estimate the range. Another difficulty is the size of the target viewed from an angle attack.”
Race By Airmen
Flight-Lieutenant E. W. Tanner, of Tauranga, who has blown up two flying bombs over the Channel, chased them for between ten and 20 miles before exploding them. Flight-Lieutenant Tanner said: “There is always a race when a flying bomb comes in from the sea. Spitfires, Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Tempests all try to get a crack. We in our Tempests pass the bunch. ‘Doodle Bugs’ are much easier to see at night time because of the light over the tail. In daytime you have just got to keep your eyes skinned for a small speck running around the sky.”
Flying-Officer S. S. Williams, of Hamilton, was putting a Tempest through a trial flight when he heard a report by radio telephone that a flying bomb was approaching. “I climbed through a layer of cloud to see what was happening,” he said. “ The bomb was travelling at about 300 miles an hour, so I closed in and took a crack at it. My first burst shot pieces off the tail of the unit and my next knocked away bits of the starboard wing. To my amazement the thing then turned slowly over in flight, and flew upside down for a little while. Then it dived sharply. I followed it down, to see it exploded in the open.”
WAIKATO TIMES, 23 JUNE 1944
FLYING BOMBS EXPLODED
PILOT FROM HAMILTON
(Special Correspondent) (Received June 23, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 22.
The first flying bomb to be blown up in mid-air was attacked by Flight-Lieutenant A. E. Umbers, of Dunedin, who has now shot down four and shared a fifth. He contacted his first while flying through an anti-aircraft barrage put up by English gunners.
Flight-Lieutenant Umbers said: “Flak was coming up like hell. I said to myself ‘Beggar this. I am going to get that so-and-so before they get me,' and went right up to 100 yards. The first shots blew it up. Was I frightened! All the sky I was looking at went a violent red and orange. I turned over on my back and found myself flying out on the other side at an angle of 35 degrees, going upwards.”
He added: “The destruction of a flying bomb in bad light requires skill because the red glare from the jet makes it difficult to estimate the range. Another difficulty is the size of the target viewed from an angle attack.”
Race By Airmen
Flight-Lieutenant E. W. Tanner, of Tauranga, who has blown up two flying bombs over the Channel, chased them for between ten and 20 miles before exploding them. Flight-Lieutenant Tanner said: “There is always a race when a flying bomb comes in from the sea. Spitfires, Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Tempests all try to get a crack. We in our Tempests pass the bunch. ‘Doodle Bugs’ are much easier to see at night time because of the light over the tail. In daytime you have just got to keep your eyes skinned for a small speck running around the sky.”
Flying-Officer S. S. Williams, of Hamilton, was putting a Tempest through a trial flight when he heard a report by radio telephone that a flying bomb was approaching. “I climbed through a layer of cloud to see what was happening,” he said. “ The bomb was travelling at about 300 miles an hour, so I closed in and took a crack at it. My first burst shot pieces off the tail of the unit and my next knocked away bits of the starboard wing. To my amazement the thing then turned slowly over in flight, and flew upside down for a little while. Then it dived sharply. I followed it down, to see it exploded in the open.”
WAIKATO TIMES, 23 JUNE 1944