RAF "escort to German planes", October 1942

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by HAARA, Apr 23, 2018.

  1. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    I'm currently researching the war record of a F/Lt of 16 Squadron, and have come across a reference in his log book, dated 17 Oct 1942, that states:
    "Escort to German aircraft, Me110, Ju88, He111"
    Any suggestions as to an interpretation of this? The squadron was based at Wetern Zoyland, Somerset, flying Mustangs at the time. The aircraft used for this escort was a Mustang Mk 1, reg AM115, that appears to have been a reconnaissance aircraft, being destroyed in a training accident the following day killing the pilot (not the same one as being researched). Was this a euphemism for the interception of a raid, or were these defectors?
     
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  2. Richelieu

    Richelieu Well-Known Member

    Given the three different types mentioned, I wonder if this could be a reference to captured examples - see No.1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2018
  3. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Interesting description

    Reference: AIR 29/868/12
    Description:
    1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight, Duxford and Collyweston; includes a Form 765B (EAC UK). With appendices
    Note: Open in 1972
    Date: 1941 Dec-1945 Jan
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Former reference in its original department: IIM/G1426/1 and 1A
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
    1426 (Enemy Aircraft Circus) Flight, Duxford and Collyweston; includes a Form 765B (EAC... | The National Archives

    TD
     
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  5. Little Friend

    Little Friend Senior Member

    A few years ago I photographed the Headstone of a pilot ; E. R. Lewendon. He was one of the RAFWAFFE Pilots, killed whilst flying a FW 190. Can't find them right now.. But here's a link to another forum with the details etc.

    APETHORPE - E R Lewendon
     
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  6. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    Ah! Fascinating! I had not heard of this before. Reading your posts my immediate thought was about livery, but then quickly found this. Anyone know how these aircraft came to be in RAF possession?
     
  7. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    No. 1426 Flight RAF - Wikipedia

    Gives. a brief history of each Luftwaffe aircraft flown by the flight
     
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  8. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

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  9. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

  10. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    The night fighter JU 88 which landed by mistake at Woodbridge on 13 July 1944 was a real catch for it carried the latest radar equipment .

    Naxos proved to able fighters to pick up Bomber Command aircraft H2S transmissions within a 40 mile range.From this, precautions were instructed to restrict any use of H2S for navigation and routing to the target,H2S being a bombing aid, presenting the target on a PPI.....Plan Position Indicator...a nine inch oscilloscope.

    Flensburg proved to able fighters to pick up Monica radiations at a range of 50 miles.Monica fitted at at the bomber tail was intended to give early warning of fighter presence at the rear of the aircraft.After research into Monica, an order was raised to remove the equipment.

    SN-2 was a relative new development,identified early in 1944 and was designed to counter Window.By this time 90 out of 480 night fighters were thought to be fitted with the gear.The Malvern RRE worked eventually to provide countermeasures against the gear by identification and jamming of the various frequencies being used,the simple countermeasure being an increase in the length of Window strips dropped.

    Visual reports of aircraft fitted with what appeared to be new forms of equipment was vital to keep abreast of the enemy's technical development.Such was the case when USAAF gun cameras picked up JU 88 and ME110 with stag antler like antenna and confirmed the entry of SN-2.The Woodbridge JU 88 was intact with the latest airborne radar and presented the RRE with technical intelligence on Luftwaffe nightfighter interceptors.

    The Dyce JU 88 carried the earlier version of the SN-2,ie,Lichtenstein radar.
     
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  11. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Last edited: Apr 24, 2018
  12. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Rafwaffe photos on getty

    PHOTO 1
    Royal Air Force pilots Flight Sergeant Lee, Flying Officer Staples, Flying Officer DGM Gough and Flight Lieutenant Ernest Richards Lewendon, Commanding Officer of No1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF and known as the Rafwaffe stand in front of a captured Nazi Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-4 twin engined Zerstorer (Destroyer) heavy fighter on 2nd March 1944 at RAF Collyweston in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. No.1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF, nicknamed "the Rafwaffe", was a Royal Air Force flight formed during the Second World War to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

    PHOTO 2 & 3
    Flight Lieutenant Ernest Richards Lewendon (1914 - 1944), Commanding Officer of No1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF and known as the Rafwaffe stands in front of a captured Nazi Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88A-5 twin engined medium bomber on 2nd March 1944 at RAF Collyweston in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. No.1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF, nicknamed the "Rafwaffe", was a Royal Air Force flight formed during the Second World War to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units. Flight Lieutenant Lewendon was killed on 13th October 1944 when the Focke Wulf FW190 fighter he was flying crashed. (Photo by Fred Morley/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

    PHOTO 4
    Royal Air Force groundcrew technicians of No1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF and known as the Rafwaffe examine a captured Nazi Luftwaffe Henschel Hs 129B twin engined ground attack aircraft originally of Schlachtgeschwader 1 and a Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft of Schnellkampfgeschwader10 on 2nd March 1944 at RAF Collyweston in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. No.1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF, nicknamed "the Rafwaffe", was a Royal Air Force flight formed during the Second World War to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

    PHOTO 5
    Royal Air Force groundcrew technicians of No1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF and known as the Rafwaffe examine the engine and propeller on captured Nazi Luftwaffe Henschel Hs129B twin engined ground attack aircraft originally of Schlachtgeschwader 1 on 2nd March 1944 at RAF Collyweston in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. No.1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF, nicknamed "the Rafwaffe", was a Royal Air Force flight formed during the Second World War to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

    PHOTO 6
    Royal Air Force groundcrew of No1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF and known as the Rafwaffe inspect a captured Nazi Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88A-5 twin engined medium bomber on 2nd March 1944 at RAF Collyweston in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. No.1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF, nicknamed "the Rafwaffe", was a Royal Air Force flight formed during the Second World War to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Probably not the right thread, but a quirky variation on the theme, perhaps ...... I was bemused to read a letter in one of today’s newspapers asserting that “one year, the Battle of Britain flypast over Buckingham Palace was led by Hauptmann Dieter Knorr, a Luftwaffe officer on an exchange with the RAF.”

    I’ve never heard this one before, but a quick check seems to indicate a Hauptmann Dieter Knorr did fly Jaguars with 41 Squadron in 1992, so ........ Brilliant.
     
  14. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    In the same vein of Luftwaffe in Allied aircraft.

    This is the comment from Gerhard Barkhorn on his 302 allied kill

    "In 1964, Barkhorn was posted to the staff of Luftwaffen-Erprobungskommando (Air Force Test Command).[6] From October 1964 until November 1965, Barkhorn headed the six-man Bundesluftwaffe contingent of the Tripartite Kestrel Evaluation Squadron at RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, England. The squadron's mission was to evaluate the military capabilities of the V/STOL Kestrel, the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 and forerunner of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier V/STOL aircraft. The squadron consisted of military pilots and ground staff from three nations: Britain, USA and West Germany. In addition to being one of the squadron pilots, Barkhorn also served as one of the squadron's two deputy commanders. During one mission on 13 October 1963, he crash-landed a Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1, XS689, No. 9, at RAF West Raynham, when he apparently cut thrust one meter above ground, wiping out the undercarriage. A Luftwaffe experten with 301 kills, he is said to have commented, "Drei hundert und zwei [302]!" as he was helped from the jet."

    Gerhard Barkhorn - Wikipedia

    At the RAF West Raynham mess dining in night for the Battle of Britain celebration the mess steward reportedly greeted him with "winners to the right - losers to the left"

    Ross
     
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