Sorry about not informing toy guys about that bombsession, but I was having conx probs and got tossed out later on. This making it impossible to use the headset due to constatntly breaking up dialog.
As for bombing with the Spit, here some interesting info:
The Mark IX and XVI Spitfires were more or less the same except that the XVI had clipped wings giving it a clear visible difference and whilst the IX was powered by the Merlin 66, the XVI had the Packard 266. These American built engines gained a reputation for unreliabity in some quarters, but most pilots on the V2 sorties found them to be completely dependable and had no qualms about the long flights over the icy North Sea which they had to make daily to reach the Dutch targets. And engine fitters recall with pleasure the lavish tool kits supplied with each engine! The Spits packed a powerful punch too with two 20mm wing mounted cannon and two or four machine guns together with the capability of carrying up to 1,000 lbs of bombs on strongpoints on the wings and the centreline of the fuselage.
A typical day started with an early weather recce to the Dutch coast the results of which would influence the targets attacked and the bomb loads. Then a briefing, and shortly after, a Squadron take-off, forming up over Norfolk before turning east and flying across the sea to Holland. Near the target, the Spitfires moved to attack altitude and the unit commander would order an echelon formation as they made their final approach to the target. Depending on cloud cover, the attacks started at heights between 8,000 and 5,000 feet, but no lower than this because of defending flak. One method used was to fly in echelon until the target passed out of sight under the wing, then roll the Spitfire to reveal the target which was centred in the unlocked gyro gun sight, and trim the aeroplane into a 'hands-off' dive. Ideally the bombs were released at 3,000 feet - never below 2,000 - and the Spitfire pulled out of its dive to make a low level escape. An experienced pilot should have been able to place his bombs within about 30 yards of the target.
Pilots remember stomachs tightening at the top of the dive anticipating having to get through the flak. One recalled it as being 'quite pretty' with black puffs which exploded into bright red, but it was lethal. W/O Eric Mee recalled his first operation: 'I became aware of the little red balls of fire that were coming straight at me, slowly at first, then nipping past my cockpit at a fantastic pace. Numbers 1, 2 and 3 were pulling out of their dives and it was my turn to aim at the missiles in the wood and press the bomb release. I then pulled out at about 3,000 feet in a 5 or 6G pull out which produced a short black out. A good yell at this point with my feet up on the G pedals, the stick and rudder were pushed all around the cockpit to produce as erratic a course as possible, hoping to confuse the gunners.' Then reform and back to base.
From:
http://www.v2platform.nl/dive_bombing.html
PO2 dickaround, yea thats an idea
05-20-2010, 08:53 AM
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