Interesting RAF bit-players 1939-1941 No.3: The Hampden

[AWL_Spinner]

The Handley Page Hampden





Ok, this wasn't really a bit player and should definitely get some SoW love: there were over 1,400 Hampdens built and it was one of the Bomber Command mainstays until the arrival of the four-engined heavy bomber, serving with distinction in many interesting operations, including dive-bombing the Bismark and Tirpitz, attacking the German invasion barge fleet on the channel coast, and the first thousand bomber raid over occupied Europe. I would love to see this flyable alongside the Blenheim.

I quote from "Enemy Coast Ahead" by Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC DSO DFC, who flew Hampdens before moving onto Beaufighters and then Lancasters.


The Battle of the Barges

Originally Posted by Guy Gibson

At the beginning of September the Battle of the Barges began. It went on day and night, Blenheims, Hampdens, Wellingtons all taking part in low-level attacks which not only destroyed many barges, but also killed many troops whose billets were in the warehouses nearby. The Battle of the Barges was a complement to the Battle of Britain; they were fought side by side by boys doing very different jobs.

Originally Posted by Guy Gibson

These raids on the invasion ports were organised to destroy as many barges as possible. Each squadron was given a port which was to be considered its own particular port and the pet baby of all concerned; each crew was given a basin; in each basin there were so many barges, sometimes 200, sometimes even 400. Bomb-loads were organised so that the maximum amount of damage would be done per aircraft. Many small bombs were carried, even hand-grenades, which would, at least, do the job if they hit the right spot.

After each raid a reconnaissance was made, and the C.O. would call all crews together. 'I have got some pictures of C Basin at Antwerp. Yesterday there were 400 barges there; today's reconnaissance shows 350. Who is on C Basin?'

Some pilot would shuffle to his feet.

'Well, you sank fifty, you and the rest, but that is not enough. You have got to put all your bombs in that basin, not a stick starting on the edge and then doing its job, but every single bomb. Otherwise those b*stards over there are going to come and invade us, and then you will have to fight with your bare hands.'

Then off we would go again.

Bomber Destroyer

Originally Posted by Guy Gibson

As we crossed over Cherbourg on the way home an aircraft passed us going in the opposite direction with his navigation lights on. This must have been a Hun which had been bombing England. Quickly, we whipped around and by pushing the old Hampden to the limit so that she shuddered and quivered at the unknown horse-power she was developing, we at last caught him up just near to Lorient. For a while we flew in formation, about fifty yards away, trying to make out what type of aircraft it was, but the night was dark. At last, through the welcome beam of an enemy searchlight, we identified it as a Dornier 17. Moreover, both pilots on board seemed very happy; they had their full cockpit lights on and we could see them inside sitting motionless as they, no doubt, thought of the ersatz coffee and bacon and eggs they were going to get in a few minutes' time.

In the rear both my bottom and top guns slid slowly over to the starboard side and I told Mac to take careful aim. Then I counted slowly.

'One - two - three,' and then I yelled: 'Let him have it, Mac.'

There was a quick staccato roar as all four guns belched out tracers and the Dornier dived to the ground with one engine on fire. In doing so he flew low right over Lorient Docks, where his own flak, no doubt thinking he was one of ours, gave him a pretty good pasting, and the last we saw of him was a flaming mess going down behind some trees. Bomber Command credited us with a probable when we got home

Cheers, Spinner

[Insuber]

Spinner,

The Hampden would be a nice addition indeed. Gibson's book gives a vivid description of many thrilling missions. The railway tunnels "sealing" on the two ends (possibly with the train inside ...) or the bombing of Goering's refinery come to my mind. Or, on a more spine-chilling tone, the ruthless mowing of a formation of Hampdens from point-blank range by Bf-110's, coldly exploiting their gunner's blind spot, and the last futile attempt of one of the ill-fated pilots to fire his revolver at his killer.

Bye,
Insuber

[AWL_Spinner]

As this came up in the Ground Attack thread I thought I'd shamelessly bump it.

I would love a Hampden. Nice early war variety to add to the Blenheim. The red side needs more things to bomb with.

See also:

#1 The Harrow

#2 The Defiant

Cheers, Spinner

[Wutz]

Well although I am no red flier, I would give any bomber a thumbs up! As bombers tend to be treated like step children compared to fighters. Even though it was usually the bombers that had the bigger impact on battles than fighters.
Also a interesting plane which was used in the Spanish civil war, and as a high level reconisance plane during 1940/1941 is the Ju 86

[Avimimus]

The Ju-86 is one of the neatest looking aircraft.

[mazex]

Originally Posted by Wutz

Well although I am no red flier, I would give any bomber a thumbs up! As bombers tend to be treated like step children compared to fighters. Even though it was usually the bombers that had the bigger impact on battles than fighters.
Also a interesting plane which was used in the Spanish civil war, and as a high level reconisance plane during 1940/1941 is the Ju 86

He he, one of my friends grand father shocked me one day... I had always seen him as a rather boring old retired postman telling bad jokes - and one day when where talking about aircraft out on the lawn he said "did you kids know I was a bomber pilot during the war?". He piloted the Ju 86 in Sweden that where license built here and called B3 in RSAF. His status grew quite a lot after that He said that it was a great plane to fly and it actually stayed in service as a transport plane up until 1958 in Sweden. There is a nice example at the Swedish air force museum (which is actually the only remaining Ju-86 - German museums have been giving offers to buy it that have been refused):

[Wutz]

Originally Posted by mazex

He he, one of my friends grand father shocked me one day... I had always seen him as a rather boring old retired postman telling bad jokes - and one day when where talking about aircraft out on the lawn he said "did you kids know I was a bomber pilot during the war?". He piloted the Ju 86 in Sweden that where license built here and called B3 in RSAF. His status grew quite a lot after that He said that it was a great plane to fly and it actually stayed in service as a transport plane up until 1958 in Sweden. There is a nice example at the Swedish air force museum (which is actually the only remaining Ju-86 - German museums have been giving offers to buy it that have been refused):

Oh I didn´t know that even one existed! Very nice photo! Yes the Ju86 was licenced built by a few countries, I believe South Africa too. Guess you then got to hear lots of interesting stories from that fellow?

[Fafnir_6]

I believe the variant of the Ju86 deployed during the Battle of Britain was the Ju86P which looks and performs very differently from the ones pictured in this thread (it was a pressurized, high-alt recon/bomber). The Ju86P had different engines and a totally new cockpit section. See http://chezpeps.free.fr/plus/russie/...8_06_2009.html for some pics.

Cheers,

Fafnir_6

[AWL_Spinner]

That'd be an interesting aircraft to have too, and it does fit the period - it's always intrigued me as to what made the -P such a good high altitude platform, it doesn't LOOK like it should be so well behaved up there (to 50,000ft!), even with longer wings.

Cheers, Spinner

[Fafnir_6]

The answer lies in the engines (and the pressurized 'pit).

Cheers,

Fafnir_6