Ases de los Hurricane

Foro para la charla de los miembros de la Campaña de la Batalla de Inglaterra.

Moderadores: MODERACION, ESQ24F

Responder
sealowe
Kommodore
Kommodore
Mensajes: 8174
Registrado: 28 Ago 2007 02:00
Ubicación: Madrid - ESPAÑA
Contactar:

Ases de los Hurricane

Imagen

Douglas Bader

El 27 de noviembre de 1939, ocho años después de su accidente, Bader volvió a encontrarse de nuevo a los mandos de un avión Avro Tutor K-324. Muy pronto, Bader pasó a pilotar un Fairey Battle, bombardero diurno monomotor, y luego un Miles Master, la última etapa para un piloto de la RAF antes de poder pilotar los Supermarine Spitfire y los Hawker Hurricane. En febrero de 1940, Bader fue destinado al 19º Escuadrón de Caza, con base en Duxford, siendo, a sus 29 años de edad, considerablemente mayor que el resto de pilotos que le rodeaban. Dos meses más tarde, fue nombrado comandante de la 222ª Escuadrilla de Caza, otra escuadrilla basada en Duxford, que estaba a punto de reemplazar sus desfasados Bristol Blenheim por unos flamantes Spitfire.2​

Justo antes de tomar el mando, intentó hacer despegar su Spitfire con la hélice pasada de revoluciones y, fatalmente, el aparato se estrelló al despegar. De este accidente debe destacarse como curiosidad que, en el caso de que sus piernas no hubiesen sido amputadas con anterioridad al mismo, las hubiese perdido en el accidente. En este caso, únicamente hubo que recomponer las prótesis retorcidas. Sorprendido por la tontería propia de un novato que había cometido, la reconoció sin ambages. Felizmente para él, el ministro del Aire, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, consideró que habría aprendido la lección y que nunca más volvería a cometer ese error, con lo que le confirmó al mando de la escuadrilla.

En junio de 1940, Bader fue enviado, junto con su escuadrilla, para efectuar la cobertura aérea durante la retirada de Dunkerque de las tropas británicas ante el acoso de la Wehrmacht en Europa. En el curso de una de las salidas, Douglas Bader alcanzó su primera victoria aérea, sobre un Messerschmitt Bf 109 de la Luftwaffe. Aún en junio de 1940, fue nombrado jefe de la 242ª Escuadrilla de Caza, una unidad canadiense que había quedado seriamente afectada en los combates correspondientes a la batalla de Francia y que en esos momentos estaba en un bajo estado de moral. Dicha moral no quedó precisamente mejorada cuando, en el aeródromo de Coltishall, vieron bajar del avión a su futuro comandante y comprobaron que carecía de ambas piernas. Sin embargo, Bader despejó inmediatamente sus temores, ofreciéndoles una demostración de acrobacia aérea de 30 minutos, que les impresionó profundamente. Tras enfrentarse con algunos problemas de avituallamiento, Bader pudo rápidamente declarar que su nueva escuadrilla, formada por 18 aparatos Hawker Hurricane, estaba lista para el combate. Era el momento oportuno, puesto que la decisiva batalla de Inglaterra estaba a punto de dar inicio.

Durante este episodio bélico, Bader participó en la elaboración y puesta a punto de la estrategia del Big Wing, que consistía en hacer despegar conjuntamente a varias escuadrillas de aviones de caza para enfrentarse con las oleadas de bombarderos de la Luftwaffe en su avance previo al bombardeo, de tal modo que se pudiese derribar al máximo posible de ellos antes de que descargasen sus cargas de bombas, abortando así los propios bombardeos y desorganizando a las escuadrillas atacantes. Cuando se dio por concluida la batalla de Inglaterra, Douglas Bader recibió las Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) y Distinguished Service Order (DSO), a la vez que pasó a ser Wing Commander del aeródromo de Duxford.

Durante la batalla de Inglaterra, Douglas Bader estaba preocupado por la posibilidad de ser derribado sobre el canal de la Mancha, debido a que, caso de caer sobre el agua, sus prótesis podían actuar como lastre haciéndole hundirse en el mar. Por ese motivo, para intentar ayudar a la flotabilidad de las mismas, decidió rellenarlas con pelotas de ping pong. No obstante, en la siguiente misión que efectuó oyó unos ruidos extraños, pensando que era atacado por un avión enemigo. Sin embargo, se trataba de la explosión de las pelotas de ping pong, afectadas por la altura.3​

En marzo de 1941, dejó la escuadrilla 242 para pasar a ser Wing commander del aeródromo de Tangmere, asumiendo así el mando de tres escuadrillas de Spitfire (las escuadrillas 145ª, 610ª y 666ª), así como una escuadrilla de Bristol Beaufighter. Durante este mando diseñó y puso a punto la formación en «cuatro dedos», que posteriormente ha sido utilizada por todas las fuerzas aéreas del mundo, para hacer volar conjuntamente a una patrulla compuesta por cuatro aviones. Douglas Bader, durante este período, hizo gala de un espíritu táctico inusual, trabajando en estrecha coordinación con su alter ego en tierra, el controlador A.G. Woodhall. Por su brillante liderazgo, fue recompensado con una barra para añadir a su previa DSO.

Bader parecía invencible pero, el 9 de agosto de 1941, tras haber obtenido otras dos nuevas victorias, topó en el aire con un tercer Messerschmitt 109, viéndose obligado a saltar en paracaídas. Durante las maniobras de extracción de la cabina de vuelo del avión alcanzado, perdió las dos prótesis de sus piernas. Al haber caído en territorio ocupado por los alemanes, se convirtió en prisionero de guerra, siendo enviado a un hospital en las cercanías de Saint-Omer, muy cerca del lugar en el que se encontraba la tumba de su padre. Antes de ello, Adolf Galland, uno de los jefes de la Luftwaffe, envió un vehículo para que le recogiese y le llevase a su base aérea para poder charlar con él.4​ En ese momento se puso en marcha una de las menos conocidas y más increíbles operaciones de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Tras ponerse de acuerdo alemanes y británicos, se dejó paso libre a un avión británico con el fin de que lanzase en paracaídas un nuevo par de prótesis para Douglas Bader. Se trata sin duda de la única ocasión en que los alemanes autorizaron a un avión británico para que sobrevolase la Francia ocupada. La operación fue un éxito, y Bader recibió su nuevo par de piernas.4​

Una vez recuperada de nuevo su capacidad de movimiento tras serle reimplantadas las prótesis, y con la voluntad inflexible que le caracterizaba, rápidamente efectuó la primera de sus numerosas tentativas de evasión. Inició así un largo periplo de campo en campo y de evasión en evasión, hasta acabar recalando en la célebre fortaleza de Colditz, donde los alemanes, que aunque admiraban a este oficial fuera de lo común estaban cansados de sus tentativas de evasión, procedieron finalmente a la confiscación de sus prótesis, tras que Douglas rechazase hacer la promesa de no volver a efectuar ningún nuevo intento de fuga.2​

En la primavera de 1945, tras ser liberado por el 1º Ejército estadounidense, que acababa de conquistar Colditz, se dirigió inmediatamente a París para solicitar un Spitfire y regresar al combate antes del fin de la guerra. Sin embargo, no se le concedió la autorización, ya que ya formaba parte de la Historia y de la leyenda y el alto mando no deseaba perder a un hombre de esa envergadura. Fue ascendido a Group Captain, asumiendo el mando de la Escuela de Cazas de Tangmere, siendo posteriormente nombrado jefe del sector de Essex con el 11º Grupo de North Weald. El 15 de septiembre de 1945, condujo personalmente el desfile aéreo de la victoria, formado por 300 aviones, que sobrevoló la ciudad de Londres.


Fuente: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Bader
FdU/U-bootwaffe
Soldbuch:
http://www.24flotilla.com/oficinas/odg/ ... ealowe.jpg
Imagen

NUESTRO HONOR, ES LA LEALTAD ¡¡¡ GLORIA A LA 24ª !!!
sealowe
Kommodore
Kommodore
Mensajes: 8174
Registrado: 28 Ago 2007 02:00
Ubicación: Madrid - ESPAÑA
Contactar:

Re: Ases de los Hurricane

Imagen

"Cobber" Kain

Before the start of hostilities, No. 73 Squadron RAF on 24 August 1939 was mobilised as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF). Appointed a section commander Kain flew on 80 fighter and escort operations over Le Havre, Louvres, Rheims, Verdun and other parts of enemy-occupied territory as No. 73 was one of the first units to engage the Luftwaffe.

Four days after war was declared, 73’s 16 Hurricane fighters flew across the Channel to France. On 10 September 1939, Kain flew his first operational patrols without making contact with the enemy. His first victory occurred on 8 November 1939 during a defensive patrol. Kain had spotted a Dornier Do 17 from reconnaissance unit 1.(F)/123 above and ahead of him. As the Do 17 began to climb to 27,000 ft with Kain in pursuit, he made two attacks but saw no result. With his Hurricane showing signs of strain, he attacked again and the Dornier dived steeply. Kain followed but pulled out when he saw fabric peeling off his wings. The Dornier crashed into the small village of Lubey northwest of Metz, exploding on impact and killing the crew. A machine gun recovered from that aircraft features as part of the Outbreak 1939 exhibition at the Imperial War Museum.

On 23 November, near Conflans, Kain shot down another Do 17, from 3.(F)/22. Due to bad weather there was little flying in December, January and February but on 1 March 1940, Kain fought an action with two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. His Hurricane was already damaged when he shot the first Bf 109 down in flames although the second fighter attacked him, stopping the Hurricane’s engine with a cannon shell but then flew off, leaving Kain to glide 30 miles from 20,000 feet to reach French territory. When his engine caught fire, Kain prepared to bail out but had to re-enter the cockpit when he realized his parachute strap was not in position. Fortunately the flames went out and Kain glided on to a forced-landing at Metz aerodrome.

In March 1940, Kain was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a particularly daring action. While flying on operations, he sighted seven enemy Bf 109 fighters above him at 5,000 ft. Immediately giving chase and while pursuing them back towards the German lines, Kain discovered another enemy fighter on his tail. Attacked from behind, and with his own Hurricane fighter badly damaged, he engaged the enemy and shot it down. With his cockpit full of smoke and oil, he managed to bring his Hurricane down behind the Allied lines. The citation for the award referred to "the magnificent fighting spirit Kain displayed in outmanoeuvring his enemy and destroying him."

On 26 March, Kain destroyed a Bf 109 and probably a second of JG 53 but then with his own engine on fire he bailed out, with shell splinters to his left leg, a bullet-grazed left hand and burns to the face.

Kain went on leave to England on 2 April and before he returned, his engagement was announced. Back with the squadron he damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 110 on 23 April. During the Phoney war from September 1939 to March 1940, Kain shot down five aircraft.

On 10 May 1940, the German forces launched the blitzkrieg through the Low countries and France; in the next 10 days, Kain destroyed five more enemy aircraft including an unusual Do 17 victory on 15 May where the enemy crew (of KG 3) was seen to bale out when Kain had attacked in a head-on pass.[11] and probably destroyed or damaged another five.

On 22 May he was again posted back to England with other pilots but on arrival Kain and another pilot were ordered to immediately report back to 73 Squadron. They were put on administrative duties and Kain did not fly again until 25 May when he destroyed a Do 17 but had to make an emergency landing in his damaged Hurricane. He subsequently destroyed an Henschel Hs 126 on 26 May and another Do 17 on 27 May. Kain continued to fly as his unit retreated from one airfield to the next during the Allied retreat to Dunkirk and on 5 June, he shot down a Bf 109.

Officially credited with the destruction of 16 enemy aircraft and one damaged in fighter engagements, Kain was mentioned in dispatches on 27 February 1940.

By 6 June 1940, Kain was the RAF's top ace, and he was informed he would be returning to England the next day. The following morning, a group of his squadron mates gathered at the airfield at Échemines to bid him farewell as he took off in his Hurricane to fly to Le Mans to collect his kit. Unexpectedly, Kain began a "beat-up" of the airfield, performing a series of low level aerobatics in Hurricane I L1826. Commencing a series of "flick" rolls, on his third roll, the ace misjudged his altitude and hit the ground heavily in a level attitude. Kain died when he was pitched out of the cockpit, striking the ground 27 m in front of the exploding Hurricane. Kain is buried in Choloy Military Cemetery.

Based on his exploits in the air as well as an engaging, friendly manner, "Cobber" (New Zealand slang for "pal") Kain was treated as a popular hero by the RAF as well as the media.

Kain Place in his home town of Hastings, New Zealand, was named in his honour. Kain Avenue in Matraville, Sydney, Australia, was also named in his honour.


Fuente: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Kain
Otras: http://acesofww2.com/newzealand/aces/kain/
FdU/U-bootwaffe
Soldbuch:
http://www.24flotilla.com/oficinas/odg/ ... ealowe.jpg
Imagen

NUESTRO HONOR, ES LA LEALTAD ¡¡¡ GLORIA A LA 24ª !!!
sealowe
Kommodore
Kommodore
Mensajes: 8174
Registrado: 28 Ago 2007 02:00
Ubicación: Madrid - ESPAÑA
Contactar:

Re: Ases de los Hurricane

Imagen

"Fanny" Orton

When war broke out this meant a move to France, which took place on the 9th September 1939. 73 Sqn become part of the newly-formed 67 Fighter Wing Air Component of the BEF. Its aim was the protection of bombers and reconnaissance aircraft of the RAF as well as its ground forces.

The first clash with the Germans was on 6th November, when a group of Bf 109e fighters swept by P/O Peter V Ayerst. "Cobber" Kaine I think scored the first victory of the unit two days later when he shot down a reconnaissance Dornier 17.

"Fanny" Orton opened his account on the 23rd November and was immediately a success twice.
In the morning, he first participated in the downing of an He 111 H-2 (FC + F6) from 2(F)/122 and shared another with pilots from 1 Sqn including Flt. Lt. Plinstone, Sgt. Clowes and three Frenchmen from GC II/5

His second victim was another He 111, this time a version of the H-1 (W.Nr.5262) ​​of Stab/KG 53 which was also on a mission and crashed at Verize. Two members of the crew lost their lives.

Another victory "Fanny" Orton scored in the new year of 1940,was a Messerschmitt Bf 109E. on the 26th March.

First, around noon, he fought a swarm of Messerschmitt Bf 110`s, the match ended with one damaged engine on each side. Later that day in other combats with JG 53, they got credited with three Bf 109s destroyed and one probable.
This is when the press began to make the name famous in the press of "Cobber" Kain, who scored two victories, overall then, he had 5 now becoming the first RAF ace in WW2.

Around half past three 73 Sqn fought with JG 53, "Fanny" Orton was now involved in these later combats and "Fanny" claimed two victories. Later this was shown that both fights showed JG 53 with claims that they only had three slightly damaged aircraft.

Another double victory Orton scored on the 21st April and became only the second fighter ace in the Squadron but also throughout the RAF.

That afternoon the squadron pilots were involved in a fight with the formation of fighter Bf 109e`s and Bf 110`s and scored a 3-3-2 victory. Orton scored his first after an extended combat with a Bf 109e, presumably the machine of Ofw. W. Höppner of 1/JG 53. The other combat sent to earth in flames probably an aircraft from 1/ZG 2 and pilot Fw. S. Fischer was killed and Uffz shooter. E. Mayer rescued injured on a parachute.


On 3 May "Fanny" Orton, (after "Cobber" Kain) became the second pilot to get decorated with the award of the DFC.

On 10th May 1940 the Germans launched their Blitzkrieg and air fighting flared up fully. Unfortunately, due to the great confusion, many details of his victories were not preserved.

Most documents were lost during the retreat (lost or destroyed) and reconstructed when back after returning to Britain.

Orton is credited with at least 9 and some victories, most of them are not aware of the full details. Orton went on to be credited with at least 15 by the end of 1940 and possibly 18.

May 10th around 4.00 pm he was involved in damage to a Dornier 17 from 4./KG 3, which was the first victory of the RAF during the German attack on May 10th, when the true Battle of France commenced. The following day, May the 11th, he shot down one Do 17 and a Bf 110. On the fourteenth he damaged another Dornier Bomber, but then came the 15th of May 1940.

Orton was on that day in a combat along with six members of his Hurricane Sqn, which twice fought with faster Bf 110 fighters, indeed the Dornier 215 was also faster than these early Hurricanes. The pilots first encountered the Me110 fighters from 3/ZG 2 and Orton downed an aircraft piloted by Ltn. F. Mentzel. He was with his gunner Gefr. Oechsle and captured. Their plane landed in woods at Boult-au-Bois.

After about half an hour in combat with Me110s Orton managed to shoot a Messerschmitt down from a claimed three from 73 Sqn and one probably destroyed, but then "Fanny" Orton`s Hurricane- P2579 TP-J got hit and set on fire, which was the fate of so many Hurricane pilots in 1940.

Orton was burned and injured, in big trouble as he left the Hurricane at a suicidal height of around six hundred feet on a parachute, just getting his chute open in time but during the descent shots were fired at him by several French soldiers. Fortunately these Frenchmen were close to the British soldiers who saved him from further violence. Badly burned, Orton was then quickly transferred to a hospital in Bétheniville, where he was subsequently evacuated to Britain.

His injuries were apparently more serious, because the recovery was stretched and Orton was not fit enough to fight in the Battle of Britain. Who knows what his score would then have been?

In early July 1940 for his courage and achievements in fighting in France, he was awarded the bar to the earlier DFC and Orton became the first pilot in World War II to receive this award twice.

After recovering, he worked as an instructor at 59 OTU and was promoted.

At the beginning of July 1941, Orton returned to active duty. The first was as a supernumerary Squadron Leader sent to the famous Bader Wing to gain experience with command functions.

Even at the end of July, assuming command of 54 Sqn which was then fighting in Sweeps and Circuses over occupied Europe.

On the twelfth of August 1941 the RAF was very busy, there were several attacks against targets in France, during which Allied fighters claimed victories 6-5-9, but lost nine Spitfires, not good for the balance sheet. Number 54 Squadron took part in the action on Circus No.69 over Saint Omer, and had drawn away the attention from the main attack on power stations at Cologne ( on Circus No.77).

Above St. Omer 54 Squadron got into a fight with German fighters and Orton, flying the Spitfire Mk.V with the remainder of the Sqn using the Mark 2 Spitfires got two certain victories.

17 September 1941 54 Squadron participated in operations on Circus 95. The fighters from JG 26 attacked them and things did not turn out too well. Although the pilots announced the four probable victories, one of those lost was belonging to Sqn. Ldr. Newell "Fanny" Orton, three Spitfires returned and two others were injured.

Over France that day combat cost the lives of Sgt. D. Draper (Spitfire Mk.VB/AB813), Sgt. R. A. Overson (W3109), but the great loss of S/Ldr "Fanny" Orton. His body nor the wreckage of his Spitfire W3772 were ever found. Sqn. Ldr. Orton has no known grave and is remembered on the 28th Panel of the memorial at Runnymede.



Fuente: http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion. ... ticle=7467
Otros: https://www.tracesofwar.nl/persons/4350 ... y.htm?c=aw
FdU/U-bootwaffe
Soldbuch:
http://www.24flotilla.com/oficinas/odg/ ... ealowe.jpg
Imagen

NUESTRO HONOR, ES LA LEALTAD ¡¡¡ GLORIA A LA 24ª !!!
sealowe
Kommodore
Kommodore
Mensajes: 8174
Registrado: 28 Ago 2007 02:00
Ubicación: Madrid - ESPAÑA
Contactar:

Re: Ases de los Hurricane

En marzo de 1941, dejó la escuadrilla 242 para pasar a ser Wing commander del aeródromo de Tangmere, asumiendo así el mando de tres escuadrillas de Spitfire (las escuadrillas 145ª, 610ª y 666ª), así como una escuadrilla de Bristol Beaufighter. Durante este mando diseñó y puso a punto la formación en «cuatro dedos», que posteriormente ha sido utilizada por todas las fuerzas aéreas del mundo, para hacer volar conjuntamente a una patrulla compuesta por cuatro aviones. Douglas Bader, durante este período, hizo gala de un espíritu táctico inusual, trabajando en estrecha coordinación con su alter ego en tierra, el controlador A.G. Woodhall. Por su brillante liderazgo, fue recompensado con una barra para añadir a su previa DSO.
Con respecto a esto.....no estoy muy de acuerdo con ello.....
Que yo sepa, fueron los alemanes los padres de la criatura. No en si formar en 4 si no usarlo como unidad de combate y perfeccionar su uso con la flexibilidad y superioridad aerea que facilitaba. Y es asignado al entonces Teniente o Capitán Werner Mölders.......

Lo que puede ser es que fuera quien adoptara oficialmente esa tactica en la RAF .....
FdU/U-bootwaffe
Soldbuch:
http://www.24flotilla.com/oficinas/odg/ ... ealowe.jpg
Imagen

NUESTRO HONOR, ES LA LEALTAD ¡¡¡ GLORIA A LA 24ª !!!
patadepalo
Kapitän zur See
Kapitän zur See
Mensajes: 6168
Registrado: 28 Ene 2006 01:00
Ubicación: 36°32′01″N 06°17′58″W UT+02:00

Re: Ases de los Hurricane

Buen relato histórico, totalmente desconocido para mi.

::kaleun:
Imagen


Imagen

Todo lo que no sean aquellos a quienes amamos y que nos aman, es la nada, polvo y aire.
Responder

Volver a “Campaña de La Batalla de Inglaterra”