Short Finals

Another reader, Mr R J Thompson, actually worked for a time at RAE, Farnborough during 1942/43. In that time Mr Thompson remembers that a number of bomber turrets were developed and tested using both. Sin guns and Vclrious assortments of cannon. There was even a much needed remote control ventral turret perfected for the Lancaster using twin 20mm cannons which were operated via a periscope from within the aircraft. Mr Thompson writes “that these turrets were never fitted to operational aircraft astounds me and must come under the heading of criminal neglect”. I am sure that the majority of the tens of thousands of bomber crews who perished in the cold night skies above Europe would agree with Mr Thompson’s sentiments.

Getting it Right!

‘A few issues back we reviewed Cdr John Nichols and Barrett Tillman’s excellent book on USN air ops over North Vietnam. Entitled “On Yankee Station”, this book is excellent reading and also includes many real world examples of how not to fight a war. That aside, there was one particular item in the chapter on aircrew rescues that was simply too good to not recall· in this column. I quote:

“In March 1967 an RA-SC Vigilante from the USS Kittyhawk was flying a recce sortie at 350ft, just off the beach. Making 450kts, the plane was badly hit from shore-based AAA and went down in the water. The pilot was killed but the backseater ejected in time.

The young lieutenant landed on the beach and had waded into the water before being surrounded by numerous hostile locals. He carried the standard issue . 38 revolver in a bandoleer shoulder holster, but for added safety he left the first two chambers unloaded, using only four rounds in the gun. He also had a . 22 automatic hidden under his flight suit. Thigh deep in the surf, surrounded by Vietnamese, the NFO knew that resistance was pointless·. But he could see the duty SAR helo rapidly approaching from the east. He was willing to try something with the smell of rescue so ‘Close.

One of the Vietnamese removed the . 38 from its holster and pointed it at the flier. Another local militiaman covered him with a rifle. The crowd dispersed when A-1 Skyraider and F-8 Crusaders from the ResCAP began strafing up and down the beach, suppressing any anti-aircraft fire that might impede the rescue.

The airborne pilots could see the three men in the water and adjusted their passes accordingly. They could also see that the pilot was covered by two guns, but they couldn’t fire at the Vietnamese without hitting the American. The most they could do was to provide distraction and harassment. That was enough for the cool flier in the water. When his potential captors glanced upward, talking in the low level fly-bys, he unzipped his flight suit, produced his hideout gun, and instantly chambered a round. With the two locals still distracted, he shot the rifleman in the head. The noise of that. 22 round ‘ startled the other Vietnamese, who reflexively pulled the trigger of the . 38. The hammer fell on an empty chamber, as the Viggie NFO knew it would. He shot the pistol holder, and in seconds was swimming madly out to sea. The helo swooped in and picked him up. ”

According to Nichols and Tillman, that story made the rounds through Task Force 77 and back to Cubi (the Subic Bay HQ for the 6th Fleet air group) in a little longer than it takes to relate the incident! Legend records that the level headed flier from “Heavy 13” was assured free drinks at the O Club as long as he was willing to tell his story!

Beyond the Line of Death!

Australia geographically, and politically, has always had a close day to day relationship with the various island states of the South Pacific. Therefore it is always a source of concern when foreign political influences from far off nations, such as the Soviet Union and in particular Libya, begin to make inroads into these once peaceful enclaves in an effort to ultimately create political and economic unrest.

Thus, it was nice to see Australia, via its hard working and highly effective Army, Navy and Air Force helping the people of Vanuatu recently following the damage wreaked upon the area by Cyclone Anne’. Australia and New Zealand have always been first in with physical and monetary assistance when nature has chosen to deal our Pacific neighbours a bad hand.

While watching the efforts· of a RAAF Hercules crew in Vanuatu on television though; I failed to notice any Libyans helping out. Nor for that matter any Russians. A little point perhaps but when the chips are down, theri that is the time real friendships are proven by deeds, not words and cliched political jargon and fair weathered friends can, well, just go back behind their famed ‘Line of Death’, where they well and truly belong.