I read a story about a Canadian aircrew barely making it back to base in England after some close calls with the German night fighters. The pilot took a bottle to the rear gunner's quarters and they had a drink and the pilot thanked the rear gunner for saving them. The rear gunner had been so alert and was calling out where the enemy fighters were and shouting commands which way to turn, calling "Corkscrew left! Corkscrew right!" And sometimes just "Go left! Go right!" And so they got back to base alive.
The clearest description I have heard of the corkscrew is - Dive Port, Climb Port, Climb Starboard, Dive Starboard, Dive Port, Climb Port, Climb Starboard, Dive Starboard and so on. If you describe this sequence with your hand (or a model aeroplane!) you will illustrate a perfect corkscrew and can appreciate how it slows down the forward motion of your aircraft, thus - in theory - causing the attacking aircraft to overshoot.
Luftwaffe nightfighter ace Lt (?) Peter Spoden is on various TV interviews recalling how, having engaged a 'Lanki', it employed every manoeuvre possible to get away but Spoden continued the engagement until he realised that airspeed had decayed to the stall buffet because both he and the Lancaster where on their backs and completing a complete loop......
chair borne commander AVM Cochrane insisted the pilots should not vary flight pattern but maintain steady course to allow air gunners to use effective .303 !!! against night fighters with 20mm cannon. This policy conflicted with AVM Bennett with considerable operational experience to keep weaving. The deadly Shrage Musuk had not been identified... was it ever ?? Our bombers became such easy victims following the Cochrane doctrine. Read accounts of 83 squadron operations to learn more. Poor, brave chaps.
Walter Thompson Canadian QC states in his book Lancaster to Berlin that 83 squadron commander Abercrombie an advocate of the Cochrane patent accused a pilot of cowardice as he refused to change his flight pattern. He told the former.....you will last 3 weeks. FTR Jan lst 1944
The ORS (Operational Research Section) supposedly never figured it out, despite obvious clues. However there is evidence that many crews - particularly Canadian - had a very good idea what was going on. The crews always know. Even when the rumors about 'scarecrow' started, a lot of crews knew it was bollocks. In particular, those that did not fly straight and level for long periods tended to come back.
True, but British formations were a lot more open that US box formations, precisely so as not to make a concentrated target, and not needing to carry the weight of so much defensive armament. In fact, most squadrons got rid of their dorsal and even ventral guns quite early on, figuring that, for all their effectiveness, it was just more crew to be lost if shot down. The Lanc's maneuverability was its best defence.
I read a story about a Canadian aircrew barely making it back to base in England after some close calls with the German night fighters. The pilot took a bottle to the rear gunner's quarters and they had a drink and the pilot thanked the rear gunner for saving them. The rear gunner had been so alert and was calling out where the enemy fighters were and shouting commands which way to turn, calling "Corkscrew left! Corkscrew right!" And sometimes just "Go left! Go right!" And so they got back to base alive.
My Dads Uncle disappeared over the English Channel...Swordfish I think.
That was very common. The rear gunner was far more important at spotting and reporting enemy fighters than actually shooting them.
@@duartesimoes508 Brave men...optical radar
The clearest description I have heard of the corkscrew is - Dive Port, Climb Port, Climb Starboard, Dive Starboard, Dive Port, Climb Port, Climb Starboard, Dive Starboard and so on. If you describe this sequence with your hand (or a model aeroplane!) you will illustrate a perfect corkscrew and can appreciate how it slows down the forward motion of your aircraft, thus - in theory - causing the attacking aircraft to overshoot.
The first vet was a pilot in 44 Rhodesia Squadron, Dunholme Lodge. Y- Yorker B-Flight. Brilliant man.
Luftwaffe nightfighter ace Lt (?) Peter Spoden is on various TV interviews recalling how, having engaged a 'Lanki', it employed every manoeuvre possible to get away but Spoden continued the engagement until he realised that airspeed had decayed to the stall buffet because both he and the Lancaster where on their backs and completing a complete loop......
a truly humane man who served his country . His book expresses a sadness at taking the lives of young men when reflecting on his own young sons.
Dad said a corkscrew was quite impressive if you were in the rear cockpit in daylight.
Lest we forget……..😢
Difficult times.
Sad that we have to put our young people into war
When I was 18 I joined the USMC to fight for my country it wasn’t “sad”.
chair borne commander AVM Cochrane insisted the pilots should not vary flight pattern but maintain steady course to allow air gunners to use effective .303 !!! against night fighters with 20mm cannon. This policy conflicted with AVM Bennett with considerable operational experience to keep weaving. The deadly Shrage Musuk had not been identified... was it ever ?? Our bombers became such easy victims following the Cochrane doctrine. Read accounts of 83 squadron operations to learn more. Poor, brave chaps.
@normannokes9513 When was this order given???
efer 83 Squadron by Chris Ward. December 1943 [age 200@@richardvernon317
John Searby master bomber Peenemunde operation in his book Bomber Battle for Berlin describes the .303 armament as a pea shooter.
Walter Thompson Canadian QC states in his book Lancaster to Berlin that 83 squadron commander Abercrombie an advocate of the Cochrane patent accused a pilot of cowardice as he refused to change his flight pattern. He told the former.....you will last 3 weeks. FTR Jan lst 1944
The ORS (Operational Research Section) supposedly never figured it out, despite obvious clues. However there is evidence that many crews - particularly Canadian - had a very good idea what was going on. The crews always know. Even when the rumors about 'scarecrow' started, a lot of crews knew it was bollocks. In particular, those that did not fly straight and level for long periods tended to come back.
I’m thinking making a corkscrew must have been very risky with other aircraft so close .
True, but British formations were a lot more open that US box formations, precisely so as not to make a concentrated target, and not needing to carry the weight of so much defensive armament. In fact, most squadrons got rid of their dorsal and even ventral guns quite early on, figuring that, for all their effectiveness, it was just more crew to be lost if shot down. The Lanc's maneuverability was its best defence.
Lest we forget.
Thank you
God save us.
Pew pew pew!!!
QUELQU'UN PEUT ME DIRE CE QU'EST UN CORKSCREW ???
A corkscrew is a metal spiral object used to open wine bottles.
Plane goes into a spinning dive to escape from fighters
It's more complictaed than a dive. Please read my remark at the top of this thread.@@crystalroo_choo_loves_u_6185
C’est un tire bouchon. On fait voler l’avion comme ca.