Rule Britannia!

[Colin]

So that's what the aircraft technician meant by "I'll just take a quick peek underneath".

[rmgill]

Checking for leaks whilst in flight...

[Archie Pellagio]

I think this is a Hawker Hunter, so this is probably the right thread.

 

 

Is that legit? The focus seems... weird...

[Mr King]

[Adam_S]

 

I think this is a Hawker Hunter, so this is probably the right thread.

 

Is that legit? The focus seems... weird...

 

 

I think this one is definitely Photoshopped:

 

[shep854]

Not British, but still...Robert Moriarty flies his Beech Bonanza under the Eiffel Tower on 3/31/84:

[MiloMorai]

Depiction of an actual event.

 

 

In the spring of 1944 Bill and his P-51C “Berlin Express” were near Paris when the scene that is immortalized in the artwork by Len Krenzler of Action Art that leads this article took place. Bill had followed this Bf 109 from the bombers he was escorting when most of the German fighters left. The two planes had been in a running dogfight. The German pilot flew over Paris hoping that the heavy German anti-aircraft artillery would solve his problem and eliminate Overstreet and the “Berlin Express,” though Bill managed to get some hits in at about 1500 feet. The German’s engine was hit, and Bill stayed on his tail braving the intense enemy flak. His desperation undoubtedly growing, the German pilot aimed his plane at the Eiffel Tower and in a surprising maneuver, flew beneath it. Undeterred, Bill followed right behind him, scoring several more hits in the process. The German plane crashed and Bill escaped the heavy flak around Paris by flying low and full throttle over the river until he had cleared the city’s heavy anti-aircraft batteries.

 

There is a photo of a 409 Sqd Beaufighter flying under the Eiffel Tower.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/olaftheblack/273391969/sizes/o/

[Mr King]

That sounds like a tall tail. Wouldn't there be gun camera footage from this impressive feat?

[MiloMorai]

That sounds like a tall tail. Wouldn't there be gun camera footage from this impressive feat?

Google

Captain William Overstreet

[T-44]

There is a photo of a 409 Sqd Beaufighter flying under the Eiffel Tower.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/olaftheblack/273391969/sizes/o/

 

Any more info on that? It may be a real event, but the photo looks somewhat odd (maybe the perspective though), and the people in it don't really seem to be looking at or caring for the Beaufighter and its feat, , even if the photographer obviously knows the plane is there and approaching...

[MiloMorai]

 

There is a photo of a 409 Sqd Beaufighter flying under the Eiffel Tower.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/olaftheblack/273391969/sizes/o/

 

Any more info on that? It may be a real event, but the photo looks somewhat odd (maybe the perspective though), and the people in it don't really seem to be looking at or caring for the Beaufighter and its feat, , even if the photographer obviously knows the plane is there and approaching...

 

Wrong a/c, should be a Mosquito.

 

I'm the son of F/S Bill Bryant (navigator) who, flown by his pilot W/O Bob Boorman, was in the aircraft photographed. My father passed away a few years ago, after a happy and fulfilled life, but had told me at lhow this event came to take place.

 

The squadron had been the first nightfighter squadron into Europe after D-Day and had supported the Allied landforces' advances over the following weeks, moving from airfield to airfield in France and Belgium before crossing the Rhine.

 

One evening, after the liberation of Paris, the two men decided to enjoy an evening in the city and were enjoying (several) drinks in the Hotel Trocadéro when they were joined by a reporter and photographer from the Stars & Stripes (US Forces) newspaper. After several more drinks, the Americans asked the flyers if they were planning to fly the next day, to which they replied that they were due to be on patrol over Paris the following morning.

 

The Americans then suggested that a shot of their aircraft flying between the legs of the Eiffel Tower, visible just a few hundred yards away, would make a good picture! After further discussions about wingspans and clearances while standing (unsteadily) on the balcony looking across at the Tower, Bob and Bill, slightly the worse for wear at this stage, agreed to give it a go! The Americans promised to be in place and, having taken their squadron details, bade them a good night.

 

The following morning, with somewhat sore heads, the two were flying over Paris when Bob asked Bill if he fancied taking up the challenge suggested the previous night. “You must be joking!” protested Bill. After further protests, he agreed that they ought to at least go and take a look. Flying around the Tower a few times, they agreed that there was in fact greater width and height than one might expect, and decided to go for it.

 

Bill told me that the flight through went without a hitch, but that they had got a shock as the hotel came quickly into full view and they had to pull up sharply to avoid ploughing straight into it at 250mph! (See a modern day view at https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...176a12!6m1!1e1 )

 

They heard nothing from the two Americans for some time, as the squadron continued to move forward from airfield to airfield towards Germany. However, after a few weeks a brown-paper parcel caught up with them and it was opened to reveal the photo in question. The two men did not want their names publicly attributed to the event at the time as this would undoubtedly have been a court-marshal offence, but word soon got around unofficially. I also have a copy of the photo, inscribed as has been previously mentioned by one of dad's former Aircrew Association colleagues (whom I hope is still with us!), on my study wall in front of me as I type.

[T19]

Cool. That's all I can say.

[shep854]

Cool. That's all I can say.

Typical Commonwealth understatement.

The 'Murrican version:

Dude, that's freakin' AWESOME!!! Especially to be (even distantly, via Internet) to such an event is really neat as well!

[T-44]

Wrong a/c, should be a Mosquito.....

Thanks!

[Mr King]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4MzidEckMc

[shep854]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4MzidEckMc

Good training--and probably a lot of fun for the aircrews.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Deadlight

Edited January 27, 2015 by shep854

[zaarin7]

There was a periodical called "Wings of Fame" back in the 1990's. One issue had a write up on the TSR-2. If that write up is factual had the plane not been cancelled for political reasons it would have been in service into the 1990's and probably been a world record holder.

[mnm]

And imagine what it would have been one running sonic bangs up the Argentine Int. Waters Limit in 1982 in a worse logistic nightmare than Op. Black Buck

[Mr King]

This might cause a little heartburn.

 

[T19]

I have to change my pants, but it was good

[Mr King]

[Mr King]

[DougRichards]

There was a periodical called "Wings of Fame" back in the 1990's. One issue had a write up on the TSR-2. If that write up is factual had the plane not been cancelled for political reasons it would have been in service into the 1990's and probably been a world record holder.

 

Lets look at some parralels. The A-5 Vigilante was a slightly smaller aircarft than the TSR-2, but design parameters / role were quite similar. The A-5 did not stay long in service as a bomber / recon (retiring in 1979) in comparison to its stablemate (shipmate?) A-6 Intruder, which remained in service in its intended role into the the 1990s.

 

If the TSR-2 (lets be clear we are talking about the jet monoplane and not the OTHER TSR-2, the Swordfish) entered service would it have stayed in service much longer than the Vigilante? Expensive to operate, high maintenance and not able to do much more than the Bucc. Also, it was reported at one time that the British could afford to buy 5 Buccs for each TSR-2 purchased. The Bucc did remain in service until 1994, and gave great service over that time.

[DB]

Well, the lifetime of the Vigilante was rather longer than it deserved to be considering that the problems with the bomb bay were never properly resolved. Whilst it is likely that all of the other issues with the complex systems on the Vigilante could easily have shown up in the TSR-2, we'll never actually know because it wasn't given the chance to fail.

 

Which begs the question as to what happens to Tornado. I think that if we're looking at TSR-2 being successful, then it fills the role taken by GR.1 Tornado, and without UK participation in that I don't think Tornado happens at all. And without that, what do we do to replace the F.2 and F.3 aircraft?

 

I can't see UK PLC developing an F-15 equivalent fighter (various mockups and paper aeroplanes notwithstanding), and I don't see a European collaborative project for that either - the lack of take-up of the ADV strongly suggests that there was no demand. It's F-15A I think, at best. Can't imagine the UK buying any Mirages.

[shep854]

Simply. Beautiful.