Picture of the day

[mikerock]

Lovely clear shots of a gaggle of Beaufighters:

Non-standard squadron letters. EO apparently designates 404 Squadron RCAF, broken up in '45, reformed later, and still in operation flying Auroras.

More interesting info here: http://www.404squadron.com/

My grandpa flew Bolingbrookes and then Beaufighters for the RCAF, I was never able to get specific details about his unit other than it was supposed to have been called "Special Bomber Group." He claims he never went overseas but he has the overseas medal and MID. I think he didn't want to talk about it. I keep trying to get my dad to get his records but he hasn't done anything yet. I don't think I am eligible to get them because too many of his closer relatives are still alive.

 

[Sharps '63]

Let's not forget the Sea Hornet.

http://www.maritimequest.com/warshi...mplacable_86_sid_hudson_collection_page_1.htm

While beautiful, the Sea Hornet was a 'Johnny-come-lately', not entering service until February of 1945. Only 200 were ever built. The Westland Whirlwind was also a beautiful aircraft, but was not in the same league as a multi-role warhorse.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

My grandpa flew Bolingbrookes and then Beaufighters for the RCAF, I was never able to get specific details about his unit other than it was supposed to have been called "Special Bomber Group." He claims he never went overseas but he has the overseas medal and MID. I think he didn't want to talk about it. I keep trying to get my dad to get his records but he hasn't done anything yet. I don't think I am eligible to get them because too many of his closer relatives are still alive.

Nope. Folklore. If you have his name, initials and service number just ask National Archives. They have a tab on their website specifically for military files.

 

[mikerock]

I don't have his service number, but I have everything else. I will look into it, thanks.

Edit - Ah yes here is the stumbling block:

Access Restrictions
Access to personal information relating to an individual who is still living requires that person's signed consent.
If the individual has been deceased for less than 20 years, limited information may be released to immediate family. Proof of death and relationship must be provided.
There are no restrictions on access to information relating to an individual who has been deceased for more than 20 years. Proof of death is required.
Proof of Death: A copy of a death certificate, newspaper obituary, funeral notice or photograph of the gravestone. Note that proof of death is not required if the individual died while in service.

Proof of Relationship: A document that clearly demonstrates the relationship between the individual concerned and the person requesting the record. Both names must appear on the document. A newspaper obituary, baptismal certificate or full-form birth certificate are acceptable. A wallet-sized birth certificate that does not indicate parents' names is not accepted. Please do not send original documents; photocopies are acceptable.

Immediate Family: A parent, spouse, child, sibling or grandchild of the individual.

He died in 2003, and I do not have any documents with both of our names on it that I know of. I will check with my mom though as she has my full form birth cert and baptismal certificate.

 

[gareez]

RCAF 404 Buffalo Squadron is correct. My father was attached to 404 for 18 months doing anti shipping patrols.
These aircraft in the picture have the rocket rails installed. My sister has his log books and I will email her to see
if any of these aircraft are in it.

My father on the right. Flt. Lt. George H. Peck.

You may enjoy the squadron history at www.404squadron.com

 

[Sporting Lad]

What were the Beaufighters? Were they fighters, bombers, fighter-bombers, or bomber fighters?
Much like the ME-110, not terribly good at anything.

 

[Gibbs505]

What were the Beaufighters? Were they fighters, bombers, fighter-bombers, or bomber fighters?
Much like the ME-110, not terribly good at anything.

They were also nightfighters, and once the bugs were out of the radar systems, pretty good at it.

 

[Sharps '63]

What were the Beaufighters? Were they fighters, bombers, fighter-bombers, or bomber fighters?
Much like the ME-110, not terribly good at anything.

Unlike the Me 110, the Beaufighter was good in all applications.

 

[dauph197]

RCAF 404 Buffalo Squadron is correct. My father was attached to 404 for 18 months doing anti shipping patrols.
These aircraft in the picture have the rocket rails installed. My sister has his log books and I will email her to see
if any of these aircraft are in it.

My father on the right. Flt. Lt. George H. Peck.

You may enjoy the squadron history at www.404squadron.com

Awesome picture... It would be on my wall in big poster if I would have any of my familly in the service at that time!

Martin

 

[purple]

The Beaufighter was well thought of and had a good record in the night night fighter and anti-shipping roles. It was armed with up to 4 x 20mm cannons and 6 x .303 MGs. It's long range made it useful to the Australians in the South Pacific. The USAAF had several night fighter squadrons equipped with them until the P-61 Black Widow became available in 1944.

 

[gareez]

You may enjoy a previous thread on how to aim rockets on a Beaufighter.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...How-to-aim-rockets-as-told-to-me-by-my-father

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Beaufighters were very effective anti-shipping aircraft for all the reasons Purple mentioned. A fine airplane.

The ME110 was not nearly as effective in any role except night fighter (a role they excelled at) but they could be pretty:

Rocket tubes, a ventral tray, God knows what else. This one must have been slow as hell.

 

[gareez]

My sister emailed me and confirmed that my father regularly flew EO Z from his log book
That would be the third plane in echelon but without a date of the photo there is no way of knowing
if he was flying that day. here is the plane when they had to do their own reloading during quick turnarounds
to revisit a convoy. Dad on the right again

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

And wearing ties while they did it. Those were much classier times.

That pic of EO-Z could well be your Dad. How cool is that? The pic is from the IWM - they might have some additional details.

 

[hnachaj]

I am not sure if I can post this here: http://peteralanlloyd.com/back-part-1/a-covert-helicopter-mission-into-cambodia-goes-wrong-during-the-vietnam-war/

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Very cool story, if a couple of wars too late for this thread... We really should start a general wartime photo thread that incorporates pics from any and all wars/police actions/scraps/nasty go-rounds...

Here's a pic from a similar neighbourhood - Australians on the Kokoda Trail:

I have to think that if I live an evil life, God will drop my ass on the Kokoda Trail for all damned eternity. It is my personal definition of hell.

 

[Gibbs505]

Very cool story, if a couple of wars too late for this thread... We really should start a general wartime photo thread that incorporates pics from any and all wars/police actions/scraps/nasty go-rounds...

Here's a pic from a similar neighbourhood - Australians on the Kokoda Trail:

I have to think that if I live an evil life, God will drop my ass on the Kokoda Trail for all damned eternity. It is my personal definition of hell.

You would not be wrong.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Another pic from the trail:

Miles and miles of feckin' muddy slog, up and down ankle-breaking hills, bugs up the arse, Your Pal Malaria, and all during a war. Ain't it the life.

 

[fenceline]

Another pic from the trail:

Miles and miles of feckin' muddy slog, up and down ankle-breaking hills, bugs up the arse, and all during a war. Ain't it the life.

And yet they are all smiling.

Sometimes it isn't where you are, but who is there with you that makes the trip.

Hell of a generation.

 

[fenceline]

Googled "obscure WW2 photos" and came up with this...

"Deployed by the Soviet Union during the Second World War, they were originally deployed in an attempt to halt the German advance during 1941. The dogs were kept hungry, and food was placed under tanks in order to teach them to look under vehicles for food. Each dog was fitted with a 10-12kg mine. The detonator was attached to a 20cm wooden lever which jutted vertically above the dog. When it dived under an enemy tank, the lever would catch on the hull and detonate the mine, killing the dog and hopefully disabling the tank. In action, these dogs proved less than effective. Many were scared away by German gunfire, which caused them to run back to their handlers, often detonating the mine. Other dogs refused to dive under moving tanks as they had practiced on stationery vehicles, and others jumped under Russian tanks. They did succeed in damaging some German vehicles, but Soviet claims that 300 German tanks were put out of action by these dogs is widely optimistic. "

SMH...