Posted on 11/27/2012 10:36:15 AM PST by Winniesboy
The audacious story of how a RAF pilot flew down the Champs-Elysees to drop a French Tricolor over Nazi-occupied Paris has emerged after his medals were put up for sale.
In a daring raid intended to boost the morale of the French, Wing Commander Ken Gatward flew just feet off the ground to put the wind up the Germans.
After dropping a huge French flag on top of the Arc de Triomphe, the British pilot headed towards the Gestapo headquarters which he raked with 20mm shells.
The attack sent the German SS troops running for their lives, to the delight of Parisians.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The Beaufighter was one of the undersung successes of British military aviation in the Second World War. May have lacked the glamour of the Spitfire or Mosquito, but was a superbly tough and powerful night fighter/fighter-bomber which proved adaptable to many different roles and did invaluable service in widely differing theatres, including the Pacific (the Japanese called it ‘whispering death’).
I’m sure the 10,000 Brits who are fighting in Afghanistan would take issue with that comment, especially the c 450 who’ve paid the ultimate price. A fallen rate that, on a per capita basis, could arguably be higher than the US. Just sayin’.
And every once in awhile, only just so often, war is a hell of a lot of fun.
Not taking anything from those currently serving but flying a WWII issue prop plane a few feet off of “main street” in gestapo held Paris does put one in rare company. That’s Jimmie Doolittle territory.
I had to look it up despite being a avid boyhood fan of WWII aviation. They were still flying in the DC area of my early childhood.
Despite being called the "whispering death" the two big radials must still have been something to hear, echoing off the building walls at the second floor level. (That's US count, UK and continental I guess is first floor.)
There is no CIC this side of the former iron curtain who would permit such a mission THESE days. Fly down the boulevard at BR window height, and then strafe enemy headquarters? Never! The politicians who pass for leaders these days are far too PC to allow our enemy to be EMBARASSED!
I NEVER heard of this one! That is so cool!
At least he never saw Londonistan.
***
I miss my parents, who were part of the Greatest Generation, but after the stolen election of 2012, I am so glad they did not live to see this day.
A few years ago, the husband and I visited the D-Day Memorial that is in Virginia’s Bedford County. It just so happened that we had the honor of meeting a WWII vet and his wife, who were there to see the memorial, although his service had been in the Pacific. It broke my heart to hear him say that he would not do it all over again for the country that we have today. So sad what we have come to....
agree on scooter VA 81 1965-66 Oceana with 2 boat rides to the Med on CVA 59
agree on scooter VA 81 1965-66 Oceana with 2 boat rides to the Med on CVA 59
So the article - probably wrong. More likely the observer/radio operator was the one who dropped the flag, while the officer took the credit.
Whichever it was, to hit the Arc with a soft object ejected at that height and that speed took great skill - or luck. Probably both.
IMHO, that is the very definition of a “fun run”: “bumping” your allies and “busting” your mutual enemies...
Nicely done!
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