Lancaster Bomber 514 Squadron

thanks guys for the condolences, it is just as well that I am here not thinking about him, and all the rain so no work but research for one and all.

back quickly to topic and the 109/Fw 190A night fighters. Most evident with radar in the early spring of 44 from February to April - early - then in regards to JG 300, radars removed, flying the last Wilde Sau missions with the Fw 190A's returning to the "new" engagements with US heavy bombers. the 109's and esepcially the III./Jg 300 gruppe flew night missions into June of 44 against the RAF and then the almost removed 10(N)./JG 300 formed into an RAF Moskito-hunting unit from August to November 1944's end when cadre and a/c literally went over to form II./NJG 11 with the Bf 109G-6/AS and G-14/AS machines

 

Thanks for this Erich I 'm always interested in the radar warfare. Without D-Day it's almost certain that NJG2 would have attacked British targets during the Summer of 1944. The Luftwaffe has been advocating this for years as they always thought sticking to the Reich Defense while they could still attack England was a major strategical mistake.

 

yes Skipper had we not landed on the Reich frontier most probably all the NJG's would of had front line-coastal long range night fighter patrols over English bases.

I know the guys here have had some dis-agreements as if the English/US forces would of been overwhelmed but I think for me the LW would of plastered bases beyond belief as the RAF would try and counter that with the existing superior twin engine craft-the Mossie in numbers to take on the hordes of low flying black/camo'd German nf's. Even if stopped at a later date and this is getting to be a what-if the war may have continued in spite another 1-2 years. where would jet a/c have gone under LW leadership ?

well many unanswered questions

 

An interesting "what if" indeed but then the Soviets would possibly have advanced further to the west.

 

Wonderful video! Great cudos to you and your father. I have passed the link on to my father who was a pathfinder pilot with 582 Squadron and shot down Aug12/13, 1944 on the return from Russelsheim. The video has given me a greater feel and understanding of the story we are currently writing.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

Kind regards
Leslie

 

I forwarded the link to the video on to my father. He called me today to tell me that Doug Harvey was a very good friend of his after the war in the RCAF and was the public relations officer with 426 Squadron. My mother and his wife gave birth to children one week apart. Dad remembers Doug's bout with testicular cancer and his tremendous sense of humour about it. He said when they were wheeling him down the hall for surgery, he had a sign hanging from his big toe, saying "old pilots never die, they just lose their balls." (I hope no offense is taken at this comment.)
Regards Leslie

 

Whoops, thought I better clarify my last post. My dad thought Doug Harvey was the son of Douglas Harvey, however now realizes he's the son of Sam Harvey. Sorry for the boo boo.

Leslie

 

Welcome Leslie. The the names have often caused mistaken identity, no harm done at all. Here's a coincidence. I just got off the phone 2 minutes ago and found your message. The caller was our real Doug Harvey, maker of the film. Yes I expect a visit from him Sunday morning, the first in a few years. I can imagine your father being quite surprised.
Cheers for now Alex Campbell

 

Alex, this is excellent news. I hope you will convince each other to come to France in the future. If you do I'll do my best to arrange eveything I can. I will also send you the electronic version of Christian's drawing before Sunday. If you can print it on a home printe ron A4 format , Doug could have his copy too. Please send him my warmest regards.

 

Folks :

anything new on the E.A. Campbell interview(s) ??

E ~

 

Erich- Glad you jolted me out of a state of idle-itis, as my wife would call it.
1) Private messages- I've been fumbling and still unable to open 2 out of 3 PM's.
2) Awaiting a visit from Wayne to straighten me out on the PM's and while here post a photo of an Anson with gun turret from RCAF #1AOS Malton 1941.
3) Still pondering over log book entries re fighter identities, e.g. 109's and 190's. Have yet to compare bombaimers and rear gunners logs.
In view of all your other activities I appreciate you taking the time to keep me on the mark.
Alex Campbell

 

Good evening Alex, good to hear from you again ..........

if you could post your log entries or something to the effect with the notes about 109/Fw 190's I would be more than happy to check through my data for you on the dates.

Erich ~

 

Good to hear from you Alex. I hope the private pms will open ok but I'm sure Wayne will help you out with that. I'm curious to see the picture of the "Faithful Annie" It was a good training aircraft and most bomber crews used it during their training sessions in Canada. I wil check my files and see if I have some Anson pictures too.

 

a little something that was added to the Fw 190A-6 and A-7/N's during late 1943 with II./JG 302 and later with Stab and II./JG 300 plus 1./NJGr 10 defending Berlin from Werneuchen.

radar FuG 217 Neptun

 

this might be irrelevent but thought I would throw in one of the photos of pilot of 1./NJGr 10 F.E. Krause and his A-6 with FuG 217. he flew this rig in spring and summer of 44 chasing of all things RAF mossies and 4-motors over and near Berlin.

 

This is not directly related to this thread but involves a family connection to another Alex Campbell, not my father.

The story is complicated but here is the short version. My mother's step-sister also married a Campbell, this fellow's father was Alex Campbell and he was a soldier in the second world war. Major Alex Campbell, was killed near the Moro River–south of Ortona–on Christmas Day 1943.

A poem was found in his battle jacket - "Prayer Before Battle", the poem was written by Alex Campbell and is often read at commemorative ceremonies.
Our Member of Provincial Parliament read the poem in the legislature last remembrance day.

Prayer Before Battle
Major Alex Campbell

When 'neath the rumble of the guns,
I lead my men against the Huns,
'Tis then I feel so all alone and weak and scared,
And oft I wonder how I dared,
Accept the task of leading men.

I wonder, worry, fret, and then I pray,
Oh God! Who promised oft
To humble men a listening ear,
Now in my spirit's troubled state,
Draw near, dear God, draw near, draw near.

Make me more willing to obey,
Help me to merit my command,
And if this be my fatal day,
Reach out, Oh God, Thy Guiding Hand,
And lead me down that deep, dark vale.

These men of mine must never know
How much afraid I really am,
Help me to lead them in the fight
So they will say, "He was a man".

I found this comment apparently from the chaplain of the company:
"As his body was lowered into its last resting place, and the little white cross, bearing his name and rank, was erected at its head, everyone came to attention, and said, "He was a man!""

 

This is a very moving and nice poem. I one received a song that was written for another fallen Canadian airman who is buried in my hometown. We played it during the July 28th/29th commemoration in 2004.

 

yes a very touching poem thanks for this

let me add something too on the Bf 109G-6's that were seen and engaged by the RAF during 1943 and early 1944 as by June the 109NF's had gone through a notable change. In 43 nearly all the 109's had the underwing 20mm gun pods as we get closer into 1944 the underwing guns were removed as the 109 NF's were also fighting in a dual role - engaging high flying US escort fighters and then trying to play the role of RAF bomber chasers. By summer of 44 the 109NF units were ordered to fly close in the defense of Berlin and engage the LSNF Mossies and Mossie intruders and make the 109 as light as possible this was for the 10th Nacht staffel of JG 300 as well as the mixture of single engines in 1./NJGr 10 and by August/September head armor and inf act nearly all the protective armor was removed and some of the 109's were receiving a high glaze spray on polish finish with some 109's even having the bolts and seems puttied over just to get that extra amount of speed for the Mossie pursuits. Specialized paint was used, some of the 109's in all over RLM 76, some with black undersides some with entirely all blue finish and then of course the standard day fighter camouflage which was then carried out by winter -spring of 44-45, the carry over now to just pursuit of the heavy 4-engine bombers which was doing the most damage to the German cities of population and industry centres and finally in spring of 45 the fight to stop the Soviets from entering Germany from the east and the carry outs of night/day ground attack sorties

this is of course a coverage in a single breath and not at all very detailed....

 

Alex any thoughts or dates to cover versus the LW 109/Fw's ??

 

Erich, when I find my Rear Gunners log book I will add more information about the 109 and FW attacks.

Wayne arrived and helped post a couple of Anson images
In 1941 I worked at Dominion Skyways (Training) Limited at Malton, Ontario.
This company was responsible for servicing Anson's used by the BCATP.
These pictures were captured in 1941 at Number 1, Air Observers School, Malton.

Images: Picasa Web Albums - Alex - Anson