raf london Archives - Page 2 of 9 - Felix's Gaming Pages

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2

At RAF London there is a is a McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2.

The Phantom formed a major part of the Royal Air Force’s combat aircraft strength for over twenty years and provided the Service with one of the world’s most capable strike fighters.

Two versions of the Rolls Royce Spey-powered Phantom entered service with the Royal Air Force. The FG1 (the version also used by the Royal Navy) in the interceptor role and the FGR2 in the ground attack and tactical reconnaissance role in Germany. From 1977, all the Royal Air Force Phantoms were used exclusively as interceptor fighters over United Kingdom air-space.

Great Britain bought fifty two Phantom FG1s and 118 Phantom FGR2s.

Initially, the FGR.2 was used in the ground attack and reconnaissance role, primarily with RAF Germany. The superiority of the Phantom over the English Electric Lightning in terms of both range and weapon load, combined with the successful introduction of the SEPECAT Jaguar, meant that, during the mid-1970s, most of the ground attack Phantoms in Germany were redeployed to the UK to replace air defence Lightning squadrons.

With the deployment of Phantoms to the South Atlantic in 1982 an additional order for 15 Phantoms was placed. These were second hand United States Navy F-4Js fitted with General Electric F-79 engines. After an extensive refurbishment and the fitting of some British equipment they were designated F-4J(UK).

The collapse of the threat from the Eastern Europe led to an accelerated run down of the Phantom fleet and the last unit disbanded at the end of September 1992.

There is a McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.

Bristol Blenheim IV

The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company which was used extensively in the first two years of the Second World War, with examples still being used as trainers until the end of the war.

As the Allied Ground and Air Forces faced defeat in May 1940 the RAF had to use its light bomber force in desperate daylight raids against German army bridgeheads in France and the Low Countries. The Blenheim Ivs and Fairey Battles used in these attacks suffered crippling losses. In fact no higher loss, in operations of a similar size, has ever been suffered by the Royal Air Force.

The Blenheim IV, with its redesigned and longer nose, superseded the Blenheim I on the production lines in 1938. The original short nose Blenheim I had been developed from a civil aircraft and was one of the first new high performance monoplanes ordered under RAF Expansion Plans.

After the fighting in France was over Coastal and Bomber Command Blenheims began day and night attacks against German occupied ports and installations in frantic attempts to disrupt their invasion plans.

Blenheim IVs also served in North Africa and the Far East.

Junkers Ju 87 Stuka

The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. It first flew in 1935 and in 1937 it was part of the Luftwaffe’s Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.

The Ju 87 operated with considerable success in close air support and anti-shipping roles at the outbreak of World War II. It led air assaults in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. Stukas proved critical to the rapid conquest of Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in 1940. Though sturdy, accurate, and very effective against ground targets, the Stuka was, like many other dive bombers of the period, vulnerable to fighter aircraft. During the Battle of Britain of 1940-1941, its lack of manoeuvrability, speed and defensive armament meant that it required a heavy fighter escort to operate effectively.

The Junkers Ju 87 served throughout World War II and was also used post-war with some countries.

Ju 87 G-2, Werk Nr. 494083 is on display at RAF London. It was captured by British forces at Eggebek, Schleswig-Holstein in May 1945.

Buy the Airfix A07115 Junkers JU87B-2/R-2 Model.

North American P-51D Mustang

The Mustang was undoubtedly one of the most versatile and successful single-seat fighters of World War Two. Originally designed to meet a British requirement early versions quickly demonstrated their superior performance and when later Mustangs were fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine the Allies had one of the truly great fighters of the 20th Century.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940.

The fitting of drop tanks allowed Mustangs to escort American bombers all the way to Berlin and back. The everyday appearance of such a superb Allied fighter over the German capital sounded the death knell of the Third Reich.

Buy the Airfix A05136 North American F51D Mustang Classic Kit.

Heinkel He111H-20

The Heinkel He111 provided the Luftwaffe with a fast, manoeuvrable medium bomber which it used as a spearhead for the Blitzkrieg tactics so successfully employed during the early campaigns of World War Two. The He111’s defensive shortcomings were harshly demonstrated in 1940 and 1941, but the Germans had little alternative than to continue production of an ageing and inadequate aircraft.

The Heinkel He 111 was designed in 1934. Through development, it was described as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. Due to restrictions placed on Germany after the First World War prohibiting bombers, it was presented solely as a civil airliner, although from conception the design was intended to provide the nascent Luftwaffe with a heavy bomber.

The first bomber deliveries were made in 1936 and a number were sent to Spain the following year. By providing support for the Spanish Nationalist forces the Germans could test their new equipment and tactics under operational conditions.

American forces captured this aircraft, on display at RAF London, in May 1945, in the final days of the war. It was flown to Cherbourg on the French coast for shipment to the USA for evaluation. Due to the lack of space on the allocated vesse this did not occur. A three-man American crew of the 56th USAAF Fighter Group took the decision to fly the abandoned aircraft to their base in Boxted, Essex.

At dawn on the morning of 12 September 1945, Major Carter (one of the original American crew) took off from Boxted and landed at RAF North Weald, parked the Heinkel near the watch tower and was immediately collected by Captain Cole, flying a 56th Group’s transport aircraft, and returned to Boxted. It must have been quite a sight for the people at RAF North Weald to suddenly wake up and see a German bomber parked near the watch tower!

It was also used in the Battle of Britain film.

In 1978, it was moved to the RAF Museum in London.

Bedford OXC Tractor with Avro Anson

The Bedford OXC tractor was developed with the assistance of Scammell, pioneers in the development of articulated lorries, now used extensively for transporting goods by road. The Bedford was one of two tractors used with an articulated aircraft recovery trailer, commonly known as a Queen Mary (after the ship of the same name).

Squadron personnel were considered too busy to repair damaged aircraft so the Civilian Repair Organisation was set up to undertake the role. If an aeroplane could not be repaired on site, it was dismantled and taken on a Queen Mary to workshops for repair.

The Avro Anson was slow, cold and noisy and is the most famous British aircrew trainer of all time. Used in huge numbers, ‘Faithful Annie’ is remembered with affection by most of Royal Air Force-trained multi-engined aircrew of World War Two.

The Anson I began life in the mid-1930s as a coastal reconnaissance aircraft. Although an advanced design at the time, rapid improvements in aircraft performance meant that the Anson was hopelessly outclassed when war broke out in September 1939.

Ansons were also used extensively as light transport and communications aircraft. Development continued during and after the war, culminating in the adaption of the civilian Avro XIX for service use as the Anson C19. With a completely re-designed fuselage, and metal wings and tail plane, this second generation Anson continued in RAF service until 1968.

Austin K2 Auxiliary Towing Vehicle

The Austin K2 Auxiliary Towing Vehicle was introduced in 1941 to replace numerous improvised vehicles in service with the Auxiliary Fire Service. Firemen and their equipment were carried inside and a trailer pump was towed behind. The pump could draw water from rivers or hydrants to supply the hoses.

German attacks on London and other towns in the First World War showed the importance of a well-equipped fire service to protect lives. Over 40,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed during the Battle of Britain and subsequent Blitz. This Austin K2 was built in 1944 and displays the markings of the National Fire Service, formed by the merger of the Auxiliary Fire Service and regional brigades in 1941.

Handley Page Halifax II

The Handley Page Halifax is a British Royal Air Force (RAF) four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. This is an unrestored Handley Page Halifax II at RAF London.

The Halifax shared with the Lancaster the major burden of Bomber Command’s night bombing campaign against Nazi Germany but unlike the Lancaster, which only served as a bomber during the war, the Halifax was used extensively on other duties including glider-tug, agent dropping transport and general reconnaissance aircraft in Coastal Command.

W1048 was built by English Electric. Assigned to 102 Squadron at RAF Topcliffe on 27 March 1942. Sent to 35 Squadron at RAF Linton-on-Ouse on 9 April 1942. On 27 April, it was one of 31 Halifaxes that flew from RAF Kinloss as part of raid on the German battleship Tirpitz. W1048 made her attack at 03:00 hours, during which she was hit by the intense flak which set the starboard outer engine on fire. Pilot Don MacIntyre made a wheels-up landing on frozen Lake Hoklingen in Norway but the aircraft sank 12 hours later. It was discovered by divers in 1971 and recovered on 30 June 1973 by the RAF Sub-Aqua Association. It has been left unrestored.

The Halifax was in the process of being replaced as a front line bomber in 1945 but it continued in service with Coastal and Transport Commands after the war. The last operational flight was made by a Coastal Command Halifax in March 1952 while operating from Gibraltar.

Consolidated B-24L Liberator

Although often overshadowed by the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 Liberator was built in greater numbers than any other US military aircraft and served with distinction in both war and peace. Designed by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation to improve upon Boeing’s earlier B-17, the first B-24 Liberator made its maiden flight on 29 December 1939.

At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. The wing gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine.

The type was an outstanding success, with 19,257 aircraft built by Consolidated, Douglas, North American and Ford between 1940 and 1945. 18,481 were built for the United States Army and Allied Air Forces and the remainder for the United States Navy.

The Royal Air Force was the second largest operator of Liberators, with nearly 1900 being delivered via purchase and Lend Lease. Others were transferred directly in theatre making a grand total of just over 2000.

Liberators continued in use until December 1968 when the Indian Air Force retired its former RAF machines.

Liberators also saw service as transports; indeed, AL504 Commando became the personal aircraft of Prime Minister Winston Churchill for a short time.

This Liberator was on display at RAF London.

Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24L-20-FO. Held in operational reserve until April 1945. Sent to RAF 231 Group in Dhubalia, India as KN751. Served with 99 Squadron at Cocos Islands. One of 36 B-24s restored by Indian Air Force and used as HE807 until December 1968. Presented as gift to RAF Museum on 1 July 1974. Flown to UK and arrived 7 July at RAF Lyneham. Moved to Cosford in 1976. Painted in 99 Squadron markings with the “Flying Bee.” motif. Transported to Hendon in September 2005.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 served with considerable success in the early campaigns in Poland, Norway and France. The primary weakness of the Bf 110 was its lack of maneuverability, although this could be mitigated with better tactics. This weakness was exploited by the RAF when Bf 110s were flown as close escort to German bombers during the Battle of Britain.

When British bombers began targeting German territory with nightly raids, some Bf 110-equipped units were converted to night fighters, a role to which the aircraft was well suited.

The Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 was one of the most successful night fighters used by either side during the Second World War.

The Bf 110G-4 was designed as a radar-carrying night fighter and fitted with a Lichtenstein airborne interception radar set. As British and German radar scientists battled to gain the upper hand, the aircraft’s electronic equipment went through a series of upgrades and modifications.

The Bf 110’s lack of manoeuvrability was less important in its night fighting role than when escorting bombers on daylight raids, while its strength and capacity to carry extra equipment were both advantages.

The Bf 110 enjoyed a successful period as an air superiority fighter and strike aircraft in other theatres and defended Germany from strategic air attack by day against the USAAF’s 8th Air Force, until an American change in fighter tactics rendered them increasingly vulnerable to developing American air supremacy over the Reich as 1944 began.