[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

The RAF also used the Avenger.

er, yeah, I catch your drift m.d.

You mean the Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm, right ?


This may come as a shock, to many - but a Fleet Air Arm Grumman Avenger ACTUALLY shot down a V.1 flying bomb on it's approach to the English coastline (whilst still over the English Channel), before entering the A.A. belt.

No Joke.

It was 1944, the T.B.M. was on patrol over the Channel, & the pilot, who saw the V.1's approach, manouvered to give his rear gunner a chioce shot (after a radio warning).
The turret gunner's marksmanship was spot on.... & the V.1 was destroyed.

Had to relate that one from memory, as I don't have the sources to hand right now, but when I come across it, will post the details, for those interested.

When I read the detailed account, it REALLY suprised me, in much the same way, as did a victorious Vickers Wellington, over an Me 163 Komet that was sent to intercept it (over Deelen airfield, Holland in early 1945).

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

er, yeah, I catch your drift m.d.

You mean the Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm, right ?


This may come as a shock, to many - but a Fleet Air Arm Grumman Avenger ACTUALLY shot down a V.1 flying bomb on it's approach to the English coastline (whilst still over the English Channel), before entering the A.A. belt.

No Joke.

It was 1944, the T.B.M. was on patrol over the Channel, & the pilot, who saw the V.1's approach, manouvered to give his rear gunner a chioce shot (after a radio warning).
The turret gunner's marksmanship was spot on.... & the V.1 was destroyed.

Had to relate that one from memory, as I don't have the sources to hand right now, but when I come across it, will post the details, for those interested.

When I read the detailed account, it REALLY suprised me, in much the same way, as did a victorious Vickers Wellington, over an Me 163 Komet that was sent to intercept it (over Deelen airfield, Holland in early 1945).

I could not find anything on this subject at hand here about a TBM Avenger shooting down a V-1.
JP

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

I could not find anything on this subject at hand here about a TBM Avenger shooting down a V-1.
JP

July 9th 1944, T.B.M. Avenger II of No 854 Sqdn (R.N.).

Telegraphist/Air Gunner - Fred Shirmer

destroyed it (the V.1), at a range of 700 yards.

"firing only 20 rounds" "he was mentioned in despatches"

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

July 9th 1944, T.B.M. Avenger II of No 854 Sqdn (R.N.).

Telegraphist/Air Gunner - Fred Shirmer

destroyed it (the V.1), at a range of 700 yards.

"firing only 20 rounds" "he was mentioned in despatches"

Ok now i remember that quote you had on there.
That is in my Doctors office he has a art print made by Marii Chernev (how ever you spell it) of a Royal Navy TBM i think in D-day marking if i remember right ...i could be wrong about the marking..
That was some shot i would say too.
JP

[mustangdriver]

Well first I would like to see the Bush Avenger and one from Midway. Then I would like to see that Royal Navy one. That is nuts.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Ok now i remember that quote you had on there.
That is in my Doctors office he has a art print made by Marii Chernev (how ever you spell it) of a Royal Navy TBM i think in D-day marking if i remember right ...i could be wrong about the marking..
That was some shot i would say too. JP

Starman 352 - Bang on, dead accurate again ! (just like T/A.G. Shirmer) !

Is that 'cause you're down the Doc's a lot then ????????

If not, you must be super observant !

The markings are as you described.


My initial post was from memory, I didn't have any written back-up.......

I spent a while, racking my brains, as to where I'd heard/read/seen about it. Looked at books I have on V.1's & TBM's.......nothing = blank ?

Trawling the Internet, I'd only managed to come up with the painting's caption/text - but when I saw the print of the painting (on the 'net - for sale), I realised that I had seen it in the display hall/museum, at Manston, near Ramsgate in Kent - an ex-R.A.F. base, famously used during the Battle of Britain and later by all & sundry; i.e... Swordfish/Esmonde's suicidal attack on Scharnhorst/Gneisenau/Prinz Eugen, & it's use as an Emergency landing ground by Bomber Command & the 8th A.F....due to it's proximity to the English Channel/French Coastline.

My Wife, Kids & I visited there in the summer of 2002, whilst staying at St. Margaret's - THE village by the iconic 'White Cliff's of Dover'.

(You can actually see the French coastline with the naked eye on a good day from there & watch the Cross-Channel Ferries going to & fro).

It's possible that the painting I saw WAS the original - The story/tale CERTAINLY lodged it's way into my memory banks; a Grumman Avenger shooting-down a V.1 is most definately something you just don't forget !!!!!!!!!!!