大象传媒

I'm sure that what I saw is recorded somewhere, but no one who I know or knew who lived in England during WW2 seemad to have heard of it although I believe that it became a much used practice.

I was based at R A F station Eastchurch in Kent in 1944.
It was during the period when the Germans were sending over V1 rockets targetted for London.
For those who do not know, the V1 (or buzz bomb as it was known because of the noise that it made)
consisted of a rocket shaped body, had 2 small stubby wings,explosive in the rockets nose and was powered by a small internal combustion engine.
The engine had a measured amount of fuel which ensured that the engine would cut out over London
where it would fall to the ground and detonate.
Although not directly on the coast , from where I was the sea could be seen not far away.
In the distance a V1 could be seen and heard approaching the coast.
At the same time I heard a aircraft pass over going towards the V1, the aircraft was a R A F Hawker Typhoon fighter.
The fighter passed the V1,turned around and then came alongside the rocket where it gently positioned it's wing behind the stubby one of the V1.
The fighter then very slowly turned the rocket around until it was pointed back out to sea then it dissengaged from it.
Although I did not see it, with the amount of fuel it had left the rocket would have crashed into the sea.
Although there was probably little danger from explosion to the pilots, the the skill shown in performing the manouver was of the highest order and no doubt led to the saving of many Londoners lives.

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