WWII Air War 13few desultory bursts of heavy flak informed
us that we had been witnessed by the enemy.
As we moved from the area of the 88’s
destruction, all seemed peaceful. It was hard
to believe the clamor and carnage of combat
that had so recently shattered this region.
The crash of the cannon and the roar of the
engines were stilled.
We all arrived back at Volkel together
without a German fighter being seen. We were
an excited squadron as we were debriefed,
finally returning to lunch at the mess we had
left in the dark. All present and accounted for.
That day was November 26, 1944. Sixty-two
years have passed since I watched the Ju 88
destroyed, but as I sit back in my chair, I can
see it all as though it were yesterday. Sadly,
brave Butch has gone; he was a man among
men .... Both Billy Williams and Hyphen were
later shot down and killed. I was flying with
Bill when he went. It was December 22, 1944,
not long after the Ju 88 adventure. Hyphen
died just as he was ready to leave the Squadron
after a long and arduous second tour where he
distinguished himself as one of New Zealand’s
greatest pilots. A sad blow.
Loyal Ginger, the Flying Bomb Ace, has now
passed on after being shot down late in the
War and making an escape from Germany.
Jim Thiele, one of New Zealand’s most highly
decorated pilots, Gus Hooper and Keith Smith
also had some time as POWs at later stages
of the War. Colin Mcdonald now lives in
Australia, as does Jim Thiele, when he’s not
looking for adventure in his yacht on the high
seas. All of these pilots were among those
present on November 26, 1944. I remember
and salute them: I am very proud to have
flown with them. I regret the deaths of the
young Germans who died in that Münster
sky and the distress to their families. German
mothers also cry. JThe Tempest was called upon often to pound enemy tanks
and gun positions during, and after, D-Day. Hence the prolif-
eration of invasion stripes. (Photo via Jack Stafford)
Although a 439 Sq.
Typhoon, as indicated by
subtle differences from the
Tempest, the loading pro-
cedures are nearly identical.
Incidentally, RAF color is
much more or of a rarity
than in the USAAF. (Photo
courtesy of Eddie J. Creek)FACT
The Tempest flown by Jack Stafford was
the second iteration of the Hawker airframe
that would mutate into the radial engine
Tempest II that was to be the Sea Fury.