WW II Air War 9darkness of the sky. My turn came. Once out
on the runway, I opened the throttle, holding
the Tempest with the brakes. I enjoyed the
trembling power vibrating through the
airframe as the throbbing motor increased its
revs, the tail trying to lift from the ground.
The last two aircraft before us lifted into the
air, and I released my brakes. The surging
strength of the 2,000-plus-horsepower engine
never failed to excite me as I became airborne
like a rocket. The undercarriage thumped
into the wings, and I offered my usual pre-op
prayer. I never prayed for life, but I said, “Oh
God, if I go today, make it quick.” Although
prepared for death, I did not welcome it. At
21 years of age, there were a few things I still
wanted to do.
We gained height as we crossed the Rhine
and the now unrequired spare pilot left us,
turning back over the Maas and lowering
towards Volkel. From here it was all on. We
were in enemy air space. The belligerent
sight of those threatening Tempests, flying
An exceedingly rare color photo of a Tempest in its element, in this case, NV696 with Hawker test
pilot Bill Humble in the cockpit. The photo was taken during a pre-delivery test flight from Langley
on November 25, 1944. The next day the aircraft was delivered to 20MU Aston Down and later
flew with 222 Sqn. (Photo courtesy of RAF Museum, rafmuseumphotos.com)
ALTHOUGH PREPARED FOR DEATH, I DID NOT
WELCOME IT. AT 21 YEARS OF AGE, THERE WERE
A FEW THINGS I STILL WANTED TO DO.in two sections, was most impressive as they
gently rose and fell with the air currents.
They epitomized death and destruction. The
brooding German landscape, still waiting
for the sun, seemed threatening and sullen.
Ahead I could vaguely make out Münster,
while to the northeast lay Rheine, the massive
Luftwaffe fighter base. We were flying at
around 11,000 feet in a crystal-clear sky—a sky
uncluttered by smog or smoke. There was total
clarity.
The voice of Butch Steedman, always ready
for battle, broke the radio silence.
“I can see an aircraft flying at ground level; I’m
going down to attack,” he said.
“OK. We’ll cover you,” replied Hyphen.
At the same moment, I saw directly in
front of us a large aircraft that looked almost