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Flying
the high-speed low-level 'Day Ranger' missions in the Mosquito
was one of the most exhilarating forms of aerial combat experienced
by aircrews in WWII. Given a free hand at squadron level to
select targets of opportunity deep inside enemy held territory,
operating the fastest piston engine aircraft of the war, the
Ranger Mosquito crews wreaked havoc in the air and on the ground
literally all over occupied Europe.
Approaching
their targets at tree-top height, often completely undetected,
the element of surprise was usually total; one pair of Mosquitoes
arriving over an airfield near Kronigsburg found a ceremonial
parade in progress, broke up the party, and departed within
seconds leaving five aircraft burning and a bunch of German
Generals diving for cover beneath their staff cars!
Typical of the Day Ranger squadrons was
No. 418 (City of Edmonton) Squadron R.C.A.F. Flying the Mosquito
Fighter-Bomber MkVI, they completed over 3000 effective missions,
destroyed 172 enemy aircraft - 73 on the ground - damaged
a further 103, and in addition brought down 83 buzz-bombs
and destroyed countless other ground vehicles. In company
with other Mosquito Ranger squadrons, they rampaged across
Europe with outstanding courage in the best traditions of
the R.A.F. and Commonwealth Air Forces.
Robert Taylor's painting RANGERS ON THE
RAMPAGE dramatically brings to life a Mosquito attack on a
German fighter station deep inside Germany. Arriving over
the target at little above hangar height, the two-ship mission
announces their arrival by raking the field with cannon and
machine gun fire. Within seconds both aircraft have scored
direct hits with their 500lb. Bombs, and before the defensive
flak guns can get the range, the pair have departed for home.
Air Marshal Sir
Ivor Broom KCB DSO DFC
AFC
Sir Ivor Broom flew Blenheims
with 114 Squadron before being posted to Malta still
flying Blenheims, which by now where obsolete, in highly
dangerous low-level shipping attacks where losses where
high. In 1943 he became on of the first Pathfinder Mosquito
instructors before moving into the Late Night Striking
Force with 571 Squadron. He later formed 163 Squadron.
He completed 103 bombing missions including 22 attacks
on Berlin, and the Ardennes offensive. Throughout his
time on Mosquitoes his navigator was Tommy Broom (no
relation). Together the 'Flying Brooms' were an inseparable
combination.
Squadron Leader T.
J. 'Tommy' Broom DFC
In the early months of World
War Two, Tommy Broom served as an observer with 105
Squadron flying Fairey Battles in France, re-equipping
with Blenheims back in England. After a brief period
as instructor at 13 OUT, he rejoined 105 Squadron, the
first squadron in the RAF to receive Mosquitoes. In
January 1942, he navigated many of the daylight raids
carried out by 105 Squadron. From 1943 onwards he flew
continuously as navigator to Ivor Broom including the
low-level attack at 50ft. on the Dortmond-Ems canal
and 22 attacks on Berlin.
Squadron
Leader T. Kearns (N.Z.) DSO DFC DFM
New Zealander Terry Kearns joined
the RNZAF in December 1940, transferring to England in
1941 to join 75 (NZ) Squadron, flying Wellingtons. In
1942 he took part in the first 1000 bomber raids before
joining 156 Squadron Pathfinders. After a period as an
instructor, he joined 617 Squadron at Warboys on operations.
He flew the Mosquito FBVI on precision low-level target
marking throughout 1944. He took part in most of 617's
major operations, including raids on the Samur rail tunnel,
and the V1 rocket sites.
Squadron Leader Charles
Patterson DSO DFC
Charles Patterson joined the
RAF on the outbreak of WWII and flew Whitneys. He switched
to Blenheims in 1940 with 114 Squadron on anti-shipping
operations over Norway. After a period instructing he
briefly flew Bostons before converting to Mosquitoes
with 105 Squadron flying mostly Daylight raids, but
also the first night raid to Berlin. In January 1943
he was selected as pilot for the Mosquito Film Unit
and flew Mosquito DZ414 (now restored) on over 20,000
operational hours both day and night. In September 1943
he converted 3 Ventura Squadrons to Mosquitoes under
Group Captain Pickard. In total he completed an unprecedented
3 tours on Mosquitoes, his final tour being with 487
Squadron (New Zealand) mainly on strikes against V1
sites. On D-Day he flew the film unit Mosquito over
the beach head during the invasion.
Air Commodore E.
B. 'Ted' Sismore DSO
DFC AFC
On 31st January, 1943, Mosquitoes
bombed Berlin for the first time. Timed to coincide
with a speech by Hermann Goering, three Mosquitoes from
105 Squadron led by Squadron Leader R. W. Reynolds and
Ted Sismore attacked at exactly 1100 hours to disrupt
the Reichmarshall's speech for over an hour. Ted navigated
the final large daylight raid by 105 Squadron in May
1943 when both men led the attack on the Zeiss Optical
Factory and the glassworks in Jena. Sismore planned
the route for the Amiens jailbreak raid, and 'master
navigated' the three Gestapo raids in Denmark: Ahaus,
Shellhauss and Odensa.
Companion Print Signer:
Group Captain John
'Cats-eyes' Cunningham DSO**
DFC*
John Cunningham joined the
RAF in 1935 with 604 Squadron. At the outbreak of World
War Two he was based at North Weald flying Blenheims
on day escort and night fighter operations. In September
1940 he converted onto Beaufighters equipped with radar,
the first aircraft that made night fighting really possible.
In November he had the Squadron's first successful night
combat. He took command of 604 Squadron in August 1941.
After a period at HQ81 Group, he was posted on his second
tour to command 85 Squadron equipped with Mosquitoes.
In March 1944 with 19 night and 1 day victory he was
posted to HQ11 Group to look after night operations. |
