How Many Aircraft has the RAF Shot Down since Korea?
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The only basis for the rumoured shooting down of an Indonesian C130 I can think of occurred on the night that they carried out a paratroop drop on the Malayan mainland at Labis. At that time we (60 Sqn) were holding a very high state of readiness, with some 10 to 12 aircraft on QRA. There was no scramble that night, however, rumour control later said that Bukit Gombak radar had “seen something” but had decided not to react. Later still rumour control said that 2 Hercules had made the drop, but that there had originally been 3 on the low-level operation, 1 of which had not RTB and may have flown into the sea. The word was that an Air Attaché, when subtly questioned at a social function in Jakarta as to whether the RAF had been involved in any relevant activity, just gave an enigmatic smile and “made no comment”; mainly because this was the first we had heard of any possible loss.
I think this is probably the root of the shoot-down rumour; I was one of the QRA pilots that night and was in fact scrambled the following night, but that was a false alarm.
I think this is probably the root of the shoot-down rumour; I was one of the QRA pilots that night and was in fact scrambled the following night, but that was a false alarm.
Last edited by NutherA2; 9th Jan 2007 at 13:21.
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I'm almost certain that a Laarbruch crew JP233'd (am I even allowed to say that) a fulcrum that was short finals during Granby. I remember seeing the Sat image with a Mig 29 shape burnt out a couple of hundred yards short of the runway but stand to be corrected if necessary. It was never counted as an air to air, but If I remember correctly the aircraft had a Mig cartoon on the nose and was called Mig Killer, it might have been the 20 Sqn ac FK but not sure.
Ivor Fynn
Ivor Fynn
Originally Posted by sharmine
Bit like the Falklands then.
{Doning a tin hat and running for the slit trench
}
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SHAR not a proper fighter!
[quote=GeeRam;3061334]
Not quite, they were flying proper fighters....
Ehm? Well if you don't consider the SHAR a proper fighter it sure made a good attempt in 82.
From a Fleet Defence fighter perspective, it knocks spots off the GR7/9 the fleet is now left with.
Oh, forgot, lots of type 45s out there to protect our carriers and no enemy fighters anyway.
Sharmine
Not quite, they were flying proper fighters....
Ehm? Well if you don't consider the SHAR a proper fighter it sure made a good attempt in 82.
From a Fleet Defence fighter perspective, it knocks spots off the GR7/9 the fleet is now left with.
Oh, forgot, lots of type 45s out there to protect our carriers and no enemy fighters anyway.Sharmine
Not too sure about that, bf. The 802 NAS diarist believed him, and the other three members of his flight who witnessed the shooting down believed him too...
The flight all shot at the MiG that went down, but it was accepted that Carmichael had been responsible for despatching it.
The flight all shot at the MiG that went down, but it was accepted that Carmichael had been responsible for despatching it.
TAC Int Bloke
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There was an interesting article in Aeroplane a few years back by Carmichael's wingmen
He said that of his four-ship all fired their guns in anger in the general direction of the enemy and in the mêlée no-one was certain who had administered the killing blow to the MiG, Carmichael still had enough 20mm to do a practice strafe on the way home so is unlikely to be in the frame. His explanation was that the Admiralty needed a hero to present to the great British public so Carmichael was chosen
Still, fair dos, taking out a MiG with a Sea Fury's quite a thing
He said that of his four-ship all fired their guns in anger in the general direction of the enemy and in the mêlée no-one was certain who had administered the killing blow to the MiG, Carmichael still had enough 20mm to do a practice strafe on the way home so is unlikely to be in the frame. His explanation was that the Admiralty needed a hero to present to the great British public so Carmichael was chosen
Still, fair dos, taking out a MiG with a Sea Fury's quite a thing
That's interesting. Had a look at the diary entry. It in fact says something to the effect that the three wingmen were all claiming their quarter share of the MiG as well. John Lansdowne's book says simply that Carmichael was credited with the victory 'as flight leader'.
I had then honour of meeting and talking to Carmichael, and he seemed entirely pukka to me. In any case, weren't there two kills - one credited to Carmichael (also fired at by Smoo Ellis) and one credited to the Flight as a whole?
Most of the RAF kills in Korea were, of course, scored by exchange blokes flying F-86s.
Most of the RAF kills in Korea were, of course, scored by exchange blokes flying F-86s.
