How Low Can You Go
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Longton, Lancs, UK
Age: 80
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Don't think so Max - car and aircraft paint job of an earlier era; and I don't recognise either of the saluters. (The one on the left is probably thinking 'Oh s**t, what's he going to say about this?')
How low......
In the late 70's, the SAAF B12 Cans and S.50 Buccs were on frequent strike missions against Cuban ground formations, with East German and Russian 'advisors'. As one might imagine, 'surprise' was the main defensive armament against the MRR triple-A and warning radar.
The SAAF Cans adopted the RAFG techniques of ultra-low level approach, climbing to delivery height, then unloading back down again for exit. One result of that procedure was the paint being stripped off the under-fuselage by the flat tops of the mopane ( acacia ) trees. On one occasion we went in below the Pumas and Super Frelons carrying in the 'follow-up' force. We wanted to deliver from below 100', but the weapons techies reminded us about 'chain sympathetic detonation' or summat, so 250 feet was about the lowest we were cleared for.
Then there was the bomb-bay full of empty beer bottles dropped from 10,000 feet, at night. 'Evil spirits in the sky' noises. Talk about PsyOps! Some of the Cubans didn't stop running 'til they got to the ocean....
The SAAF Cans adopted the RAFG techniques of ultra-low level approach, climbing to delivery height, then unloading back down again for exit. One result of that procedure was the paint being stripped off the under-fuselage by the flat tops of the mopane ( acacia ) trees. On one occasion we went in below the Pumas and Super Frelons carrying in the 'follow-up' force. We wanted to deliver from below 100', but the weapons techies reminded us about 'chain sympathetic detonation' or summat, so 250 feet was about the lowest we were cleared for.
Then there was the bomb-bay full of empty beer bottles dropped from 10,000 feet, at night. 'Evil spirits in the sky' noises. Talk about PsyOps! Some of the Cubans didn't stop running 'til they got to the ocean....
My late father's business partner had flown the mighty RN Swordfish (and later the Albacore) during WW2 and used that beer bottle trick over the desert....
Though probably not from 10000ft!
They'd spot a Bedouin camp fire, then overfly it and lob out a few beer bottles. This caused the Bedouins' sheep to scatter in all directions, pursued by angry Arabs. Whilst this mayhem was going on, they'd glide down to low level with all lights out, then go roaring across the heads of the nearest bunch of sheep-chasing Bedouins to add to the sense of hilarity.
Though probably not from 10000ft!
They'd spot a Bedouin camp fire, then overfly it and lob out a few beer bottles. This caused the Bedouins' sheep to scatter in all directions, pursued by angry Arabs. Whilst this mayhem was going on, they'd glide down to low level with all lights out, then go roaring across the heads of the nearest bunch of sheep-chasing Bedouins to add to the sense of hilarity.
