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Coastal Command RAF Banff Strike Wing World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Coastal Command RAF Banff Strike Wing

Posts 1 to 11

The Scourge of the Kreigsmarine in Norway The Germans occupied Norway in 1940 and at the last stages of war was one of the last stands for Hitler’s once large submarine fleet. As headquarters for the 11. U-Bootflotille, the town of Bergen could be suitably nicknamed the "Submarine town". To the Germans Bergen was a very important strategic port, located as it was and is along the long and scarred Norwegian west coast, with good connection to eastern Norway via a railway. Bergen also compromised many large shipyards and a huge submarine shelter, the Bunker Bruno. After D-Day the allied forces gradually captured the large German submarine bases in France. In advance the German HQ had ordered most of the boats to sail for Norway. But such a mission was a dangerous one - and many a submarine was sunk, or damaged on their way to Festung Norwegen, or the Fortress of Norway as the Germans called it. Also submarines going to, or returning from their operational areas in the oceans were sunk in increasing numbers. Nevertheless, the submarine movements to and from their repair facitilities and home harbour Bergen were steadily increasing - as was the German convoy traffic with iron ore from northern Norway, as well as the supply ships following the same route to and from Germany. The allied HQ was very well aware of all this - and after the invasion of France it was able to deploy aircraft and men from other duties, such as cutting off the German transportation lines along the Norwegian coast. As targets the submarines were first priority, then came other Kriegsmarine surface vessels, and last but not the least the convoys of supply and ore ships. To the Germans these convoys were essential, and as such heavily defended by the Vorpostenbooten, as the Germans called their escort and guard vessels. These vessels, packed with all sorts of weapons, were by the RAF officially called T.T.A`s or Trawler Type Auxiliaries - but the aircrews of the Coastal Command soon learned to call them Flakships, owing to their terrible fire power and determined gun crews. The typical Vorpostenboot, or Flakship, intended for escort duties was a captured whaler, about 250 tons or larger, rebuilt, strengthened - and filled up with a large number of automatic AA guns, ranging from 20 mm., through 37 and 40 mm., up to 88 mm. In addition machine guns, both heavy and light, depth charges and some were equipped with a "secret" weapon, the RAG, or Raketen Geschuss. As the name indicates this was a rocket - with a wire fastened to it, and a small parachute at the end of the wire. The intension of the weapon was to shoot it up in front of attacking planes - so that the hanging wires would cut off a wing or in other way damage the attacking plane. The Vorpostenboot was almost like a floating arsenal - and had up to 60 crew members, most of them gun crews. To counter this buildup and shipping Coastal Command set up an airfield in Banff Scotland and was manned by aircraft of 18 Group. THE Banff Strike Wing enjoyed a spectacular success during its brief life on the exposed north-facing coast of the Moray Firth. Six squadrons joined forces to create an effective multi-national unit, which denied Germany many thousands of tons of vital iron ore and other supplies during operations from September 1944 to May 1945. The Group was equipped with Mosquitoes and Beaufighters and concentrated attacks on German surface vessels and U-boats in the North Sea and along the Norwegian coastline. Often penetrating deep into heavily defended fjords to reach their anchored supply ship targets, which only dared venture to sea under cover of darkness; the Strike Wing crews ran the gauntlet of formidable anti-aircraft fire to achieve their goal. Although their reputation was built on the outstanding capabilities of both the Beaufighter MK. 10 and the Mosquito FB.VI, it was undoubtedly the latter, which became synonymous with the Strike Wing and eventually equipped the RAF Banff based squadrons. Armed with a deadly mixture of cannon and rockets the Wing’s aircraft inflicted heavy damage on shipping. The unit was unique because of the presence of 333 Sqn Royal Norwegian Air Force as part of the Strike Wing. Their skills in the air and ability to locate targets concealed in mountain-fringed fjords became one of the RAF Banff unit’s great strengths and helped the joint RAF, Norwegian and Commonwealth aircrews who made up the unit achieve outstanding success in the destruction of supply ships, flak ships and U-boats, the cost was high and 80 RAF Banff Strike Wing aircrew died on operations. Typically ships in the range of 5000 plus tons were sunk on regular occurrences. The Banff Strike Wing which operated from RAF Banff in the closing months of World War II, often jointly with the nearby RAF Dallachy Strike Wing Beaufighter force, made a significant contribution to the defeat of Germany by denying them vital raw materials routed along the Norwegian coastline.
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Terrific post Digger. I read it all with great interest. Thanks for putting it up.

The Aircraft of Coastal Command were fitted with 3 Inch Rockets generally eight in number. The 3in rocket consisted of an 4ft long steel tube, filled with cordite propellant, and fitted with four fins. The rocket reached a speed of 1520 ft/sec at 1000 ft (460 m/s at 300 m), and 1740 ft/sec at 3000 ft (530 m/s at 915m). Deliveries started in late 1942. Most aircraft carried four under each wing, and either a pair, or a salvo could be fired. Tests revealed that the rocket was very accurate, but of course careful aiming was required. It had a tendency to ricochet, so it was common to aim low. The 25lb (11.3kg) solid armour-piercing warhead had an armour penetrating of about 4in, and proved useful against U-boats. The first U-boat hit by a rocket was U-752, which was damaged on 23 May 1943 by a Swordfish of 819 Sqn, based on the escort carrier HMS Archer. The U-boat was then attacked by a Wildcat and subsequently scuttled by its crew. The following picture is of a Mosquito firing on a UBoat
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A most detailed and well developed post Digger! This was most interesting. Thanks.

18 months is a mere blink of the eye in the lifetime of a thread, so here is a link (or two) providing more supporting info:- [url]http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/sorties.html[/url] and [url]http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PTnc_rHj0KcC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=Banff+strike+wing&source=bl&ots=UYJWk8k-E_&sig=B1za5x4IzVnIHzSWRsxQAZ_gZ2U&hl=en&ei=5DviStSKOMeA4QaS0eiCAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Banff%20strike%20wing&f=false[/url] also books like "a seperate little war" exist reflecting the activities of the Banff strike wing Little h

For those who may not have been aware:- The Squadrons of RAF Banff Strike Wing Costal Command 1943 -1945 143 sqdr Royal Air Force 144 sqdr Royal Air Force 235 sqdr Royal Air Force 248 sqdr Royal Air Force 333 sqdr Royal Norwegian Air Force 404 sqdr Royal Canadian Air Force 445 sqdr Royal Australian Air Force 489 sqdr Royal New Zealand Air Force This information may be of worth to Commonwealth colleagues searching for information. Little h

Having been brought up in the Grampian region, little did I suspect the activities which took place during the second war from Banff. (My grandfather came from CULLEN not so far away) I think the younger generations should know of what happened here, to preserve our freedom today. Best wishes

Link to a painting I did a while back,I can't remember if it was based at Banff, but it is a Costal Command Beufighter.Also a couple of 'VORPOSTENBOOTEN' [url]http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36133&d=1235501861[/url] Regards Just noticed the date I did it 1997! dose'nt time fly.

Here are some thumbnails of Banff Strike Wing aircraft and personnel from Scottish History on line-which may enhance this thread. jainso31 [url]http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/banimage.html[/url]

Glad see CC Banff Strike Wing on the desk. On the 24th MAR 1945 a single Mosquito "Q" 235 Banff Sq with the crew of FLts J.R.Williams and T.Flower attacked U249 near Bergen. The aircraft was shot down, Williams survived and rescued by the U249 crew Flower, perished in the crash. The following day after arrival to Bergen FLT Williams was shot by the Germans. That's from the A.D.Bird "A.Separate...". In the N.Franks "U-boat versus Aircraft" the same is described that both Williams and Flower just did not survive. Can someone give me a link to collect more information about this case of war crime? Thank you,

Greendragon From the link below it would appear that Flt Lt J R Williams RAF was a victim of Nazi murder of inmates of Stalag Luft III on 6th April 1945.:mad::mad::mad: jainso31 [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III_murders#Victims[/url]

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