The Douglas Boston aircraft was a highly effective light bomber/light attack aircraft. It was powered by a pair of Wright Cyclone 2600 supercharged engines developing 1600 horsepower. These gave the Boston an impressive top speed of 260 knots.
A lot of these aircraft were put together at RAF Lichfield, Fradley nr Lichfield. Whether the footage on here shows the Fradley works i'd love to know.
I have just seen a twin engined aircraft-its engines protruded at the back, so it may have been a Boston. Is there one active in the UK? Interestingly, the first few went to France in 1940 and became Vichy operated but participated in attacks on the Atlantic Wall in 1944. A very good aircraft.
My father was a pilot with RAF 88 Squadron flyings Bostons. He took part in the raids on Rennes & Abbeville airfield and lead the raid on the Denain Steelworks - all shown here. His plane was shot down on the Denain raid, but he bailed out. His gunner was killed but co-pilot evaded capture, escaping through Spain to Gibraltar & back to UK. My father was captured & spent rest of war in POW camp in Germany. The film was probably taken by S/L Charles Patterson, who died on March 2, 2008. R.I.P.
The Douglas bomber looks a little like the B26. I wonder if this film was made before or after Dunkirk.
trippletear 2 weeks ago
what did they use the pitcairn auto gyro for during the war?
mrssweetpotatohead 8 months ago
@Gruntol5
Interesting story, thank you.
A lot of these aircraft were put together at RAF Lichfield, Fradley nr Lichfield. Whether the footage on here shows the Fradley works i'd love to know.
porty500 10 months ago
1:06 pretty intense, also like the bugs on the windscreen :)
GerbilEssences 1 year ago
Hello :)
she is really beautiful. im prettier tho! Mv
2pac262626 3 years ago
Bet the groundcrew were chuffed having to clean all that bugs off the perspex, oh well better than plugging flak holes I suppose!
marccs1978 3 years ago
I imagine it might have been an A26 as I am sure there are many more of those around.
NickRatnieks 3 years ago
I have just seen a twin engined aircraft-its engines protruded at the back, so it may have been a Boston. Is there one active in the UK? Interestingly, the first few went to France in 1940 and became Vichy operated but participated in attacks on the Atlantic Wall in 1944. A very good aircraft.
NickRatnieks 3 years ago
My father was a pilot with RAF 88 Squadron flyings Bostons. He took part in the raids on Rennes & Abbeville airfield and lead the raid on the Denain Steelworks - all shown here. His plane was shot down on the Denain raid, but he bailed out. His gunner was killed but co-pilot evaded capture, escaping through Spain to Gibraltar & back to UK. My father was captured & spent rest of war in POW camp in Germany. The film was probably taken by S/L Charles Patterson, who died on March 2, 2008. R.I.P.
Gruntol5 3 years ago 2