Fighter Command at War (1939-45)

This evocative 75 minute CD includes original broadcast recordings made between 1940 and 1945 by several well-known Royal Air Force fighter pilots, including Paddy Finucane, Sailor Malan, John Topham, Johnnie Johnson, and J.B. Nicolson - the latter being the winner of the only Victoria Cross awarded to Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Campaigns and operations covered include the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, nightfighters, North Africa, ground attack ops in Normandy, operations against V-1 and V-2 rockets, and bomber escort. Fighter types discussed (and heard) include the Spitfire, Hurricane, Tempest, Typhoon, Mustang and Beaufighter. The CD begins with a stirring rendition of the The Royal Air Force March, recorded by the Band of the RAF in 1941.

All materials are authentic wartime recordings which have been carefully digitally remastered for CD. The booklet includes archive images and detailed historical notes by James Hayward.

ISBN: 978-1-906310-12-7

From tracklist:

19. V-1 INTERCEPTION: TEMPESTS (6.48)
Recorded 20 June 1944. talks by Flight Lieutenant A.E. Umbers and Flight Sergeant M.J.A. Rose on methods and dangers of intercepting V-1 flying bombs. Both pilots flew Tempests with 3 Squadron, based at the Newchurch ALG near Dungeness. The piece also includes commentary by Ian Wilson, and actuality of a V-1 ('Diver') raid near Dover, with fighter interception. Shooting down V-1s was highly dangerous, since the 850 kg warhead tended to explode violently. Morris Rose was the first pilot credited with shooting down a V-1 in flight, with landed in an orchard on 16 June. His final tally was eleven V-1s (plus one shared), and two Bf 109s. Born in Dunedin in 1919, Arthur Umbers DFC and Bar destroyed 28 V-1s, but was killed in action on 14 February 1945. As a unit 3 Squadron destroyed 288 flying bombs. Blessed with high speed, excellent low-altitude performance and four Hispano 20mm cannon, the Tempest was one of the best Allied countermeasures against 400 mph V-1s.

22. V-1 NIGHTFIGHTER: TEMPEST (2.01)
Recorded 8 September 1944. Talk by Squadron Leader Joseph Berry, a Tempest pilot with a dedicated Fighter Interception Unit (FIU) flight operating from Newchurch ALG and later Manston. He describes patrolling at 5,000 feet, and engaging doodlebugs that pass through coastal the anti-aircraft belt. Born in 1920, Joe Berry previously flew Defiants, Beaufighters and Mosquitos, and in the Tempest destroyed some 60 V-1s. On 23 July 1944 he claimed seven in a single night. He was killed in action on 1 October 1944 during a Ranger sortie over Germany.

The Audio CD is possible to order from CD41 Recordings.