Chasing a V1

Arrowman

Chasing a V1

During World War 2, the Germans launched V1 flying bombs from the coast of France, targeted at London.
The RAF worked out that if a fast fighter, usually a Spitfire or a P51 Mustang, could fly level with the V1, the V1 could be destroyed by placing the fighter`s wing tip beneath the wing of the rocket, and flipping it over, sending it out of control.

A comment by Peter follows:—

“Spitfires were not fast enough to catch them in level flight and we used to watch them (they were based at Kenley) dive down on these, get in close alongside and use their wings to tip the things over, thereby upsetting theit delicate gyro mechanism and causing them to crash. My most scary wartime memory was cycling home from school across a recreation ground and hearing a voice yelling “Get down”, “Get down” It was an air raid warden in a nearby post. He pointed up and my heart stopped becuas literally just a few feet above me was one of these flying bombs in a silent glide. I remember it was all silver and so sleek. I flung myself off my bike and on to the road (not much traffic in those days) and between my fingers I watched it following the contour of the hill as it glided down. Our house was down there and Mum was home on her own. Suddenly there was a mighty explosion and I was lifted up and dumped down again before jumping on my bike and hurtling down the hill as fast as I could. The bomb had crashed at the end of a long garden on the other side of the hill and our house was spared, although all the windows were blown out. Mum and the lady next door were outside crying their eyes out. Two years ago I was chatting with someone on here and it turned out that where the bomb crashed (Coulsdon) was his grandmother’s garden!! How about that???” Peter

A Quote From Jell:-

” I actually saw this operation carried out over the SE of England many times when i was very young. Also waiting for the rocket motor to cut out. and then the bang. Lovely work”

Chasing a V1 belongs to the following groups:

Aeronautics & Aviation, All Around the Styles, European Everyday Life (add the place!), Everyday Life, JPG Cast-Offs, Kent - The Garden Of England, Live, Love, Dream: , Nostalgic Art and Photography, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop, Remember When, UK to Australia and Back, War and WARBIRDS Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Chasing a V1 by Arrowman
  • kalaryder

    kalaryder

    Most interesting composition. That is a great cloud/water scene behind too

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Kala !!

  • midzing

    midzing

    awesome work,,, well done

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks !!!

  • lostboy13

    lostboy13

    why not just shoot it?

  • Arrowman replied

    Yes, they did, both from the air and the land !!

  • SharonD

    SharonD

    Great work from you again Colin.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Sharon !!

  • WJPhotography

    WJPhotography

    Fabulous work :))))))))

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Wendy !

  • missmoneypenny

    missmoneypenny

    Really nicely done – great perspective and scale

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Chris !!

  • Woodie

    Woodie

    Good composition and treatment Colin
    Neil

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Neil !

  • stevealder

    stevealder

    Very impessive image. Really like this, and can see the work that you have done to achieve this result. Great work. Regards, Steve

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Steve !

  • LYN EVANS

    LYN EVANS

    Wow, this is brill Colin, great selective colouring too

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Lyn, is from the IWM !

  • Béla Török

    Béla Török

    Excellent work, Colin!

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Bela !!

  • jell

    jell

    i actually saw this operation carried out over the SE of England many times when i was very young. Also waiting for the rocket motor to cut out. and then the bang. Lovely work looks as i remember them

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Jell, I`m glad it has brought home Memories for you !!

  • Arrowman

    Arrowman

  • jinney

    jinney

    PRETTY IMPRESSIVE!!
    AWESOME!
    -jinney

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Jinney !!

  • Edward Denyer

    Edward Denyer

    Really great compositoon Colin. – Reason for tipping was that they were gyro controlled and flipping them over sent them down out of control. As for shooting, not clever, toohard a target and also a large explosion IF successful. – Ted

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Ted, and thanks for the feature in WARBIRDS!

  • Peacefulwarrior

    Peacefulwarrior

    This is very very good mate….... well done

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks
    Stephen !!

  • Steve Liptrot

    Steve Liptrot

    Amazing shot and great description

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Steve !!

  • FelicityB

    FelicityB

    OMG what a shot!

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks !!

  • Paul Woloschuk

    Paul Woloschuk

    Wonderful work.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Paul !

  • Qba from Poland

    Qba from Poland

    Fantastic work ! Like the tones.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks for your kind comment !!

  • IngridSonja

    IngridSonja

    Excellent shot! My husband said to favourite it!

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks for the fav, and the comment !!

  • 3scapePhotos

    3scapePhotos

    Nice comp!

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Adam !!

  • Xadrik

    Xadrik

    Really Well Done.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks !!!

  • AnnieSnel

    AnnieSnel

    Congratulations Colin, being featured! Wonderful work!

  • Arrowman

    Arrowman

    Thanks for the comment Annie !!!

  • Jason Connolly

    Jason Connolly

    Superbly put together my friend, excellent mate..

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Jason !!

  • barnsis

    barnsis

    Amazing image and a great explination story to go with it.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks, It`s great to have some RB members memories of the V1 also !!

  • DonDavisUK

    DonDavisUK

    Fantastic! What a lot of work has gone into this image.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Don, much appreciated !!

  • hirst

    hirst

    This is just amazing Colin, so interesting, thank you for sharing it all with us!

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Shirley

  • glenzilla

    glenzilla

    Just so you know I know this is a Tutorial from Light Wave #d animation.. I did the tutorial in 2000

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks for the comment, I got the info from Neil Woodhouse

  • jinney

    jinney

    NOW if you scoll up a little-you will see that….I do know you take the most gloyious pics!
    Lol !! This is stunning-you are so clever!
    -jinney

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks indeed Jinney it`s all done in photoshop !

  • Brunoboy

    Brunoboy

    A very nice creation. Have you ever seen the V1 that was at Headcorn Airfield? My brother-in-law rebuilt it in 1983. It was a wreck when it arrived and he took it home, to his home in Matfield, and completed it in his back garden. It was then returned to Headcorn. It has now gone to Germany for supposedly for twelve months.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks this V1 is in the IWM London

  • Mike Jeffries

    Mike Jeffries

    What drama, I love this image in so many ways.

  • Arrowman replied

    Thanks Mike !!

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