The WW2 Plane with the Most Bizarre Killing Technique
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Published 2024-03-14
At 5:30pm on September 26, Clarke was already airborne in his unwieldy Blackburn Roc, which had shown itself to be ineffective as a fighter but made for a trusty search and rescue aircraft, when he received a report of British airmen being shot down off the coast of the Isle of Wight. With intrepid gunner Sergeant Hunt in tow, Clarke bounded towards the search area, determined to arrive on time to rescue his countrymen from the chilly waters below.
Arriving on the scene, the pair desperately scanned the ocean for survivors, their eyes straining against the rapidly encroaching darkness. 45 minutes passed, with no luck. The only other sign of life was the faint outline of a friendly Swordfish seaplane in the distance, probably engaged in a similar search and rescue mission.
But as the two aircraft drew nearer, Clarke noticed something was amiss. The size, the markings—it just didn't add up. Going in for a closer look, his suspicions were confirmed: they had stumbled upon a German Heinkel He 59 seaplane, out to save its own downed comrades.
Clarke’s awkward and slow-moving Roc was all he had, and he was about to put it to the test in what would become one of World War 2’s most bizarre showdowns.
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All Comments (21)
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The Roc could have been the world's best fighter. If only they had thought of it back in 1918
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Does anyone else feel a bit uneasy, at the thought of two SEARCH AND RESCUE aircraft about to try to KILL each other, before they try to do their rescuing. I have read that the RAF considered German SAR aircraft fair game. But to my mind, it seems like shooting at medics!
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I’m highly sceptical of the claim that these aircraft carried out bombing missions in 1946. They were slow, but not THAT slow! 😂
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I do rely on Dark and Felton amongst others to provide war stories no matter how obscure or minor of which I have never heard. I'm always learning something new about WWII and other military subjects from them.
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Blackburn felt that streamlining was just a fade.
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Thanks for this Airplane History Tabloid Channel.
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Turret fighters were rather useless in real combat. On o9ccasion they scored kills of fighters who didn't realize the turret was there. But once the German pilots recognized them, they'd approach from behind and BELOW, and shoot them down. Also, the turret fighters had very poor performance...most Luftwaffe bombers could run away from the Roc.
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It is a pity that so many of these documentaries have incorrect image material. For the rest they are interesting.
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G'day, You got the Bristol Fighter & Hawker Hart & Demon backwards. The RFC tried to fly the Brisfit to use the Rear-Gunner offensively and they were shot to ribbons of bleeding burning mincemeat. So they started flying it as a fixed Forward-firing Fighter - with a Rear-Gunner to protect against attack from behind ; and the Bristol F-2b then BEGAN to be known as the Bristol Fighter.., because that worked. The Hart & Demon were Light Day Reconnaissance Bombers, with a Vickers K- Gun on a Scarff Mounting on the Observer/Gunner's Cockpit. The Blackburn Roc was a Royal Naval Fleet Air Arm copy of a Boulton & Paul Defiant... Much as a Fairey Fulmar was actually only a Fairey Battle with a retractable Tailhook retrofitted & bolted on ; under it's Bumfeathers... Such is life, Have a good one... Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !
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The 196 mph fighter😂😂
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The Blackburne Roc, the Boulton-Paul Defiant and other "upward firing" aircraft were a product of early thirties design, when engine power was quite limited, and interception times, to altitude, were quite abysmal. The bombers would be landing back at base by the time challengers could rise to confront (Zeppelin days?), so, we fire upwards! The Germans ended up using the same technique themselves, no turrets, before the party was over! Can't recall if the pilots here had access to guns also, if not, how frustrating, having to maneuver the aircraft for another to shoot with these turreted ones! tRICKy!
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There really wasn't much of a choice. At 200mph, it takes about 50 seconds to go 3 miles. So first you have to assume the other plane has seen you also, and then you get into mission priority. Unfortunately a downed pilot, who if you're lucky enough to find...may...be alive, comes in second to an enemy plane that IS definitely capable of shooting you and others down. That's the reality of war.
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Definitely gives me Paul Boulton defiant vibes lol
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How many incorrect aircraft types can YOU see in this video? 😂
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Brilliant! Thanks for posting.
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This is where the famous saying: "It flies like a rock" originates
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The Limeys knew how to sometimes make unbelievably hideous looking aircraft.
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Contrary to your comments, the turreted fight was a horrible idea which was proven out in combat. The Defiant was no better than the Roc in combat with other fighters. Once the German’s figured out Defiants weren’t Hurricanes, the Defiants became easy pickings. This type of “fighter” aircraft is only viable as a night fighter where the pilot can maneuver his gunner into an excellent firing position beneath the enemy bomber.
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The Roc looked like the Boulton-Paul Defiant had a hot night with a Blackburn Skua. Still, they all played their part and had successes. Sleeve-valve engines were very quiet compared to other types - radial and in-line. Least likely dogfight? What about the Wellesley versus Caproni's in the Med.!?
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... and the chap they were supposed to rescue?
