Landing During Combat

[Browning303]

Hi all. I've been reading recently about fighter pilots landing during combat, or at any rate landing in an area that was not an airfield. I'm surprised this was possible. Surely from the air it's very difficult to tell what the ground is like? Yes you can surely see open areas that look relatively flat. But what if they're on more of an incline than you realised? What if they have serious potholes you can't see? Or the ground is seriously boggy and muddy and your undercarriage just sinks into it? Surely doing this was a massive risk? Plus you'd have to make sure you not only had enough space to land but then had a clear enough run to take off again.

The reason I'm asking is because I read about Edmund Rossman who managed to land behind Russian lines in an attempt to rescue a downed wingman, but was captured before he could do so. And then I've recently been reading James Holland and came across this:

"Belching smoke, the Hawk lost height rapidly and glided down, landing with his wheels up in a field. Hans circled the downed Hawk and saw that the pilot was alive but injured. Without a second thought, and safe in the knowledge that they were still in German-occupied territory, Hans lowered his undercarriage and touched down beside the Frenchman. Grabbing his first aid kit, Hans clambered out of the cockpit, jumped out onto the ground and hurried over to the French pilot. Having tended to his wounds he then took the pilot's name - Sergent-chef Bes - and promised to write to his parents to let them know he was safe. This done, he clambered back in his Messerschmitt, took off and headed to base." James Holland, "The Battle of Britain" (2010: p305)

 

[Greyman]

Not in combat -- but I always liked this story ...

One day two pilots of the Eagle Squadron were reported overdue having been sent on 'familiarization cross-country flights'. The Observer Corps reported one of them had crashed. The pilot was dead. We heard nothing from the other for hours. Finally a call came to Dispersal from the pilot. He had succeeded in landing safely in a field and gave his position. Greatly relieved, the Flight Commander dispatched an instructor in a Miles Master to pick him up.

The instructor found the field, which was very small, but there was the Hurricane intact with the pilot standing beside it. The Miles Master was a two-place single-engine fighter-trainer less powerful and vicious than the Hurricane. The instructor made a precautionary approach to the field. When he touched his wheels on grass, he realized that he was going too fast to stop and went round again. He didn't want to look like a fool in front of this 'sprog' pilot who had obviously managed to get a Hurricane into this field. On his second attempt he brought his aircraft in hanging on the prop and waddled into the field and plopped down. He promptly went straight through the fence at the other end and over on his back. When he got out he was absolutely livid.

'How the hell did you get that kite into this field?'

'Well sir,' drawled the Yank, 'I did it different. I was trying to get into the field behind this one, bounced and went over the fence.'

The instructor bough the beer in the Mess for the next week.

 

[Barrett]

I am SO forwarding this one!