No.120 Squadron RAF Coastal Command were the first Squadron to take the Liberator into combat with enemy forces.
From: - S.I.O. RAF Station, Nutts Corner.
To: - Headquarters, Coastal Command. MOST SECRET
Headquarters, No.15 Group.
Date: - 26th.October 1941.
Ref: - Forms 'Blue'. DAY
1 Liberator V 2 FW Condors.
COMBAT WITH CONDORS BY F/120 ON 22/10/41.
1. First Engagement with Condor.
At 1310 hrs. on 22/10 while F was carrying out patrol round Convoy SL89 the SNO sent a visual signal 'Condor bearing 250°.' F turned to search in that direction and when flying at 700 to 800 feet observed the Condor about 1500 yards to 1 mile away on the port bow flying at about 1000 feet, about 200 feet below cloud level; distance 10 miles astern of C/V. F immediately turned and climbed by the quickest route to engage the Condor before it could take cover in cloud. At 500 yards F fired a burst of 15-20 rounds from each of the front four cannons. These were low. The nose was pulled further up and at about 300 yards range ^ fired a second burst of about 25-30 rounds. These included tracer and hits were definitely scored on the Condor in the fore part of its belly beneath the wings. The front cannon gun of the Condor returned fire at a very high angle of depression. Jo hits were felt by the crew of F though on return an explosive shell was found to have damaged the propeller of the starboard inner engine. A third burst was fired by F exhausting the magazines, which before the burst was fired, due to a practice burst early in the flight, contained only about 10 shells each. The result of this burst was not observed for at this time the aircraft had got dangerously near to stalling, and the pilot pulled the nose down enabling the rear gunner to fire a burst for about two seconds of about 30 machine gun bullets from each of his Browning; the results of this burst were not observed. The Condor had been climbing during the engagement for just as F began its dive the Condor passed about 200 feet immediately overhead. It was seen at about this time to fire from behind the wing, probably from the rear belly gun, but possibly from the starboard cabin. So hits were felt, though on inspection at base a machine gun bullet was discovered to have hit the outer starboard engine. The rear gunner only saw the Condor for about 4 seconds for it entered cloud just after passing overhead. The cannon magazines were changed, but the Condor was not found again.
2. Second Combat.
F was flying at 500 feet when a Condor was again seen ahead about 1 mile away flying at about 1000 feet with cloud 200 feet above. F again climbed straight to the Condor for a head on engagement. This Condor took more violent evasive action, turning sharply and climbing steeply into cloud. Nevertheless, F got in a burst of about 20 shells from each front cannon gun at about 400 yards. No results were observed as the Condor disappeared immediately in cloud. It emerged 20 seconds later for a few seconds to disappear finally in more cloud.
Particulars of Condor.
The main novel feature observed was the array of masts along the top of the Condor.
These were only seen by one member of the crew, but he was the only one in a position to see, and he was quite definite and certain that there was an array of masts. He was not sure whether there were five or six, but there were certainly more than on a Liberator. He did not see any other aerials, but it must be noted that in all three encounters the view of the Condor other than underneath head on was possible only for a few seconds.
No other peculiar feature was observed; the Condors conformed to past diagrams and photographs. They were painted very dark; most members of the crew said black, one or two dark brown. A swastika on the tail was the only marking.
In all three encounters with the Condors they appeared to be more maneuverable than Liberators, having probably faster rate of turn and climb. It was not possible to state their relative speed.
The Condors tactics appear to be to shadow the convoys from below cloud level if that is at a convenient height, and to use cloud as a haven to which to escape. The front cannon gun has a large angle of depression which makes it useful against aircraft which are often likely to attack from below.
From: - S.I.O. RAF Station, Nutts Corner.
To: - Headquarters, Coastal Command. MOST SECRET
Headquarters, No.15 Group.
Date: - 26th.October 1941.
Ref: - Forms 'Blue'. DAY
1 Liberator V 2 FW Condors.
COMBAT WITH CONDORS BY F/120 ON 22/10/41.
1. First Engagement with Condor.
At 1310 hrs. on 22/10 while F was carrying out patrol round Convoy SL89 the SNO sent a visual signal 'Condor bearing 250°.' F turned to search in that direction and when flying at 700 to 800 feet observed the Condor about 1500 yards to 1 mile away on the port bow flying at about 1000 feet, about 200 feet below cloud level; distance 10 miles astern of C/V. F immediately turned and climbed by the quickest route to engage the Condor before it could take cover in cloud. At 500 yards F fired a burst of 15-20 rounds from each of the front four cannons. These were low. The nose was pulled further up and at about 300 yards range ^ fired a second burst of about 25-30 rounds. These included tracer and hits were definitely scored on the Condor in the fore part of its belly beneath the wings. The front cannon gun of the Condor returned fire at a very high angle of depression. Jo hits were felt by the crew of F though on return an explosive shell was found to have damaged the propeller of the starboard inner engine. A third burst was fired by F exhausting the magazines, which before the burst was fired, due to a practice burst early in the flight, contained only about 10 shells each. The result of this burst was not observed for at this time the aircraft had got dangerously near to stalling, and the pilot pulled the nose down enabling the rear gunner to fire a burst for about two seconds of about 30 machine gun bullets from each of his Browning; the results of this burst were not observed. The Condor had been climbing during the engagement for just as F began its dive the Condor passed about 200 feet immediately overhead. It was seen at about this time to fire from behind the wing, probably from the rear belly gun, but possibly from the starboard cabin. So hits were felt, though on inspection at base a machine gun bullet was discovered to have hit the outer starboard engine. The rear gunner only saw the Condor for about 4 seconds for it entered cloud just after passing overhead. The cannon magazines were changed, but the Condor was not found again.
2. Second Combat.
F was flying at 500 feet when a Condor was again seen ahead about 1 mile away flying at about 1000 feet with cloud 200 feet above. F again climbed straight to the Condor for a head on engagement. This Condor took more violent evasive action, turning sharply and climbing steeply into cloud. Nevertheless, F got in a burst of about 20 shells from each front cannon gun at about 400 yards. No results were observed as the Condor disappeared immediately in cloud. It emerged 20 seconds later for a few seconds to disappear finally in more cloud.
Particulars of Condor.
The main novel feature observed was the array of masts along the top of the Condor.
These were only seen by one member of the crew, but he was the only one in a position to see, and he was quite definite and certain that there was an array of masts. He was not sure whether there were five or six, but there were certainly more than on a Liberator. He did not see any other aerials, but it must be noted that in all three encounters the view of the Condor other than underneath head on was possible only for a few seconds.
No other peculiar feature was observed; the Condors conformed to past diagrams and photographs. They were painted very dark; most members of the crew said black, one or two dark brown. A swastika on the tail was the only marking.
In all three encounters with the Condors they appeared to be more maneuverable than Liberators, having probably faster rate of turn and climb. It was not possible to state their relative speed.
The Condors tactics appear to be to shadow the convoys from below cloud level if that is at a convenient height, and to use cloud as a haven to which to escape. The front cannon gun has a large angle of depression which makes it useful against aircraft which are often likely to attack from below.
