Typhoon Target   by Robert Bailey

December 1944. Typhoons of 440 Squadron RCAF make a low pass to identify a formidable German King Tiger Tank in the Ardennes, during the 'Battle of the Bulge.'

Signatures

F/Lt. James Hardy was born in Verden, Manitoba. He joined the RCAF and flew Tiger Moths, Cranes, Lysanders, Bolingbrokes, Hurricanes, Kittyhawks and Harvards. Posted to England in 1943, he flew Spitfires. He was involved in a midair collision while flying a Spitfire, in which he was left with only his seat! He transitioned to Typhoons and was posted to 440 Squadron, operating from Cruelly, France. He had 96 sorties and was awarded the DFC and C.D.

F/Lt. Ken Storey joined 56 Squadron (Hurricanes) in the summer of 1941. They received the first two Typhoons issued to the Royal Air Force (September) and he flew one of these. He enjoyed two complete engine failures on Typhoons (for which they were renowned). His wrecked cockpit is currently on display at Duxford. He hit a Ju­88 on one sortie, and on a strafing run received a long line of bullet holes across the wing and spinner. At war's end he was with 29 Night Fighter Squadron (Mosquitos).

F/Lt. Art Younger joined the RCAF in January 1941. After serving in the Middle East during 1942, he was with 186 Squadron in Scotland on cannon-firing Hurricanes. Converted to Typhoon in November 1943. In 1944 he was with 247 Squadron RAF and was involved in Typhoon rocket attack operations in Normandy. He struck V­l sites, 'no-bail-out targets,' radar sites and other ground targets. He was shot down at Falaise on August 13, 1944 and was taken prisoner. He had a total of 69 operational sorties.

F/O Ralph Downing was born in Vernon, B.C. Graduating from pilot training in 1942, he was then posted to England with the RAF. By 1943 he was with 184 Squadron stationed near Bath, Somerset, on Hurricanes which featured 40mm anti-tank cannons which were later replaced with rockets. In early 1944 the squadron converted to Typhoons. This was a big improvement with 400 mph speed, and especially effective against Tiger tanks. F/O Downing was shot down by a German fighter on August 17, 1944 and became a POW.

F/Lt. C. Ivan Smith is from Ancaster, ON. He joined the RCAF and was sent to England in January 1943. He was posted to 268 Squadron RAF. By May 1944 he was on operations. On D­Day he was over the beach-head, directing fire for battleships on to ground targets. After the squadron moved to France, they were bombarded from a huge rail-mounted gun which the Germans kept in a tunnel. The gun was eventually sealed from both ends of the tunnel. C. Ivan Smith's awards include the 1939-1945 Star and Victory Medal. He flew Mustangs and Typhoons on operations.

F/O John Porter is from Prince George, B.C. and joined the RCAF in August 1941. In England he was posted to 247 Squadron RAF at Bradwell Bay in Essex. He flew Typhoons and completed his tour in November 1944. Awards include A/C Europe Star, 1939-1945 Medal, France/Germany.

F/Lt. Roy Burden was with 118 Squadron on Annette Island, Alaska, flying P-40 Kittyhawks during 1943. In November he joined 438 Squadron and by March 1944 was in Typhoons, dive-bombing V­l launch sites over Europe. On D­Day he bombed coastal defences and witnessed the spectacular invasion from his aircraft. On June 14 he took over B Flight, dive-bombing bridges and motor transport. His first European base was so close to the action that a left hand circuit on take-off drew enemy fire! He shot up enemy dispatch riders and staff cars, finishing with 98 operational sorties.

F/Lt. Bill Clifford enlisted in the air force at Hamilton, Ontario. After flight training his dream came true: he was flying Spitfires! But shortly thereafter, the entire group converted to Typhoons. Casualty rate on this aircraft was high, as they were much in demand after D­Day. At Eindhoven he was with 440 Squadron. Casualties were never ending. Fifteen pilots were KIA and four downed pilots became POW's before the war was over.

F/Lt. Don Banting joined the RCAF at 18 years of age. On D­Day +21 he was moved to B9 in France as a part of 143 Wing. On a raid against the railway marshalling yards at Munchen-Gladback on the edge of the Ruhr Valley, he came in extra low to deliver his bomb. The Germans always expected Typhoons to turn left at the end of a dive, so he turned right. The spectacular result was his bomb impacting right on the swtichgear without a shot being fired at him. He has 107 operational sorties. Awards include the DFC.

F/O Allan Nixon was born in Gore, PQ. He trained on Hurricanes, and by June 1944 was in Britain, OTU on Spitfires at Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire. He converted to Typhoons and was posted to 438 Squadron at Eindhoven, Holland, in December of 1944. He flew 16 operational trips before being shot down by ground fire and captured on Valentines Day, 1945. F/O Nixon was liberated from a POW camp near Mooseburg (along with 28,000 other prisoners) by General Patton's 3rd Army.

F/O Angus Mclntyre Scott joined the RCAF in November, 1942. After flight training he took a Commando course in Nova Scotia. In England he was with 61 Squadron OTU, flying Spitfire 5's, but converted to Typhoons in February 1945. He joined 440 Squadron at Eindhoven, Holland, flying 30 operational sorties. He made a wheels-up landing in a Typhoon after flak damage to the tail. He went on to take the fight against the enemy from numerous bases until war's end.

F/Lt. Ivan Mouat joined the RCAF in 1940. He trained at #3 ITS at Victoriaville, PQ, #3 EFTS Regina and #11 SFTS Yorkton, SK. Shipped overseas in September 1941. He was posted to 412 Squadron on Spitfires, then to 56 Squadron on Typhoons. He was one of the first four Canadian pilots to fly this new aircraft type. He was then with 198 Squadron, also Typhoons. Ivan Mouat was shot down on July 11, 1943 and was taken a prisoner in Stalag Luft III. He has a total of 25 operational sorties.

F/O George 'Lefty' Whitman was born in Pennsylvania, and enlisted in the RCAF in 1941. In September 1942 he was posted to England with #3 (F) Squadron RAF at Manston, flying Hurricanes, Typhoons and Tempests. Shot down in September 1943 by flak and ditched in the sea. (First ever ditching of a Typhoon). While in his dinghy was strafed and wounded by two Me­109's. His dinghy was sunk but he was rescued by a Walrus aircraft. He later destroyed an Me­109G, the first enemy aircraft destroyed by a Tempest in the air. F/O Whitman also shot down 14 flying bombs. Later in the war he became a test pilot. His decorations include France/Germany Star and Air Defence Great Britain Medal.

F/Lt. Robert E. Spooner joined the Air Force in 1941 and received Elementary Flight Training at High River, AB. In 1944 he was posted to Melsbroek to fly Hawker Typhoons. A few weeks later he was in Eindhoven, Holland. By November of that same year he was a Flight Commander. He flew support for the Nijmegan attack and in the Ardennes 'Battle of the Bulge.' Other adventures included train strafing and a mid-air collision in cloud, although both aircraft returned safely to base. F/Lt. Spooner completed 97 sorties and holds the DFC.

The Story

The lightning advances made by the Allies after D­Day during 'Operation Cobra' and the breakout from Normandy, came to a grinding halt as supply lines stretched and German entrenchment solidified. Through the fall and into the winter, the lines of battle faltered to a stalemate, allowing the Allies to regroup and rest. Or so they thought.

Hitler had other ideas, and although cautioned to the contrary by his military advisers, designed a battle plan based on surprise and secrecy. Code named 'Autumn Mist,' the plan was to quietly amass men, tanks and planes in the Ardennes for a 'blitzkrieg' thrust to the Meuse River and on to Antwerp, in the hopes of literally dividing the Allies and repeating another 'Dunkirk.' He chose a spot on the American lines that was thinly defended.

The Allies were confident that the Germans were not capable of such an action, and were thrown into chaos when the Germans smashed through the American lines, spear-headed by two Panzer Divisions on the morning of December 16, 1944. For ten days the Germans benefited immensely from the foul weather which grounded the Allied air forces. The German advances became known as the 'Battle of the Bulge.'

With the weather finally improving on the morning of December 24, the German advance had run its course, literally running out of gas. Allied planes poured into the battle front by the hundreds, destroying everything in front of them.

In Robert Bailey's painting, TYPHOON TARGET, a King (Royal) Tiger, low on gas and nakedly exposed to air attack, runs for the cover of trees, pursued by two Typhoons of 440 Squadron, 143 Wing (RCAF), 2nd Tactical Air Force. Like 600 other units of German armor, it will not likely find a place to hide in the face of Allied counter attacks.