The Hawker Typhoon was a fast ground attack interceptor which packed a punch.
It was mainly used for (rhubarb) attacks armed with cannons and later rockets it could take on anything from anti aircraft guns, tanks ,trains and any other heavy ground targets. It was also pivotal in softening targets before and during D - Day . Due to its great speed it was decided a limited number were to be held back as Air Defence Great Britain these Typhoons most likely belonged to 137 and 263 squadrons whose many air defence roles included the taking down of V1 flying bombs or (doodlebugs ) (buzzbombs) bound for England .The pilots referred to these lethal V1 weapons as "divers" .
The WW2 R.A.F pilots counter attack to the V1 menace was to gain altitude and dive at the flying bomb from the side opening fire with it's guns and cannons whilst using the deflection method of shooting.
If guns and arnament failed or were exhausted it was found and proven that you could tip these flying bombs out of the sky by disturbing their own air flow.
The skilled brave pilots did this by chasing and matching the bombs flying airspeed usually around 320 to 340 mph .They would then place the tip of their wing with great precision under the V1 wing and they would then rock their own wings from side to side to create an airflow disturbance ,which would in turn cause the V1's guidance gyroscope to fail and send the bomb crashing to earth.
Pilots accounts show when they tipped these flying bombs the idea was NOT to touch the V1 in any way but use the wing airflow and aerodynamic pressure to destroy it.
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