Finally- Inverted flight:
Yes, I can lay claim to having flown a Lancaster
while inverted. It came about one summer night in 1944. We were on a southerly course over Holland on our way to the target.
We were familiar with the corkscrew maneuver
having successfully used it more than our share of times. We had shortened the patter to three terse words "Fighter Port Go!" (or Starboard as required).This warning usually came from the rear gunner alerting the pilot to commence evasive action immediately.
We had just observed the first target markers going down some 30 miles up ahead when "Fighter Port Go!" blared over the intercom. I was just rolling the aircraft 90 degrees to port (port wing down)when there came another and more urgent request "Fighter Port Go Skipper!".Right away I rolled the Lanc another 90 degrees to port.In split seconds this placed us completely upside down.The nose began dropping immediately as we gathered speed at an alarming rate.
Cutting back on the throttles I was distressed to find the control column was virtually immovable.We had been well warned against using elevator trim in just such a predicament.However with help from the flight engineer we managed to get all 32 tons of us to round out and eventually level off.
As you can picture it we were now going the wrong way in a one way bomber stream.We could continue straight on and diminish the chance of a mid-air or do a U-turn and risk a broad side.I chose the latter and was able to join the stragglers of the first wave after one jarring interuption as we hit a very recently vacated slip-stream.
The attack was caried out by two Me 109's. How the two pilots found themselves in such strategic positions we may never know, good luck or good management.The timing would be so critical.They must have been quite surprised by our sudden disappearance as the gunners saw no more of them.
The upcoming target we attended to without serious problems.Taking stock of our aircraft we discovered some incoveniences. One of the ammo containers had spewed shells all over the fuse. The navigators instruments had to be retrieved from various hiding places and the main gyro for the distant reading compass had tumbled disrupting the repeating stations for about 20 minutes. Luckily Polaris was visible giving me a bearing to begin the trip home.
Those of you more familiar with fighter tactics may know about this type of attack, in daylight yes but hardly at night.
Skipper67 thanks for the effort you're putting in and all of you for your patience.
Skipper of C Charlie Alex Campbell

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