Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

The pilot that saved an English village from a V-1 attack

Discussion in 'Honor, Service and Valor' started by FrenchieAtwar, Jan 22, 2021.

  1. FrenchieAtwar

    FrenchieAtwar New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2020
    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    11
    Jean Maridor

    c44dd96d-4650-415d-81e7-7b8af1d2ba82.jpg
    Jean maridor, was a FAFL pilot of The R.A.F, he was among the first 287 free french pilot that joined England as late as 1940 [early 1941] (and unfortunately, unlike 87 of his brother, he wasnt killed by the end of 1943) . In early 1941, after being disgusted by the armistice were he was task by his officers to burn his plane he quickly joined de Gaulle forces to continue the fight, despite the threat of being executed by the newly established vichy gouvernement.

    Although, too late to joined the British in the battle of Britain, he began his training on Hurricane and by 1942 he became Pilot-officer. He joined the 91 squadron equiped with supermarine spitfire, and began coastal missions were, between 1942 and 1944 he sunk 20 axis vessel and shot down 3 german (+1 by cooperation) two great story are accredited to him.

    In 1943, during a FW-109 attack on the english city of Folkestone, he furiously led the assault on the FW-109 and shot down 2 German planes, all of the 500kg of Germans bombs were dropped into the sea.

    On the 3rd of august 1944, aboard his Hawker tempest, he was tasked in intercepting Germans V-1. During this infamous day, a V-1 was stread heading into a local English village name Benenden. He failed to drift the missile with the help of his wing, he had to resort to shoot the missile with his 20m..the detonation killed him..by the sources of the time he may have saved an Hospital (or as other sources claim an orphonage) with his sacrifice.

    Jean Maridor was award the D.F.C by the british and posthumously became a Companions of the liberation

    This is the story of a hero, i would to excuse myslef with my poor english that didnt bring honor to his memoirs.. you could find more info/sources here

    Capt. Jean Maridor - R.A.F., August 3, 1944

    Jean Maridor - WW2 hero - Benenden Village in Kent, the garden of England


     
    Half Track and Kai-Petri like this.
  2. harolds

    harolds Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    Messages:
    1,898
    Likes Received:
    372
    I'm not trying to take anything away from his self-sacrifice. He deserved the medal. The "sources of the time" perhaps overdid it. V-1s were notoriously inaccurate. The Germans didn't aim them at hospitals or orphanages. They were lucky if the missile hit within 3 miles of its aiming point! Most likely it would have flown over Benenden Village and hit somewhere between there and London.
     
  3. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    Were the V1's inaccurate due to the fact the German double agents sent false information that the V1's were hitting center London.
    Still some politicians asked if it was correct to let the V1's kill people in the country instead of London. More info of this with the search engine.

    We in Finland knew about a major Soviet bomber attack to Helsinki. There was a false city built which was bombed and the Soviets claimed Helsinki is in ruins due to double agents. Guess the Soviet facial expression when after peace they came to Helsinki.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2021
  4. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    The V1 fell down as the fuel ended. Tipping the V1 wing was a way to make the V1 change course by some pilots.
     
  5. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,578
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Location:
    London, England.
    I don't have sources to hand, but I believe the British used the 'double cross system' ( ie the 'turning' of captured German agents ) to report incorrect information about the accuracy of V-weapon attacks. The principal objective was the Western side of London ( home to Government & military command ) whereas most V-weapons fell'short' on the Eastern/South-Eastern areas.
     
    Kai-Petri likes this.
  6. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    I knew Martin you would not let us down. Thanx!
     
  7. harolds

    harolds Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    Messages:
    1,898
    Likes Received:
    372
    Even without the XX agents, the V-1 was basically inaccurate, using the same type of guidance system as a torpedo. Besides that, the Germans couldn't predict winds aloft over the Channel and southern England, which also contributed to a loss of accuracy. If a V-1 landed within a 2-mile radius of its target, that was pretty good shooting.

    I believe most V-1s that were brought down, were brought down by AAA. The straight and level flight path plus the VT fuse made them relatively easy targets. However, the Brits were wanting to repurpose AAA troops into infantry but the V-1s made this untenable so the V-1s did have some positive effects for the Germans.

    Not very long ago there was a National Geographic article on where the V-1s landed.
     
  8. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    The V1's were dropping out of London due to double agents. Wind or sunshine, the fuel dictated when they would drop down. Nothing else.Even with such measures the V-1 was low in cost compared to other means in bombing Eñgland.
     
  9. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,578
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Location:
    London, England.
    'The Blitz - Then & Now Vol.3' is a very good source for the V-weapon atatcks. Of the 5,232 ground-launched weapons to cross the UK coast, 2,340 reached London, 1,564 were destroyed by AA fire, and 1,902 by the RAF.A further 1012 air-launched V1s crossed the coast, with 320 of those being downed by AA and only 72 by the RAF ( presumably because the air-launched weapons 'flew' by night ).

    So overall, the RAF get the nod 1974 to 1884.

    Despite being a crude and simple dessign, the V1 packed a fearful blast effet with it's 850kg warhead.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2021
    Kai-Petri likes this.
  10. harolds

    harolds Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    Messages:
    1,898
    Likes Received:
    372
    Actually, they had a timer on them that when it ran out, jammed the elevators down and shut off the fuel supply.
    At one point they fired some missiles with radio beacons in them because the XX reports were at variance with what they thought the V-1s should do. The radio V-1s indicated that the German's original calculations were correct. So...given the discrepancy, they chose to believe the XX agents!
     
    Kai-Petri and Half Track like this.
  11. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    You have read better books although I have read some three books on V-1's. Kph
     

Share This Page