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Fire Power Vs. Steam Power
"The squadron carries on its war on railways by day and by night. The chief "train - buster" is the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Beamont, DFC and Bar, who's got many trains to his credit in night attacks, and three by day. From the Commanding officer downwards all the pilots are what's called "Offensively - minded". B.B.C. News. 6th March 1943.
Various Newspaper Articles About The Trainbusters Of 609
RAF's night blitz: IN another fierce blitz on enemy communications in Belgium and Northern France on Saturday night, the RAF attacked five trains with bombs or machine - gun and cannon fire, the Air Ministry reported last night. The West Riding Squadron Commander destroyed a locomotive in the Abbeville yards on his second patrol, and shot up a long goods train at Poperinghe. Daily Mirror. 23rd November 1942
7 ENGINES HIT BY R.A.F. SORTIES OVER FRANCE Continuing Operations against enemy railway and canal traffic in France and Belgium yesterday, aircraft of both Fighter Command and Army Co-operation Command made successful attacks, said the Air Ministry. Fighter pilots found a long goods train hauled by a large engine, with a second smaller engine at the rear. The large engine was hit by cannon shells and blew up. The rear engine was damaged. Daily Telegraph. 16th December 1942
NIGHT "INTRUDERS" BUSY GOODS TRAINS BOMBED AND SHELLED FROM OUR AERONAUTICAL CORRESPONDENT The R.A.F. "intruders," which the official report states were over enemy occupied territory on Sunday night, made eight successful attacks on goods trains. Times. 22nd December 1942
WRECKED NAZI TRAINS CHOKE RAILWAYS R.A.F. "INTRUDERS" FIRE SUPPLY SHIPS Military transport on enemy railways in France and the Low Countries was blocked yesterday by many goods trains, wrecked or damaged in the biggest "intruder" raid by Fighter Command for some nights. A single - seat intruder piloted by a D.F.C. squadron leader who is an expert "train wrecker" found a long goods train at Le Treport and shot it up. Then he went to Abbeville and repeated the performance. Daily Telegraph, 24th December 1942
A Squadron leader who shot up two of the trains made five attacks on the first one. "I sighted a long goods train moving fast near Hazebrouck," he said. "On my first attack I saw cannon strikes all around the engine. On the second, there were strikes on the engine and trucks behind it. "On my third attack, I held my fire till I was within 500 yards and pressed it home till I was only just above the train, hitting it all the time. It stopped then, and gave off clouds of steam. Hit Engine "After that I raked it from end to end twice as it stood on the line" Sunday Pictorial. January 1943.
DFC Bar For 'Train Buster' HE HAS HIT 12 ENGINES ENFIELD - BORN Acting Squadron - Leader Roland Prosper Beamont (No. 609 Squadron), who in five weeks has damaged 12 locomotives, has been awarded a bar to his D.F.C., it is announced today. Although only 22, he is described as an "exceptionally skilful and courageous leader," and during the five weeks his squadron damaged 22 locomotives and rolling stock, and destroyed at least four Focke Wulf 190s. In March, 1941, he was mentioned in despatches and won the DFC in June, 1941, for skill and efficiency, having completed many night flying operations. He is the only son of major E. C. and Mrs. Beamont, of Summersdale, Chichester. The DFC is won by Pilot Officer Donald Gillespie Mercer, RAFVR (No. 122 Squadron), who has participated in 46 sorties. He has led his flight, with skill and courage. His personal bag includes three enemy aircraft and one motor torpedo boat destroyed, and he shared in the destruction of two other motor torpedo boats.
The Train Buster Acting Squadron - Leader Roland Prosper Beamont, who, during five weeks has damaged 12 locomotives, has been awarded a bar to his D.F.C. He is described as an "exceptionally skilful and courageous leader," and during the five weeks his squadron damaged 22 locomotives and rolling stock, and destroyed at least four FW 190s. News Chronicle. 22nd January 1943
Actg.
S/L R. P. BEAMONT, whose award of a Bar to his D.F.C. was announced on Jan. 22,
1943. In five weeks he damaged 12 enemy locomotives. He won the D.F.C. in 1941. Hutchinsons Pictorial History of the War (n.b.
photograph caption) LEADER OF WEST RIDING SQUADRON BAR TO D.F.C. AWARD The Commander of the West Riding of Yorkshire R.A.F. Squadron, Acting Squadron Leader Roland Prosper Beaumont, has been awarded a bar to his D.F.C. for "fine fighting qualities and great ability." It was the West Riding Squadron which on Wednesday, using the Hawker - Hurricane Typhoon - the swiftest and most powerful single engined fighter - shot down five of 14 German planes raiding the South-east and London during daylight. Two Typhoons of the Squadron, while on South East Coast patrol yesterday, attacked 15 or more F.W. 190's flying in line abreast. A flying officer of the squadron shot down one F.W. 190 Previous successes have earned for Acting Squadron Leader Beaumont the title "Train Buster". Yorkshire Evening News. 22nd January 1943
TWENTY - TWO - YEAR - OLD LOCO BUSTER : Acting Squadron - Leader R. P. Beaumont, who in five weeks has shot up 12 locomotives, has been awarded a bar to his D.F.C., it was announced to-day. He is described as an "exceptionally skilful and courageous leader." During the five weeks his squadron damaged 22 locomotives and destroyed at least four F.W. 190s.
THE 'TRAIN BUSTERS' DAY OUT Loco's Peppered MANY Locomotives and goods trains were shot up by "train buster" patrols of Typhoons and Whirlwind bombers which went out over occupied territory yesterday. Two members of the West Riding of Yorkshire Typhoon Squadron, who separated after crossing the Belgian coast, told of their adventures last night. The first, a Belgian flight lieutenant, found a small engine pulling three trucks near Dixmude. "As I fired I saw pieces of the engine fly off," he said, "and I left the train at a standstill enveloped in steam." A lone engine near Ghent and a train of 30 trucks in the south - east outskirts of the city were also successfully strafed. Gun - post Hit The flight lieutenant was then fired on by a group of gun posts. "I made a low - level attack on one of them," he said, "and hit a German officer who was standing up looking through his binoculars. The gun crew were lying down behind the sandbags." The other member of the squadron found a large goods engine and a small shunting engine in a siding. "I made two diving attacks on the larger engine," he said. "The boiler was twisted and battered and had pieces knocked off it. I consider this one a total loss." The pilot then turned his attention to the smaller engine, and later attacked a goods train head on. A small goods engine with two or three trucks was also shot up. Daily Mail 29th January 1943
Train - Buster Hit By Engine Debris In strafing another his plane crashed through telegraph wires and he was fired at. The gunners missed him and on the way home ha attacked a barge. Other pilots shot up three more goods engines and three barges in Northern France. One fighter is missing. On Saturday night Germany had her fifth raid of last week. The Rhineland was attacked during reconnaissance flights over western Germany and mines were laid in enemy waters. Three R.A.F. planes are missing. Daily Sketch 8th February 1943. (N.B. Peter Raw)
FLEW THROUGH TELEGRAPH WIRE PILOT GUNS ENGINES Eight locomotives and four barges were damaged when Fighter Command aircraft attacked communications on the Continent yesterday. One pilot of a West Riding of Yorkshire squadron himself damaged five engines and a barge. This was in Belgium. The pilot stated afterwards that when he was attacking one train he was flying so low that he went through telegraph wires. The sudden bump made him bang his head on the cockpit cover. Daily Sketch. 8th February 1943.
NAZI
TROOP TRAIN IS SHOT UP TWO
R.A.F. Fighter pilots – both of them Belgians – shot up a troop train on the
Ostend – Bruges line yesterday. As
soon as it stopped 60 German soldiers jumped out and ran for cover. One
of the pilots flew so low to fire among the soldiers that he brought back
several yards of telegraph wire on his radiator. Fighters
made several other raids on the Nazi transport system during the day. Four goods
engines were wrecked, a small merchant ship on a canal hit, and nine barges and
two tugs damaged. Bomber
and Army Co – Operation Command also made many attacks on railways and canal
targets in France, the Low Countries, and North - West Germany. One fighter is
missing. (F/Lt De Selys and P/O Renier)
TYPHOON INTRUDERS Throughout Thursday night Fighter Command intruder aircraft continued their offensive against enemy rail, canal, and sea communications. Typhoons are mentioned for the first time as having been employed at night on these duties. One Typhoon pilot attacked three goods trains and silenced a Bofors gun mounted on the rear of one. Two other members of the same squadron shot up four locomotives and a barge. Times. 20th February 1943.
RAIDS
SUR LA BELGIQUE L’attaque
des trains Huit locomotives et quatre barges ont été endommagées lors d’un raid d’avions du Fighter Command sur les voies de communications utilisées par l’ennemi en Belgique et dans le Nord de la France. Un
pilote de L’escadrille “West Riding” du Yorkshire a avarié cinq machines
et une barge : Comme
j’arrivais au – dessus de la Belgique, j’attauai un train de merchandises.
Les obus de mon canon atteignement le tender et la cabine du machiniste. Je
revins à la charge et cette fois, je frappai la chaudière. Volant dans la
direction de Dixmude, j’attaquai un deuxième train des merchandises, lequel
fit explosion. Près
de Roulers, j’attaquai deux autres trains. Je volais si bas que je traversai
un réseau de fils télégraphiques. Sous la violence du choc, je fus soulevé
de mon siège et je cognai de la tête le capot du poste de pilotage. Des
morceaux d’une locomotive volèrent de toutes parts et firent des brèches
dans une aile de mon appareil.” La
Belgique Independent. 25th February 1943. RAIDS
ON BELGIUM Attack of the trains Eight locomotives and four barges were damaged during a raid by aircraft of Fighter Command on the transportation routes used by the enemy in Belgium and the North of France. A pilot of the “West Riding” of Yorkshire Squadron damaged five machines and a barge: “As I arrived over Belgium, I spotted a goods train. The shells from my cannon struck the tender and the engineers cabin. I attacked again, and this time I hit the boiler. Flying in the direction of Dixmude, I attacked a second goods train, which exploded. Close to Roulers, I attacked two other trains. I flew so low that I crossed a network of telegraph wires. Under the violence of the shock, I was raised off my seat and I knocked my head on the cover of the cockpit. Pieces of one locomotive flew up and put holes in the wing of my machine ” The Belgian Independent. 25th February 1943. (n.b. translation of the above.)
Leading Scorer Leading scorer in the squadron is the commander, Squadron - Leader R. P. Beamont, D.F.C. and bar, of Chichester. He has destroyed five, got two "probables" and damaged 11. He is also building up a reputation as a "night intruder specialist," with particular attention to train - busting. His score of locomotives runs into double figures. Evening News. March 1943.
LONDONER GOES TRAIN BUSTING WITH R.A.F. IN NIGHT R.A.F. Fighter Command aircraft were out again during the night, continuing their offensive against enemy communications. Of the four trains attacked, one was in Germany. One of the members of the West Riding of Yorkshire Typhoon Squadron that took part first attacked a stationary train near Lille, and then tackled two trains travelling close together south of the city. "I saw my cannon shells hitting the locomotives," he said to-day. "There was a big flash and clouds of steam." Searchlight Hunt The pilot, a 23 - years - old Londoner, who is a prominent amateur boxer and swimmer, then attacked the engine of the second train. Two searchlights hunted for the Typhoon, but the pilot returned safely to base. Another pilot saw a red glow from a train in the same area and attacked it from behind. Despite AA fire all our aircraft returned safely. Evening News, 15th March 1943. (N.B. Peter Raw, DFC, and Remy 'Mony' Van Lierde)
Battle-Scarred Typhoon A former Ealing (London) insurance clerk who is now flying a Typhoon in the West Yorkshire Squadron of Fighter Command came back from a train attack in Northern France yesterday with one wing blackened by smoke and soot from the engine which he blew up, says Air Ministry News Service. He said: "I saw the goods train on the Le Treport line. My second burst blew it up. "When I reached home one wing was slightly burnt and had soot and smoke marks on it." (N.B. Peter Raw, DFC)
A "CENTURY" OF TRAINS The first Squadron in Fighter Command to reach its century in locomotives damaged in occupied territory across the Channel is No. 609 (West Riding), flying Typhoons. Of the total, 25 have been accounted for by the Battle of Britain pilot, Squadron - Leader R. P. Beamont, DFC and bar, whose peace - time hobby was shooting. Last November, when his squadron began their first locomotive blitz, he himself got the first; the total grew to 99, and the question was - who would get "century"? The honour fell to Flight - Lieutenant J. C. Wells, a Norfolk pilot who has served in the R.A.F. for 15 years. A few nights ago he sighted a long train of covered goods wagons at Middlewijk. "I made four attacks," he said afterwards, "and the engine stopped in a cloud of steam. Then I raked the whole length of the train with cannon fire, and trucks in the centre burst into flames." The squadron has lost only two pilots in reaching "century," but this does not reflect the danger of the operations, for the pilots often go in for a "kill" against intense flak, both from the trains and from ground defences. Several Typhoons have been hit, and occasionally they come back entangled with telephone wire or blackened by soot. Daily Star. 4th May 1943
HE HIT THE 100TH LOCOMOTIVE The first Fighter Command squadron to reach its century in locomotives damaged in occupied territory across the Channel is No. 609 (West Riding) Typhoons. Twenty - five have been accounted for by a Battle - of - Britain pilot who leads the squadron. Sqdn - Ldr. R. P. Beaumont, D.F.C. and bar, whose peace - time hobby was shooting. The distinction of hitting the 100th locomotive fell to Flt. - Lt. J. P. C. Wells, a Norfolk pilot, a few nights ago (said the Air Ministry News Service to-day). Sqn. - Ldr. Beaumont next night bagged the 101st. Forty - two of the 100 have been hit at night.
"609" MEN SMASH 100th TRAIN The first Fighter Command squadron to knock - out 100 locomotives in occupied territory is the No. 609 (West Riding), who fly Typhoons, says the Air Ministry News Service. The Battle - of Britain pilot who leads them, Squadron Leader R. P. Beamont, double D.F.C. - whose peace - time hobby was shooting - has accounted for 25. Last November, when his squadron began their locomotive blitz, he got the first. The 100th fell a few nights ago to Flight Lieut. J. C. Wells, a Norfolk pilot who has served in the R.A.F. for 15 years. He sighted a long train of covered goods wagons at Middlewijk, heading for Auremarde. The squadron has lost only two pilots in reaching its century. Standard, 4th May 1943.
'BUSTERS' HIT 101 LOCOS. An RAF squadron has passed the century mark for locomotives damaged in Occupied territory across the Channel - and for the loss of only two pilots. The squadron, No. 609 (West Riding), flies Typhoons, among the fastest aircraft in their class. Squadron - Leader R. P. Beamont, D.F.C and bar, who leads the loco. wreckers has accounted for twenty - five of the 101 trains hit. He was first scorer when the squadron began their locomotive blitz last November. The total stood at ninety - nine until a few nights ago when Flight - Lieutenant J. c. Wells, a Norfolk pilot in the Royal Air Force for fifteen years, took the score to 100 when he raked a long train of covered goods wagons with cannon fire at Middlewijk. Squadron - Leader Beamont bagged the 101st the next night. Forty - two of the 100 locos. have been shot up in night attacks.
German troop train gunned When two Belgian fighter pilots attacked a train on the Ostend - Bruges line yesterday, it immediately stopped and about sixty German soldiers jumped out of the carriages and ran for cover. One pilot who flew down the length of the train was so low that he brought back several yards of telegraph wire on his radiator. Fighter Command aircraft made several attacks on the Nazi transport system. Four goods engines were shot up, a small merchant ship on a canal was hit, nine barges and two tugs were also damaged. (N.B. Flight Lieutenant Jean de Selys Longchamps and Adj. Pilot Andre Blanco)
Nazis
Arm Trains with AA Guns The
Germans are so alarmed at the success of the RAF's "train - busting"
that trains carrying munitions across France and Belgium are being equipped with
machine - guns. Some
are even being fitted with light A.A. guns. Two
Spitfire Pilots attacking a freight train yesterday were met by fire from a
machine – gun halfway down the line of trucks. One
answer by the RAF to this new move by the Nazis is increased night attacks on
the trains. Fifteen
railway engines working for Hitler in Northern France and Belgium were shot up
or bombed by Fighter Command intruders during Friday night. A
squadron leader who shot up two of the trains made five attacks on the first
one. “I
sighted a long goods train moving fast near Hazebrouck,” he said. “On my
firstb attack I saw cannon strikes all round the engine. On the second there
were strikes on the engine and trucks behind it. “On
my third attack, I held my fire till I was within 500 yards and pressed it home
till I was only just above the train, hitting it all the time. It stopped the,
and gave off clouds of steam. HIT
ENGINE “After
that I raked it from end to end twice as it stood on the line.” Some
of our bombers were over Nazi industrial centres in western Germany. Others
struck a further blow in the Battle of the Atlantic, visiting Lorient the chief
U – boat base on the French Atlantic coast. The
raid on Lorient – described as “concentrated” – was the second in two
nights. Fires from the previous night were still burning when our bombers
arrived. The nights activity cost two bombers. |
Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding)
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