133 2018 05 BRITAIN AT WAR MAGAZINE.pdf

(45233 KB) Pobierz
FR E E:
M IL I TA RY M USE U MS GUI DE
R
Corsair
Corsair
Courage
Last Victoria Cross
Of The War
BRITAIN’S BEST SELLING MILITARY HISTORY MONTHLY
'Fighting Spirit'
Lt Robert Hampton
‘Hammy’ Gray
VC DSC
A Day With The
Fighter Collection &
Flying Legends Tickets
Closing date: 1
st
June 2018
www.britainatwar.com
MAY 2018
ISSUE 133
UK
£4.80
WIN!
GLENN MILLER
Riddle Of Wartime Band
Leader’s Disappearance
BRITAIN’S PACIFIC FLEET
The ‘Forgotten Fleet’ And Its
Aircraft Carriers
From the
Editor...
A
N INEVITABILITY of war is that myriad events of any conflict spawn multitudes of myths, legends, and mysteries, often,
originating with the combatants themselves who might have been keen to explain the inexplicable or build legends helping
bolster their own morale. In some instances, such mythology arises long after the wars which gave birth to them. The loss of
band leader Glenn Miller, flying to France from a British airfield in 1944, has inevitably given rise to its own theories – conspiracy and
otherwise.
In truth, Miller was one of many thousands who vanished without trace when ‘planes simply disappeared. For the most part, these
individuals were lost when aircraft crashed into the sea – often through mechanical failure, pilot error or perhaps inclement weather.
Sadly, such losses just became a statistic of war. However, when one of the most famous band leaders of the 20
th
century mysteriously
disappeared, then attempts to explain the circumstances are unsurprising; the how, the why and the where. In this issue, author Dennis M
Spragg takes an objective look at Miller’s loss, putting forward his own carefully reasoned assessment as to what happened and coming up
with suggestions that are likely to be far nearer to reality than previous theories.
At the other end of the scale, the legend of ‘Devil’s in Skirts’ surrounding the kilted Scottish soldiery of the Great War was most likely
created by the Scots themselves to heighten an already fearsome fighting reputation, and was not what a supposedly terrified German
army called them!
Either way, wars always attract their myths and legends.
Their examination is endlessly intriguing.
Andy Saunders
(Editor)
EDITORIAL
Editor:
Andy Saunders
Assistant Editor:
John Ash
Editorial Correspondents:
Geoff Simpson, Alex Bowers, Rob Pritchard
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES
Britain at War Magazine, PO Box 380, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 9JA
Tel:
+44 (0)1424 752648 or
email:
contact@britainatwar.com.
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
For all aspects of advertising in
‘Britain at War’
Magazine
please contact Alison Sanders, Advertisement Sales Manager
Tel:
+44 (0)1780 755131 or
email:
alison.sanders@keypublishing.com
DESIGN
Art Editor:
Matt Fuller
COMMERCIAL
Group CEO/Publisher:
Adrian Cox
Commercial Director:
Ann Saundry
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
For general enquiries and advertising queries please contact the main office at:
Britain at War Magazine, Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 1XQ
Tel:
+44 (0)1780 755131 or
Fax:
+44 (0)1780 757261
PRODUCTION AND MARKETING
Production Manager:
Janet Watkins
Group Marketing Manager:
Martin Steele
SUBSCRIPTIONS, BINDERS AND BACK ISSUES
Britain at War,
Key Publishing, PO Box 300, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 1NA
Email:
orders@keypublishing.com
Readers in USA can place subscriptions by visiting
www.britainatwar.com
or by calling
toll free 800 428 3003 or fax 757 428 6253 or by writing to Britain at War, 3330 Pacific
Ave, Ste 500, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451-9828.
‘Britain at War’
Magazine is published on the last Thursday of
the preceeding month by Key Publishing Ltd. ISSN 1753-3090
Printed by Warner’s (Midland) plc.
Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd. (www.seymour.co.uk)
All newsagents are able to obtain copies of
‘Britain at War’
from
their regional wholesaler. If you experience difficulties in obtaining a
copy please call Seymour on +44 (0)20 7429 4000.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part and in
any form whatsoever, is strictly prohibited without the prior,
written permission of the Editor. Whilst every care is taken
with the material submitted to
‘Britain at War’
Magazine, no
responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage. Opinions
expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of
the Editor or Key Publishing Ltd.
Whilst every effort had been made to contact all copyright holders,
the sources of some pictures that may be used are varied and, in
many cases, obscure. The publishers will be glad to make good in
future editions any error or omissions brought to their attention.
The publication of any quotes or illustrations on which clearance
has not been given is unintentional.
We are unable to guarantee the bonafides of any of our advertisers.
Readers are strongly recommended to take their own precautions
before parting with any information or item of value, including,
but not limited to, money, manuscripts, photographs or personal
information in response to any advertisements within this publication.
The average sale for the period Jan-Dec 2016
was 9,732, print and digital copies monthly.
Assistant Editor
John Ash
Advertisement
Sales Manager
Alison Sanders
Art Editor
Matt Fuller
@britainatwar
SUBSCRIPTIONS, BINDERS AND BACK ISSUES HOTLINE
+44 (0)1780 480404 or order online at www.britainatwar.com
https://www.facebook.com/britainatwarmag
www.britainatwar.com
© Key Publishing Ltd. 2018
FEATURES
18 ‘A Brilliant Fighting Spirit’
When Lt Robert Hampton ‘Hammy’ Gray attacked a Japanese ship
in the closing days of World War Two, he displayed exceptional
gallantry and ‘a brilliant fighting spirit’. His courage led to the
award of what was to be the last VC of the war, as Andrew
Thomas relates.
Initially branded a coward, and having faced a Court Martial,
Irish-born Australian, Dick Kelliher, was determined to clear his
name. Steve Snelling explains how he did just that in a display of
supreme gallantry in a bloody clash with Japanese troops in the
struggle for New Guinea.
48 Cold War Catastrophe
The harrowing tale of an entirely avoidable Cold War accident,
caused when a low-flying RAF Meteor jet fighter tore through the
heart of a British market town during the 1950s, is related by Andy
Saunders.
We take a look at a selection of some of the UK’s military
museums in our sixteen-page special feature, covering a range
of national collections, independent museums as well as private
collections.
36 Coward To Hero
55 Museums Guide
Contents
ISSUE 133
MAY 2018
18 Fighting Spirit
4
www.britainatwar.com
36 Jungle Courage
48 Cold War Accident
72 Devils In Skirts And Ladies From Hell
Regular Britain at War contributor Rob Schäfer examines the
truth behind the tale that German soldiers of the First World
War called their kilted Scottish adversaries either ‘Devils in
Skirts’ or ‘Ladies from Hell’.
Editor’s Choice
86 The Forgotten Fleet
As the US Third Fleet turned away from Okinawa in 1945,
another fleet headed east across the Bay of Bengal. Thomas
McKelvey Cleaver highlights the valued efforts of the forgotten
British Pacific Fleet and its aircraft carriers.
A subscription to Britain at War makes a great gift.
Please see pages 112 and 113 for more details.
26 Into Thin Air
In December 1944 the world-famous band leader, Major Glenn
Miller, disappeared on a flight to France whilst over the English
Channel. What became of him, and the circumstances of his
demise, have been shrouded in mystery and intrigue ever since.
Author and historian Dennis M Spragg casts fresh light on the story.
REGULARS
6 News
News, restorations, discoveries and events from around the World.
Our analysis at the situation as it existed 100 years ago during
May 1918.
A stunning action picture of a Royal Marine Commando taking on
the Taliban with an anti-tank weapon at the Kajaki Dam.
46 First World War Diary
52 Image Of War
80 Real To Reel
84 Fieldpost
In this month’s review, Phil Jarman takes us through one of the
most iconic war films of all time: ‘In Which We Serve'
Reader’s letters, views and feedback.
This month, 100 years of RAF history reaches the 1940s with a
Typhoon and pilots on D-Day, 6 June 1944.
Continuing his popular collecting series, Austin J Ruddy turns his
attention to the area of Women’s Land Army collectables.
The continuation of our look at the awards listed in the London
Gazette reaches May 1918 and includes Lord Ashcroft’s regular
‘Hero of the Month’.
Our regular look at newly published military history books.
94 RAF 100 Image
107 Militaria Collecting
114 Great War Gallantry
COVER STORY
Flying from the aircraft carrier HMS
Formidable
in a Corsair of 1841 Squadron,
Fleet Air Arm, on 9 August 1945, a
Canadian pilot, Lt Robert Hampton
‘Hammy’ Gray DSC, attacked the Japanese
escort sloop
Amakusa,
whilst braving a
barrage of fire. Gray managed to sink the
vessel although he was shot down and
killed. For his actions, Gray was awarded
the last Victoria Cross of the war.
(ANTONIS KARIDIS)
104 Recon Report
❅
120 Battle Of Britain In Colour
This month, an image of a 32 Squadron Hurricane being turned-
around between sorties and readied for yet another ‘Scramble’.
We take a look at a fascinating souvenir tied to the sinking of the
German submarine U-8 in the English Channel during 1915 which
became the first enemy submarine sunk in British coastal waters.
www.britainatwar.com
122 First World War in Objects
5

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin