RAF Fighter exercise „Gun post beat up“

**CZ_RAF** · 7th October 2019, 12:54

Hi all,

I would like to ask for correct understanding of exercise „Gun post beat up“ performed by RAF fighter in spring 1944.

I would expect it may be some kind of attack - possibly strafing - of the "enemy" gun position but it is not clear to me if it would be a position of "an artillery" or "flak"? Or possibly it does not matter as the attack procedure would be the same?
Any comments would be much appreciated.

TIA

Pavel

**PNK** · 7th October 2019, 13:34

Most gun post beat ups I have come across were over friendly forces in England, either on the aerodrome or local Army units. The beat up was normally without any weapons and would either be a pre-arranged "surprise" attack or practice for target tracking.

In the build up to OVERLORD many RAF ground attack squadrons would be tasked to attack military convoys in Kent Surrey and Sussex to give both sides practice. In one case it seemed that an armoured column was practice bombed and I suspect these were the frangible Bakelite bombs or cement bombs.

**CZ_RAF** · 7th October 2019, 17:12

PNK thank you for useful info.

Pavel

**ianh** · 7th October 2019, 17:57

I'd guess it wasn't anything as formal as PNK suggests. Perhaps just a bit of low-flying 'fun' and/or showing off over a gun position somewhere in the UK. Maybe on the home airfield, but more likely a friendly one elsewhere, maybe out in the open near the coast?

**CZ_RAF** · 7th October 2019, 18:29

Hi Ian,
as it is between invasion excercises in spring 1944 I would think PNK is right.

Pavel

**ianh** · 7th October 2019, 20:48

Hi Pavel. I've never heard the description "beat up" used in that sense before so I'm still not sure it's correct, but your decision. And would the RAF really practice 'bombing' army units with concrete or even plastic bombs? Never read of anything like that happening. Sounds highly risky for the ground troops to me!
Ian

**bvs** · 7th October 2019, 21:52

''Beat Up'' was the normal RAF phrase for (say) doing an extremely low pass at an Airfield/Sqn/Hangar or any other location - probably fell out of use as a term in the 1970's/80's

**ianh** · 8th October 2019, 06:10

Exactly. I agree with BVS.

**Resmoroh** · 8th October 2019, 06:16

Possibly as a result of this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker...ridge_incident (and, probably, a number of other Courts Martial?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Peter Davies