Editing Hawker Tempest (section)

== Operational history ==
[[File:Royal Air Force- 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1944-1945. CL2265.jpg|thumb|Formation of Tempest Mk. Vs of No. 122 Wing returning to their base at [[Volkel Air Base|B80/Volkel]], the Netherlands.]]
[[File:486SqnVolkers1945.JPG|thumb|A Tempest Mk. V of [[No. 486 Squadron RNZAF|486 Squadron RNZAF]] at [[Volkel Air Base|Volkel ALG]], the [[Netherlands]], 1945.]]
By April 1944, the Tempest V had attained general acceptance and was in the hands of operational squadrons; [[No. 3 Squadron RAF|3 Squadron]] was the first to be fully equipped, closely followed by [[No. 486 Squadron RNZAF|486 (NZ) Squadron]] (the only [[Article XV squadron]] to be equipped with the Tempest during the Second World War), replacing their previous Typhoons.<ref name=Mason67_7/> A third unit—[[No. 56 Squadron RAF|56 Squadron]]—initially kept its Typhoons and was then temporarily equipped with [[Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin powered variants)#Mk IX (type 361)|Spitfire IXs]] until sufficient supplies of Tempests were available.<ref>Shores and Thomas 2008, p. 679.</ref>{{#tag:ref|According to Roland Beamont, these production delays had been caused by an industrial dispute at Langley.{{cite needed|date=April 2024}} |group=nb}} By the end of April 1944, these units were based at [[RAF Newchurch]] in Kent a new "[[Advanced Landing Ground]]" (ALG), where they formed [[No. 150 Wing RAF|150 Wing]], commanded by [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] [[Roland Beamont]]. The new Wing was part of the [[Second Tactical Air Force]] (2nd TAF).

Most of the operations carried out by 150 Wing comprised high-altitude fighter sweeps, offensive operations known as "Rangers", as well as reconnaissance missions. Prior to the [[Normandy landings]], Tempests would routinely conduct long-range sorties inside enemy territory and penetrate into Northern France and the [[Low Countries]], using a combination of cannons and bombs to attack airfields, radar installations, ground vehicles, coastal shipping and the launch sites for the German [[V-1 flying bomb]]s.<ref name=Mason67_7/> The build-up of Tempest-equipped squadrons was increased rapidly, in part due to factors such as the V-1 threat, although a [[strike action|labour strike]] in Hawker's assembly shop adversely affected this rate; by September 1944, five frontline Tempest squadrons with a total of 114 aircraft were in operation.<ref name=Mason67_7/>

In June 1944, the first of the V-1s were launched against London; the excellent low-altitude performance of the Tempest made it one of the preferred tools for handling the small fast-flying unmanned missiles. 150 Wing was transferred back to the [[RAF Fighter Command]]; the Tempest squadrons soon racked up a considerable percentage of the total RAF kills of the flying bombs (638 of a total of 1,846 destroyed by aircraft).<ref name=Mason67_7/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=h98DAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Science+1930+plane+%22Popular+Mechanics%22&pg=PA54 "4-Cannon Tempest Chases Nazi Robot Bomb."] ''Popular Mechanics'', February 1945.</ref>{{page needed|date=April 2024}} Using external drop tanks, the Tempest was able to maintain standing patrols of four and half hours off the south coast of England in the approach paths of the V-1s.<ref name=Mason67_7_10>Mason 1967, p. 7, 10.</ref> Guided by close instructions from coastal radar installation, Tempests would be positioned ready for a typical pursuit and would either use cannon fire or nudge the V-1 with the aircraft itself to destroy it.<ref name=Mason67_10>Mason 1967, p. 10.</ref>

[[File:Tempest Mk.V 486 Sqn RNZAF at Castle Camps 1944.jpg|thumb|left|Early Tempest Mk. V of 486 Sqn. April 1944. ''JN766'' still has its black and white Typhoon-style underwing recognition bands.]]
[[File:Tempest-V-2TAF.jpg|thumb|left|Early Tempest Mk. V of [[No. 3 Squadron RAF|3 Sqn.]] being refuelled and re-armed by ground crew at [[RAF Newchurch|Newchurch]], [[Kent]], June 1944.]]
In September 1944, Tempest units, based at [[forward airfield]]s in England, supported [[Operation Market Garden]], the airborne attempt to seize a bridgehead over the [[Rhine River|Rhine]]. On 21 September 1944, as the V-1 threat had receded, the Tempest squadrons were redeployed to the 2nd TAF, effectively trading places with the [[North American P-51 Mustang|Mustang III]] squadrons of [[No. 122 Wing RAF|122 Wing]], which became part of the Fighter Command units deployed on bomber escort duties.<ref name=ThoSh678>Shores and Thomas 2008, p. 678.</ref> 122 Wing now consisted of 3 Sqn., 56 Sqn., [[No. 80 Squadron RAF|80 Sqn.]], [[No. 274 Squadron RAF|274 Sqn.]] (to March 1945), and 486(NZ)Sqn. From 1 October 1944 122 Wing was based at [[Volkel Air Base#History|ALG B.80 (Volkel)]] near [[Uden]], in the [[Netherlands]].<ref name=ThoSh678/> During the early phase of operations, the Tempest regularly emerged victorious and proved to be a difficult opponent for the ''Luftwaffe''{{'}}s [[Messerschmitt Bf 109|Messerschmitt Bf 109G]] and Fw 190 fighters to counter.<ref name=Mason67_7/>

Armed reconnaissance missions were usually flown by two sections (eight aircraft), flying in [[finger-four]] formations, which would cross the front lines at altitudes of 7,000 to 8,000 feet: once the Tempests reached their allocated target area the lead section dropped to {{convert|4,000|ft|abbr=on}} or lower to search for targets to strafe, while the other section flew cover {{convert|1,000|ft|abbr=on}} higher and down sun. After the first section had carried out several attacks, it swapped places with the second section and the attacks continued until all ammunition had been exhausted, after which the Tempests would return to base at 8,000&nbsp;ft.<ref name=ThoSh485>Thomas Shores and Thomas 2008, p. 585.</ref> As many of the more profitable targets were usually some 250 miles from base, the Tempests typically carried two 45-gallon drop tanks which were turned on soon after takeoff. Although there were fears that the empty tanks would explode if hit by flak, the threat never eventuated and, due to the tanks being often difficult to jettison, they were routinely carried throughout an operation with little effect on performance, reducing maximum speed by 5 to 10&nbsp;mph and range by 2 per cent.<ref name=ThoSh485/><ref>Air Ministry 1944, p. 16.</ref>

Between October and December 1944, the Tempest was practically withdrawn from combat operations for overhaul work, as well as to allow operational pilots to train newcomers.<ref name=Mason67_10/> The overhaul process involved the replacement or major servicing of their engines and the withdrawal of the limited number of aircraft which were equipped with spring-tabs; these increased manoeuvrability so much that there was a risk of damaging the airframe. In December 1944, upon the Tempest's reentry into service, the type had the twin tasks of the systematic destruction of the North German rail network along with all related targets of opportunity, and the maintenance of air supremacy within the North German theatre, searching for and destroying any high-performance fighter or bomber aircraft of the ''Luftwaffe'', whether in the air or on the ground.<ref name=Mason67_10_11>Mason 1967, pp. 10–11.</ref>

In December 1944, a total of 52 German fighters were downed, 89 [[train]]s and countless military vehicles were destroyed, for the loss of 20 Tempests. Following the ''Luftwaffe''{{'}}s ''[[Operation Bodenplatte|Unternehmen Bodenplatte]]'' of 1 January 1945, 122 Wing bore the brunt of low- to medium-altitude fighter operations for the [[RAF Second Tactical Air Force|Second Tactical Air Force]], which had fortuitously evaded the extensive Bodenplatte raid, and had contributed to efforts to intercept the raiders.<ref name=Mason67_11/><ref name=various/> During this time, Spitfire XIVs of 125 and 126 Wings often provided medium- to high-altitude cover for the Tempests, which came under intense pressure, the wing losing 47 pilots in January. In February 1945, [[No. 33 Squadron RAF|33]] and [[No. 222 Squadron RAF|222 Sqns.]] of [[No. 135 Wing RAF|135 Wing]] converted from Spitfire Mk IXs and, in March, were joined by 274 Sqn. 135 Wing was based at ALG B.77 ([[Gilze-Rijen Air Base|Gilze-Rijen airfield]]) in the Netherlands.<ref name=Mason67_11>Mason 1967, p. 11.</ref><ref name=various>Shores and Thomas 2008, pp. 679, 684, 686.</ref> The intensity of operations persisted throughout the remainder of the war.<ref name=Mason67_11/>

=== Against advanced German planes ===
Piloting a Tempest on 19 April 1945, Flying Officer Geoffrey Walkington was the first to shoot down a [[Heinkel He 162]], the ''Luftwaffe''{{'}}s then-latest jet fighter, which had just entered service with the I./JG 1 (1st Group of [[Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War II)|''Jagdgeschwader'' 1 ''Oesau'']] — "1st Fighter Wing ''Oesau''").<ref> Shores 2006 pp497–498</ref>

Tempest pilots, including French ace [[Pierre Clostermann]], made the first Allied combat encounter with a [[Dornier 335]] in April 1945. In his book ''The Big Show,'' he describes leading a flight of Hawker Tempests from [[No. 3 Squadron RAF]] over northern Germany, when they saw a lone unusual looking aircraft flying at maximum speed at treetop level. Detecting the British aircraft, the German pilot reversed course to evade. Despite the Tempests' considerable low altitude speed, Clostermann decided not to attempt to follow as it was obviously much quicker though one of the other two Tempests did pursue it briefly.<ref>Clostermann, 2004 pp.273–274</ref>

During 1945, Tempests scored of a number of kills against the new German jets, including the [[Messerschmitt Me 262]]. Hubert Lange, a Me 262 pilot, said: "the Messerschmitt Me 262's most dangerous opponent was the British Hawker Tempest — extremely fast at low altitudes, highly manoeuvrable and heavily armed."<ref>[http://www.hawkertempest.se/ "Hawker Tempest."] ''hawkertempest.se.'' Retrieved: 1 January 2012.</ref>

Some Me 262s were destroyed using a tactic known to 135 Wing as the "Rat Scramble";<ref>Clostermann 2004, p. 250.</ref> Tempests on immediate alert took off when an Me 262 was reported to be airborne. They did not directly intercept the jet, but instead flew towards the airbase at [[Hopsten|Rheine-Hopsten]], known to base Me 262s and [[Arado Ar 234|Ar 234s]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.etnp.de/index.html/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105010924/http://www.etnp.de/index.html/index.html |title=Fluglehrzentrum F-4F JG 72, JBG 36 |trans-title=F-4F Flight Training Center Jagdgeschwader 72 "Westfalen" Fighter-Bomber Wing 36 |work= etnp.de |lang=de |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-date=5 January 2016 }}</ref> The aim was to attack jets on their landing approach, when they were at their most vulnerable, travelling slowly, with flaps down and incapable of rapid acceleration. The Germans responded by creating a "flak lane" of over 150 of the [[2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling#2 cm Flakvierling 38|''Flakvierling'' quadruple 20 mm]] AA batteries at Rheine-Hopsten, to protect the approaches.<ref>[http://www.etnp.de/Seite46-Geschichte-UK/Seite46-Geschichte-UK.htm "The "Westfalen-Wing" in Rheine-Hopsten."] ''etnep.de.'' Retrieved: 1 January 2012.</ref>{{#tag:ref|As well as the flak guns, there were several piston engine fighter units based in the area which were tasked to cover the jets as they were landing.|group=nb}} After seven Tempests were lost to anti-aircraft fire at Rheine-Hopsten in a single week, the "Rat Scramble" was discontinued. For a few days in March 1945, a strict "''No'', repeat, No ground attacks" policy was imposed.<ref>Thomas and Shores 1988, p. 129.</ref>

=== Air combat success ratio ===
In air-to-air combat, the Tempest units achieved an estimated air combat success ratio of about 8:1, scoring 239 confirmed victories (not including the additional "victories" against the unmanned V-1 flying bomb), 9 probable victories, and 31 losses and probable losses.<ref>from tables in ''The Typhoon & Tempest Story'', Thomas & Shores, Arms & Armour, 1988</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tempest Victories|url=https://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/piloter/victories|website=The Hawker Tempest Page}}</ref>

The top-scoring Tempest pilot was Squadron Leader [[David Fairbanks]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]], an American who joined the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] in 1941. By mid-1944, he was flying with 274 Squadron. When he was shot down and made a [[prisoner of war]] in February 1945, he had destroyed 11 or 12 German aircraft (and one shared), to make him the highest-scoring Tempest ace.<ref>Thomas and Shores 1988, p. 193.</ref>

=== Other activities ===
[[File:Royal Air Force- 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945. CH18814.jpg|thumb|3 Squadron RAF Tempest and air crew during a pre-mission briefing, during the [[Battle of Normandy]], 1944.]]
[[File:Hawker Tempest TT Mk.5 target tug 1948.jpg|thumb|A Tempest TT Mk. V target tug, 1948.]]
Early flights by RAF pilots found the Tempest, unlike the Typhoon, was buffet-free up to and somewhat beyond {{convert|500|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Mason67_7/> During 1944, several veteran USAAF pilots flew the Tempest in mock combat exercises held over the south of England; the consensus from these operations was that it was roughly akin to the American [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]. According to aviation author Francis K. Mason, the Tempest was commonly accepted as the best–performing RAF fighter in operational service by [[Victory in Europe Day|VE Day]].<ref name=Mason67_7>Mason 1967, p. 7.</ref> Following the end of the war, the RAF decided upon the Tempest as its standard fighter, pending the introduction of newer aircraft, many of which would be developed post-war, such as the [[de Havilland Hornet]] and the [[de Havilland Vampire]], as well as the [[Gloster Meteor]]. A number of squadrons would operate the Tempest as their final piston-engined type before converting to the new generation of jet-powered fighter aircraft that would come to dominate the next decade and beyond.<ref name=Mason67_11/>

===Far East===
The later Tempest Mk.II was tropicalised as it had been decided that this variant would be intended for combat against Japan. The envisioned role for the type would have been as a purpose-built type which would participate in the [[Tiger Force (air)|Tiger Force]], which was a proposed [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] long-range bomber force to have been stationed on [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] as a forward base for operations against the Japanese mainland.<ref name=Mason91_340/> Before the Tempest Mk.II entered operational service, the [[Pacific War]] ended.<ref name=Mason67_12/> By October 1945, a total of 320 Tempest IIs had been delivered to maintenance units stationed at [[Aston Down|RAF Aston Down]] and [[Cotswold Airport|RAF Kemble]]; these aircraft were mainly dispatched to squadrons stationed overseas in Germany and in India, along with other locations such as [[Hong Kong]] and [[Malaysia]].<ref name=Mason67_12/> On 8 June 1946, a Tempest II, flown by Roland Beamont, led the flypast at the [[London Victory Celebrations of 1946]]. RAF Tempest IIs saw combat use against [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrillas]] of the [[Malayan National Liberation Army]] during the early stages of the [[Malayan Emergency]].<ref name=Mason67_12/>