Fighter Tugs

[tigercat]

Does anyone  have any more details on fighter tugs. I found a passing reference in reference to the Wellington. I gather it is some way of extending an aircrafts range by towing them glider style

[NARSES2]

I swear I've seen a photo of a Soviet Ant towing either an I-15 or I-16, if I have I can't find it now, it's the type of thing the Russians would have trialled in the 30's. I know they carried a couple of I-16's for long range precision bombing parasite style. 

[raafif]

Germany tried it in WW2 -- KG-200 used a He-111 to tow a Bf-108 to Africa to set up a clandestine fighter airfield to attack Allied bombers staging thru to the UK. Think they got found out before much was set up -- will have to read the book again.

[GTX]

I'm sure I have seen a Hurricane being towed, though can't find it.

Regards,

Greg

[Martin H]

I found some bits about Hurricanes being towed in the Fancis K Mason book "the Hawker Hurricane" published by Crecy about 10-15 years ago. No photos thou.

trials were carried out useing 4 Gloster built Hurricanes by Flight refueling Ltd. The plan was to use Wellingtons out of Gibralter to tow Hurricanes over to Malta. and the hook up with the tug was to done in flight.

[GTX]

I found some bits about Hurricanes being towed in the Fancis K Mason book "the Hawker Hurricane" published by Crecy about 10-15 years ago. No photos thou.

Yeah - that was the first place I looked too.

regards,

Greg

[raafif]

More on the German  experiment ...
from "KG-200" an autobiography by Peter Stahl, CO of Kommando Olga,KG-200 ...

Spring 1944, it was decided to set up landing-grounds in Africa to counter the Allied bomber staging points by sabotage. Taking off from Athens (the most southerly German base), the He-111 towed a Bf-108 with 2 desert-experienced men to reconnoitre the area. Three grounds were set up with a B-17 later delivering fuel & supplies to each. The 2 men gave themselves away near an Allied base by smoking German cigarettes & were captured. Another KG-200 B-17 landed to re-supply a base, noticed the stores hut was burnt out & immediately started to take off again, it was shot up by the waiting Allied soldiers but got away with moderate damage & no injuries.


There was also a British mod for ferry-towing Spitfires (unmanned) -- could also have been used for long-distance bomber-escort ?
Note the cut-outs in the wings to enable the stabilizing-tail to pivot up & down.