WW II Weapon System : Mistel and Vapi

The Luftwaffe engineers thought of an ingenious device that could be lethal as well as creates an element of fear in the Allies camp. They decided on a combination bomber which was referred to as the Mistel and Vapi. In German, it meant father and son. The German engineers used a stripped-down JU-88 and stuffed its nose with high-end explosives. This plane was attached to a German Messerschmitt twin-engine fighter by struts. The plan envisaged flying this contraption towards a target and then releasing the JU-88, which was then guided to its target. The JU -88 was supposed to strike the target and the Germans expected good results.  Unfortunately, the Mistel and Vapi weapon systems were not perfectly tested as after the Battle of Stalingrad, the German armed forces came under pressure.  The weapon system was thus rushed into combat without proper testing and there was no way the system could be fine-tuned.

One drawback was the use of the Messerschmitt 109, which was a slow plane and was a  sitting duck for the enemy fighters.  In case the Germans could have developed the Me 262 the world's first jet fighter earlier, the results could have been better. The Me 262  came only at the fag end of the war when the war was all bust lost.

The Mistel and Vapi was a revolutionary concept and deserves mention as a significant weapon of war. many writers of military history compare it with the Kamikaze fighters of the Japanese. There is however a significant difference as the Kamikaze were suicide planes which the pilots crashed on the US Navy ships, while there was no element of suicide in the Mistel and Vapi.

The Mistels had some success against the advancing Russian armies in 1944 and 45. But their numbers were few and they could not stem the Russian advance.  They were also planned to be used against the Royal Navy base at Scapa Flow, but the sinking of the Tirpitz, the german battleship aborted this plan.

Despite its failure as a weapon system, the Mistel and Vapi is the forerunner of the modern drone and as such its importance as a weapon system cannot be underrated.

Motorbiking in the Himalayas

Riding a bike in the hills is a matter of great pleasure. It is also an adventure, to be relished long after it has past.  Riding a bike in the Eastern Himalayas is a test of your driving skill and I will now relate my riding trips up the hills from  Siliguri to Darjeeling. Just for the record, Siliguri is on the plains and Darjeeling is perched high up at 8000 ft above mean sea level.

The road winds upwards from the plains and it crisscrosses the mountains ridges and is an engineering feat. The British built the narrow gauge line from Siliguri to Darjeeling. It's a great pleasure to drive along with the train also referred to as the "toy train". It is now a world heritage rail line as classified by UNESCO.

The Bike I invariably used was the Royal Enfield. This is a 4 stroke bike and develops 18 BHP and is excellent for the steep climbs ahead. It is advisable to wear protective clothing and a helmet, though I am guilty of not wearing one. This was the time when I was stationed at an airbase close to Siliguri called Baghdogra.

The road starts from Siliguri and crosses the tea gardens of Matigura, after which the climb begins. As the road climbs upwards you can look below and see the deep gorges and the river flowing. The road heads for Kurseong. This is a small hill station and has some of the best residential schools in Bengal. I had a girlfriend who taught at St Helen's and it was a pleasure to ride up. I would invariably ring her, that I was on way and she would become my pillion rider for the rest of the trip to Darjeeling. Kurseong is also a lovely place and has a quaint railway station. The toy train halts here for about 30 minutes. There are also some good eating joints and snacks with hot tea is a great refresher. Kurseong is at a height of 4900 ft.

After  Kurseong the road becomes steeper and one has to climb up in lower gears. The train can be an excellent company and its great fun to drive along with it.  However one must be careful not to get entangled with the train. The train crosses the road any number of times and one has to wait to let it pass, before going on.

The bike ride up the hills is a moment I cherish and  I hope I will do an encore at some stage.  The time to drive up the hill? just about 3 to 4 hours.