Fascinating, never heard of Alan Morrod’s exploit before....its well worthy of remembrance and recognition!
Battle of Britain diary
- Thread starter colin m
- Start date
Though we are officially in the Battle of Britain period we are still a week or so from what most people imagine the Battle to have been, with huge and what were intended to be overwhelming Luftwaffe formations taking on Fighter Command. Many of the events of this early period, when the two sides were feeling each other out and the Germans were trying, and failing, to come up with a coherent plan, are simply lost in the mythologising that would surround the coming weeks.
He was a brave young man and he deserved the recognition he did receive. He would be in his nineties now, so probably no longer with us.
Very true. On the 4th August the German Commanders carried out a 'war game' on the up coming action and invasion. Learning nothing from it they didn't already 'know'.
Monday 5 August
The weather takes a turn for the better, slight haze lingering over the Channel, but otherwise a pleasant summer day.
Between 08.30 and 09.10 a confused action took place between Spitfires of Nos. 64 and 65 Squadrons and about 25 Bf 109s off Cap Gris Nez. The RAF lost Sgt L R Isaac, shot down into the sea and 2 other Spitfires returned damaged. For the Luftwaffe, Ofw Karl Schmid of 1,/JG 51 was also shot down and killed. 1 other Bf 109 returned with 40% damage.
At 14.00 12 Spitfires of No 65 Squadron, patrolling over a Channel convoy, saw and chased off a formation estimated at 30 Bf 109s. 2 Bf 109s were damaged with no RAF losses.
An hour later 9 Hurricanes of No 151 Squadron were tasked to intercept 5 Ju88s escorted by 30 Bf 109s. Despite RAF claims for a Bf 109 seen falling into the sea there were no losses on either side.
The weather takes a turn for the better, slight haze lingering over the Channel, but otherwise a pleasant summer day.
Between 08.30 and 09.10 a confused action took place between Spitfires of Nos. 64 and 65 Squadrons and about 25 Bf 109s off Cap Gris Nez. The RAF lost Sgt L R Isaac, shot down into the sea and 2 other Spitfires returned damaged. For the Luftwaffe, Ofw Karl Schmid of 1,/JG 51 was also shot down and killed. 1 other Bf 109 returned with 40% damage.
At 14.00 12 Spitfires of No 65 Squadron, patrolling over a Channel convoy, saw and chased off a formation estimated at 30 Bf 109s. 2 Bf 109s were damaged with no RAF losses.
An hour later 9 Hurricanes of No 151 Squadron were tasked to intercept 5 Ju88s escorted by 30 Bf 109s. Despite RAF claims for a Bf 109 seen falling into the sea there were no losses on either side.
Tuesday 6 August
Heavy low cloud and strong westerly winds across the whole country.
In view of the horrible weather, and the resulting lack of action, Here is an 85 Squadron Intelligence Report, which gives some insight into how our fighters operated at the time. It would have been mainly compiled by an unknown intelligence officer from the three combat reports of the aircraft which attacked the enemy aircraft, and is not exactly written in the clearest way, particularly the erratic timeline. I don’t think anyone cared at the time!
“Section took off from Martlesham at 05.43 hours with orders to patrol Lowestoft at 20,000 feet. At 05.59 ordered to vector 120 for five minutes and patrol convoy Arena. Later, at 06.06 section were brought down to 8,000 feet and at 06.33 were ordered to patrol below cloud base, being warned that an e/a was in the vicinity. After orbiting once at 10,000 feet, Yellow 1 saw one Do 17 to his left and flying line astern. Yellow Section delivered its attack at 9,000 feet. Yellow 1 attacked from beam quarter closing in from 300 yards to 50 yards, delivering five second burst, noticing that his bullets were hitting the port side motor. Yellow 1 then broke of the attack to allow Yellow 2 and 3 to deliver theirs. The Dornier meanwhile diving for cloud. Yellow 2 closed from 300 yards to 50 yards slightly above e/a dead astern, having sighted him on his port side on Yellow 1 giving the Tally-Ho. Yellow 2 gave one continuous long burst closing in very slowly. The e/a port engine was smoking profusely and the a/c went into a slow left hand dive to the east. On coming through the clouds Yellow 2 saw e/a proceeding slowly above the water and obviously out of control. A few seconds later the tail broke off and e/a nose-dived into the sea and sank without trace. Yellow 3 closed to 150 yards with one burst of eight seconds, delivering his attack dead astern. Enemy machine gun fire from top gun was silenced and Yellow 3 following e/a through clouds about 800 yards astern reports e/a port engine having failed completely. It attempted to flatten out above the water but tail broke off and machine nose dived into sea and disappeared completely almost immediately.
There was some cannon fire which was intermittent and haphazard.
One destroyer and another unidentified ship proceeded to patrol area where e/a sank.”
Yellow 1, F/Sgt G Allard claimed the Do 17 destroyed, shared with Yellow 2, Sgt J H M Ellis and Yellow 3, Sgt W R Evans. According to one source the Do 17 was from 7./KG 3 and Obltn Ulrich and his three crew were killed. According to another it returned to St Trond damaged. I don’t believe that two pilots imagined they saw the Dornier break up and go into the sea, but anything is possible.
Heavy low cloud and strong westerly winds across the whole country.
In view of the horrible weather, and the resulting lack of action, Here is an 85 Squadron Intelligence Report, which gives some insight into how our fighters operated at the time. It would have been mainly compiled by an unknown intelligence officer from the three combat reports of the aircraft which attacked the enemy aircraft, and is not exactly written in the clearest way, particularly the erratic timeline. I don’t think anyone cared at the time!
“Section took off from Martlesham at 05.43 hours with orders to patrol Lowestoft at 20,000 feet. At 05.59 ordered to vector 120 for five minutes and patrol convoy Arena. Later, at 06.06 section were brought down to 8,000 feet and at 06.33 were ordered to patrol below cloud base, being warned that an e/a was in the vicinity. After orbiting once at 10,000 feet, Yellow 1 saw one Do 17 to his left and flying line astern. Yellow Section delivered its attack at 9,000 feet. Yellow 1 attacked from beam quarter closing in from 300 yards to 50 yards, delivering five second burst, noticing that his bullets were hitting the port side motor. Yellow 1 then broke of the attack to allow Yellow 2 and 3 to deliver theirs. The Dornier meanwhile diving for cloud. Yellow 2 closed from 300 yards to 50 yards slightly above e/a dead astern, having sighted him on his port side on Yellow 1 giving the Tally-Ho. Yellow 2 gave one continuous long burst closing in very slowly. The e/a port engine was smoking profusely and the a/c went into a slow left hand dive to the east. On coming through the clouds Yellow 2 saw e/a proceeding slowly above the water and obviously out of control. A few seconds later the tail broke off and e/a nose-dived into the sea and sank without trace. Yellow 3 closed to 150 yards with one burst of eight seconds, delivering his attack dead astern. Enemy machine gun fire from top gun was silenced and Yellow 3 following e/a through clouds about 800 yards astern reports e/a port engine having failed completely. It attempted to flatten out above the water but tail broke off and machine nose dived into sea and disappeared completely almost immediately.
There was some cannon fire which was intermittent and haphazard.
One destroyer and another unidentified ship proceeded to patrol area where e/a sank.”
Yellow 1, F/Sgt G Allard claimed the Do 17 destroyed, shared with Yellow 2, Sgt J H M Ellis and Yellow 3, Sgt W R Evans. According to one source the Do 17 was from 7./KG 3 and Obltn Ulrich and his three crew were killed. According to another it returned to St Trond damaged. I don’t believe that two pilots imagined they saw the Dornier break up and go into the sea, but anything is possible.
Wednesday 7 August
Blustery winds and heavy cloud over the UK with rain, sometimes heavy, and thunderstorms in the east.
Fighter Command flew just 38 patrols with 142 aircraft and there was no combat reported.
This was a very good thing for the British. The Luftwaffe had to degrade Fighter Command and to do that it had to fight it. If the weather was bad it reduced the Luftwaffe’s chances of achieving its objective(s). If it remained bad for long enough, the British would win by default.
In looking for something interesting to post for today I found the first loss of a Whirlwind fighter. P/O Irving Francis McDermott was the unfortunate pilot and his C.O., S/Ldr Eeles of No. 263 Squadron gave this account.
“As he took off on a training sortie, the port main wheel burst, the port undercarriage leg buckled and the wingtip touched the ground, but he managed to maintain control and dragged the aircraft into the air then began to circle the aerodrome. I was summoned to the Control Tower, and checked the damage to the aircraft through binoculars. The remnants of the tyre had become tangled in the undercarriage, and it quickly became apparent that it would neither retract nor withstand a landing, so I gave him the facts and told him to make up his own mind, try to land or bale out, although I strongly recommended the latter. He continued to orbit the aerodrome for a while before deciding to bale out. I advised him to climb to a safe altitude, aim the aircraft away from Edinburgh then jump. He eventually left the aircraft between Grangemouth and Stirling and landed safely although he was detained by the local Home Guard Unit and was not released until I spoke to the Officer in charge and personally vouched for him. I was tempted to leave him in their custody for a while but thought better of it.”
As for the Germans, 1 He 115 of 3./906 returned damaged from a sortie over the coast of East Anglia with a wounded NCO aboard. This was not a victim of Fighter Command and I can’t find out how it was damaged, presumably by anti aircraft fire from the ground or a ship. Two Bf 109s of 4./JG 54 were badly damaged by Bomber Command in an attack on Haamstede aerodrome. There were 7 other accidents, several resulting in the loss of the aircraft and crews.
Blustery winds and heavy cloud over the UK with rain, sometimes heavy, and thunderstorms in the east.
Fighter Command flew just 38 patrols with 142 aircraft and there was no combat reported.
This was a very good thing for the British. The Luftwaffe had to degrade Fighter Command and to do that it had to fight it. If the weather was bad it reduced the Luftwaffe’s chances of achieving its objective(s). If it remained bad for long enough, the British would win by default.
In looking for something interesting to post for today I found the first loss of a Whirlwind fighter. P/O Irving Francis McDermott was the unfortunate pilot and his C.O., S/Ldr Eeles of No. 263 Squadron gave this account.
“As he took off on a training sortie, the port main wheel burst, the port undercarriage leg buckled and the wingtip touched the ground, but he managed to maintain control and dragged the aircraft into the air then began to circle the aerodrome. I was summoned to the Control Tower, and checked the damage to the aircraft through binoculars. The remnants of the tyre had become tangled in the undercarriage, and it quickly became apparent that it would neither retract nor withstand a landing, so I gave him the facts and told him to make up his own mind, try to land or bale out, although I strongly recommended the latter. He continued to orbit the aerodrome for a while before deciding to bale out. I advised him to climb to a safe altitude, aim the aircraft away from Edinburgh then jump. He eventually left the aircraft between Grangemouth and Stirling and landed safely although he was detained by the local Home Guard Unit and was not released until I spoke to the Officer in charge and personally vouched for him. I was tempted to leave him in their custody for a while but thought better of it.”
As for the Germans, 1 He 115 of 3./906 returned damaged from a sortie over the coast of East Anglia with a wounded NCO aboard. This was not a victim of Fighter Command and I can’t find out how it was damaged, presumably by anti aircraft fire from the ground or a ship. Two Bf 109s of 4./JG 54 were badly damaged by Bomber Command in an attack on Haamstede aerodrome. There were 7 other accidents, several resulting in the loss of the aircraft and crews.
G
Steve that was a great post, smiled at the " I was tempted to leave him in their custody for a while but thought better of it.”
Great reading these accounts, thank you for taking the time to post them .
Great reading these accounts, thank you for taking the time to post them .
Always liked the whirlwind. If it had made squadron status earlier i think it could have torn great holes in the bomber streams using its canon firepower, which was much heavier than both the Spitfire and the Hurricane. It could also have been designed around the Merlin if those power plants had not been used in Defiants and Battles as well.....hindsight is wonderful ain’t it 
@John, no worries, you are welcome. Obviously as my job is dependent on 'mass gatherings' I'm not exactly busy at the moment, so I have time to do the research and anyway quite enjoy it.
@Tim, the problem for the Whirlwind was that it was designed around the Peregrine, not the Merlin, which was then cancelled, limited to a production run of just 290 engines. There were good reasons why Rolls-Royce wanted to do this, and convinced the Air Ministry that they should, but it was the death knell for the Whirlwind. Petter did propose a Whirlwind II with a developed Peregrine, but Rolls-Royce made it clear that any such development programme and further Peregrine production would cost Merlin production. Bulman (R-R) wrote to the Air Ministry,
"To produce further Whirlwinds even of the current type will necessitate a curtailment of some other Rolls Royce programme" and that more Peregrines could only be produced at Rolls-Royce's Derby factory "with more than a 2 to 1 reduction of Merlin, or by postponing the Griffon'.
Rolls-Royce did not want the cancelled Peregrine raised from the dead and it did not want to undertake a development programme for an engine which was to be produced in such a limited number. I'm not sure that the company really wanted to complete the 290 engines for which it was contracted. Some of the correspondence from the company definitely gives the impression that they did not.
There was also a multitude of other problems with the Whirlwind which Westlands were slow to address, and which would have excluded it from any role in the battle of Britain. Still, it was a great looking aeroplane, and did well in the roles it eventually did take.
The Merlin powered version was proposed by Petter directly to Fighter Command (which did not in any case decide what fighters the RAF adopted) in January 1941, a bit late for the BoB, and was a non starter for any number of reasons.
@Tim, the problem for the Whirlwind was that it was designed around the Peregrine, not the Merlin, which was then cancelled, limited to a production run of just 290 engines. There were good reasons why Rolls-Royce wanted to do this, and convinced the Air Ministry that they should, but it was the death knell for the Whirlwind. Petter did propose a Whirlwind II with a developed Peregrine, but Rolls-Royce made it clear that any such development programme and further Peregrine production would cost Merlin production. Bulman (R-R) wrote to the Air Ministry,
"To produce further Whirlwinds even of the current type will necessitate a curtailment of some other Rolls Royce programme" and that more Peregrines could only be produced at Rolls-Royce's Derby factory "with more than a 2 to 1 reduction of Merlin, or by postponing the Griffon'.
Rolls-Royce did not want the cancelled Peregrine raised from the dead and it did not want to undertake a development programme for an engine which was to be produced in such a limited number. I'm not sure that the company really wanted to complete the 290 engines for which it was contracted. Some of the correspondence from the company definitely gives the impression that they did not.
There was also a multitude of other problems with the Whirlwind which Westlands were slow to address, and which would have excluded it from any role in the battle of Britain. Still, it was a great looking aeroplane, and did well in the roles it eventually did take.
The Merlin powered version was proposed by Petter directly to Fighter Command (which did not in any case decide what fighters the RAF adopted) in January 1941, a bit late for the BoB, and was a non starter for any number of reasons.
A further note about that Whirlwind loss, from Wikipedia: " On recent inspection of the salvaged wreck of P6966, it was noticed that the defective tyre fitted was not of the correct size for a Whirlwind. Instead, it was the correct size for a Hurricane which 263 Squadron was also flying. "
Pete
Pete
Never really learned the lesson about standardisation did we! Close enough to fit, but not close enough to fit properly.....would it have made any difference at all if the wheels had been the same size.
It would depend on the size of the wheels, and I don't know whether the Whirlwind and Hurricane used the same size. They managed to fit the tyre, so they must have been close. To me the Whirlwind tyres look bigger, but obviously I haven't measured them
An undersize tyre might have been made to fit if the rim was a very similar size.August 7 1940
In the evening Convoy CW9 consisting of twenty merchant ships and nine destroyers tried to slip through 'Hellfire corner'. It was detected by German Freya radar at Cap Blanc Nez (which the British didn't know they were using). E-boats came in for the attack early in the next morning............
more to follow on the 8th August report
In the evening Convoy CW9 consisting of twenty merchant ships and nine destroyers tried to slip through 'Hellfire corner'. It was detected by German Freya radar at Cap Blanc Nez (which the British didn't know they were using). E-boats came in for the attack early in the next morning............
more to follow on the 8th August report
Thursday 8 August
Generally cloudy with occasional showers, bright spells gradually spreading from west.
After a very slow few days the action heated up today, particularly in relation to Convoy CW.9 ‘Peewit’.
09.00, the first attack of the day is made on six ships that had left the Solent to join the convoy, unaware that it was behind schedule due to 02.00 attack by KM S-Boats (E-Boats) that had sunk three of ships. 57 Ju 87s, escorted by 30 Bf 109s, attacked the six about 10 miles south of St Catherine’s Point. They sank SS Ajax and SS Coquetdale and damaged the other four. The Luftwaffe arrived as the standing patrol of the convoy was being changed and 12 Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron arrived, just as the bombing began. They shot down 3 of the Bf 109s and 2 of the Ju 87s, damaging another 2. 145 Squadron lost two Hurricanes.
The next attack on the convoy started at noon, the Germans found the main body of the convoy this time. It can be broken down into three phases.
Phase 1, 11 Hurricanes of No. 257 Squadron were patrolling the convoy when they were bounced by Bf 109s of JG 27 which were flying ahead of the main raid. Three Hurricanes were shot down before Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron arrived to drive off the attackers.
Phase 2, The bomber force now approached from Cherbourg and was met by Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron and Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron. A fierce fight took place with the bombers and their escort, 2 Hurricanes were shot down.
Phase 3, at 12.45 Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron, patrolling the Channel, were ordered to the fight. Realising that they were too late to stop the bombing they flew to the French coast where they attempted to cut off the German withdrawal, ending up in a fight with Bf 110s from V.(Z)/LG1.
The Luftwaffe suffered losses too, 1 Bf 110 was shot down and another 5 were damaged (a sign of things to come?) 1 Ju 87 was also damaged.
The Luftwaffe mounted another attack on ‘Peewit’ in the afternoon. This time a large force of 82 Ju 87s escorted by 20 Bf 110s and 30 Bf 109s approached the convoy. Bad timing and weather hampered the German attack and instead of one heavy blow a series of attacks were made over a half hour or so. The convoy had already started to disperse to the west of the Isle of Wight. The raid was met by Hurricanes of Nos. 43, 238 and 145 Squadrons, and Spitfires from No. 152 Squadron, resulting in a prolonged aerial battle. The RAF shot down 5 Bf 109s and damaged another 2. This time 5 Ju 87s were shot down and another made a forced landing on the Isle of Wight, another 8 were damaged, and several of their crews badly wounded. No 43 Squadron lost 2 Hurricanes with another 4 damaged. 145 Squadron lost 3 Hurricanes, including 1 flown by twenty year old FAA pilot Sub/Lt Francis Alan Smith, who was killed. No 152 Squadron had 2 Spitfires damaged.
For the Luftwaffe ‘Peewit’ had been a target of opportunity, not related to Goering’s ‘Adlerangriffe’ plans. It had been a success, despite the losses. Just 4 of the 21 vessels that had left Southend arrived at Swanage undamaged. The large scale of German operations convinced the British that the expected all-out assault by the Luftwaffe had started. The RAF order of the day, issued that night read
“The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Members of the Royal Air Force, the fate of generations lies in your hands.”
It was a little premature, the next few days did not see the all-out assault, but it was only a matter of time.
Generally cloudy with occasional showers, bright spells gradually spreading from west.
After a very slow few days the action heated up today, particularly in relation to Convoy CW.9 ‘Peewit’.
09.00, the first attack of the day is made on six ships that had left the Solent to join the convoy, unaware that it was behind schedule due to 02.00 attack by KM S-Boats (E-Boats) that had sunk three of ships. 57 Ju 87s, escorted by 30 Bf 109s, attacked the six about 10 miles south of St Catherine’s Point. They sank SS Ajax and SS Coquetdale and damaged the other four. The Luftwaffe arrived as the standing patrol of the convoy was being changed and 12 Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron arrived, just as the bombing began. They shot down 3 of the Bf 109s and 2 of the Ju 87s, damaging another 2. 145 Squadron lost two Hurricanes.
The next attack on the convoy started at noon, the Germans found the main body of the convoy this time. It can be broken down into three phases.
Phase 1, 11 Hurricanes of No. 257 Squadron were patrolling the convoy when they were bounced by Bf 109s of JG 27 which were flying ahead of the main raid. Three Hurricanes were shot down before Hurricanes of No. 601 Squadron arrived to drive off the attackers.
Phase 2, The bomber force now approached from Cherbourg and was met by Hurricanes of No. 238 Squadron and Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron. A fierce fight took place with the bombers and their escort, 2 Hurricanes were shot down.
Phase 3, at 12.45 Hurricanes of No. 145 Squadron, patrolling the Channel, were ordered to the fight. Realising that they were too late to stop the bombing they flew to the French coast where they attempted to cut off the German withdrawal, ending up in a fight with Bf 110s from V.(Z)/LG1.
The Luftwaffe suffered losses too, 1 Bf 110 was shot down and another 5 were damaged (a sign of things to come?) 1 Ju 87 was also damaged.
The Luftwaffe mounted another attack on ‘Peewit’ in the afternoon. This time a large force of 82 Ju 87s escorted by 20 Bf 110s and 30 Bf 109s approached the convoy. Bad timing and weather hampered the German attack and instead of one heavy blow a series of attacks were made over a half hour or so. The convoy had already started to disperse to the west of the Isle of Wight. The raid was met by Hurricanes of Nos. 43, 238 and 145 Squadrons, and Spitfires from No. 152 Squadron, resulting in a prolonged aerial battle. The RAF shot down 5 Bf 109s and damaged another 2. This time 5 Ju 87s were shot down and another made a forced landing on the Isle of Wight, another 8 were damaged, and several of their crews badly wounded. No 43 Squadron lost 2 Hurricanes with another 4 damaged. 145 Squadron lost 3 Hurricanes, including 1 flown by twenty year old FAA pilot Sub/Lt Francis Alan Smith, who was killed. No 152 Squadron had 2 Spitfires damaged.
For the Luftwaffe ‘Peewit’ had been a target of opportunity, not related to Goering’s ‘Adlerangriffe’ plans. It had been a success, despite the losses. Just 4 of the 21 vessels that had left Southend arrived at Swanage undamaged. The large scale of German operations convinced the British that the expected all-out assault by the Luftwaffe had started. The RAF order of the day, issued that night read
“The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Members of the Royal Air Force, the fate of generations lies in your hands.”
It was a little premature, the next few days did not see the all-out assault, but it was only a matter of time.
Really enjoying reading this, thanks Stona for taking the time to do this
Bob
Bob
Friday 9 August
Cloud and rain covering the whole UK, heavier in the north.
Despite today’s order of the day, the expected German assault did not materialise.
The only notable event today happened shortly before noon when three Hurricanes of No. 79 Squadron, based at Acklington, engaged an He 111 of 7./KG 26 which jettisoned its bombs over Sunderland before being shot down and landing on the sea. The bomber crew were picked up by a naval patrol boat, all injured or wounded, though they all survived. Four people were killed and seventy eight injured when some houses in Bonnersfield, a hotel, and Laing’s shipyard were hit by the bombs.
A salutary lesson was recorded in No. 249 Squadron’s diary today.
“Friday morning boredom relieved as the sound of shots being discharged during the pay parade in the Squadron hangar, as a result of which no. 566614 Cpl Parry Jones of B Flight grasped his side and fell to the ground. He was found to have been wounded by a bullet and was taken to York Military Hospital by ambulance. On subsequent investigation, it was found that a Hurricane aircraft of no. 73 Squadron was being loaded whilst in the flying position, pointing towards our hangar and two rounds had inadvertently been fired. This incident did a lot towards fostering the already excellent competitive spirit between the two squadrons on the station*.”
*Church Fenton.
Cloud and rain covering the whole UK, heavier in the north.
Despite today’s order of the day, the expected German assault did not materialise.
The only notable event today happened shortly before noon when three Hurricanes of No. 79 Squadron, based at Acklington, engaged an He 111 of 7./KG 26 which jettisoned its bombs over Sunderland before being shot down and landing on the sea. The bomber crew were picked up by a naval patrol boat, all injured or wounded, though they all survived. Four people were killed and seventy eight injured when some houses in Bonnersfield, a hotel, and Laing’s shipyard were hit by the bombs.
A salutary lesson was recorded in No. 249 Squadron’s diary today.
“Friday morning boredom relieved as the sound of shots being discharged during the pay parade in the Squadron hangar, as a result of which no. 566614 Cpl Parry Jones of B Flight grasped his side and fell to the ground. He was found to have been wounded by a bullet and was taken to York Military Hospital by ambulance. On subsequent investigation, it was found that a Hurricane aircraft of no. 73 Squadron was being loaded whilst in the flying position, pointing towards our hangar and two rounds had inadvertently been fired. This incident did a lot towards fostering the already excellent competitive spirit between the two squadrons on the station*.”
*Church Fenton.
I remember watching a contemporary RAF instructional scheme showing the method of re-arming a Spitfire, and giving the guns a basic clean, as it would be done between operations. The procedure for a Hurricane would have been essentially the same. Obviously, in the film, great emphasis was placed on proper procedures to make sure that the weapons were safe before anyone stood in front of them with a cleaning rod (or inadvertently aimed them at an occupied hangar). Somebody was obviously not following procedure and I very much doubt that the squadron entry I posted was the end of the matter.
I was once a witness in an enquiry into an incident when an experimental 30mm electronically-controlled Gatling type cannon fired a dummy round when not expected to do so. The target it was pointing at was a sheet of plywood in front of a brick-lined recess in an earth bank. There were two people in that recess at the time...
There's a lot more to this story, but off-topic so ak me when you see me at a show.
Pete
There's a lot more to this story, but off-topic so ak me when you see me at a show.
Pete
Saturday 10 August
Deep depression stationary over Scotland brought squally, thundery showers over much of the UK. There was cloud, rain and thunderstorms over northern France and the Channel.
There was limited operational flying by the Luftwaffe, though the RAF flew 116 patrols with 354 fighters. No casualties on either side.
The British were still waiting for the all out assault to be launched, they knew it was imminent, today the weather excluded any major operations.
At 23.00 F/O Patterson Yellow 1 of 56 Squadron, on a night time patrol between St Athan and Pontypridd, was vectored to a raider by Filton radar. He saw the silhouette of an aircraft which he reported ‘looked like a Spitfire’. Knowing that Yellow 1 was also airborne he asked Filton if any other Spitfires were in the area. Receiving no reply he attacked anyway! The target disappeared into cloud and we will never know what it was. We can only hope that it wasn't a Spitfire, none were lost and none reported being attacked.
Deep depression stationary over Scotland brought squally, thundery showers over much of the UK. There was cloud, rain and thunderstorms over northern France and the Channel.
There was limited operational flying by the Luftwaffe, though the RAF flew 116 patrols with 354 fighters. No casualties on either side.
The British were still waiting for the all out assault to be launched, they knew it was imminent, today the weather excluded any major operations.
At 23.00 F/O Patterson Yellow 1 of 56 Squadron, on a night time patrol between St Athan and Pontypridd, was vectored to a raider by Filton radar. He saw the silhouette of an aircraft which he reported ‘looked like a Spitfire’. Knowing that Yellow 1 was also airborne he asked Filton if any other Spitfires were in the area. Receiving no reply he attacked anyway! The target disappeared into cloud and we will never know what it was. We can only hope that it wasn't a Spitfire, none were lost and none reported being attacked.
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