Dogfight (30 page)

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Authors: Adam Claasen

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Trousdale
Richard Macklow
Pilot Officer
266
Spitfire
Verity
Victor Bosanquet Strachan
Pilot Officer
229 & 422 Flt
Hurricane
Walker
James Ian Bradley
Sergeant
600
Blenheim
Ward
Derek Harland
Flight Lieutenant
87
Hurricane
Watters
Joseph
Pilot Officer
236
Blenheim
Wells
Edward Preston
Pilot Officer
266 & 41
Spitfire
Wendel
Kenneth Victor
Flying Officer
504
Hurricane
7 Sep 1940
Whitley
Eric William
Squadron Leader
245
Hurricane
Whitney
Douglas Mitchell
Pilot Officer
245
Hurricane
Whitwell
Peter Coulson
Sergeant
600
Blenheim
Wigg
Ronald George
Flying Officer
65
Spitfire
Williams
Wycliff Stuart
Pilot Officer
266
Spitfire
21 Oct 1940
Willis
William Owen
Sergeant
600
Blenheim
Wilson
Donald Fraser
Flight Lieutenant
141
Defiant
Young
Robert Bett Mirk
Sergeant
264
Defiant
8 Oct 1940
Yule
Robert Duncan
Flying Officer
145
Hurricane
Australians Who Served with Fighter Command in The Battle of Britain, 10 July–31 October 1940

Surname

First Names

Rank

Squadron(s)

Aircraft

Killed

Bayles
Ian Norman
Pilot Officer
152
Spitfire
Bayne
David Walter
Squadron Leader
257
Hurricane
Bennett
Clarence Charles
Pilot Officer
248
Blenheim
1 Oct 1940
Bungey
Robert Wilton
Flight Lieutenant
145
Hurricane
Cale
Francis Walter
Pilot Officer
266
Spitfire
15 Aug 1940
Cock
John Reynolds
Pilot Officer
87
Hurricane
Constantine
Alexander Noel
Flying Officer
141
Defiant
Crook
Valton William James
Sergeant
264
Defiant
Crossman
John Dallas
Pilot Officer
32 & 46
Hurricane
30 Sept 1940
Curchin
John
Pilot Officer
609
Hurricane
Flood
Frederick William
Flight Lieutenant
235
Blenheim
11 Sept 1940
Fopp
Desmond
Sergeant
17
Hurricane
Glyde
Richard Lindsay
Flying Officer
87
Hurricane
13 Aug 1940
Hamilton
Alexander Lewis
Pilot Officer
248
Blenheim
Hardman
Harry Gordon
Pilot Officer
111
Hurricane
Hewson
John Minchin
Flight Lieutenant
616
Spitfire
Hillary
Richard Hope
Pilot Officer
603
Spitfire
Holland
Kenneth Christopher
Sergeant
152
Spitfire
25 Sept 1940
Hughes
Paterson Clarence
Flight Lieutenant
234
Spitfire
7 Sept 1940
Kennedy
John Connolly
Flight Lieutenant
238
Hurricane
13 July 1940
Lees
Ronald Beresford
Squadron Leader
72
Spitfire
McDonough
Bryan Martin
Pilot Officer
236
Blenheim
1 Aug 1940
McGaw
Charles Alexander
Pilot Officer
73 & 66
Hurricane/Spitfire
Mayers
Howard Clive
Flight Lieutenant
601
Hurricane
Millington
William Henry
Pilot Officer
79 & 249
Hurricane
30 Oct 1940
Moore
Peter John
Sergeant
253
Hurricane
Moore
William Storey
Flying Officer
236
Blenheim
Olive
Charles Gordon Chaloner
Flight Lieutenant
65
Spitfire
Pain
John Francis
Pilot Officer
32
Hurricane
Parker
Vincent
Pilot Officer
234
Spitfire
Peterkin
John Douglas
Flying Officer
248
Blenheim
Power
Richard Morris
Flight Lieutenant
236
Blenheim
Pritchard
Charles Arthur
Flight Lieutenant
600
Blenheim/Beaufighter
Reynell
Richard Carew
Flight Lieutenant
43
Hurricane
7 Sept 1940
Sheen
Desmond Frederick Bert
Flight Lieutenant
72
Spitfire
Walch
Stuart Crosby
Flight Lieutenant
238
Hurricane
11 Aug 1940
Withall
Latham Carr
Flight Lieutenant
152
Spitfire
12 Aug 1940
NOTES
Chapter 1: Beginnings
[1] John Rushton Gard'ner, interview with author, 9 January 2011.
[2] P. Bishop,
Fighter Boys: The Battle of Britain, 1940,
Viking, New York, 2003, p.50.
[3] A. Deere,
Nine Lives,
Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1959, p.17.
[4] G. Olive and D. Newton,
The Devil at 6 O'Clock: An Australian Ace in the Battle of Britain,
Australian Military History Publications, Loftus, Australia, 2001, p.1.
[5] A.E. Clouston,
The Dangerous Skies,
Cassell, London, 1954, p.11.
[6] D. Ross,
Richard Hillary: The Definitive Biography of a Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot and Author of
The Last Enemy, Grub Street, London, 2000, p.12.
[7] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
p.54.
[8]
Ibid.;
D. Newton,
Clash of Eagles,
Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, NSW, 1996, p.37.
[9] C. Gray,
Spitfire Patrol,
Hutchinson, London, 1990, pp.2–3.
[10] Deere, p.3.
[11] N. Franks,
Scramble to Victory: Five Fighter Pilots, 1939–1945,
William Kimber, London, 1987, p.147.
[12]
Ibid.,
p.39.
[13] Deere, pp.22–24.
[14] John Rushton Gard'ner, interview with author, 9 January 2011.
[15] Flight Lieutenant James Alfred Paterson, correspondence, 17 May 1939, RAF Museum [hereafter RAFM], Hendon, AC, 1998/15/6.
[16] Newton,
Clash of Eagles,
p.39.
[17]
Ibid.
[18]
Ibid.
[19] Olive and Newton, p.15.
[20] M. Burns,
Cobber Kain,
Random Century, Auckland, 1992, p.14.
[21] B. Spurdle,
The Blue Arena,
William Kimber, London, 1986, p.24; cf. M. Francis,
The Flyer: British Culture and the Royal Air Force 1939–1945,
OUP, Oxford, 2011, p.57.
[22] Deere, p.25.
[23] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
p.66; J. James,
The Paladins: A Social History of the RAF up to the outbreak of World War II,
Macdonald, London, 1990, p.238.
[24] Burns, pp.14–21.
[25] A.W. Mitchell,
New Zealanders in the Air War,
George G. Harrap, London, 1945, p.50.
[26]
Ibid.
[27] Spurdle, pp.19–20.
[28] Olive and Newton, p.20.
[29] Burns, p.15.
[30] Alan Antill Gawith, interview with author, 12 August 2011; Burns, p.16.
[31] R. Hillary,
The Last Enemy,
Macmillan, London, 1950, pp.44–45.
[32]
Ibid.
[33]
Ibid.,
p.56.
[34]
Ibid.,
p.58.
[35] M.C. Kinder, ‘Faith Was My Protector: A New Zealander's experience with the Royal Air Force', Unpublished memoir, 1971, Larry Hill Collection, p.7.
[36] Gray, p.6.
[37]
Ibid.,
p.8.
[38] Deere, p.30.
[39] D. Newton,
A Few of the Few: Australians in the Battle of Britain,
Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1990, p.6.
Chapter 2: The Prelude
[1] The Royal Navy and the other elements of the RAF, Bomber and Coastal Command, saw considerable action over this period.
[2] Deere, pp.32–33.
[3] Kinder, pp.20–21.
[4] Olive and Newton, p.61.
[5] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
pp.42–43.
[6]
Ibid.,
p.43.
[7] Kinder, p.23.
[8] Spurdle, p.27.
[9]
Ibid.,
pp.27–28.
[10] Hillary, pp.84–85.
[11] Gray, p.12.
[12] D. Wood and D. Dempster,
The Narrow Margin: The Battle of Britain and the Rise of Air Power 1930–1949,
Pen and Sword, Barnsley, SouthYorkshire, 2003, p.35.
[13] Gray, p.12.
[14]
Ibid.,
p.13.
[15] Deere, p.36.
[16] Olive and Newton, p.62.
[17] Gray, p.30.
[18] Burns, pp.60–61.
[19]
The Times,
30 March 1940, RAFM, DC 76/74/527.
[20] Flying Officer Leslie Redford Clisby, Combat Report, 1 April 1940, National Archives [hereafter NA], Kew, AIR 50/1/171.
[21] D. Newton,
Australian Air Aces: Australian Fighter Pilots in Combat,
Aerospace Publications, Fyshwick, ACT, 1996, pp.77–78.
[22] This fighter was in fact called the Messerschmitt Bf 109 by the Germans, but this book follows the common Allied practice of referring to it as the Messerschmitt Me 109. Likewise the Messerschmitt Bf 110 was known as the Messerschmitt Me 110 to RAF pilots.
[23] L. Deighton,
Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain,
Cape, London, 1977, pp.108–9.
[24]
Ibid.,
p.139.
[25] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
pp.148–49.
[26]
Ibid.,
p.180.
[27] Pilot Officer Alan Christopher Deere, Combat Report, 23 May 1940, NA, AIR 50/21/107; Deere, pp.54–55.
[28] In reality the total tally for 54 Squadron was more likely two, one of which belonged to Deere. See P. Cornwell,
The Battle of France Then and Now: Six Nations Locked in Aerial Combat, September 1939 to June 1940,
Battle of Britain International, Old Harlow, Essex, 2007, p.353.
[29] S. Bungay,
The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain,
Aurum, London, 2001, p.250.
[30] V. Orange,
Dowding of Fighter Command: Victor of the Battle of Britain,
Grub Street, London, 2008, p.102.
[31] Bungay, pp.259–60.
[32]
Ibid.;
Deighton, pp.164–66.
[33] Deere, p.36.
[34] Flight Lieutenant Wilfrid Greville Clouston, Combat Report, 1 June 1940, NA, AIR 50/10/160.
[35] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
p.93.
[36] Burns, p.64.
[37] V. Orange,
Park: The Biography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park GCB, KBE, MC, DFC, DCL,
Grub Street, London: 2000, p.88.
[38] C. Shores and C. Williams,
Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII,
Grub Street, London, 1994, pp.366–67. 39 Burns, pp.168–69.
Chapter 3: Channel Battles
[1] ‘Operation “Sea-Lion”' (Translations of 12 Top-Secret directives for the invasion of Britain, signed by Hitler, Keitel and Jodl in July, August, September and October, 1940. Translated by Air Ministry, AHB6, February 1947. Translation VII/21), Australian War Memorial [hereafter AWM], Canberra, 54 423/4/103.
[2] W. Hubatsch,
Hitlers Weisungen für die Kriegführung 1939–1945: Dokumente des Oberkommandoes der Wehrmacht,
Bernard and Graefe, München, 1983, pp.61–65.
[3] D. Irving,
Rise and Fall of the Luftwaffe: The Life of Luftwaffe Field Marshal Erhard Milch,
Focal Point, London, 1991, p.67.
[4] Deighton, p.150.
[5] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
pp.233–34.
[6] Orange,
Park,
p.28.
[7]
Ibid.
[8]
Ibid.,
p.30.
[9]
Ibid.,
p.96.
[10] Pilot Officer Donald Gordon Cobden, Combat Report, 21 May 1940, NA, AIR 50/32.
[11] F. Mason,
Battle Over Britain: A history of the German air assaults on Great Britain, 1917–18 and July–December 1940, and of the Development of Britain's Air Defences between the World Wars,
Aston, Bourne End, 1990, p.122.
[12] Bungay, p.198.
[13] Deere, pp.90–91.
[14]
Ibid.,
pp.95–96.
[15] Flight Officer Robert Lindsay Glyde, Combat Report, 11 July 1940, NA, AIR 50/37/510.
[16] Flight Lieutenant Stuart Crosby Walch, Combat Report, 11 July 1940, NA, AIR 50/91/38.
[17] Newton,
A Few of the Few,
p.35.
[18] K. Wynn,
A Clasp for the Few: A Biographical Account of New Zealand Pilots and Aircrew who Flew Operationally with RAF Fighter Command During the Battle of Britain, 10th July to 31 October 1940,
Wynn, Auckland, 1981, pp.1–3. For all New Zealand losses in the Battle of Britain, see E. Martyn,
For Your Tomorrow: A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915, vol. one: Fates 1915–1942,
Volplane, Christchurch, 1998; and
For Your Tomorrow: A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915, vol. three: Biographies and Appendices,
Volplane, Christchurch, 2008.
[19] Kenneth Wynn, interview with author, 22 December 2010.
[20] Orange,
Dowding,
pp.103–4.
[21] Hugh Dowding, correspondence, 25 June, 1938, NA, AIR 2/2964.
[22] A. Brew,
The Turret Fighters: Defiant and Roc,
Crowood, Ramsbury, Wiltshire, 2002, pp.65–67.
[23] John Rushton Gard'ner, interview with author, 9 January 2011.
[24] Wynn,
A Clasp for the Few,
p.162.
[25] Acting Flight Lieutenant Stuart Crosby Walsh, Combat Report, 20 July 1940, NA, AIR 50/91/44; Newton,
A Few of the Few,
p.24.
[26] Olive and Newton, pp.100–102; Pilot Officer Charles Gordon Chaloner Olive, Combat Report, 20 July 1940, NA, AIR 50/25/36.
[27] Olive and Newton, p.103.
[28]
Ibid.,
p.86.
[29]
Ibid.
[30] Hillary, p.26.
[31]
Ibid.,
p.35.
[32]
Ibid.,
p.137.
[33] Burns, p.58.
[34] Clouston, pp.146–47.
[35] James Alfred Paterson, correspondence, 29 August 1940, RAFM, AC 1998/15/10.
[36] Spurdle, pp.50–51; C. Yeoman and J. Freeborn,
Tiger Cub. A 74 Squadron Fighter Pilot in World War II: The Story of John Freeborn DFC,
Pen and Sword, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, 2009, p.105.
[37] Yeoman and Freeborn, p.105.
[38] Spurdle, p.54.
[39] Burns, pp.60–61.
Chapter 4: Life and Death
[1] Colin Gray, Logbook, 24 July 1940, Larry Hill Collection.
[2] Deere, p.97.
[3] Flight Lieutenant Alan Christopher Deere, Combat Report, 24 July 1940, NA, AIR 50/21/104.
[4] Gray, pp.40–41; Colin Gray, Logbook, 24 July 1940, Larry Hill Collection.
[5] Deere, p.99.
[6] Pilot Officer Colin Gray, Combat Report, 25 July 1940, NA, AIR 50/21/105.
[7] Deere p.99.
[8] Gray, pp.20–21.
[9]
Ibid.,
pp.35, 38.
[10] Deere, p.98.
[11]
Ibid.,
p.99.
[12] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
p.309.
[13] Keith Ashley Lawrence, interview with author, 10 December 2010.
[14]
Time Magazine,
August 8, 1940.
[15] G. Page,
Shot Down in Flames: A World War II Fighter Pilot's Remarkable Tale of Survival,
Grub Street, London, 1999, p.69.
[16] Keith Ashley Lawrence, interview with author, 10 December 2010.
[17] James Paterson, photograph, n.d., RAFM, AC 1998/15; M. Lambert,
Day after Day: New Zealanders in Fighter Command,
HarperCollins, Auckland, 2011, p.159.
[18] John Rushton Gard'ner, interview with author, 9 January 2011.
[19] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
p.327.
[20] Kinder, p.36.
[21] Bishop,
Fighter Boys,
p.330.
[22] James Paterson, correspondence, 29 August 1940, RAFM, AC 1998/15/10.
[23] A. Bartley,
Smoke Trails in the Sky: From the Journals of a Fighter Pilot,
William Kimber, London, 1984, p.58.
[24] Kinder, p.34.
[25] Yeoman and Freeborn, p.103.
[26]
Ibid.,
p.102.
[27]
Ibid.,
p.107.
[28] Gray, p.44.
[29] Deere, p.105.
[30] Bungay, pp.194–95.
[31] Olive and Newton, p.105.
[32]
Ibid.
[33]
Ibid.,
p.106.
[34]
Ibid.,
pp.106–7.
[35] Newton,
A Few of the Few,
pp.79–80.
[36] Olive and Newton, p.107.
[37]
Ibid.,
p.108.
[38] Kinder, p.43.
[39] James Chilton Francis Hayter, audio recording, 14 October 2004, Air Force Museum of New Zealand [hereafter AFMNZ], Wigram, Christchurch.
[40] R. Smith,
Al Deere, Wartime Fighter Pilot, Peacetime Commander, the Authorised Biography,
Grub Street, London, 2003, p.26.
[41]
Ibid.,
p.44.
[42] Newton,
A Few of the Few,
p.81.
[43] Pilot Officer John Curchin, Combat Report, 8 August 1940, NA, AIR 50/171/17.
[44] Shores and Williams, pp.183–84.
[45] R. Beamont,
My Part of the Sky: A Fighter Pilot's First-hand Experiences, 1939–45,
Patrick Stephens, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, 1989, p.52; Newton,
A Few of the Few,
pp.86–87.
[46] Beamont, p.52.
[47] J. Herrington,
Australia in the War of 1939–1945, Series Three, Air, vol.3, Air War Against Germany and Italy, 1939–1943,
Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954, p.36.
[48] Wynn,
A Clasp for the Few,
pp.275–76.
[49] Squadron Leader Hector Douglas McGregor, Combat Report, 11 August 1940, NA, AIR 50/83/94.
[50] Wynn,
A Clasp for the Few,
p.86; K. Wynn,
Men of the Battle of Britain,
CCB Associates, Selsdon, Surrey, 1999, p.94.
Chapter 5: Eagle Attack
[1] Hubatsch, pp.17–19.
[2] Bungay, p.55.
[3]
Ibid.,
p.59.

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