Mission 7: August 8, 1940

[Siddich]

Second Storm of War Campaign

Mission 7 (Sat 25/11/12):
Duration: 50 min?
Home Airfield: RAF Southampton
Aircraft: SD-H; Hurricane MkI 100 oct

-flew as Red3 together with Osprey (Red1), Meaker (Red2), Bunny (Red4)
-lost my wingman over the ships
-damaged 2 109s
-lost Red1
-met with Kups
-landed at Shoreham - in formation with Kups

Claims: 2 damaged 109s
Plane: SD-H: some hits in the engine cowling
Pilot: ok, but drenched in sweat

[Hawes]

Mission No.7 (25.11.2012)
Date: ( 8/8/1940)
Location: Southhampton airfield
A/C: Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct) - SD-T P3208

We were woken up early this morning by the batman, “Squadron ordered to Southhampton at 05:30”. LAC “Kup” Kupsisied didn’t wake up as easily as the rest of us, so some bugger threw the contents of a jug all over him. The poor LAC was wide awake now, apparently he hadn’t made it to the WC last night and had pissed in the jug!

We took off from Southhampton after the “eagle” squadron, we were not very impressed by their flying skills. I was leading Blue Section again with LAC Kupsisied (Blue 2), P/O Teepee (Blue 3) and P/O Hollywood (Blue 4). We took off and headed 160°, climbing to Angels 5. We’d all had a few sherbets the night before and the early start hadn’t sobered us up much; needless to say our navigation was not up to the usual standard!

We were vectored to Selsey area and ordered up to Angels 16. We arrived over the target area and started to pick up contacts, friendlies and Hun. Red section and the second pair in Blue section engaged and I took Blue 2 high over the convoy.
I led Blue 2 down on an E/A and managed to damage this E/A fairly well, I left him smoking and heading for the channel. I then went high, but I’d lost Blue 2 by this time. While trying to link up, I found some more targets below. I dropped on another E/A and got him smoking but I was then attacked by another 109, he damaged me and I ditched in the channel.
I was picked up by the lifeboat crews and was back in the NAAFI for brandy and a nice chat with a beautiful your WAAF.

I claim:

2 BF 109 Probable

Campaign tally:

1 JU 87 destroyed (confirmed by S/L Osprey)
1 JU 87 as a probable (confirmed by S/L Osprey)
2 JU 87s as damaged
1 Bf 109 destroyed (confirmed)
2 BF 109 Probable
1 Dornier 17 destroyed
1 Dornier 17 destroyed
1 Dornier 17 damaged

[Dickie]

Mission 7 (Sat 25/11/12):
Duration: 48 min
Home Airfield: RAF Southampton
Aircraft: SD-K; Hurricane MkI 100 oct L2329

No.501 were moved down to Southampton to provide shipping cover for the convoy which Jerry has been trying to knock out. We had 8 serviceable machines today and split into 2 flights. Later in the morning the squadron was put on 30 minutes readiness so I went off to check out the canteen which the Fleet Arm Arm had there. For the second day on the trot I had just started my bacon and eggs after a heavy night's drinking when 501 were given scramble orders, and it wasn't for the eggs! The group got up pronto because a large formation of Hun were reported active near Cherbourg. We formed at angels 10 over Southampton before receiving orders to head east and climb to angels 17 across Beachy Head and onto Brighton, at which point we found our first Hun, a pair on their own tried to get behind red section. I hurled my machine around left which my number two, LAC Meaker, sticking to me like glue. After tracking them they came back in where I latched onto one of them in a right hander, I had the perfect shooting solution, I fired from 250 to 50 yards but missed this sitter, hitting him only lightly in the portside wing and my tracers circling him completely! I was furious! This was obviously a result of me winning the drinking game in the mess and being found at 2.30am on the tower balcony by my trusted Batman - I'll have to calm that down in future. Well, I can only claim this lucky Bf109 as damaged.
FC gave the order to move out and intercept the Stuka formation which they had been escorting, Baffin squadron apparently giving them a right battering. We attempted to move but a squadron of 109's arrived to stop us and the scrap was on! My next attack was on another sitting duck in a right hander, against I mostly missed but I did give him a small fuel leak and he dived away to France. I claim this Bf109 as damaged. During this encounter another Bf109 hit my starboard wing and took out all of the guns to that side. By this time I had squirted away half of my ammo so decided to head toward Brighton. It was then that Siddich called for help over the R/T since he had 3 Hun on him so I asked him to dive to Brighton. I picked up up and talked him through the attacks he was getting until he was clear, then I got involved, lining up another Bf109. I struck him lightly, recoil throwing my aim off as my Hurricane lurched to port but it was enough to shake him off. My guns were finished, but Siddich and I had escaped. I claim this Bf109 as damaged. I put down at Westhampnett cursing my shooting today, 3 Hun had escaped, I will have to do better.

Claims
3x Bf109 Damaged

Aircraft servicable.

[Bunny]

Mission 7 (25/11/2012)
Date: 8th August 1940
Duration: 45 minutes
Home Airfield: RAF Southampton
Aircraft: SD-N, Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct)

Scrambled at Southampton after waiting for the Eagle yanks to take off. Having waited for them for an age to crank up their machines, one still had the audacity to take a late run up the runway past us as we lined up for the off! Up to no good with one of our English strumpets no doubt - I'm sure his trousers were round his ankles as he ran for his plane, but then their fashion is on the odd side. S/Ldr Osprey was Red leader, LAC Meaker Red 2, SGT Siddich Red 3 and myself Red 4 - we took off towards the east side of the Isle of Wight, with a slight detour to the west of the island courtesy of Red Leader - no doubt recovering from the night before. We then vectored east towards Beachy Head, with the command coming to look out for our convoy floating just south of Brighton. Unfortunately, before we got there, we were intercepted by several bf109s, at co-alt of around Angels 20. For once they didn't have the height advantage, and we got stuck in. Several times we took evasive action, and regrouped. After maybe a couple of rounds of poking at each other, there were so many 109s around that I lost contact with Red section whilst tailing one of the 109s. I managed to got a few shots into his right-hand side and glycol started to stream - he didn't seem to be very experienced, poor bugger. A spitfire joined me, the hun had no chance. The spittie came in on his port side, the 109 pulled up and to the right, somewhat erratically. I might have hit his elevators on that first burst or he may have just panicked. I positioned my nose ready for a deflection shot, he graciously obliged and drifted in front of my crosshairs just as my stream of hot lead spewed forth. A second jet of glycol poured from the opposite side of his engine cowling, but before I could hammer the message home, his wingman hit me. Oil immediately covered the cockpit, but the old girl's engine hung together - I swear I have no idea how it trudges on like a stubborn mule - those boffins at RR certainly know their onions. Through the slick I could just make out Brighton on my 12, and I had height on my side. I could afford to drop a few thousand feet to lose the hun, pretend I was out of the fight (which I was), so I did so. I pointed the kite at Shoreham, just west along the coast, set my prop pitch to coarse to conserve speed, and headed home. I came in a bit too fast on landing, but managed to bring her to a stop yards from the rail track - for a second I thought I was going to be catching the 9.45 to Hastings, paying extra for the Hurri on the post wagon. As it was, I stumbled into the Red Lion in Old Shoreham, just across the bridge from the airfield, and downed a worthy pint of Harveys best bitter. I was lucky to have escaped intact, but chuffed I'd hit my first hun of the war. Shame we didn't come across the Stukas that were reported having a go at our shipping.

Claims: 1 probable (vented from both sides of the cowling).
Aircraft: Damaged but landed intact.
Pilot: Happy as Larry.

[Bounder]

Mission 7 (Sun 25/11/12):
Duration: little over 1hour
Home Airfield: RAF Kenley
Aircraft: SH-B; Spitfire 2a

64 Squadron returned home to Kenley, the best damn airfield the RAF, nay, the world has to offer! Managed to get a brief bit of leave to visit Mrs Bounder, haven't seen the old ball and chain since this mess started. With all we've been through it was difficult to settle back in, so much has happened. Shouldn't say this but whilst it was nice to see the Mrs it was a bit of a relief to get back to the barracks and to the chaps, Kenley feels more like home than home now and everyone was up to their usual routine - some of the chaps were reading, playing darts, Nitrous was furiously strumming away on his bunk, it was like we had never left!

Got our scramble orders to get up, vector south west of beachy head and protect shipping convoy in AN19. 64 scrambled 8 Spitfires (4 in Red section and 4 in Pink section). We arrived at our designated CAP sector and patrolled at angels 20. We spotted 4 contacts flying in a westerly direction and intercepted them, the contacts were a Spitfire squadron. As we returned to our patrol sector we saw more RAF squadrons in the area. Intel began to come in reporting a Hurricane squadron engaged with 109s. We spotted 3 contacts toward Beachy head and given the number of friendlies in the area I dove in to investigate whilst Gromic held Red section above - the contacts were Hurricanes. I came back up and Gromic brought Red section to me and we reformed. I then spotted a lone 109 and dove onto him but he broke as I was about to pull the trigger - I could see that I couldn't get my guns on him and called out to Gromic to go for the kill if he could get a shot however the 109 dove away. We reformed and followed 64 Pink section flying west toward the convoy and we spotted numerous 109s at around angels 18 - we had the altitude advantage this time! I lead Red section toward a squadron of 109s who were turning at our 12 o'clock and we dropped in behind them. I moved to attack a rear 109 and got hits into him before he dove away venting - this 109 was then engaged by Yranac flying in Red section and went in (109 damaged - partial claim).

The skies were filled with contacts and as we jockeyed with 109s myself and Gromic were separated - there were just too many of them. I settled onto the six of one 109 I could see two others buzzing around trying to protect my target. I got hits into the 109 and he vented heavily and went down toward the sea (claim 109 probable - server reported him destroyed). I then jockeyed for position with the two 109s I could see - one had a yellow nose and the other an usual paint job. I got onto the six of the later 109 - I had had to finish him before the other 109 got onto me. I maneuvered with the 109 getting hit after hit but he would not go in, we dropped down to the wave tops and we lost the other 109. Boost-cut out was on, the 109 couldn't shake me as my brownings ripped through the 109 who was venting heavily both white vapor and back oil. I checked my six and could see another 109 closing on me - this chap was one of the same squadron with the usual paint job - I broke but received a single hit which struck my engine - oil covered my canopy and I lost engine power. Too low to bail I throttled back, opened flaps and put my Spitfire down for a wet landing - the 109 I had shot up also suffered the same fate (claim 109 destroyed). My landing in the sea went well, as well as these things can - the Spitfire stayed right side up and furthermore I was in close visual range of the convoy. I popped the canopy open, wriggled free and was picked up by the sailors. Soaked through to the bone the sailors were again extremely friendly chaps, although I should add they were a little too eager to help me out of my wet clothes.

Claims: two bf109s destroyed + one bf109 destroyed (partial claim); one bf109 damaged. [campaign stats only credited 0.5; netstats confirm two kills and 1 partial= 2.3]
Plane: SH-B; crash landed into the sea by the convoy.
Pilot: OK - although I might need to make an appointment with the squadron shrink following my encounter with the Seaman (note to self - don't make a habit of landing in the sea!)

[Robo]

Mission 7 (Sun 25/11/12):
August 8th 1940
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
Home Airfield: RAF Kenley
Aircraft: NN-R, Hurricane Mk.I

For the first time ever I was flying with my fellow countrymen, who managed to escape from Czechoslovakia and formed up a first foreign Squadron within the RAF. Some of these chaps are veteran fighter pilots who have seen lots of combat in the French Air Force, some are just recently transferred bomber pilots and they need to adjust to flying fighters, and there is a few who only received their wings and are very inexperienced. Keen and green. The morale is very high though, and I am very proud I was allowed to lead this group to their first combat mission. We took off of RAF Kenley, 4 Flights of four - flying a CAP above the shipping at Angels 18. Only one group made a contact with the Stukas but they were reported to dive to attack before we could attack them. Other group got involved in a large dogfight with the LW fighter escort - being outnumbered they suffered some causalities but they also fought back bravely and claim 2 destroyed 109s vs. two own Hurricanes lost. My section got involved in a similar melee, we got 6 109s fighting with us at one point, one Hurricane got damaged and had to rtb (landed safely) and one got shot down, pilot baled out safely. With 2 Hurricanes remaining we fought for as long as we could and then we retreated to the shore. We claim 2x 109s destroyed, 1x probable, 1x damaged and 1x 110 destroyed against 1 own Hurricane lost and 1 damaged. With some more practice and confidence, I believe this Czechoslovaks will be of great help for British war effort. God save the King!

Claims:
1x Bf 109 destroyed
1x Bf 110 destroyed

[Meaker]

Form:540
Mission No.7 (25.11.2012)
Date: 8th August 1940
Location:Southampton Airfield
A/C: Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct) - SD-G
Duration:40 minutes

After what seemed an eternity waiting for the 'Eagle' squadron to get airborne 501 was finally given the go ahead to get airborne itself,I was Red 2 flying on the Squadron Leaders wing.
Once we were up we banked a sharp left out of the airodrome,started climbing to about Angels 10 and then were vectored to Beachy Head which by this time we had gained another 7 thousand feet to Angels 17.As we were making our way to Brighton the Squadron Leader led us in to an attack on two lonesome 109's which seemed to be trying to get on our six.

I broke into a right bank and suddenly saw about 30 plus bandits,(Ju87 Stukas)travelling East at about Angels 10 along the Sussex coastline,I let 501 know what I was witnessing and dived rather impetously with excitement and adrenalin coursing through my blood straight down into them and fired off my guns until they hissed empty.

It was'nt the best of my decisions as,as I made my attack,I too was bounced by enemy fighters who managed to ruin my day,my aircraft was seriously making all the wrong sounds and looking out along the wings I realised I had some very major damage.The bastards that got me flew on without pressing home anymore damage on my aircraft so I was lucky in some respects I suppose.On realising my situation I tried to wressle the old kite to a place of safety,but alas the old girl had had it,I too was obviously wounded so after letting our chaps know my plight I bailed out into the Channel.

I heard a sudden rush of air,as I left my stricken kite,and then a reasurring sound of my chute deploying,as I slowly floated down to an early bath!

Claims:several probable before being hit myself,but nothing to go shouting about....yet!
Aircraft:given up to 'Davy Jones' Locker'
Pilot:Ok,but burns to face and hands as I made my escape from my old gal,I will have to join the 'Guinea pig' club I fear

[Gromic]

Mission 7 (Sun 25/11/12)
Duration: 75 Minutes
Home Airfield: RAF Kenley
Aircraft: SH-Q; Spitfire 2a

08:45

We receive orders to again scramble south. This time we vectored to cover a fleet of vessels off of Shoreham's shore that are heading in an easterly direction, probably towards folkstone or dover harbor. 64 squadron splits into 2 elements and takes off into the morning sun, climbing fast. At approximately 09:00 we finally reach the coast and see the convoy 20,000ft below us. I contact control and state that we are over the convoy with no other contacts in sight. Control acknowledges and revectors us 20 miles to the east where contacts, in the distance, are made out. We quickly investigate, but are relieved to make out a squadron of hurricanes that are further north than they should be. I stay high with Reds 3 and 4, covering Bounder as he dives for a quick peek.

Turning to 270°, we encounter our first hun 3 minutes later. A single 109 seems to be flying alone at approx. angels 20. Bounder quickly engages the enemy with myself covering his rear quarter. As Bounder opens up fire on the 109, I notice a second e/a tracking Red1's six and call out on the R/T for Bounder to break, which he does without being fired upon. I disregard the enemy and reform on Red1's five o'clock, assessing the situation, as we circle high above what we now make out to be a full fledged dogfight near our convoy of transports.

It was at this time that I lost eyes on Red1. Apparently he had discovered some unwary fritz and decided to engage. I could hear Bounder over the R/T consistently pressing on his attacks. I reduced altitude and was then caught up in a frey of turning and twisting aircraft. Hurricanes, Spitfires and Messerschmitts. The sky was full of aircraft, with each pilot trying to outfly the other. Combat altituded degraded rapidly and I decided to remain at angels 10, calling out my sightings to sector control, giving him a better picture of the scene unfolding below me. Control responded by vectoring all available aircraft to the furball and in time they came but none too late. The R/T was full of pilots calling out contacts and the battle raged on below.

It was at this time, that my peripheral vision made out a contact to my far 12 o'clock. It was rather large for the distance that separated us and so I started to stalk this unidentified contact. It seemed that he was bearing 300° but the exact opposite was the case. As my I squinted to make out the contact, I realized that he was flying directly at me! At 2000 yards I could make out a Bf-100 heading straight towards me, his nose cannon growing ever ominously until I saw the flash. In an instant, I judged his distance and opened up with my own 303's from 600 yards away, pulling up and over his head in the opposite direction. A second contact closed on the 110's six, this one being a hurricane. The 110 did not budge from his heading and continued to make way towards the french coast. We (the hurricane and myself) chased the 110 for a good 5 minutes but didn't seem to close the gap. I broke off and returned to AN19 where the convoy was still making it's way eastward.

Tracers fly past my cockpit on the starboard side, missing me but still very much too close for comfort. I broke left, checking my six to see a lone messerschmitt zooming up over my head with enough energy for two spitfires. He was very fast, but not fast enough because I could make out red stripes on his elevators. Surely an ace hun who had been stalking the higher altitude for any lone victim onto which he could pounce. The hun boomed me numerous times with me evading all the attacks successfully. As soon as he made his presence known, he was gone. Scanning the sky, I found no trace of him and resumed
course on a northward heading.

Again, tracers bolt past my aircraft, but this time I can feel the hammering of bullets into my aircraft as I am pounded hard from behind. Cockpit glass splinters and sprays into the right side of my head, my goggles shattering upon impact. I see red as blood flows down my face. Blinking wildly with a burning pain on my cheek, I roll my aircraft hard and enter a high speed dive, trying to evade any further attacks. I drop 8000 feet within seconds and pull my elevator hard, hoping that no controls have been critically hit. I get lucky this time. At 1000 feet my spitfire pulls out of the dive, the airframe moaning against the pressure. It is now that I notice oil splattered across the remains of my windshield and as SH-Q slows down, the lack of boost pressure makes itself known more and more, the cowling shaking ever more as my spitfire slows over shoreham. The hun pilot does not follow me down.

Short of Shoreham, my merlin dies. I glide towards runway 290 and touch down on terra firma but spin on the runway as my right gear breaks on rollout.

The dust settles. All forward momentum ceases. I have survived what surely should have killed me....even though I am dying within.

I wake later in the day, in what appears to be the bunk of a field hospital. My eyes strain to see around me. My blurred vision strains to focus on a creature, vieled in white standing to my right. My eyes focus slowly only to make out the most hidious thing I have ever seen. With bulging eyes, hair fraying into all directions, it grins a smile with rotting teeth protruding from its mouth. The stench of its breath most noxious as it begins to speak in a high, terrible squeal.

"Now then, now then. You've had the worst behind you"

I tremble in fear, my eyes lowering to avoid any further beholding of this demon from the abyss. Fear surrounds me as I succumb to unconsiousness, but not before I can make out small, ancient glyphs stenciled across a shield tacked to the creatures breast. It reads:

"Red cross - emergency detail. 501 squadron - Glochester. Head Nurse"

I am in hell.

[Kupsised]

Mission No.7 (26.11.2012)
Date: 8th August 1940
Location: Southampton
A/C: Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct) - SD-A - L2045

After only just making it to my aircraft in time for the mission after having to clean up thanks to some over-eager bugger with a jug, I formed up as Blue 2 with Tech Hawes as Blue Leader (who seems to have not noticed that I was promoted recently, probably hasn't seen my new rank as he seems to have spent most of our time on terra firma with his head down the toilet after a very short time down the local. Suggest a new nickname of Half-pint Hawes if he keeps this up, haven't even seen him manage a half before he's slurring his speech and staggering off to the wc again). P/O Teepee and P/O Hollywood made up the rest of Blue section as Blues 3 and 4 respectively.

After spending the whole day before practicing taxiing, we taxied up to the runway perfectly, and took off (late, thanks to the yanks who took forever to clear the runway). We headed south and climbed to 10,000, until we were ordered to intercept some unkown contacts to the east near Brighton. As we got there, Red section were engaged by 109's. I tried to stick with Blue Leader and engage, but then we got mixed up in it too. I last saw Blue Leader diving down on a 109 as I tried to maintain my altitude to cover him. I was then bounced myself, managing to outturn the bugger, but lost contact with the rest of blue section. I was in a large scale furball with multiple contacts, mostly friendly. I picked up a few 109's on my 6, but never managed to get any myself and always managed to out-fly them. Meanwhile, the rest of Blue section was brought down and I was once again put in charge of the section that consisted of only myself. I have to say, however, that from here on in Blue section conducted some of the finest flying that I have ever seen, showing great courage and skill, and highly recommend all remaining members of Blue section at this point for a very large, shiny medal and a commission. (Perhaps a couple of stripes on my arm might make Tech Hawes take notice, although to him they'll probably look more like wavy lines after thirty seconds down the local.)

I then heard multiple reports of 109s and 110s around, saw plenty of contacts and flak, but all contacts I positively ID'd were friendly, much to my disapointment. After finally positively IDing a 109 that I believe was engaged with SGT Siddich and, after diving with him and following him on the deck for some time, gave up the chase, fearing he might be leading me in to trouble. I then regrouped with SGT Siddich over Brighton, us being only members of 501 still up, proceeding to execute an almost perfect formation landing at Shoreham, pulling alongside each other to check for damage afterwards.

Claims: None
Aircraft: Not a scratch, even the canvas over the guns still intact.
Pilot: Happy to be home safe, albeit with a somewhat interesting aroma thanks to the jug of 'water' from the morning

[Teepee]

501 Squadron was deployed to Southampton for the next mission. We shared the airfield with our colonial cousins, from the Americas, who were also flying the trusty Hurricane. We were given our flying orders and after waiting for what seemed like ages for the Yanks to get airborne we duly took off. I was in Blue section led by the ever eagle eyed Hawes who was flying with SAC kupsised as Blue 1 & 2 respectively. I was Blue 3 and had the trusty P/O Hollywood flying as Blue 4.

We climbed from 'Saints' and headed for Selsey Bill after being vectored by the Controller. The formation keeping was a tad rusty but we kept Red section in view and also the marauding Spitfires who seemed hell bent on shooting at anything wing wings - which meant we had to take evasive action on more than one occasion as the Spitties tried to attack our gallant colleagues in their trusty Hurricanes. Aircraft recognition was almost as bad as their navigation techniques so we assumed they were twinned with 64 Sqn.

We spotted the enemy and the Boss gave the order to attack and send the Hun back to sauerkrautville with his tail between his legs. In the ensuing melee the sections became separated but I heard numerous cries over the R/T as our gallant heroes in their trusty Hurricanes sent the enemy spiralling down to their watery graves.

Unfortunately Hollywood and I flew into a nest of vipers and I heard his cry of disappointment as a Hun dealt his trusty Hurricane a devastating volley causing him to ditch in the Channel. I turned to give assistance but was also sneakily attacked from behind and I too had to make for the mae west as my machine dove towards the blue waters near Brighton and parted the waves. I recall giving a jerry 109 a long burst of death dealing nuggets but cannot confirm if he went down.

I was picked up by the air Sea Rescue chaps and taken back to Southampton. I gave my brief to the Ops clerk who was amazed how high my spirits were despite being dunked by the Hun. After the brief I made my way to the Mess to see if any other of the hurricane boys had made it home safe. While I was there I met a rather nice young filly who worked in the clothing stores. I don't recall what happened next but it was jolly good fun judging by the mess my bunk was in when I woke up next morning. Tally ho!

I Claim:

1 damaged Bf 109 - not confirmed as no splash seen
1 trusty Hurricane lost on active service.
Tea and medals for being shot down sneakily.