Mission 14: 18th August 1940

[Siddich]

mission No.13 (05.01.2013)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location: Gravesend
A/C: Hurricane MkI (100oct) - SD-H

I claim:
-1 confirmed kill (Do-17)
-1 damaged Do-17

Plane:
-damaged undercarriage, hydraulics, radiator, engine and propeller

Pilot:
ok

[Meaker]

Form:540
Mission No.14 (5.01.2013)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location:RAF Gravesend
A/C: Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct) - SD-G

Nothing to report
Pilot:Ok

[Dickie]

Form:540
Mission No.14 (5.01.2013)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location:RAF Gravesend
A/C: Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct) - SD-K for King L2329

After a quiet day yesterday we knew Jerry was planning something big again. No.501 could put 6 Hurricanes into the air today and we were held on the ground by control for some time. Eventually we were given orders to scramble and climb to 15k ft south. No sooner had we got up we spotted a large gaggle of Germans to the East heading inland, must've been 20 plus Dorniers so we adjusted our gunsights for them. I ordered the group to pull the tit and head North West toward London so as to steer away from the Hun whilst we got into a better position to attack, flying parallel with the main group. They were escorted so we had to watch out. When we were over Biggin Hill, Hawes flying as Red 3, called that we'd been spotted and square heads were heading our way. I ordered the squadron to drive right at the bombers and get into them. Squiz struck first and I watched his target fall down immediately. I singled out the chap on the right of the formation and fired a long squirt into him. His starboard engine caught fire and them just fell off completely, I continued to fire raking him to the portside witnessing strikes all over him and I finished by inflicting heavy damage to the port engine. He immediately fell down and entered a spin whilst I climbed off left. I claim this Dornier 17 as destroyed. I watched around me and seemed clear but then spotted a damned 109 had followed me! Too late, yellow tracer flashed past and I felt a searing pain in my left arm, then I don't remember anything until waking up in a hospital bed, a pretty nurse changing a dressing on my legs.

Claims
1x Do17

Lost
1x Hurricane

[Binkitone]

Only my second official ACG sortie (pretty green at all this), as I was to expect resulted in being just cannon fodder again.
First I missed the roster call, found I was unable spawn at Kenley or as suggested Biggin Hill (maybe due to spawning initially at Manston?), I choose and manage to get in the air at Eastchurch, where I found I thought by contacting other guys that the activity was at 10,000ft over Gravesend.
Alone, I concentrated on obtaining attitude of above 10k searching around for any of the other guys, the chatter indicated the action was well below, but I could not spot anything. Continued to climb to circle around 18k, hoping to keep out of trouble and maintain the height advantage, although I knew I was vulnerable being alone, yet there could be still a chance I could spot a target. The action now moved south, particularly over Lympne, Someone (not yet familiar with names) having trouble with 109s, I reach the area and descended circling continuously, again to spot anything, knowing I was likely sooner or later to be bounced. Then It happened, a 109 passed slightly beneath me crossing my arc, I continued in as tighter turn several times to try and find him. Eventually, tracers pass me, then within a few seconds I took a final hit, all over as plunge to the deck. Good Fun though.

[Fenris]

Form:540
Mission No.14 (5.01.2013)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location: Kenley
A/C: Spitfire MkIIa - SH-F

claim:
-1 kill (Do-17)
-1 damaged Do-17


I had no chance at the engaging the escorts of the first wave of bombers because of their altitude advantage, i had more than enough evading their attacs.
I saw the second wave of bombers coming in and left the first wave.
I made a head-on attack on the starbord bomber in the formation before the escorts could attack me, attacking it from its starbord quarter at co-alt.
The bomber imediately caught fire and left the formation.
After that i tangled some more with some escorts and tried to rendezvous with som friendlies but was unable to.
As i was lining up to attack yet another formation of bombers i took some hits from what must have been an unseen escort causing my oil gasket to fail.
With a failing engine, i emptied my ammunition at a bomber at long range, scoring some hits but with no dramatic effect.
The engine then failed completely, and i glided in and made a dead-stick landing at Biggin Hill, the left wheel collapsing on touchdown.

Pilot: Ok
Plane: Damaged undercarriage, propellor and engine

[Hawes]

mission No.14 (5.12.2012)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location: Gravesend
A/C: Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct) - SD-T


I took off with the rest of the squadron as we were scrambled to engage incoming Hun. As we reached the target area we got some reports over the R/T that our fellow fighters were engaged with bombers.

One of our Czech pilots called out bandits, but it seems that the language lessons haven't been going so well. I scanned the sky and saw a large force of bombers and fighter at our 11 O'clock high. Sgt Valec must have been laughing at the blind English pilots he was with.
S/L Osprey diverted us to the N to gain height. We then turned back and engaged the bombers,DO 17s, from the beam.
I managed to get one burst off and caused some damage to one bomber, I was then engaged myself by a 109. I easily gave this Hun the slip, it looks like the Germans are letting boys fly fighters now.

I had dropped down several thousand feet by this point and as I climbed S I kept a keen eye out for E/A as I followed the bomber formation.

I caught a few stragglers over the coast near Littlestone and damaged another bomber. I was then bounced by 3 109s,
after a short fight the cowardly Hun got the better of me and I had to crash land in the sea.

I was picked up by our lads in a lifeboat and was given some hot sweet tea and some brandy to warm me up. God bless the air sea rescue for their brave work!




I claim:

1 damaged DO17
1 damaged HE 111

Campaign tally:

2 JU 87 destroyed
2 JU 87 as a probable
2 JU 87s as damaged
1 Bf 109 destroyed (confirmed)
2 BF 109 Probable
2 Dornier 17 destroyed
4 Dornier 17 damaged
2 damaged JU 88 destroyed
3 JU 88 probable destroyed
1 JU88 shared destroyed

1 damaged HE 111

[Teepee]

Form:540
Mission No.14 (5.01.2013)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location:RAF Gravesend
A/C: Hurricane Mk1 (100 oct) - SD-M

We took off from Gravesend, in our trusty Hurricanes, after being held back by Sector Control for ages. We even managed to hijack one of our colonial cousins, called Squiz, from the Canadian fliers down the road to sample how the fighting 501 dealt with vermin! We gained altitude after climbing over the London area and were quickly directed towards a massed raid of Dorniers. We headed towards the black marauders keen to deal the Hun some Ace of Spades. Too late, we were spotted by the patrolling 109's who dived between us and the bombers. In an instant I sensed a black shadow passing over my trusty Hurricane and felt a shudder that meant only one thing - Fritz had dealt a card from the bottom of the deck and sneakily took half my wing off. I cursed the fiend who flew past me and then set about nursing my crippled machine marvel back to the ground. Unfortunately for the boys in the Hawkers Design Team, they hadn't forseen this sort of underhanded tactic and my flying days were numbered in this faithful battle bus causing me to abandon the kite just South of Kenley. I was recovered by some LDV heroes who took me back to the airfield in their wagon. I swapped a few ripping yarns with the veterans who were understandably amazed at how the trusty Hurricane was dealing with the Hun while the Spitfire boys just seemed to rush around going everywhere but nowhere - they laughed heartily. I was debriefed by the Ops Intel Officer who commented on how lucky I was to be alive especially as he had been told there were Spitfires in the area who seemed to shoot at anything with a wing on it. After debriefing I made my way to the Hangar and selected another kite for the next mission. Later on I made my way to the mess bar to wash away the grit of war which was making me cough quite badly. My condition was noticed by the young filly nurse from the Medical center who took it upon herself to administer some therapy and an executive massage. I don't recall what happened next.

I claim:

1 x trusty Hurricane lost over England.
Tea and medals for being there.