Mission 14: August 18th 1940 [repeat]
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:39 pm
18th August 1940
Mission 14 (Sun 06/01/13):
Duration: ~39 minutes
Home Airfield: RAF Kenley
Aircraft: SH-B; Spitfire 2a
After a long break I am back on active duty, 64 squadron fielded 10 Spitfires today which were split into two sections: Red & Blue. I believe we lost one or two pilots in the air to disconnects. Flying as Red 1 with Darkshadow, Looky, Binkitone & Gromic. We were scrambled and received orders to intercept a large bomber raid - at angels 20 near Canterbury we made contact with a large squadron of 109s at 11 o'clock, at around angels 18, as we passed over them I ordered Red section to roll in and attack. The 109s went evasive and as we approached individuals they dove away, myself and Gromic maintained our altitude and attempted to engage 109s but they ran away. We became separated but both spotted 2 large formations of bombers heading inland from Dover, as we approached Yranac from Blue section reported he was also closing on the area. The bombers had at least two 109 squadrons covering - the three of us couldn't attempt to dogfight two full squadrons of 109s and since the bombers are the RAFs primary target I ordered us to hit & run the bombers before the fighters got onto us. We made our attack runs, I attacked the first formation (DO-17s) from and damaged one of the Dorniers who vented heavily and went down but I received damage to my left gun port (claim 1 DO-17 destroyed). I swung around and attacked the second bomber formation (Ju88s), I got hits into a Ju88s right engine which set alight and I watched the crew bail as the Ju88 went down (claim 1 Ju88 destroyed). I carried on through to attack the Dorniers again and got hits into and damaging another DO-17 but as I passed through I received damage from their nose gunners and began to vent radiator coolant. I signaled over R/T that I would RTB, heading for Kenley, however my engine began to fail near to Maidstone and so I landed at RAF Maidstone. During our attack on the bombers, Gromic had identified a third wave of bombers lagging behind the first two.
Claims: 2 destroyed (1 Ju88, 1 DO-17); plus 1 DO-17 damaged
Aircraft: SH-B damage to radiator and engine
Pilot: OK, landed at RAF Maidstone.
Mission 14 (Sun 06/01/13):
Duration: ~39 minutes
Home Airfield: RAF Kenley
Aircraft: SH-B; Spitfire 2a
After a long break I am back on active duty, 64 squadron fielded 10 Spitfires today which were split into two sections: Red & Blue. I believe we lost one or two pilots in the air to disconnects. Flying as Red 1 with Darkshadow, Looky, Binkitone & Gromic. We were scrambled and received orders to intercept a large bomber raid - at angels 20 near Canterbury we made contact with a large squadron of 109s at 11 o'clock, at around angels 18, as we passed over them I ordered Red section to roll in and attack. The 109s went evasive and as we approached individuals they dove away, myself and Gromic maintained our altitude and attempted to engage 109s but they ran away. We became separated but both spotted 2 large formations of bombers heading inland from Dover, as we approached Yranac from Blue section reported he was also closing on the area. The bombers had at least two 109 squadrons covering - the three of us couldn't attempt to dogfight two full squadrons of 109s and since the bombers are the RAFs primary target I ordered us to hit & run the bombers before the fighters got onto us. We made our attack runs, I attacked the first formation (DO-17s) from and damaged one of the Dorniers who vented heavily and went down but I received damage to my left gun port (claim 1 DO-17 destroyed). I swung around and attacked the second bomber formation (Ju88s), I got hits into a Ju88s right engine which set alight and I watched the crew bail as the Ju88 went down (claim 1 Ju88 destroyed). I carried on through to attack the Dorniers again and got hits into and damaging another DO-17 but as I passed through I received damage from their nose gunners and began to vent radiator coolant. I signaled over R/T that I would RTB, heading for Kenley, however my engine began to fail near to Maidstone and so I landed at RAF Maidstone. During our attack on the bombers, Gromic had identified a third wave of bombers lagging behind the first two.
Claims: 2 destroyed (1 Ju88, 1 DO-17); plus 1 DO-17 damaged
Aircraft: SH-B damage to radiator and engine
Pilot: OK, landed at RAF Maidstone.