Mission 15: August 18th 1940

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Siddich
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:58 pm
Location: Illertissen, Germany

Mission 15: August 18th 1940

Post by Siddich » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:43 pm

mission No.15 (12.01.2013)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location: RAF Ford
A/C: Hurricane MkI (100oct) - SD-H

I claim:
-1 confirmed kill (Bf 109 - yellow wing tips and green colour on the fuselage)

Plane:
-damaged undercarriage, hydraulics, fuel system, weapons propeller and I wouln't use the engine again ;-)

Pilot:
lightly wounded

P.S.: I can confirm one 109 with a fuel-leak ditching (whoever shot at him) - he was a good pilot, or at least better than me ;-)

Meaker
Posts: 1513
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:28 pm

Re: Mission 15: August 18th 1940

Post by Meaker » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:22 pm

Form 540
Mission No:15(12.01.2013)
Date:18th August 1940 'Yes the Hardest Day'
Airfield:RAF Ford
A/C:Hurricane MkI (100oct) SD-G 'George'

We took off from RAF Ford,I was flying Red Two behind the Squadron Leader,the Squadron vectored over Southampton and then flew over the IOW.We were steadily climbing when we were bounced by several 109's.

Almost at once I got hit and dived to the deck,tried to wressle the blessed aircraft and trim to counteract the appauling loss of control but alas looking out along my starboard wing or what was left of it I realised I had to bail,which I did.

There was a very wet welcome below and after being picked up in a fishing boat I reflected on just how lucky I was to have survived by the skin of my teeth again,I did hear on returning to base that some of our chaps had made good names for themselves by giving Jerry a damn good hiding........sweet revenge,well done lads.

Pilot:ok
Aircraft:Erm.....a write off again I'm afraid Guvnor

Bounder
Posts: 455
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Location: Notts UK

Re: Mission 15: August 18th 1940

Post by Bounder » Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:03 am

18th August 1940
Mission 15 (Sat 12/01/13):
Duration: 1 hour 17 minutes
Home Airfield: RAF Kenley
Aircraft: SH-B; Spitfire 2a

There has definitely been a shift in Jerry’s tactics – for weeks the Hun had confined his dastardly attacks on merchant shipping but of late we have been vectored to protect targets on British soil. Following this mornings sortie near Canterbury (mission 14), the squadron was quickly refueled and rearmed and we were back in action again in the evening, receiving scramble orders toward the Isle of Wight (IOW). 8 serviceable Spitfires from 64 Squadron got up from RAF Kenley and split into 2 sections: I flew as Red 1 with Gromic, Darkshadow and Binkitone; Blue section were Yranac, Looky and Luke, lead by Tyrone.

We were vectored by Home Chain south of Selsey Bill toward a large 40+ formation of enemy bombers. I believe it was Blue section leader Tyrone, who spotted the formation of bombers at around angels 15 - with no fighter escorts in sight! We manoeuvred on top of the large bomber formation which we identified as Ju87 Stuka dive bombers and dove in to attack – it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

64 tore into the Stukas, dispatching around half the formation before they could reach Blighty. We made our attack runs – I made 4 runs on the Stuka formation, closely followed by the squadron – on each run we each tore into the Ju87s and if he didn’t go in, someone else made sure he did. I put in 3 Stukas in total, two with help from Darkshadow (claim 1 Ju87 destroyed + 2 partial kill claims).

Toward the end of our attack, with several pilots winchester, drips and drabs of the wayward enemy fighter escort began to turn up, no doubt after receiving R/T transmissions from the stricken Stukas. Luke reported being briefly engaged by a 109 but he evaded and the 109 disappeared. Then Looky and I spotted a bf110 coming in toward the rear of what was left of the Stukas, we attacked the bf110 and put him in low on the deck (claim 1 bf110 destroyed partial claim).

As the bf110 went in, we formed up with Luke; with Looky winchester and the rest of us running low on ammo we began to head for home. We encountered several Stukas limping home low on the deck; Luke and I had enough ammunition to make sure another one didn't get back for his Schnapps, putting him into the drink east of the IOW (claim 1 Ju87 destroyed partial claim). We all then vectored back to RAF Kenley for tea and medals, very deserving today after a jolly good show bashing the Bosh.

Intelligence reports indicate that in total, taking account of partial claims, 64 put in 22 Stukas today and one bf110. Not bad! If Mr Hitler intends on waging his war in this fashion, this war may go well for us yet.

Claims: 1 Ju87 destroyed; and further 3 Ju87 destroyed partial claims; and 1 bf110 destroyed partial claim.
Aircraft: OK
Pilot: OK, landed at RAF Kenley.
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Kupsised
Posts: 78
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Re: Mission 15: August 18th 1940

Post by Kupsised » Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:03 pm

mission No.15 (12.01.2013)
Date: 18th August 1940
Location: RAF Ford
A/C: Hurricane MkI (100oct) - SD-A

Took off from Ford as all one section, scrambling to meet some bombers. After some tactical flying we managed to fly beneath the fighter escort and were just coming up on the bombers when at least two 109s cut in to our formation. We engaged and became split up, they had hit us at exactly the wrong time as we were climbing fast to reach the bombers. After tangling with a 109 for a while I broke away to engage the bombers, but never made it there as at least two 109's were stalking me. A series of fortunate looks at the right time kept me alive and I kept out turning them, dragging them back towards land. Eventually they broke away, and I stalked one who went off on his own from a safe distance just on his 6 low so he wouldn't be able to see me very well. He headed North back to England, where he turned, spotted me, and came in on me. I tangled with him for a bit, me out turning him and him out climbing me, then a friend of his showed up. I dived for the deck, hoping that some friendly ack might do them some harm, but got no such luck. One of the 109's followed me down, and we tangled for a long time, each just missing the other, him looping and me circling. Eventually he got one lucky hit into my engine and it started screaming. I knew I was going too fast to land, but saw an airfield very close my so thought it'd be worth a punt. The place looked deserted, no signs of life at all, so I figured that if I stuffed this up at least no one would get hurt. I came in with flaps fully extended, wheels coming down and rudder hard over in order to bleed off speed, eventually hitting the ground just as both wheel lights went green. As I was started to slow down I saw the 109 coming in to strafe from my 9 o'clock. With the cannopy already open, I undid my straps and flung myself over the side of the aircraft, which now had all three wheel on the ground, and came rolling to a halt battered and bruised, staying conscious long enough to see my hurri get badly battered then go wheeling into the side of a hanger and explode, at which point I lost consciousness.

As I came round shortly afterwards in a hospital somewhere near Southampton, I was told that the airfield I'd landed at was deserted at the moment, so at least I hadn't done anyone any serious damage. I was declared deceased in the crash, discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health and recieved a letter from HQ being told to report for duty again that evening.

Claims: None
Pliot: Dead, but ready to fly again
Aircraft: Destroyed

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Re: Mission 15: August 18th 1940

Post by Dickie » Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:50 pm

Form 540
Mission No:15(12.01.2013)
Date:18th August 1940
Airfield:RAF Ford
A/C:Hurricane MkI (100oct) SD-K for King L2329

After a busy morning fighting Hun in our own sector No.501 were sent down to Ford 'drome, practically deserted because it was being used by the rowers and a night fighter squadron, all tucked up in bed. This was presumably to give us some much needed rest after a busy few weeks with Jerry. Since this was a coastal base (not in the mucky estuary of the Thames) then we were all keen to soak up the afternoon down on the beach not 1 mile from the strip. Just as we started up a leap-frog line all the way there for a game of rugger (Bunny had brought a ball with him) did the AOC, Wing Co start shouting from across the field for us to come back at once, apparently we were to be At Readiness within 20 minutes. I thought it was a bad joke so told him where to go, rotten luck this one wasn't in the mood for japes and tore a strip off me - what a bastard, Sgt Hawes had to hold me back.
Shortly afterwards the call came and we scrambled, heading out to the Solent. We were then told that Jerry were high up and well ahead of a major group - a new tactic - so we dropped a few thousand feet out of sight and then were told to turn about and intercept before they reached Selsey Bill. Just south of Selsey bill we were spotted as a stray Hun jumped Bunny Hewitt who was our weaver, he was OK though and pancaked in a field. A great fight started up, lots of noise on the R/T and machines began falling down. I was hit in the tail and port wing inhibiting my turning ability but stayed in the fight, I lined up a 109 in a climbing turn at 150 yards and fired - Damn, only the starboard battery fired and my trusty Hurricane lurched in yaw to starboard missing him. He saw the tracer and escaped. Although I had no punch Jerry didn't know and I had eyes so I stuck about despite protests from the chaps. Meanwhile those rum coves in No.64 had found a large Stuka formation without an escort and proceeded to batter them. I ordered any chap not fighting to get to the Hun bombers and give them a kick in the shin whilst the rest of us tied up this wayward escort. Sgt Valec, a Czech, fought with me, I played bait for 2 Hun since I had no guns and he lined them up. I saw him send one into the sea and another running after the Bosh Air Sea Rescue Service.

After the fighting ended Valec, Kupsised and I flew back to Ford and put in safely, some of the others were already back. With no losses we had our game of rugger on the beach after all.

Victories
None

Losses
None

Vranac
Posts: 1281
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Re: Mission 15: August 18th 1940

Post by Vranac » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:18 pm

Form 540
Mission No.15(12.01.2013)
Date:18th August 1940
Airfield:RAF Kenley
A/C:Spitfire IIa , SH-V

I took off as a part of Blue section from Kenley.We climbed towards IOW and Tyrone spotted the huge formation of bombers, we looked out for their cover but there wasn't any.We started attacking those poor Ju-87 like sitting ducks.I gave 2-3 sec bursts to two of them and they went down in smoke while others started droping bombs.
While in pool out maneuver I was hit and someone warned me that I'm loosing glycol.I knew that my engine won't last long
so I turned towards IoW.
I shot another Ju-87 with good burst and another smoking one, but I didn't look at them any more because I was running out of time.
In a minute or two my engin screamed and stopped so I continued gliding towards Bembrige airfield.
Unfortunately I didn't make it to the airfield so I landed on the beach close to it.

Claims: 2 Ju-87 destroyed; Ju-87 probable, Ju-87 partial probable
Aircraft: Dead engine, prop bent.
Pilot: OK
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