Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

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Dickie
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Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Dickie » Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:23 pm

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron code: "TB"
Pilot name: Osprey
Date: 24th July 1940
Time: 1050hrs
Landed: 1134hrs
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking: P for Pip
Serial number: V6620

Synopsis:
Today was the 23rd July, the weather has been poor for days and Jerry has been restricted to some small skirmishes around the coasts but nothing in our sector since that big effort on the 20th where we kicked Goering right in the shin. Normally this is a calm before a storm and the chaps have been talking about how another 'big show' will happen just as soon as the weather takes a break. Reports are coming through of single bombers flying up high streets of our fine market towns shooting at anything and everything. German rotters, poor form. The atmosphere around the place has been relatively quiet, we're not on even 30 minutes stand by at the moment and I think it's only so long you can keep the chaps unoccupied before there is trouble, and that's what happened. FO Teepee attempted to get a full rubgy scrum between officers of 501 and 615 inside the officers mess today "to decide who had the biggest push against Huns in the Hurricane" according to FL Random and I walked in during a 'put in', with an empty whiskey bottle as the ball and the bally thing collapsed because some of those chaps had drunk the bottle, or two, themselves. I called everyone to attention and there were some startled faces. PO Meaker, who was still mourning the mysterious loss of Merlin, could hardly stand straight. "Now listen here you men, this won't do and I won't stand for it" I said assertively, "we could be asked to go to readiness at any time, I could've walked in here with AVM Park, what would you have said then?", "Frolics is one thing but the drinking must stop during operational hours regardless of the weather. Is that clear?". Some muffled "Yes sir" answers were heard amongst chortling guffaws from in the corner where pilots from No.64 had witnessed the whole thing. "And you men" I said turning to Bounder, Looky and Tyrone who had stopped playing cards and stood to attention, the sniggering stopping in an instant, "This goes no further, and that's for moral", "Yes sir". I doffed my cap and left the mess. I couldn't be too harsh, they had to let off steam and I dare say it wasn't a good idea to let this go further but rules were rules and we had to be ready for Jerry at any moment - lives were at stake and I'd die in a pool of blood before hearing Hitlers jackbooted thugs marching through England's rolling green fields and brewing fizzy beer instead of a fine pint of Badgers Bollocks.
Later I made my way over to Gravesend Hospital to meet the chap I'd shot down on the 20th. He was an American of all sorts but of German heritage and keen airmen. He'd suffered some hypothermia waiting for the Walrus but was otherwise ok and nearly ready to be placed into custody in the Tower of London with the rest of the Luftwaffe. He'd signed up in 1937 at Hitlers call but had no idea he'd end up fighting the British! He thanked me for letting him live and seemed relieved after his ordeal, it wasn't what he expected. This was a far cry from some of the blond haired idealists we'd had the displeasure to talk to afterwards, he lacked the arrogance, superiority complex and downright thuggery of many of Hitler's henchmen. Still, the war was over for him and sure enough the Americans would get involved eventually after we've beaten back the Luftwaffe, then he was in trouble.

On the 24th the wing was sent down to Hawkinge and a scramble order came before 11am just as I was about to bite into a bacon roll. A strong south westerly was blowing and some of No.64 dangerously ignored protocols and blasted into a crosswind. Control was livid and all sorts was said on the RT, of course I was answerable so had some words to say about that, but on with the show and soon over 30 Merlins had roared into the sky. We all reformed East of North Foreland at angels 15 before Fritz was spotted "One O'Clock, 40 plus" said PO Bully, "Dorniers" reported SL Hawes from No.615 position out ahead "Where are the snappers?" asked one of the Freema flight leads. Meanwhile Mandrel had set up guns and were perfectly positioned for my favourite attack, the head on. "Jerry doesn't like it" I said confidently to myself as we all pulled the tit and went in. I blasted one of the lead elements and De Wilde trickled it's way into the fuel system on their starboard wing starting a fire, the plexiglass was shattered in the front too, I chalk this one as probable because I wasn't going to hang around but he was in real difficulty.

After that I turned in on the second wave from the port side. I was too fast and unfortunately collided with the tail section of a Dornier. I wobbled a bit but Sydney Camm had made such an incredible fighter that I was in full control despite losing half of my starboard wing. 30 miles off North Foreland I made 270 to Manston to pancake. The gear still came down but I must've broken the locking mechanism because it collapsed on my landing run and I turned over. I bashed my head which was sore but undid the straps and got out ok. FO Bonkin was on hand to help me out, he'd been struck in the governor by one of the back crossed crates 10 minutes before me. We went to the nearest bunker, lit our pipes and watched the show, Kenley Wing were giving the Hun a battering overhead which was jolly good entertainment. I heard afterwards that a couple of ships had been lost, including an entire consignment of 'french letters' which the Navy had ordered for 'out at sea' use, but that's not like losing 100 octane and I didn't want to know what the rowers got up to.

Claims:
Destroyed: none
Probable: 1x Do17
Damaged: 1x Do17

Pilot: OK
Aircraft: Heavy airframe damage

Spud
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Spud » Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:24 pm

Squadron: No.516
Squadron code: "KW"
Pilot name: Spud
Date: 24th July 1940
Time: 1050hrs
Landed: 0000hrs
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking: R
Serial number: N5335

Synopsis:

Took off as #2 for Hawes. After climbing up to about Angels 16 we turned to an intercept heading of 157. Bombers were spotted at our 11 o'clock low. Multiple flights of bombers with escort. Hawes rolled in and I followed. I lined up on the far right side of the bombers. As I picked my man, another bomber slid into my sights at a much closer distance so I gave him a squirt instead and his left wing caught fire as he rolled over. Hawes broke up and left as I continued straight away. I put a squirt into my original intended target getting some hits before pulling up and looping over to finish him off. I pulled out of my loop, lined him up again and fired a long burst. He burst into flames and rolled left. Just then I hears a single tick........ and all went black................................................


Claims: 2 bombers destroyed
Pilot: Killed
Aircraft: destroyed
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Katt
Posts: 185
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Mission #12 - 24 July 1940

Post by Katt » Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:29 pm

Squadron: No. 501 "County of Surrey" Squadron
Squadron Code: WK
Pilot name: Katt
Date: 24 July 1940
Time:1045hrs
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane
Marking: "P"
Serial: R4194

Synopsis: Group take off - flying wing on Hollywood - intercepted bombers but was diverted to single engine e/a - three of us were chasing one who spun out of control - I was attacked and evaded thru the clouds - attempted to overtake three e/a multi-engine types but was attacked, wounded, and forced to ditch.

Claims
Destroyed O
Damaged O

Losses
Pilot-wounded
A/C - lost
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Bounder
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Bounder » Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:44 pm

Squadron: No.64
Squadron code: "SH"
Marking: B
Pilot name: Bounder
Date: 24th July 1940
Base: Hawkinge
Type: SUPERmarine Spitfire

Synopsis:
Scrambled from Hawkinge with Pink section leader Nitrous, and deadeye Fenris. Rest of 64 formed on Pink, climbed angels 14 and followed Hurricanes to intercept large bomber raid. Broke to engage 109 on a Hurricane's six who was lining up for a Donier. Smashed 109, left him venting water and oil and headed down. Had a go at a Donier, hit left wing which caught alight and leaked oil, Donier went down before reaching fleet. Turned and searched out a second 109, sent him down venting by the bombers. Picked up 3rd 109 with Tyrone, 109 descended, I followed, batted him in the cockpit which turned red, 109 went into the drink. Climbed back towards the ships by Ramsgate, picked up Vranac and Gromic on a high 109. We worked him down, myself and Vranac catching and dispatching him, sending him down into the drink by the ships at Ramsgate. Whilst this went on another 109 turned up to try and save his friend, Vranac hit him damaging and causing this extra 109 to vent and disengage.

Claims: 2 109s destroyed (1 shared with Vranac), 1 DO-17 destroyed.
Plus a further 2 109s damaged and probable destroyed.

Pilot: OK
Aircraft: OK, one small calibre bullet hole in right wing

edit for terrible spelling
Last edited by Bounder on Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Von Archie
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Von Archie » Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:50 pm

Squadron: No.615
Squadron code: KW
Pilot name: Archie
Date: 24th July 1940
Time: 1050hrs
Landed: 0000hrs
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking: K
Serial number: R4192

Synopsis:
After the last mission, when my old Hurri was written off, today I took over a brand new Hurri, again marked 'K'. Had a quick look through the pilots notes, a mysterious '4.3' scrawled in the margin. No one knows what that means yet, but the new Hurri seems to fly well! Scrambled to intercept a large raid attacking a convoy in the channel. Took off as number 2 to Random, followed Random into the attack but he was hit by return fire immediately from a bomber and had to RTB. Attacked a Do17 which jettisoned bombs and then span towards the sea. Gained altitude and saw a streaming 109 in the clouds, trying to form back up with the bombers.Crept up on him and gave him a few squirts, he dove to sea level, I followed and gave him a 2 second burst and he disappeared beneath the waves. RTB Hawkinge without a scratch.
Claims: 1 Do17 probable
1 Me109 probable
Pilot: OK
Aircraft: OK
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Johnny
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Johnny » Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:33 pm

Squadron: 615 sqn
Squadron Code: KW
Pilot name: Johnny
Date: 24 July 1940
Time:1045hrs
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane
Marking: Z for Zebra
Serial: L1592

Synopsis: Took off from Hawkinge and climbed up towards Manston. We banked right and headed out to sea. We spotted a huge formation of planes and moved to intercept. I dived on one bomber and set him on fire. I pulled away and avoided many attacks from 109s. Got back to the bombers setting 2 on fire. One of 64s lads got hits on the second bomber I set on fire. I was out of ammo so I landed back at Hawkinge. I spawned a new plane at Hawkinge at patrolled the coast but then returned to base.
Claims
Destroyed 2 and 1 shared
Damaged 0

Losses
Pilot-ok
A/C - a few 7.2mm bullet holes but no major damage
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Binkitone
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Binkitone » Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:47 pm

Form 540
Mission 12 date: 24th July 1940
Aerodrome: Hawkinge
Aeroplane: Spitfire 1a (100oct) / SH-W Serial number: K9964

Synopsis:
Strapped in my cockpit on the ground at Hawkinge facing 169 degrees waiting for instructions. On receiving radar information of contacts, a shout to start up and to scramble in flight order, then in the confusion this was changed to proceed to the east end of the airstrip to face into the wind. During taxiing over in readiness for take off, I was unfortunate to find myself in the path of a fellow Spitfire starting to take off, I was lucky to climb out, unhurt from a burning wreck. After only short time and persuasion , I manage to find a spare crate with the engine running, clambered in and sped across the airfield to be adjacent to a windsock, lining up ready once again to take off, two other Spits arrived on my four o'clock which proceeded to accelerate, identified one as Vranac as the lead aeroplane, I followed them into the air in right hand turn towards Manston.
Reaching 18k, east of North Foreland, two large groups of enemy bombers were sighted heading north west, several thousand feet below on our eleven o'clock, I was instructed to stay above to spot any lurking escorts. Hearing continuous conflicting reports of contacts at various locations at altitudes, I eventually arrived over our convoy of ships east of the Thames Estuary north of Herne Bay, Bounder and Vranac were already engaging 109's at low level. By the time I dived down through dense clouds to support the action was over, Bounder was out of ammo and was RTB, while Vranac was reported to be climbing east, as climb up in that direction, no warning, all became black, I 'met my maker', I'm no more!

Claims
Destroyed:0
Probable:0
Damaged:0

Lost
Pilot status: KIA
Aeroplane status: Lost.
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Baron le Scrope
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Baron le Scrope » Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:37 am

Squadron: No615.
Squadron code: "KW"
Pilot name:Baron.
Date: 24th July 1940
Time: 1050hrs
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking:B for beer.
Serial number: P3231

Took of from Hawkinge with SACJohnny as a pair, our heading initially towards Manston then
banked right with the rest of 615 and headed towards France where contact was made with a
large formation of bombers and their escorts, Johnny and i took on the 109s whilst the rest
of 615 went for the bombers.I covered his six as we dived to intercept, instead we got diverted
onto a gaggle of bombers, where Johnny promptly set one on fire, my game froze for a 4secs
and continued to do so.I headed in fits and starts back to blighty. Made contact with 2 Do-17s
heading from Manston towards Canterbury, got muliple hits damaging his engines and saw him
rapidly losing altitude,pulled up and half rolled over the top of him whilst shutting down
the throttle as i was overshooting him. As i dived back down onto him the game froze once again,
and when it became unfroze??, i was inside mother earth pushing up daisies.






Claims
Destroyed 1 Do-17, confirmed by the pilot who crashed on the beach Thaine: If no real person confirms it, it's a probable. [now a pow]
Damaged

Losses
Pilot Are we deaded when game crashes???? Thaine: I consider this as similar to launcher crash. So unharmed and plane ok.
A/C. Crashed through freeze
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Think nothing of it sir, it was the least I could do, a quantity I specialize in.

Venom
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Location: Bedfordshire

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Venom » Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:13 am

Squadron: No.64
Squadron code: "SH"
Marking: Z
Pilot name: Venom
Date: 24th July 1940
Base: Hawkinge
Type: SUPERmarine Spitfire

Synopsis:
Watched Pink flight and the rest of 64 squadron prematurely scramble but taxied around to line up and take off into the wind behind 64 Squadron Spitfire SH-W. Two other spits were also formed in front of us. They both took off and I told SH-W to punch it. I thought I saw him do this so swung my bird the extra 20 degrees I needed to take off parallel with the rest of the flight, but hidden under my nose was SH-W who had stopped dead. There was a slight collision and minor engine explosion. SH-W's wing was ripped clean off but luckily we had a couple of spare spitfires laying about, so we hopped in them and chased down the rest of the squadron alone.

I arrived a couple of minutes late while the majority of 64 were in a heavy fight with a substantial flight of bombers and 109's mid-channel. I lined up and dove with high speed onto a do-17, isolated on the far left hand side of the pack. I got some good shots into their left wing, removing the ailerons. Plus good hits into his left engine and fuselage causing him to vent and smoke. As I dove under the bombers right wing I took some hits from their gunners but nothing serious. I went to roll back over onto the six of the same do-17, but immediately started getting hit from behind by what I can only assume was a 109. I broke hard but took some serious damage to my engine with his first burst. I seemed to shake that aggressor with evasive manoeuvres and found myself on the tail of another 109 in a shallow climb. However, before I could line up to give him a squirt of 303, my engine started to lose power and suddenly failed.

I closed my radiator and quickly dove away from the combat zone to RTB. Unfortunately my kite didn't have quite enough glide to get back to base, but managed to get as far as 100 yards or so feet wet from Dover where I ditched. It was a bit of a rough landing flipping my plane ass over tit taking a few knocks myself, but I was okay. Luckily the tide was on my side and despite a belly full of English channel, I was able to swim to shore and later RTB to fight another day.

Claims: 1 DO-17 probable / heavily damaged.

Pilot: A few cuts and bruises but nothing too serious.
Aircraft: Swimming with the fishies.

Redeye
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 12: 24th July 1940

Post by Redeye » Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:06 am

Squadron: No.64
Squadron code: "SH"
Marking: P
Pilot name: Redeye
Date: 24th July 1940
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Spitfire mk Ia

Synopsis:
My take off was a bloody mess due to to high accelleration and cross wind, causing me to abort and reform. Took off with SL Gromic, Binky and Venom, the latter two colliding on takeoff. Gained hight and gave chase to the first group to reform. Had hell staying in formation, either lagging or overshooting like a rocket, but got stuck in finally. Took a hit from a creeping 109, killing me instantly. Not the what I needed, but what I deserved. (PK- though could have been legit. ). FUBAR.

Pilot: KIA
AC: Destroyed.

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