Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

RAF flight reports for the epic ACG Historical Campaign - "Peace In Our Time" covering the Fall of France and the Battle of Britain. We are recruiting new pilots so you can join this - post in the Reception to request a seat. This forum is publically viewable.

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Thaine
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

Post by Thaine » Sat May 03, 2014 8:28 pm

Squadron: No. 64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Thaine
Base: Kenley
Type: Spitfire Ia
Marking: J
Serial number: L1068

Takeoff from Kenley in the wake of 501 and 615. Then southeast course towards Dover, climbing to angles 12. 615 did already report contact with bombers and escort over Dover. We arrived and attacked the escorts. I tried to follow Green leader Looky as good as possible. Finally came across a 109 that dove aggressively to avoid my bullets. I abandoned the attack to conserve energy. Circled a bit more south of Dover at angles 14 and was finally followed by 2 109's. The first one got some hits but nothing lethal. I was able to shake them during their second pass and dove towards Dover, where several others were engaged with Jerry. Followed Vranac into an attack. He put his last rounds into a 109 which started streaming glycol and oil. I continued the attack and put some more rounds into into him, chased him for some more seconds and finally left him. He tried to escape for France close to the deck but probably made it into the channel. A second 109 appeared right in front of my nose and I went in for the the attack. Due to poor aiming, he suffered only some damage, streaming from one radiator. I tried to chase him towards France to finish him off and only realized that I was dragged into a counter attack when the cannon rounds hit. Badly wounded and hardly seeing anything I ran for England but my pursuers would not let go. Whit last efforts I opened the canopy and rolled out of the Cockpit. Luckily, my parachute opened and I glided towards the cold sea. That's when consciousness left me.
I awakened in the hospital to my relief. Some comrades from 64 came for visit and told me I was lucky not to be captured. A german sub was close to getting a hand on me. But it was scared away and dove when an English patrol boat arrived. The guys from the boat said that this particular U-Boot has been lurking around since a couple of weeks and they suspect it to be on a special mission only to fish Luftwaffe pilots out of the drink. Anyway, the doctors say it's not sure I can make it for the next mission but will try their best. The RAF has planes enough but pilots seem to get rare.

Claims:
Destroyed: none.
Probable: 1 x Me109 shared
Damaged: 1 x Me109

Losses:
Pilot: Injured
A/C: Lost
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Bonkin
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Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 6:47 pm
Location: East Yorkshire, England

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

Post by Bonkin » Sun May 04, 2014 3:46 pm

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron code: "SD"
Pilot name: Bonkin
Date: 25th July 1940
Base: Kenley
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking: "Z for Zebra"
Serial number: P3803

Synopsis
Wing scramble to intercept radar contacts over channel heading towards Dover. CAVOK 1/8 Oktas SCT. Intercepted 10+ Do17s overhead Dover at Angels 14. Shot one down but was shortly afterwards fatally damaged by fire from a 109. Crash landed 1 mile North of Hawkinge.

Engine Start 1127
Brakes Off 1129
Brakes On ----
Engine Shutdown ----

Full Report
Nigsy is doing the squadron proud again. He seems to have gotten over the experience he had with Merlin and the Cesspit – and is once again chasing rabbits all over the place. He is still highly respectful of that Nitrous chap though… he doesn’t like to go anywhere near him. It’s probably that thing with his anal glands – Nitrous knows an awful lot about dogs and is always giving me advice on how to handle him. He keeps asking to take Nigsy for a walk but I think it’s just a ploy to steal our mascot! Besides, I’m not sure that the “reach around” technique is the best way to restrain him whilst checking his undercart for unhealthy lumps – or that it has to be done each week!

Anyway, the fitters have been gathering quite a stock pile now of Nigsy Special Brew (which we’re keeping for the next wing party), and now they’ve come up with quite a new little delight which they are calling “Nigsy Mud Nuggets”. Not quite sure what we’re going to do with those yet – but they often found in front of the wheels of Spitfires. I’ve heard there has already been a few complaints from No.64’s armourers because they have to get on their backs under the wings to get access to the gun panels. I just think that if they had Sydney Camm’s marvel machines then they wouldn’t get marks up their backs!

It was another wing effort today. We were at cockpit readiness when the call to take-off came through. Once again we demonstrated to the Spittie boys of No.64 a perfect formation take-off and the boss led us round for a low pass over their heads to wake them up as they tried to arrange themselves on the tarmac.

It wasn’t long before 501 were majestically assembled and on an intercept path to the incoming enemy. Over Dover we spotted them coming directly towards us but also a few thousand feet above us. Snappers were everywhere and as we wheeled around to the left underneath the attacking force the R/T was alive with the calls of attacking 109’s.

Catching up with a vic of three Do17’s I selected the lead one as this did not appear to have taken any damage. My first rounds missed but the following ones soon started to hit home. A five second burst blew his tail off and the enemy machine started its death plunge to the ground below.

Following my attack I extended my run beneath the enemy bombers and waited until I was out of guns range before pulling back up again. As I started to climb up for a second attack one of the snappers had a pop at me. I gave chase losing some altitude but could not catch up with him so I decided to climb back up and head over to Dover harbour where my fellow flyers were dealing some death and destruction to the black crossed marauders.

Before I could get involved in the scraps beneath me one of the dirty rotter 109’s succeeded in striking my marvel machine in the tail. Somehow my cockpit had also been hit but I was unhurt. A number of instruments were either smashed or not working and the elevator had no authority either.

“Damned those buggers” I thought as I rolled and rolled in an attempt to get the nose down. I knew I could not carry on the fight and had to leave the battle. It was at this stage that I realised that my engine controls were not working either. Neither throttle, pitch nor mixture were having any effect so I was stuck at combat settings.

Not wanting to leave my wonder machine I realised that with some luck I might just make Hawkinge. Selecting the fuel selector to “Off” I was able to stop the upwards pitch but unfortunately the nose now dropped dramatically earthwards and my predicament of being too high and nose up for approach into landing was now rapidly evolving into one of being too low and nose down.

Working the trim I tried to restart the engine without success. With the ground rushing up at me and no longer being able to hold course I was resigned to a crash landing with the wheels only half down. Thankfully for me I passed through some trees without hitting any large branches and then bounced and skidded down to a halt without injury.

I climbed out and surveyed the damage to my plane. The fitters were certainly going to have a job tonight! Then, with some frustration, I started to walk to Hawkinge. Well at least I’d be able to enjoy a drink in the bar!

Claims
Destroyed: 1x Do17
Probable: 0
Damaged: 0

Losses
Pilot: Miraculously unhurt.
A/C: In need of a few patches, half a wing, a new engine and instrument panel.

Footage of the event:
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Sabre
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Location: Washington, England

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

Post by Sabre » Sun May 04, 2014 5:22 pm

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron code: "SD"
Pilot name: Sabre
Date: 25th July 1940
Time: 1140hrs
Base: Kenley
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking: S for Sugar
Serial number: P3397

Synopsis:
Took off with the rest of No.501 and headed up to Angels 12, heading 120 towards Dover area. We noticed some high contacts with contrails but carried on to seek out the bombers. Soon after we spotted a number of Dornier 17's and the CO ordered the engagement. I turned the old girl and quickly closed on the right hand bomber. Just as I was about to let him have some DeWilde tracers flew past both right and left, luckily I wasn't hit. I took evasive action and dived down but wasn't followed. I proceeded to climb back up and search for contacts but couldn't see anything. There were a couple of Spitfires and Hurricanes in the area.

Various contact calls were being called over the radio, some at Canterbury, others a Deal and Dover. I seemed to spend quite some time heading to the points of contact only to find empty skies. Pilot Officer Robo radioed contact with a formation of enemy bombers heading towards Deal, I soon had eyes on the Do 17's and together we engaged the group of 5 Do 17s, they soon turned away, so we gave a chase into the Channel. I made three passes over the bombers successfully hitting a different bomber each time. They all ended up in the Channel and I claim 3x Do 17's destroyed all confirmed by PO Robo. I observed PO Robo engage the other two bombers and can confirm two kills with the DO17's crashing into the sea.

By now we were both low on fuel so we headed home and landed safely at Hawkinge.

Claims:
Destroyed: 3 x Do 17's
Damaged:

Pilot: OK
Aircraft: OK
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Tyrone
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Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

Post by Tyrone » Sun May 04, 2014 7:19 pm

Squadron: No. 64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH-T
Pilot Name: Tyrone
Base: Kenley
Type: Spitfire Ia
Marking: T

took lead of red flight and taken off from kenley but before we lined up ready to go 501 decided to fill our open cockpits with merlin fumes as they done a low flyby we will get them back soon as we flew to dover 501/615 were already engaged an as 64 do best we engaged the 109s as the fight broke out good old binki stuck with me as i chased 2 bandits i told binki to take care of his wingman as i hunted him down the leader wow what a flyer he is after a few twist and turns got some hits into his rads as he bugged out dont think he will get to go home today i let him go an kept my alt i then formed up with green flight leader looky and we had good old battle with 2 109s got hits into 1 with radiator vapours pouring from his vents and had to leave the battle with battle damage when looky had a few friendlies with him landed safely


Claims:
Destroyed: 2 probable

Pilot: OK
Aircraft: OK

Venom
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 6:53 am
Location: Bedfordshire

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

Post by Venom » Mon May 05, 2014 1:13 am

Squadron: No. 64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Venom
Base: Kenley
Type: Spitfire Ia 100 oct
Marking:Z
Serial number: L 1030

I got airborne from Kenley in red flight along with the rest of 64 squadron spitfires climbing south. Red flight lead by gromic with binky as red two and myself, red three. Engine malfunction meant that Red Two was very disconnected from the flight from an early stage. Leaving red one and I in echelon left heading out towards radar contacts. I was focused on keeping formation with my number one so left the navigation to the leads. For this reason I can't be totally sure where we were when a staffel of 6 109's came into view around 1500 feet above us just feet wet heading north. 64 Squadron turned to intercept.

I followed red one as he tried to engage some 109s for around 5 minutes, then things got a little confusing. I think I saw him get one streaming, or it could've been a slightly higher spitfire. At the same time I noticed an E1 creeping up on what I think was red one's six, but some good defensive manoeuvres saw him breaking off. 5 seconds after this another 109 came across from my 10 to 2 o'clock in a slight dive. I followed him around and singled him out. I was on his six just out of gun range for quite some time as we spiralled down, eventually finding ourselves on the deck with a lot of energy. He began to run back to France. For two or three minutes I followed, before breaking off and climbing out. I kept my eye on him though and as I'd suspected he turned back towards me. This saw us get into another fight where I scored some deflection hits before he tried yet again to run, but I was just close enough on his six to give him an extended squirt, popping his radiator. A few more hits and he'd had enough, bailing out about 5 miles off the French coast. His chute opened and I gave him a wing waggle before heading back towards the shipping and climbing. A friendly plane was asking for help on the deck so did my best with what little munitions I had before returning to base.



Claims
Destroyed: 1x 109 E1 (Additional information: Markings = black 7 -)
Probable: 0
Damaged:0

Losses
Pilot: OK
A/C : Undamaged

Johnny
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Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 3:41 pm
Location: Sligo, Ireland

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

Post by Johnny » Mon May 05, 2014 11:24 am

Squadron: No.615 "County of Surrey" Squadron
Squadron code: "KW"
Pilot name: Johnny
Date: 25 July 1940
Base: Kenley
Type: Hawker Hurricane I
Marking: Z for Zebra
Serial number: L1592

We took off from Kenley and headed towards dover. I was flying as Hawes left wingman. We spotted 4 109s to our 11 o clock high and we sent 2 pilots to intercept. Then came the Stukas. I passed through the formation getting his on a few as I went by. One of them went down in flames. I put 2 of them leaking oil and water and got hits on another before running out of ammunition. I returned to base undamaged.
Claims
Destroyed: 1 JU87
Probable: 2 JU87
Damaged: 1 JU87

Pilot: Ok
A/C: Not a scratch
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Redeye
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Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2013 2:50 pm
Location: Haugesund, Norway

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 13: 25th July 1940

Post by Redeye » Mon May 05, 2014 11:58 am

Squadron: No. 64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Redeye
Base: Kenley
Type: Spitfire Ia
Marking:P
Serial number: k9964

Nerves are starting to show around here. We all know the big fight is about to begin in earnest and that Jerry is just taking a piss attacking ships and drawing us out.

To make matters worse, Top Brass came flying in today, to cheer up the bus drivers. God, I am so sick of hearing about France. "Oh it was so awfaul over there!" "Oh, you were in England training in your Spits? We were fighting Hitler in France". Give me a break. Matters were made even worse by the fact that 64 had lost 2 great pilots this week. One had transferred to be an instructor and the other with some weird infection or fungi attack. Good show indeed.

We all gathered around AVM Park as he said a few words. I could not hear him, because I was standing at the back, but it was probably something about our mess bill. Afterwards there were handshaking and backpadding and something about the before the old Man-O-War mounted his aircraft and took off again. In what was not my proudest moment I said something about the busboys and their rides that I maybe did not mean. Unfortunatly, Sgt- Sabre got the message, even though I said it in "Morsmaalet". The psyco then tried to hit me in the face before we were all manhandled and sent to the WingCo for punishment. Man was he proud of us. At least we weren't given any formal penalty, but we were told where to stick our petty conflicts.

"64- arrive any time".
Cry Havoc and let loose the dogs of war. Massive enemy formations attacking Dover. Twin engined bombers droned over the clouds to belch their cargo over King George's ships. Fire and smoke. Then the 109's. We got stuck in, and although I flew quite well, I never got a good firing solution. 64 inflicted numerous casaulties on the squareheads and I think the Hurriboys beat the crap out the bombers, at least it seemed so by the bragging on the radio.

Landed and refueled at Hawkinge and witnessed a Spitfire crash on the field and turn into a ball of fire and steel and incinerating its poor pilot. No more war for you old man. After witnessing the cleanup of this debacle I returned to Kenley for tea and biscuits.

Claims
Destroyed: 0
Probable: 0
Damaged:0

Losses
Pilot: OK
A/C : OK

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