Kanalkampf. Mission 16: 29th 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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Bonkin
Posts: 2143
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 6:47 pm
Location: East Yorkshire, England

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 16: Monday 29th July

Post by Bonkin » Sat May 31, 2014 5:13 pm

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron code: "SD"
Pilot name: Bonkin
Date: 29th July 1940
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking: "Z for Zebra"
Serial number: P3803

Synopsis
Took off to intercept radar contacts over channel heading towards Dover. CAVOK 1/8 Oktas SCT. Engaged by Me109’s overhead Dover but managed to intercept 10+ Ju87s heading towards Dover. Damaged 4 plus 2 Me109s but then took radiator damage which forced an immediate dead stick recovery back to Hawkinge.

Engine Start 0700
Brakes Off 0701
Brakes On 0730
Engine Shutdown 0728

Full Report
My secret mission to Berlin was highly successful. I’d been parachuted in by our brave bomber boys and made contact with Helmut and Lieselotte, who were to act as my cover and smuggle me into the hidden Luftwaffe base before dawn. Not being able to speak a word of German this was going to be an extremely dangerous mission – but Lieselotte was an absolute professional. She did most of the talking – and would often smother me in passionate kisses and place my hands on her backside whenever the guards became too interested. All I had to say was “Verzieh dich!” – which seemed to work nicely. There were a lot of guards and my officers uniform was extremely tight for such activities but Helmut found us a way in and I was able to snap some pictures of what we’d come to investigate:

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Getting out the following night was equally dangerous, but I knew that as I boarded the RN Submarine in the moonlight I would surely miss Lieselotte’s curves and lips. I’m sure HQ would take a keen interested in my box brownie!

Arriving back on base I could already hear the sound of mighty Merlins all over the airfield. It was a maximum effort so it was a rush to get my kit together and jump into the cockpit. I didn’t even have time to give Nigsy a pat on the head. I was to be flying as Green 2 and PO Bully was Green Leader. Starting up I taxied out and joined at the back of the incredible 501 Squadron who were already lined up ready for take-off, holding the mighty Hurricanes on the brakes.

Overhead Dover at Angels 15 things got very busy indeed and we all peeled off into attack some Ju87’s which were heading towards Dover at Angels 11. No.615 had got there first and were knocking down the black crossed scoundrels with ease. The R/T was alive with contacts and calls of 109’s as Green section wheeled down into the attack. Almost immediately I lost sight of Green Leader in the enveloping furball – but I managed to get hits on a number of enemy machines.

Several Me109’s tried to get onto my tail but they could not turn with Syndey Camm’s wonder machine and they broke off their attacks. One 109 turned in front of me and I snapped onto his six with ease – my eight powerful .303 brownings spitting fire and lead towards the dirty rotter’s machine. Several hits struck his wing and he started to tumble through the sky which put off my aim. “This is one lucky Fritz” I thought to myself as I turned after him to try for a second pass.

It was at this point that FO Teepee joined the fight. He bravely twisted and turned with the scoundrel and had to use his machine to ram the bugger before bailing out and hitting the silk. I’m sure such selfless acts and devotion to duty deserve a medal! Just a pity the Boss didn’t see his courageous act.

Having lost all contact with Green Leader I started climbing to the North to re-group – but disaster then struck. One of the scoundrels hit my radiator and the coolant temperature immediately started to rise. I knew I had no choice but to recover immediately back to Hawkinge. Oil was now starting to appear on the windshield so I switched off the engine and feathered the prop, figuring I could make a dead stick landing. I could hear over the R/T that PO Bully was also hit and was having to recover also and as my wheels gently touched the grass I looked across to see him make a cartwheeled landing himself. Thankfully he was able to climb out and walkaway but his fitters would have a hell of a job putting is marvel machine back together!

My request to jump into another machine and re-join the fight was turned down so in protest I headed off to the bar with PO Bully and my faithful hound Nigsy, picked our way through the remnants of several burnt piano’s on our way.

Claims
Destroyed: 0
Probable: 0
Damaged: 4x Ju87, 2x Me109

Losses
Pilot: OK
A/C: Needs a new engine

Footage of the event:

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Vranac
Posts: 1281
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:59 pm

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 16: Monday 29th July

Post by Vranac » Sat May 31, 2014 6:22 pm

Squadron: No.64 Squadron
Squadron code: "SH"
Pilot name: Vranac
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Spitfire Ia
Marking: V
Serial number:N3231



Claims
Destroyed: 1 x Me109
Probable: None
Damaged: 1 x Me109

Lost
Pilot: OK
A/C: OK
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Thaine
Posts: 5114
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:09 pm
Location: Tromsø, Norway

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 16: Monday 29th July

Post by Thaine » Sat May 31, 2014 6:54 pm

Squadron: No.64 Squadron
Squadron code: "SH"
Pilot name: Thaine
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Spitfire Ia
Marking: J
Serial number: L1068

Takeoff from Hawkinge as Blue 2 together with Dange and Luke in the lead. We made contact with the Bombers and their escorts over the channel. We went into the attack but it was soon over again and I ended up following Looky towards the english coast where some more contacts were reported. Looky damaged one 109 heavily and it started streaming coolant and black smoke. But no luck for me sofar. Some more minutes of circling the area before being called back mid-channel again to intercept the second raid. I followed to other Spits, supposely Nitrous and Tyrone into a dive on a 109. The hun soon after was reported to have bailed and abandoned the attack. We where then called towards Dover to finish off some Stukas. On my way, Tyrone reported being attacked by a 109 and I tried to assist but could find him. Shortly after I came across a lonely 109 and went into engagement with him. We scissored for a while and I called in for help. C/O Looky checked into the fight right after the hun had decided to run. He dove towards the sea and I followed after. Despite perfect positioning I damaged him only slightly, seeing pieces of 109 flying towards me but not fire or smoke. The hun eventualy decided to counterattack and dropped into my six after a short climb. I started a left turn, slightly climbing hoping that Looky, who was following jerry, would finish him up before I do something stupid. And so he did. Just splitseconds after the hun opened fire on me, a burst from Looky set him ablaze and he dropped into the see. After that we returned to base, where I messed up my landing and dug the nose of my Spit into the field.

Claims
Destroyed: 1 x Me109 (shared with Looky)
Probable: None
Damaged: None

Lost
Pilot: OK, bloddy nose.
A/C: Damaged, hopefully repairable.
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Midge
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 9:25 pm
Location: Leeds- West Yorkshire-Great Britain

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 16: Monday 29th July

Post by Midge » Sat May 31, 2014 6:56 pm

Squadron: No.615 Squadron
Squadron code: WK
Pilot name: Midge
Date: 29th July 1940
Airfield: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane 1
Marking: C
Serial no:2564


We took off from Hawkinge me as red 4 the,the Hun were reported as aproaching from across the channel I seemed to have control probs as "Mary" was having trouble achieving cruise speed and i was losing the sqaudron[my fault a control rejig and a dumb pilot--wheels down when should be up---DOTD [dick of the day] to me!

I made contact with the hun "Ju87's on my starboard 10 o'clock at the same altitude i pulled in behind one and got good hits it went down "lottsa smoke and stuff".I then broke to starboard and saw a Me 109 making a run on me i broke to left and lost him this brought me inline with a different formation of Ju 87's i made another attack ,again getting good hits "venting " and pulled to starboard i was about to make a further attack run,when i got hit the aircraft,shuddered and the merlin started to sound very iffy.i dived down and headed back to the coast,the Me109 still following me i managed to break as he made a 2/3 attacks[don't know if it was the same one] and got ready to make a hard wheels up landing.nearly down he made another run on me i pulled to starboard as he got a few hits and landed "Mary" very bent and broken but me uninjured.

I then monitored the whole battle going on overhead i must say it sounded very impressive---abit later i heard No.501 Sqaudron had been involved in some sort of"Pheasant shoot"ahmmm.

Claims:

Destroyed: 1 Ju87
Probable:
Damaged: 1 Ju87

Losses:

Aircraft: very damaged
Pilot: a bit bruised --but uninjured
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Tyrone
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Posts: 369
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 7:29 pm
Location: birmingham,England

Re: Kanalkampf. Mission 16: Monday 29th July

Post by Tyrone » Sun Jun 01, 2014 6:12 pm

Squadron: No.64 Squadron
Squadron code: "SH"
Pilot name: Tyrone
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Spitfire Ia
Marking: T




Claims
Destroyed: none
Probable: 2
Damaged: 1 x Me109

Pilot: OK
A/C: OK

Locked