Adlerangriff. Mission 19: 11th August 1940 - 0800

[Teepee]

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron code: "SD"
Pilot name: Flying Officer Teepee
Date: 11th August 1940
Time: 0800
Aerodrome: RAF Hawkinge
Type: Trusty Hawker Hurricane Mk 1A
Marking: "M for Marvel"
Serial number: N2617

Synopsis:

The Wing has been deployed to fly from RAF Hawkinge. France is only a few flying minutes away and we can get stuck into Jerry a lot sooner.

I was to lead Blue Section and my wingmen for today were those fearless gladiators PO Meaker (Blue 2) and WO Sabre (Blue 3). These chaps were itching to give the Hun scoundrels a damn good thrashing. The Sqn dispensed with the usual pre ops cricket match deciding, instead, to give their trusty steeds, the amazing Hurricane a final going over to make sure she was hot to trot. Watch out today, Fritz, the boys are ready and willing.

Suddenly, the warning was given to scramble with only 5 minutes notice! The wizards in Ops had been caught slacking and so we made a desperate bid to get airborne and meet the Hun before it was too late. Luckily for us the formidable Hurricane was able to get into the sky with ease and we quickly made our way to do a rendezvous with the dark forces from across the Channel. In almost no time our awesome machines were climbing through the 10,000ft mark when word was passed that the enemy had been sighted at about 15,000ft. ‘Pull the tit’ shouted the Boss over the radio, and our incredible machines leapt to altitude with the unbelievable power of the mighty Merlin.

Almost immediately we spotted the waves of black crossed machines of doom below us heading for the coast near Deal. They were identified as Me110s. ‘Wingspan 54ft’ was heard over the radio. As the Boss gave the order to attack I told Blue Section we would attack the left group of Verminous machines. ‘Tally Ho’ was echoed across the airwaves as the enemy air fleet was attacked by the deadly hurricanes. Blue Section tore down upon the enemy at unbelievable speed and we gave the black crossed crates our DeWilde welcome. I saw hits striking my intended target and it broke away into a spiral of doom. I never saw the inevitable impact with the water so I claim 1 x probable Me110. I could hear the reports of my wing men giving the Hun a good dose of medicinal lead, but without the spoonful of sugar.

I managed to repeat the welcome with a second harbinger of death, and similarly sent that machine towards the surface of the channel – again I claim 1 x probable Me110. These 110s were no match for the incredible Hurricane and soon the sky began to clear of the Hun.

I became separated from my fearless wingmen and we decided to meet again over Deal. The sky was now buzzing with the sight of pesky Me109s. I managed to squeeze a few rounds against one hapless chap but didn’t manage to finish the job.

I was climbing to meet with Blue 2 when I saw a Me109 diving down towards me. I turned towards the enemy kite which was hurtling towards me. I opened fire but was too late. The enemy machine fired and my machine was destroyed in a terrific explosion. The Boffins at Hawkers had designed the amazing airframe to take a lot of punishment but this was beyond the limits. I recovered in my chute, watching the air battle going on around me as I slowly descended to the waters below.

I was rescued by the crew of a small dinghy that had witnessed my demise from that unfortunate encounter. I was returned to shore and cadged a lift from a passing staff car to take me back to Hawkinge. I briefed the Adj and then made my way down to the mess to get a few warm tots of rum into my numbed body and meet some of the chaps before burning some pianos. It was while I was at the bar that I met a nice young filly from the Tower. She told me she was one of the Controllers who helped get the boys down onto the ground when the visibility was poor. She offered to show me the dark room where she got the boys down and would I like to see how it was done. Naturally I accepted and told her I could show her how we get them down too. I suggested we stop off at the Tower Control Room where we could open the bottles of wine. I don’t remember anything else after that.

Claims:
Destroyed: None
Probable: 2 x Me110
Damaged: None

Losses:
Pilot: OK now but still numb
A/C: Missing in the Channel – more Badgers for the crew chief

Tea, Cakes and Medals due for making it back safely.

[Bonkin]

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron code: "SD"
Pilot name: Flying Officer Bonkin
Date: 11th August 1940
Base: RAF Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia
Marking: "Z for Zebra"
Serial number: P3803

Synopsis
Took off to intercept radar contacts mid channel on route to target a supply convey. Clear skies. Engaged multiple enemy aircraft and damaged one before being KIA.

Engine Start 0831
Brakes Off 0832
Brakes On ----
Engine Shutdown ----

Claims
Destroyed: 0
Probable: 0
Damaged: 1x Me110

Losses
Pilot: KIA
A/C: Lost

A few days later my mother got this:



Recovered from the wreckage:

[Luke]

Squadron: No.64 Squadron
Squadron code: "SH"
Pilot name: Luke
Date: 11th August 1940
Time: 0800
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Spitfire Ia
Marking: R




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

Pilot: OK
A/C: OK

[Wolf_1]

Squadron: No.615 "County of Surrey" Squadron
Squadron Code: KW
Pilot Name: Wolf
Date: 11th August 1940
Time: 0800
Aerodrome: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk.I 100 Octane (Rotol)
Marking:U For Uncle

synopsis:
Took off as Yellow 3 we saw some action brewing over Dover way, at that time i spotted a BF110 coming around my flank i got separated from yellow section [Rookie mistake] I took some hits over the starboard wing but managed to shake him of and i quickly gained the advantage. I was trailing him over Canterbury then brought him Down about 2 miles east from the airfield BF110[Probable] i saw him hit the deck but no witnesses. My next move was to try and regroup but the rest of yellow section were Returning to base to Hawkinge so i returned to base and was about to turn on final.............[that's when i had a lovely launcher crash]


claims:
1 BF110 [Probable]

AC: A Few small holes in the starboard wing

[Maltloaf]

Date: Aug. 11, 1940
Time: 0800 hrs.
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Maltloaf
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Spitfire Ia (100)
Marking: I for Ink
Serial number: L1038

Synopsis:
Took off as Blue Two with Plt Off Luke (SH R). Scramble was last minute and failed to reach bomber alt of angels 20. Were only at about angels 14 by the time we intercepted over Folkestone.

Sqn bounced by Bf109s diving very fast through our formation. Lost contact with Flt Cdr whilst watching my six and trying to formate.

I tangled with a couple of BF109s and exchanged blows but without damage to either side. Ended up between Folkstone and Dover and gave pursuit to egressing Bf109. Followed him too long and without support. Was intercepted by 3 bandits and made a erratic and frantic escape sustaining damage to hydraulics and flaps.

Diverted to Manston and made an graceless landing but unharmed.



Claims: None
Destroyed - 0
Probable - 0
Damaged - 0

Losses
Pilot - OK
A/C - Hydraulics damage and flaps damaged

[Bunny]

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron Code: SD
Pilot Name: Bunny
Date: 11th August 1940 0800
Time: 0800
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk I 100 Octane (Rotol)
Marking: N for Nuts
Serial Number: P3084

Synopsis
As usual, the day started with a bloody good fry-up, left over spuds and peas mixed into a half decent bubble and squeak. It's a bit hush-hush, but I've managed to have a few bottles of HP brown sauce smuggled in - always pays to have a mate in the guards room. Still, sat at readiness with a belly full wasn't half bad - there was a chicken roast ready for when we got back, not at all bad for a Sunday lunch - better than a lot of poor buggers got these days.

Today FO Bonkin was taking lead of Gold Section - I was flying no.2 and a new lad, Toxic, was taking up no.3 position. He seemed a bit nervous - hardly suprising - this was the deep end, and no amount of water-wing was going to help. Still - he had a decent group - we'd seen enough action to read a situation, and I'm sure I heard he'd had previous flying experience - crop dusters back in the US I think.

No sooner had we jumped in our aircraft, the Wing Co gave us permission to start engines and get airbourne as quickly as possible - enemy bombers heading for Dover. Fodder for the Hurricanes, and no doubt there would be sport for 64 in the guise of 109 escorts, if the hun's past form was anything to go by.

We climbed for Dover, then headed up the coast towards Manston. Gold Section kept good formation - Toxic was proving he knew how to handle his old girl. Once there we turned to patrol further south - and just over Deal we made out a large enemy group inland from us - snappers above them.

Bonkin dropped in on them - "Going for the right-hand side" he informed us. Damn - he'd dropped below my nose. "Sorry Bonkin, I've lost eyes on you!". He said he was pulling up, but by this time I was into the melee, these were 110s! Bugger the hun - we weren't up against the whales they usually sent out - this was going to be a tough fight - 110s and 109s!

I snuck in behind a 110 who was venting from his port engine - I strafed him from left to right and set his starboard fuel tank leaking too. I corkscrewed around him a couple of times and saw oil starting to pour from his starboard engine as well - another burst into the weak spot and he dropped out of sight to the right. He wasn't going home after losing that much height, but I broke off - no point in wasting ammo - he was doomed to serve His Majesty for a few years I'd say! I claim him as a shared probable.

A quick call-out to Bonkin and we agreed to meet at Deal - he was much higher at 16,000ft, I was at angels 5. No sooner as I started to climb I saw flak around me, but could see nothing but Hurricanes. Who the hell was the flak for? Osprey's voice broke onto comms - "109s coming into Eastchurch - 615 on their way as well." Blimey - this was going to be a bit of a rum do - I'd started to change my mind about the heavy breakfast. Next time it's toast and marmite!

Toxic had been hit - "I think I'm going to crash land." came his voice - he sounded pretty calm about it - solid stuff. Bonkin and I headed northwards to Manston - separated but intending to form up. I managed a minute before WO Sabre called out that he was tangling with a 109. I could see him, the 109 broke from him and climbed - I turned to get on his six, but someone had beaten me to it. We'd got a dummy trail going, and a second hun joined the conga line, in front of me - I was the fifth. The second hun was firing at the Hurricane in number 4 position - Osprey called out to the Hurricane pilot, but he'd already managed to get out of the way. I called out I was on the 109's six, only to see Osprey swoop from above and sit between us. He got hits in the hun's tail - I saw bits splinter off, but he kept flying. Another Hurricane dropped in to get a piece - tracers shot from his wings - eventually something was hit and he started to vent. By this time I'd backed off - there were too many friendlies around to shoot safely.

Next rendevous was Dover - but again another 109 turned up - full of energy and above us. He ended up on Bonkin's tail, who avoided him, and the 109 broke off towards the sea - heading towards the Ramsgate coastline. I followed him - I had energy and I wasn't being tailed. I chased him for miles - he was staying just off the coastline - not pulling far enough away to give me the impression he'd given up the fight. He was too close in front for me to turn my back on him now - he'd easily catch me if he wanted. I let shots off - short bursts, to conserve ammo. I saw hits on his tail, nothing serious. Five minutes of slow turning with him and more hits on his tail - another minute later and hits! I saw fuel or coolant venting - a white stream plotting his trajectory. Another five minutes and I decided to break off. He'd managed to climb away from me, despite his predicament, but I figured he'd be more inclined now to head home rather than turn to follow me. My hunch was right - checking my six regularly showed nothing of note behind me. That'll teach him to tangle with a Hurricane.

I patrolled the coast of Dover, someone on comms pointed out there were two 109s heading for home, one streaming. Looking around I spotted the streamer first, and decided to have a go. I closed in on him, but as I got closer I could see his aircraft was badly shot up - fuel was pouring from it, it would have served better as a colander! I asked the Wing Co over comms if we should let him go - he agreed, so I flew past him and under, gave him a quick waggle to show he'd been paxied, then broke off. I think I could make out a black 3 or 5 on his aircraft - wonder if he made it back.

With my reserve down to 10 gallons I decided to head home. It had been a decent sortie - I'd survived it, and built up a healthy appetite. So much so I could eat a horse - though I shouldn't really say that as I'd serious doubts as to why we were getting so much red meat in the Naafi these days. Still - there's a war on, and it fills the belly!


Claims
1 x 110 shared probable
1 x 109 damaged

Aircraft: Okay
Pilot: Okay, and ravenous.

[Sabre]

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron Code: SD
Pilot Name: Sabre
Date: 11th August 1940
Time: 0800
Base: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk I 100 Octane (Rotol)
Marking: S for Sugar
Serial Number: P30397

I was assigned to FO Teepee's Blue section as Blue 3 with PO Meaker as Blue 2. After the usual anxious wait the call came to start engines and get lined up, there was a little delay with the 64 boys still looking in their mirrors and sorting their hair so the CO gave the command to get airborne as enemy bombers had been spotted over the Channel. The Hun were soon spotted and identified as Me110's and they were heading for the Deal area. FO Teepee identified the left group as our potential targets and we commenced the attack. I managed some shots on a 110 but didn't deal much damage.

The usual melee ensued and I became separated from the rest of Blue Section. There were fleeting contacts calls with 109's in the area, but sign of them for me. The call came to rendezvous over Deal and as we were circling the area I caught sight of an aircraft turning onto my six, a timely call from Corporal Mauf identified it as a 109 and I took evasive action and lost him. There were further calls of contacts in the Dover area and we headed down for a look. Not long after a lone 109 was spotted heading back to France and myself and the CO tried to catch him but to no avail realising how close we were to the French coast we turned for home.

Approaching Dover a couple of Spitfires came to check me out but a friendly wave soon had us heading back to Hawkinge where I put the old girl down. Another mission with not a shot fired but hey I was safe, well that was until I slipped getting out of the cockpit and hit my head on the ground. Gave me a frightful bump and knocked me clean out, next thing I know the Doc's are telling me I'm grounded for at least two weeks. Don't they know there's a war on?

Claims:
Destroyed: None
Probable: None
Damaged: None

Losses:
Pilot: OK
A/C: OK

Tea and medals for ammo conservation.

[Deeside]

Squadron: No. 64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Deeside
Type: Spitfire Ia 100 octane
Marking: K
Date: 11th August 1940 0800
Base: Hawkinge

After a long wait, the squadron took off from Hawkinge with 5 minutes warning of approaching enemy aircraft. I was Green 3. We flew a right hand circuit of the airfield before commencing a climb towards the coast. A bomber formation was spotted high overhead and far beyond our reach.

On reaching about 12,000 feet, the squadron was attacked by 109s. I noticed one 109 opening fire on a Spitfire. I managed to get off a shot, missed but managed to distract the pilot who dived away. I continued to patrol over Folkestone, Dover and Deal with other Spitfires and Hurricanes. Saw no further action, so headed back towards base.

Claims:

Destroyed: 0
Probable: 0
Damaged: 0

Losses:

Pilot: OK
Aircraft: OK

[Fenris]

Squadron: No.64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Fenris
Date: 11 August 1940
Time: 0800hrs
Base: Hawkinge
Type Spitfire 1A
Marking: F

Flamed one bastard who didn't see me coming but otherwise largely uneventful.
Landed safely at Hawkinge.

Claims:
Destroyed: 1

[Meaker]

Squadron: No.501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron Code: SD
Pilot Name: Meaker
Date: 11th August 1940
Time: 0800
Aerodrome: Hawkinge
Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk.I 100 Octane (Rotol)
Marking: ‘G’ for ‘George’


COMBAT FLIGHT RECORD

Took off with Blue section as Blue Two,got several hits on a lone 110,before being chased around the skies from a mass of 109's before my number came up,and got the call from upstairs.


Claims:
Destroyed: None
Probable: 1 x Me110
Damaged: None

Losses:
Pilot: KIA
A/C: Lost