Adlerangriff. Mission 27: 14th August

[Dickie]

Squadron: No.64 Squadron
Squadron Code: TB
Pilot Name: Osprey
Type: Spitfire Ia 100 octane
Serial: K9903
Marking: P for Pip
Date: 14th Aug 1940
Base: Kenley

Synopsis
Jerry had definitely upped his game but the RAF are holding fast, like British forces have done so well from this proud island for hundreds of years. Rumours were that Hitler was hopping mad and Goering was making a fool of himself. The Germans are fast running out of time if they are to mount an assault of our green pastures, we are in mid August and I can already feel the evening chill, the winds will soon pick up and render a crossing impossible, especially as tides also play such a part. "The truth his that Hitler has bitten off more than he can chew with us" said Tyrone as he leaned back into his chair and reached for his single malt. Tyrone, one of our aces in the wing was a dab hand in the Spitfire and quite a few Germans had fallen to his piloting. "Why don't you come up and fly with us Tom? Jerry will surely put on a show tomorrow" asked Tyrone, "I think I might" I replied, "The Spitfire isn't much different to the Hurricane" The No.64 pilots laughed, "I mean it" I repeated and began to use my pipe as a pointer for my explanation "You couldn't be without Sydney Camm's machine you know. Sure, she is a little slower but that's only good when chasing somebody who knows you are there. She turns inside the Spitfire, packs a better punch and importantly can be turned around for another sortie three times faster. You wouldn't do without them you know, the Hurricane buys you time, and is a great compliment to the Spitfire". "Well you have a point Tom but I'm not going to admit that to No.501, I'll never hear the end of it!". "Get me the workshop on the telephone would you Hays" I said to the Sgt Hays behind the bar. He handed me the receiver, "Is that Sergeant Greaves?, yes, yes, enough ot that, listen here, do you have a spare Spitfire ready to go? Well paint my markings on her and fit her for battle would you, get to it now thank you". I handed the receiver back to Sgt Hays. "There, it's done. I'll be flying the Spitfire with you chaps tomorrow, I'll let Teepee know he's leading 501 again today".

I walked up to my machine for the day, Greaves said "We worked all night on her Sir, she's in top condition". "Wonderful Greaves, go to the stores and pick up a couple of crates of Badgers Bollox on me". She smelled fresh, oily yet new, and a thinner airing off where "TB-P" had been applied. Everything was familiar in the Spitfire, same engine, same settings for flight except no flap for takeoff. The roll rate was higher and she accelerated and climbed better, a little more agile but not much. Sure enough Jerry didn't let us down and at noon we were thundering down the runway at Kenley to intercept the enemy at Dover. I was flying Green Two behind FO Paddy "Looky" O'Callaghan, he was a strong Irishman whose father had served in the RFC in the Great War, and another of the aces in No.64.Levelling out at angels 15 we were doing 250mph indicated, about 30mph faster than my Hurricane but I noticed how hard No.64 pushed their crates and their formation was a little spread for my liking. No.501 were already engaged with Bf-110's at Manston having been scrambled earlier, No.615 and B-flight on their way to the action. We clashed with the enemy inland of Deal, 110's and 109's supporting 40+ Stuka crossed our path, that's when I immediately lost green leader "What a clot!" I thought to myself. But there was no time to dwell as black crossed and jackbooted huns filled the skies, and the R/T was alive "Break left! I'm on him!, He's on fire! Get him off me!".
I failed to get onto anybody and no 109's could touch me either for a full 10 minutes, then I had a shot and scratched a 109 which had a lot of speed. I tried to reach a Bf-110 but they are fast and he dived away so I had to let him go. I would've chased further but he was sure to have a wingman in support. I then dived down onto a 109 a few thousand feet below me and opened fire from 150 yards striking him in the rear. His machine caught fire but it was only the wing and tail so he flew on. I claim him as damaged. Aside rescuing a Hurricane in trouble out at sea I couldn't engage further and my fuel was running low so I decided to return home. Touching down at Kenley was uneventful and I walked into the bar to await Tyrone for a chat about the flight, but over two hours had passed and he still hadn't returned..........

Claims
Damaged 1x 109

[Luke]

Squadron: No. 64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Luke
Type: Spitfire Ia 100 octane
Marking: R for Romeo
Date: 14 Aug 1940
Base: Kenley



Claims:
Confirmed: 0
Probable: 0
Damaged: 0

Losses:
AC: ok
Pilot: ok

[Toxic]

Squadron: No. 501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron Code: SD
Pilot Name: Toxic
Date: 14 Aug 1940
Base: Gravesend
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia 100 Oct
Marking: A for Apple

Synopsis:

Took off in blue flight on a CAP to Manston and Hawkings. At Angles 15 after we turned on a course to Hawkings I spotted two pairs of Bf-110's feet wet a few miles off the coast of Manston. Once we were abeam the 110's we dived down to intercept them. My first run in on the 110's I got a pilot kill and saw him crash in the channel. That is when I was sixed by another 110 & saw the wisps from the cannon rounds going over my canopy. I broke in a hard right hand turn climbing so the larger 110 could lose more E. Once I out turned him & had more altitude I peppered his left engine and banged up his gunner pretty bad, after that the tail gunner stopped firing (assumed KIA) the 110 broke hard and I opted not to follow. I saw another 110 alone trying to get on the tail of another blue member so I went in on a hot pursuit for him and unloaded a two second burst into his fuselage (damn things eat bullets). After that I over shot him and watched Meaker stick into him and then watched the 110 collide into the ground (no survivors) a quarter mile from Manston Aerodrome.
After all 110's were up in heaven drinking beer we rendezvoused near at Manston and headed towards Dover. Once we were climbing a single 109 bounced us. We broke violently, I gave chase on the snapper but he dived down and I wasn't dumb enough to follow. After that Teepee had a blown engine and headed towards Canterbury. I saw on my 3 o'clock the Stuka's perform their fabled dive in on Dover. After the bombs were dropped I stuck into one and hit my residue belt (damn 110's used up all of my ammo). I decided I have had enough fun for the day and headed straight towards Canterbury to call it. Greased the landing as usual and shut down.

Claims

Destroyed: 1 x Bf-110 (went down into the sea)
Shared: 1 x Bf-110 (Confirmed)
Probable: 1 x Bf-110

Aircraft: Undamaged
Pilot: Okay (need a week pass back to America)

[Siddich]

Squadron: No. 615
Squadron Code: KW
Pilot Name: Siddich
Date: 14th August
Base: Kenley
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia 100 Oct
Marking: H
Serial: L2025


claims: maybe slightly damaged 109, but rather, no :-/
pilot: ok
aircraft: landed ok

[Mauf]

Squadron: No. 501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron Code: SD
Pilot Name: Mauf
Date: 14 Aug 1940
Base: Gravesend
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia 100 Oct
Marking: D for Don
Serial: LI898


Synopsis:
Take off from Gravesend as Blue 3 with Teepee as Blue leader, Meaker as Blue 2 and Toxic as Blue 4 on a forward patrol around Manston to Deal area. We made contact with 110s over Ramsgate and shot them down. Afterwards we followed a call for help over Deal to Dover area where we engaged 109s. Blue leader got damaged in the fight and Blue section escorted him back to Canterbury. Afterwards, we returned to Deal area where we got bounced by 109s again. Got shots into one 109, causing a steamer. Chased it out towards the channel where I went winchester and returned to Hawkinge together with Meaker.

Claims:

Destroyed: 1xMe-110
Probable: 1xMe-110
Damaged: 1xMe-109

Losses:

A/C: Ok
Pilot: Ok

[Redeye]

Squadron: No. 64 Squadron
Squadron Code: SH
Pilot Name: Redeye
Type: Spitfire Ia 100 octane
Marking: P
Date: 14 Aug 1940
Base: Kenley

Stalled the aircraft in combat over the Channel. Went for a swim to the ocean floor.


Confirmed: 0
Probable: 0
Damaged: 0

Losses:
AC: lost
Pilot: dead

[Baron le Scrope]

Squadron code: "KW"
Pilot name:Baron.
Date: 14th August 1940.
Squadron: No615.
Base:Kenley
Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 100oct.Rotol.
Marking:B for beer.
Serial number: P3231

Took to the air with F/L Random as Red leader, me as Red2 and SAC Donkey as Red3.Good orderly takeoff and formation except for some warping. Vectored to the Isle of Sheppey area to patrol but was re-directed to the Dover area where we engaged a large formation of Ju87s. I saw F/L Random destroy a Ju87 on the right of the formation, i took the second one and had it streaming so disengaged and transfered my attention on the left hand side where i managed to perferate it's rad, i got hit in the engine and started spewing oil. Informed our skipper i was rtb, but the Merlin gave out 1ml from Dover harbour, bailed, parachute failed to deploy

Claims:
Destroyed:0
Probable:2 Ju87s
Damaged:0

Losses
Pilot:Studying Coral reefs
A/C:Ditto

[Katt]

Squadron: No. 615 "County of Surrey" Squadron
Squadron Code: KW
Pilot Name: Katt
Date: 14 Aug 1940
Base: Kenley
Type: Hawker Hurricane 1A 100 Oct
Marking: A
Serial Number: P2581

Synopsys

Launced as Blue Three with Hollywood as One and Johnny as Two - extremely organized lift off - engaged Ju87's as they were withdrawing to the east and feet wet - fired at one Stuka and then turned to engage enemy single seater who out climbed me - turned again to reengage the dive bombers and was attacked from the rear by an unknown assailant who punched my ticket.

Claims

Destroyed: 0
Probable: 0
Damaged:0

Losses

Pilot: KIA
A/C: Lost

[Spud]

Squadron: No. 615 "County of Surrey" Squadron
Squadron Code: KW
Pilot Name: Spud
Date: 08/14/1940
Time: 1650 hrs.
Base: Kenley
Type: Hawker Hurricane
Marking: R
Serial number: N2335


Synopsis:

Back at our home base in Kenley. But in all actuality, we've been scrambling from so many other bases lately that it is kind of hard to call Kenley "home". Our numbers are dwindling but morale in the squadron is cautiously high. We got word that Sqd Ldr Hawes may be linked up with the French Resistance. So god knows what kind of mischief he's up to. We lost both Wolf and Biggles as well.

In the mess, there was a lot of hub bub going on about our colored spinners. Seems the old man wasn't too happy with the liberties that we had taken and ordered everyone to re-paint them black. He must have had every other paint color rounded up and removed from the base. I heard P/O Baron got called in for a personal ass chewing from the old man. "No more discounted nylons for Mrs. Prickman", Baron grumbled as he sat at the table with his morning cuppa.

Out on the flight line things were a little better. But for some reason the ground crews had our planes parked in 2 sections separated by about 800 meters. But despite that, I completed my preflight and met up with the rest of the chaps. Random was in charge of the squadron and flying as Red 1 with Baron (2) and Donkey (3). Hollywood led Blue with Johnny (2) and Katt (3). Midge led Yellow with Siddich (2) and I was Yellow 3. We strapped into our crates and got everything ready. For some reason I had a feeling that the Old Man would send us up last as another lesson to quell our free thinking and esprit de corps that he calls insubordination. So rather than strap in, I sat in the wingtip a little longer and had a smoke. No need to bake in the sun any longer than I have to. Sure enough, we could hear 64 starting up their Spitfires across the runway. We were told to stand fast. I lit a fresh smoke from the dying end of my last one and waited some more. Once they warmed up and started to taxi to the runway, Johnny yelled to me from his crate that we were about to start up. So I strapped in, opened the rads, set my trim, opened the fuel cock and set my compass. Just as I finished that we were given the order to start up. We immediately taxied out to the runway in flight order. We were ready in record time and as soon as the scramble order was given, we firewalled our throttles and screamed across the runway. The roar of 9 merlins at full power drowned out everything as we lifted off and climbed to the east.

Enroute to the target area, Yellow 1 had trouble; leaving just Siddich and I to provide top cover. No big deal. Siddich and I have been there before and we knew what to do as we climbed to Angels 18 to cover the rest of the chaps. Just then, there was a problem with the RDF and our target formation was lost. It was assumed that their target would be Eastchurch. Since we were already in the vicinity, we were given the order to orbit and wait for the hun bastards there. But before we even started our first holding circuit, we were told to head for Canterbury and hold there. As we approached Canterbury 501 announced that they were in contact near Deal. Soon, more and more contact reports came across the RT ranging from on the deck near Deal to Angels 12 at Dover. Obviously the fight was at the coast. And that's where we headed.

The enemy bombers were down low. Red and Blue sections descended to intercept while Siddich and I stayed high. Soon we saw 2 contacts at our 1 o'clock. Sure enough, they were 109's. So I went to full power, props to max rpm and opened up my rads. As I closed in for the kill, the Jerry bastard must have seen me and quickly rolled over and dived. I was able to put a quick squirt into him and assist with putting his tail between his legs as he ran for home. I then pulled up to maintain my altitude advantage and regroup with Siddich. We both noticed that the sky around us had a very strong odor of Brylcream. Sure enough, 64 had shown up. With my nose burning from the smell, we called Random on the RT and told him that we had top cover so we were headed down to join the scrap. Just then Random called that he was hit. He told Hollywood to take over. "Can't do boss. I'm damaged. Have to RTB". I heard, "Yellow 1. Take the lead" over the RT. We were screaming down from altitude but couldn't see the fight due to the scattered clouds. "Where's the fight, guys"? Siddich called over the RT. We found out it was a bit off shore from our position. Stuka's, 109's, 110's, Hurri's and Spits were in a massive furball. As we approached, we spotted a couple of 109's and gave chase. Siddich had the shot and I covered his six. I witnessed him getting good hits on the 109 causing it to vent heavily. I'll confirm that as a probable for him. Then a bunch of glory hunting Spitties cut us off and took over. I had to break hard left to avoid colliding with one. And with that, I lost track of my leader.

After a couple of tight turns to clear my six, I headed for mid channel as that was where the fight was moving. I had 2 contacts at my distant 12 o'clock that were merging. Sure enough, one of them was Siddich. And once again he was on the tail of a 109. I screamed that way at full speed to cover his attack. But the 109 driver was a coward that must not have had the stomach for a battle. He put his nose down and dove for home. Running like a little school girl that just had her lunch box stolen.

Siddich and I re-formed and noticed that the battle was pretty much over. And with only 10 gallons of fuel in each wing tank, our smartest move would be to head for home. On our way back we linked up with Midge and landed back at Kenley together.

Claims:
Confirmed: 0
Probable:
Damaged: 1 Bf-109

Losses:
Pilot: okay
A/C: okay

[Robo]

Squadron: No. 501 "County of Gloucester" Squadron
Squadron Code: SD
Pilot Name: Robo.
Date: 14 Aug 1940
Base: Gravesend
Type: Hawker Hurricane Ia 100 Oct
Marking: U for Uncle
Serial: N3822

Synopsis:
Leading the Yellow section, we scrambled as last flight from our home base at Gravesend with Sabre as Yellow 2 and Schmuck as Yellow 3. Following the Green section, we've heard the fron tof the Mandril Squadron having a nice scrap with some 110s over Manston. Our boys dispatched them rather quickly. We never got to see the Jerry over North Foreland as we were ordered to climb above Deal and defend the Blighty from the pesky dive bombers. I remembered the large V formation we attacked in the previous sortie and I shivered. Right over Deal, Yellow section entered the combat zone at around Angels 18 and engaged a pair of yellow noses as they flew below us turning North. I dove on the second aircraft and shot him from point blank. Left landing gear fell down from this machine, and I flew through thick stream of glycol as I passed him. Aircraft was seen flying inverted trailing thick black smoke, no parachute seen, I claim one Me 109 destroyed. I pulled up and made sure the leader doesn't spot me, but he disengaged in the clouds instead. Trying to form up with the rest of the Flight I stay higher and listen to the hectic R/T as they follow another 109 down low and shot him up a little bit. Unfortunately, we made no contact with the Stukas. The fighting over Deal was very tense, all contact in my vicinity turned out to be friendlies, until I spotted a lone Me 110 diving on a Hurricane. Our chap evaded skillfully and the enemy heavy fighter disengaged in a nice vertical turn. I managed to close in from above and place a short burst on his starboard wing just between the engine nacelle and the canopy, but this guy was good and did not allow me a clear shot. No effect seen, the e/a dived away and I did not follow. Climbing back up and looking for Yellow 2 and Yellow 3, I spotted several friendly contacts and then later on, a single 109. I spotted him first and closed in from altitude advantage, closing in over Deal, I opened up fire from 300 yards, slightly beyond my convergence, as the e/a started to extend horizontally. I aimed with one wing and scored good hits with less than ideal spread, but the effect of this long burst was sufficient as the Messerschmitt lost control and was seen spinning down with glycol and very visible oil trail. The German pilot recovered several thousend feet lowe and started to climb in a steep turn, I made sure there were no other 109s around to help him and made another attack. I scored good hits on the engine and canopy and left him glide smoking. I claim Me 109 destroyed over Hellfire Corner area. Finally, I re-joined the Yellow section and proceeded to RTB. Formation landing of Green section was nice sight and then the Yellow section put our mighty Hurricanes down. Everybody had a good look at Bunny's machine riddled with 20mm grenades. The German heavy fighters are certainly not something to sniff at. Excellent show by Mandril, although we made no contact with enemy bombers this time.

Claims:

Destroyed: 2x Me 109
Probable:
Damaged: 1x Me 110

Losses:

A/C: Ok
Pilot: Ok