So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Gage, Jul 10, 2011.

  1. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    "What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour."
    W.C.

    I don't have the time to state all losses for the Battle but I would like to pick one aircraft from each side per day as a tribute to the bravery shown during that Summer in 1940.

    For full figures and stats for the BofB see After The Battle - The Battle of Britain Then & Now
    All stats for the RAF are listed as Fighter Command unless stated.
     
  2. Jakob Kjaersgaard

    Jakob Kjaersgaard Senior Member

  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    thank you Craig

    Battle of Britain Campaign Diary

    Date: 10 July 1940

    Weather: Showery in south-east England and Channel. Continuous rain elsewhere.
    Day: Convoy raids off North Foreland and Dover.
    Night: The east coast, home counties and western Scotland attacked

    The Battle of Britain - Home Page
     
  4. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    111 Sqd, Croydon
    Hurricane P3671.
    Attacked by Oblt. Oesau of III/JG51 during combat over the Channel off Folkstone 1.00pm. Collided with Do 17 of 3/KG2 and lost a wing at 6,000 ft. F/O Thomas Higgs bailed out but killed. Body washed ashore at Noordwijk 15/8/40. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):
    6 Hurricanes
    6 Spitfires

    10 in Combat - 2 in Accidents/MF

    5/JG51
    Me109E-3 shot down in combat with British fighters over the Thames Est. Uffz. Stocker killed. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):
    8 Do 17
    1 He 111
    1 Ju 52
    6 Me 110
    1 Ju 88
    7 Me 109
    1 Do 215

    I Haven't broken down the losses for the Luftwaffe as there are a lot of losses stated unknown and I can't ascertain the corrrect reason for loss.

    All Info taken ATB BofB & Fighter Command Losses of WWII by Norman Franks
     
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  5. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    501 Sqd, Middle Wallop
    Hurricane N2485.
    Shot down by Oblt. Franziket of III/JG27 in combat over convoy ten miles south-east of Portland Bill 8.00am. Sgt F.J.P. Dixon baled out but drowned despite search by Weymouth lifeboat. Aircraft lost.
    Buried at Abbeville, France. Aged 21.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    7 Hurricanes
    4 Spitfires
    1 Blenheim

    10 in Combat - 2 in Accidents/MF

    9/ZG76
    Me110C. Shot down by RAF fighters and crashed off the Ney Breakwater 12.05pm. Gefr. Sorokoput killed. Lt. Schroder captured unhurt. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    5 Do 17
    1 He 59 (shot down by 217 Sqd Anson - Four NCOs captured in dinghy)
    1 Me 109
    6 He 111
    3 Ju 88
    4 Ju 87
    4 Me 110
    1 Buecker Bue-131
     
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  6. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    610 Sqd, Biggin Hill
    Spitfire P9502
    Lost control in dive through cloud during dogfight practice. Crashed at Titsey Park. Sgt S. Ireland killed. Aircraft DW-Q a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Blenheim
    2 Spitfire
    9 Hurricane

    6 in Combat - 6 in Accidents/MF

    9/KG26
    He 111 H-3. Shot down by Yellow Section 603 Sqd (P/O Gilroy, P/O Caister and Sgt Arber) in engagement over Aberdeen 1.10pm. Crashed and burned out. Lt. Huck, Uffz. Plischke, Uffz. Skokan, Uffz. Kerkhoff killed. Aircraft 1H+ FT a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Henschel 126
    1 Me 109
    2 Ju 87
    6 He 111
    2 Do 17
    1 Ju 88
     
  7. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    56 Sqd, North Weald
    Hurricane P2922
    Shot down by Oblt. Foezoe of 4/JG51 in combat over the Channel off Calais 4.45pm. Sgt. J.J. Whitfield missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Blenheim
    4 Spitfires
    8 Hurricanes

    8 in Combat - 5 in Accidents/MF

    3/906
    He 115. Failed to return from operational sortie over the Thames Estuary. Lt Dr. Steinert and Oblt zur See Hildebrand killed. One NCO wounded. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    2 Do 17
    1 He 115
    5 Me 110
    2 Ju 87
    5 Ju 88
    1 Me 109
     
  8. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    615 Sqd, Kenley
    Hurricane L1584.
    Shot down by Me 109s of II/JG51 in combat over convoy off Dover 3.30pm. Crashed in St Margaret's Bay. P/O M.R. Mudie baled out badly wounded and rescued by Navy. Admitted to Dover Hospital but died 15/7/40. Aircraft KW-G lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    2 Hurricanes

    1 in Combat - 1 in Accidents

    11/LG1
    Ju 87. Shot down by Yellow Section, 615 Sqd (F/O Gaynor, F/O Collard and P/O Hugo) in combat over the Channel off Dover 3.50pm. Crashed in sea east of Dover Harbour. Oblt Sonnberg killed, one missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Ju 88
    1 Ju 87
    1 Me 108
    3 Me 109
     
  9. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    No Fatal Fighter Command Losses

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    5 Hurricanes
    4 Spitfires

    1 in Combat - 8 in Accidents/MF

    7/ZG2
    Me 110C-5. Crashed and burned out at Wunsdorf on routine flight. Cause unknown. Oblt Tiefenbrunner killed. Aircraft write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    3 Ju 88
    3 Me 109
    3 He 111
    1 Me 110
     
  10. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    249 Sqd, Church Fenton
    Hurricane P2995
    Engine failed on take-off. Crashed and burned out in Copmanthorpe Wood 00.50am. Sgt A.D.W Main killed. Aircraft write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    3 Hurricanes
    1 Spitfire

    1 in Combat - 3 in Accidents/MF

    9/KG26
    He 111 H-3. Shot down during attack on British naval vessels twenty five miles north-east if Frazerburgh 4.12pm. Uffz Liedtke, Gefr Heimbach killed. Oblt Lorenz, Uffz Beer captured. Aircraft 1H+ KT lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    3 Do 17
    1 Do 18
    2 Me 109
    1 He 111
    2 Ju 88
     
  11. cash_13

    cash_13 Senior Member

    • The British Ambassador's response to a German ultimatum:
    "We're not easily frightened. Also we know how hard it is for an army to cross the Channel — the last little corporal to try it came a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate to us until you're marching up Whitehall! ...and even then we won't listen!"


    Lee F
     
  12. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    603 Sqd, Turnhouse
    Spitfire K9916
    Missing from operational sortie, circumstances unknown. F/O C.D. Peel missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    2 Hurricanes
    3 Spitfires

    3 in Combat - 2 in Accidents/MF

    1/KG51
    Ju 88 A. Shot down in combat over the Channel. Oblt Rechenberg and two NCOs killed, one NCO missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    2 Ju 88s
    3 He 111s
     
  13. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    236 Sqd, Thorney Island
    Blenheim L6779.
    Believed shot down by Major Schellmann of JG2 during photo-recce mission over Le Harve 12.15pm. Deteriorating weather and intense AA fire over Cap de la Hague. P/O C.R.D. Thomas killed and Sgt H.D.B Elsdon missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Hurricane
    9 Spitfires
    3 Blenheims

    9 in Combat - 4 in Accidents/MF/Unknown

    1/KG54
    Ju 88A. Failed to return for operational sortie. Two NCOs killed. Lt Frisks and one NCO missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Ju 52
    1 Ju 87
    1 Me 110
    1 Me 109
    1 He 111
    2 Do 17s
    5 Ju 88s
     
  14. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Sergeant HARRY DONALD BUCHANAN ELSDON 743044, 236 Sqdn., Royal Air Force VR


    743044, 236 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 28
    on 18 July 1940
    Son of Mrs. A. B. Elsdon, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Sgt H.D.B.Elsdon from No 236 Squadron along with his pilot C.R.D.Thomas in a Blenheim (L6779) were shot down and killed over Le Harve by a Bf 109 from JG 2 at 12:15hrs on the 18th of July 1940. They were on a photo reconnaissance.
     

    Attached Files:

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  15. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    236 Sqd, Thorney Island
    Blenheim L6779.
    Believed shot down by Major Schellmann of JG2 during photo-recce mission over Le Harve 12.15pm. Deteriorating weather and intense AA fire over Cap de la Hague. P/O C.R.D. Thomas killed and Sgt H.D.B Elsdon missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Hurricane
    9 Spitfires
    3 Blenheims

    9 in Combat - 4 in Accidents/MF/Unknown

    1/KG54
    Ju 88A. Failed to return for operational sortie. Two NCOs killed. Lt Frisks and one NCO missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Ju 52
    1 Ju 87
    1 Me 110
    1 Me 109
    1 He 111
    2 Do 17s
    5 Ju 88s
    1 JU 52 damaged, wonder what he was doing at the time he got shot at, not like they were using it as a bomber were they?
     
  16. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    1 JU 52 damaged, wonder what he was doing at the time he got shot at, not like they were using it as a bomber were they?

    2/606
    Ju 52. Forced landed at Gabinkirchen following fire in rear gunner's compartment during routine domestic flight. Three NCOs killed. Lt Zur See Stock and Lt zur See Krenzien wounded. Aircraft repairable (maybe the crew who died, died from smoke inhalation?).
     
  17. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

  18. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    2/606
    Ju 52. Forced landed at Gabinkirchen following fire in rear gunner's compartment during routine domestic flight. Three NCOs killed. Lt Zur See Stock and Lt zur See Krenzien wounded. Aircraft repairable (maybe the crew who died, died from smoke inhalation?).
    Yeah thats probably the most likely scenario mate. I did think it strange that a "Tante Ju" would be flying over the channel!
     
  19. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    141 Sqd, West Malling
    Defiant L7009.
    Shot down by Me 109s of III/JG51 and crashed Elmsvale Road, Dover 12.45pm. Ft/Lt I.D.G. Donald and P/O A.C. Hamilton both killed. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    7 Hurricanes
    4 Spitfires
    7 Defiants

    Note: 141 Sqd lost 7 Defiants and ten men killed in combat within fifteen minutes.

    16 in Combat - 2 in Accidents/MF/Unknown

    9/JG51
    Me 109 E-4. Severely damaged in combat with 141 Sqd Defiants over Folkstone 12.45pm and crashed on landing back at base. Fw Heilmann critically wounded (died next day). Aircraft write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    4 Me 109s
    2 He 111
    1 FW 200
    1 Do 17
    1 Farman (?)
    1 Ju 88
     
  20. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

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