So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

6 Sept 1940

The primary tasking of Coastal Command as Trade Protection still remains.

No.612 Sqn Anson from Stornoway on Protection Duty to Convoy WN.13 ditches, crew safe.

Ran out of fuel at 13:30 hrs and ditched 25 miles north east of Tiumpan Head, Lewis. The crew were rescued by the trawler Sophy.

Convoy WN.13 was one of a regular series plying between the Clyde on the west coast of Scotland and Methil on the east coast. This particular convoy of 41 merchant vessels and 2 escort ships departed the Clyde on the 5th September to arrive at Methil on the 8th.

Ross

 

Flight Lieutenant WILLIAM PERCIVAL CAMBRIDGE

37791, 253 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died
on 06 September 1940
Son of Sidney John and Agnes Helen Cambridge; husband of Mary Margaret Blackwell Cambridge, of Caversham, Reading, Berkshire.
Remembered with honour
READING (HENLEY ROAD) CEMETERY
S/L W.P.Cambridge of No 253 Squadron was shot down and killed on the 6th of September 1940 at 09:15hrs. He baled out of his Hurricane I (P3032) but was dead on landing.

 

601 Sqd, Tangmere
Hurricane P8818.
Shot down by Me 109s in combat over Tunbridge Wells 9.30am. Crashed near High Brooms Viaduct, Southborough. Flt Lt W.H Rhodes-Moorhouse killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

23 Hurricanes
12 Spitfires

32 in Combat - 3 MF/Unknown

3/JG53
Me 109E-4 (1216). Shot down by fighters during bomber escort over Tilbury. Reputedly crashed in England but location not traced. Oblt Riegel missing. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 115
6 Ju 88
4 Me 110
20 Me 109
10 He 111

 

WEATHER:

High cloud early giving way to light cloud but remaining fine throughout the south. Channel areas can expect early morning haze which should quickly disappear leaving clear skies. Temperatures were expected to be normal. The north could expect mid to high level cloud with good visibility.
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

The day previous was a day when extreme pressure was brought upon Fighter Command. Six of the seven sector airfields had suffered considerable damage, and five of the advanced air bases along the Kent coast feared no better. Losses of aircraft again exceeded production and pilot strength was now down to about seven hundred in all.
The Luftwaffe had pounded and pounded at the RAF, and now it appeared that victory was now within their grasp. It had taken the German war machine much longer than they had anticipated, mainly due to their own mistakes, but slowly they were grinding away at Fighter Command, and slowly Fighter Command was weakening. Even on September 6th, the heads at the War Office were ready to implement the order of 'Invasion Alert No.1' It had already been served as a warning only to all RAF Commands, but as yet had not been released as 'official' to the public.

ACM Hugh Dowding knew the situation, he knew that if the RAF was at all to gain the upper hand, then his pilots would have to shoot down the German planes at a rate of three to one, a task which at this stage when his airfields were almost unoperational, and his pilots were tired and many were near to exhaustion. Dowding said in his office at Bentley Priory, "......all we can do now is to pray to God, because only a miracle can save us now."

What was to happen on September 7th 1940, goes back to the night of August 24th / 25th when German bombers targeted a number of British cities and towns. Birmingham had about four raids in as many hours, Liverpool came under a Red Alert when it was bombed as was Hull and Sheffield. But it was the German bombers that were supposed to drop their bombs on Thameshaven and Rochester, but dropped them in the heart of London instead, the Luftwaffe crew claiming that they had lost their bearings. The British War Cabinet sanctioned, as a retaliation, an attack on Berlin on the following night of August 25th/26th. About 50 British bombers made up of Wellington's and Hampdens were to carry out the attack. But according to Bomber Command, heavy cloud covered the German capital and only half of the bombers dropped their bombs, but most fell wide of the city doing little damage. The only bombs to fall within the city limits damaged a summer house in the Berlin suburb of Rosenthal and only two people were injured and no deaths were recorded.
September 7th 1940

 

Pilot Officer JOHN BENZIE

42185, 242 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 25
on 07 September 1940
Son of John and Agnes Benzie, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
P/O John Benzie a Canadian of No 242 Squadron was killed on the 7th of September 1940 at 17:00hrs, while on patrol over the Thames Estuary in his Hurricane I (P2962).
B2-pilots

 

7 Sept 1940

No.206 Sqn Hudson was landing into wind at Bircham Newton when a Hurricane cut across the flight path. Pilot pulled up to avoid the collision, stalled, crashed and burst into flames. Crew escaped safely.

Ross

 

Paterson Clarence Hughes an Australian from Cooma in New South Wales was the highest non British Ace of the Battle of Britain with 14 kills.

The link below is a tribute to a young lad who the famous Bob Doe called his friend.

Hughes achieved all his victories in a little over 8 weeks.

A very touching biography which exemplifies the bravery of these young lads:

ST JAMES, SUTTON ON HULL, EAST RIDING - WAR MEMORIAL - Flight Lieutenant Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC

Some photos of his dedication in 2008.



View attachment 60072

 

Pilot Officer HENRY WOLLASTON MOODY

81046, 602 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died
on 07 September 1940

Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
P/O Harry W.Moody from No 602 Squadron baled safely out of his Spitfire I (P9423) on the 19th of August 1940 at 14:50hrs near North Berstead. He had been attacking a Ju 88 off Bognor Regis and his aircraft was hit by return fire from the rear gunner. Moody suffered slight burns to his hands. On the 7th of September 1940 he was shot down and killed near Biggin Hill at 17:30hrs in his Spitfire I (X4256).

 

Flight Lieutenant REGINALD ERIC LOVETT
D F C

37543, 73 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 36
on 07 September 1940
Son of Reginald and Lily Lovett, of Golders Green.
Remembered with honour
HENDON CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM
F/Lt R.E.Lovett of No 73 Squadron was shot down on the 7th of September 1940 at 15:30hrs. He baled out of his Hurricane I (P3204) over Burnham. .

 

234 Sqd, Middle Wallop
Spitfire P9466.
Shot down in combat with enemy aircraft over St Mary Cray 6.25pm. Crashed near Biggin Hill. Sqd Ldr J.S. O'Brien killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

25 Spitfires
29 Hurricanes
1 Blenheim

51 in Combat - 4 MF/Unknown

2/JG51
Me 109E-1 (6342). Failed to return from bomber escort mission to London and believed shot down in the Channel. Oberfw Stroehlein missing. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Ju 52
1 He 59
9 Me 110
1 He 115
17 Me 109
14 He 111
6 Do 17
8 Ju 88

Note: Change in tactics leads to the first attack on London

 

WEATHER:

After a clear night, clouds were expected to develop over most of Britain and remain at eight tenths for most of the day. Although cloudy, it was antcipated that the day would remain dry with only far northern Scotland expecting a shower or two. Temperatures were expected to be a little cooler because of the cloud cover but this cloud was expected to break up late in the afternoon.
OPERATIONS:

After almost twelve hours on non stop continuous bombing, the people emerge from from shelters, basements and underground stations, wherever they thought that may have been safe. Many had heard on the radio overnight that "German Military forces have been reported to have landed on the south coast of England....." and that many were afraid to emerge. But on the early morning news broadcasts it was confirmed that no enemy paratroop sightings had been made, nor had any German ships or barges crossed the Channel during the night and that it was perfectly safe with no need to confine oneself into an air raid shelter.
From the outcome of the meeeting on the previous day with Hugh Dowding, Parks issued fresh orders that were to be efective immeadiately. Figures stated at the meeting was that during the last four weeks, pilot casualties amounted to 348, although Keith Park states that pilot casualties in 11 Group amount to nearly 100 per week. One of the problems is that because of pilot shortage in 11 Group, many pilots straight out of OTU (Operational Training Units) are being posted to fully operational squadrons that are in some of the busiest areas of 11 Group. Keith Park makes the suggestion that pilots straight out of OTU should be posted to squadrons that are in the north where they can be drawn into combat operations slowly. This way they would receive additional training with a squadron rested from top combat duties.

Squadrons would also be re-classified. Up until now, Park has been able to call upon squadrons that have been located at the most suitable locations for any given attack. It was quite feasible that one of those squadrons called on may have not had the combat operational experience required and therefore they would be going into an attack very 'green' and not only putting themselves at risk, but the more valuable and experienced pilots as well. The re-classification of squadrons is as follows:
To many Londoners' this had been the first time that they had really experienced the effects of saturation bombing. It had been a sleepless night for most as the bombing attacks that commenced during the afternoon of the previous day carried on through the night. Anderson shelters rocked as each bomb exploded, dust managed to find its way into every hole and crack, children were screaming and crying, mothers were doing their best to comfort them. It had been a night that 'terror ran amoke' and by the early morning light of September 8th after the last of the enemy bombers had returned back to their bases, most would have said.....'We never want to go through another night like that....ever'. Little did they know that soon, London would come under heavy bombardment for fifty-seven consecutive nights, just like what they had just experienced on the night of September 7th - 8th.
But as the first light of Sunday emerged, a strange phenomenon took place, quite different from that of the previous twelve hours as London's "Daily Telegraph" reports:

After a sleepless night, while their Anderson shelters rocked with the explosion of bombs and the crash of guns, the people of East London carried on to-day with their usual amazing spirit.
Several hundred began their search for new homes as soon as the "all clear" sounded. Whole streets had been destroyed and many other houses demolished. But people gathered their possessions together and piled them into perambulators. With children in their arms, they started their walk to friends or relatives.

Their morale was astonishing. As they were walking to their new homes many were laughing and joking among themselves.

Some families took care of children whose parents were dead or injured, and made long journeys across London to escort them to the homes of relatives.

Women went on preparing the Sunday dinner, even though they had no water or gas. They borrowed water from more fortunate neighbours and lit fires to roast the joints. One of them, Mrs. W. Johnson, who had spent the night in a shelter, was preparing her meal in a house where the dividing wall between dining-room and drawing-room lay in chunks across the floors.

In a dockland tavern, where every window bad been blown out by a bomb which fell across the road, they were collecting for a Spitfire fund.

The licensee of a hotel gave up his saloon bar for housing people whose houses were no longer tenable. In several streets neighbours were making a whip-round for those who had lost their belongings.

"It was an experience far worse than the Silvertown explosion in the last war," Mrs. Cook, who with her husband and five children escaped injury, said to me. "The heat from the fires was terrific. We do not intend moving from the district, despite this ghastly raid."

The morale of the people was summed up in the words of one Mayor, who said: "They have taken it on the chin."

At 8 p.m. another all-night raid began, while London's anti-aircraft guns put up a terrific barrage.
London Daily Telegraph of Sunday September 8th 1940

September 8th - September 9th 1940

1,500 NAZI PLANES BOMB LONDON; INDUSTRY AND SERVICES DAMAGED (9/8/40)

 

41 Sqd, Hornchurch
Spitfire R6756.
Crashed in flames during squadron patrol off Dover area. Presumed victim of Me 109 attack 12.15pm. F/O W.J Scott killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Spitfire
1 Blenheim
6 Hurricanes

6 in Combat - 2 MF/Fuel Exhausted

5/KG2
Do 17Z (1130). Hit by AA fire and exploded over Farningham Road railway station 12.45pm. Lt Landenberger, Obergefr Lotter and Flgr Schuetze killed. Oberfw Strobel captured wounded. Aircraft U5+FN a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 115
1 Ar 196
4 Me 109
6 Do 17
5 He 111
4 Ju 88
2 Ju 87

 

8 Sept 1940

No.53 Sqn has two Blenheim shot down by 109s during a mid day convoy attack off Calais. Both crews killed.
F/L I H Bartlett
Sgt R E Aldridge
Sgt E D Sheldrick MID
P/O R G Hall
Sgt J D Randall
Sgt M B Conacher

No.224 Sqn operating from Leuchars has a Hudson fail to return from a North Sea Patrol. The Songvaar, JNorway, lighthouse keeper reported that a bomber came at an altitude of 200 metres above the lighthouse and was shot down into the sea 1 kilometre south west by 5 fighters. Possibly by Ofw E Sawallisch of 4/JG77. Entire crew killed.
F/O R G Cuthbert
F/O I H Dolman
Sgt E Duffield
Sgt M Rees

Ross

 

Flight Lieutenant IAN HOWARD BARTLETT

25095, 53 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died
on 08 September 1940

Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

 

Sergeant ROBERT EDWARD ALDRIDGE

517434, 53 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died
on 08 September 1940

Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

 

Flying Officer ROBERT GUY CUTHBERT

41260, 224 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 20
on 08 September 1940
Son of Edmund Guy and Gladys Maude Cuthbert, of Sanderstead, Surrey.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

 

Flying Officer IAN HUMPHREY DOLMAN

41264, 224 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 23
on 08 September 1940
Son of Eugene Charlett Dolman and Effie Irene Dolman; husband of Pamela Jean Dolman, of Rowner, Hampshire.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

 

Sergeant MURRAY BLAIR CONACHER

552142, 53 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died
on 08 September 1940

Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

 

Sergeant JOHN DERMOT RANDALL

581064, 53 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 19
on 08 September 1940
Son of Arthur Dermot Randall and Edith Grace Randall, of Rothbury, Northumberland.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

 

WEATHER:

Cloud overnight becoming showery with the possiblity of a thunderstorm in the east. Rain periods in the west while the north and Scotland should remain cloudy but dry. Showers were expected to clear from Channel areas by midday.
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

The operations being carried out by Bomber Command during the hours of darkness are more inclined to be to the advantage of the Battle for Britain rather than the Battle of Britain. Although in the past many attacks have been made on German airfields, but these are numerous and putting one out of action really has no effect on the efficiency of the Luftwaffe. Fighter Command at present is doing far more damage to the Luftwaffe than is Bomber Command. But now British bombers are venturing further inland. As well as bombing Berlin, they are now targeting Hambourg, Bremen and Emden. Overnight a total of 133 bombers crossed into enemy territory to drop bombs on a number of towns and cities regarded as ports where Germany has vital shipping activity. The heaviest raid was by 49 Hampdens on the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hambourg where considerable damage was done. But it was not without loss. Two Wellingtons of 149 Squadron and five Blenheims of were shot down over Boulogne and Ostend, while one Hampden of 61 Squadron was lost over Hambourg.
It was now obvious to Dowding and Park that the Luftwaffe was going to leave the 11 Group aerodromes alone, well, for the time being anyway. Already damaged airfields were just about back to any reasonable sort of order, the personnel that had been toiling both night and day busily rebuilding to make all airfields fully operational again could ease off a little. Aircraft and supplies had been replenished and although Fighter Command was nowhere yet back to full strength, they were a lot stronger than they were just seven days ago. Again, no enemy formations were detected during the morning or the early and mid afternoon sessions. Park shared with his chief controller Willoughby de Broke and also so Dowding by telephone, that the Luftwaffe tactics when targeting the aerodromes, commenced generally with a morning attack, with the last few days, when his aerodromes had been left alone, there had been no early morning attacks. It seemed that bombing raids on London seemed be be forming a pattern of commencing a few hours after midday. Park issued the order that Hornchurch, Biggin Hill and Kenley push some of their squadrons forward to their satelite stations.
September 8th - September 9th 1940