So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

I am glad to see a "Few" remembrance thread. They can't be remembered enough.

I know a man who was born in East London and grew up not far from Hornchurch aerodrome. He was a very small child during the Battle, but the nearby airfield was bombed so often and so loudly that to this day Denis absolutely cannot stand any sudden loud noises.

 

My Mum (sadly now passed) was born in 1931 and lived in Hornchurch for much of her childhood. She remembered going out into the street after one of the air raids on the airfield and picking up shrapnel with her toes whilst paddling in the water flowing from broken water mains. She was later evacuated to Wales but returned to Hornchurch not much later.

 

This is my Great Uncle James Murray and my first post. I have been researching what happened to him and it's lovely to see him remembered on here, God rest his soul. I've just discovered the forum so I'm going to have a good look, I Just wanted to say thank you and hello.

Robbie.

Hello Robbie.
Post here and say hello to everyone, nice to have you here.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/user-introductions/

 

Bump


"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.



10th July 1940

 

For me? A magical time......

 

19th July 1940

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.

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.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

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


BUCK, JAMES ALAN

Rank:
Sergeant
Trade:
Pilot
Service No:
742235
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Age:
24
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

43 Sqdn.
Grave Reference
Sec. P.L. Joint grave 362.
Cemetery
STRETFORD CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of William Alexander and Ellen Buck, of Chorltonville, Manchester; husband of Rene Buck.

DONALD, IAN DAVID GRAHAME

Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Trade:
Pilot
Service No:
33306
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

141 Sqdn.
Grave Reference
S.W. Corner.
Cemetery
TILFORD (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

HAMILTON, ARTHUR CHARLES

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Trade:
Air Gnr.
Service No:
78543
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Age:
28
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

141 Sqdn.
Grave Reference
Plot O. Row 1. Grave 12.
Cemetery
HAWKINGE CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of George Albert and Alice Nellie Mary Hamilton, of North Harrow, Middlesex.

KEMP, JOHN RICHARD

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
41850
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Age:
25
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

141 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 8.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Thomas S. E. and Ethel C. E. Kemp, of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand.

CROMBIE, ROBERT

Rank:
Sergeant
Service No:
903506
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Age:
29
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

141 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 13.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of William and Mary Crombie; husband of Phyllis Edina Helson Crombie, of Lightwater, Surrey.

HOWLEY, RICHARD ALEXANDER

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
41705
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

141 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 27.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

CURLEY, ALBERT GEORGE

Rank:
Sergeant
Service No:
747968
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Age:
33
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

141 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 13.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Major John Curley, and of Jane A. Curley, of Bushey, Hertfordshire.

KIDSON, RUDAL

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
41297
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Age:
26
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

141 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 9.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of George Rudal Kidson and Norah May Kidson. Native of New Zealand.

ATKINS, FREDERICK PETER JOHN

Rank:
Sergeant
Trade:
Air Gnr.
Service No:
903401
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

141 Sqdn.
Grave Reference
Plot 13. Row A. Grave 18.
Cemetery
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Daniel and Eva Atkins, of Oxford; husband of Joyce Ethel Atkins, of Edmonton, Middlesex.

SLATTER, DUDLEY MALINS

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
44597
Date of Death:
19/07/1940
Age:
26
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

141 Sqdn.
Panel Reference
Panel 10.
Memorial
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Wilfred Thomas Slatter, and of Valletta Matilda Slatter, of Southsea, Hampshire.
.

 

ONce more for effect..
Never in the fuield of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.

 

"As England, despite her hopeless military situation, still shows no sign of willingness to come to terms, I have decided to prepare, and if necessary to carry out, a landing operation against her.

The aim of this operation is to eliminate the English motherland as a base from which war against Germany can be continued and, if necessary to occupy completely.

I therefore order as follows:
The landing will be in a form of a surprise crossing on a wide front from an area in the vicinity of Ramsgate to the area to the west of the Isle of Wight. Units of the Air Force will act as artillery, and units of the navy as engineers.

The possible advantages of limited operations before the general crossing (e.g. the occupation of the Isle of Wight or the county of Cornwall) are to be considered from the points of view of each branch of the Armed Forces and the results reported to me. I reserve the decision to myself.

Preparations for the entire operation must be completed by the middle of August.
The preparations must also create such conditions as will make a landing in England possible, the English Air Force must be reduced morally and physically that it is unable to deliver any significant attack on the German crossing.

The invasion will bear the code name "Seelöwe" (Sealion)
Adolf Hitler, July 16th 1940.


July 2nd - July24th 1940

 

As I said...For me? magical times! It was an honour and a privilege to have experienced just what it was like. Our backs to the wall ...No where to go....except to fight back, if not on the battlefields? then in the workshops producing what the nation needed to battle on...Yes... A privilege.

And that is what I did in Southampton, with the blitz bombing night after night. Home Guard duties... helping out with the dead and injured. The long hours of work.....

+The pride I have in taking part in all the battles fro Normandy to the German Border is something quite special for me..But I class the time when we stood alone as also something....... very special.....For those time were the character forming years of my youthful life.....What is more."We shared the hardships"
It developed an outlook on life that could be described as "Over my dead body. But preferably...Yours"
England. My England...

 

22nd July 1940
85 Sqd, Martlesham Heath
Hurricane P3895.
Crashed prior to landing at Castle Camps satellite airfield 5.35pm. New Zealander P/O J.L. Bickerdike killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 Hurricanes
3 Spitfires
1 Blenheim

0 in Combat - 6 in Accidents/MF/Unknown

4(F)/121
Do 17P. Intercepted by Blue Section 145 Sqd (Flt Lt Boyd, F/O Dunning-white, P/O Weir) during reconnaissance mission. Shot down into the sea twenty miles south of Selsey 7.40am. Lt Reichhardt and Fw Rowe killed. Lt Bormann slightly wounded rescued from dinghy by British MTB. Aircraft 7A+DM lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 Do 17
1 Me 109
2 Ju 88
1 Ju 87
1 He 111

 

27th July 1940

Flying Officer PHILIP ANTHONY NEVILLE COX

33184, 501 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 25
on 27 July 1940
Son of Dr. Arthur Neville Cox, M.D., M.R.C.P., and Winifred Alice Neville Cox, of Brighton, Sussex. Awarded R. M. Groves Memorial Prize, R.A.F. College, Cranwell, 1937.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

See above for loss

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Blenheim
2 Hurricanes
1 Spitfire

2 in Combat - 2 in Accidents/Out of fuel

Erprobungs Gruppe 210

Me 110. Shot down from 2,000 ft by AA fire during anti-shipping strike. Crashed into sea off Harwich at over 400 mph. Oblt Fallenbacher and one NCO killed. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Ju 88
1 He 111
2 Do 17
2 Me 110
1 Ju 87

 

RAF - Campaign diariesBattle of Britain



My father was at Tangmere/Westhampnett

 

27th July 1940

Flying Officer PHILIP ANTHONY NEVILLE COX

33184, 501 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 25
on 27 July 1940
Son of Dr. Arthur Neville Cox, M.D., M.R.C.P., and Winifred Alice Neville Cox, of Brighton, Sussex. Awarded R. M. Groves Memorial Prize, R.A.F. College, Cranwell, 1937.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

More here.

History 1940-1944 - Church of The Good Shepherd

 

July 29th Monday
Flight Sergeant CECIL JOHN COONEY

564567, 56 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 26
on 29 July 1940
Son of John William and Emily Cooney; husband of Charlotte Cooney, of Rhos Robin, Denbighshire.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

See above for loss

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

8 Spitfires
8 Hurricanes

14 in Combat - 2 in Accidents/Weather

I/JG51
Me 109E-4. Crashed and burned out at Wissant following combat with fighters over the Channel. Hptmn Michele killed. Aircraft write off.

 

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

3rd August 1940
No Fatal Fighter Command Losses

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Spitfire
1 Blenheim

0 in Combat - 2 in Accidents/Unknown

7/KG55
He 111P. Failed to return fron operational sortie over Bristol. Shot down by AA fire over English Coast. Oberfw Geissler killed, Uffz Ohmann, Uffz Weber, Uffz Thieme and Uffwz Westphal all missing. Aircraft G1+IR lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 59
2 Do 17
3 Me 109
4 He 111

 

4th August 1940

Flying Officer IAN WELSH SUTHERLAND

72508, 15 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 21
on 04 August 1940
Son of Duncan Welsh Sutherland and Eva Sarah Elizabeth Sutherland, of Great Crosby, Liverpool.
Remembered with honour
HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD

On the 4th Sutherland was a passenger in Blenheim R3771 of 15 Squadron, engaged in a fighter affiliation exercise with Hurricanes of 1 Squadron. Whilst taking evasive action at low level, the Blenheim crashed at Norbury, near Whitchurch, Shropshire killing Sutherland and the three other crew members, these were P/O M Hohnen, Sgt. HN Beard and Sgt. W Watson.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O I W Sutherland


Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Blenheim
1 Spitfire

1 in Combat - 1 in Unknown

IV/LG1
Ju 87B. Flew into the ground near Tramecourt during practice flight. Circumstances unknown. One NCO killed, one seriously injured died later. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

6 He 111
1 Do 17
1 Ju 87
1 Ju 88

 

Sergeant LEWIS REGINALD ISAAC

748158, 64 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 24
on 05 August 1940
Son of James and Blodwen Matilda Isaac, of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Sgt. L.R.Isaac of No 64 Squadron was shot down and killed in his Spitfire I (L1029) by a Bf 109 off Folkstone on the 5th of August 1940 at 08:50hrs.
I-pilots

64 Sqd, Kenley
Spifire L1029.
Failed to return from Sqd sortie following surprise attack by enemy fighters over the Channel 8.50am. Sgt L.R. Isaac missing. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

4 Spitfires
2 Blenheims

3 in Combat - 3 in Accidents/Unknown

1/JG51
Me 109E-4. Shot down by RAF fighters in combat over the Channel. Oberfw Schmitt killed. Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 59
1 Ar 196
8 Me 109
1 Do 215
2 Ju 87
5 Do 17
2 Ju 88
1 He 111

 

6th August 1940

Pilot Officer ARTHUR VIVIAN FISHER

43702, Royal Air Force
who died age 23
on 06 August 1940
Son of Arthur and Emily Judith Fisher, of Paeroa, Auckland, New Zealand.
Remembered with honour
BENSON (OR BENSINGTON) (ST. HELEN) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION

 

6th August 1940

6th August

No.206 Sqn loss. It's 12th Hudson since May 12 when aircraft landing back from Op Patrol SA.4/A crashes and bomb load explodes. Crew safe.

In order to try to spot any invasion fleet before it reaches UK waters Coastal Command are averaging 40 visual search patrols a day over the sea areas between Cherbourg and Norway.

Summary of Cat E for Coastal Command this day:
1 on Op

Ross