So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

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

  1. CL1

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

    KEITH REGINALD GILLMAN photo used in posters by the RAF and ATBs own Battle of Britain - Then and Now


    Pilot Officer KEITH REGINALD GILLMAN

    42053, 32 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died age 19
    on 25 August 1940
    Son of Richard Gordon Gillman and Gladys Annie Gillman, of River, Kent.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
    P/O K.R.Gillman joined No 32 Squadron on the 10th of May 1940, but did not fly his first operational sortie until the 7th of June 1940. K.R.Gillman shot down a Bf 109 on the 19th of July 1940. P/O KR Gillman was shot down and killed on the 25th of August 1940, at 19:00hrs off Dover in a Hurricane I (P2755), aged 19.:poppy:
    Keith Gillman - Keith Gillman - World War II: In Praise of the RAF - Photo Gallery - LIFE

    POGillman
     

    Attached Files:

  2. CL1

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

    WEATHER:

    After early morning mists, especially in the north, the morning is expected to be fine and clear with cloud developing during the afternoon. The north can expect scattered cloud during the afternoon and evening.
    The whole Bf109 became enveloped in flames, and pieces began to fly off. Finally, as it went down, more pieces came off, all burning. As it tumbled down toward the Thames Estuary it was really a bunch of blazing fragments instead of a whole aircraft. It was an amazing sight.
    Sgt. R.F. Hamlyn 610 Squadron RAF Fighter Command 24th August 1940
    Ran into a bunch of Huns over the Thames Estuary. Had a bang at Bf110 but had to break away as tracer was coming over my head from another behind me. He appeared to be hitting his fellow countryman in front of me but I didn't wait to see if he shot him down. Had a crack at another and shot his engine right out of the wing, Lovely.
    Flying Officer B.J.Lane 19 Squadron RAF Fighter Command 24th August 1940
    August 25th - August 29th 1940
     
  3. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    25 August 1940

    No.254 Sqn has a Blenheim crash at Dyce on circuits and bumps. Both crew men injured but not fatal.

    Ross
     
  4. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    616 Sqd, Kenley
    Spitfire R6966. Failed to return from combat with Me 109s over Canterbury 7.00pm. Sgt T.E. Westmoreland missing. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    11 Hurricanes
    2 Blenheims
    11 Spitfires

    20 in Combat - 4 Unknown/Collision/Friendly Fire

    8/ZG76
    Me 110C-4 (3532). Crashed and exploded at Tatton House Farm, Buckland Ripers following combat over Portland 5.30pm. Fw Dahne and Uffz Meyer both killed. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 He 115
    12 Me 109
    2 He 111
    3 Ju 88
    1 Do 17
    2 Ju 87
    13 Me 110
     
  5. CL1

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

    26th August 1940: Aerial Battle over Colchester
    Tremendous air-battle this afternoon, about 3 o’clock. The sirens sounded, and we had a full crowd in the Vaults. I went up on the roof, and very soon the air seemed full of the screaming of falling planes. We have all heard the sound so often on films that it really seems quite natural, and one tends to forget that is real, and that you are watching young men go down to a particularly unpleasant death. We could see burning planes to the E., W., and S., and I saw one of our fighters make a forced landing in the E., somewhere near Gt. Bromley I should think. All this took place in brilliant sunshine.

    To Rose for supper.
    WW2: A Civilian in the Second World War: 26th August 1940: Aerial Battle over Colchester
     
  6. CL1

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

    Leading Aircraftman ALBERT LAWRENCE AUSTIN

    917258, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 26 August 1940

    Remembered with honour
    NORTHWOOD CEMETERY

    LAC A.L.Austin of No 604 Squadron was on night patrol on the 25th of August 1940 and his Blenheim I (L6782) crashed near Exeter. His pilot (J.G.B.Fletcher) and the other crew member (C.Haigh) were killed. Austin died of his wounds on the 26th of August 1940.
    Ka-pilots
     

    Attached Files:

  7. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    26 August 1940

    No.500 Sqn at Detling has 3 Ansons destroyed in a take off incident to an anti-submarine patrol in the early hours. No crew casualties.

    Summary for Coastal Command Cat E losses on the day:

    3 on Ops

    In the month 26th July 1940 to 26 August 1940, Coastal Command has lost 53 aircraft to both Operational and non-Operational aircraft and 268 aircraft from the start of hostilities.

    This monthly total amounted to approx 50% of the available operational aircraft on the 3rd Sept 1939.

    With most of the UK aircraft industry tasked with producing fighters these losses could not be replaced quickly and needed to rely on the drip feed of Catalina and Hudson from US sources brought over the Atlantic.

    Ross
     
  8. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    610 Sqd, Biggin Hill
    Spitfire R6595.
    Severely damaged by Me 109s in combat over Folkestone and crashed in flames attempting to land at Hawkinge 12.40pm. P/O F.K. Webster killed. Aircraft DW-O a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    28 Hurricanes
    15 Spitfires
    4 Defiants

    42 in Combat - 5 Unknown/Bombing/MF

    2/KG3
    Do 17Z (2541). Crash landed near Tirlemont fuel exhausted following operational sortie across the Channel. One NCO killed, Lt Wiesprzewski and another NCO wounded. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    6 Ju 88
    2 He 115
    16 Do 17
    20 Me 109
    8 He 111
    4 Me 110
     
  9. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

  10. CL1

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

    WEATHER:

    Rain that had developed overnight would continue throughout the morning. Heavy cloud should continue for most of the day although the Channel area could expect a break up of the cloud by midday. Rain periods could be expected in the north with low cloud. Conditions should be expected to be cooler in all areas.
    ACTIVITIES:

    Most of Britain awoke to a very damp and gloomy morning. Many of the pilots, as they did so often on seeing wet and waterlogged airfields, breathe a sigh of relief as they knew that once again they could possibly take things easy, even if was for four or five hours. Most civilians done, what they had been doing so far every day since the war began. The early morning 'cuppa' before breakfast and then the family sat around the kitchen table reading and talking about the previous days, or nights events from early morning editions of the newspaper.
    August 25th - August 29th 1940
     
  11. CL1

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

    Pilot Officer CHARLES JOHN ARTHUR

    42090, 248 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 27 August 1940
    Son of James Fitzpatrick Arthur and Margaret Elizabeth Arthur, of Radyr, Glamorgan.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
    P/O C.J.Arthur of No 248 Squadron was killed along with his crew (Sgt E.A.Ringwood & Sgt R.C.R.Cox ) on the 27th of August 1940around mid-day. They were on a recce in a Blenheim off the Norwegian coast.:poppy:

    Sergeant ERIC ALFRED RINGWOOD

    629710, 248 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 27 August 1940

    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Sgt E.A.Ringwood of No 248 Squadron was killed along with the crew ( P/O C.J.Arthur & Sgt R.C.R.Cox ) on the 27th of August 1940 around mid-day. They were on a recce in a Blenheim off the Norwegian coast.:poppy:

    Ra-pilots EA
     

    Attached Files:

  12. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    27 August 1940

    No.248 Sqn Blenheim tasked with looking for invasion shipping was shot down off the coast of Norway at mid-day. Claimed by Lt Setz of 6/JG77. Sgt Cox's body was washed ashore near Stromstad and initially buried at Tjärnö north of Gothenburg but is now is buried in Kviberg Cemetery, Sweden. Both P/O Arthur and Sgt Ringwood are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
    P/O C J Arthur :poppy:
    Sgt R C R Cox :poppy:
    Sgt E A Ringwood :poppy:

    PRU Hudson lost on Recce flight from Coltishall.
    Crossed the enemy coast near Husum. When over Cuxhaven the Hudson was hit by flak damaging a fuel tank and the tailplane.The aircraft ran short of fuel and was ditched 15 miles off Sheringham, Norfolk. All the crew got clear safely of the Hudson which sank in just over a minute. F/O Bamber spent an hour swimming in the sea before being picked up by a trawler. No.236 Sqn a/c reported 3 crew picked up by drifter but only found oil on the water.

    At about 16:30 hrs RAF Chatham, reported that an aircraft was down in the sea seventeen miles north of Sheringham. A moderate north north east wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 16:40 hrs. She found some articles and gear belonging to the aeroplane, also a large patch of oil. When a RAF speed boat arrived with the news that the crew were safe on a patrol boat the life-boat returned, arriving at 21:00 hrs. Sgt Sawyer is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. 1 fatality, 4 safe.
    Sgt F C Sawyer :poppy:

    Summary of Coastal Command Cat E losses on this day:
    2 on Ops

    In the month of August Coastal Command had expended 5,620 flying hours on Invasion Ship recce and anti-invasion bombing tasks, sighting and attacking 6 U-Boats during the Ops.

    This burden was in addition to its declared tasking of Convoy protection. In August 3,437 hours were expended on Convoy Escort and 1,284 on Convoy support and Northern U-Boat transit area. These sorties sighted 10 U-Boats and attacked 8 of them.

    Flying hours/U-Boat attacks from Admiralty Assessment Committee records, verified post war.

    Ross
     
    CL1 likes this.
  13. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    213 Sqd, Exeter
    Hurricane N2336.
    Lost control and struck sea during routine patrol 12.58pm. Cause unknown. Sub Lt W.J.M Moss missing. Aircraft AK-G lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    4 Hurricanes
    3 Spitfires
    1 Blenheim
    1 Gladiator

    2 in Combat - 7 Accident/Unknown

    6/KG30
    Ju 88A-1 (4033). Crashed on landing following combat mission at Aalborg . Lt Kieszner and three NCOs killed. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    5 Do 17
    2 Me 110
    1 He 115
    1 He 59
    2 Me 109
    4 He 111
    6 Ju 88
     
  14. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

  15. CL1

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

    WEATHER:

    Cloud was expected to clear overnight giving way to clearer conditions over most of Britain. Cloud was expected to persist over the south east corner of England and over the Channel. Most areas could expect colder conditions throughout the day as southerly winds should keep temperatures down.


    Dowding and Park were hoping that the tranquility of the previous day would continue. But the day began fine, with scattered cloud, the rain and drizzle of the previous day completely gone.
    "........when the weather was fine, and conditions ideal for flying. It concerned us if the enemy decided not to launch an attack upon us. We would wonder as to what they were up to, everyone would come up with suggestions as to why it was so unusually quiet, but no one really knew"
    Air Vice Marshal Keith Park
    August 25th - August 29th 1940
     
  16. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    28 August 1940

    No.59 Sqn Blenheim crashed on return to Thoney Island from evening bombing raid to Caen. All three crew killed.
    P/O J Dellow :poppy:
    Sgt K A Edwards :poppy:
    Sgt L E Bettis :poppy:

    No.53 Sqn Blenheim operating from Detling took off tasked for a patrol from Hoek van Holland to Oostende including bombing the seaplane base at Schellingwoude failed to return. All three crew killed.
    P/O W E Fitzpatrick :poppy:
    Sgt J Bann :poppy:
    Sgt H Dunnington :poppy:

    No.248 Sqn has a Magister crash at Sumburgh during aerobatics. Pilot and passenger killed.
    P/O R H Haviland :poppy:
    AC2 R Moon :poppy:

    Summary of Coastal Command Cat E losses for the day.
    2 on Ops, 1 on non Ops

    Ross
     
  17. CL1

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

    Pilot Officer WILLIAM EDWARD FITZPATRICK

    79540, 54 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 21
    on 28 August 1940
    Son of Harold Arthur and Martha Louisa Fitzpatrick, of Brentry, Gloucestershire.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL:poppy:
     

    Attached Files:

  18. CL1

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

    Sergeant JACK BANN

    581165, 53 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 28 August 1940
    Son of Harry and Annie Bann, of Macclesfield, Cheshire.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL:poppy:
     

    Attached Files:

  19. CL1

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

    Sergeant HARRY DUNNINGTON

    612371, 53 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 28 August 1940

    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL:poppy:
     

    Attached Files:

  20. CL1

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

    Sergeant ROBERT CHARLES TURNER

    751362, 264 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 28 August 1940
    Son of George Henry and Ethel Kathleen Turner, of Reading, Berkshire. Scholar of Christ's Hospital, Horsham.
    Remembered with honour
    READING (HENLEY ROAD) CEMETERY:poppy:

    Sgt. R.C. Turner was born in Reading, Berkshire, and was a Scholar of Christ's Hospital, Horsham.

    Robert and his pilot P/O D.Whitley were killed on 28th August, 1940, at 08:55hrs. Their Defiant I (N1574) was shot down by a Bf 109 of JG 26 over Thanet.
    Sergeant Robert Turner 264
     

    Attached Files:

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