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

    264 Sqd, Hornchurch
    Defiant L7026.
    Shot down in combat with Me 109s of JG26 over Thanet 8.55am. Crashed in flames on Sillibourne Farm, Hinxhill. P/O P.L Kenner, P/O C.E Johnson both killed. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    7 Spitfires
    10 Hurricanes
    1 Blenheim
    6 Defiants

    23 in Combat - 1 Accident

    Note: This is the last time Defiants are used in daytime sorties.

    Seenotflugkdo.3
    He 59 (1528). Shot down by fighters during rescue mission over the Channel. One NCO killed. Lt Zur See Sprenger and two NCOs rescued wounded. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    3 He 59
    6 Do 17
    22 Me 109
    1 Go 145 (Got lost mail delivery between Channel Islands & Strasbourg - landed Lewis Racecourse)
    8 He 111
    2 Ju 88
    2 Ju 87
     
  2. CL1

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

    WEATHER:

    Low cloud and showers would persist for most of the morning in most areas, but was expected to clear and most of the country could expect some cloud with sunny periods with the exception of the Channel areas where cloud was expected to continue. Most areas were to expect a coninuation of cooler temperatures.


    Because of the weather, enemy activity was very light with only the occasional reconnaissance aircraft along the east coast and Fighter Command decided to leave them alone leaving the map boards at both headquarters completely clear.
    The last two days of the month of August were to stretch Fighter Command to the limit, and although it was not known then, but this was to be the shape of things to come. For not only was the RAF going to be hit hard on the ground and in the air, the night air raids were to begin in earnest and for the first time, the people of London were going to wage war on their own. They were not going to fight their war with guns, bullets and bombs, but they were going to fight it with stubbornness and a tenacity of a silent army that was to make a mockery out of the German bombing of their city.
    Albert Kesselring had placed his military reputation on the line as he had stated that he would have the defence system of Britain broken by September. But he was running out of time, already we were at the end of August and the defences of Britain were still intact. Now, he was to throw everything that he had in a last ditch effort to hammer the British into submission.

    August 25th - August 29th 1940
     
  3. CL1

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

    Flight Lieutenant William James (Bill) Green is a British Battle of Britain Fighter pilot, who served with the RAF. Flight Lieutenant Green flew Hawker Hurricanes for 9 days during the Battle of Britain, between the 20 and 29 August 1940. During that time he was shot down twice: the first time on 24 August 1940, crash landing at Hawkinge and the second time on the 29th August over Deal in Kent.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Green_(Battle_of_Britain_pilot)
     
  4. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    85 Sqd, Croydon
    Hurricane V6623.
    Attacked by Me 109s over Winchelsea. Crashed near Camber Castle ruins, Rye foreshore 6.15pm. Flt Lt H.R Hamilton killed. Aircraft VY-L a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    7 Hurricanes
    1 Blenheim
    6 Spitfires

    12 in Combat - 2 Accident

    4/JG3
    Me 109E-1 (1134). Shot down in fighter combat on New Lodge Farm, Hooe 7.00pm. Oblt Wipper died of wounds. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Ju 52
    2 He 115
    4 Do 17
    1 Hs 126
    13 Me 109s
    1 Fw 200
    5 He 111
    1 Me 110
    5 Ju 88
     
  5. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    29 August 1940

    No.22 Sqn has a Maryland crash on the approach to Aldergrove during night flying trials from North Coates. All three crew killed
    Sgt I F Meathrel :poppy:
    Sgt W J Davies :poppy:
    Sgt D F G Sanders :poppy:

    With the failure of the Botha to enter service in large numbers and the ongoing problems with Beaufort engines, Coastal Command still lacked a modern torpedo strike aircraft.

    The AOC-in-C was making repeated representations to the Air Ministry on the subject and was diverting recce aircraft from that task to provide stopgap bombers to fill the torpedo void.

    The Beaufort force was further stretched as one of the two types in service that could drop the Mk 1A magnetic mine and, with invasion looming, would be required to seal harbours and possible beachheads.

    To try to mitigate any further delays into service No.22 Sqn was working up with a few Douglas Maryland bombers in the torpedo strike role as well as trying to solve the Beaufort problems before they were needed to strike against the invasion fleet at sea.

    It was a close run thing, with the first Beaufort squadron becoming torpedo operational in early September and the first anti-shipping mission with torpedos being carried out by No.22 Sqn on 11th Sept.

    Ross
     
  6. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

  7. CL1

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

    WEATHER:

    Much improved conditions would prevail throughout the British Isles. Temperatures should be slightly higher than the previous days and conditions are expected to remain fine with cloud periods in all Channel areas.
    OPERATIONS:

    This day, Germany launched a total of 1,310 sorties against Britain. It appeared that Kesselring was intent on attacking with everything that he had. One direct hit on the power supply line took out the radar stations at Dover, Rye, Pevensey, Foreness, Beachy Head and Whitstable and they they were off the air for a critical three hours. Biggin Hill was attacked twice by 109s and Ju88s within a few hours and major damage was done with the result that some 40 people were killed. Kenley, Shoreham, Tangmere and Rochford were also targeted where the story was much the same. Hangars, buildings and the airfields themselves receiving devastating damage.
    Many times, fighter sweeps by Bf109s failed to attract Fighter Command into the air, Park was not going to be drawn into unnecessary fighter combat. So Kesselring sent over fast Ju88 bombers and working in conjunction with the Bf109s was adamant that somehow he would get the RAF fighters into the air. At one time, a mass formation of over 200 bombers droned over the Kent coast only to break into separate formations with each one targeting the RAF airfields. Biggin Hill was attacked again, as was Kenley, Gravesend, Hornchurch, Debden, North Weald, in fact every RAF airfield from Duxford to the south coast was attacked in one way or another.

    Fighter Command was forced to get some of its fighters into the air. The selective targets were to 'get the bombers'. The skies over the south coast became a pattern of vapour trails as some of the RAF fighters got tangled up with 109s, it was impossible to avoid them. Most of the fighters tried in vain to straffe the bombers, but it all became a melee of all sorts. The casualties started to fall from the sky, Spitfires, Bf 109s, Hurricanes, Heinkels and Dorniers. Many were badly shot up, others just collided into each other.
    August 30th - Saturday August 31st 1940
     
  8. CL1

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

    Attached Files:

  9. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    30 August 1940

    No.235 Sqn has a Blenheim spin into the ground at Bircham Newton while on circuit training. Both occupants killed.

    P/O J S Priestley RNZAF :poppy:
    Sgt E A Graves :poppy:

    Ross
     
  10. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    253 Sqd, Kenley
    Hurricane L1965.
    Shot down in combat with Me 109s 11.15am. Crashed and burned out near Percival Farm, Wrotham. P/O C.D Francis killed. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    22 Hurricanes
    19 Spitfires

    35 in Combat - 6 Accident/Collisions/Unknown

    III/JG27
    Me 109E-4 (1623). Shot down in combat over Dungeness and crashed in the sea. Fw Lehmann killed. Aircraft lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    3 Do 17
    1 Do 215
    2 Ju 87
    19 Me 109
    17 He 111
    1 Ju 88
    8 Me 110

    Note: First listed Do 215 Lost or Damaged (this one lost).
     
  11. CL1

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

    Sergeant JOSEPH INKERMAN JOHNSON

    520406, 222 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died age 26
    on 30 August 1940
    Son of John Inkerman Johnson and Ellen Amelia Johnson, of Leicester.
    Remembered with honour
    TOWCESTER CEMETERY
    Sgt J.I.Johnson from No 222 Squadron was shot down and killed in his Spitfire I (R6629) by a Bf 109 at Bishopsbourne, Kent on the 30th of August 1940.:poppy:
    Ja-pilots-details


    Whoever else you may be thinking of on Remembrance Sunday, I would ask that you spare a thought for the Battle of Britain airman shot down and killed in Bishopsbourne at 18:05 on 30th August 1940. He was Sergeant Joseph Inkerman Johnson and he was 26.
    "Joe" Johnson, as he was known, joined the RAF in June 1935 as an Aircrafthand, in fact a carpenter, but his heart was really set on being a flier. He was later re-mustered as an Airman-in-training Pilot and finally won his wings on 11th August 1939, three weeks before Britain declared war on Germany on 3rd September.
    Joe Johnson was in 222 Squadron and had flown 25 missions with them before they were posted to Hornchurch in Essex on 29th August 1940. They were scrambled on Friday 30th August to intercept a big formation of bombers approaching the coast which they did, but they were, in their turn, attacked by the German fighters whose job it was to protect the bombers. Joe's Spitfire, number R6628, and a number of others were shot down that day.
    The exact location of the crash is not, as yet, known but there are some important pointers. One of the reference books kept at the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge states that he came down at Longhampark Lodge, now known as Langhampark Lodge. The museum also displays a letter written by the man who lived at Langhampark Lodge, which was also known as Woodgate. His name was H. E. Friend and his letter, addressed to Joe's parents, is dated 16th October 1940.
    In it Mr Friend says he saw the Spitfire come down and he and his family ran to the spot and pulled Joe's body clear. He describes the place as being "in a meadow adjoining my meadow" which seems to indicate a meadow nearer to the Farm than to the Lodge and on the slope that lies between the two. Four small trees still standing in a straight line across the slope may well mark the line of a hedgerow that might have been the dividing line between the two meadows at the time. Mr Friend's description of the place seems more accurate than the one given in the story of Joe Johnson on the museum display which says he came down "in a field above Longhampark Lodge", because the Lodge is on the top of the hill and there is, therefore, nothing "above" it. Mr Friend also tells Joe's parents that he was sure that Joe was already dead, killed by machine gun bullets, before his plane hit the ground and burst into flames. This, of course, may have been the case, but it is equally possible that Mr Friend was being kind in re-assuring Joe's parents that Joe had not been burnt to death.
    Joe's parents, John Inkerman Johnson and Ellen Amelia, buried their son at Towcester Cemetery in Northamptonshire, near the family home at Hulcote. His grave is Row G. Grave 2, and gives his Service Number 520406.
    I urge anyone who is interested in this story to visit the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge where, in addition to all the information on his individual display board, there is a portrait of Joe Johnson. If anyone can shed any more light on the story or knows more on the question of where his Spitfire came down, or if any one can tell me any more about Mr H. E. Friend and his family, I would be most grateful.
    Mark Jopling - November, 2007
    If you have any information about these events, people and places, please use this link to send me a mail which I'll happily pass on to Mark.

    Image: A Mk I Spitfire in 222 Squadron markings []RAF - Page not found
    Johnson would have been flying a Mk I Spitfire as the Mk II didn't enter service until late in 1940. The Mk I was in production from 1937 and over 1,580 were built. It had a Rolls Royce Merlin II engine which delivered 1030 hp with a speed of 355 mph and a climb rate of 2,515 ft/min. With oxygen this aircraft had a ceiling of 34,500 ft. Three .303 Browning machine guns in each wing provided the firepower. Johnson's aircraft was produced at Eastleigh and production details can be found on the Spitfire Production pages
    Battle-of-britain.co.uk lists Johnson's death and gives the aircraft number as R6629 but the Battle of Britain Historical Society confirm that the aircraft number was R6628 and that R6629 was shot down the day before over Hurst Green and belonged to 610 Squadron based at Biggin Hill.
    Johnson is shown on the RAF roll of honour which also confirms that he is one of "The Few"

    Kent Parish Councils - Bishopsbourne Parish Council
     

    Attached Files:

  12. CL1

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

    Pilot Officer JAROSLAV STERBACEK

    81901, 310 (Czech) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 31 August 1940
    Son of Frantisek Sterbacek and Frantiska Sterbackova, of Dolni Lhota.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
    P/O J.Sterbacek a Czech from No 310 Squadron took off at 13:00hrs to patrol Hornchurch at Angels 15. He was shot down and killed on the 31st of August 1940 at 13:30hrs whilst engaging a formation of Dorniers escorted by Bf 110's and Bf 109's. His Hurricane I (P3159) was shot down by a Bf 109 over the Thames Estuary. This was the Squadrons first action in the Battle of Britain. He was the first Czech pilot to be give his life for England.:poppy:
    St-pilots
     

    Attached Files:

  13. CL1

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

    Pilot Officer GERARD HAMILTON MAFFETT

    80814, 257 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 24
    on 31 August 1940
    Son of Lt.-Col. Reginald Ernest and Gwendoline Mary Maffett, of Wellington Lodge, Maidenhead, Berks. His brother John Francis also died on service.
    Remembered with honour
    BRAY CEMETERY

    P/O G.H.Maffett of No 257 Squadron was shot down and killed on the 31st of August 1940 at 08:55hrs. His Hurricane I (P3175) was in combat with a Bf 110 over Clackton. The wreckage of P3175 is now on show at the R.A.F. Museum, Hendon.:poppy:
    Ma-pilots
     

    Attached Files:

  14. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    31 August 1940

    Coastal Command bombing of invasion build up continues morning and night.

    No.59 Sqn operating from Thorney Island has a Blenheim missing on a morning bombing mission to Cherbourg. All three crew killed.
    P/O J J Finlay :poppy:
    Sgt F J Leonhardt :poppy:
    Sgt A L Peddie :poppy:

    No.53 Sqn Blenheim from Detling is shot down at 21:10 hrs local time by Flakgruppe 261 while attacking the Pernis oil refinery, crashed in flames near the Welplaat.
    W/C E C T Edwards :poppy:
    Sgt L L Benjamin :poppy:
    Sgt J T Beesley :poppy:

    No.254 Sqn loose a Blenheim at Dyce while on local flying. Pilot safe.

    No.608 Sqn Botha took off for a training flight from Thornaby but were unable to land due to the presence of intruders. The Botha was presumed to have ditched into the North Sea. 3 killed 1 injured
    P/O T H Creed :poppy:
    P/O Barrett - Injured
    AC1 T E Corrigan :poppy:
    AC2 G Beadnall :poppy:

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

    Ross
     
  15. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    79 Sqd, Biggin Hill
    Hurricane V7200.
    Shot down in combat over Kenley 4.00pm. Crashed attempting a forced landing at Haliloo Farm, Warlingham. Sgt H.A Bolton killed. Aircraft a write off.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    39 Hurricanes
    18 Spitfires

    49 in Combat - 8 Accident/Friendly Fire/Bombing

    4/Aufklaerungs Gruppe Ob.d.L
    Do 215 (0028). Failed to return from reconnaissance sortie over England. Uffz Vogel and Fw Maurer killed. Uffz Goebbels and Uffz Kamolz missing. Aircraft G2+LH lost.:poppy:

    Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

    1 Hs 126
    1 Do 215
    1 Ju 52
    29 Me 109
    13 Do 17
    1 He 111
    6 Ju 88
    12 Me 110
     
  16. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    Figures from 1st - 31st

    RAF Lost/Damaged for August 543 in Combat - 146 in Miscellaneous

    The days with the biggest losses/damaged to combat were the 15th with 55, the 18th with 48 and the 31st with 49.
     
  17. CL1

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

    SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1st 1940

    WEATHER:

    Most of the country could expect cloudy patches for most of the morning with sunny periods. Temperatures expected were to be a little higher than average with the cloud burning off about midday giving way to fine and sunny conditions.
    Up until the final days of August, the whole of Fighter Command had been under extreme pressure. Day after day, the Luftwaffe had targeted the airfields of 11 Group, the radar stations along the south coast while at night they had now turned to heavy bombing raids on the larger cities. The last few days of August, and the first days of September were to prove of great concern for both Dowding and Park. One of these concerns was the high loss of pilots. Hugh Dowding questioned Park as to why we were losing so many pilots to the German fighters when pilots had been instructed to attack the bombers. Park stated that since most of the Bf109 squadrons had been posted to the Pas de Calais, they are now double in number and are working in close company with the bombers. "Our fighters have first to break the fighter screen before they can get to the bombers.".
    Richard Hough and Dennis Richards print the quote in their book "Battle of Britain - A Jubilee History":
    For most of the phase [24 August - 6 September] the defending squadrons were flying and fighting singly. Only too often the units of combat were a British squadron of twelve aircraft at most and a German formation of twenty to forty bombers and up to 100 fighters. Some British squadron commanders attempted to contain the enemy escort with one flight, and with the other attack the bombers; but time after time there were sufficient German fighters to engage both British flights.
    The Air Defence of Great Britain Vol II-The Battle of Britain
    September 1st 1940
     
  18. CL1

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

    Flight Sergeant FREDERICK GEORGE BERRY
    D F M

    563426, 1 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 01 September 1940

    Remembered with honour
    HARROW (PINNER) NEW CEMETERY:poppy:


    F/Sgt F.G.Berry of No 1 Squadron was shot down and killed on the 1st of September 1940 in a Hurricane I (P3276) by a Bf 109 over Tonbridge at 11:30hrs.
    B2-pilots

    Berry joined No 1 Squadron on August 29 1939 and went with it to France at the outbreak of war. Promoted to Flight Sergeant on April 1 1940, he was with the squadron throughout the fighting in May and June. On No 1's final operational patrol in France on June 17 Berry was leading a section over the docks at St Nazaire, when He 111 s came in at low level to attack troopships loading there. Berry led his section to attack but could not stop the leading bomber from scoring direct hits on the “Lancastria", setting it on fire and causing it to sink later with heavy casualties to the 4000 troops on board. Berry shot the He 111 down in flames into the river. For this action he was awarded the DFM(20.8.40).
    On September 1 1940 Berry was shot down in combat with Bf 109s and killed when his Hurricane, P 3276, crashed at Brisley Farm, Ruckinge. ( Kent ).

    I also believe he assisted Tim Elkington who was shot down in mid August 1940
    "
    The next day he was "Top Weaver", (Tim Elkington)flying back and forth over the rest of the squadron to provide an early warning of enemy fighters, when they encountered 100 German aircraft. In the ensuing melée, he never saw the aircraft that riddled his plane with cannon shells - although, amazingly, his mother did. From nearby Hayling Island and quite unaware that her son was involved, she watched the lone Hurricane pursued by three Me. 109s. Tim's fuel tank exploded, peppering him with shrapnel.
    Perhaps not what most people would think of as good luck. Yet his luck did hold. Unconscious as he drifted seawards in his parachute, he would certainly have drowned. Then his flight leader, Sergeant Berry*, achieved the extraordinary feat of blowing him back over land with his aircraft's slipstream. "
    Flt Sergeant Berry plunged to the ground on September 1, before Tim could even thank him.
    johnelkington.com - influences - people - battle of britain.
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-grave-photographs/23259-battle-britain-frederick-george-berry-dfm-raf.html
     

    Attached Files:

  19. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    1 Sept 1940

    No.500 Sqn has an Anson destroyed on the ground during an Air raid at Detling.

    No.59 Sqn Blenheim on evening bombing raid to Lorient crashes on return due to flak damage. Crew Safe

    No.235 Sqn has a Blenheim crash on a cross country training flight to Hooton Park from Bircham Newton. An engine failed in flight due to mishandling and the Blenheim was bellylanded 4 miles south east of Lincoln, crashing through a hedge. The Court of Inquiry found that the pilot had been fatigued due to being duty officer right up to take off time and was poorly trained in fault finding to correct the engine failure in flight. Crew safe.

    No.206 Sqn at Bircham Newton has a Hudson swing on take off and the u/c collapse causing the aircraft to catch fire and the bombs to explode. Crew safe.

    Summary for Coastal Command Cat E losses on this day:
    2 on Ops, 2 non Op

    Ross
     
  20. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    Pilot Officer GERARD HAMILTON MAFFETT

    80814, 257 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 24
    on 31 August 1940
    Son of Lt.-Col. Reginald Ernest and Gwendoline Mary Maffett, of Wellington Lodge, Maidenhead, Berks. His brother John Francis also died on service.
    Remembered with honour
    BRAY CEMETERY

    P/O G.H.Maffett of No 257 Squadron was shot down and killed on the 31st of August 1940 at 08:55hrs. His Hurricane I (P3175) was in combat with a Bf 110 over Clackton. The wreckage of P3175 is now on show at the R.A.F. Museum, Hendon.:poppy:
    Ma-pilots

    Also see here:
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/28251-pilot-officer-gerald-maffett.html
     

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