by Nick Thomas
Flight Lieutenant Rupert Francis Henry Clerke
DFC 23.7.43
Acting Flight Lieutenant Peter Melvill Gardner, DFC
PoW 11.7.41
Flight Lieutenant John Bernard William Humpherson
DFC 30.8.40, KIA 22.7.41
Flight Lieutenant Humphrey à Beckett Russell
MiD 2.6.43 and 14.1.44, PoW May 1944, DFC 15.5.44
Acting Flight Lieutenant John Ernest Proctor
DFC 18.3.41, DFC Bar
Flying Officer Ladislav Corny Cesek (Czechoslovakia)
Flying Officer Victor George Daw, DFC
AFC 1.1.45
Flying Officer Douglas Hamilton ‘Grubby’ Grice, DFC
MBE 1.1.46
Flying Officer A.J. Haskell
Flying Officer G. Henderson
Flying Officer J.C. Hunter
Flying Officer R.V. Jeff
Flying Officer D.A.E. Jones
Flying Officer J.C. Milner
PoW, 19.5.40
Flying Officer R. Wilberforce
Pilot Officer Sydney Ernest Andrews
killed in flying accident 9.8.42
Pilot Officer Anthony Richard Henry Barton, DFC
Bar DFC 7.7.42, killed in flying accident 3.4.43
Pilot Officer P.F. Blackford
Pilot Officer G.L. Cherrington
killed-in-action, 8.6.40
Pilot Officer B.L. Duckenfield
Pilot Officer A.F. Eckford
DFC 24.8.40
Pilot Officer John Flinders
Pilot Officer Keith Reginald Gillman
killed-in-action, 25.8.40
Pilot Officer Comte Rudolphe Ghislain Charles
killed-in-action, 25.5.41
de Hemricourt de Grunne (Belgium)
Pilot Officer Bernard Henson
killed-in-action, 17.11.40
Pilot Officer Norman Bagshaw Heywood
killed-in-action, 22.11.40
Pilot Officer Horner
Pilot Officer R.R. Hutley
Pilot Officer K. Kirkcaldie
killed-in-action, 8.6.40
Pilot Officer Lang
Pilot Officer John Francis Pain
Pilot Officer Jan Piotr Pfeiffer (Polish)
killed-in-action, 20.12.43
Pilot Officer Karol Pniak (Polish)
VM 5th Class 1.2.41, KW 1.4.41, Two Bars KW 20.12.43, Third Bar KW 8.3.46, DFC 1.6.42
Pilot Officer John Hedley Rothwell
Pilot Officer Jack Rose
DFC 9.10.42, MBE, CMG
Pilot Officer Rupert Frederick Smythe
Pilot Officer Peter Douglas Thompson
DFC 30.1.42
Pilot Officer John Lewis Ward
killed-in-action, 20.3.42, No. 127 Squadron
Pilot Officer Sydney Anthony Hollingsworth Whitehouse
Pilot Officer Boleslaw Andrzej Wlasnowolski (Poland)
VM 5th Class 1.2.41
Sub-Lieutenant Geoffrey Gordon Robson Bulmer, FAA
killed-in-action, 20.7.40
Flight Sergeant Guy Turner
Flight Sergeant John Sidney White
Sergeant Dennis Kenneth Ashton
killed-in-action, 26.11.40
Sergeant Donald James Aslin
Sergeant Edward Alan Bayley
killed, 10.10.40
Sergeant Herbert Ernest Black
Sergeant D. Flynn
Sergeant Raymond John Mitchell Gent
Sergeant William Burley Higgins
killed-in-action, 14.9.40 with No. 253 Squadron
Sergeant Oliver Vincent Houghton
killed-in-action, 27.8.40
Sergeant Henry Nuttall Hoyle
Sergeant Jones
Sergeant G.L. Nowell
Sergeant G. North
Sergeant Leonard Hilary Borlase Pearce
killed-in-action, 9.4.41 with No. 46 Squadron
Sergeant Tony Garforth Pickering
Sergeant J. Proctor
Sergeant Guy Turner
Sergeant R. Ware
Sergeant John Sidney White
Nos. 79 and 610 Squadrons operated out of Biggin Hill alongside Pete’s No. 32 Squadron. While some of their sorties are referred to in the main body of the text, their contribution to the battle is expanded upon here:
No. 79 Squadron – Biggin Hill – 25 August 1940 to 8 September 1940:
28 August
Flying Officer P.F. Mayhew – He 59 (shared)
Pilot Officer T.C. Parker – He 59 (shared)
30 August
Flight Lieutenant G.D.L. Haysom – Bf 109 probable
Flying Officer P.F. Mayhew – He 111
Pilot Officer G.C.B. Peters – He 111
31 August
Flight Lieutenant G.D.L. Haysom – Bf 109
1 September
Flight Lieutenant G.D.L. Haysom – Do 17 damaged
Pilot Officer P.F. Mayhew – Do 17
4 September
Pilot Officer T.C. Parker – two Bf 110s damaged
Pilot Officer G.C.B. Peters – Bf 110
6 September
Squadron Leader J.H. Heyworth – Ju 88 damaged
Pilot Officer H.K. Laycock – Bf 109 damaged
7 September
Pilot Officer J.H. Heyworth – Ju 88 probable (shared)
Pilot Officer G.C.B. Peters – Do 17 probable
30 August
Pilot Officer J.E. Marshal (flying V6624) shot down while attacking an He 111.
31 August
Pilot Officer G.H. Nelson-Edwards (flying N2345) crashed following combat with a Bf 109.
Pilot Officer W.H. Millington (flying P3050) was wounded, crash-landing on fire following combat with a Bf 109.
Pilot Officer E.J. Morris (flying P3877) was wounded in combat with a Do 17.
Sergeant H.A. Bolton (flying V7200) crashed with battle damage. Sergeant (754530) Henry Albert Bolton, RAFVR, son of Herbert Sainty Bolton and Margaret Bolton, of West Hartlepool. He was 21-years-old and was buried in Hartlepool (Stranton) Cemetery, Plot 10 Division A, C. of E. Grave 258.
4 September
Sergeant J. Wright (flying P3676) shot down during combat with a Bf 110 and died of wounds the following day.
Sergeant (522272) John Wright, RAF, was the son of Robert Wright and Agnes Wright, of Kessington, Bearsden. He was 24-years-old and was buried in New Kilpatrick (Hillfoot) Cemetery, Section D, Grave 741.
No. 610 Squadron’s combat victories, casualties and awards for August/September may be summarized:
11 August
Squadron Leader E.B.B. Smith – He 59
12 August
Flight Lieutenant J. Ellis – Bf 109, Bf 109 probable
Pilot Officer K.H. Cox – Bf 109
Pilot Officer C.O.J. Pegge – two Bf 109s
Pilot Officer B.V Rees – Bf 109
Sergeant H.H. Chandler – Bf 109 damaged
Sergeant B.G.D Gardner – three Bf 109s
14 August
Pilot Officer S.C. Norris – two Ju 87s, Ju 87 damaged
Pilot Officer B.V Rees – Ju 87 probable
Sergeant H.H. Chandler – Bf 109
Sergeant D.F. Corfe – Bf 109
Sergeant P. Else – Bf 109 damaged
Sergeant B.G.D. Gardner – Bf 109
Sergeant R.F. Hamlyn – Bf 109 damaged
Sergeant C.A. Parsons – Ju 87
Sergeant N.H.D. Ramsay – Bf 110
15 August
Flying Officer W.H.C. Warner – Bf 109 probable
Pilot Officer K.H. Cox – Bf 109
Sergeant S.J. Arnfield – Bf 109 damaged
Sergeant D.F. Corfe – Bf 109 damaged
16 August
Flight Lieutenant J. Ellis – Ju 88 damaged
Pilot Officer D.M. Gray – Bf 109 damaged
Sergeant S.J. Arnfield – Bf 109 probable
18 August
Flight Lieutenant J. Ellis – Bf 109, He 111
Flying Officer F.T. Gardiner – Bf 110
/> Pilot Officer K.H. Cox – Bf 109
Pilot Officer C.O.J. Pegge – Bf 109, He 111, (R6694, damaged by return fire)
Pilot Officer B.V Rees – Bf 109, Do 215
Sergeant S.J. Arnfield – two Bf 109s
Sergeant H.H. Chandler – Do 17, Do 17 damaged
Sergeant P. Else – two Do 215s damaged
Sergeant C.A. Parsons – Do 17
24 August
Flying Officer P.G. Lamb – Bf 109
Pilot Officer J. Aldous – Bf 109 probable
Pilot Officer A.C. Baker – two Bf 109s
Pilot Officer S.C. Norris – Bf 109
Pilot Officer C.O.J. Pegge – Bf 109 probable
Sergeant R.F. Hamlyn – four Bf 109s, Ju 88
25 August
Sergeant R.A. Beardsley – Bf 109
26 August
Flight Lieutenant J. Ellis – Bf 109
Flight Lieutenant D.S. Wilson – Bf 109
Flying Officer P.G. Lamb – Do 215
Sergeant R.F. Hamlyn – Bf 109, Bf 109 probable
Sergeant N.H.D. Ramsay – Bf 109
27 August
Flight Lieutenant J. Ellis – He 111
28 August
Pilot Officer C.O.J. Pegge – Bf 109
Sergeant C.S. Bamberger – Bf 109 probable
Sergeant R.F. Hamlyn – Bf 109
29 August
Flying Officer P.G. Lamb – Bf 110
Pilot Officer J. Aldous – Do 215 damaged
Pilot Officer A.C. Baker – Bf 109, two Do 215s damaged
Pilot Officer S.C. Norris – Bf 110 probable
Pilot Officer C.O.J. Pegge – Do 17 damaged
Sergeant R.A. Beardsley – Bf 109 damaged, Do 215
Sergeant H.H. Chandler – Do 17 damaged
30 August
Flying Officer P.G. Lamb – He 111
Pilot Officer J. Aldous – He 111 damaged
Pilot Officer A.C. Baker – Do 215 damaged
Pilot Officer C.O.J. Pegge – He 111
Sergeant R.A. Beardsley – He 111
Sergeant H.H. Chandler – Bf 109, Bf 109 probable
Sergeant R.F. Hamlyn – Bf 109
24 September
Sergeant R.F. Hamlyn – Two Bf 109s
Pilot Officer S.C. Norris – Bf 109 probable
11 August
Flight Sergeant J.H. Tanner (flying R6918 ‘D’) killed-in-action. Flight Sergeant (565125) John Henry Tanner, RAF, son of John William and Eva Tanner, of Enfield, Middlesex, husband of Helen Maria Tanner. He was 25-years-old and was buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, Plot P, Grave 17.
Sergeant W.J. Neville (flying R6630) killed-in-action.
Sergeant (74183) William John Neville, RAFVR, was the son of William James Neville and Julia Kathleen Neville, of Shepperton, Middlesex. Neville was 26-years-old and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 17
12 August
Flight Lieutenant E.E.B. Smith (flying K9818 ‘H’) bailed out burnt. Flying Officer F.T. Gardiner (flying P9495 ‘K’) slightly wounded left leg.
16 August
Flying Officer W.H.C. Warner (flying R6802 ‘Z’) killed-in-action. Flying Officer (90344) William Henry Cromwell Warner, AAF, is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 5.
Pilot Officer P.H. Hugo (flying P2963) forced-landed.
22 August
Sergeant D.F. Corfe (flying R6696 ‘P’) shot down by a Bf 109.
24 August
Pilot Officer D.M. Gray (flying X4102 ‘K’) shot down wounded.
Pilot Officer C. Merrick (flying L1037 ‘D’) crashed injured
Sergeant S.J. Arnfield (flying K9975 ‘S’) bailed out safe (shot down by a Bf 109).
25 August
Flying Officer F.T. Gardiner (flying K9931 ‘P’) shot down.
26 August
Pilot Officer H.K. Webster (flying R6965 ‘O’) killed on crash-landing. Pilot Officer (82682) Frank Kinnesley Webster, RAFVR, was buried at Sundown Cemetery, Section E, Grave 40.
Sergeant P. Else (flying P9496 ‘L’) bailed out seriously wounded.
Sergeant (1073652) John Graham Leech, RAFVR, was the son of Nelson and Gertrude E. Leech, of Belfast. Leech is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 88.
28 August
Pilot Officer K.H. Cox (flying P9511) killed-in-action.
Pilot Officer (81367) Kenneth Henry Cox, RAFVR, was the son of Henry and Beatrice Mary Cox, of King’s Heath, Birmingham. Cox was 24-years-old and is remembered on the Birmingham Municipal Crematorium, Column 1.
29 August
Sergeant C. Baker (flying X4011 ‘O’) crashed at Gatwick.
Sergeant E. Manton (flying P9433 ‘E’) killed-in-action. Sergeant (810081) Edward Manton, AAF, was the son of Edward Frederick and Sarah Manton, of Bebington, Cheshire. Manton was 25-years-old and was buried at Hawkhurst Cemetery, Plot A, Grave J.62.
Flight Lieutenant Ellis was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 13 August 1940:
‘This officer was employed on offensive patrols over Dunkirk during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and led his flight with great courage. On two occasions, whilst deputizing for his Commanding Officer, he led a patrol of four squadrons, displaying great initiative and leadership. During these patrols Flight Lieutenant Ellis destroyed two enemy aircraft. Later, whilst engaged on home defence, he shot down one enemy bomber. In July 1940, whilst leading the squadron, he destroyed two enemy aircraft and on the following day he shot down a further three of eight enemy aircraft destroyed by his squadron. Flight Lieutenant Ellis has displayed courage and leadership of a high order.’
Flight Lieutenant E.B.B. Smith, was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 30 August 1940:
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Edward Brian Bretherton SMITH (90340), Auxiliary Air Force.
‘This officer has led his flight with great success; twenty-five enemy aircraft have been destroyed since June 1940. One day in August he led the flight almost to the French coast to attack two enemy aircraft flying over the Channel. Despite strong opposition an enemy seaplane was damaged and, whilst on the return journey, another aircraft was attacked and damaged. Flight Lieutenant Smith was the only member of his section to return from these engagements. The next day, he was involved in an attack by twelve or more Messerschmitt 109s. His aircraft was hit by two shells, damage being inflicted near the cockpit, and petrol tanks. His aircraft eventually caught fire and, although he himself was enveloped in flames, he successfully abandoned his aircraft and was rescued about eight miles out to sea. Flight Lieutenant Smith has now destroyed six enemy aircraft. He has displayed great courage and leadership.’
Acting Flight Lieutenant S.C. Norris, was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 24 September 1940:
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Stanley Charles NORRIS (40561).
