Hurricane Squadron Ace: The Story of Battle of Britain Ace, Air Commodore Peter Brothers, CBE, DSO, DFC and Bar

by Nick Thomas

  Brothers (flying V6802) flew on a scramble at 1530 hours on 10 October, Nos. 257 and 249 Squadrons engaging a formation of Bf 109s of JG 2. During the combat No. 249 Squadron lost Sergeant E.A. Bayley (flying V7537), who was shot down and killed; his Hurricane crashed at Cooling, Kent. Sergeant (74100) Edward Alan Bayley, RAFVR, son of Edward George and Edith Bayley; husband of Josephine Adele Bayley, of Hailsham, Sussex, was buried at Bromley (St Luke) Cemetery, Section K, Grave 198. He was 29-years-old.

  Brothers (flying V6802) led the squadron off from North Weald at 0845 hours on 12 October, with orders to patrol the Hornchurch line with No. 249 Squadron. Once airborne the formation was vectored to intercept Raid No. 31 over Deal. No. 257 Squadron’s Weaver Section reported a dozen aircraft at about the same altitude but about three-quarters of a mile to the rear. Suddenly, a Bf 109 flew abreast of Brothers and attacked the rear of No. 249 Squadron.

  No. 257 Squadron’s Blue 2 succeeded in swooping down on the Bf 109, which he believed had brought down No. 249 Squadron’s Sergeant Perrin (Red 2). Flight Lieutenant Brothers (Blue 1), while flying to attack the first Bf 109, noticed several more on 257 Squadron’s tail; leaving Red 2 to attack the first Bf 109, he circled round and made an astern attack on another, which he damaged.

  During debriefing it transpired that, flying into the sun, Pilot Officer Gundry (Yellow 1 in ‘Weaver’ Section) had mistaken the Bf 109s for the Hurricanes of No. 46 Squadron acting as rearguard. Most of No. 257 Squadron’s pilots didn’t see the Bf 109s until they had begun the attack and were unable to warn No. 249 Squadron via the controller.

  Caught by surprise, Gundry was shot down over Deal, his Hurricane riddled with cannon and machine-gun fire. He was slightly wounded in the leg and thigh by shell splinters, but succeeded in making a forced landing at Rochester aerodrome. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Redman (Yellow 2) was hit from behind and slightly below. He crash-landed in a field at Saffrey Farm, Owens Court, Selling, south-east of Faversham, slightly wounded.

  Flying on a second patrol at 1550 hours, this time over Canterbury in the company of No. 46 Squadron, the formation was vectored onto the enemy south of London Docks. Here, fifteen to twenty bomb-carrying Bf 109s were sighted dropping their payloads. Calling out a warning, Beamish dived down, making a head-on attack on the lead Bf 109, opening fire at 300 yards. Streaming black smoke, the Bf 109 rolled over and dived away vertically.

  Meanwhile, No. 257 Squadron had been vectored onto another raid and headed towards Dungeness where they engaged a formation of Bf 109s at about 1700 hours. Pilot Officer Capon (flying V7298), Tuck’s regular wingman, was shot down and bailed out slightly wounded, landing near Cranbrook. His Hurricane crashed at High House Farm, Stone, east of Dartford.

  Squadron Leader R.R.S. Tuck, although officially on leave, was flying with his old No. 92 Squadron friends at Biggin Hill, and at 1015 hours entered into a dogfight during which he destroyed a Bf 109 near Dover:

  ‘Attacked leader of two Mes which were in line astern of each other. I gave five short bursts from astern, in beam and quarter attacks and he dived steeply, belching thick black smoke.’

  (signed) Sqn Ldr R.R. Stanford-Tuck.

  Two of No. 249 Squadron’s pilots were wounded during the day. Adjutant G.C. Perrin (French) was flying V7313 on patrol over Sussex at 0950 hours when he was shot down by a Bf 109. He bailed out safely.

  On 15 October Brothers (flying V6802) joined his squadron on patrol in the company of No. 249 Squadron. A formation of about fifteen Bf 109s was intercepted east of Dover at 1150 hours. Pilot Officer North (flying V7351) made a forced landing at Hawkinge, following combat over the Thames estuary, while Pilot Officer Mortimer (Green 1) claimed one Bf 109 damaged:

  ‘I followed an Me 109 down and fired a burst which appeared to knock pieces from its tail. I was attacked almost head-on and I delayed firing because of the similarity of a 109 to a Spitfire. The Me 109 fired at me, but all shots passed over my head.’

  (signed) Plt Off P.A. Mortimer.

  Meanwhile, No. 46 Squadron lost two of its pilots during the early afternoon. Pilot Officer P.S. Gunning (flying N2480) was shot down and killed by a Bf 109 over the Thames estuary at 1305 hours. Pilot Officer (43474) Peter Stackhouse Gunning, RAF, was buried at North Weald Bassett (St Andrew) Churchyard, Row 2, Grave 9. He was 29-years-old.

  Also while flying over the estuary, Flight Sergeant E.E. Williams was killed (flying V6550), shot down at 1430 hours by a Bf 109. Flight Sergeant (56290) Eric Edward Williams, RAF, was the son of William and Amelia Williams; husband of Joan Margaret Williams. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 11. He was 28-years-old.

  During the same engagement Sergeant A.T. Gooderham (flying V6789) was slightly wounded and was forced to bail out.

  North Weald saw little activity on the following day, although No. 249 Squadron was engaged at 1130 hours, when Pilot Officer K.T. Lofts (flying V6878) force-landed near Tenterden, Kent, following combat with a Do 215.

  On 22 October, Brothers (flying V6802) led the squadron on a scramble at 1545 hours. Joined by No. 46 Squadron, they engaged a formation of seven twin-engine enemy aircraft in the Folkestone area. Anti-aircraft bursts led the squadron towards the enemy, which headed back out to sea again. Both squadrons flew along the coast where Brothers sighted the bombers approaching land again, three miles ahead of them. Yellow 1, rearguard leader, calling out the warning, ‘109s above and behind’, as about nine shadowing Bf 109s in line-astern closed in. Brothers ordered the squadron sharply to the left. At that moment No. 46 Squadron broke up and No. 257 Squadron was obliged to follow suit.

  A dogfight ensued at about 1630 hours during which twelve Bf 109 ‘Yellow Noses’, were seen approaching the coast from the south-east at 19,000ft, grouped in threes in very open formation, in line astern.

  After the squadron was forced to break up, Brothers (Blue 1) sighted a Bf 109 above him, which he engaged and claimed probably destroyed near Dungeness:

  ‘At 1630 hours on 22 October 1940, I was leading 257 Squadron and escorting 46 Squadron. I was informed by my rearguard a/c that 109s were behind and above. Simultaneously, 46 Squadron broke up and compelled us to do likewise as we were in the middle of what appeared to be a dogfight. I half-rolled, dived to gain speed and, as I pulled up, sighted a 109 above me. I fired a burst (approximately two secs) and as he dived I fired a longer burst and observed three or four pieces flying off his fuselage and wings. I followed him down from 19,000ft until he went into cloud at 2,000ft still diving steeply. I followed and found I was about five miles out to sea and could not see the 109 anywhere. I climbed up again but was unable to locate my squadron.’

  OC B Flight P.M. Brothers F/Lt Squadron No. 257.

  In his debriefing, Blue 3 reported that he had seen one Bf 109 and one Hurricane dive down, apparently out of control and another Hurricane going down with smoke pouring out.

  Flying Officer Martin (Red 1) caught sight of the twelve Bf 109s coming in from the coast, which were then sweeping round into sun. Red 1 followed them and opened fire in quarter attacks from below at two sections of three enemy aircraft, which scattered and raced off out to sea. Nothing definite is known of the action of Red 2, Sergeant Fraser (flying V6851). He was killed when his aircraft crashed south of Ashford at Shadoxhurst, at 1643 hours. Sergeant (741810) Robert Henry Braund Fraser, RAFVR, was the son of Adam and Mary Frew Fraser, of Glasgow. Buried at Glasgow (Craigton) Cemetery, Section F. Grave 2213, he was 20-years-old.

  Meanwhile, Pilot Officer The Hon. D. Coke (Yellow 1) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed, North of Rye:

  ‘I saw about nine Me 109s above and behind, manoeuvering to up sun of us. I warned 257 Squadron Leader. I sighted seven Me 109s in wide vic, slightly below and flying straight towards me. I don’t think they saw me. I carried out a three-quarter head-on attack on the right-hand Me of the vic; I could see my bullets hitting him from the engine right through to the tail.’

  (signed) Plt Off Coke.

  Pilot Officer Heywood (Yell
ow 3) was killed when his Hurricane (R4195) crashed south of Lydd Church, near Dungeness, at 1645 hours. It is suspected that he was shot down at low altitude by a Bofors gunner. Pilot Officer (41923) Norman Bagshaw Heywood, RAF, was buried at Stretford Cemetery, Manchester, Section N, Row L, Grave 210. He was 22-years-old.

  During the engagement, No. 46 Squadron lost Sergeant (754728) Joseph Pearson Morrison, RAFVR (flying R4074), who was shot down and killed at 1650 hours while on patrol over Dungeness. Morrison was buried at Newcastle-upon-Tyne (St Andrew and Jesmond) Cemetery, Section O, Uncons., Grave 277. He was 25-years-old.

  Brothers’ report noted that having two aircraft of No. 46 Squadron weaving in front of the squadron had a ‘disturbing effect on the leading section of 257. This weaving prevented the leading section of 257 from concentrating on searching for the enemy.’ He also felt that when flying in such close formation the two squadrons should prearrange to break in opposite directions.

  During the mid-afternoon of 23 October, the pilots of Nos. 257 and 46 Squadrons were patrolling near Canterbury when they were bounced by a formation of Bf 109s. The enemy quickly lost their initial advantage, but neither side was able to make a claim. Further combat came on 25 October when, a little after noon, the squadron was scrambled to patrol Northolt in the company of No. 615 Squadron. Squadron Leader Tuck sighted fifty-plus Bf 109s and ordered individual attacks. Wing Commander Beamish claimed a Bf 109 probably destroyed and another damaged, while Squadron Leader Tuck claimed one Bf 109 destroyed and two more damaged. Pilot Officer’s North and Coke both claimed one Bf 109 probably destroyed.

  Beamish shot at the Bf 109 in the centre of the starboard side of a wide vic, Tuck taking on the outside Bf 109. Firing from slightly above, his first burst was a deflection shot fired from the beam, the second from behind. The Bf 109 turned onto its back and went down leaving a thick trail of black smoke. Beamish fired upon a second 109 as it flew across his gunsight, getting in another burst as he chased the enemy aircraft towards the coast near Dover. Firing again, Beamish saw the Bf 109 was losing altitude fast and emitting black smoke.

  Squadron Leader Tuck claimed one Bf 109 destroyed and two damaged:

  ‘We came out of the sun and took them completely by surprise. I climbed over the top of them and got in a good burst of three seconds from the astern quarter on the extreme left-hand Me 109, closing from 200 to 50 yards. I saw my ammunition striking this E/A quite plainly. He immediately half rolled out of the formation and went straight down. I attacked another Me 109 which was turning on to a Hurricane. After one burst of three seconds at this E/A he half rolled and dived away. As he started his dive, I saw about four pieces come off various parts of his a/c, but as there were still many 109s about I did not have time to follow him. (One Me 109 damaged). I attacked another Me 109 from dead astern and he dived away leaving a thin trail of black smoke. However, I spotted an a/c [Bf 109] 3,000ft below me and dived on to it. I fired from this position and saw bits fly off him and he dived away. I then got in two good bursts from dead astern at close range and saw a large cloud of sparks suddenly burst from his starboard wing root-end, and then the whole starboard wing came off and back and narrowly missed my a/c. The enemy aircraft went into a furious spin. The pilot did not bail out.’

  (signed) Sqn Ldr R.R. Stanford-Tuck.

  Pilot Officer The Hon. D. Coke (Yellow 1) claimed one Bf 109 probably destroyed:

  ‘The squadron wheeled and dived onto them from one quarter astern. I got in a three second burst from quarter astern, closing to 50 yards, and saw petrol and glycol streaming out. I followed him down and put another two second burst into him from the opposite side. Position Tonbridge Wells – Cranbrook.’

  (signed) P/O Coke.

  Taking part in the same sortie, Pilot Officer G. North (Yellow 3) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed:

  ‘I turned right and dived on the nearest E/A opening fire from quarter astern giving a burst of about two seconds at 300 yards range, closing in to 200 yards dead astern, I fired a further five second burst and saw both white and black smoke stream from the enemy aircraft and pieces came away, probably from the tailplane. The E/A then dropped one wing and dived.’

  (signed) Plt Off G. North.

  It had been a good day for the squadron and for Tuck in particular. Not only had he added to his tally, but the award of a Bar to his DFC was announced in the London Gazette:

  ‘Since the 11 June 1940, this officer has destroyed six enemy aircraft, and probably destroyed or damaged six more. One day in August 1940, he attacked three Junkers 88s, destroyed two and damaged the third. Later in the month he intercepted two Junkers 88s at 15,000ft, and in a head-on attack destroyed one. In a similar attack on the second, a cannon shell blew away his oil and glycol tank and a piece of his propeller, but he reached the coast and landed by parachute. In September 1940, he shot down one Messerschmitt 110 and probably a Messerschmitt 109, and one week later destroyed a Messerschmitt 109 over the sea. Flight Lieutenant Tuck has displayed gallant and determined leadership.’

  Brothers flew on Wing patrols on the 26 and 27 October. During the twenty-seventh No. 249 Squadron lost two pilots, the first casualty occurring at 0950 hours, when Flying Officer (74348) Percival Ross Frances Burton, RAFVR, was killed (flying V6683) as a result of ramming a Bf 110 of V./LG 1 over Hailsham, Sussex. Burton was buried at Tangmere (St Andrews) Churchyard, Plot E, Row 1, Grave 480.

  The squadron’s second casualty was Pilot Officer J.R.B. Meaker, DFC, (flying P3834) who was killed during a patrol at 1520 hours, when he bailed out and struck his own tailplane following an attack on a Ju 88 over Sussex. Pilot Officer (42514) James Reginald Bryan Meaker, DFC, RAF, was the son of Edgar Reginald and Lucy Adelaide Kathleen Meaker, of West Dean, and was buried at West Dean Cemetery, Grave 243, Meaker was 21-years-old. He was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 8 October 1940. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer H.J.S. Beazley (flying V6559) was wounded in the foot during combat.

  On 28 October, Nos. 257 and 249 Squadrons were scrambled at 0945 hours and vectored onto an enemy formation flying over Maidstone. Pilot Officer Surma (Red 2) latched onto an He 111, which he claimed as a ‘probable’ between Romney and Folkestone:

  ‘I zoomed up and made an astern attack. When I was about 300 yards behind the E/A, an He 111, the rear gunners opened fire from below.

  ‘When I was 150–200 yards behind the E/A’s tail on the port side, I gave a three to four second burst at the cockpit. I passed over him and then fired at the starboard engine from about 80 yards.

  ‘I followed the attack up with another burst at the starboard engine. I noticed a small explosion from the engine and saw grey smoke pouring out.’

  (signed) P/O Surma.

  No. 249 Squadron’s Pilot Officer A.G. Lewis was wounded and bailed out of Hurricane V6617 ‘R’ badly burnt, while over Faversham, at 1420 hours.

  Later in the day No. 257 Squadron made a second joint patrol, which was flown with No. 249 Squadron. While over the Gravesend area they sighted seventy to eighty enemy aircraft and launched an attack at about 1645–1700 hours.

  Flying as Red 1, Squadron Leader Tuck claimed two Bf 109s probably destroyed over Tunbridge Wells:

  ‘I dived out of the sun and attacked the rearmost a/c of the enemy formation [twenty-plus Bf 109s]. At the beginning of my four second burst from above and astern, the E/A’s left wing went down and he slowly turned away from the formation. I left him doing a gentle spiral turn downwards, belching out thick black smoke.

  ‘By now, about the last five of the enemy formation were milling around. I picked on the highest of this group of five E/A, and dived down and raked him with a three-second burst which I directed twice along the full length of his belly. I closed in to about 50 yards. I saw his tail struts break off. He pulled straight up, quite gently, then stalled and went into a gentle left-hand spin, leaving a trail of white smoke.’

  (signed) Sqn Ldr R.R. Stanford-Tuck, DFC.

  Sergeant Henson (Green 1) claimed one Bf 109 damaged over
Dungeness:

  ‘I attacked one machine, but noticed his partner firing at me from my rear. Closing my throttle, I turned, and as he overshot me, I gave him a short burst at about 50 yards range. I saw tracer entering the fuselage.

  ‘Green 2 (Sgt Nutter) saw glycol pouring from underneath the Me 109.

  ‘As I was attacked by at least four more enemy aircraft, I was unable to follow the damaged machine.’

  (signed) Sgt B. Henson.

  At 1640 hours on 29 October, Nos. 257 and 249 Squadrons were scrambled to patrol North Weald at 15,000ft. Just as No. 257 Squadron was getting airborne, a dozen bomb-carrying Bf 109 hit and run raiders of II./LG 2 made a low-level attack. Their escort of JG 26’s Bf 109s, under Major Adolph Galland, following closely behind. As Tuck lifted off at the head of Yellow Section, a bomb detonated at the end of the runway, the blast flipping Sergeant Girwood’s Hurricane (V6852) over Tuck’s, landing on his left-hand side, on fire and sliding along on its belly.

  The scene was one that Pilot Officer Neil was never able to put out of his memory, ‘A Hurricane, pointing west, sat outside our dispersal hut. On its belly and on fire.’

  With the fire creeping towards the cockpit Neil could see from the squadron code that it was one of 257’s, ‘As the flames took hold a blackened and unrecognizable ball that was a human head sank lower and lower. Then the fuel tanks gaped with whoofs of flames, the ammunition began to explode.’

  Those on the scene were powerless to help, forced back by the overwhelming heat: ‘The fuselage and wings began to bend and crumble in glowing agony. Finally, there was only heat and crackling silence – and ashes.’