Hurricane Squadron Ace: The Story of Battle of Britain Ace, Air Commodore Peter Brothers, CBE, DSO, DFC and Bar
Page 25
Meanwhile, Flight Lieutenant Blatchford (Red 1) was pursued by a Bf 109, which had just bombed the aerodrome. Then Hauptmann Gerhard Schopfel, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26, met him in a head-on pass, Blatchford’s Hurricane being badly shot-up, with a big hole in his fuselage, pierced oil tank and damaged tail. Sergeant Nutter (Green 4) managed to get onto Schopfel’s tail and fired a burst, allowing Blatchford to escape the coup de gras. He made a forced-landing at North Weald.
A bomb had detonated just off to the left-hand side of Red 2, Pilot Officer Suma’s Hurricane (P3893), as he was running up. Somehow he managed to take-off through the hail of shrapnel and bullets. While Nowell was still climbing, a cannon shell exploded in his cockpit, probably fired by Schopfel. With the controls ‘dead’ and the cockpit filling with acrid smoke, the aircraft went into a spiral dive. Surma opened the hood and bailed out at about 1,000ft.
The Squadron Intelligence Officer’s report explained how the young Pole made a:
‘Landing in a treetop near Matching. After convincing a Home Guard that he was a Pole and not a German (Sumar was wearing a Luftwaffe jacket, liberated from the wreckage of a German bomber while in Poland in September 1939), he was given two complimentary whiskies and driven back to the aerodrome.’
In all twenty-four bombs fell on North Weald, destroying a number of aircraft on the ground and leaving nineteen personnel dead with another forty-two wounded. Five of the casualties, including Sergeant Girwood, were from No. 257 Squadron. Sergeant (741908) Alexander George Girwood, RAFVR, was the son of Alexander and Margaret Stevenson Girwood, of Paisley. Girwood was 20-years-old and was buried at Paisley (Hawkhead) Cemetery, Section A, Grave 2026.
Meanwhile, No. 249 Squadron had got off the ground without casualties. ‘Butch’ Barton got one Bf 109 and two damaged, while three ‘probables’ were claimed by Pilot Officer Millington (who was killed-in-action the following day) and Sergeants Maciejowsjki and Stroud.
It was later discovered that the Duxford Wing could have defended the airfields, but No. 11 Group’s controller was unable to call upon them at the vital time because Bader was engaged in ‘chit-chat’.
During the day, two of No. 249 Squadron’s pilots were wounded. Sergeant N.B. Beard (flying P3615) bailed out at noon, following combat with a Bf 109 over Linton, Kent. Meanwhile, Sergeant H.J. Bouquillard was hit in the left arm, leg and head while flying V7409 in combat with Bf 109s. He made a forced-landing on Rochester airfield.
Also flying out of North Weald, No. 46 Squadron lost Pilot Officer W. B. Pattullo, who died of injuries received when his Hurricane (V6804) crashed onto a house in Romford while returning to base from a patrol. He died the following day aged twenty-one. Pilot Officer (43379) William Blair Pattullo, RAF, was the son of Patrick William and Jessie Hood Blair Pattullo, of Eaglescliffe, Co. Durham. Pattullo was 21-years-old and was buried at North Weald Bassett (St Andrew) Churchyard, Row 2, Grave 8.
Sergeant H.E. Black died on 9 November in Ashford Hospital as a result of burns and serious wounds received when his Hurricane (P3053) was shot down by Bf 109s, crashing at Hothfield Park, near Ashford, Kent. Sergeant (740749) Herbert Ernest Black, RAFVR, was the son of Herbert Ernest and Mary Elizabeth Black; husband of Gwendoline Annie Black, of Ibstock. Black was 26-years-old and was buried at Ibstock (St. Denys) Churchyard, Grave 1242.
During the raid on North Weald, Brothers had been unable to get to a spare Hurricane and had to endure the bombing, ‘I was having tea in the officer’s mess when the raiders struck. Suddenly the scramble sounded. We were raided by 109s dropping bombs. We all dived under a table when the attack came in!’
Brothers had left his car, an open 3-litre Red Label Bentley, on the airfield, right outside the mess, ‘They dropped a bomb right outside. I was livid to discover that a near miss had filled it with soil, which took forever to clean out!’
No. 257 Squadron flew two uneventful missions on 30 October, patrolling the base at 1137 hours and again at 1600 hours, but nothing was seen. Brothers later commenting on the realization that, ‘The winter was coming and clearly there was not going to be an invasion. The Battle of Britain had been won.’
During the day, No. 46 Squadron lost Pilot Officer (43283) John Dallas Crossman, RAF (flying V6748), who was shot down and killed while over Forest Row, Sussex, by Bf 109s during a patrol at 1330 hours. Crossman was the son of George Edward and Gladys Allyne Crossman, of New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia. He was buried at Chalfont St Giles Churchyard, Grave 13. Crossman was 21-years-old.
Meanwhile, No. 249 Squadron lost Pilot Officer W.H. Millington (flying V7536), killed in combat with Bf 109s at 1300 hours while on patrol over the Channel. Pilot Officer (42720) William Henry Millington, DFC, RAF, was the son of William Henry and Elizabeth Hay Millington, of Edwardstown, South Africa. Millington is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 9. He was 23-years-old.
On 1 November, No. 46 Squadron lost Sergeant Roger Emile de Cannaert d’Hamale (flying V7616), who was killed when he was shot down at 1300 hours during combat with Bf 109s, crashing at Acrise, Kent. The Belgian had arrived in England on 20 June and converted onto Hurricanes the following month. He was posted to No. 46 Squadron on 13 August. The 19-year-old had earlier been shot down and bailed out safely on 11 September. His body was repatriated following the end of the war.
Brothers (flying V6802) was at the head of a formation of eight Hurricanes in the company of No. 17 Squadron on a convoy patrol during 8 November. Scrambled too late, the Hurricanes reached the convoy only to discover two vessels already sinking. Later, Flight Lieutenant Blatchford led the squadron on patrol when they were engaged by a formation of Bf 109s. Sergeant (745566) Anthony Durrant Page, RAFVR, became separated and was killed when his Hurricane (V6870) crashed at Hythe Road, Stelling Minnis and burnt out. Page was the son of L. Graham and Gertrude Page, of Pinner, Middlesex. Page, who was 21-years-old, was buried in Hawkinge Cemetery, Plot O, Row 2, Grave 34.
The only other notable event for the station was Beamish’s award of the DFC, which was announced in the London Gazette. His citation read:
‘The work of this station commander has been outstanding. He has displayed exceptional keenness in his engagements against the enemy and has recently destroyed one, and possibly a further seven, enemy aircraft. His coolness and courage have proved an inspiration to all.’
Meanwhile, the previous day’s convoy patrol was repeated on 9 November with Brothers (flying V6802) leading the squadron in the company of No. 17 Squadron, patrolling a southbound convoy in the mouth of the Thames. The vessels were seen safely out of the squadron’s sector without inident.
Brothers had the great misfortune to be on leave on 11 November, otherwise he would undoubtedly have featured heavily in the day’s air activities.
The squadron was patrolling two convoys between the Thames estuary and a point fifteen miles east of Harwich when they engaged twenty-five Ju 87s and their escort of Bf 109s at about 0945 hours.
Pilot Officer North (Red 4), joined a Spitfire in attacking four Bf 109s, claiming one Bf 109 destroyed, ‘I then closed in astern and fired about four seconds at 250 yds closing to 150 yds.’
North then came under attack from astern by a Bf 109:
‘I turned steeply to the left, evading the attack, and as I was turning I saw the splash as the E/A I had been attacking hit the sea.’
(signed) P/O Gerald North.
Pilot Officer Jack Kay (Green 1) claimed one Ju 87 destroyed and another damaged, also damaging a Bf 109 fifteen miles off North Foreland:
‘Saw two formations of Ju 87s approaching just above the water. I did a head-on attack on the formation and they broke up. I turned round and did an astern attack on one who dived into the sea. I then did a head-on attack on another Ju 87 who pulled up vertically in front of me leaving me to fire straight into his underside.’
(signed) Plt Off Jack Kay.
Flying as Green 2 (Weaver Section), Sergeant S.E. Lucas claimed one Bf 109 damaged:
‘I climbed to 8,000ft above the 109s. I saw a 109 attack a Hurricane so I dived on it, but he saw me and turned away. A dogfight followed and I managed to put bullets into his fuselage from a deflection shot. He then turned over on his back and went through the clouds.’
(signed) Sgt S.E. Lucas.
During the squadron’s second contact of the day, seven of No. 257 Squadron’s Hurricanes were scrambled with orders to intercept ‘bandits’ which were engaged north of the mouth of the Thames.
At 1210 hours, Pilot Officer John Redman, ‘A’ Flight’s Red 1, claimed one Bf 109 damaged fifteen miles north-east of the Thames estuary:
‘I was diving towards him and he was climbing to meet me. I fired a burst of about two seconds duration. Seeing several small pieces come away from E/A.’
(signed) Plt Off John Redman.
Pilot Officer Gundry (Red 2) positioned himself for attack, breaking up a formation of enemy aircraft, but his Hurricane was hit through the hydraulic reservoir and diagonal strut, rendering his guns useless.
Meanwhile, Pilot Officer North (Red 4) destroyed a Bf 109 which he shot at with a quarter stern attack from slightly below, firing at 250 yards range with a two second burst. Subsequent attacks were made from astern closing from 250 yards to 150 yards. The enemy aircraft was eventually seen to dive into the sea.
Pilot Officer Kay (Green 1) made a diving attack on a Bf 109 and saw a profuse glycol trail issuing from the enemy aircraft, which he claimed as damaged. He made a head-on attack on the first formation of Ju 87s which broke up completely. Making a second pass, the Ju 87 dived straight into the sea. Another Ju 87 pulled up vertically in front of him and he fired straight into his underside, claiming this enemy aircraft as damaged.
Sergeant S.E. Lucas (Green 2) sighted a Bf 109 attacking a Hurricane and dived on it, but the Bf 109 broke away. Lucas fired a deflection shot and saw bullets entering the whole length of the enemy aircraft’s fuselage; it immediately turned over, apparently damaged and out of control.
During the early afternoon nine Hurricanes of No. 257 Squadron were scrambled with No. 17 Squadron and were vectored onto nine Italian Fiat BR 20 bombers with their escort of forty Fiat CR 42 fighters well behind in two formations; one above the bombers and the other formation far below.
At 1345 hours, Flight Lieutenant Blatchford (Red Leader) destroyed one Fiat BR 20, sharing another with No. 46 Squadron, and also damaging two Fiat CR 42s:
‘I sighted a formation of nine bombers. I then climbed about 1,500ft and led Squadron on a beam attack.
‘I selected the rear starboard bomber and opened fire with a beam attack, firing a four second burst (it was later confirmed that this enemy aircraft was destroyed by a Hurricane of 46 Squadron [shared]). I passed over to the port side and did a quarter attack on the rearmost port bomber. Owing to my speed I repeated this same attack on both occasions with a two second burst. The bomber then looped violently and went into a vertical dive towards the sea, and disintegrated before hitting the water.
‘But sighted a large number of fighters (Fiat CR 42) and engaged one in a quarter attack with several short bursts, which obviously were registering. The E/A waffled extensively and lost height. I claim this E/A as damaged.
‘Meanwhile, I was attacked by the fighters and engaged another one which developed into a dogfight. I found I could turn as quickly as he could and after expending all my ammunition I attempted to ram him and hit his main top wing with my propeller. He immediately lost height and I claim this E/A as damaged.
‘On landing, nine inches of one of the blades of my propeller was found to be splashed with blood.
‘I turned towards base and on my way back I saw a Hurricane being attacked. I made a feint attack from almost head-on, and on each occasion they turned eastwards.’
(signed) Flt Lt Blatchford.
Meanwhile, Pilot Officer North (Red 2) claimed one Fiat BR 20 shared with Blue 1 and one Fiat BR 20 shared with a Hurricane of No. 46 Squadron:
‘I followed Red Leader (F/Lt Blatchford) and made a beam attack from the starboard on the right-hand aircraft, observing no result. It was afterwards ascertained that this aircraft fled away and was destroyed by a member of 46 Squadron. I then made a stern attack on the aircraft flying No. 5 and he also fell away after a three second burst at 200 yards range and dived towards the east. I followed him and finished my ammunition with two attacks from quarter astern. I saw bullets hitting the fuselage, there was no return fire from the rear gunner. The E/A then dropped four heavy bombs into the sea and lowered his undercarriage; a Hurricane of 257 Squadron [Pilot Officer Mortimer, Blue 1] came down and after two short attacks from quarter astern the enemy aircraft caught fire and dived straight into the sea. One of the crew attempted to bail out but pulled the ripcord too early and his parachute caught on the tailplane, ripped, and he fell down with his parachute torn and not properly opened.’
(signed) Plt Off Gerald North.
Pilot Officer B. Davey (Red 3) claimed one BR 20 damaged (shared with a pilot of No. 46 Squadron):
‘We swung round into a quarter astern attack and I picked off a bomber on the outside right-hand plane of the Italian vic, and attacked him from dead astern, coming up underneath him.
‘I opened fire at 300 yds and closed to 100 yds using all my ammunition. I saw black smoke from both his engines and burst of flames from the fuselage.’
(signed) B. Davey.
Pilot Officer P.A. Mortimer (Blue 1) claimed two BR 20 damaged and one destroyed (shared with Red 2):
‘No. 5 caught fire and dived into the sea. I saw No. 3 and No. 1 carrying on in formation so attacked No. 1, which immediately started emitting smoke. After this attack I was out of ammunition.’
(signed) Plt Off P.A. Mortimer.
Pilot Officer K. Pniak (Blue 2) claimed one BR 20 bomber destroyed and another shared:
‘I attacked enemy bomber (No 7 in formation) from below and behind from the distance 200 yards. I gave him one burst four seconds long. Just after, enemy plane began to smoke and fire [from the cockpit area]. He turned over on his back and dived straight into the sea. One of the enemy crew bailed out. I attacked another enemy bomber and I gave him two, four to five second long bursts. He began to smoke and glided to the coast. At the same time another of our fighters fired at him [Pilot Officer Kay]. We followed him until he force-landed in the [Bromwell] wood near Woodbridge.’
(signed) Plt Off K. Pniak.
Pilot Officer S.E. Andrews (Blue 3) claimed one BR 20 destroyed (shared with Green 1):
‘I attacked an E/A [No. 9 in the formation] with a three to four second burst which then broke from the formation after having been previously attacked by P/O Kay. The E/A dived straight into the sea, leaving a thin trail of smoke.’
(signed) Plt Off S.E. Andrews.
Pilot Officer Jack Kay (Green 1, Weaver Section) claimed two BR 20s destroyed:
‘I attacked the extreme right bomber who broke upwards smoking. This machine was given a burst by P/O Andrews at this point and dived into the sea. I attacked another then in conjunction with P/O Pniak. It broke down from the formation with us following. We continued to fire at it and eventually it came in to land by the side of a wood east of Woodbridge.’
(signed) Plt Off Jack Kay.
Sergeant S.E. Lucas (Green 2) claimed one Fiat CR 42 destroyed and a BR 20 bomber damaged:
‘Gave one of the bombers [No. 3 in the formation] a three second burst [attacking from the port side head-on], setting one of the engines on fire and stopping it. I broke away downwards and saw the fighters below and behind. I gave one a four second burst head-on and saw it go down in a spin and hit the sea.’
(signed) Sgt S.E. Lucas.
Sergeant Barnes (Green 3) claimed one CR 42 destroyed:
‘Attacked two BR 20s in turn firing two or three, one second bursts which struck the a/c amidships. I attacked a section of four [CR 42s] (beam to quarter) the a/c leading immediately dived straight down out of control in a dive over the ver
tical. The remaining three turning very quickly, got inside my turn and attacked, sending only one bullet through my wing.’
(signed) L.D. Barnes Sgt.
The squadron retrieved two ‘crests’ off a bomber that crashed at Woodbridge, along with a bayonet sheath and two steel helmets, all of which were displayed at dispersal as trophies.
Further combat successes came during a convoy escort on 17 November, when six Bf 109s were sighted near Harwich, above and behind which were a further twenty-five to thirty Bf 109s.
During the combat, which took place at 0920 hours, Flight Lieutenant Blatchford and Pilot Officer Kay both destroyed a Bf 109. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Mortimer probably destroyed one Bf 109, but was wounded in the left hand by a cannon shell splinter. Sergeant Henson (flying N2342) was killed, shot down by Adolf Galland, commander of JG 26, while flying ten miles east of Harwich. Sergeant (742563) Bernard Henson, RAFVR, was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Wisbech Western Division 3, Grave 2.
Meanwhile, Flight Lieutenant Blatchford (Red 1) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed:
‘I led squadron up towards the sun in an endeavour to cut off the 109s who were on my starboard side. While we were converging, the 109s realized we held an advantage and they were forced to turn left-handed towards us, forcing us to attack head-on.
‘I opened fire on the leader at about 300 yards with a four second burst. Immediately, I opened fire, as he went over the top I gave a short full deflection shot and I then did a right-hand turn and saw the 109 in front of me streaming profuse black smoke. I engaged the 109 again from astern. He continued to dive and I followed behind and above; he appeared to flatten out, so I put the finishing touches on him. The E/A did a ‘cartwheel’ and the pilot was jettisoned into the sea.’