Hurricane Squadron Ace: The Story of Battle of Britain Ace, Air Commodore Peter Brothers, CBE, DSO, DFC and Bar
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Flight Lieutenant John B. Niven (flying BM451) claimed one Fw 190 damaged (at 1350 hours) firing twenty cannon rounds:
‘After about fifteen minutes patrol I observed a number of Fw 190s (six plus) to the south. I attacked a pair of them which were slightly separated from the rest. I selected the port a/c and approached from the port beam, eventually closing to dead astern. I held my fire till the last minute and then opened up from 100 yds [five second cannon burst], throttling back to save colliding with him. I hit him all over the wings and cockpit region with cannon shells, and he turned onto his left side and fell away slowly, with bits coming off. My own aircraft was then shot to bits [fuel tank ruptured by ack-ack from one of the RN vessels] and I flew over the ships and bailed out.’
(signed) John B. Niven F/Lt.
Brothers orbited the dingy until Niven was picked up by the RN’s motor-launch ML193, before being transferred to Landing Craft F6. Once ashore he was taken to Brighton Municipal Hospital with an ankle injury. Niven returned to the squadron three days later. Pilot Officer J.B. Niven, RAFVR, had earlier been awarded the DFC (London Gazette, 15 May 1942):
‘This officer has taken part in seventy operational sorties and he has destroyed two and probably destroyed a further two hostile aircraft. He has displayed ability and courage, setting a fine example to his fellow pilots.’
Niven continued to fly on combat sorties and was awarded a Bar to the DFC, announced in the London Gazette, 1 December 1944.
Sampson (Yellow 2) claimed one Fw 190 destroyed, expending 100 cannon and 300 machine-gun rounds:
‘I was on the left of Yellow 1 and observed strikes on one Fw 190 from, I imagine, Yellow 1. I opened up at the other aircraft with a three second burst of cannon and machine gun, and closed to about 150 yards and fired from about thirty degrees for two seconds with cannon and machine gun. I observed cannon strikes on the engine and cockpit and the machine went into the sea near the ships, shedding pieces as it went down and apparently on fire.’
(signed) R.W.F. Sampson.
Two Spitfires were lost, with Pilot Officer Goodchap taken as a PoW.
No. 602 Squadron’s ORB noted: ‘Cold luncheon revived the boys and they are ready for more fun – such as it is. Score to date for Squadron – four destroyed, and ten damaged for the loss of two pilots and two planes.’
No. 602 Squadron’s fourth patrol, a sweep out over the Channel, began at 1700 hours, lasting an hour, on return from which they were stood down. That evening Brothers took the pilots to London’s West End to wind down at the Chez Nina, Denman Street. They had plenty to celebrate.
The Press coverage of the air operations boasted: ‘More than 600 sorties flown.’ ‘Tremendous Air Battle – Many German Aircraft Destroyed.’
The headlines steered away from the terrible losses sustained by the land forces, mainly Canadians.
A summary of the other squadrons flying with Brothers’ No. 602 Squadron is included to help give the wider picture as they would have seen it.
No. 222 Squadron made no combat claims during the day’s operations, although their CO, Squadron Leader Oxspring, (on secondment from No. 72 Squadron) was awarded a Bar to his DFC.
Acting Squadron Leader Robert Wardlow Oxspring’s award was announced in the London Gazette, 15 September 1942:
‘Acting Squadron Leader Robert Wardlow OXSPRING, DFC (40743), No. 72 Squadron – temporarily seconded to command No. 222 Squadron.
‘This squadron commander has rendered much valuable service. His skill, whether in attacks on the enemy’s ground targets and shipping or in air combat, has been of a high order. He has destroyed at least seven enemy aircraft.’
Meanwhile awards were also made to No. 401 Squadron pilots:
Acting Flight Lieutenant Whitham, DFC, London Gazette, 15 September 1942.
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant James WHITHAM (Can./J.15281), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 401 (RCAF) Squadron.
‘This officer has completed a large number of sorties over enemy occupied territory. He is an excellent flight commander whose fine fighting qualities have been well illustrated when leading his section in attacks on the enemy’s targets. Besides his good work in the air, Flight Lieutenant Whitham is a tireless worker on the ground and has proved a source of inspiration to all.’
Pilot Officer Murray, DFC, London Gazette, 25 September 1942.
‘Pilot Officer George Bremner MURRAY (Can/J.15476), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 401 (RCAF) Squadron.
‘Pilot Officer Murray has carried out numerous sorties. He is an excellent leader whose resource and skill in action have proved inspiring. He has set a praiseworthy example to others.’
Squadron Leader Hodson, DFC, London Gazette, 29 September 1942.
‘Squadron Leader Keith Louis Bate HODSON (Can/C.807), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 401 (RCAF) Squadron.
‘This officer has participated in a large number of sorties. He is a skilful pilot, whose personal example has inspired the squadron he commands. Much of the success it has achieved can be attributed to Squadron Leader Hodson’s excellent leadership.’
No 307 Pursuit Squadron lost Lieutenant Wright killed-in-action, while Lieutenant Torvea was shot down and taken as a PoW. However, the squadron was able to make its first claims against the enemy, with Captain Robertson and Lieutenant John White being credited with an Fw 190 destroyed and an Fw 190 probably destroyed, while Lieutenant Whisonant damaged another.
Meanwhile, back with No. 602 Squadron’s deployment, Brothers got permission to make a fighter sweep inland of Dieppe on 20 August before the squadron transferred back north, but the Luftwaffe, stretched by the previous day’s combats could not be persuaded to take off, ‘Below we could see debris, while smoke rose over the harbour.’ Later that day the squadron flew north back to Peterhead.
A party was held in the officer’s mess where the previous day’s successes were celebrated. Pilot Officer Goodchap’s fate, however, remained unknown and this must have put a damper on events.
The following weeks saw a return to the previous routine with occasional convoy escort and patrols, while the base was visited by a number of senior officers including the AOC No. 14 Group, Air Vice-Marshal R. Collishaw, CB, DSO, OBE, DSO, DFC, and AOC-in-C, Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, KCB, MC, DFC, accompanied by AOC, Air Vice-Marshal R. Collishaw. The most likely reason for these top-level visits, other than to discuss with Brothers his squadron’s part in the Dieppe Raid.
While the squadron’s role in providing air cover for the raid had proved successful, Brothers was able to voice his opinion on the air operation’s shortcomings. Little did he then know, but his tactical savvy had already been noted and that he was destined for a very important role within Fighter Command.
Over the following few weeks there would be little activity beyond the regular aerial reconnaissance missions flown by the enemy, but which had to be countered by the Spitfire VIs.
On 10 September, No. 164 Squadron’s Spitfires arrived to take over duties at Peterhead. They surrendered their Spitfire VIs to No. 602 Squadron which was posted to Skeabrae and Sumburgh, with a section from ‘B’ Flight being detached to Skatsa. Their new role was to protect Scapa Flow.
Here, their first taste of action came on 16 September, Flight Sergeant J.F. Kistruck and Sergeant G.F. Emes were scrambled and vectored onto an He 111, which had bombed the Fair Isle. In a pursuit which took them about 100 miles out to sea, both pilots expended all of their ammunition.
Flight Sergeant Kistruck (Blue 1) claimed one He 111 damaged (shared):
‘Delivered quarter attack from starboard 150 yds closing to 50 yds. E/A was at 50ft. Blue 2 observed hits on rear gun position and fuselage. Believed rear gunners put out of action; rear gun stationary and red patch beside gun position. Oil running from starboard engine to trailing edge.’
(signed) F/Sgt J.F. Kistruck.
Sergeant Emes, (Blue 2) made four passes, firing at 175 – 20 yards, ‘observing strikes along the fuselage and starboard engine
, on pilot’s cockpit and port mainplane’, and claiming the He 111 as damaged at 50ft down to sea level (shared). This was the last of the squadron’s combat victories under Brothers’ command, as on 2 October he was posted away as Wing Commander (Flying), RAF Tangmere, to coordinate the wing’s offensive role.
Flight Lieutenant E.P.W. Bocock, DFC, assumed command, pending the arrival of former Battle of Britain pilot, Squadron Leader Michael F. Beytagh, on 5 October.
While Pete’s time with the squadron had been fairly brief, he had once again displayed his supreme abilities as a commander and tactician.
A Provisional List of Pilots who flew with No. 602 Squadron, 20 June – 2 October 1942:
Squadron Leader Peter Malam Brothers, DFC
Commander. Later Air Commodore, CBE, DSO, Bar to the DFC
Squadron Leader A.C. Stewart
Supernumary Squadron Leader
Flight Lieutenant E.P.W. Bocock, DFC
Flight Lieutenant J.S. Fifield
Flight Lieutenant J.B. Niven, DFC
Later Squadron Leader, Bar to the DFC 1.12.44 (CO of 602)
Flight Lieutenant Williams, DFC
Flying Officer E.M. Innes-Jones
Flying Officer E.D.M. Rippon
Pilot Officer P.D. Davey
Pilot Officer R.PR. De-la-Poype
Pilot Officer J.R. Dennehey
Pilot Officer M.F. Goodchap
PoW 19.8.42
Pilot Officer G. Gray
Pilot Officer R.W.F. Sampson
Pilot Officer C.R. Tait
Flight Sergeant K.D. Gledhill
Sergeant L. Adkins
Sergeant C.A. Booty
Sergeant D.J. Buley
Sergeant W.E. Caldecott
Sergeant G.F. Emes
Sergeant P.L. Hauser
Sergeant A. Irvine
Sergeant Hanscom
Sergeant W.V. Jones
Sergeant J.F. Kistruck
Sergeant W.U. Lethbridge
Sergeant W.J. Loud
Sergeant J. Marryshow
Sergeant Francis William Morrell
KIA 26.6.42
Sergeant B.A. Schaefer
Sergeant S.B.A. Smith
Sergeant F.S. Sorge
Sergeant A. Strudwick
Sergeant A.J. Tysowski
Sergeant D.L. Warr
Sergeant W.T. Whitmore
Pilots Temporarily Posted to No. 602 Squadron
Pilot Officer S.O. Kelly
Pilot Officer R.O. Mitterling
Pilot Officer O. O’Brien
Pilot Officer F.M. Strole
Sergeant E.H. Francis
Sergeant Nordstrand
Sergeant J.G. Sanderson
Chapter 13
Wing Commander (Flying) Tangmere Wing
In October 1942, Brothers, already identified as one of the RAF’s outstanding fighter tacticians, was appointed Wing Commander (Flying), taking over the Tangmere Wing, formerly led by Douglas Bader. Shot down, probably by ‘friendly’ fire, Bader had been taken as a PoW on 9 August. Wing Commander Don Finlay, DFC, had held the post as a stopgap until 14 August, when Group Captain Clifford Anthony ‘Paddy’ Woodhouse, DFC, took over the helm. During 1940–41, when multiple RAF fighter squadrons flew offensive patrols over enemy occupied Europe, it was the most senior CO who assumed command, although there are many stories of the more experienced junior officers leading operations. Under the new Wing system a Wing Commander (Flying) was appointed. He had to be able to think clearly and quickly under extreme pressure, as the safety of the entire Wing depended on his judgement. Brothers considered the role at Tangmere as ‘one of the best jobs in Fighter Command’.
Tangmere lies three miles to the east of Chichester, under the Goodwood Downs, which could be a hazard for those using the secondary north-south runway. The main runway, which lay east-west, lined up roughly with Chichester Cathedral’s spire. At 270ft, this was both a useful landmark and a potential danger.
Under Douglas Bader, the Wing, known as the ‘Green Line Bus’, had composed of Nos. 616, 610 and 145 Squadrons. Since his loss the squadrons had been shuffled about, the new line-up included Nos. 485 (RNZAF) and 165 Squadrons, with No. 610 Squadron flying operations from February 1943. Commanded by Squadron Leader Hallowes, DFM and Bar, who had taken over just prior to the Dieppe Raid, No. 165 Squadron was posted to Tangmere on 1 November 1942.
No. 165 Squadron flew on a Circus operation on 8 November, providing rear cover for Flying Fortress bombers targeting Lille. Pilot Officer (118532) George Cruise Griffin, RAFVR, was killed during the operation when his Spitfire was hit by flak and plunged into the sea seven miles off South Foreland, the squadron’s first casualty. Griffin was buried in Oulton Franciscan Cemetery, Solihull, Section G, Grave 462.
Meanwhile, Squadron Leader H.J. Hallowes claimed one Fw 190 as damaged, the combat being timed at 1233 hours:
‘An Fw 190 sighted south of Dunkirk attacking one Fortress which was straggling. Red Section dived from 25,000ft to 13,000ft to attack. The Fw was turning in to carry out a quarter attack when I opened fire from approximately 400 yards using quarter attack. After a burst of two seconds, hits were observed in the region of the cockpit of the Fw 190 on the port side, Red Section were then attacked by two Fw 190s from above and behind’.
Hallowes attacked two of the Fw 190s that were on Red 4’s tail, doing enough to put them off their aim. Meanwhile, Sergeant Keating engaged several Fw 190s, observing strikes, but was unable to make a positive claim.
On 14 and 18 November, Brothers detailed No. 165 Squadron to fly on two diversionary sweeps in the Cherbourg area.
Meanwhile, on 6 December they took part in Circus 241, acting as rear support for a raid on the Lille Fives Loco Works. Six days later the squadron made a diversionary sweep in the Cherbourg area for Circus 244, a raid by seventy-two Fortresses and eighteen Liberators, targeting the aircraft park at Romilly. On landing the Spitfires were quickly turned around to provide rear support for the formation’s return.
Christmas Eve saw an open party in the sergeant’s mess, the roles being reversed the following day, when an excellent meal was provided and, ‘though the service was inexpert, it was enthusiastic.’ Brothers arranged for an afternoon sing song in the station’s theatre followed by a Variety Show and a dance in the evening.
The year ended on something of a damp squib for Brothers who, on 30 December, commanded the Wing on Circus 245. Discovering a fracture in his oxygen pipe, he was obliged to hand over to Squadron Leader Hallowes.
On 2 January 1943, No. 485 (RNZAF) Squadron began operating out of Tangmere’s satellite airfield at Westhampnett, having recently transferred out of No. 12 Group, where they flew out of Kingscliffe. Rejoining frontline operations, they operated with both the Tangmere and Appledore Wings.
On the following day Wing Commander Brothers was at the head of the Wing on Circus 247 to Abbeville airfield. It seemed that he was dogged with bad luck and was forced to hand over to Flight Lieutenant E.W. Colquhoun due to oil pressure issues.
During the Wing’s second operation, Brothers led Nos. 165 and 485 Squadrons on Rodeo 142, an uneventful swept in over the Somme estuary, flying out over Wimereux.
On 4 January, Brothers attended a Group conference where he learnt that No. 602 Squadron, which had missed out on the previous ops due to practice for its new role, would train as night-fighters on evenings with a full moon, while continuing to fly daylight operations for the remainder of the month. This was far from ideal and Brothers voiced his opinion, but to no avail.
During the early afternoon of 9 January, Brothers commanded the Wing as top cover on Circus 248 to Le Touquet. Six Fw 190s were seen over Abbeville, Brothers leading the chase, but it soon became obvious that they could not be overhauled and he reluctantly gave the order to break off the pursuit. This may have been the occasion mentioned by Wing Commander Duncan-Smith, DFC, who recalled in his biography tagging along as Brothers’ No. 2 on a sweep while a staff officer at Fighter
Command, ‘I had a Spitfire V and made full use of it, I visited Peter Brothers, one of the Command’s most successful pilots and Wing Leaders at Tangmere, persuading him to let me fly as his number two’.
On his return to Fighter Command, Duncan-Smith was given a proverbial ‘rocket’ for taking an unnecessary risk, ‘It was well worth it, however, since it helped restore my enthusiasm for a return to operational flying. It is true to say, “The more you fly the more you want to fly.”’
Meanwhile, Brothers had the privilege of informing Squadron Leader Hallowes, DFM and Bar, of his award of the DFC, the decoration being promulgated in the London Gazette of 19 January 1943.
‘Distinguished Flying Cross.
‘Acting Squadron Leader Herbert James Lempriere HALLOWS, DFM (45010), No. 165 Squadron.