by Nick Thomas
Hallowes’ DFM and Bar were both announced in the London Gazette of 6 September 1940 and give some indication of the calibre of Pete’s squadron commanders.
‘Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.
‘563179 Sergeant Herbert James Lempriere HALLOWES.
‘In June 1940, Sergeant Hallowes was attacking an enemy aircraft over Northern France when he was himself attacked. His engine being disabled, he proceeded to glide back to friendly territory but was again attacked when about to abandon his aircraft by parachute. He dropped back into his seat and as the enemy aircraft passed he delivered such an effective burst of fire as to destroy his opponent. He then made a successful parachute landing.’
‘Awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Medal.
‘563179 Sergeant Herbert James Lempriere HALLOWES, DFM.
‘Since the commencement of hostilities this airman has personally destroyed twenty-one enemy aircraft. He has set a fine example of bravery and resolute bearing on many occasions.
‘Squadron Leader Hallowes is an outstanding and relentless fighter. He has destroyed nineteen and damaged many other enemy aircraft. His skill and unswerving devotion to duty have set an example in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force.’
On 21 January, Brothers led Nos. 165 and 485 Squadrons on Circus 252, ‘Our role was to bounce any enemy aircraft attempting to take off from Abbeville.’
With the Wing on its return leg, a formation of sixteen Fw 190s was seen over Berch, two miles ahead of No. 485 Squadron. Wing Commander Brothers closed to within 200 yards of a straggler and fired a short burst before it dived down and made for home. Not having seen any obvious signs of damage, Brothers didn’t make a claim.
On the following afternoon, Brothers (flying BL907) led Nos. 165 and 485 Squadrons on an uneventful Circus between Herck and Le Touquet, as part of the Appledore Wing. He repeated the operation on 26 January, flying as a part of the ‘Bouncing’ Wing on Circus 256. While recrossing the coast at Le Touquet, ten Fw 190s were spotted. Several dogfights endued, during which Wing Commander Brothers destroyed an Fw 190, four miles west of Hardelot, the pilot being seen to bail out before the fighter hit the sea:
‘At approx 1400 hours on 26.1.43 I was leading 485 (NZ) Squadron’s Red Section at 500ft, flying north of the French Coast, when I met ten Fw 190s flying north at the same height. I turned port towards them, but they climbed round to port and came down out of the sun. I took one head-on, but he pulled away and I fired a short burst at him from quarter ahead and below. As he flashed past I saw smoke streaming from him and he pulled up into a steep climb, jettisoned his hood and bailed out. I then called down my top cover, 165 Squadron, as they were in a favourable position to bounce the 190s, and they came down out of the sun. In the meantime, I fired two short bursts at two other E/A at long range, as by then my port cannon had a stoppage and I wanted to stop them coming down out of the sun. As we were at the end of our sweep and were getting short of fuel, I ordered the wing to return to base, the 190s having broken off combat and headed back across their coast. The Fw 190s camouflage was grey-green with a black cross in a white circle.’
(signed) P.M. Brothers, W/Cdr.
Another Fw 190 was destroyed by No.165 Squadron, which came down to engage, while Squadron Leader Grant was chased by an Fw 190, but managed to shake it off by violent weaving.
Flying Officer Bruce Warren (Yellow 1) destroyed an Fw 190, which was seen to spin-in, performing tight turns during the combat. Meanwhile, Sergeant Donaldson (Yellow 2) returned with holes in both mainplanes and through his tail unit, following an engagement with another Fw 190.
A little before midday on 2 February, Brothers commanded the Tangmere Wing, now including Squadron Leader James Edgar ‘Johnnie’ Johnson’s No. 610 Squadron, on No. 11 Group’s Circus 257 which was flown under Appledore control. Johnnie Johnson, DFC and Bar would become the RAF’s highest scoring fighter ace with thirty-eight confirmed ‘kills’, and the most decorated (DFC, London Gazette, 30 September 1940; Bar, London Gazette, 26 June 1942; DSO, London Gazette, 4 July 1943; Bar, London Gazette, 24 September 1943; second Bar, London Gazette, 7 July 1944; DFC (US), London Gazette, 18 January 1944; Order of Leopold (Belgian) 1947; CdG (Belgian), 1947; Air Medal (US), December 1950; Legion of Merit (US), October 1951; CBE, London Gazette, 1 January 1960; CB, London Gazette, 1 January 1965).
The Spitfires swept over Abbeville airfield where two aircraft were seen taxiing, but much to Brothers’ disgust they did not take off.
Brothers’ debriefing notes were typed up and extracts distributed as a part of the RAF’s daily bulletin. The following day the national press quoted his remarks on landing, the Daily Sketch headline read:
200 RAF RAIDERS – NO NAZIS
‘‘More than 200 RAF fighters attacked France and Belgium yesterday. They carried out offensive sweeps and also escorted bombers which attacked Abbeville and Bruges’’, say the Air Ministry.
‘The raid on Abbeville was carried out by Ventura bombers which attacked the marshalling yards. This raid was marked by the total absence of opposition. A Spitfire Wing circled the Abbeville aerodrome, but although Fw 190s could be seen taxiing round the perimeter track, none took the air.
‘“THEY WOULDN’T FIGHT.” The Wing Commander said, “They obviously did not want to fight and we came home because we were so browned off. When we took a look at Boulogne Harbour, where there is usually flak, the Hun didn’t put one shot at us.”
Brothers led the Wing (Nos. 610 and 485 Squadrons) on a repeat raid on the following day, with similar results.
The Wing was despatched on a Rhubarb on 6 February, when No. 165 Squadron destoyed two locos and three vehicles. Rhubarbs were freelance fighter sorties. These often involved small sections of fighters, mainly operating in pairs, attacking trains, road transport, airfields and targets of opportunity.
Two of No. 485 Squadron pilots also attacked railway targets near Neville, with the loss of Pilot Officer Bruce Gordon (flying BM513), who was shot down and became PoW No. 200 in Stalag Luft III, Sagan. Meanwhile, Sergeant H.R. Parker, and Pilot Officer J.T. Skibinski, making up No. 610 Squadron’s Green Section, were last seen twenty miles north of Cherbourg. Sergeant (414331) Howard Russell Parker, RNZAF, was the son of Thompson Ferguson Parker and Lucy Alice Parker; husband of Olive Thelma Parker, of Auckland, New Zealand. He was 24-years-old and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 198.
Two days later Brothers arranged for some of the Wing’s pilots to view the recent Rhubarb’s gun-camera films, when the senior Intelligence Officer, ‘waxed lyrical about them.’
The strafing ops continued and, on 9 February, four Spitfires of No. 165 Squadron flew in pairs on Rhubarb operations to the Valmont area, shooting up a loco and an armoured lorry.
The second pair, Flying Officer R.G. Lewis and Sergeant J.H. Curry, operating in the Yvetot area, were not heard of again. Flying Officer (67061) Richard Granville Lewis, RAFVR, was the son of the late Pilot Officer Granville Vernon Loch (died on active service 5 October 1917) and Myfanwy Jacob Lewis, of Ewell, Surrey. Lewis was buried in Grancourt War Cemetery, Grave A 8. Sergeant (1335808) John Henry Curry, RAFVR, was the son of Mr and Mrs J.H. Curry, of Charlton, London, and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 136.
During the morning of 10 January 1943, the whole Wing flew on Circus 261, providing close escort to Ventura bombers targeting the marshalling yards at Caen. Brothers was forced to return early, handing over command to Squadron Leader ‘Reg’ Grant.
No. 610 Squadron lost three aircraft and pilots to the Fw 190s, which their CO later confessed ‘outclassed’ their Spitfire Vs. The casualties included Squadron Leader A.E. Robinson (flying EE767 ‘W’), shot down by JG 2 and Flight Sergeant Harold Richard Harris (flying EE724 ‘T’), shot down by Unteroffizier Walter Leber. Both pilots had peeled off to give protection to Sergeant Lisowski, whose engine had run rough but picked up and who landed safely. Squadron Leader (39472) Anthony Edward Robinson, RA
F, was the son of Alfred Edward Robinson and of Florence Emily Maria Robinson (née Crowther); husband of Joan Patricia Myrtle Robinson (nee Leigh), of North Stoke, Oxfordshire. He was 28-years-old. Squadron Leader Robinson was buried at Grandcourt War Cemetery, Grave A, 5. Flight Sergeant (413066) Harold Richard Harris, RNZAF, was the son of Harold William Harris and of Mabel Harris (née Daniels), of Wellington, New Zealand; husband of Dorothy Joyce Harris, of Wellington. Harris was 26-years-old. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 199.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Caen area, Flight Lieutenant W.A. Laurie, DFC, saw Flying Officer L.A. Smith, DFC (flying BL256 ‘R’), being attacked from astern by two Bf 190s. He bailed out just off the French coast, but was lost. Two aircraft hit the sea; one was believed to be an Fw 190 claimed by No. 165 Squadron. Flying Officer (114060) Lawrence Arthur A. Smith, DFC, RAFVR, was the son of Arthur Alfred and Edith Mary Smith; husband of Elsie Ellen Smith, of Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Kent. Smith was 22-years-old. He was buried in Bayeux War Cemetery, Grave XXVIII, J13.
During the same engagement, Spitfire AB259, flown by Pilot Officer K.S. Wright, was attacked by two Fw 190s and damaged, before fire from Flight Lieutenant Laurie put the enemy off their aim. Wright headed for cloud and made base. Meanwhile, No. 610 Squadron destroyed one Fw 190.
When the Wing was drawn into combat near the L’Orne estuary, No. 165 Squadron, on their last operation with the Wing, was able to make a number of claims.
Flight Lieutenant E.W.C. Colquhoun, flying as Red 1, destroyed one Fw 190:
‘We saw eight or nine 190s attacking two Spitfires over the French coast at the estuary of the L’Orne. I saw a 190 attacking a Spitfire at about 1,000 yards; the Spitfire caught fire, the tail unit fell off and the pilot bailed out. The Fw 190 did not become aware of me until I was about 300 yards behind him, when I fired another burst of machine gun as he was pulling away from me.
‘He then did a flick half roll, and I followed him firing short mixed until he came out 250 yards in front of me, going much slower.
‘I closed to less than 100 yards firing cannon and machine gun continuously; his hood came off and pieces broke off the fuselage. I was then forced to break away owing to two Fw 190s behind me.’
Flying Officer B. Warren (Yellow 1) damaged an Fw 190 off L’Orne Estuary:
‘I looked behind and saw six Fw 190s about to attack. I ordered the section to break starboard and, after a complete turn, was able to fire from quarter port astern at an Fw 190 which was climbing at a range of 350 yds. I saw red flashes on his port wing. The E/A rolled on his back and dived away.’
Sergeant Osborne (Yellow 2) damaged an Fw 190:
‘I continued to follow Yellow 1 and he fired at another Fw 190 ahead of him and then broke away starboard. I followed this Fw 190 and at about 800 yds range gave a five second burst of cannon and machine gun and observed strikes on Perspex and around cockpit.’
Brothers was assigned to desk duties on 13 February and so briefed Squadron Leader Grant, who deputized, leading Nos. 485 and 610 Squadrons on Rodeo 168 over Northern France. At 1215 hours the Wing was drawn down to engage sixteen Fw 190s in the Hardelot area, when they were bounced by a further twenty Fw 190s.
In the frantic dogfight that followed, Squadron Leader Grant destroyed the Fw 190 which was attacking his youngest brother, Flying Officer I.A.C. Grant, but not before the 190 had scored several hits. The Squadron Leader could only look on as his brother’s Spitfire fell out of the sky, leaving behind him a trail of smoke. Flying Officer (391351) Ian Allen Charles Grant, RNZAF, was the son of William Edward and Gertrude Isabella Grant, of Mission Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. Grant, who was 27-years-old, is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 197. Ian Grant had served with No. 151 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.
Flying Officer Hume destroyed another:
‘I cut across the turn and got on the tail of one of the tail-end E/A who tried to evade me by doing a tight turn to port. I fired a long burst with the E/A under the nose, guessing his position by the position of the No. 1 E/A and varying the deflection. I pulled away slightly and saw the E/A go down gradually into a dive and eventually dive into the sea about a mile off Hardelot. It was confirmed by W/O McGregor and S/Ldr Grant.’
During the same combat Flying Officer Brown claimed an Fw 190 damaged:
‘In the general melee my No. 2 was attacked and, though called on the R/T, failed to break. An Fw 190, climbing from the opposite direction to our section, was in a good position to attack and I delivered an attack of about one and a half seconds with cannon and machine guns [a deflection shot at 200–250 yards] and noticed one cannon strike (HE) between the pilot’s cockpit and the tail unit on top of the fuselage.’
Meanwhile, Flying Officer A.R. Robson and Sergeant R.J. Steed were shot down in combat with Fw 190s. Flying Officer Robson (flying EP107) had been able to damage an Fw 190 before his own aircraft was hit and he was forced to crash-land at Boulogne. He was captured and sent to Stalag Luft III (PoW No. 201). Sergeant (414354) Revell Jackson Steed, RNZAF, was killed. Sergeant Steed was the son of Lynn Arthur Steed and Olive Steed (née Jackson), of Gisborne, Auckland, New Zealand. Steed, who was 23-years-old, was buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery, Plot 6, Row L, Grave 19.
Johnnie Johnson flew No. 610 Squadron into the attack, remaining above No. 485 Squadron to give them top cover, which was needed when they took on fifteen Fw 190s. Not long after the engagement began a further formation of twenty Fw 190s bounced them. At least seven pilots fired their guns, with only Johnson making a claim, firing several short bursts at an Fw 190 which was observed diving vertically and smoking heavily, burning wreckage appearing below.
On 16 February, Flight Lieutenant E.G.A. Seghers, who had served during the Battle of France (Belgian Croix de Guerre) and later with Nos. 46 and 32 Squadrons during the Battle of Britain, was appointed Acting Squadron Leader. He took over command of No. 165 Squadron – Squadron Leader Hallowes being posted away. Later that day news came through that Seghers had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Windmill Show came to Tangmere on 28 February, providing a cabaret. Following the evening performance a dance was given in the officer’s mess. This concluded at 0115 hours and, as one might have expected, was well attended.
Back on operations, Wing Commander Brothers led Nos. 485 and 610 Squadrons on a sweep down the Cherbourg Peninsula on 8 March, ‘We provided rear cover to a formation of Fortresses bombing Rennes.’
This was Brothers’ last operation at the helm, handing over to Wing Commander Rhys Henry Thomas, DSO, DFC. One of the forgotten heroes of Fighter Command, Thomas had flown as a pilot officer with No. 266 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. He was transferred to the newly formed No. 129 Squadron on the request of its CO, Squadron Leader Dennis Armitage, who wanted him as a flight commander. A supreme tactician, Thomas was awarded the DFC (London Gazette, 22 May 1942), the recommendation noting that in early 1942 he had led Wing strength formations while only a flying officer. He later assumed command of No. 129 Squadron and led them in their close ground support role during the Dieppe Raid, for which he was awarded the DSO (London Gazette, 11 September 1942). Thomas served as Wing Commander (Flying) Hornchurch and at Tangmere. As an Acting Group Captain with 2nd Tactical Air Force, he played a key role in the day-to-day planning of their air offensive; one of his Wing Commanders, ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, remembered him as ‘very press-on.’ It was only on 15 September 1995, that R.H. Thomas was officially acknowledged by the Battle of Britain Association as having earned the coveted clasp, following research presented by the author.
Meanwhile, in recognition of his gallantry and leadership during his most recent tour of operations, Pete Brothers was awarded a Bar to his DFC. The award was announced in the London Gazette, 15 June 1943:
Air Ministry, 15 June, 1943.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
‘The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following award in recognition of gallantry displaye
d, in flying operations against the enemy: —
‘Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross.
‘Acting Wing Commander Peter Malam BROTHERS, DFC (37668), Reserve of Air Force Officers.
‘This officer has displayed outstanding keenness and efficiency. Within recent months he has led a wing in many operations and, by his skilful work and personal example, has contributed in a large measure to the high standard of operational efficiency of the formation. He has displayed great devotion to duty.’
The following pilots flew under P.M. Brothers when he was Wing Commander (Flying) Tangmere.
Nominal Roll of Pilots who flew with No. 165 Squadron, October 1942-March 1943
Squadron Leader H.J.L. Hallowes, DFC
Squadron Leader A.C. Stewart
Flight Lieutenant E.W. Colquhoun
Flight Lieutenant K.T. Lofts
Flight Lieutenant Eugene Georges Achilles Seghers (Belgian), RAFVR
KIA No. 91 Squadron 26.7.44
Flying Officer A.J. Brooks
Flying Officer J. Carlier
Flying Officer Michael John Glover, RAFVR
KIA 17.1.43
Flying Officer Richard Granville Lewis, RAFVR
KIA 9.2.43
Flying Officer G.B. Sylvester
Flying Officer B. Warren
Flying Officer I.A. Watson
Flying Officer A. Van Den Houte
Pilot Officer L.R. Disney
Pilot Officer George Cruise Griffin, RAFVR
KIA 8.11.42
Pilot Officer A. Imbert
