Fighter Boys and Bomber Boys: Saving Britain 1940–1945
Page 51
601 Squadron 308, 309
Channel battle 248
Dunkirk 196
exaggerated 313
France 163, 169, 180, 217
Luftwaffe 196, 275, 279, 292, 313, 354, 372
Lossiemouth 121
Lovell, Tony 335
Lovell Gregg, Terence 288-9
Lovett, Reggie 330
loyalty 332-3
Luck, John 155
Luftwaffe 140, 148, 232-4, 255-6, 277, 292, 375, 376
losses 196, 275, 279, 292, 313, 354, 372
Lyne, Michael 189
MacGeagh, Foster 331
Mackworth, Chris 164
MacLachlan, Alan 387
MacLean, Hector 114-15
Macneal twins 328, 403
Mais, S.P.B. 33
Malan, Adolph ‘Sailor’ 93, 98-9, 107, 108-9
74 Squadron 317
combat 205, 225, 335
Distinguished Flying Cross 228
Dunkirk 191, 194
exhaustion 315
fighter pilot qualities 247-8
Moelders 258
new pilots 291
post war career 401
publicity 227, 388
Malan, Jonathan 225
Malan, Lynda 225
Mannock, Edward ‘Mick’ 17-20, 21, 23, 24, 25
Manston 266, 277, 282, 356
Marples, Roy 298
marriage 101-2
Matthews, Peter 131, 138, 168, 334
Maugham, Somerset 213
Maxwell, Michael Constable 270, 335-6
McAdam, Johnny 220
McArthur, James ‘Butch’ 267
McCudden, James 22-3, 25
McIndoe, Sir Archibald 379, 380
McKellar, Archie 113, 114
McLean, Sir Robert 44
Me 109s 131, 137, 138, 141-2, 170, 184-5, 242, 376
Me 110s 137-8, 170, 376
medals 228, 258-9
Merlin engine 43
Mermagen, Herbert ‘Tubby’ 197-8
Messerschmitt see Me 109; Me 110
Messerschmitt, Willy 141, 255
Meyrick, Nancy 77
Milch, Erhard 253-4
Mitchell, E. 237
Mitchell, R.G. 44, 84
Mitchell, Richard 325
Moberly, George 297
Mölders, Werner 257-8, 305
Moira (Macneal twin) 328
Molders, Werner 137
Monks, Noel 175
Moore, George 280
morale 238, 313, 316
Mottram, Roy 383-4
Mould, Peter ‘Boy’ 129, 163, 167, 174
Mould, Tony 320
Mounsden, Mark 311
Mumford, William 133
Mussolini 94
Nash, Bunty 383
Neil, Tom 370, 399
Neuville 129, 133
Newall, Sir Cyril 165, 173
Nicholas, John 65, 86, 194-5, 281
Nicholson, James 389
night flying 116-17, 249-50
Niven, David 53
North Weald 324
Norway 123-4
Observer Corps 111
officers 29, 319, 320
commanding 221, 324-5
Olding, Flying Officer 101
operational training units (OTU) 218, 338
operations rooms 111, 112
Oppenheimer, Harry 401
Orde, Cuthbert 128, 317, 324
orders 112
Osterkamp, Theo 233
Overall, Pilot Officer 116
Overton, Charles 223
Owens, Jesse 63
Oxford University Air Squadron (OUAS) 78, 98, 100
Oxspring, Bobby 318, 370
oxygen 377
Page, Geoffrey 52, 55, 65, 68
burns 380
car 310-11
combat 247, 248
drinking 329-30
Gracie 246
politics 97
sergeant pilots 320-1
shot down 268-9
Palmer, Cyril ‘Pussy’ 127, 130-1, 134, 138, 140, 174
Pamela (friend of Appleford and Bodie) 341
parachutes 19, 58, 207
Parish, Airman 361
Park, Keith 181, 191, 236, 238, 239
1940 Aug: 296, 307
1940 Sept: 348, 362, 368, 369, 372, 374
replaced 385
squadron rotation 356
strategy 265, 270, 293, 355, 357, 382
Parrott, Peter 148, 205, 206-7
Parrott, Tim 155
Pavey, Charles 154
Peacock, Michael 169, 217
Peake, Harald 75-6
Pease, Peter 79
Pemberton, David 176
Persse-Joynt, Dudley 76, 222
Phillips, Joyce 228
Pinckney, Colin 79
Pinkerton, George 113, 114
Pinkham, Philip 221, 244, 245-6
Pittman, Geoffrey 325
Pniak, Karol 240
Polish pilots 239-40, 242, 334, 364
Portsmouth 266-7
Preston, Kath 2, 328
Preston, Teddy 328
Prior, George 301
Proctor, John 6
propellers, variable-pitch 82
publicity 136, 389
Deere 388
Halahan 136
Hurricanes 83
Malan 227, 388
Tuck 389
Wissler 250-1
Pyne, Basil 163
Quayle, Elizabeth 239
Quill, Jeffrey 83-5, 95
Rabagliati, C.E.C. 10
radar 41, 110-11, 149, 234, 236, 266
Raeder, Grand Admiral 232
RAF (Royal Air Force) 10, 27-9, 37, 45
apprentice schemes 69
fighter numbers 216, 234
recruitment 54-6
see also Fighter Command; losses
RAF (Royal Air Force) College 30-3
RAFVR (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve) 45-6, 73-4, 218
Rathbone, Basil 53
Raven, A. 237
readiness system 99
Regnauld, Paulette 133
Renaud, Paul 165, 166
Rhodes-Moorhouse, Willie 308
‘Rhubarbs’ 390, 391, 396
Richardson, Anthony 310
Richardson, Ralph 121
Richey, Paul 88-9
1940 May: 146, 150-1, 155-6
attacked by French 129
combat 202, 204
confession 127, 155
convalescence 218
Drake 161
exhaustion 164-5
Fighter Pilot (book) 128
food 172
post war career 401
refugees 167
reinforcements 170-1
Roxy, Nancy 134
shoots Me109 138-9
shot down 175
Richthofen, Lothar von 16
Richthofen, Manfred von 15, 17, 18, 20-2, 25
Richthofen, Wolfram von 234
Ridley, Marmaduke 297, 298
Roe, Valcourt 163
Rose, Tommy 107, 170
Rose-Price, Arthur 288
Rosier, Fred 101, 178, 193, 207, 229-30
Rouvres 128
Royal Air Force see RAF
Royal Air Force College 30-3
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) 45-6, 73-4, 218
Salmon, Harold ‘Sammy’ 135, 167
Sample, John 365
Sampson, George 107, 108
Sanders, James ‘Sandy’ 49, 94, 144-5
Sanders, Phillip 387
Sandys, Margueurite 301
Sassoon, Sir Philip 36
Saunders, James 65
Schöpfel, Gerhard 255, 260, 375
sea, forced landings in 270
sergeant pilots 34, 69, 319, 320, 322
Shaw, Robert 135
Sheen, Desmond 64, 66, 278
Sheila (Macneal twin) 328, 403
shock 338
shooting 93, 139, 203, 204, 335
see also aerial gunnery
; air fighting; armament; combat
silk scarves 201
Simpson, John 104
Slee, George 155
Slessor, Sir John 37
Smith, Bob 281
Smith, Irving 330
Smith, Lance 169
Smythe, Rupert 241
Soden, Ian 170, 310-11
Solomon, Neville 289
Soper, Frank 128, 131, 174
Sperrle, Field-Marshal 265, 355
Spitfires 44, 129, 303
armament 244-5
development 83-5
flying 85-7
and Me 109s 184-5
operational time 190-1
service, first in 81
squadrons
commanding officers 221
fitting in 65-7, 326
life in 61-7, 317
morale 238, 316
rotation 356, 359-60
see also specific squadrons
St Aubyn, Teddy 77, 103, 297, 298
Starr, Harold 334
station commanders 324-5
Steere, Frank 325
Steere, Harry 71, 85
Stephen, Harbourne 250
Stephens, Mike 152
Stephenson, G.D. 188, 189, 221
Stephenson, Paddy 369
Sterbacek, Jaroslav 288
Stratton, Bill 127, 137-8, 141, 162, 174
‘Stuffy’ see Dowding
Sullivan, John 163
Summers, Mutt 84
Supermarine 42, 44, 83, 84
Swinton, Lord 45
tactics 25, 140, 189, 224, 303-4
Big Wing 294-5, 357, 362, 365, 368
‘finger four’ 305-6
training 89-91, 305
Tangmere 63-4, 65, 88-9, 99, 100, 101, 104, 280, 394-5
Tedder, A.W. 45, 55, 56, 73
Terraine, John 391
Thorley, Harry 281
Tomlinson, George 154, 155
Townsend, Peter 65, 94, 100
85 Squadron 217, 314
accidental deaths 101
corpses 208
England from air 405
German bomber shot 115-16
war, declaration of 104
training 29-34, 59-61, 218
tactics 89-91, 305
Trenchard, Hugh
Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) 35, 36
early career 10-11
Halton 34
influence 390
pilots’ deaths 24
RAF organization 27-9
retirement 37
visited 72 Squadron 230
Tuck, Robert Stanford (Bob) 58, 65, 93, 189, 194
257 Squadron 338
Distinguished Flying Cross 228
Galland 257
Milch 253
post war career 403, 404
publicity 389
shot down 396
successes 323
university air squadrons 75, 78, 98, 100
Unwin, George 69-71
combat 205
death, attitude to 309
Dunkirk 188, 189, 193-4
friends 325
gunnery practice 92
Spitfire armament 244, 245
Spitfires 85, 87, 337
tactical training 90, 93
Usmar, Frank 73, 220, 285, 321
Viek, Carl 292
Vigors, Tim 57-8, 66, 102
222 Squadron 212
combat 197-201, 209, 211, 226-7
crash landing 358-9
Dunkirk 195
friends 382
loyalty 332-3
post war career 401
war, declaration of 104
Villa, John ‘Pancho’ 363
von Richthofen see Richthofen
Waafs 5, 111, 325, 341-2
Wace, Marjery 282-3
Walker, Peter ‘Johnny’ 127, 137-8, 141, 168, 174
Walker, William 104, 298-9
war, declaration of 103-5
Watling, Bill 384
Watson, ‘Watty’ 188
Watson-Watt, R.A. 41
Weaver, Percy 270
Webster, John 321
Weitkus, Paul 352
Wells, Pat 355
Wellum, Geoffrey 323
White, Francis ‘Drogo’ 183, 184, 221, 320
Whittaker, Richard 154, 342, 343
Wieck, Helmut 258
Wilkinson, Rodney 311, 334
Williams, Cedric 305
Wilson, Ken 281
wings, receiving 61
Winn, Godfrey 251
Winskill, Archie 92-3, 305, 330
Wissler, Denis 120-3
17 Squadron 176-7, 179, 224
85 Squadron 146, 174
1940 May: 155
combat 211
exhaustion 171
friends 325
Heap 342-6
publicity 250-1
shot down 346-7
Wlasnowalski, Boleslaw 240
women 23, 102, 229-30, 340-7
see also Waafs
Wood, J. 237
Woods-Scawen, Charles 312-13
Woods-Scawen, Patrick 172, 312
Woolaston, Flying Officer 101
Woolford, Jean 397
Wootten, Ernest 121, 122
Worrall, John 291
Wronsky, H.M. 313-14
Young, Flora 15
Zamoyski, Adam 240,
P.S.
Ideas, interviews & features…
About the Author
Portrait
Max Arthur, author of Forgotten Voices of the Great War, talks to Patrick Bishop.
MA: What inspired you to write Fighter Boys?
PB: Like most boys of my age I grew up with a stock of heroes drawn from the Second World War, which had only ended seven years before I was born. I wanted to discover the reality behind the stylised figures who figured in my childhood reading – War Picture Library, the Victor comic and suchlike.
MA: Did your own experience at the sharp end of conflict help you to empathise with the pilots?
PB: A little. Covering wars meant I knew the literal truth of ‘the taste of fear’ and the strange, ultra-reality that grips a scene when death is in the air. It also made me appreciate the depth of courage needed to confront danger repeatedly and with outward cheerfulness and calm.
MA: Why do you think so many young men wanted to learn to fly before the war?
PB: Flying was simply the sexiest thing you could do. There is nothing in our own times that matches the glamour of aviation in those times, and the fact that it is now commonplace makes it hard for us to see that today.
MA: Why did flying in the RAF seem to overcome the social barriers of the time?
PB: The technical nature of the service meant it had to look outside the traditional recruiting grounds for officers and men, so the RAF was more socially mixed and meritocratic than the Army and Navy. Once the fighting began the intense mutuality of aerial warfare tended to blur whatever social distinctions may have lingered between public schoolboys and the grammar and secondary school lads who flocked to join the part-time RAF Volunteer Reserve in the late 1930s.
MA: Death of fellow pilots was part of the life of the Fighter Boys. How did they come to terms with these losses?
PB: Mainly by ignoring them. The pilots took a conscious decision not to brood. Some squadrons had their own rituals, such as a mess-bar fund to toast the dead pilot, but by and large the convention was a muttered ‘bloody shame about old so and so’ or a curt mention in a letter home. That of course did not mean that nobody cared. Very intense relationships built up inside squadrons and private grief at the loss of a particular friend could be bitter indeed. The outward stoicism also seems to have had a superstitious edge. It was observed that pilots who seemed particularly affected by losses were often the next to go.
MA: Could you describe some of the memorable actions of the pilots during the Battle, and is there any particular pilot who you feel personifies the spirit of that period?
PB: I would say the
re were several pilots who exemplified different aspects of the character of Fighter Command. One was Al Deere, a brilliant flyer who managed to combine deadly fighting skills with a good heart and a strong sense of decency. Another was Denis Wissler, a romantic-minded young man who was not nearly as successful as Deere but wanted desperately to do well and died in the attempt. Brian Kingcome always strikes me as the epitome of the Fighter Boy spirit, sardonic and relaxed, amused by life and familiar with its pleasures but utterly dedicated when it came to winning the war. I was also privileged to get to know some of the survivors, such as Billy Drake, Christopher Foxley-Norris, Pete Brothers and Paddy Barthropp, whose joie de vivre was untarnished by the years.
MA: What do you think sustained the morale of pilots, up against such formidable odds?
PB: In one word, it was loyalty. As I see it, that loyalty was manifested in three ways. First and most important is the loyalty that underpins all fighting anywhere – the responsibility you feel to the man next to you not to let him down and run away. Without that sentiment wars would be impossible. Next is the loyalty the pilots felt towards their country. Noisy expressions of patriotism were considered bad form in Fighter Command but the intensity of their love for their country was never in doubt. The fact that they were flying over their own hearths and homes was undoubtedly very inspiring and many pilots described both the deep emotions they felt looking down at the fields, villages and towns of southern England and the deep sense of violation provoked at the sight of German bombers approaching on their mission of destruction. The third loyalty was a sense of loyalty towards humanity in general. A surprising number of the pilots had first-hand experience of Germany from school visits, etc. They were hostile to Nazism though not necessarily to Germans. That attitude changed after the Battle of France when the pilots saw for themselves the callousness of the German military and its unconcern over the loss of civilian life. By the middle of the summer many accepted Churchill’s view that what was at stake here was civilisation – not just the future of Britain.
MA: Finally, in the overall strategy of the Second World War, how significant was the success of the RAF in the Battle of Britain?
PB: Revisionists have tried to underplay the importance of the Battle of Britain, questioning the seriousness of the German invasion plan. My view is that the Battle was of enormous significance. It was first and foremost a great moral victory. Flushed with his victories in Poland, the Low Countries and France, Hitler expected Britain to capitulate without a landing being necessary. The strategic realities of the hour meant that that was not an unreasonable view. The issue came down to a question of character – national and individual. Fighter Command became at that point the distillation of the nation’s qualities. By their skill and fortitude they chastened the Luftwaffe, which until then had operated virtually unopposed, and showed the world that Hitler and the Germans could be beaten. The best way of gauging the significance of the Battle of Britain is by considering what would have happened if Fighter Command had collapsed, forcing Churchill to sue for peace.