by Nick Thomas
‘Enemy aircraft sighted behind and above us, broke section away and engaged a/c attacking a Hurricane. The enemy a/c turned on his back and dived vertically to the ground, a stream of petrol pouring out of his burst tank. I had no difficulty in keeping up during the dive or the climb that followed. After a further dive and chasing among tree tops, I fired from dead astern until black smoke poured out of the machine and the engine stopped so suddenly I nearly collided. I left the machine gliding down to force land.’
A further Bf 109 was claimed by Pilot Officer Eckford.
Meanwhile, ‘B’ Flight’s Sergeant Guy Turner was reported as missing, shot down over St Omer at 2000 hours, making a forced landing. He later made his way back to the squadron and filed a combat report:
‘The squadron was engaged by six enemy Me 109s, nine more Me 109s approaching from the east. I left my squadron to attack the latter, but was shot in the engine by cannon fire at a range of approximately 800 yds. The cannon firing appeared similar to a green Very light emerging from the starboard wing close to the fuselage. Evasive action after I was hit was a vertical dive, with engine stopped for 9,000ft. I landed with undercarriage up near to Tourneham, about twenty miles east of Calais.
‘It appears very noticeable in France that all enemy a/c keep away while our fighters patrol, but immediately the latter return to refuel, enemy bombers take advantage of this to come over and bomb.’
(signed) Sgt Turner.
Meanwhile, the news from the ground forces was all bad and on 23 May the British were pushed back from Arras and, in a further setback, the French withdrew as the right flank was turned. By the evening the British too were in full retreat along the Douai road out of Arras.
During the early morning Brothers flew on what turned out to be an uneventful squadron patrol between Arras–Cambrai–Dover. Brothers’ second patrol of the day came when ‘B’ Flight provided a fighter escort for a Blenheim reconnaissance mission.
At about 1310 hours eighteen Bf 110s were encountered while flying in the neighbourhood of Ypres. Climbing to attack, the squadron was bounced by fourteen Bf 109s. During the ensuing dogfight Flight Lieutenant Crossley claimed two Bf 109s and Flight Lieutenant Brothers destroyed one Bf 110. The squadron suffered the loss of Sergeant Nowell, who was shot down in flames, while Pilot Officer Flinders was reported as missing.
‘A’ Flight’s Flight Lieutenant M. Crossley wrote in his combat report:
‘I saw about twelve 109s just south of us, chose one and took a full deflection shot at him. Something large blew off his tail and he wobbled and turning on his back dived vertically. I was about to follow him when I saw another above to the left, about to dive at my left flank. I had no time for evasive tactics so I swung head on to him and fired. He opened fire too and his tracer went above to starboard. When I turned round I saw black smoke mingled with white and he was diving steeply.’
(signed) M. Crossley F/Lt.
Meanwhile, Brothers’ combat report read:
‘I was escorting a Blenheim a/c carrying out a recon. As the weather was bad (low cloud, rain and occasional clear patches) I was not certain of my position, but I was somewhere east of Ypres, when I saw about eighteen Me 110s and fourteen Me 109s behind them. I turned and climbed up behind the rear 110 (they were in line astern) intending to pick them off, when they vanished into a cloud. I circled and saw below me a fight between 109s and Hurricanes. I waited until one pulled clear of the fight, then dropped on his tail, closed to 100yds and opened fire. Petrol, oil and smoke poured out, and some pieces broke off. He went into a steep dive and I followed until he hit the ground. As all the other a/c had vanished, I returned home. My engine was running very badly so I climbed high and crossed the Channel, after having to return to the French coast until my engine ran a little better.’
(signed) P.M. Brothers F/Lt.
Post-war research undertaken by Brothers led him to the conclusion that his victim had been Leutnant Hans-Wedige von Weither.
Before being shot down, Sergeant Nowell (flying P3550) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed near Lille, firing four second and one second bursts at 300–200 yards:
‘I notified leader that there were nineteen a/c above and to our right. Everyone made a right turn with the obvious intention of attacking, which left me wide out and well behind, there were six Me 109s coming up in our rear, I notified Leader and turned to attack. The foremost 109 went well above me and turned on his back. I put my nose up and gave him a good burst of fire as he passed me. He continued on his way upside down with smoke pouring out of him.
‘I stall turned off my attack and on levelling out I saw four Me 109s diving at me from the front. I saw no means of avoiding their attack so lifted my nose and got in a short burst on the leader before I was hit by cannon in the right arm. My machine burst into flames [Nowell suffering burns] and I succeeded in landing by parachute.
‘I was fired at and hit in the right ankle by the French before they realized their mistake and packed me off to hospital.’
(signed) Sgt G.L. Nowell
Sergeant Nowell bailed out near Arras. He made his way back via Calais and by 1 June was in Pinderfields Casualty Hospital, Wakefield, Yorkshire. While Nowell was still officially posted as missing, news reached the squadron that he had been awarded the DFM for his service with No. 87 Squadron, a Bar following less than a week later.
Sergeant Nowell’s, DFM was announced in the London Gazette, 28 May 1940. ‘740099 Sergeant Garet Leofric Nowell
‘This pilot shot down four, and possibly seven, German aircraft. He has displayed a high standard of courage and devotion to duty. One morning [10 May] he attacked two enemy aircraft [Hs 126s] and brought both down. His own aircraft received many hits but he successfully brought it back to the aerodrome. On the afternoon of the next day, with six other aircraft of the squadron, he engaged more than forty enemy aircraft [Do 17s and Bf 109s]. He showed conspicuous gallantry and dash in driving off the enemy single-seaters and shot down two enemy aircraft. His own engine was hit and he was forced down. Showing great coolness, he landed carefully and avoided injuries to personnel.’
Sergeant Nowell’s Bar to the DFM was announced in the London Gazette, 4 June 1940.
‘740099 Sergeant Garet Leofric Nowell, DFM.
‘Sgt Nowell has continued to shoot down enemy aircraft with excellent initiative and leadership. He brought down twelve enemy aircraft in one week. This is the highest individual total of which there is a record in the Group.’
Nowell, one of the forgotten heroes of the Battle of France, didn’t fly operationally again until late 1942.
A signal was sent by HQNo. 11 Group to No. 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 24 May:
‘As a result of engagement over the Continent on Thursday, 23 May, squadrons in No. 11 Group accounted for forty-three German aircraft at the cost of eight casualties, thus providing support to the British Army and the Navy at a very critical time. The Air Officer Commanding congratulates the pilots, also the personnel at stations whose hard work has maintained a high serviceability of aircraft and supported the flying personnel. Squadrons will be relieved for short periods of rest whenever humanly possible to spare them from supporting their comrades fighting on the ground.’
During the day (23 May) No. 79 Squadron returned from France on the SS Biarritz, remaining at Biggin Hill until 27 May, before transferring to RAF Digby. In the meantime, Squadron Leader Alexander was posted away and Flying Officer G.D.L. Haysom took temporary command, as well as leading ‘B’ Flight, while Flying Officer Davies was appointed to command ‘A’ Flight.
On 24 May, Brothers led a flight strength fighter patrol targeting Stuka dive-bombers reported in the Dunkirk-St Omer-Boulogne area, making a second uneventful patrol in the afternoon.
Following the BEF’s withdrawal, twelve Blenheims of No. 82 Squadron were dispatched to bomb the southern end of the Arras road. Acting as their escort, No. 32 Squadron successfully fended off a concerted attack by thirty Bf 109s and 110s, claiming
three Bf 109s without loss.
Meanwhile, with the campaign going better than even Hitler could have imagined, he issued his Directive No. 13, ordering the destruction of the Belgian, English and French forces in what would become the Dunkirk ‘pocket’. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe was ordered to prevent their evacuation.
Next day ‘A’ Flight flew two operations against Stuka dive-bombers. At Biggin Hill, reports of an attack by German paratroopers led to the station being stood-to, gun pits were manned and the perimeters patrolled with parties dispatched to secure key buildings against possible attack. Brothers later recalled how for some time afterwards, ‘some of the pilots carried their Webley 0.38, even when they went to the pub.’
During the day Calais fell, while Bolougne was to be overrun within twenty-four hours. Dunkirk would remain as the only escape route for nearly 400,000 Allied troops.
Since the beginning of the campaign the RAF had lost a quarter of its fighter strength. The battle-weary pilots were now called upon to cover the BEF’s retreat and evacuation from the beaches as Vice Admiral Ramsay received orders to put Operation Dynamo into action. The evacuation was planned ‘with a view to lifting up to 45,000 of the BEF within two days, at the end of which it was probable that evacuation would be terminated by enemy action.’ Keith Park was placed in control of the air defence of the English Channel, Dunkirk and its hinterland.
The situation looked desperate and when Viscount Gort spoke candidly to the Secretary of State for War he said, ‘I must not conceal from you that a great part of the BEF and its equipment will inevitably be lost, even in the best circumstances.’
At 0630 hours on 26 May, a flight strength formation escorted eighteen Blenheims bombing targets at Menin. During the early afternoon Brothers took part in a fighter patrol of the Calais-Dunkirk area made in the company of No. 605 Squadron.
Whilst returning over the Channel at about 1400 hours, Crossley, who was leading, spotted a Ju 88 approaching from the east. Uncertain as to whether it was a Blenheim, he held his fire until it was too late and the German bomber escaped, with Brothers in hot pursuit, but unable to get within effective range. A second Ju 88 flew from Crossley’s right, heading for home. Breaking away from the formation, he began the chase, closing to within firing range and hitting both engines, which left a telltale trail of smoke:
‘I gave “line astern” and fell in behind it, and opened fire at about 500 yards thinking he might disappear before I got within easy range. White and black smoke was pouring from each engine and the port wing was rather down. I had to break away as a machine from 605 [possibly Pilot Officer T.P.M. Cooper-Slipper] cut in on me and nearly collided. My No. 3, who was following, saw him gently lose height, still smoking hard, and go right down to sea level and disappear.’
As Crossley suspected, No. 605 Squadron was independently in pursuit of the same enemy aircraft, which dived into the sea, one of a formation of four or five seen bombing, using the smoke for cover, Pilot Officer T.P.M. Cooper-Slipper making a claim. The squadron damaged two more Ju 88s. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Muirhead (flying N2346) fired on what he believed to have been a Bf 110, but what could have been another Ju 88. He silenced the rear gunner, but not before receiving damage to his own aircraft’s glycol system. He bailed out and was rescued by a naval vessel.
Temporarily relieved by No. 213 Squadron’s ‘A’ Flight, No. 32 Squadron’s pilots flew their aircraft to Wittering, where they were to be ‘rested’.
Monday, 27 May, was the first full day of the Dunkirk evacuation, the naval operations being covered by the RAF. The general situation worsened when at midnight the Belgium government surrendered, opening the north-east area of the BEF’s defensive perimeter. Disaster was, however, averted and the gap plugged.
No. 79 Squadron made two patrols over France and Dunkirk. During the second of these, flown in the company of Nos. 19, 145 and 601 Squadrons, the formation came up against some Bf 110s. Flying Officer J.W.E. Davies claiming one destroyed and one damaged, Pilot Officer D.W.A. Stones claiming one confirmed and a second unconfirmed, while Sergeant Cartwright got one unconfirmed. Meanwhile, Flying Officer Duus and Pilot Officers D.G. Clift and Stevens all destroyed a Bf 110. Landing at Biggin Hill, the squadron began its move to RAF Digby, Lincolnshire.
A number of squadrons operated from Biggin Hill during May and early June, also spending time in France and elsewhere. The squadron claims, losses and gallantry awards are included here to help complete the Biggin Hill story:
No. 79 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron’s victories and casualties while operating in France may be summarized:
11 May
Pilot Officer L.L. Appleton – He 111
Pilot Officer J.E.R. Wood – He 111
12 May
Flight Lieutenant C.L.C. Roberts – He 111 (shared), Do 17 (shared)
Flying Officer R. Herrick – Bf 109 probable, He 111 (shared)
Pilot Officer TC. Parker – He 111 (shared), Do 17
Sergeant H. Cartwright – He 111 (shared)
Flying Officer Davies – He 111, He 111 unconfirmed
Sergeant A.W. Whitby – Do 17, Do 17 (shared)
14 May
Flying Officer Davies – Hs 126, Bf 110
Pilot Officer L.L. Appleton – Hs 126 (shared)
Pilot Officer D.W.A. Stones – Ju 88, Ju 88 (shared)
Sergeant H. Cartwright – Ju 88, Ju 88 (shared)
Sergeant L.H.B. Pearce – Hs 126 (shared)
Sergeant A.W. Whitby – Do 17 unconfirmed
16 May
Pilot Officer TC. Parker – Fw 198
Pilot Officer D.G. Clift – Fw 198
Sergeant H. Cartwright – Fw 198
17 May
Sergeant A.W. Whitby – Bf 109 unconfirmed
Pilot Officer L.R. Dorrien-Smith – Bf 109
18 May
Flying Officer Davies – Do 17
Flying Officer F.J.L. Duus – Do 17
Pilot Officer L.R. Dorrien-Smith – Do 17 damaged
Pilot Officer T.C. Parker – two Do 17s damaged
Pilot Officer D.W.A. Stones – Bf 110, Bf 110 damaged
19 May
Pilot Officer D.W.A. Stones – Hs 126
Sergeant H. Cartwright – Do 17
Pilot Officer D.W.A. Stones – Hs 126
20 May
Flying Officer F.J.L. Duus – He 111 probable
Pilot Officer D.W.A. Stones – Hs 126 (shared with below)
Sergeant H. Cartwright – Hs 126 (shared), Do 17 damaged
Sergeant L.H.B. Pearce – Hs 126 (shared), Do 17 damaged
Sergeant R.R. McQueen – Bf 110 damaged
Sergeant A.W. Whitby – Do 17, Do 17 (shared with No. 213 Squadron)
11 May
Flying out of Merville, the squadron lost two Hurricanes while attacking an He 111 of KG1. Flight Lieutenant R. Edwards (flying L2068) suffered burns before he was able to bail out near Mons. Pilot Officer L.L. Appleton (flying L2049) force-landed.
12 May
Pilot Officer C.T. Parker bailed out when his Hurricane (L2065) was damaged in combat with a Do 17 of KG 77. He evaded capture and made it back to British lines (for which he was later mentioned in despatches London Gazette, 13 March 1942).
14 May
At 1530 hours Pilot Officer L.L. Appleton (flying P2689) was shot down and killed by a Bf 109 near Sean.
Pilot Officer (40497) Llewellyn Lister Appleton, RAF, was the son of Charles and Mary Appleton, of Hartley, Kent. He was 23-years-old and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 71.
Pilot Officer J.E.R Wood (flying N2490) bailed out injured following combat with a Ju 88 north of Leuze.
Flight Lieutenant R. Roberts, ‘B’ Flight Commander, was wounded in combat.
16 May
Sergeant Cartwright was shot down in combat but managed to make a forced-landing.
17 May
Flying Officer R. Herrick (flying L2140) became a PoW after being shot down by a Bf 109 of 6./JG 52, b
ailing out near Valenciennes. He spent much of the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft III.
Sergeant Valentine force-landed following combat.
18 May
Pilot Officer D.W.A. ‘Dimsie’ Stones (flying P3451) forced-landed following combat with a Bf 110 of II./ZG 76, near Vitry, at 1830 hours.
20 May
Sergeant Valentine was wounded during operations.
Pilot Officer T.C. Parker, flying P2624, was shot down at 1400 hours by ground fire while strafing a troop column in the St Quentin area. He bailed out safely. A second victim of the ground fire was Pilot Officer L.R. Dorrien-Smith, he was shot down and killed (flying L2142).
Pilot Officer (72501) Lionel Roger Dorrien-Smith, RAFVR, was the son of Major Arthur Algernon Dorrien-Smith, DSO, DL, JP, and Eleanor Salvin Dorrien-Smith, of Tresco, Isles of Scilly. His brothers Algernon and Francis also died in service. Dorrien-Smith (whose uncle was the general by the same name) was 21-years-old and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 8.