by Nick Thomas
The squadron made a number of patrols during 6 August, but without making any claims. Meanwhile, there was welcome news when Squadron Leader John Worrall’s DFC was announced in the London Gazette:
‘This officer’s splendid leadership has been reflected in the work of the squadron, which has now destroyed forty-three enemy aircraft and possibly a further twenty-two. In July he led his squadron in a successful attack against a superior number of enemy aircraft and assisted in destroying three of the enemy force. Squadron Leader Worrall has displayed great skill, courage and leadership.’
Meanwhile in Berlin, Hermann Goering was still confident that the Luftwaffe, who had already won the battle for the Channel, would crush the RAF; ‘I have told the Führer that the RAF will be destroyed in time for Operation Sea Lion to be launched on 15 September, when our German soldiers will land on British soil.’
Operating out of their forward base at Manston on 9 August, Brothers led ‘B’ Flight during a squadron scramble at 1655 hours. Vectored onto two Bf 109s reported to be over Dover, the pilots searched the sky for signs of the enemy but the fighters had evaded them, ‘you were very often scrambled so late you couldn’t get the height you wanted. People used to complain like hell, saying, “God, the bloody controllers”. It was one thing to launch us off because a raid was coming across the Channel, and then as soon as we were well and truly airborne, the raid would turn round and go home, and we would land. Then the real raid would arrive whilst we were refuelling. So, we were inevitably cautious, which gave us problems.’
Sitting in their cockpits at Readiness since before dawn on 11 August, No. 32 Squadron was scrambled at 0740 hours and immediately vectored to the Dover area. While flying between Deal and Dover, Flight Lieutenant Crossley (flying P3146) spotted nine Bf 109s, engaging one, but without observing any results. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Barton (flying N2596) damaged another. Brothers, leading ‘B’ Flight was unable to make a claim.
Pilot Officer Barton’s combat report read:
‘Three 109s appeared diving from behind us, to the left and slightly below, going in the same direction. I gave the last one three short bursts [one to two second bursts at 300 yards, firing 480 rounds per gun] – pieces flew off. I then took a quick look behind as I had heard there were eight of them about. I lost sight of the damaged 109.’
(signed) Plt Off Barton Red 3, A Flight.
The squadron was scrambled from Biggin Hill at 1005 hours and again vectored onto a raid reported in the Dover area. Brothers’ engine was running rough and so he was forced to return early.
Meanwhile, Green 1, Flying Officer Gardner (flying P3679), who had become separated from the rest of the squadron, engaged a formation of Bf 109s, damaging one:
‘I saw five aircraft flying in line astern [flying at 4,000ft over Dungeness]. They were flying just above the cloud level so I went up astern of them to within 75 yards and fired a short burst [three-second burst at 250 yards] at the last one, several pieces fell off it, and he seemed to stagger and then fell into the clouds. I followed but all I could see was three streaking for France.’
Also flying out of Biggin Hill, No. 610 Squadron claimed one – described as an Me 59 – as destroyed mid-Channel. The squadron lost two Spitfires, shot down off Calais at around 1130 hours, with both pilots killed. Flight Sergeant (565125) John Henry Tanner, RAF (flying 6918 ‘D’), was the son of John William and Eva Tanner, of Enfield, Middlesex; husband of Helen Maria Tanner. Tanner was buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, Plot P, Grave 17. He was 25-years-old. Sergeant (741783) William John Neville, RAFVR (flying R6630), was the son of William James and Julia Kathleen Neville, of Shepperton, Middlesex. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 17. Neville was 26-years-old.
Brothers’ logbook records two further patrols of forty-five and twenty-five minutes duration, during which he may have destroyed a Bf 110, a swastika and ‘110’ appearing in red biro as later annotations.
During the following day, radar covering much of the Biggin Hill sector was down due to air strikes and so the controller was forced to maintain elements of Nos. 32 and 610 Squadrons on standing patrols. This was the day that Goering issued his infamous message, which heralded the next phase of the battle: ‘From Reichsmarschall Goering to all units of Air Fleets 2, 3 and 5. Operation Eagle: within a short period you will wipe the British Air Force from the sky. Heil Hitler.’
At 0810 hours No. 610 Squadron was scrambled to intercept an enemy raid approaching Dungeness, engaging nine enemy aircraft over New Romney. Pilot Officer E.B.B. Smith’s aircraft was hit by a Bf 109, two cannon shells exploding in the cockpit, wounding him in the face and neck. Smith bailed out of the burning Spitfire (K9818 ‘H’) over New Romney and was picked up by a motor boat and landed at Dover. Meanwhile, Flying Officer F.T. Gardiner (flying R6891 ‘Q’) had a lucky escape when his petrol tank was ruptured by a cannon shell, a second bursting in his cockpit causing only a slight leg wound. Two further aircraft (P9495 ‘K’ and R6621) were severely damaged. During the dogfight No. 610 Squadron claimed two Bf 109s destroyed, six Bf 109s unconfirmed, two Bf 109s ‘probables’ and one Bf 109 damaged.
Among those making claims were Sergeant B.G.D. Gardner of 610 Squadron, who claimed three Bf 109s, while Pilot Officer Cox claimed one Bf 109 destroyed (confirmed by Pilot Officer Rees) and a second unconfirmed over Dungeness.
At 1650 hours No. 32 Squadron was scrambled and vectored onto a formation of thirty to forty Do 215s, with an escort of fifteen Bf 109s, flying at 12,000ft halfway between Dover and Manston. After the initial engagement the squadron became dispersed and a number of individual battles took place ranging from Dover to north of Whitstable.
Commanding the squadron and at the head of ‘A’ Flight, Flight Lieutenant Crossley (flying P3146) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed, firing all of his ammunition:
‘We sighted a large formation of Do 215s, with Me 109s escorting, coming from the SE towards us. We climbed up and attacked almost head on, and were almost at once mixed up with the Me 109s. I did not see what damage I did to a 215 I was attacking as a 109 crossed above me and I fired up at it, from about 100 yards, a burst of about three seconds. Yellow 1 saw a large red flash from it and a stream of black smoke, and saw it go down steeply with thick black smoke pouring from it, on fire.’
(signed) Flt Lt M. Crossley.
Red 2, Pilot Officer Proctor (flying N2458), fired all his ammunition, claiming one Bf 109 probably destroyed:
‘We carried out a combined quarter attack on the Do 215s on the starboard side with no result. I was engaged by several Me 109s, but after a short encounter they drew away. I then followed the enemy formation northwards from Whitstable when I managed to get up sun behind several Me 109s. I dived down with a quarter attack on a straggler and opened fire about 350 yds closing to 50 yds. A large piece (about 5ft long) of his starboard main plane broke off and the E/A flicked on to its back. I was immediately engaged by some more 109s, but as I had no ammunition left – I evaded them and returned to base.’
Flying Officer Humpherson (flying P3112) probably destroyed another Bf 109:
‘As we turned to attack the bombers we were engaged by the escort. A general dogfight ensued and I attacked one Me 109, after a very short burst a piece flew off the tail unit of the machine and it went into a spin.’
(signed) Flg Off J.B.W Humpherson.
Sergeant Higgins (flying N2524) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed (unconfirmed), a second escaping with damage:
‘I attacked one Me [firing eight bursts from 300–100 yards] remaining on his tail for several minutes until, in my final burst, the aircraft was seen descending in a flat spin, finally crashing in the sea just off Manston.
‘I sighted a second Me 109 which immediately went into a dive almost to ground level. I was able to put in several bursts of fire [firing four bursts from 500 – 300 yards] but the Me gradually drew away from me well across the Channel.’
(signed) Sgt W.B. Higgins.
Green 1, Pilot O
fficer Gardner (flying P3147), claimed two Bf 109s destroyed, (unconfirmed), having expended all of his ammunition:
‘Saw three Me 109s below me over Deal. I gave the last one a five-second burst [at 100ft] and he dived straight into the sea. Then looking round for something else, I saw four Me 109s north of Ashford. I chased them to just by Whistable, destroying one either in the sea or on the land [firing a three-second burst at 100ft].’
(signed) Plt Off P.M. Gardner.
Flying as Yellow 2, Pilot Officer Smythe (flying P3522) destroyed a Do 215, having fired 2,400 rounds:
‘I fired a short burst [of two-seconds at 250 yards] from the starboard quarter, but was then attacked by a 109 and had to break off.
‘The AA Guns started firing and separated one 215 from the formation, this I attacked [firing a four-second burst at 250 yards, closing to 50 yards] and set the port engine on fire, the 215 started to sideslip violently towards the sea.’
(signed) Plt Off R.F. Smythe.
The Do 215 was seen to fall into the sea two or three miles off Dover by the AA gunners.
Yellow 3, Sergeant Bayley (flying P3481), claimed one Do 215 destroyed, firing a total of 2,000 rounds:
‘We followed Red 1 in to attack the bombers (Do 215s) and got mixed up with the escorting fighters (Me 109s). This raid, consisting of about thirty bombers and twenty fighters, then turned out over the coast. I saw two more raids of approximately the same size in the distance and above me. I continued to climb, and about five minutes later saw a fourth raid, again of about the same number, coming in just below me, I made a beam attack on the bomber formation on the last three aircraft. The centre one dropped behind slightly and I broke away and came up beneath him in an astern attack [two to five second burst]. I was then forced to break away by an Me 109 on my tail.’
(signed) Sgt E.A. Bayley.
Pilot Officer Pniak (flying R4106) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed (unconfirmed):
‘I attacked a Do 215 and got in a few short bursts at 100 yards one quarter deflection, I then broke away, a dogfight with an Me 109 then ensued and I was attacked from above by an Me 109. I turned inside him and got on his tail, he spiraled down and [I] got in two or three, one to two second bursts [firing two bursts at 100 yards] in a short time. I followed him down to 3,000ft and last saw him in a very tight vertical spiral, still smoking hard.’
(signed) PO K. Pniak.
Flying Officer Grice (flying N2524), claimed one Do 215 damaged, firing three, three second bursts during two head-on attacks and expending 1,200 rounds. The combat took place at 10–15,000ft in the Canterbury-Deal-Hawkinge-Ashford area, otherwise the details are lost.
Forming up with what he initially thought were two Hurricanes, Flight Lieutenant Crossley claimed one Bf 109 destroyed, unconfirmed, ten miles south of Dover:
‘As they’d not seen me I joined on behind and chased them until within range and opened fire at the rear one [firing a six-second burst at 250 yards]. After about three seconds there was a red flash and it caught fire behind the pilot and dived steeply, burning well.’
(signed) Flt Lt M. Crossley.
Pilot Officer A.R.H. ‘Tony’ Barton (flying N2596) was shot down and bailed out uninjured while over Dover at 1700 hours, his Hurricane crashing two miles west of Hawkinge. He made his own way back to Biggin Hill and was next seen sinking a pint in the mess – such was the spirit of Dowding’s Fighter Boys.
While No. 32 Squadron was airborne, Hawkinge had been heavily bombed, two hangars receiving direct hits, the landing-ground being peppered with craters and unexploded bombs. Elsewhere, both Manston and Lympne were temporarily out of action. There was no choice but to land at their advanced base at Hawkinge, despite the damage. Five Hurricanes, including Crossley’s, picked their way through the craters. Miraculously, all landed without damage. As they rolled to a halt another raid arrived overhead. Although caught on the ground the Hurricanes were well dispersed and none were damaged. During the day the Biggin Hill squadrons flew a total of 100 operational sorties.
It was at about this time that the war got too close for comfort to the Brothers family home: ‘When things began to hot up, she [Annette] was sitting at her dressing table putting on her lipstick at about 5 pm, hoping I was going to go down that evening; and some clumsy Hun dropped a bomb fairly near, and a piece of shrapnel whizzed in through her open window and smashed her mirror. I said: “That’s it; you’re moving. You must go and stay with my parents in Lancashire.” So that’s what she did, which got her away from the worst of it anyway and when I got a week’s leave I’d go up and spend it there.’
On 13 August 1940, ‘Adler Tag’ or ‘Eagle Day’, the Luftwaffe launched their new offensive. The first raid arrived over the coast, on a line between Dungeness and North Foreland, at about 0530 hours. Some aircraft peeled off and headed for a convoy in the Thames estuary. Forty-five minutes later, four raids totalling two hundred and fifty enemy aircraft headed for Portsmouth. Fighter squadrons from Nos. 10 and 11 Groups were already in the air to meet the bombers, which suffered heavy casualties with only small losses to Fighter Command.
The attacks continued with two minor raids around noon. A large formation crossed the coast between Portland and the Thames estuary at 1525 hours. Half-an-hour later six formations totalling 150 aircraft closed in on their targets; largely along the south-west coast as far west as Bristol.
Meanwhile, 150 aircraft headed for Ramsgate, Deal and Dover, with Eastchurch Aerodrome also being hit. Other targets in East Kent included Detling airfield, which was bombed by Ju 88s. The latter attack demonstrated the enemy’s poor intelligence gathering.
Despite making five scrambles and patrols between 0840 and 1320 hours, No. 32 Squadron was unable to make contact with the enemy, which evaded them. Other squadrons had better luck and the RAF’s tally for the day was forty-five destroyed for the loss of fourteen fighters, with seven pilots reported as safe.
Brothers did not fly on 14 August, although the squadron was once more engaged. At around 1150 hours radar plotted eighty-plus Ju 87s of II./St G 1 and IV./LG 1 flying towards the coast near Dover, closely escorted by Bf 109s of I. and III./JG 26; the fighters of II./JG 26 flying in a roving role.
The controller scrambled No. 32 Squadron’s ‘A’ Flight at 1230 hours, joining fighters from Nos. 65, 610 and 615 Squadrons, bringing the defending force up to forty-two aircraft. Thirty minutes into the patrol, Pilot Officer Smythe, leading Yellow Section, spotted nine Bf 109s circling above at 16,000ft, north-west of Hawkinge.
During the engagement, Pilot Officer Barton’s Hurricane (P3146) was hit by Bf 109s and force-landed at Hawkinge, while Pilot Officer Wlasnowalski’s stricken Hurricane force-landed north of Dover.
Pilot Officer Smythe (flying P3171), claimed the Bf 109 flown by Feldwebel Gerhard Kemen of I./JG 26 as destroyed, before making an emergency landing at Hawkinge:
‘I was leading Yellow Section and sighted about nine 109s above us on the port quarter circling to attack. I called the squadron leader and turned in towards them. Some more 109s appeared behind and my section split up. However, two 109s were still in front of me, so I chased them and caught up just behind Dover. The one I fired at started to break up, turned on its back, and went down vertically, the pilot bailed out [over the Channel, badly wounded].
‘Then some more 109s attacked me and got my glycol.’
(signed) R.F. Smythe, P/O.
The fighters of No. 610 Squadron intercepted the enemy in the area of Folkestone at around 1230 hours.
Sergeant B.G.D. Gardner (Green 2) attacked a formation of twenty Bf 109s at 8,000ft over Dungeness at 1230 hours, destroying one Bf 109 before being shot down by Leutnant Joseph Bürschgens:
‘I saw an enemy aircraft coming head on and firing, I immediately took evasive action and chased it to the sea, where I gave it one long burst, smoke came pouring out from it and I saw it crash into the sea. I then went to attack ten a/c and received a tracer bullet in the left arm. I forced landed in a field a
t Wye and was taken to Ashford Hospital.’
(signed) B.G.D. Gardner.
Sergeant N.H.D Ramsay (Green 3) destroyed one Bf 110 at 8,000ft between Folkestone and Dover:
‘I climbed up and found myself below and behind an Me 110, coming up astern of him, I fired a short burst at about 150 yds. He immediately started to climb to the left with smoke coming from his engines. I fired again and the E/A seemed to drop out of the sky turning on its back and going down with smoke pouring from it.’
(signed) Sgt N.H.D Ramsay.
Pilot Officer B.V. Rees (Blue 2) engaged elements of a formation totalling some 400–450 enemy aircraft, which included Ju 87s and their Bf 110 and Bf 109 escort, flying over Hawkinge. He claimed one Ju 87 probably destroyed:
‘I remained in the cloud until I saw some Ju 87s diving down about to attack a ground objective. I picked an enemy a/c on the left side of the vic and delivered a long burst from about 300–200 yards. The E/A turned round (almost like a spin) and disappeared into the low cloud. It seemed definitely out of control.’
(signed) P/O B.V. Rees.
Sergeant D.F. Corfe (Blue 3) claimed one Bf 109 destroyed and another damaged, firing a total of 1,600 rounds:
‘Three Me 109s detached themselves from the formation and attacked me. I went into a steep right-hand turn through 360 degrees and saw one Me 109 ahead at same level. I closed to 300 yards and fired five, one second bursts, closing range. Flames came from his engine and a piece flew off his starboard wing. He rolled on its back and went down flaming. I dived into cloud and came out again. About half a minute later, right on top of another Me 109, I fired three, two second bursts at him [at 150 yards]. Smoke came intermittently from his exhausts giving the impression that his engine was missing.’