Remembering those shot down fighting the Battle of Britain-Hardest - TopicsExpress



          

Remembering those shot down fighting the Battle of Britain-Hardest Day, 18th August 1940, especially those from 501 Sqn lost to Schoepfel in the solo attack;Just 74 years ago today, the RAF were fighting hard to protect their much bombed airfields in the campaign started in August to destroy the RAF starting on Eagle Day, the 13th and running until the attacks started on London by day on the 7th of September;these weeks being when most losses occurred and where we survived by such a narrow margin, as the book of that title aptly records. The laurels for the day’s action went to the defenders. The aim of the Luftwaffe was to wear down the Fighter Command without suffering excessive losses in the process, and in this it had failed. It cost the attackers five aircrew killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, for each British pilot casualty. In terms of aircraft, it had cost the Luftwaffe five bombers and fighters for every three Spitfires and Hurricanes destroyed in the air or on the ground. If the battle continued at this rate the Luftwaffe would wreck Fighter Command, but it would come close to wrecking itself in the process. Lest we forget. Some witnesses of this day in history: Someone called out that the sick quarters had a direct hit, so I sped in that direction. I remember running over the hammocky grass . There were lots of people badly shaken sitting about. The doctor had been killed, and Mary Coulthard, one of the two WAAF sick-bay attendants, was badly injured. She had the most enormous cut in her thigh. I had never seen anything like it, she had been thrown on to a steel helmet which had sliced through her leg. She and the other attendant were smiling though, because they had applied a tourniquet which had worked; and I smiled too -- I, who under normal circumstances, could faint at the sight of someones cut finger! We tied a label on to her before she was taken to hospital. Lillias Barr ex WAAF officer stationed at Kenley August 18th 1940 Taken from an interview with Ernie Burton. ---------------------------------------------- The Bf 109s heading the formation from the east was now approaching Kenley and were constantly being kept busy by 615 Squadron Kenley (Hurricanes). At 20,000 feet they were suffering heavy losses but they managed to keep the Bf109s away from the bombers that they now should be protecting. 5,000 feet below, the 27 Dornier Do17s of KG76 who were unescorted now became the targets for 32 Squadron Biggin Hill (Hurricanes). Under the command of S/L Mike Crossley, the squadron had practiced head-on attacks, and here was one occasion that they could put all their learning into practice. Mike Crossley called the all familiar Tally Ho which now placed him in control of the situation. The twelve Hurricanes banked round sharply and headed for the formation of black dots, which through his windscreen looked as if they were almost stationary, which meant that the Hurricanes and the Dorniers were heading towards each other. At a closing speed of over 400 mph, that was seven miles a minute. [1] The Dorniers were accompanied by an escort of Bf110s, and Crossley ordered B Flight to engage the escort while he himself would lead A Flight in line abreast head-on attack at the Dorniers. F/O Alan Eckford claimed the first Do17. As they closed in, it was almost like a game of Russian Roulette to see who would give way first. One of the Dorniers, piloted by Oblt. Stoldt could not maintain course any longer with the Hurricanes coming straight at him. He banked to port, pulling out of formation and it was an ideal opportunity for Alan Eckford who opened up with all guns blazing at the under belly of the Dornier. The bomber trailed smoke then went into a spin spiraling earthwards finally crashing at Hurst Green. One other Dornier is thought to have been hit and crashed, but 615 squadron was up to its task and the Dornier formation were the ones who finally broke formation and scattered putting every one of them of their approaching bombing run. All bombs dropped fell mainly in surrounding areas and little further damage was done to Kenley. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Here comes the first fighter, from the left and ahead. Very suddenly he is before our eyes, like a wasp, dashing through the formation. I see the reddish tracer rounds flying back and forth. Everything is happening tremendously quickly.... Account by German war reporter Raimund Schultz -------------------------------------------------------- Suddenly the fighters split up, then attack from ahead and from the side. Look out! The fighter come in so close that one could speak to them. Pull up! Good - he misses us. Hauptmann Rolf Schroeter 8th Staffel KG76 Alfred Price The Hardest Day Cassell 1998 p77 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The squadrons that were patrolling the north Kent area were slightly too far north to make any contact with the German formation, except 501 Squadron who made a sweep between Tonbridge and Maidstone. They did not notice the Bf109s of JG26 above. To Oberleutnant Gerhard Schoepfel who was commanding the 109s, he could not have wished for a better opportunity having height and position. They swooped on 501 Squadron who were taken completely by surprise and were on the defensive from the outset. Five Hurricanes were destroyed but luckily only one pilot was killed. But coming in across the Channel at barely 50 feet above the waves, the nine Do17s of 9/KG76 the plan to fly low to avoid radar detection had worked. Fighter Command knew nothing of their presence. Charlie and Betty McNabb were walking along a country lane going towards Beachy Head: It had been a beautiful morning, peaceful and quiet and as we strolled enjoying the tranquility of the morning, we both spoke and agreed that it was a shame that there had to be a war on, on such a tremendous day as this. I can remember the gentle breeze, so gentle it hardly rustled the leaves on the trees, and all the birds seemed to be singing quite oblivious to our presence, when suddenly we heard a heavy rumbling sound, almost the sound of a strong wind coming towards us. But we could see nothing, but the sound got louder it was so strange. Then suddenly, and it gave us both a fright really, these huge dark shapes appeared over the cliffs almost as if they had come right out of the sea. The noise was now deafening as what must have been six or seven huge bombers disappeared as soon as they had appeared and all was peaceful again. My God it was scary. Betty McNabb remembering August 18th 1940 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret Birch also remembers as she worked in the garden of her home near Lewes: We just stood and looked down on the pencil-like planes, creeping along with the South Downs as a backdrop. They were in sight for about a minute, no markings were visible, but there was something sinister in both their appearance and behavior. Margaret Birch on August 18th 1940 Alfred Price The Hardest Day Cassell 1998 p64 --------------------------------------------------------- There was probably no more than a three minute interval between the departure of the surviving low-level Dorniers - hotly pursued by 111 and 615 Squadrons, with Roth himself in serious trouble - and the intense, high-level bombing, although for many of those on the ground, half-stunned by the noise and fury of the first attack, it was much longer. By a merciful chance of fate the vulnerable, brick ops room controlling the entire sector was not hit. But inside the silence that succeeded the explosions and the gunfire seemed even more intense in this enclosed space because all the power and almost all the telephone lines had gone dead. The airmen and the WAAF plotters at the table, in their tin hats and with gas masks at the ready, looked up questioningly to the dias above where their officers were, for a few seconds, looking equally bemused. Then one of them yelled at them angrily, as if they were responsible. Dont just stand there - take cover! Theres nothing you can do now! Richard Hough and Denis Richards Battle of Britain - The Jubilee History p205 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Altogether, the Luftwaffe lost between 69 and 71 aircraft destroyed or damaged beyond repair as a result of its operations over Britain on 18 August 1940. Of this total, 59 were lost to certain or probable action by fighters while two fell to ground fire, four to a combination of both and one collided with a British training aircraft. The remaining three crashed in German-held territory owing to technical failures. Altogether, the losses represented seven per cent of the force committed. Around 29 aircraft crashed in England. Personnel losses were 94 German crews killed, 40 captured and 25 returned with wounds. Some 27 to 31 German aircraft returned with damage --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Between 27 and 34 RAF fighters were destroyed. A specialist source of the battle indicated the figure to be 31 destroyed or beyond repair. Of these, 25 fell to German fighters, two to return fire from the bombers. One was shot down by British ground fire in error and the loss of the remainder cannot be established. Some 26 of the fighters lost were Hurricanes, and five were Spitfires. Personnel losses for the RAF amounted to 10 British fighter pilots killed on the day, and another who died of wounds. Around 19 pilots were wounded, 11 so seriously that they did not take part in the rest of the battle. Losses on the ground amounted to eight fighters (two Spitfires). Around 28 aircraft of other types were destroyed on the ground. The total destroyed or damaged beyond repair amounted to 68 aircraft, although 17 of these were trainers or non-operational types ------------------------------------------------------ Lest we forget. (Dedicated to the men who fought on this day, and in the Battle of Britain especially those who survive of The Few, and for those who went before.) Remembering all those also on the ground who died fighting during the Battle of Britain;Ambulance drivers, firemen, groundcrews, WAAFs and anyone affected by these events. These men were lost fighting for Britain and her freedom today: battleofbritain1940.net/0028.html battleofbritain1940.net/document-35.html battleofbritain1940.net/document-34.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hardest_Day archive.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/27/battleofbritain/imp18aug.htm
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 21:14:22 +0000

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