Aside from a number of reconnaissance flights by individual aircraft, two major attacks were launched on the southeast by the Luftwaffe today. The second attack began at 14:40, and comprised two phases. The first consisted of 50 fighters in two formations, which made landfall between Dover and Dungeness at 20,000 feet and headed towards Maidstone. One formation split up just north of Maidstone, and eight of these aircraft flew to the Isle of Sheppey, then on to Hornchurch, Tilbury and Gravesend; the remainder headed towards the docklands and Central London. Twenty aircraft from the second formation flew into London, and bombs were reported to have been dropped at Eltham, Poplar, along the Thames Estuary, and at Wanstead. All enemy aircraft returned to the Channel on reciprocal courses, and 11 Group responded by ordering up 12 squadrons to intercept them.
The second phase commenced as the first ended, when 60 fighters crossed in in two formations between 25,000 and 30,000 feet, and headed for Maidstone again. One formation split into two at Rochester, one group flying to Biggin Hill and the other, comprising approximately 15 aircraft, to Central London. The other formation headed for Hornchurch, but turned southeast just south of the area and flew over the docklands, providing significant activity in a triangular area between Hornchurch, Maidstone and Kenley. Bombs were dropped at Blackheath, near Manston, at New Cross and Ramsgate, and along the Thames Estuary. On this occasion, 11 Group detailed ten squadrons to intercept the Luftwaffe, some of which were already airborne in response to the first phase. In total, the Group’s fighters claimed three Me109s destroyed, two probably destroyed and two damaged; all of them the work of the Hornchurch Wing. 41 and 222 Squadrons were ordered up together at 14:50 to patrol Hornchurch, the former unit leading. 41’s contingent comprised ten pilots under the command of Sqn Ldr Finlay. The two squadrons managed to reach an altitude of 25,000 feet in the Maidstone area, and were on a course of 270°, when Finlay sighted a number of fighters. He ordered the pilots into line astern in preparation for an attack but it soon became clear that they were friendly aircraft. The Wing then continued their climb, but a short while later three Me109s were seen below the Squadron, travelling on an easterly course in a loose formation. A number of Spitfires were also seen approaching them from their far side, clearly intent on attacking them. Finlay banked hard to starboard and dived on the Me109s, closing on the tail of one he picked out and immediately fired a burst of three seconds from 150 yards down to 100. This caused smoke and sparks to emit from beneath the cockpit area, but Finlay could not press his attack home as he was himself attacked from above. It was later apparent from reports submitted by 222 Squadron, that just as 41 Squadron was attacking the trio of Me109s, a further 20 to 25 Me109s appeared out of cloud at 30,000 feet, and immediately dived on the rear of 41 Squadron. Seeing this, 222 Squadron dived on the enemy aircraft and a dog fight ensued, which saved 41 Squadron from a potential disaster. As it was, Sqn Ldr Finlay was hit by fire from above by an Me109, although it had no immediate effect. He broke off sharply when he was attacked, and blacked out for a time. When he regained consciousness and control of his aircraft, he found himself alone and patrolled the Ashford area by himself for approximately 20 minutes, in the hope of finding a lone straggler. Unable to do so, he returned to Hornchurch where he found he could not lower his undercarriage, and belly-landed, causing Cat 2 damage. He claimed his Me109 damaged for the expenditure of approximately 500 rounds. Plt Off Robert Boret was also attacked “by an aircraft of unknow[n] type with two glass windows”, which was believed to have been an Me110, but could not be confirmed. However, he appears to have evaded successfully, as no damage is recorded. Sgt Plt Leslie Carter was also on the receiving end:
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At 12:20, 41 Squadron’s Fg Off John Mackenzie (R6887), Fg Off Harry Baker (P9394), and Sgt Plt ‘Bam’ Bamberger (R6697), flew to Hawkinge to provide an escort to an Avro Anson of Coastal Command on reconnaissance duty over Calais. The Anson belonged to No. 1 Coastal Artillery Co-operation Flight, whose duty it was to observe the fall of shells in cooperation with the Royal Marine Siege Regiment. 41 Squadron’s three pilots were to ensure its safety in doing so.
The four aircraft were airborne from Hawkinge at 13:00 and proceeded as planned, and the Anson’s crew subsequently observed three shells falling in the target area. At around 14:00, the Anson attracted some light Flak, but it was ineffective and fell short. However, shortly afterwards, it was attacked by four Me109s, which dived from the east, out of cloud cover, apparently vectored onto them by German observation posts. The Anson’s pilot, Flt Lt Roderick McConnell, dived to sea level, chased by a pair of Me109s and headed as fast as he could for the English coast. Seeing this, Fg Off John Mackenzie attacked one of them and opened fire, but the second Messerschmitt then attacked him, forcing him to take evasive action, and he was unable to see the results of his attack. Mackenzie then climbed to attack them again but encountered two more Messerschmitts mid-Channel at 5,000 feet. He fired two bursts at one of these aircraft from 200 yards, which resulted in white smoke issuing from it. The No. 2 then came around on his tail, and he was forced to break off again. Meanwhile, below him, the Anson was being attacked by the original pair of Me109s, which made 12 quarter attacks upon it whilst McConnell tried his best to evade their fire. Mackenzie dived to sea level and fired the rest of his ammunition into one of the pair: “Bits flew off, smoke issued, and he appeared to stall at the top of a turn.” He was fired at by another Me109 and broke to port, but was nonetheless able to see a large splash as the Messerschmitt he attacked hit the water. This was also seen from the English coast. However, whilst Mackenzie was thus occupied, the remaining Me109 of the first pair made a final attack on the Anson, unhindered, from astern. This was the worst attack by far and the burst entered the fuselage and cockpit, killing the gunner, and injuring the co-pilot and wireless operator. The dinghy housing ignited and the starboard engine also burst into flame. McConnell switched off his remaining engine and managed to force-land his aircraft in a field at East Langdon, Kent. He jumped out and was able to extinguish the fires with the Anson’s fire extinguisher, but it was damaged beyond repair. The co-pilot and wireless operator were taken to hospital and only the pilot remained unscathed, though doubtless shaken by the experience. Mackenzie then returned to Hornchurch to claim the first Me109 damaged and the second destroyed. [Excerpts from “Blood, Sweat and Courage” (Fonthill, 2014). Sharing permitted, but no reproduction without permission, please.] 20 September 1940 – A southwesterly wind at 5 mph, initially overcast but clearing to variable amounts of cloud, with occasional rain and moderate to good visibility. On account of the weather, Luftwaffe activity was confined to reconnaissance flights by individual aircraft, except between 10:50 and 12:00 when a raid of 100 enemy aircraft took place.
Eleven units were scrambled to intercept them but only 41, 72, 92, 222, 253, and 603 Squadrons succeeded in doing so. For their part, ten of 41 Squadron’s pilots took off at 11:20, led by Flt Lt Norman Ryder, with an order to patrol Manston. Plt Off Eric Lock (X4338) was designated as the spotter. They joined up in the air with fellow Hornchurch based 603 Squadron, and climbed further, but the two units were dived upon by a large number of Me109s and both were hit hard. It appears they were taken by surprise as one of 603 Squadron’s pilots was killed, a second baled out and a third crashed on landing, though uninjured, for the claims of only two Me109s damaged. 41 Squadron came out of the fight little better, having two pilots shot down, although unhurt, for two enemy aircraft destroyed. It is believed that the two 41 Squadron pilots in question were Fg Off John Mackenzie (R6887) and Plt Off ‘Ben’ Bennions (X4101), but the ORB provides little detail. Meanwhile, Lock had been over Maidstone by himself as spotter, and was involved in combats of his own. He had climbed to 33,000 feet, and just ten minutes later sighted several enemy bombers crossing in near Dover at 15,000 feet, and reported them to the Controller. A short while later, he spotted three He113s [Me109Es] with orange noses “going round in a circle between Maidstone and Canterbury” just 3,000 feet below him. He dived towards them but was seen, and the three aircraft split up in all directions. He picked out one that was diving towards Dover, and fired several one-second bursts from ranges of 250 yards down to 100. He had no trouble overhauling the aircraft, owing to his height and speed. White vapour emanated from under the aircraft’s starboard wing after three bursts, and then flame issued from its engine. They then passed over the Dover Balloon Barrage “with only a few feet to spare”, and the enemy aircraft continued in a shallow dive until it crashed into the Channel approximately 15 to 20 miles northwest of Boulogne. Lock then climbed back to the cloud base at 2,000 feet and orbited the area. Within a short time, a Henschel Hs126 reconnaissance aircraft “appeared from nowhere” and circled the downed aircraft at an altitude of no more than 50 feet. Grasping the opportunity, Lock dived on it and fired a two-second burst from 75 yards down to point blank range. The Henschel went directly into the Channel, tail first. Seeing several more Hs126’s flying up and down the Channel below the cloud base, Lock climbed above it and headed home to claim the Me109 and the Hs126 destroyed. They were also Lock’s 15th and 16th claims, and he was now a triple Ace. [Excerpts from “Blood, Sweat and Courage” (Fonthill, 2014). Sharing permitted, but no reproduction without permission, please.] |
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Rich Cooper/COAP Association BlogUpdates and news direct from the Committee Archives
May 2020
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