One of the Few by Johnny Kent

Author:Johnny Kent
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780750969291
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2016-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

6

Squadron Commander

I soon discovered that 92 Squadron, my new command, had not only lost four Commanding Officers, three of them in the past month, but the total losses had been more than double those of 303 Squadron in the same period. Not unnaturally morale was at a pretty low ebb, which was reflected in the inevitable lack of discipline resulting from the fact that the squadron had been virtually leaderless.

The first CO had been an Auxiliary Air Force Officer, Roger Bushell, who had been shot down and taken prisoner at Dunkirk. He later distinguished himself as a leader of the POWs in their resistance to the Germans. He also played a major part in their many escapes, culminating in the famous mass escape from Stalag Luft III, for which effort he was murdered by the Germans. Squadron Leader ‘Sandy’ Sanders then assumed command and remained as CO until he was rather badly burned in an accident not long after the squadron arrived at Biggin Hill from South Wales. He was succeeded by Squadron Leader Lister who lasted two days, being shot down on both of them – he was most unfortunate as he arrived at the squadron in a supernumerary capacity to get some fighter experience before being given command of a squadron; before he had managed to get any experience Sandy met with his accident and Lister found himself the boss. It was a very rough introduction to the fighter world. A few days after Lister had been put out of action, command was taken by Squadron Leader MacLlachlan but, within a week, he too was shot down and wounded. It was then intended to promote the senior Flight Commander, Flight Lieutenant Brian Kingcome, and put him in command but, before this recommendation got beyond Group Headquarters he also had been shot down – he maintained, by Spitfires!

The upshot of all this was that I was appointed to take over a disorganised, undisciplined and demoralised collection of first class material. Although they had suffered terrific casualties they had also inflicted severe losses upon the enemy and, under the circumstances, they felt they knew far more about air fighting than any Squadron Leader who might occupy the chair of office for a day or two.

The Station Commander, Group Captain Dick Grice, who really was a first class commander, told me that the Air Officer Commanding had decided to move No. 92 to the north for a well-earned rest. I argued that if this was done, the squadron would be finished and I begged to be allowed to keep it at Biggin as that would give me the chance I needed to get it into shape – while the stigma of having ‘had it’ could not be attached to it. I pointed out that the activity of the Luftwaffe was decreasing and I felt that it was unlikely to increase again until the spring. He saw my point of view and agreed with it; he also managed to persuade the AOC to agree, for which I have always been extremely grateful.

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