Our Father's War by Thomas Julie && Thomas Hal

Author:Thomas, Julie && Thomas, Hal [Thomas, Julie & Thomas, Hal]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Julie Thomas
Published: 2011-10-03T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

June - December 1941

Loss

This is a piece written after the war about the first engagement over enemy held territory in Northern France, June 23rd 1941

"Our first operation over enemy territory was carried out on 23rd June 1941. We were given a week’s notice and as we were based at Leconfield in Yorkshire, we were briefed to fly to West Malling in Kent and refuel before the sweep over France.

Dick Bullen and I had arranged leave together to commence on the above date and we requested that, as original members of the squadron, we should be included in the first flight over enemy territory. The request was granted and our leave passes were altered to take effect on June 24th. We’d planned to visit the Corn family in Stoke-on-Trent and play golf. I had spent a very pleasant leave with them previously and had promised to return. As Dick and I were the same seniority the C.O. suggested we tossed a coin to decide who would lead our section of two. I called tails successfully and flew as number three in the line astern section of four aircraft, the starboard flight of three flights of four, each in line astern. The most vulnerable spot in a squadron formation is the number four position in each of the three lines as most attacks are mounted from above and behind. In the event, my calling tails saved my life and I have always called tails ever since.

We flew to West Malling on the morning of the 23rd in squadron strength of twelve aircraft and refuelled before take off, planned for midday. I remember the briefing given by Stanford-Tuck, a well known Battle of Britain pilot. We were to fly as one squadron to patrol between Calais and Le Touquet on the French coast and act as rear cover for a sweep of bombers and fighters returning from an earlier raid inside France. I can still feel the intense excitement before take-off, no doubt this feeling was shared by the eleven other pilots as not one of them had been over enemy territory before. The sensation in the pit of the stomach experienced before later operations was still to come, as we’d only once been exposed to any real danger and had not yet witnessed the death of fellow pilots.

It was a perfect summer day with no cloud visible as we crossed the French coast in squadron formation, at 15,000 feet, and turned behind Boulogne on to a westerly course towards Le Touquet. I could see the countryside below us and was gripped by a feeling of exhilaration, tinged with a heightened awareness. The next turn on the patrol line was to port and I can clearly remember looking back to see Dick behind me, he was on the outside of the turning squadron at the end of the line of four aircraft. At that very moment a cloud of smoke appeared from his aircraft. He’d obviously received cannon shells in the petrol tank and cockpit.

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