Spitfire! [illustrated]: The Experiences of a Fighter Pilot by Lane Brian

Author:Lane, Brian [Lane, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Spitfire Publishers LTD
Published: 2018-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

11 SAD PROMOTION: 25 AUGUST–13 SEPTEMBER 1940

Based at RAF Foulmere, Cambridgeshire in 12 Group

August drew to a close and then on 5 September the squadron came home without the CO. I didn’t go off with the squadron that morning as I only came back from leave as they were returning. Young Leonard had got a 109, Walter ‘Farmer’ Lawson had a probable Dornier, and Sergeant Stanislaw Plzak, our Czech pilot, had also got a probable 109.

Wilf rang through to the operations room asking for news. No news had come through yet.

‘He’s probably baled out,’ said someone.

‘Hope so. Who saw him last?’

‘I saw him heading into the middle of a bunch of 215s by himself. They must have got him – cross fire, probably.’

The day wore on and then at teatime came the news that the CO’s body had been found. He had apparently got out of his aircraft but was too low or too badly wounded to open his parachute.

A gloom descended on the mess and there wasn’t quite so much talking and laughter as usual as we sat drinking after supper that night.

Next day after lunch Russell, our adjutant [identity unknown], rang me up.

‘Keep this under your hat until Woody rings up, but you’ve got the squadron. Congratulations.’

‘Shut up and stop blathering,’ I said.

‘No, really. After all, you’ve had the ruddy squadron once before so I suppose they think you might as well try to make a mess of it again!’

‘I don’t want any of your rudeness, B,’ I said coldly, using his surname. He laughed.

‘Good lord, I shall have to salute you now, I suppose.’

‘You’re darned right. Has Frankie got A flight, then?’

‘No – “Farmer” Lawson. It’s a bit tough, but after all he’s had a good deal more experience.’

He rang off and I went back to the tea table. As I sat down –

‘I am awfully sorry about this, Frankie, but I’m a ruddy squadron leader and Farmer goes up to flight lieutenant and takes the flight. I am sorry – but it’s just a question of experience, you see.’

Frankie took it very well, although I knew he was disappointed. He had been my deputy ever since Dunkirk and when Farmer came in and was told the news Frankie congratulated him as sincerely as anybody.

Drinks that night were on Farmer and me. He took the promotion in his usual quiet way. He would make a darn good flight commander and he couldn’t have a better deputy than Frankie.

On 7 September, the squadron went off on two patrols, the first at 11.25 being fruitless, no E/A were seen. We were operating in a wing again of three squadrons led by Squadron Leader Douglas Bader with his Canadians in 242 Squadron. The Czech 310 Squadron followed them and we were the top covering squadron, having a better performance than the two Hurricane squadrons.

In the afternoon shortly after tea, we were off again, flying in the same formation as in the morning. Climbing south we reached 17,000 feet when a large formation of about 200 bombers and fighters was intercepted.

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