The Lightning and the Few: A WWII action-packed adventure by Patrick Larsimont

Author:Patrick Larsimont [Larsimont, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2023-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

The dispersal telephone didn’t ring until after midday. Croydon’s Hurricanes were scrambled, along with those of No. 56 Squadron at North Weald and No. 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill. They were then joined by the Hornchurch Spitfires of No. 74 Squadron and a further six from No. 64 Squadron at Kenley. It had become the largest multi-squadron interception Jox or for that matter any of the Treble Ones had ever been involved in.

Robertson watched them take off by section. B Flight would follow, once A Flight was up and circling the airfield. The whole squadron would then head for Kent. On the ground, each section of three waddled into line, stopped, then pitched forward with exhaust stubs crackling bright flames before gushing black smoke was snatched away by gathering airspeed. Tails rose as engines warmed, pulling the aircraft along as they began to run more smoothly.

Ferriss was always the first off the ground, while Jox eased up gradually, building up speed before slowly climbing. Higgs retracted his wheels as soon as he was airborne, but David Bruce left his down until absolutely sure his engine was running smoothly and he wouldn’t lose power. Moose wobbled on take-off, big feet twitching on the pedals and then Jugs, the new boy, always waved to his ground crew for luck and was slow to take off, having to strain to catch up with the rest.

Once A Flight were up, they circuited the airfield before Thompson and B Flight led by Stan Connors joined them; Jack Copeman was leading Blue Section and Pete Simpson led Green. Once up, the squadron banked by sections astern, all twelve aircraft in a covering formation.

They vectored towards a merchant convoy of twenty-five steamers codenamed BREAD. It had rounded North Foreland point earlier, bound for the Dover Straits, covered by six Hurricanes of No. 32 Squadron.

By the time the convoy and escort reached Folkestone, they had been spotted by a Dornier 17Z, a reconnaissance scout. A threatening raiding force was soon reported by the Observer Corps, consisting of twenty-four Do 17 bombers with an escort of thirty Bf 110s plus an estimated twenty Bf 109s. The Treble Ones and the other squadrons were being sent as ‘the cavalry’ to the convoy’s aid, providing reinforcements to the vastly outnumbered No. 32 Squadron Hurricanes.

In their usual ‘bomber busting’ role, No. 111 Squadron were tasked with tackling the Dornier bombers. The squadron flew straight into the pack of oncoming aircraft, holding a shallow V-shaped Vic formation at a speed in excess of three hundred miles an hour. There was a high risk of collision, but they’d been trained exhaustively by Thompson and the effect on the bomber stream was extraordinary. Peeling it open like a banana, No. 111 Squadron’s Hurricanes were right in amongst them. The glazed cockpits of several bombers crumpled under the weight of fire, and terrified enemy aircrew were seen scrambling backwards in their seats at the onslaught of the snarling fighters.

Jox later found out that the Spitfires of No.

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