Dunkirk/The RAF - Page 3

Christos · 02-01-2008, 03:33 AM

Maybe we could have a look a German pilot claims for the period to guage just how active the RAF was in this period 26 May - June 3rd......The subject will come up when I eventually resume my day by day look at German pilot claims.....I'm only 17 days into WW2 at the moment!

Nostalgair · 03-02-2008, 01:56 AM

Hi All,

When I researched my book, "Down to Earth", Kenneth McGlashan was all too well aware of the perception of the RAF being absent. As he waited to embark upon a vessel back across the Channel after being shot down and again the next day he was challenged on this very point by Allied ground troops.

Norman Franks' book is very detailed and demonstrates how active the RAF actually was over this period.

Cheers,

Owen

4th wilts · 03-02-2008, 04:47 PM

i remember reading alan deers autobiography,i believe he too touched upon this subject while in 54sqn.yours,4thwilts.

David J Filsell · 21-02-2008, 04:17 PM

Wasn't it Deere who claimed after being shot down that he had to thump a naval officer before he was allowed to get on boat (ship) home?

4th wilts · 21-02-2008, 05:08 PM

i would not be suprised,although i do not recall this incident,mind you i have the book in my garage,i will try and find out.yours,4th wilts.

Edgar · 21-02-2008, 11:19 PM

Didnt need to get my copy out of the garage as I finished reading Al Deere's Nine Lives only last week!
He did have an exchange of words with an Army Major while waiting to board a ship back from Dunkirk. The Major told him 'for all the good you chaps seem to be doing over here you might just as well stay on the ground.'
Not surprising he was upset by this reaction which many in the Army seem to have held about Dunkirk and the RAF at the time.
He goes on to explain what Fighter Command and 54 Squadron had been doing -
'For two weeks non-stop I had flown my guts out and this was all the thanks I got. What was the use of trying to explain that the RAF had patrolled further inland, often above cloud, with the insuperable task of covering adequately a patrol line from Ostend to Boulogne? Why explain that pilots of Fighter Command had no idea that the position was so serious and only knew and believed what they had read in the newspapers, that the british army was retreating according to plan.'
NINE LIVES - ALAN C DEERE DSO OBE DFC & BAR published by Crecy Publishing Ltd.
Cant recommend this book enough. Definately one of the best by a fighter pilot in Battle of Britain.
ED

21-02-2008, 11:19 PM	#26 (permalink)
Edgar Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3	Didnt need to get my copy out of the garage as I finished reading Al Deere's Nine Lives only last week! He did have an exchange of words with an Army Major while waiting to board a ship back from Dunkirk. The Major told him 'for all the good you chaps seem to be doing over here you might just as well stay on the ground.' Not surprising he was upset by this reaction which many in the Army seem to have held about Dunkirk and the RAF at the time. He goes on to explain what Fighter Command and 54 Squadron had been doing - 'For two weeks non-stop I had flown my guts out and this was all the thanks I got. What was the use of trying to explain that the RAF had patrolled further inland, often above cloud, with the insuperable task of covering adequately a patrol line from Ostend to Boulogne? Why explain that pilots of Fighter Command had no idea that the position was so serious and only knew and believed what they had read in the newspapers, that the british army was retreating according to plan.' NINE LIVES - ALAN C DEERE DSO OBE DFC & BAR published by Crecy Publishing Ltd. Cant recommend this book enough. Definately one of the best by a fighter pilot in Battle of Britain. ED Last edited by Edgar; 21-02-2008 at 11:21 PM.

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02-01-2008, 03:33 AM	#21 (permalink)
Christos Discharged Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 474	Maybe we could have a look a German pilot claims for the period to guage just how active the RAF was in this period 26 May - June 3rd......The subject will come up when I eventually resume my day by day look at German pilot claims.....I'm only 17 days into WW2 at the moment!

03-02-2008, 01:56 AM	#22 (permalink)
Nostalgair Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5	Hi All, When I researched my book, "Down to Earth", Kenneth McGlashan was all too well aware of the perception of the RAF being absent. As he waited to embark upon a vessel back across the Channel after being shot down and again the next day he was challenged on this very point by Allied ground troops. Norman Franks' book is very detailed and demonstrates how active the RAF actually was over this period. Cheers, Owen

03-02-2008, 04:47 PM	#23 (permalink)
4th wilts Discharged Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wessex Posts: 1,032	i remember reading alan deers autobiography,i believe he too touched upon this subject while in 54sqn.yours,4thwilts.

21-02-2008, 04:17 PM	#24 (permalink)
David J Filsell Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	Wasn't it Deere who claimed after being shot down that he had to thump a naval officer before he was allowed to get on boat (ship) home?

21-02-2008, 05:08 PM	#25 (permalink)
4th wilts Discharged Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wessex Posts: 1,032	i would not be suprised,although i do not recall this incident,mind you i have the book in my garage,i will try and find out.yours,4th wilts.

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