So it Began.....Their Finest Hour

85 Sqd, Croydon
Hurricane P3150.
Shot down in combat with 109s over Kenley area 2.15pm. F/O P.P Woods Scawen baled out but killed due to parachute failure. Body found 6/9/40 in the ground of the Ivies, Kenley Lane. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

15 Hurricanes
10 Spitfires

23 in Combat - 2 MF/Bombing

III/LG1
Ju 88A-1 (7009). Crashed on landing at Chateaudun aerodrome and burned out following combat sortie. Oblt Hirsch and one NCO killed. Two NCOs wounded. Aircraft L1+FR a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

3 Me 110
1 FW 58
1 He 115
1 Ar 196
10 Me 109s
6 He 111
3 Do 17
2 Ju 88

 

WEATHER:

Areas of early morning mist with scattered areas of fog inland was expected to clear giving way to clear skies which was to continue for the rest of the day. Temperatures expected to be higher than average. Cloud was expected to drift in from the North Sea later in the afternoon in Northern England and Scotland.
September 2nd - September 3rd 1940

 

Flying Officer ARTHUR THOMAS ROSE-PRICE

39762, 501 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 21
on 02 September 1940
Son of Samuel Percy Price and of Anita Price (nee Mackay), of Concepcion, Chile.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
P/O A.T.Rose-Price joined No 501 Squadron on the morning of the 2nd of September 1940. He was K.I.A. in the same afternoon while on patrol. He was shot down over Dungeness at 16:30hrs in his Hurricane I (L1578).

 

F/O C.A. 'Tony' 'Wombat' Woods- Scawen of No 43 Squadron destroyed a Bf 110 ten miles south of the Isle of Wight on the 8th of August 1940 . On the 13th of August at 07:30 while on patrol in his Hurricane (R4102) he crash landed near Midhurst, Sussex after combat with a He 111. He added 6 more enemy aircraft to his score before being shot down on the 2nd of September 1940 at 14:15hrs by a Bf 109. Woods-Scawen baled out too low after the Hurricane I (V7420) he was flying caught fire. Woods-Scawen did not survive, he was aged 22.
His brother P.P.Woods-Scawen also died in tragic circumstances on the 1st of September 1940

F/O Patrick 'Woody' Woods-Scawen, was born at Karachi, India and flew with No 85 Squadron. He had scored 14 kills and was awarded the D.F.C. In a tragic incident, P.P.Woods-Scawen baled out of his Hurricane ( P3150) after a combat with a Bf 109 on the 1st of September 1940, and was killed when his parachute failed to open. His body was found on the 6th of September1940 near Kenly. He was 24. His brother C.A. 'Tony' Woods-Scawen also died in a similar incident on the 2nd of September



Hurricane

Pilot Officer CHARLES ANTHONY WOODS-SCAWEN
D F C

40778, 43 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 22
on 02 September 1940
Son of Philip Neri Woods-Scawen and Kathleen Florence Woods-Scawen, of South Farnborough, Hampshire. His brother, Flying Offr. Patrick Philip Woods-Scawen, D.F.C., also died on service.
Remembered with honour
HAWKINGE CEMETERY

Flying Officer PATRICK PHILIP WOODS-SCAWEN
D F C

40452, 85 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 24
on 01 September 1940
Son of Philip Neri Woods-Scawen and Kathleen Florence Woods-Scawen, of Farnborough, Hampshire. His brother Charles Anthony also died on service.
Remembered with honour
CATERHAM AND WARLINGHAM (CATERHAM) BURIAL GROUND

Wo-pilots
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/28821-woods-scawen-brothers-battle-britain.html

 

Wow, CL1 that is some pretty sober reading. I can't start to imagine the grief for the family would have gone through having two sons killed within a day of each other.

 

2 Sept 1940

No.22 Sqn has a Beaufort crash at North Coates on the return from an evening bombing attack on Flushing. Crew Safe.

No.10(RAAF) Sqn Sunderland arrived back at Oban from convoy patrol at 23:15 hrs but overshot the flare path. The Sunderland's landing lights were switched on to reveal Lismore Island, Argyll, and avoiding action was taken but the port wingtip and float hit causing the loss of aircraft as it ran aground. Crew safe with slight injuries.

No.210 Sqn has a Sunderland fail to return to Oban from a convoy patrol. All crew missing.
F/L P D Parry Jones
F/O B L A Pusey
P/O I W Phillips
P/O M H Dalzell-McKean
Sgt R G Fitzgerald
Sgt M A F Drewitt
LAC W T James
AC1 L E Stokes
AC1 L J Caunter
AC1 W H Blackmore
AC1 D H Jones

Summary of Coastal Command Cat E losses on this day:
3 on Ops

Ross

 

46 Sqd, Stapleford
Hurricane P3067.
Shot down in combat over the Thames Estuary 5.30pm. P/O J.C.L.D Bailey killed. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

19 Hurricanes
13 Spitfires
1 Blenheim

31 in Combat - 2 Accident/Bombing

3/406
Do 18 (0868). Shot down by fighters during operations over the North Sea. Lt zur See Logier and one NCO killed. Two NCOs rescued by Seenotdienst. Aircraft K6+DL lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Hs 126
1 Ju 52
1 Do 18
4 Ju 88
1 He 115
28 Me 109
4 Do 17
2 Ju 87
12 Me 110

September 3rd Tuesday

257 Sqd, Debden
Hurricane P3518.
Shot doen in combat with enemy fighters over Ingatestone 10.45am. Crashed at Lodge Farm, Galleywood Essex. P/O C.R. Bon Seigneur baled out but fell dead at the Grove, Ingatestone. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

20 Hurricanes
4 Blenheims
5 Spitfires

17 in Combat - 12 Unknown/Friendly Fire/Accident/Bombing

3/ZG26
Me 110C-4 (3294). Crashed landed at Fontend damaged in fighter combat. Pilot unhurt. Uffz Klatt baled out over the Channel off Dover and killed. Aircraft U8+KL a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

2 Ju 52
3 Me109
4 He 111
2 Ju 88
9 Me 110

 

WEATHER:

After early morning mist, especially in low lying areas, the south and south-east should experience a warm and fine day. Possiblity of haze in many Channel areas. In the north, most areas can expect low cloud and drizzle with scattered heavy falls along the north-east coast and southern Scotland.

 

Sergeant GERALD HENRY EDWORTHY

564606, 46 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 25
on 03 September 1940
Son of Harry and Edith Mary Edworthy, of Teignmouth, Devon.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Sgt G.H.Edworthy of No 46 Squadron was killed on the 3rd of September 1940 at 10:35hrs. His Hurricane I (P3064) was lost in combat over the Essex coast.
E-pilots

 

3 Sept 1940

No.254 Sqn has two Blenheim crash 9 miles from Dyce while engaged on aerial dogfight training on a transit flight. All 5 men on both aircraft killed.
Sgt R C Hanna
AC2 J E Mangion
P/O J R J Laidlay
AC1 D Campbell
Sgt R J Whiffen

No.206 Sqn Hudson on take off for Patrol SA.51 at Bircham Newton hits trees at 00:15 hrs. Crew safe.

Summary for Coastal Command Cat E losses for this day:
1 on Ops, 2 non Op

Ross

 

3 Sept 1940

Not a Coastal Command loss but a RNLI service to one of it's own, a Fighter Command pilot and soon to be published author.

No.603 Sqn, Spitfire I, X4277, P/O R H Hillary, Wounded.

Baled out, 10:04, severly burned after attack by JG26 off Margate, Kent.
Rescued.

"September 3rd - Margate, Kent.
At 10:15 am the coastguard reported that a man had dropped by parachute into the sea seven miles NE of Recluver. The sea was smooth, with a light NW wind. The motor lifeboat 'J B Proudfoot', on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 10:20 am and at 11:45 am found an airman. He was badly burned and on the point of collapse, after being over an hour in the sea. He was taken into the lifeboat and Mr A C Robinson, the honorary secretary of the station who was on board, bandaged him and gave him stimulants. Another boat was asked to wireless for medical help to be in readiness ashore, after a journey at full speed the lifeboat landed the airman at 13:00 and he was taken to Margate Hospital.

The rescued man was Pilot Officer R H Hillary, of the family of Lieut-Col Sir William Hillary, Bt., the founder of the Institution.

His parents sent a letter of thanks.

Rewards: £5 12s 6d."
(Source: Supplement to Annual Reports of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution 1939-46)

An oil painting of the rescue take pride of place in the RNLI HQ at Poole, Dorset at the present day.

Ross

 

WEATHER:

Over the southern half of England it was expected to be fine and warm. Skies should be mainly clear with occasional cloud. The Channel areas were expected to remain fine with good visiblity. The north of England and most of Scotland was expected to have rain periods with some heavy falls and strong winds could be expected.

September 4th 1940

 

Flight Lieutenant DAVID CAMPBELL BRUCE

39853, 111 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 22
on 04 September 1940
Son of Frederick Thompson Bruce and Ethel Bruce, of Kilburn, London.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


F/Lt D.C.Bruce of No 111 Squadron was killed on the 4th of September 1940 at 13:40hrs. His Hurricane I (R4172) was lost over the Channel after combat with some Bf 109's.

 

4 Sept 1940

Only one Cat E loss reported today.

No.53 Sqn Blenheim Struck Off Charge in an unknown ground accident at Detling.

Possibly an aircraft damaged Cat B or C in the air raid on C flight hangar on the 2nd Sept now re-assessed as Cat E.

Ross

 

151 Sqd, Digby
Hurricane V7406.
Crashed into a crane and burned out at Stapleford on take off on ferry flight to base. P/O R Ambrose killed. Aircraft a write off

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Defiant
1 Blenheim
14 Hurricane
17 Spitfires

25 in Combat - 8 Accident/Bombing/AA Fire

2/JG3
Me 109E-4 (5342). Crashed into the Channel following attack by RAF fighters during escort mission for Seenotflugkdo. 8.00pm. Lt Kloiber killed (washed ashore St Cecile 15/9/40). Aircraft lost.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 He 70
1 Ar 196
18 Me 110
5 Ju 88
11 Me 109
2 He 111

 

5 Sept 1940

The increased demands of invasion fleet recce and absence of anti-shipping torpedo strike capability has stretched Coastal Command resources to breaking point.

It was judged by the Air Ministry that the anti-shipping needs of the Command against the invasion fleet at sea were of higher importance than holding all the light bomber force for action against channel ports and enemy forces on the beaches.

Accordingly No.21 Sqn with its Blenheims had been detached from Bomber Command to operate from Lossiemouth under the control of Coastal.

A No.21 Sqn Blenheim failed to return to Lossiemouth from an anti-shipping patrol. All three crew missing.
Sgt J E Moss
Sgt K L Daly
Sgt C Mein

Ross

 

After a clear night, the morning period all over Britain should be clear with good to excellent visibility and temperatures slightly above average. Cloud was expected to increase over the eastern coast north of East Anglia during the afternoon. The north of England and Scotland should have six tenths cloud cover and was expected to increase during the afternoon although this was to be high cloud with no rain expected. The Channel areas were expected to remain clear and fine for most of the day.
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

The day proved to be an ideal day for combat, the weather was clear with only a slight breeze. Conditions for flying were ideal, although Fighter Command were praying for rain and inclement weather. Dowding wanted some breathing space, some respite for the fighter airfields, especially those of 11 Group. Just a few days would relieve the pressure on the British pilots.
Although the directive had gone out that the Luftwaffe were to bomb the British cities, it was no doubt that this day, arrangements were already being made for the annihilation of London and the industrial centres of the Midlands. But in the meantime, the Luftwaffe were resting many of their heavy bombers and quite a number had been moved from airfields further south to more strategic airfields closer to the French coast. For the time being, the Luftwaffe would continue its attacks of RAF airfields and aircraft factories in an effort to wear down Fighter Command.
September 5th - September 6th 1940

 

Squadron Leader PHILIP CAMPBELL PINKHAM
A F C

37208, 19 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 25
on 05 September 1940
Son of Lieut. Philip I. Pinkham. R.N.V.R. and Nora Pinkham. of Wembley.
Remembered with honour
KINGSBURY (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD
S/L Phillip C.Pinkham of No 19 Squadron was a career officer in the R.A.F. which he joined in 1935. He served with No 17 Squadron flying biplanes then he joined the Meteorological Flight. In the January of 1940 Pinkham took command of the Air Fighting School at St Athan, training pilots to fly Hurricane's. On the 10th of June 1940 he took over command of No 19 Squadron. In July he received the A.F.C. for his flying training work. P.C.Pinkham was shot down and killed on the 5th of September 1940 at 10:15hrs. His Spitfire I (P9422) was shot down by a Bf 109 over the Thames Estuary. His aircraft crashed at Birlink in Kent.
Pi-pilots

 

66 Sqd, Kenley
Spitfire N3060.
Shot down in combat with Me 109s over Medway 4.00pm. F/O P.J.C King baled out but killed due to parachute failure. Aircraft a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

16 Hurricanes
20 Spitfires

31 in Combat - 5 Accident/Unknown/Collision/AA Fire

6/KG4
He 111P (3065). Hit by AA fire during night bombing sortie and crashed into Sunderland town 11.18pm. Oblt Schraeder, Uffz Reitz, Obergefr Marten and Gefr Wick all killed. Aircraft 5J+JP a write off.

Aircraft lost/damaged (repairable):

1 Hs 126
3 Ju 88
1 Ju 87
1 Do 18
22 Me 109
15 He 111
2 Do 17

 

WEATHER:

The fine weather of the previous days was expected to continue with the cloud in the north dispersing overnight and bringing fine weather to all areas. Temperatures could be a little lower, but still slightly above average.

OPERATIONS IN DETAIL:

The success of Bomber Command on the previous night would no doubt raise anger in the German halls of officialdom. Hugh Dowding and Keith Park knew by instinct that the overnight raids on Berlin especially, would bring about instant retaliation.
September 5th - September 6th 1940