the 80th anniversary of the battle of britain
TRANSCRIPT
AHSNZ | SEPTEMBER 2020
Supplement to The Aero Historian
September 2020
The 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
There were more Hawker Hurricanes than Supermarine Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. Hurricane Mk I, P2923, VY-R, flown by Pilot Officer Albert G Lewis of No 85 Squadron, landing at Castle Camps, Debden's satellite airfield, July 1940 (Imperial War Museum).
Compiled by Brian Lockstone ©
“The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”1
Rt Hon W S Churchill MP, House of Commons, 20 August 1940
Today the Battle of Britain is no longer officially commemorated in New Zealand on 15 September. Fought
between 10 July and 31 October 1940, it remains one of the most defining and significant events of the
Second World War, saving Britain from the risk of invasion and providing a springboard to launch on
occupied Europe the assault which brought the war to a bitter end in May 1945. At the time of writing there
was but one surviving aircrew member left.
Research by one of New Zealand’s best aviation historians affirms that of the 3000 pilots and air gunners who
served during the battle, 135 were New Zealanders. In this special supplement, we acknowledge and salute all
those who fought, in the fighter squadrons, on the airfields, in the radar stations, the repair depots, the Post
Office which provided the essential links, the teams which repaired the damaged airfields, the anti-aircraft
units, the hospitals and ambulance services, and the often overlooked Merchant Navy manning the petrol
tankers transporting at great risk the vital fuel essential to sustain the fight.
There was Rolls Royce, producer of the renowned Merlin aero engine and the aircraft manufacturers which
built the principal fighters – Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, Boulton Paul Defiant and the Bristol
Blenheim. Others contributed; for example, De Havillands rapidly developed a constant-speed propeller and
provided around 700 to the RAF in short time. The company also set up a Merlin repair operation for Rolls
Royce.
To describe the battle, we reproduce the despatch on the battle by Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, Air
Officer Commanding Fighter Command, and published as a supplement to the London Gazette on 11
September 1946. It is comprehensive and authoritative, an important and outstanding account. We neither
analyze the battle, the way in which it was conducted, nor the various controversies that followed. There are
scores of books available covering all elements. Perhaps the best include Battle over Britain by F K Mason,
first published by the McWhirter Twins Limited in 1969 and again in a substantially revised edition by Aston
Publications in 1990 and The Narrow Margin by Derek Wood and Derek Dempster, first published by
Hutchison & Co (Publishers) Limited in 1961 and again in a substantially revised edition by Arrow in 1969.
The late Vincent Orange’s magisterial Park, the biography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park has a
necessarily limited coverage of the battle.
There are three important New Zealand associations with the battle. First are the New Zealand airmen –
pilots and air gunners – who flew in the squadrons, then Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park who, on 20 March
1940, as an air commodore took command of 11 Group of Fighter Command which provided the air defence
of London and south-east England.
Finally, there is the Governor-General of New Zealand, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall who
held office between 1941 and 1946. Significantly he was Chief of the Air Staff, RAF, in those demanding years
from 1937 until 1940. He oversaw the vast expansion plan which prepared the air force for war.
Importantly, he resisted demands by the Prime Minister Rt Hon Winston Churchill to send more fighter
squadrons to France after the German invasion in May 1940, realizing the French were collapsing and the
real battle lay ahead.
1 He also said “we must never forget that all the time, night after night, month after month, our bomber squadrons travel far into Germany, find their targets in the darkness by the highest navigational skill, aim their attacks, often under the heaviest fire, often with serious loss, with deliberate careful discrimination, and inflict shattering blows upon the whole of the technical and war-making structure of the Nazi power.”
2
Some New Zealanders serving during the Battle
41 Squadron pilots – Flg Off J N Mackenzie, second right back row, Plt Off E P Wells second right front (IWM).
501 Squadron – Flying Officer J A A Gibson second from right (IWM).
3
Returning to the first aspect, the New Zealanders who fought in the Battle of Britain. Errol Martyn QSM, a
member of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand of longstanding, is a renowned researcher and
author. Over several years he has assembled what is now regarded as the most authoritative roll of New
Zealand Battle of Britain veterans. This entailed research across the archives, personnel records and
elsewhere. It differs from accounts published in various books.
His findings: nearly 3000 aircrew were awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp for having flown at least one
authorised operational sortie with an eligible unit of RAF Fighter Command (including a number of attached
Coastal Command units) during the period from 10 July to 31 October 1940. Of these, 135 came from New
Zealand. They made up the third largest contribution after Great Britain and Poland.
Of the 135, 45 percent lost their lives: 15 killed in action during the battle and five after accidents; 31 were
killed in later air actions while 10 were killed or later died after air accidents; eight became prisoners of war.
The list has specific details.
Here are some of the New Zealanders who served. Several went on to have outstanding war records and
many, such as Arthur Clouston, Al Deere and Frank Gill served in the postwar RAF or RNZAF. Colin Gray
became New Zealand’s highest-scoring fighter pilot of the war.
Two are listed among the top-10 scorers in the battle: Flying Officer B J G Carbury, 603 Squadron, was the
highest with 15 aircraft destroyed, two possible and five damaged. He became an ‘ace’ (ie five kills) in one
day; Pilot Officer C F Gray, 54 Squadron, with 14 and one-half victories.
Hardly an ‘ace’, Flying Officer T F Gill was unusual for two reasons: he was a bomber pilot and he captured an
enemy pilot. He joined the RNZAF in 1937 and the RAF two years later. At the outbreak of war, he was on 88
Squadron with the single-engine Fairey Battle light bomber. The squadron went to France with the RAF
Advanced Air Striking Force and suffered appalling losses in personnel, aircraft and equipment during the
Battle for France and left in June 1940 after the Dunkirk evacuation.
Back in Britain he was rested between tours as a liaison officer with Fighter Command before moving to 75
(NZ) Squadron. In September 1940, at the height of the battle, he secured a temporary attachment to 43
Squadron and his logbook records flights in Hurricane P3465, P3466 and L1968.
On 22 and 23 September he was airborne in Hurricane L1968 again while on 24 September he had two
sorties in Hurricane P7303 and his logbook records “local, air combat, aerobatics and patrol.” These earned
him his Battle of Britain clasp.
On 30 September 1940 he captured a Luftwaffe pilot. While driving back to Fighter Command he came across
a Messerschmidt Bf-109E-1 (4851) of 7/ JG27 on the ground in Windsor Great Park. Gill stopped, disarmed
the pilot, Oberleutant Karl Fischer, drove him to the nearest RAF depot and handed him in to become a prisoner
of war. Accounts of the circumstances vary, from the Bf-109E being damaged in aerial fighting to his stalling
while attacking RAF Avro Ansons.
Post-war he returned to the RNZAF, became deputy Chief of Air Staff, then Air Officer Commanding the then
Air Operations Group. On retirement he entered politics and became a Minister of the Crown. He was
appointed New Zealand Ambassador in Washington DC and returned to New Zealand where he died in 1982.
One interesting airman was Sergeant C S Emeny who joined the RNZAF then transferred to the RAF and
trained as an air gunner. He was posted to 264 Squadron and the Boulton Paul Defiant, a novel concept with
no forward-firing guns but four .303 machine guns in a turret behind the cockpit. The idea was for the pilot
to fly alongside, ahead of or beneath an enemy when the gunner would fire his weapons.
After some success against bombers over France in May 1940, the Defiant was cut to ribbons by Luftwaffe
fighters, was promptly withdrawn and switched to night-fighting duties. Emeny subsequently trained as a
pilot, later serving with 45 Squadron over Burma where he was shot down and became a prisoner.
According to the Order of Battle, 8 July 1940, there were 40 fighter squadrons across No’s 10, 11, 12 and 13
Groups. Of these, 19 were equipped with Hurricanes, 13 with Spitfires, and the remainder with Blenheims
and Defiants.
4
New Zealanders awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp
New Zealanders joined the various British air arms – the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service then, from 1 April 1918 the Royal Air Force – from the beginning of military aviation in the United Kingdom.
Many travelled to Britain in the 1920s under their own resources to join the RAF, some on short-service commissions while others secured a prized selection for the RAF Cadet College at Cranwell.
As interest increased, candidates underwent preliminary medical examinations and interviews before proceeding to Britain. Various schemes were introduced and between June 1937 and December 1939, the Royal New Zealand Air Force trained 133 officers who were posted to Britain.
Around 400 New Zealanders joined the RAF before the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939. Between the outbreak of hostilities and the end of the Second World War, between 13,000 and 14,000 New Zealanders served in the RAF and the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
Those New Zealanders who fought in the Battle of Britain were among the 400, other than Air Commodore Sir Keith Park who transferred from the New Zealand Field Artillery to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and was granted a permanent commission in the RAF in 1919.
This comprehensive list has been compiled by Errol Martyn QSM and is the result of years of research. It is based on those to whom a Battle of Britain Clasp was awarded.
19 Squadron – Flying Officer F N Brinsden at rest between sorties (IWM and Air Force Museum of NZ).
Spitfire Mk 1 P9386 of 19 Squadron re-arming at Fowlmere in September 1940. Two New Zealanders, Flight Lieutenant W G Clouston and Flying Officer F N Brinsden, flew with the squadron during the battle (IWM).
The Battle of Britain clasp awarded by the RAF to the around 3000 aircrew who made at least one authorised flight during the battle with an eligible RAF squadron along with some attached Coastal Command units (Brian Lockstone).
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Aircraft and airmen
With its four-gun turret prominent, Boulton Paul Defiant N1536 of 264 Squadron, possibly Duxford or Hornchurch, in September 1940 when Sgt Emeny was on the squadron. Pilot Officers J R Kemp and R Kidson were killed on air operations on 19 July 1940 in Defiants while on 141 Squadron (IWM).
It is September 1940 and the strain on the face of Flying Officer A G Lewis of 85 Squadron is evident as he prepares to board his Hurricane P2923. The engine fitter has already started the Rolls Royce Merlin. Three New Zealanders served in the squadron during the battle, Flying Officer M C Kinder and Pilot Officers J L Bickerdike and W H Hodgson (Air Force Museum of NZ).
Awaiting its next scramble, Hawker Hurricane P2923, 85 Squadron, Castle Camp, July 1940 (IWM).
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ffic
er
22
9H
urr
ica
ne
Kill
ed
in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
24
De
c 1
94
0P
ilot
Ha
yte
rJa
me
s C
hilt
on
Fra
ncis
Fly
ing
Off
ice
r6
15
& 6
05
Hu
rric
an
eP
ilot
He
rric
kB
ria
n H
en
ryP
ilot
Off
ice
r2
36
(C
oa
sta
l C
om
ma
nd
)B
len
he
imK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
24
No
v 1
94
0P
ilot.
Bro
the
r o
f M
J H
err
ick
He
rric
kM
ich
ae
l Ja
me
sP
ilot
Off
ice
r2
5B
len
he
imK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
16
Ju
n 1
94
4P
ilot.
Bro
the
r o
f B
H H
err
ick
Hig
ht
Ce
cil
He
nry
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
23
4S
pitfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
15
Au
g 1
94
0P
ilot
Hil
lH
ow
ard
Pe
rry
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
92
Sp
itfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
20
Se
p 1
94
0P
ilot
Hin
dru
pF
red
eri
ck G
eo
rge
Se
rge
an
t 6
00
Ble
nh
eim
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
21
Ap
r 1
94
1A
ir G
un
ne
r
Ho
dg
so
nW
illia
m H
en
ryP
ilot
Off
ice
r 8
5H
urr
ica
ne
Kill
ed
in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
13
Ma
r 1
94
1P
ilot
Ho
lde
rR
ob
ert
Se
rge
an
t1
51
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
26
Oct
19
40
Pilo
t
Ho
rto
nP
atr
ick W
ilmo
tP
ilot
Off
ice
r2
34
Sp
itfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
17
No
v 1
94
0P
ilot
Hu
gh
es
Da
vid
Ern
est
Se
rge
an
t 6
00
Ble
nh
eim
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
3 O
ct
19
40
Air
Gu
nn
er
Hu
mp
hre
ys
Ja
me
s S
am
ue
lP
ilot
Off
ice
r 6
05
Hu
rric
an
eP
ilot
Hyd
eR
eg
ina
ld J
ack
Se
rge
an
t6
6S
pitfire
Pilo
t
Ja
me
so
nP
atr
ick G
era
int
Sq
ua
dro
n L
ea
de
r2
66
Sp
itfire
Pilo
t
Jo
hn
so
nG
era
ld B
ruce
Se
rge
an
t 2
3B
len
he
imK
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
28
Ma
y 1
94
1A
ir G
un
ne
r
Ke
mp
Jo
hn
Ric
ha
rdP
ilot
Off
ice
r 1
41
De
fia
nt
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
19
Ju
l 1
94
0P
ilot
Kid
so
nR
ud
al
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
14
1D
efia
nt
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
19
Ju
l 1
94
0P
ilot
Kin
de
rM
au
rice
Cra
igF
lyin
g O
ffic
er
85
& 6
07
& 9
2H
urr
ica
ne
/Sp
itfire
Pilo
t
La
mb
Ow
en
Ed
wa
rdP
ilot
Off
ice
r 1
51
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
14
Ap
r 1
94
1P
ilot
La
ng
do
nC
ha
rle
s E
dw
ard
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
43
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
26
Fe
b 1
94
1P
ilot
La
wre
nc
eK
eith
Ash
ley
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
23
4 &
60
3 &
42
1 F
ltS
pitfire
Pilo
t
Lo
ve
ll-G
reg
gT
ere
nce
Gu
nio
nS
qu
ad
ron
Le
ad
er
87
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
15
Au
g 1
94
0P
ilot
Lu
sk
Ha
rold
Ste
wa
rtF
lyin
g O
ffic
er
25
Ble
nh
eim
Pilo
t
Ma
ck
en
zie
Do
na
ld C
arr
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
56
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
12
Ju
n 1
94
3P
ilot
Ma
ck
en
zie
Jo
hn
No
ble
Fly
ing
Off
ice
r4
1S
pitfire
Pilo
t
Ma
rtin
Jo
hn
Cla
ve
rly
Fly
ing
Off
ice
r 3
2 &
25
7H
urr
ica
ne
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
27
Au
g 1
94
1P
ilot
Mc
Ch
es
ne
yR
ob
ert
Ia
nS
erg
ea
nt
23
6 (
Co
asta
l C
om
ma
nd
)B
len
he
imK
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
6 D
ec 1
94
2A
ir G
un
ne
r
Mc
De
rmo
ttJo
hn
Ale
xa
nd
er
Se
rge
an
t 2
3B
len
he
imA
ir G
un
ne
r
Mc
Gre
go
rH
ecto
r D
ou
gla
sW
ing
Co
mm
an
de
r2
13
Hu
rric
an
e
Pilo
t. A
ch
ieve
d h
igh
est
ran
k o
f a
ny
Ne
w Z
ea
lan
de
r w
ho
fle
w in
co
mb
at
du
rin
g t
he
Ba
ttle
- A
ir M
ars
ha
l
Mc
Ha
rdy
Ed
ric H
art
gill
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
24
8 (
Co
asta
l C
om
ma
nd
)B
len
he
imP
ilot
Mc
Inty
reA
tho
l G
ord
on
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
11
1H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t
Mid
dle
ton
Will
iam
Art
hu
rP
ilot
Off
ice
r2
66
Sp
itfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
27
Au
g 1
94
1P
ilot
Mit
ch
ell
He
rbe
rt R
ob
ert
Se
rge
an
t3
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
12
Ma
y 1
94
2P
ilot
Mo
wa
tN
oe
l Jo
se
ph
Flig
ht
Lie
ute
na
nt
24
5H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t. K
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t p
ost-
wa
r -
7 N
ov 1
94
6
38
Mu
rla
nd
Will
iam
Jo
hn
Se
rge
an
t2
64
De
fia
nt
Air
Gu
nn
er
No
rth
Ha
rold
Le
slie
Fly
ing
Off
ice
r4
3H
urr
ica
ne
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
1 M
ay
19
42
Pilo
t
Oa
ks
Tre
vo
r W
alte
rS
erg
ea
nt
23
5 (
Co
asta
l C
om
ma
nd
)B
len
he
imA
ir O
bse
rve
r
Org
ias
Eri
cP
ilot
Off
ice
r2
3B
len
he
imK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
25
Se
p 1
94
0P
ilot
Pa
nn
ell
Ge
off
rey
Ch
arl
es R
usse
llS
erg
ea
nt
3H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t
Pa
rso
ns
Ed
win
Ern
est
Se
rge
an
t 2
3B
len
he
imA
ir G
un
ne
r
Pa
ters
on
Ja
me
s A
lfre
dF
ligh
t L
ieu
ten
an
t 9
2S
pitfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
27
Se
p 1
94
0P
ilot
Pa
ttis
on
Jo
hn
Go
rdo
nP
ilot
Off
ice
r2
66
& 9
2S
pitfire
Pilo
t
Pre
sto
nL
eo
na
rd R
oy
Se
rge
an
t2
64
De
fia
nt
Air
Gu
nn
er
Pri
es
tle
yJo
hn
Sin
cla
irP
ilot
Off
ice
r2
35
(C
oa
sta
l C
om
ma
nd
)B
len
he
imK
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
30
Au
g 1
94
0P
ilot
Pye
Jo
hn
Wa
lte
rS
erg
ea
nt
25
Ble
nh
eim
Air
Gu
nn
er
Pyn
eC
olin
Ca
mp
be
llS
erg
ea
nt
21
9B
len
he
imA
ir G
un
ne
r
Ro
bin
so
nIv
an
No
rto
nS
erg
ea
nt
26
4D
efia
nt
Kill
ed
in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t 2
2 J
ul 1
94
1A
ir G
un
ne
r
Ra
bo
ne
Pa
ul W
att
ling
Fly
ing
Off
ice
r1
45
& 4
22
Flt
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
24
Ju
l 1
94
4P
ilot
Ra
sm
us
se
nL
au
ritz
An
dre
w W
oo
dn
ey
Se
rge
an
t2
64
De
fia
nt
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
4 S
ep
19
40
Air
Gu
nn
er.
Yo
un
ge
st
Ne
w Z
ea
lan
de
r in
th
e B
att
le -
18
yrs
Re
illy
Ch
arl
es C
hri
sto
ph
er
Se
rge
an
t 2
3B
len
he
imK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
28
Oct
19
42
Air
Gu
nn
er
Ru
ss
ell
Le
slie
Plim
me
rS
erg
ea
nt
26
4D
efia
nt
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
20
Ma
y 1
94
2A
ir G
un
ne
r
Sc
ott
Will
iam
Ja
ck
Se
rge
an
t2
64
De
fia
nt
Air
Gu
nn
er
Sh
an
dM
ich
ae
l M
ora
yP
ilot
Off
ice
r5
4S
pitfire
Po
W 2
8 N
ov 1
94
2P
ilot
Sim
mo
nd
sB
ern
ard
Cyr
il W
illia
mS
erg
ea
nt
26
4D
efia
nt
Air
Gu
nn
er
Sim
ps
on
Ge
off
rey
Me
rvyn
Fly
ing
Off
ice
r 2
29
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
26
Oct
19
40
Pilo
t
Sm
ith
Ir
vin
g S
tan
ley
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
15
1H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t
Sp
en
ce
Do
ug
las J
am
es
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
24
5H
urr
ica
ne
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
30
Ap
r 1
94
1P
ilot
Sp
urd
leR
ob
ert
La
wre
nce
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
74
Sp
itfire
Pilo
t
Sta
ng
er
No
el M
izp
ah
Se
rge
an
t2
35
(C
oa
sta
l C
om
ma
nd
)B
len
he
imD
ied
of
inju
rie
s -
15
Fe
b 1
94
1A
ir O
bse
rve
r. A
ircra
ft a
ccid
en
t 1
4 F
eb
19
41
, d
ied
ne
xt
da
y
Sta
nle
yD
ou
gla
s O
we
n
Se
rge
an
t 1
51
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
26
Oct
19
40
Pilo
t
Ste
wa
rtC
ha
rle
sP
ilot
Off
ice
r5
4 &
22
2S
pitfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
11
Ju
l 1
94
1P
ilot
Str
an
gJo
hn
Ta
lbo
tF
lyin
g O
ffic
er
25
3H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t
Str
an
gR
ob
ert
Ha
rold
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
65
Sp
itfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns 2
5 J
an
42
Pilo
t.
Su
tto
nK
en
wyn
Ro
lan
dF
lyin
g O
ffic
er
26
4D
efia
nt
Pilo
t
Ta
itK
en
ne
th W
illia
mF
lyin
g O
ffic
er
87
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
4 A
ug
19
41
Pilo
t
Ta
ylo
rG
eo
rge
Str
ing
er
Se
rge
an
t 3
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t -
9 F
eb
19
43
Pilo
t
Th
om
so
nR
on
ald
Ale
xa
nd
er
Flig
ht
Lie
ute
na
nt
72
Sp
itfire
Pilo
t
Tra
ce
yO
we
n V
ince
nt
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
79
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
8 D
ec 1
94
1P
ilot
Tro
us
da
leR
ich
ard
Ma
cklo
wP
ilot
Off
ice
r 2
66
Sp
itfire
Pilo
t. K
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t p
ost-
wa
r -
16
Ju
n 1
94
7
Ve
rity
Vic
tor
Bo
sa
nq
ue
t S
tra
ch
an
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
22
9 &
42
2 F
ltH
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t
Wa
lke
rJa
me
s Ia
n B
rad
ley
Se
rge
an
t6
00
Ble
nh
eim
Po
W 6
Au
g 1
94
1A
ir G
un
ne
r
Wa
rdD
ere
k H
arl
an
dF
ligh
t L
ieu
ten
an
t8
7H
urr
ica
ne
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
17
Ju
n 1
94
2P
ilot
Wa
tte
rsJo
se
ph
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
23
6 (
Co
asta
l C
om
ma
nd
)B
len
he
imP
ilot
We
lls
Ed
wa
rd P
resto
nP
ilot
Off
ice
r 2
66
& 4
1S
pitfire
Pilo
t
We
nd
el
Ke
nn
eth
Vic
tor
Fly
ing
Off
ice
r5
04
Hu
rric
an
eK
ille
d o
n a
ir o
pe
ratio
ns -
7 S
ep
19
40
Pilo
t
Wh
itle
yE
ric W
illia
mS
qu
ad
ron
Le
ad
er
24
5H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t. O
lde
st
Ne
w Z
ea
lan
de
r in
th
e B
att
le -
32
yrs
Wh
itn
ey
Do
ug
las M
itch
ell
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
24
5H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t
Wh
itw
ell
Pe
ter
Co
uls
on
Se
rge
an
t6
00
Ble
nh
eim
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
6 N
ov 1
94
2A
ir G
un
ne
r
Wig
gR
on
ald
Ge
org
eF
lyin
g O
ffic
er
65
Sp
itfire
Pilo
t
Wil
lia
ms
Wyc
liff
Stu
art
Pilo
t O
ffic
er
26
6S
pitfire
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
21
Oct
19
40
Pilo
t
Wil
lis
Will
iam
Ow
en
Se
rge
an
t6
00
Ble
nh
eim
Air
Gu
nn
er
Wil
so
nD
on
ald
Fra
se
rF
ligh
t L
ieu
ten
an
t1
41
De
fia
nt
Pilo
t
Yo
un
gR
ob
ert
Be
tt M
irk
Se
rge
an
t 2
64
De
fia
nt
Kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns -
8 O
ct
19
40
Air
Gu
nn
er
39
Yu
leR
ob
ert
Du
nca
nF
lyin
g O
ffic
er
14
5H
urr
ica
ne
Pilo
t. K
ille
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
t p
ost-
wa
r -
11
Se
p 1
95
3
Gro
up
Ca
pta
in C
. M
. H
an
so
n,
OB
E,
RN
ZA
F (
Rtd
) B
y S
uch
De
ed
s -
Ho
no
urs
an
d A
wa
rds in
th
e R
oya
l N
ew
Ze
ala
nd
Air
Fo
rce
, 1
92
3-1
99
9)
Vo
lpla
ne
Pre
ss,
Ch
ristc
hu
rch
20
01
10
kill
ed
/die
d in
air
cra
ft a
ccid
en
ts la
ter
in w
ar
8
Po
W la
ter
in w
ar
13
5 t
ota
l
So
urc
es
us
ed
:
Ke
y:
Sta
tis
tic
s:
2
Po
W d
uri
ng
Ba
ttle
of
Bri
tain
31
kill
ed
on
air
op
era
tio
ns la
ter
in w
ar
Ke
nn
eth
G.
Wyn
n A
Cla
sp
Fo
r 'T
he
Fe
w'
Ha
rts P
rin
tin
g C
o.,
Au
ckla
nd
19
81
Ke
nn
eth
G.
Wyn
n M
en
of
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40
Pilots of 610 Squadron in between sorties. New Zealander Pilot Officer B W Brown served with this squadron. Most pilots in the battle were Non-Commissioned Officers (IWM).
Re-arming a Hurricane of 32 Squadron
in July 1940. The image was one of
several taken by the RAF for publicity
purposes. Flg Off J N Martin served
with the squadron during the battle. He
was later killed in air operations on 27
August 1941 while flying Spitfires with
222 Squadron (IWM).
Below left: 603 Squadron – top-scoring Flying Officer B J G Carbury. Right: Air Commodore Keith Park with his Hawker Hurricane. (IWM and RAF)
41
Oberleutnant Karl Fischer’s Messerschmidt Bf-109E werknummer 4851 down on Windsor Great Park, 30 September 1940. Flg Off T F Gill took the pilot into custody (Daily Express).
Pilots of 19 and 610 Squadron during the battle. New Zealander Flg Off Fran Brinsden (19 Sqn) at right on the wing of a Spitfire with Rangy, his prized spaniel. Also on the wing are two Battle of Britain veterans, at left Flt Lt Brian Lane and Sgt George Unwin (IWM). Right: New Zealander Pilot Officer M J Herrick flew Bristol Blenheims of 25 Squadron during the battle. He returned to New Zealand and had two tours with 15 Squadron in the Solomon Islands before heading back to the RAF. He was shot down and killed in a Mosquito of 305 Squadron RAF on 16 June 1944 (IWM).
42
Formation of 610 Squadron Spitfires, July 1940. This is from a series of images taken by an RAF photographer in a Bristol Blenheim. The Spitfires are in a pre-war ‘Vic’ formation and posed for the occasion as the ‘Vic’ was abandoned earlier (IWM).
Three Spitfire Mk Is including R6712, YT-N and R6714, YT-M taking off from Hornchurch, August 1940 (IWM).
43
Bristol Blenheim Mk I of 25 Squadron at Martlesham Heath on 25 July 1940. We cannot read the serial number of the aircraft on the right, but an aerial of its new A.I Mk I radar is visible under the port mainplane (IWM).
References:
Errol Martyn’s files and books New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force vols I-III (Official war history series) The Narrow Margin, Hutchison & Co Battle over Britain, McWhirter Twins Limited Paul Harrison John Mounce Des Underwood DH a history of De Havilland, Airlife Bomber Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, Philip Moyes, Macdonald & Janes Fighter Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, Crecy Books Limited Imperial War Museum Public Records Office Editor’s files ACM Sir Dowding’s Despatch was recorded in The Gazette, issue 37719, 10 September 1946 and is reproduced by kind permission which is gratefully acknowledged.
Per Ardua, ad Astra.
The Aero Historian is published quarterly by the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand Inc, PO Box 11391, Sockburn, Christchurch 8443, New Zealand. Website: http://ahsnz.org.nz Hon Secretary/Treasurer, Ron Ark, [email protected] Editor and President, Brian Lockstone. Editorial matters: [email protected]
Auckland-born Flt Lt W G Clouston DFC of 19 Squadron joined the RAF in 1936 (IWM).
44