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Snippets
A selection of miscellaneous clippings from various newspaper and magazine articles, backed up with associated letters and other paperwork from throughout the war.
LEEDS
SQUADRON City’s
Own “Air Force’s” Successes The
609th Auxiliary Air Force Squadron, raised at Yeadon and adopted by Leeds as its
own R.A.F. unit, has completed its first year of active service, during which it
has played its part at Dunkirk and in the grim air fighting over London and the
South, and also escorted Mr. Churchill on two of his visits to France when the
collapse of that country was impending. During
the German air offensive this summer the squadron was in action every day
without rest. Its greatest success was one afternoon in August, when in about 10
minutes its Spitfires shot down 13 German raiders, including nine bombers. Last
week the Leeds men were in action on four successive days and accounted for over
20 German planes with a loss of only one Spitfire. Considering
the number of times the squadron has been heavily engaged with larger numbers of
enemy machines, its own casualties have been surprisingly low, especially by
comparison with its large total of successes. Its mounting total of German
planes is nearing the 100 mark. Autumn 1940
Ninety
– Nine – then it Was a Hundred! WHEN No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron took off in their Spitfires from a southern aerodrome the score on the “bag pad” had stood at 99 for several days. They
were off to patrol at 15,000 ft., along a strip of coastline nearly 60 miles
from their base. And all hoped that the Nazi fighter – bombers would come in
that way, so that the squadron’s score could be raised to 100 – or more. “Not
a Jerry did we see,” explained a flight – lieutenant later, “and we’d
decided to return to our aerodrome when I heard by radio that a bomber was
machine – gunning some troops 100 miles to the north. “Detaching
ourselves from the rest, I and a pilot officer who had recently joined us and
had never before seen a Jerry, flew off to intercept. “I
looked at my map and decided that the bomber would take a certain course home
and almost certainly fly low instead of wasting time gaining height. “Down
we went to about 200 ft., and presently my companion shouted over the radio in
an astonished voice that a bomber had just passed beneath him. “We
swung round and gave chase. As we got near, hedge – hopping and skimming
hilltops, the Nazi’s fired off some recognition signals to confuse us into
believing they were in a British bomber, but we were close enough to see it was
a Junkers 88. “We
both gave it a few bursts at short range and saw it crash near a wood and burst
into flames.” The
squadron’s score now is 103, but their proudest possession (until the 200 mark
is reached!) is a swastika from that Junkers 88, suitably inscribed to
commemorate their 100th victim. Yorkshire
will be specially proud of 609’s achievements (which have earned them a D.S.O.
and seven D.F.C.s) because it was founded and was originally manned by Auxiliary
Air Force personnel from Leeds, Halifax and other big West Riding cities. I
find that today the pilots are not all Yorkshiremen because promotions, postings
and casualties have brought about many changes. The ground staff, however, are
still mostly from Yorkshire. The
pilots who have contributed to the 100 bag include a journalist, a law student,
a solicitor, a wool merchant, dye manufacturer, and an American who was a
professional parachute jumper in private life. Several Poles have now joined the
squadron. “We reckon we’ve worked out the best fighting tactics of any squadron,” said one of the pilots, “The trouble nowadays is that the Messerschmitt pilots will not stay to fight. And gosh! Don’t we hope to meet some of those Wops!” Photo Captions: Story by Geoffrey Edwards and photos by “News Chronicle” Staff Photographer Ross – White : Exclusive to THE WAR ILLUSTRATED. The War Illustrated. 13th December 1940.
INTERNATIONAL AIR POLICE FORCE ? Pilots from Canada, France, Belgium and England, all at the same fighter station in Britain. Develop this close unity already existing between war – hating countries and an International Police Force becomes a clear possibility. Lord Simon recently announced in the House of Lords that talks with our allies on the subject have already begun. (n.b. Photograph caption)
From : - Engineer Officer, 609 (WR) Squaron, MANSTON. Date : - 18th. November, 1942. Since the Squadron moved to Biggin Hill and then to Manston over 1,000 hours have been flown with only one engine reject through sleeve wear. 2. This is a matter for congratulation to Ground Crews and Pilots alike as this constitutes a record in Typhoon Squadrons. Jackson Pilot Officer, Engineer 609 (WR) Squadron.
I/c
VR 2 Tallyho Tallyho 2 of them 1602
VR1 Where 1/c
3 I am after one 190 1603
i/c One turning on your tail 1605
VR1 Tro 190 approaching N/Foreland One 1605
– Tallyho Good show nice work 15th
December 1942 (n.b. Flight Sergeant Alan ‘Babe’ Haddon destroys 609’s 1st enemy aircraft on Typhoons)
Headquarters, No. 11. Group, Royal Air Force, UXBRIDGE, Middlesex. DO/HWLS 16th December, 1942. Dear Beaumont, I am extremely pleased to see that your unit managed to knock down some of the tip and run FW.190's during the last day or two. It is very gratifying to see that the Typhoon is at long last coming into its own. Please convey my congratulations to the pilots concerned. Yours Sincerely H Saunders
TWO RAIDERS DOWN Most of the attacks were carried out by single 'planes which ranged from Me's and FW.190s to two - engined and four - engined bombers. At least two of the raiders were destroyed. One, a F.W.190, was chased by a fighter from Dungeness to Boulogne where, after hitting the sea, it bounced forward and crashed on the beach. Daily Telegraph. 17th December 1942 (n.b. Sergeant Turek and Flight Lieutenant Baron Jean De Selys Longchamps)
RAIDER CAUGHT OFF S.E. COAST There was slight enemy activity over the South - East Coast of England yesterday, says the Air Ministry. No bombs were dropped. One enemy fighter was shot down off the coast by a Polish sergeant - pilot who was on patrol with a Belgian, (n.b. Sergeant Turek and Flight Lieutenant Baron Jean De Selys Longchamps)
TO SERGEANT TUREK T 609 SQUADRON BIGGIN HILL FROM POLISH LIAISON OFFICER TO HQFC U3 22/12/42 HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR OPERATIONAL SUCCESSES PAWLIKOWSKI = 1515
Three out of six day raiders destroyed Sunday Express. 20th December 1942 (n.b. Flying Officer Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemand and Flight Sergeant Alan ‘Babe’ Haddon)
TLM/30. 21st. December, 1942 Dear Beamont I wish to congratulate you and 609 Squadron on the very excellent results you have been obtaining recently. 2. I am very much impressed with your own night "intruder" operations, and I thought that the performance put up by Flight Lieutenant De Selys, and Sergeant Turek yesterday was quite first class. 3. I would like you to convey my congratulations to all your pilots on their very excellent work. With all good wishes to the Squadron for 1943 Yours Truly V sincerely T. Leigh - Mallory Squadron Leader R.P. Beamont, D.F.C., Officer Commanding, No. 609 Squadron, Royal Air Force, MANSTON
WIND AT FORCE OF HURRICANE R.A.F. KEEP UP PATROL After moderating for a few hours, the south - westerly gale, which raged during the week - end, was freshening again in the Straits of Dover late yesterday afternoon. The great storm has restricted air activity in the area during the week - end, but in the morning R.A.F. fighters were out over the mountainous waters of the storm - swept Straits. During a succession of squalls between brief periods of sunshine and blue skies yesterday afternoon, brilliant rainbows arched the sky over the Straits. Before dawn the gale reached hurricane force, with a velocity for a time 31st January 1943. (n.b. 609 Squadron flew)
3
DAY RAIDERS DOWN Typhoon
in Chase Off Dover RESTAURANT
AND SCHOOL HIT Cloud-hopping raiders, following their now familiar fanning –out tactics, attacked nearly 20 towns and villages in South – East England and the Home Counties shortly before dusk yesterday. Three were brought down out of a force which is believed not to have exceeded 10. One crashed in flames on open land near a large hotel at Saltdean, between Newhaven and Brighton. It had been attacking agricultural villages and machine – gunning cattle. All three of the crew were killed. A
second, a Dornier 217, was brought down near Bognor. It barely cleared the
houses before crashing into a field. The
third, a Messerschmitt 109 fighter – bomber, was shot down into the Channel by
a Typhoon after a chase a few feet above the sea off Dover. Everywhere
the raiders were met by heavy gunfire. Daily
Telegraph. 11th February 1943. (n.b.
Flight Lieutenant Johnny Wells) Channel Chase But in one town a fighter – bomber returned after being driven off and dropped a bomb next door to a large store which was packed with market – day crowds. Casualties were not known late last night. In
other south coast towns machine – gun attacks were made on goods trains,
streets, and private houses. One
of the raiders crashed in flames near a large hotel at Saltdean, Sussex. Another
was reported to have been brought down near Bognor. The third was shot down
after a Channel chase by Typhoons. An
alert was sounded in the London area – for the second successive day – when
the aircraft approached the capital under cover of cloud. No incidents were
reported. Daily
Mail. 11th February 1943. (n.b. Flight Lieutenant Johnny Wells)
INTELLIGENCE
COMBAT REPORT 609
SQUADRON MANSTON F/Lt
Atkinson. F/Lt.
Wells. F/O.
Roberts. (A).
26.2.1943 (B).
609. (C)
Typhoons. 1B. (D)
0850 approx. (E)
Mid Channel to Boulogne (F)
Haze to 2000ft. 9/10ths cloud just W. of Boulogne. (G)
Nil (H)
Nil (J)
1 Fw190 destroyed – 1 Damaged. GENERAL
REPORT. Red Section took off, 0835 on standing patrol, North – South Foreland. Over Deal they heard Swingate informing Blue Section (who they were relieving) of 2 bandits 15mls E of Deal, flying N. at 2000ft. Red 1 (F/Lt Atkinson) replied that his section would deal with it. E/A were then reported at 10,000ft flying East but as Red Section climbed into the sun E/A were reported to be at 16,000ft and flying W. Section turned, still climbing and at 12,000ft Atkinson sighted 2 a/c 2,000ft above, flying S and 2 mls to the W. With Red 2 (F/O Roberts) he followed as the a/c went into a dive emitting boost smoke. Atkinson was about a mile behind when the 2 a/c reached sea level about 6 mls S. of Dover, flying W. and were lost in the sea haze. 2 Fw190’s were then seen approaching at zero feet from the NW. Section turned sharply after them and Roberts, being on the inside – ahead of Atkinson – opened fire from 400 yds on the port 190 but his fire fell short. The 190 then weaved twice enabling Roberts to close and from 300yds dead astern he saw strikes on the port fuselage. The 190 then climbed away. F/Lt. Atkinson had opened fire on the starboards 190, from 400 yds and saw strikes on the fuselage followed by black smoke as Atkinson continued firing and flames shot out from behind the cockpit. The 190 turned on its back as Atkinson broke away and was seen by Black 1 to crash into the sea. Black Section, off at 0818, was in time to join the chase and F/Lt Wells (Black 1) was seen by Atkinson to be flying to starboard and slightly ahead. Though Wells fired a few rounds, at 400 yds from quarter, after the 190 had started to climb, Atkinson had overtaken him and Wells made no claim to have shared in the kill. NOTE.
The importance of a few extra M.P.H. was stressed in this chase. Though Atkinson
probably had slight advantage owing to his original dive, both as regards E/A,
and Wells, he did not have this advantage over Roberts, who started ahead of
him. Hi extra relative speed can be attributed to the fact that his Typhoon was
the one with cannon fairings, and to the fact that Robert’s Typhoon had long
exhausts. FLAK.
Some bursts of heavy flak were encountered about 2 miles W. of Boulogne, below
one Typhoon and above another, but does not appear to have been nearer to either
than 400 yds. Flt.Lt
Atkinson used 560 rounds with no stoppages.
1 Fw190 Destroyed. F/O.
Roberts used 560 rounds with no stoppages.
1 Fw190 Damaged Flt.Lt
Wells used 60 rounds with no stoppages. NB. S.A.P.I. used by F/Lt Atkinson and F/O Roberts.
BOLTON
PILOT SCORES FW190
SHOT DOWN OVER DUNKIRK A recent air battle against odds of two to one which ended in the destruction of one FW190 and severe damage to another over the beach at Dunkirk has just been described by a pilot of the West Riding of Yorkshire Typhoon Squadron. He is Fligh Sergeant Laurence W. F. Stark, of Bolton. “Sergeant
T. D. L. Leslie, of Carshalton, Surrey, and I were flying about three miles off
Calais,” he said, “when he saw four aircraft coming up behind us. He called
to me and we both turned sharply. Then I recognised them as FW190s.” When
over the beach between Dunkirk and Mardyck, Flight Sergeant Stark attacked the
leading machine from about 100 yards astern and saw his fire going home on the
fuselage and starboard wing. “Several pieces flew off the enemy aircraft,”
he said, “then flames shot out from around the cockpit. The enemy turned
slowly to port and I had to pull up to avoid a collision. Turning steeply, I saw
him below me now only about 300 feet up, going down in a steep dive almost on
his back, with clouds of black smoke mingling with the flames.” Dog Fight By
this time a regular dog – fight had developed, and the flight – sergeant had
to turn his attention to another F.W. which was coming round on his tail. As he
turned to meet this attack a third F.W. crossed twice in front of him. He fired
a burst at it each time, but could not be sure that he hit it. “The
second machine was still behind me,” added the Flight – sergeant, “and
fired several times without hitting me. Then at last I felt strikes on my
aircraft, and oil began to flow around the cockpit. Just then, Sergt. Leslie
attacked the Hun. He made off and we flew back to base. On landing I found just
two bullet holes in my Typhoon, one of them in the oil tank.” Segt.
Leslie had previously attacked another of the F.W.s from 75 yards’ range. He
saw strikes on the fuselage and wings. It pulled up sharply and then went
steeply down with white smoke coming from it. This aircraft is being credited as
“damaged.” Flight
– Sergeant Stark was formerly at Bolton School and Manchester College of
Technology. He was studying to be an engineer when he joined up in 1940. He is
22 years old. Bolton Evening News. 12th March 1943.
Pilot downs Ju.52 with last 20 shots With his last 20 cannon shells a Belgian pilot in a Typhoon shot down a Ju.52 transport plane near his old home yesterday. Whirlwinds bombed and wrecked a transformer station at St. Lo, Normandy. All planes returned. Daily Express. 27th March 1943. (n.b. Flying Officer Remy 'Mony' Van Lierde downs 609 Sqn's 1st JU52)
TYPHOON SHOOTS DOWN TRANSPORT PLANE A Ju 52 - a German transport plane - was shot down by a Belgian pilot of Fighter Command yesterday afternoon, not far from the house in which he used to live. The pilot, flying with a Norwegian comrade of the same squadron, had already damaged a power barge, a transformer and two locomotives when he saw the Ju 52. A vivid blue flash followed the attack on the transformer, and when the fighter pilot shot up his second train, it stopped and many pieces flew off the engine. News Chronicle. 27th March 1943. (n.b. Flying Officer Remy 'Mony' Van Lierde downs 609 Sqn's 1st JU52)
LATE NEWS Typhoons of West Riding squadron last evening attacked German small raiding craft and motor flak ship off French Coast. One boat set on fire without loss to Typhoons. Daily Telegraph. 5th April 1943 LATE NEWS Typhoons of West Riding Squadron last evening attacked German small raiding craft and motor flak ship off French coast. One boat and flak ship set on fire without loss to Typhoons. Daily Telegraph. 5th April 1943.
One Focke – Wulf destroyed was the first victim of a Norwegian pilot – and it came on the third anniversary of the German invasion of Norway Standard, 18th April 1943. (n.b. Erik Haabjorn)
In
the afternoon fighters patrolling the Channel shot down a Do. 217 April 1943 (n.b.
Sergeant Leslie's Dornier Do.217)
A TYPHOON DESTROYS A GERMAN JU.52 : Six pictures from a film of the action, showing how the British fighter blew the big lumbering transport into bits These photographs were recorded by a miniature cine camera mounted in the aircrafts wing : they show the devastating fire - power of the Typhoon, the R.A.F Fighter command's new and formidable single - seated fighter. A Belgian pilot of a Typhoon Squadron (who has already shot up motor - barges, two railway engines and a power - station transformer) came across a Ju.52 German troop - carrying aircraft near the Belgian's own home town during a recent offensive patrol. "I was shooting up the second engine when I saw the Ju.52 about three miles away," he said. "It was flying at about 2000 ft. and had obviously just taken off. I dived for the deck so as not to be seen and came up behind the Ju.52. My brain was working hard, thinking out the best method of attack, as I had already used up most of my ammunition. I closed in behind, keeping right down on the deck until I was near the Junkers. Then I climbed behind him and let him have it." From this point the photographs illustrate the Belgian pilot's narrative. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - "only my port guns fired, but it was enough. The starboard engine of the Hun caught fire and pieces flew out of the clouds of smoke. I broke away at 30 yards." No.6 - "He went down and broke in two behind a small building. Pieces of the Ju.52 continued to blaze on the ground" Sphere. 8th May 1943. (n.b. Flying Officer Remy 'Mony' Van Lierde downs 609 Sqn's 1st JU52) (Film No. F.C.431)
HEINKEL DID NOT GET BACK It Was Belgian Pilots Kill THRILLS of a duel with a Heinkel 111 and the satisfaction of seeing it crash were the luck of a Belgian pilot flying a Typhoon bomber engaged in a night blitz of France. The Heinkel was one of two enemy planes shot down during the sweep, the second being an F.W. 190. "I had bombed a railway yard near Mons," said the Belgian pilot, "and after attacking a train I had recrossed the coast homewards. "I sighted the enemy plane below me. I went down, and one long burst from my guns started a fire in the Heinkel, which then hit the sea and lay burning on the water." A Mosquito destroyed the F.W.190 when patrolling near Evreux. The intruder made four attacks on the enemy fighter, which blew up, wreckage falling in flames. Near the French coast a Whirlwind damaged a 2,000 ton ship. The pilot descended to 50ft. to bomb it. People. 16th May 1943.
"TYPHOON MASTER" 609 (West Riding) O.C. Gains New Award Described as "Master of the Typhoons" and "Train Buster Beamont," Squadron Leader R. P. Beamont, R.A.F., Officer Commanding the famous 609 (West Riding) Fighter Squadron, already holder of the D.F.C. and bar, has now been awarded the D.S.O. Squadron Leader Beamont, who is the only son of Major and Mrs E. C. Beamont, of Chichester, Sussex, is 22, and one of the youngest squadron leaders in the country. Since joining the 609 (West Riding) Squadron, one of the first Typhoon squadrons, he has personally accounted for 25 enemy trains in occupied country. He has also six enemy aircraft to his credit and five probables. Major Beamont, who is stationed in the West Riding, told a "Yorkshire Evening Post" reporter that his son experimented in "train bashing" over France in his spare time, and later introduced this line of attack to the squadron. Squadron Leader Beamont is a veteran of air warfare, having taken part in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. He has been awarded the D.S.O. only a few days after receiving the bar to the D.F.C. Yorkshire Evening Post. 18th May 1943.
2
Typhoons joined in F.W. squadron – shot down 5 SIX of twelve F.W.190’s, raiding a south – east coast town yesterday were shot down – a new peak in the Luftwaffe rate of losses. A.A.
gunners got one. The other five were shot into the Channel by two Typhoon pilots
WHO FLEW OUT TO SEA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE F.W. SQUADRON. The
German pilots, skimming the waves on their way back to France, saw the two
British airmen flying with them, and thought they were their own comrades. When
they discovered their mistake it was too late. Each
of the two RAF men, Flight – Lieutenant J. C. Wells and Flying – Officer I.
J. Davies, picked out a victim and “quietly” shot him down. “No Real Fight” Each flew through the spray thrown up by the crashing planes. The
F.W.s droned on – and suddenly two more were shot into the sea by the same
tactics. Wells
and Davies rounded off their exploit properly by sharing a fifth as they neared
the French coast. Flight
– Lieutenant Wells said on his return : “There
was an F.W. 200 yards on either side of me. I could see the pilots sitting
unaware of my identity. “I
got through to the leader and ‘gave him a squirt,’ and he went down. I went
on through the splash of water that he made and when about twenty miles out to
sea I got my second victim. “There
was no real fight. The Huns just did not know who we were until it was too late.” Flying
– Officer I. J. Davies said, “We were flying at about 1,800ft. when we saw
bombs bursting below. We dived straight down on the enemy planes. “I
got in among six and saw one close to the water. I shot him down and went on
through the splash he made to get my next one.” Since Schooldays Both pilots, who belong to the famous West Riding auxiliary squadron, have been in the RAF since leaving school. Wells,
who is 31, entered the Service in 1927 as an apprentice at the age of 15. His
home is at Sheringham in Norfolk. Davies,
who is 28, lives at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He is a native of South Wales.
Yesterdays victims were the first enemy aircraft he has destroyed. It
is possible that a seventh F.W. failed to get home, for it was severely damaged
by the A.A. gunners. Widespread
damage was caused in the town, principally among private houses. It is believed
that casualties total twelve dead and a hundred injured. Several
people were buried when two houses were demolished. One
of the largest churches in the town received a direct hit. Strong
forces of British fighters in offensive sweeps across the Channel yesterday
scored a 5 – 1 victory over German fighters and shot up five German supply
ships. Two F.W. 190s and three M.E. 109s were destroyed for certain in the air battles, and another M.E. 109 last seen badly shot up was a probable. 1st
June 1943 FROM:-
AOC – IN – C HQ FIGHTER COMMAND C67
021600/JUNE HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VERY SUCCESSFUL BATTLE YESTERDAY.
ANOTHER BRILLIANT PIECE OF WORK BY 609 SQUADRON. WELL DONE LEIGH – MALLORY = 022000B
TO:- NO 609 SQUADRON (R) FIGHTER COMMAND = NO 11 GROUP FROM: - AIR MINISTRY WHITEHALL A500 2/5XXXXXX A500 2/6/43 SO 609 SQUADRON HAS DONE IT AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BRILLIANT EXPLOIT = ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR =
FIGHTERS
SINK TWO SHIPS, HIT 4 OTHERS Two enemy ships were sunk, another was set on fire and had to be beached and three more were damaged and left at a standstill after an attack by Typhoons and Hurricanes early yesterday. Five
enemy coasters were found sailing in line off the Dutch coast. Typhoon fighters
went in first and in spite of intense flak from the coasters, closed in from 600
to 50 yards range. They
saw strikes all over an 800 – tonner in which there were explosions and yellow
flames, suggesting that ammunition had been hit. One
of two 600 – tonners, both of which were hit, caught fire after an explosion.
The 800 – tonner was later seen to be beached and on fire. Hurricanes
went in next and Typhoon bombers followed. Squadron
– Leader A. Ingle, A.F.C., of Prestbury, Cheshire, who was leading a formation
of the West Riding of Yorkshire Typhoon Squadron, said afterwards : - “I
saw one ship sink ten minutes after it was attacked and the others all heading
for the shore.” By
the time the second wave of the attack came in only three of the original five
ships were to be seen, and later reconnaissance showed a large black patch in
the sea near where the attack was made. Daily Mirror. 29th June 1943.
FLAK SHIP CAT 11 SHARED BY F/LT WELLS AND F/O EVANS ONE R-BOAT CAT 11 AND ONE R-BOAT CAT:111 SHARED BY S/LDR BEAMONT, ADJ: PILOT BLANCO BELGIAN. F/O RAW , F/O CAMERON AND F/O VAN LIERDE
2 Typhoons force raiders to turn back TWO Typhoons broke up an attempted German fighter - bomber attack on a south coast town yesterday, and one of the raiders, a F.W. 190, was destroyed. The raiders were firsts seen by the Typhoons about ten miles off the coast - but they got no nearer. The pilots, who destroyed the F.W.190 said : - "There were four F.W. 190s, and when they saw us each of them jettisoned his bombs. We then chased them, and I shot at one and saw my cannon shells hit. The Hun pilot climbed to about 1,500ft, turned his machine over and baled out. "By this time we were in mid - Channel, and the other three 190s came back with six more Me.109s. We milled round with them but they went back.
Two
Belgian Flight Commanders By Flying Officer F. H. Ziegler ONE of Britain’s renowned Auxiliary Fighter Squadrons, which has numbered among its pilots Poles, Frenchmen, Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders, has also been distinguished by being the first R.A.F. Fighter Squadron to have simultaneously two Belgian Flight Commanders. Both, alas, have now been killed! They were known as Pyker and François. The squadron was No. 609 West Riding. Pyker
joined the Belgian Air Force in 1936 at the age of twenty. When the German
attack on Belgium started, he was a Sous – Lieutenant in the 4th
Fighter Squadron, equipped with Italian Fiat C.R.42’s. On 10 May 1940 it went
into acytion, and on the first day Pyker was involved in three combats and
destroyed a Dornier 17. On 16 May the remaining six Fiats retreated to France,
and continued fighting from Chartres till 11 June, when they moved to Bordeaux.
Prevented by the French officials from thence flying to England, Pyker and one
of his sergeants on 20 June made their escape in two French Caudron Simouns,
first to Corsica, thence (with the aid of a map hastily scribbled on a scrap of
tracing paper) to Algeria. There they heard that the R.A.F. wanted pilots, but
the French prevented them from flying to Gibraltar by removing the magnetos of
their remaining aircraft. On 3 July they managed to reach Gibraltar by boat. By
17 August Pyker had completed his training on Spitfires, and reached his first
R.A.F. Fighter Squadron. ‘Pyker’s keenness and cheerfulness were an inspiration to the other pilots, and he was generally recognised as the outstanding pilot of the squadron,’ writes the Intelligence Officer of that squadron. By June 1941 he had four victories to his credit, besides several ‘probables’, the culmination being when, on a lone patrol over Cherbourg, he first shot down a Heinkel seaplane, and on being intercepted by apair of Me.109’s, fought them both off and sent one down pouring smoke. This was the achievement which mainly earned him his D.F.C.
WEST RIDING R.A.F. SQUADRON A Fine War Record Fighter Command's West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron, which is now equipped with Typhoons and has many notable successes with these new aircraft, has a good proportion of veteran pilots among its members. The Squadron Commander , 22 - year - old Squadron Leader R. P. Beaumont, D.F.C. and bar, who comes from Chichester, Sussex, has himself shot down four Messerschmitts and a Dornier. He has also shot up 18 goods trains in occupied territory, 12 of them in one month, from November 20 to December 20, 1942. Flying Officer Matthew Cameron, from Northern Ireland, who joined the R.A.F. in the ranks in 1934 and started flying in 1938, has destroyed a JU87, a JU88 and a ME110, while several other pilots in the Squadron have one or two certain victories to their credit. Two members of the squadron have had the experience of baling out over the Channel and being picked up by rescue launches, while another made two parachute descents before the war started. Belgian Pilots There are a number of Belgian pilots in the squadron. Five of them flew with the Belgian Air Force before France collapsed, and managed to escape to this country to carry on the fight. One of them was taken prisoner by the Germans; another had to go to North Africa before he could make his way here. One Flight Lieutenant was a cavalry officer in the Belgian Army before the war and during the Belgian campaign, and started flying with the R.A.F. A link with Yorkshire is maintained by many of the original members of the ground staff, who came from Leeds and Bradford. Yorkshire Post.
TYPHOONS
DESTROY 11 ENEMY BOMBERS IN A FIGHT
OVER A DUTCH AIRFIELD Specially drawn for HUTCHINSON’S PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE WAR by Montague B. Black. On 4th December, 1943, Typhoons scored one of their greatest successes since they came into operation some months ago, when two squadrons made an attack on 14 Dornier 217s, one of the Luftwaffe’s latest types of bomber, in the Eindhoven area of Holland. The engagement took place in the afternoon, and as a result 11 of the enemy aircraft were shot down, seven of them being accounted for by a West Riding of Yorkshire squadron. Squadron – Leader Pat G. Thornton – Brown, who led this squadron, said that the enemy bombers were flying at a height of 8,000 feet when they were sighted, and his formation went after them and broke up their formation. They went down in a d esperate effort to land at Eindhoven airfield and “11 of them landed, but in pieces.” Two of the Dorniers were shot down by a Belgian pilot, and an American member of the Royal Canadian Air Force shot down another and shared in the destruction of two more. The other four Dorniers fell to a formation led by Squadron – Leader J. R. Baldwin, D.F.C., and all of them were accounted for in the short space of four minutes. The Squadron – Leader himself got one of them from the close range of 25 yards, the enemy twin – engined bomber blowing up and covering his aircraft with oil. Six other pilots of his squadron attacked the rest of the Dorniers and destroyed three of them. They burst into flames and, as Squadron – Leader Baldwin said, “the crews bailed out, so that the air seemed cluttered with parachutes.” Our artist, Montague B. Black, gives an impression of this successful air battle. War
Illustrated. 1944
No.
609 (WEST RIDING) SQUADRON FORMED in February 1936, No 609 (West Riding) Auxiliary Squadron distinguished itself in many of the great air battles of the war. By their deeds over Britain and France its officers and men made Yorkshire’s name in the air war no less famous than in that on land. When the War broke out, in September 1939, the squadron had already exchanged its obsolescent light bombers for Britains latest fighter, the Spitfire. Brought south from Catterick, it gained its first success in February 1940 by shooting down a Heinkel III which had been attacking a convoy. Three
months later No. 609 went to the aid of the B.E.F. at Dunkirk, along with other
squadrons, engaging enemy forces of overwhelming size. In the Battle of Britain
it fought over the towns and villages of Hampshire and Dorset, taking on odds as
high as 80 to six. In one month (August) alone it destroyed 46 enemy aircraft.
In the next month it helped in the defence of London. On September 15, when the
Luftwaffe suffered its heaviest defeat, the squadron brought down six and
damaged several more of the raiders. CONTINUING
to operate over southern England, No. 609 was the first Spitfire squadron to
destroy 100 enemy aircraft. In later days it was to achieve similar distinction
by being the first Typhoon squadron to score 50 Huns. After converting to
Typhoons, it engaged raiders harassing South Coast towns. It then developed the
new technique of long – range, low – level sweeps over Northern France,
Belgium and Western Germany, wrecking enemy communications, later switching its
activities to anti – shipping strikes. Equipped
with rockets, No. 609’s Typhoons helped to smash the string of radar stations
along the Normandy coast just before D – Day, and a few days after the
invasion it was operating in close support of the army.Later, it was prominent
in attacks on enemy troop concentrations, tanks and vehicles in the Falaise Gap.
Its Typhoons were still battering the enemy when his surrender came, by which
time the squadron’s total of German aircraft destroyed had nearly reached the
250 mark. No. 609 has now been reformed as a night fighter squadron, equipped
with Mosquito XXXs, with headquarters at Church Fenton, Yorkshire. War Illustrated. 1946
Gift of Portrait to West Riding Squadron From Our London Correspondent FLEET STREET, Friday. After the war the mess of the West Riding's famed auxiliary R.A.F. Squadron, No. 609, will be adorned with an oil painting of its founder and first commanding officer, Air Commodore Harald Peake.. The portrait, painted by Mr. T. C. Dugdale, A.R.SA., was subscribed for by members of the Air Ministry's Public Relations Department, of which Air Commodore Peake (member of a well - known West Riding family and brother of Mr. Osbert Peake, M.P.) was the first director. It was handed over to the squadron last night at an informal party at the Dorchester Hotel by Group Captain Lord Willoughby De Broke, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department, and was received by Flight - Lieut. Atkinson, the senior serving officer of the squadron who was able to attend. Air Commodore Peake, now Director of Welfare to the R.A.F., attended the party. The squadron was commanded by Air Commodore Peake from its foundation in 1936 until early in 1939, when he left to become first director of the Auxiliary Air Force. Meanwhile 609 Squadron has been building up a fine war record. Its total of enemy aircraft destroyed is now 170, and its members have won one D.S.O., five D.F.C.s, two bars to the D.F.C. and four D.F.Ms.
W. Riding squadron remember By
ANTHONY METCALFE Air
Correspondent SOME of the most memorable air battles of the Second World War were re - lived last night as over 100 former members of one of the most famous squadrons gathered at the Leeds and Bradford airport. They
were there to witness the unveiling of a plaque in the new terminal building in
memory of the formation of No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron of the Auxiliary Air
Force at the airfield of Yeadon in 1936. Fourteen
former Commanding Officers of the Squadron from all over the country and Belgium
attended the ceremony alongside officials of the airport and the Squadron’s
Association. The
former Commanding Officers included Mr. Harald Peake, Chairman of Lloyds Bank,
who formed the Squadron, Air Vice – Marshal G. H. Ambler, now Presifdent of
the Squadron’s Association, W/Cmdr. R. P. Beamont, now head of flight testing
with the British Aircraft Corporation, Col. C. Lallemant, Chief of Staff at the
headquarters of Belgiums Combine Forces, Col. Manu Geerts, of Belgium, S/Leader
David Shaw, CO of the Squadron when it was disbanded at RAF Church Fenton in
1951, W/Cmdr E. Evans, Gp – Capt K. G. Gilroy, S/ Leader A. Hudson, Gp –
Capt. G. Darley, Gp – Capt. A. Ingle, Gp – Capt. P. Richey, S/Leader L. E.
Stark, and Capt. E. R. A. Roberts. Plaque unveiled The
plaque was unveiled by Mr. Peake who said he hoped it would survive for all
time, either in the present new building or in any other building which might
replace it over the years. It
would be a record of a great squadron of which the people of the West Riding and
all those whos erved in the squadron had every reason to be proud. He
said 609 was one of 57 squadrons which formed the entire fighter force on August
8, 1940, for the defence of Britain. “The free world as we know it today would
not exist if the battle in the air had been lost,” he
said. Top scorers The Squadron, which was the first to shoot down over 100 enemy aircraft, earned the distinction in January and February of 1943 of being the top scorers for Fighter Command with low level attacks into enemy territory. Among
its awards were the DSO on three occasions, two AFC’s, 22 DFCs, five DFMs and
two Queens Commendations. After the Ceremony members of the squadron admired the airports new terminal building. With the Belgian contingent, who flew in on a special Dakota aircraft of the Belgian Air Force was Gen. Count du Monceau, Commander of the Belgian Tactical Air Force, and a former member of the squadron. Yeadon plaque to famous squadron MARCH
– PAST : Services Column By
FRANK METCALFE DURING its adventurous life of 21 years, over 1,200 Service personnel, many of them Yorkshiremen, were members of a very famous R.A.F. Squadron, the 609 (West Riding) Squadron which began its life at Yeadon in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In
those early days of 1936 the weekend fliers soared into the sky in Hawker Harts
and Avro Tutors and were in the category of a bomber squadron. In 1957, when the
squadron was finally disbanded at Church Fenton, a new generation of fliers
sailed through the Yorkshire sky in Meteor jets. FIRST
C.O. These
days will be remembered on March 29 when the first squadron commanding officer,
Mr. Harald Peake, unveils a commemorative plaque in the reception lounge of the
new Terminal Building at Yeadon. It
could be a great reunion – if former members of those 21 years could be found.
Mr. David Shaw, chairman of the 609 Squadron Association, tells me that he is in
touch with about 200 former members but is anxious that as many as possible of
the others should contact him at 14, Woodhouse Square, Leeds 3. The
squadrons history is fascinating. Briefly, it was transferred to Fighter Command
in 1938 and the outbreak of war found the fliers equipped with Spitfires
operating from Catterick. But
it wasn’t until February, 1940, that the Spits claimed their first ‘kill”
– over Scotland. THRILLING STORY During
the Battle of Britain the squadron moved to Southern England, bringing down 46
aircraft in August alone. On October 21 they became the first Spitfire squadron
to shoot down 100 enemy aircraft. In
May, 1942, they re – equipped with Typhoons and by October, 1943, had raised
their “kills” to 200. Though
most of the ground crews were Yorkshiremen throughout the war, the pilots came
form about 10 countries including Belgium – seven wartime pilots will be at
the March ceremony – Argentina, France and America. It
was disbanded in Germany and reformed in 1946 at Church Fenton. Later it changed
its aircraft to Mosquitos and, finally, to Meteors. Honours? – they included
26 D.F.C.s, two A.F.C.s, three D.S.O.s and four D.F.Ms. Typhoon fell to flak Question Mr A H Fenton of North Ascot, Berks, has a very personal reason for his enquiry: “Can you check up through your contacts on the details which led to the death of P/O P E Raw, who was killed on March 21 1944. I understand that he was flying with 609 Squadron and that he was shot down over Holland, but I would like to know the circumstances in which this happened. My interest is that he was my uncle.” Answer There was little happening over the eastern part of occupied Europe that day, most air actions taking place to the west, were in the early afternoon the American 4th Fighter Group flew a strafe in the Bordeaux area, claiming nine Luftwaffe aircraft shot down and a further ten destroyed on the ground – for the loss of seven Mustangs – and a Coastal Command was also lost in the Biscay area. A pair of 418 Squadron Mosquitoes had flown a daylight Ranger to Luxeil, where they caused much damage to the Luftwaffe, but the only event to take place in north was a fighter sweep by Typhoons. 183 Sqn had put up six aircraft, these departing at 1425 hours, and came in over Holland to patrol the Nijmegen area. Heavy flak was experienced, and MN247, flown by Plt Off Raw, took a direct hit and went down in flames. The stricken aircraft crashed at Vierlingsbeck, and the pilot did not escape. John Foreman. Question and Answer, Flypast. April 1985. Typhoon’s attack I SHOULD LIKE to reply to your column, Question and Answer from Flypast April 1985, concerning the piece ‘Typhoon fell to flak’ also to make a slight correction to John Foreman’s answer. Typhoon MN247 of 183 Squadron was flown by P/O Peter Edward Raw (119259), was making a low level attack on a barge which lay on the Maas river by Vorten / Vierlingsbeck, Holland. During his attack he collided with the mast of the barge which caused him to crash into a nearby field killing him. P/O P.E. Raw is buried at Eindhoven – Woensel Cemetery, plot No. K K Grave No. 14. Danny Keay, Bedburg – Hau, West Germany. Flypast May 1985.
[2002 / 07244] Forces armées. - Distinctions honorifiques. - Ordres nationaux Par arrêté royal no 4132 du 20 septembre 2002, la Croix de Guerre 1940 est décérnee au Wing Commander Rtd. R. Beamont. BELGISCH STAATSBLAD - 24.10.2002 - MONITEUR BELGE
[2002 / 07244] Krijgsmacht. - Eervolle onderscheidingen. - Nationale Orden Bij koninklijk besluit nr. 4132 van 20 september 2002, wordt het Oorlgskruis 1940 verleend aan Wing Commander Rtd R. Beamont. BELGISCH STAATSBLAD - 24.10.2002 - MONITEUR BELGE
[2002 / 07244] Armed Forces. - Honorary Distinctions. - National Orders By Royal decree No 4132 of September 20, 2002, the Croix de Guerre 1940 is awarded to Wing Commander Rtd. R. Beamont. BELGISCH STAATSBLAD - 24.10.2002 - MONITEUR BELGE (n.b. translation of above) |
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