Warbird Information Exchange

This day during The Battle of Britain, Day 9.


By R.T. Bickers


Thursday, July 18: Cloud over eastern Channel, showers in southern England.

The Good win Lightship was sunk and bombs fell on the St. Margaret's Bay (Kent) coastguard station. Uncoordinated incursions against shipping in the Channel and harbours on it's coast led to one major entanglement when 28 Bf 109s were intercepted by 15 Spitfires.



Another account from Battle-of Britain.com


18th July

Weather Forecast
Occasional rain in South of England. Cloudy over Channel.



Combat Report
Yet again, unfavourable weather limited the Luftwaffe with their operations. A few raids were plotted during the morning, one between Portland Bill & Bournemouth, a small attack on Montrose airfield by He111's at about 1000hrs and a Staffel of Me109's appeared near Dover, just after 0900hrs, which attacked Spitfires of No: 610 Squadron, from Biggin Hill, that were patrolling a convoy.
The afternoon and early evening saw increased action with Hurricanes of No: 145 Squadron shooting down a He111, south of Bognor Regis, Spitfires of No: 603 Squadron intercepting two raids by Ju88's off Peterhead at 1600hrs and Aberdeen at around 1630hrs. Spitfires of No: 609 Squadron were involved in action off the Isle of Wight.
An offensive was launched by the R.A.F., at about 2100hrs, against Boulogne due to reports of invasion activity and build-up. Hurricanes of No: 111 & 615 Squadrons escorted Blenheims from Bomber Command on the raid.
The night proved to be quiet with no reports of bombing but suspected mines being dropped along the east coast from Newcastle to the Humber and off the Lancashire coast.



Statistics

R.A.F. Losses: 12 aircraft damaged or destroyed and 8 pilots & aircrew (inc. Blenheims) killed or missing.

Luftwaffe Losses: 9 aircraft damaged or destroyed, 17 pilots & aircrew killed or missing and 5 wounded.

NOTE: Losses include non-combat patrols and other accidents.



"Lost Evidence - The Battle of Britain"

Parts 1 through 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBmFnQXa_Tk&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s-pJyKwg-M&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q93zIdJq1U0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5gC4t-hnxI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY9yDSxxiqU&mode=related&search=



From R.T. Bickers BOB

This He 111H of I/KG 27 fell at night to the guns of Pilot Officer Alan Wright of No. 92 Sqd.. it came down near Fordingbridge.


Feldwebel Heinz Friedrich and his crew are marched into captivity at Burmarsh, as smoke rises from their burning Heinkel He 111H/


Left to right: Cocky Dundas, Buck Casson and Ken Holden of No. 616 Sqd.




Harry James (Ginger) Lacey joined the RAFVR in 1937 and by the outbreak of war was an instructor at the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club. He was posted at 501 Sqd, which went to France on May 10, 1940. On the 13th he shot down a Bf 109 and a He 111 on the same sortie, and a Bf 110 on the next, for which he awarded the Croix de guerre. On May 27 in one combat he destroyed two He 111s and was mentioned in dispatches.
.....The squadron left France on June 18. On July 20 he shot down a Bf 109 and was given a DFM. During August he was credited with a Ju 87 confirmed and one probable (same combat), a Do 17 damaged, a Ju88 destroyed, a Do 215 damaged, two Bf 109s detroyed and one damaged, and a probable Bf 110. On Sept 2 he shot down a Bf 109 on one sortie and a Do 215 on the next. On the 5th he got two more 109s in the same fight. On the 7th he went on leave.
.....When he rejoined the squadron on the 13th it was at Kenley and the weather was cloudy. the Operations Room telephoned 501's dispersal hut to ask for a volunteer to intercept a Heinkle that was scudding about in the London area. The message warned that, as the whole of the south-east was cloud covered, the volunteer would probably not be able to land and he would have to bale out. Ginger lacey took the job on. At 14,000ft over solid cloud he was steering courses given on the radio by the Ops Room controller until, after a long stalk, he says" I saw it, slipping through the cloud tops, making for the coast. I didn't know where I was, because I hadn't seen the ground since taking off. I dived on him and got in one quick burst which killed his rear gunner." The Heinkel dropped into a cloud, so Lacey throttled back and followed. the bomber broke cloud and Lacey saw the dead gunner being pulled away. Someone else manned the gun and fired at him. A gaping hole appeared in the bottom of Lacey's cockpit. His entire radiator had been shot away and his Hurricane was burning. He fired all his ammunition at the Heinkel before baling out. He came out of cloud in time to see it crash. When he returned Kenley he learned that this aircraft had bombed Buckingham Palace.
.....By the end off October he had 18 victories, which made him the highest scoring pilot in the Battle of Britain, to add to his five in France. He was awarded a bar to his DFM, was commissioned, then went on to command a squadron and acheve a total score of 28 confirmed. He continued serving after the war.


Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis