11th September 1940 We Remember

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11th 1940 THE CASUALTIES:

1100hrs: Stapleford. Hurricane P3525. 46 Squadron Stapleford
Sgt S.Andrews killed. (Crashed and burnt out for reasons unknown after an uneventful patrol)

1530hrs: Thames Estuary. Hurricane V7232. 46 Squadron Stapleford
Sgt W.A.Peacock listed as missing. (Failed to return after combat action. Presumed crashed into the sea)

1600hrs: Romney Marsh. Hurricane P3770. 504 Squadron Hendon
P/O A.W.Clarke listed as missing. (Crashed and burnt out near Newchurch after combat over coast)

1600hrs: Croydon. Spitfire II P7298. 611 Squadron Digby
Sgt F.E.R.Shepherd killed. (Caught fire during combat. Pilot baled out but aircraft crashed into houses)

1600hrs: Off Selsey Bill. Hurricane V6667. 213 Squadron Tangmere
Sgt A.Wojcicki listed as missing. (Shot down in Channel during combat with Bf110s. Body never recovered)

1615hrs: South London. Hurricane V6665. 303 Squadron Northolt
F/O A.Cebrzynski died of injuries 19.9.40 (Shot down during combat. Made a failed attempted crash landing)

1615hrs: Romney Marshes. Hurricane R2682 238 Squadron Middle Wallop
Sgt S.Duszynski listed as missing. (Last seen pursuing Ju88 over Romney. Aircraft crashed at Lydd)

1615hrs: Dungeness. Spitfire K9793. 92 Squadron Biggin Hill
P/O F.N.Hargreaves listed as missing. (Failed to return after combat action. Presumed crashed into the sea)

1615hrs: Tunbridge Wells. Hurricane V7240. 238 Squadron Middle Wallop
Fl/Lt D.P.Hughes listed as missing. (Last seen intercepting Ju88s. Failed to return to base)

1620hrs: Off Selsey Bill. Spitfire N3282. 602 Squadron Westhampnett
Sgt M.H.Sprague killed. (Shot down by Bf110s over Channel. Pilots body washed ashore at Brighton 10.10.40)

1625hrs: South London. Hurricane V7242. 303 Squadron Northolt
Sgt S.Wojtowicz killed. (Crashed and burnt out at Westerham after being shot down by Bf109s)

1730hrs: Channel area. Blenheim. 235 Squadtron Thorney Island
P/O P.C.Wickins-Smith listed as missing.
P/O A.W.V.Green listed as missing
Sgt R.D.H.Watts listed as missing. (Believed shot down by Bf109 during escort mission to Calais)

1730hrs: Channel area. Blenheim. 235 Squadron Thorney Island
P/O N.B.Shorrocks listed as missing.
Fl/Lt F.W.Flood listed as missing
Sgt B.R.Sharp listed as missing. (Failed to return from escort mission to Calais)

1900hrs: Smeeth (Kent). Spitfire P9464. 92 Squadron Biggin Hill
P/O H.D.Edwards killed. (Shot down by Bf109 during combat action and crashed into woods)

For more information on the actions of the day click the link below.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/september11.html

Speech to the nation.
Winston Churchill – September 11th 1940

“Whenever the weather is favourable waves of German bombers, protected by fighters, often three or four hundred at a time, surge over this Island, especially the promontory of Kent, in the hope of attacking military and other objectives by daylight. However, they are met by our fighter squadrons and nearly always broken up, and their losses average three to one in machines and six to one in pilots.
This effort of the Germans to secure daylight mastery of the air over England is of course the crux of the whole war. So far it has failed conspicuously. It has cost them very dear, and we have felt stronger, and actually are relatively a good deal stronger, than when the hard fighting began in July. There is no doubt that Herr Hitler is using up his fighter force at a very high rate, and that if he goes on for many more weeks he will wear down and ruin this vital part of his Air Force. That will give us a great advantage.

On the other hand, for him to try to invade this country without having secured mastery in the air would be a very hazardous undertaking. Nevertheless, all his preparations for invasion on a great scale are steadily going forward. Several hundreds of self-propelled barges are moving down the coasts of Europe, from the German and Dutch harbours to the ports of Northern France, from Dunkirk to Brest, and beyond Brest to the French harbours in the Bay of Biscay.

Besides this, convoys of merchant ships in tens and dozens are being moved through the Straits of Dover into the Channel, dodging along from port to port under the protection of the new batteries which the Germans have built on the French shore. There are now considerable gatherings of shipping in the German, Dutch, Belgian and French harbours, all the way from Hamburg to Brest. Finally, there are some preparations made of ships to carry an invading force from Norwegian waters.

Behind these clusters of ships or barges there stand large numbers of German troops, awaiting the order to go on board and set out on their very dangerous and uncertain voyage across the seas. We cannot tell when they will try to come. We cannot be sure that in fact they will try at all, but no-one should blind himself to the fact that a heavy full-scale invasion of this Island is being prepared with all the usual German thoroughness and method, and that it may be launched now. Upon England, upon Scotland, or upon Ireland, or upon all three.

If this invasion to going to be tried at all, it does not seem that it can be long delayed. The weather may break at any time. Besides this, it is difficult for the enemy to keep these gatherings of ships waiting about indefinitely while they are bombed every night by our bombers, and very often shelled by our warships which are waiting for them outside.

Therefore we must regard the next week or so as a very important period in our history. It ranks with the days when the Spanish Armada was approaching the Channel and Drake was finishing his game of bowls, or when Nelson stood between us and Napoleon’s Grand Army at Boulogne. We have read all about this in the history books, but what is happening now is on a far greater scale and of far more consequence to the life and future of the world and its civilisation than those brave old days.”