Hawker Hart – Shot down 21 July 1940, Old Sarum

On a similar theme, Sgt A Kearsey found himself alone and unarmed in Fairey Battle K9429 pretty much caught up in Stuka formation headed for Portland on 4 July 1940. He beat a hasty retreat!

As to the thread title, my pal Chris Goss called to remind me that the whole story of Ldg Airman Seed is covered in his excellent ‘Luftwaffe Bombers’ Battle of Britain’. Thanks Chris! I knew I had read it somewhere and it was, of course, on my bookshelf.

How did that happen as as far as I know P-61s we’re never deployed in the European theatre?

Scroll down to the ‘European Theatre’ bit;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_P-61_Black_Widow

How did that happen as as far as I know P-61s we’re never deployed in the European theatre?

Flicking through a Signal ‘P61 Black Widow in action’ book in Ian Allan today there was a brief account of a P61 being so badly shot up by a Stuka that it was subsequently written off. Would be interested to know more about the action. It’s not where my bet would have been placed.

Yes it was based on fact. but the aircraft was realy a Interstate Cadet.

Dave

We (the Allies) did the same over German territory. Anything with the Balkenkreuz was fair game.

There’s some camera gun footage of an Arado 96 being shot down that pops up on a regular basis.

Anon.

In the film Tora, Tora, Tora was the scene with the Stearman finding itself in amongst the whole Japanese attack force based on a real event?

We (the Allies) did the same over German territory. Anything with the Balkenkreuz was fair game.

There’s some camera gun footage of an Arado 96 being shot down that pops up on a regular basis.

Anon.

Maybe second line duty aircraft, rather than just narrowing it down to training aircraft…;o)

Hawarden/Sealand kept a flight of Spitfires at readiness in case of attacks in the area; aircraft that were otherwise used for training. Not really trainers though. I believe that pilots under training were involved in local combats at some time. Will have to look at the books when I get home.

Were there many other ‘coming togethers’ of training aircraft and enemy aircraft over British skies?

I vaguely recall an Anson(?) bringing down a bomber by crashing into it with inevitable results, and wasn’t there a target tug (Henley?) that chased a bomber with his landing light around Wales? Then there was the Roc and the He59 (I think) that battled it out over the Channel to little apparent effect, but that’s my memory scoured.

Others anyone?

Thanks Ian!

I knew I had the information somewhere….and that book is in my collection, too. Doh!

Seems that the poor chap got clobbered by the Me 110 later downed that morning at Goodwood. Bit of a one-sided engagement.

It was K6485, Andy. According to ‘Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm’, Shot down in flames by Bf110 at 10.05 over Old Sarum airfield. Pilot jumped but killed by gunshot wounds and multiple injuries. One of the more unusual BoB casualties.