Seeking help on Bio information on Cecil Henry Saunders and the events bellow….
September 9, 1940
After combat with enemy aircraft over Biggin Hill P/O Saunders made a crash landing at Midley, near Rye, in Spitfire L1077 (QJ-?). He was admitted to the RAMC Hospital at Brookland with shrapnel wounds in his legs. His Spitfire was written off on??? Parts of aircraft from this encounter were recovered and are held in the Battle of Britain Museum in Kent.
September 28
Spitfire X4555 is dispersed from No. 6 Maintenance Unit to Biggin Hill.
October ?
P/O Saunders returns to Squadron at Biggin Hill
October 26
P/O Saunders damages a Bf109 in Spitfire ? (QJ-?).
October 29
P/O Saunders destroyed a Bf109 in Spitfire ? (QJ-?).
November 1
The Squadron was ordered off against raid of 50 Ju87s and Me110 escorts when P/O 17:30hrs McKinder in Spitfire X4487 (QJ-?) [radio failed] and wingman P/O Saunders in Spitfire X4555 (QJ-?) dived down to attack the Stuka formation at 1500 feet, dive bombing a convoy in the Estuary. P/O McKinder shot one down in flames but in turn was shot up by an Me109 that damaged his Spitfire by blowing the end of the port wing off. He had both wrists broken and an artery severed together with shell splinters in his buttocks. Clamping his wounded arm to his leg in an attempt to stanch the bleeding from both, he engaged his attacker, finally losing sight if it over Herne Bay and claiming it damaged. Feeling now exceedingly unwell, P/O McKinder crashed landed and walked almost a mile to the nearest farmhouse to summon help. Only P/O McKinder and P/O Saunders managed to get in amongst the bombers, P/O Saunders claiming one destroyed Ju87 and damaging a Bf110. P/O Saunders Spitfire was also badly shot about but he returned safely making a crash landing three miles east of Eastchurch. He was unhurt despite the bullet ceased in his flying helmet and smashed flying goggles.
November 7
Spitfire X4555 (QJ-?) was taken out of active service due to the Category C2 accident. Sent to General Aircraft Limited for repairs after it was recovered.
Saunders retired from the RAF in 1958. His victories in combat are 5, 2 destroyed, 2 probable and 3 damaged. He died at the age of 81 in England in 1992.
SEARCHING FOR:
I am in the midst of obtaining the Combat Report from Nov 1 for Saunders crash near Eastchurch and the events mentioned above.
I want to obtain the ORBs for No. 92 Squadron in order to find out the number of enemy a/c that Spitfire X4555 shot down. Doe anyone know if you can photocopy these from KEW?
I wanted to post this to see if anyone has any Bio information on Saunders and where he was living when he died in 1992. BBC/Kent is helping me possibly get in touch with Geoffrey Wellum of his input on these events and Saunders as well.
Since no know memoirs exsit I may never be able to ID the Aircraft Code X4555 carried without finding his logbooks from this time period – and that seems almost impossible!
If you can help I would be most grateful..
Lee
Toronto,Cdn
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August 3, 2010 at 8:34 pm