SATURDAY AUGUST 24th 1940 THE CASUALTIES
1015hrs: NW of Dover. Hurricane P3141. 501 Squadron Gravesend
P/O P.Zenker listed as missing. (Failed to return to base after combat with Do17s and Bf109s)
1240hrs: Off Ramsgate. Defiant N1535. 264 Squadron Hornchurch
S/L P.A.Hunter listed as missing
P/O F.H.King listed as missing. (Last seen chasing Ju88 out to sea after attack on Manston)
1240hrs: Off Ramsgate. Defiant L6966. 264 Squadron Hornchurch
P/O J.T.Jones listed as missing
P/O W.A.Ponting listed as missing. (Last seen in combat with Ju88s & Bf109s over the Channel)
1245hrs: Off Manston. Defiant L7027. 264 Squadron Hornchurch
F/O I.G.Shaw listed as missing
Sgt A.Berry listed as missing. (Possibly shot down by Bf109 into Channel after raid on Manston)
1600hrs: Manston. Defiant L6965. 264 Squadron Hornchurch
Sgt W.H.Machin died of wounds. (Shot down by Bf109 over base. Pilot was slightly injured)
1645hrs: W of Selsey. Blenheim T1804. 235 Squadron Thorney Island
P/O D.N.Woodger listed as missing.
Sgt D.L.Wright killed. (Shot down by Hurricanes of 1RCAF and crashed into Bracklesham Bay)
Luftwaffe losses:
40 Destroyed, 13 Probable, 15 Damaged
Plus 1 Destroyed & 4 Damaged to AA
RAF: 20 aircraft destroyed
On the ground:
RAF: 0 Killed 1 Injured
Civilian: 102 Killled 335 Injured
For more information on the actions of the day click the link below
By: JDK - 24th August 2004 at 16:54
Not a good day for the Defiants. Sqn Ldr Hunter was a man we could ill afford to lose, a lot of experience and someone responsible for developing the Defiant’s tactics. They were never meant to face single seat fighters though, and if France and the low countries hadn’t fallen, they would not have done.
Sgt Pilot gunners. Badly paid, badly treated by the RAF class system, and put into one of the worst places in the battle; the Defiant turret. Brave men.
By: whalebone - 24th August 2004 at 16:46
soft bump for our later visitors
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August 24, 2004 at 1:05 am