25th August 1940 We Remember

SUNDAY AUGUST 25th 1940 THE CASUALTIES:

1730hrs: Portland. Spitfire R6810. 152 Squadron Warmwell
P/O R.M.Hogg listed as missing. (Shot down by Bf109s over Channel and crashed into sea)

1730hrs: Portland. Spitfire R6994. 152 Squadron Warmwell
P/O T.S.Wildblood listed as missing. (Shot down by Bf109s over Channel and crashed into sea)

1730hrs: Portland. Hurricane V7226. 213 Squadron Exeter
P/O J.A.L.Phillipart killed. (Shot down by Bf109 over Channel. Body washed ashore two days later)

1745hrs: Portland. Hurricane R4199. 17 Squadron Tangmere
S/L C.W.Williams listed as missing. (Aircraft broke in two after combat with Bf110. Crashed into sea)

1800hrs: Hampshire. Hurricane P3200. 213 Squadron Exeter
P/O H.D.Atkinson listed as missing. (Last seen in combat over Warmwell. Failed to return to base)

1805hrs: Portland. Hurricane V7250. 87 Squadron Exeter
Sgt. L.R.E Wakeling Killed. (Shot down by Bf109 and burst into flames and crashed near Dorchester)

1900hrs: Dover. Hurricane N2433. 32 Squadron Biggin Hill
P/O K.R.Gillman listed as missing. (Failed to return to base after combat over the Channel)

1900hrs: Canterbury. Spitfire R6966. 616 Squadron Kenley
Sgt. T.E.Westmoreland listed as missing. (Failed to return to base)

1900hrs: Off Dover. Spitfire K9819. 616 Squadron Kenley
Sgt. P.T.Wareing taken prisoner. (Crashed near Calais after combat with Bf109. POW, managed to escape)

2200hrs: Wainfleet Lincolnshire. Blenheim L1330. 29 Squadron Digby
P/O R.A.Rhodes listed as missing.
Sgt. N.Jacobson listed as missing. (Believed shot down and crashed into sea during night combat)
Jacobson was just 18 years old – the youngest Battle of Britain RAF aircrew casualty

NIGHT: Exeter. Blenheim L6782. 604 Squadron Middle Wallop
Sgt. C.Haig Killed.
Sgt. J.G.B.Fletcher Killed.
LAC I.Austin Died next day. (Crashed during night operational operation. No known reason)

Luftwaffe losses:
47 destroyed; 15 probable; 16 damaged + 6 destroyed to AA

RAF 20 aircraft destroyed.

On the ground:
RAF 0 Killed 4 Wounded
Civilian: 84 Killed 233 Injured

“I saw an Me110 below me and dived down on him going very fast indeed. Unfortunately I was going too fast and in the heat of the moment I forgot to throttle back with the result that I came up behind him at terrific speed and overshot him badly. I got a good burst of fire at practically point blank range as he flashed by and then I had to turn away very violently or I should have collided with him. His rear gunner took advantage of my mistake and fired a short burst at me, and put several bullets through my wing, very close to the fuselage and only a few inches from my leg. When I turned round to look for the Hun he had disappeared.
Though there was a lot of fighting in progress and machines were turning and diving all over the sky, I had dived down below them all and couldn’t do much about it. I returned to base absolutely furious with myself for having missed that Me110. He was right in front of me, and if only I had not gone at him so wildly I should have had him easily.

Anyway, it taught me to be a little more cool in future. One lives and one learns – if lucky.”
Pilot Officer D.M.Crook 609 Squadron RAF Fighter Command.

F/Lt David Moore Crook DFC was posted missing on December 18th 1944.

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

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/august25.html