Snapper's photos

Miller spent 3 months with 609 starting at Northolt and was Yellow one when he collided with Me110 on 27/09/40 -claimed 3DE and 1Shared + 1 Pr and 1 Da.

Thats from 609 Archivist.

Serial / squadron codes were recorded in the Engineering Officers logs. These were destroyed after VE Day.

Logbooks are a ****** – some carry Sqdn codes, some carry serial codes. Nightmare. I really need to get my hands on the F541 for those 3 months. (I need one full stop!) The F540 is no problem to get a look at, other than the fact that i’m too busy to deal with it at present!

I think I have a photocopy of part of Frank Howells logbook at home – thats the only one i’d have athome at present that might match. If it does, bingo. His daughter has done loads of research on him.

I used your info on the Tally Ho! script to possibly identify a picture of R6986 sent to me some time ago after I positively identified a photo of Frank Howell in his Spit at Warmwell.
Frank Howell’s daughter is my cousin! anyone seen these photos – including the balckboard of 13th August 1940?

For now.

Now I think that’s about it.

27/9/40. The enemy sent a mixed force to bomb Bristol shortly before noon. For the second time in three days No.10 Group Control positioned the Squadron so badly that they had little or no chance of catching any of the bombers over the coast. Both Flight Commanders’ R/T having failed, Yellow Leader, P/O R.G. Miller led the squadron into an attack on the escort of fighters that were seen circling over Warmwell, losing his life in a collision with an Me.110, in which both aircraft appeared to explode in mid-air. Five other Me.110’s and an Me.109 were destroyed by the Squadron (Appendices), as follows :-
F/O Dundas. 1 Me.110 destroyed.
P/O Bisdee )
P/O Crook. ) 1 Me.110 destroyed.
P/O Miller. 1 Me.110 destroyed (in collision)
P/O Staples. 1 Me.110 destroyed.
P/O Agazarian. 1 Me.110 destroyed.
P/O Ogilvie. 1 Me.110 destroyed.
P/O Forshaw 1 Me.109 destroyed.
Deprived of the protection of their escort by 609’s demarche, the bomber formation appears to have been broken up effectively by other fighter squadrons, as testified by messages received from the Secretary of State for Air, the Commander in Chief, and from Sir Stanley White of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. (Appendices)
P/O R.F.G. Miller, whose loss was deplored of his associates, had held a Short Service Commission in the R.A.F. and since joining the Squadron at Northolt on 26th June accounted for 3 plus ½ plus 1/3 Enemy Aircraft destroyed, one probable and two damaged.

ADDRESSED TO No. 609 SQUADRON, etc. FROM A O C 10 GROUP

P.877 28/9

THE C-IN-C DESIRES ME TO CONVEY HIS CONGRATULATIONS ON THE EXCELLENT WORK OF YESTERDAY WHICH WAS EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN THAT OF THE PREVIOUS DAY IN THAT THE ENEMY WAS BROKEN UP AND PREVENTED FROM ACCURATELY BOMBING THEIR OBJECTIVE.
1050. JONES B.

ADDRESSED TO NO. 609 SQUADRON. etc. FROM No. 10 GROUP.

P.880. 28/9

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE DATED 26/9 RECEIVED 10 GROUP FROM THE S OF S FOR AIR BEGINS
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOU FIGHTING YESTERDAY – ENDS — 1055

JONES B.

ADDRESSED TO 609 SQUADRON, etc FROM No. 10 GROUP.

P.889 29/9

A MESSAGE HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE A.O.C. FROM SIR STANLEY WHITE OF THE BRISTOL AEROPLANE COMPANY THROUGH LORD BEAVERBROOK COMMENTING ON THE FINE COURAGE DISPLAYED BY FIGHTER SQUADRONS IN BREAKING UP ENEMY ATTACKS ON FILTON ON THE 27TH INST. WHICH HE SAYS UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED THE FACTORY FROM SERIOUS DAMAGE AND HEARTENED AND ENCOURAGED ALL THE FACTORY EMPLOYEES. HE WISHES THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO BE CONVEYED TO ALL CONCERNED.

snapper – ‘Enemy fighter at high altitude waiting to attack’

Behind? I’m ahead by a month!

2 days to go – tomorrow will be last page of interest…

‘Weaver to Red Leader, watch out snappers behind’

25/9/40. A big battle just before noon, in which over 200 Dorniers and Heinkel bombers in arrow-headed formations, escorted by at least 30 Messerschmitt fighters, were chased and caught just south of Bristol. The city’s A.A. fire, though well meant, was more than disturbing our Pilots, none of which, however, were hurt. The Squadron obtained a very good bag, at the expense of only one machine (P/O Ogilvie’s) damaged by enemy fire. Those responsible for enemy casualties were :-
S/Ldr Darley. 1 Dornier 17 and Me.110’s damaged.
F/O Dundas. 1 Do.17 destroyed.
Sgt Hughes-Rees. 1 Do215 destroyed.
P/O Ogilvie. 1 Do.17 probable.
Sgt Feary. 1 Do.215 damaged.
P/O Staples. 1 Me.110 probable.
F/Lt McArthur. 1 Me.110 destroyed.
P/O Miller. )
P/O Agazarian. ) 1 He.111 destroyed.
P/O Unwin-Mann )
(238 Sqdn)
P/O Curchin. 1 He.111 destroyed.
1 He.111 destroyed
(Shared with P/O Wigglesworth, 238 Sqdn.)
P/O Nowierski. 1 He.111 destroyed.
A signal of “congratulations on your fighting yesterday”, dated 26/9/40, was received from the secretary of State for Air. (Appendix). Several very good Cine-gun films emerged from this engagement.

ADDRESSED TO 609 SQUADRON, etc FROM No. 10 GROUP.

P.880 28/9

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE DATED 26/9 RECEIVED 10 GROUP FROM THE S OF S FOR AIR BEGINS
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIGHTING YESTERDAY – ENDS – 1055.

JONES B.

24/9/40. The Squadron intercepted a raid over Swanage, in which 1 Dornier (Sgt Feary) 1 Me.110 (P/O Staples) 1 Me.109 (F/O Dundas) and 1 uncertain Me.109, believed possibly a Morane, (P/O Curchin) were destroyed; 1 Dornier (P/O Ogilvie) probably destroyed, and 2 Dorniers (F/O Dundas and P/O Miller) damaged (Appendices).
In this engagement F/O Dundas enjoyed his dog-fight with an Me.110, in which he found that he could easily hold the Me.110’s climb and turn inside him, subsequently sending him spinning into the sea.

Warmwell. 13/8/40. Thirteen Spitfires left Warmwell for a memorable Tea-time party over Lyme Bay, and an unlucky day for the species Ju.87, of which no less than 14 suffered destruction or damage in a record Squadron “Bag”, which also included 5 of the escorting Me’s. The enemy formations, consisting of about 40 dive bombers in 4 vic formations, with about as many Me.110’s and 109’s stepped up above them, heading Northwards from the Channel, was surprised by 609 Squadron’s down-sun attack (Appendices “D”). All thirteen of our pilots fired their guns, the casualties claimed being as follows:-
F/O P. Ostazewski. 2 Ju.87’s Probable.
P/O M.J. Appleby. 1 Me. 109 and 1 Ju.87 Damaged.
F/Lt McArthur. 1 Me.109 Damaged.
F/O Nowierski. 1 Me.109 Destroyed and 1 Me.109 Damaged.
P/O D.M. Crook. 1 Me.109 Destroyed.
F/Lt F.J. Howell. 2 Ju.87’s Destroyed.
F/O H.M. Goodwin. 2 Ju.87’s Destroyed.
Sgt Feary. 1 Ju.87 Destroyed, and 1 Me.110 Damaged.
F/O J.C. Dundas. 1 Ju.87 Destroyed and 1 Ju.87 Damaged.
P/O C.N. Overton. 2 Ju.87’s Destroyed.
P/O R.G. Miller. 1 Ju.87 Destroyed, 1 Ju.87 Probable.
P/O M.E. Staples. 1 Ju.87 Destroyed, 1 Ju.87 Damaged.

(Be aware that these are contemporary claims, and do not tally with post war figures.)

Originally posted by von Perthes
Snapper,

Thanks for the pm. The answer is no, but Geoff is a good friend of mine! I shall be seeing him Sunday, as it’s my turn for helping to run the (Shoreham Aircraft) Museum. I’m over there every three weeks. It’s a bit knackering really, I finish my nightshift at 2AM, get to bed around 3.30AM, get up at 7AM, reach the museum at 10AM, & get back home at 7PM. Still the guys (& girls) we are remembering at the museum put their lives on the line, so the least I can do is go without a few hours sleep.

Apart from this Sunday, I shall be there on the 14th & 28th September, so if you get the chance why not come over? I could hand the photos of RFG over in person, just let me know so I can take them with me.

Have you seen Geoff’s website? (www.aviartnutkins.com)

If anyone reading this is thinking of visiting the museum, just a reminder that the museum closes for the winter on the 28th September. If you want to know about the museum, see our website (www.shoreham-aircraft-museum.co.uk) and/or FlyPast September 2003 issue, pp 48/49.

Geoff.

The bit about going without a few hours sleep to keep the memory of these real heroes alive is a most noble sentiment and one I concur with wholeheartedly.
Mike

Was this some Airman’s way of digging a foxhole without all the effort?

Yeah. I guess they wouldn’t last long flying for TFC!!!

Mark,

The diaries are excellent, mind you perhaps 609 should have been given Spitfires with fixed undercarts, and rubber props 🙂

Geoff.

I should stay at Readiness if I were you. Red Section will be vectored onto more at Angels tomorrow, and perhaps Blue on Abgels Monday. Depends how busy work is – but I am up to August 1st now, and managed quite a lot today. I should Pancake around the end of September if I were you!

Oh, and enjoy the diaries!

Many thanks for that Mark, all cut & pasted. Got the PMs Ok.

May I pancake now?

Geoff.

More:

13/7/40. Yellow Section, F/O Dundas, P/O Miller and P/O Overton were detailed to patrol convoy at 4,000 feet west of Swanage, and did not find convoy as it was not in the position given. P/O Miller observed a large number of enemy aircraft 15,000 feet above, south of Portland. F/O Dundas and P/O Miller climbed above them and attacked from the sun. F/O Dundas shot down one Me.110 with 800 rounds, then, himself attacked by 110s, broke off the engagement and landed at Warmwell. P/O Miller carried out a short inconclusive attack on Me.110s and then fired all his rounds into a Do.17, which was seen by members of 238 Squadron who were also engaged, flying out to sea with his port engine on fire and losing height rapidly. P/O Overton, whose aircraft was not performing as it should, could not gain height quickly enough, so broke away and did not engage. Engagement took place between 14.45 – 15.00 hours. (Appendix “E”)

19/7/40. PO Dundas shot down one Me. 110 and P/O Miller shot down one Do.17 in engagement in which 238 Squadron also took part. (Appendix “H”.) (Ziegler’s note – “Confirm here. This almost certainly refers to 13/7/40. FHZ.)

Just found this in the ORB:

11/6/40. The escort and escorted aircraft left today for Orleans and the three sections spent the night in Orleans. Three new pilots were posted to the squadron from No. 600 Squadron, they are:- P/O Curchin, P/O Miller and Sergeant Feary. None are trained. There was an accident in Flying Officer Drummond-Hay’s aircraft today. The incendiary ammunition exploded in the feed chute of no. 1 port Browning gun causing damage to the tank; there was no material damage to the Port Mainplane. There has been no previous instance of this curious defect, it is suggested that spontaneous combustion of the incendiary composition may have been caused by the heat of the sun. Squadrons have been permitted to experiment with back-view mirrors around the cockpit. The Squadron has obtained an experimental fitting to one aircraft; this consists of tear drops on either side of the hood – these tear drops are made of perspex and each contains a mirror which is held in by suction. The effect at present seems very good.

It that case, I might as well send you the three photos now. When you return them, send me a copy of the group photo with RFGM in, and you can do me an IOU for the other two.

I’ll stick them in the post next week, and send them to the address on your website.

Are you ‘bringing’ a 609 sqdn aircraft to the forum Battle of Britain At home’? (see the ‘At home’ thread).

Geoff.

I very much doubt I will come up with any others of him in all honesty. And the aircraft had the serials painted out, so we’re stuffed, basically, on that front. Still, could be worse! And something may still turn up (I’ll have to recognise him too though, of course!). At least i’m turning up some text at least.

Many thanks for the info Snapper. As soon as you can come up with two more relevant photos to RFG Miller (as well as the group shot above), I’ll send you my three photos (posted above) for you to copy.

Geoff.