SnapperPinkies Logbook:
14 th June. Aircraft J. Armament 8 – 60 lb HE’s. Duty Ramrod:- St Peter Port. Duration 1-20. Comments Attacked U-BOAT in harbour. Hit by flak (Controls damaged).
SnapperWhat date was he lost, Biggins?
Snapper26.1kb. This sucks.
Yuk. Bitty as hell.
SnapperNo luck for me either. Ah well.
SnapperWEBMASTER!
SnapperLet’s try shrinking it to 54k then…
SnapperIt’d help if the pic uploaded.
SnapperPinkie Stark (Future CO of 609) and Thomas Leslie (Killed in action 11th September 1943).
SnapperTally Ho!
(Next thing you know, i’ll ask if I can shamefacedly nick it for my website!!!)
Are you coming to Duxford on Sunday? Be good to meet you.
SnapperOkay, here’s the ORB for the 12th March:
An early morning raid on London with some 40 e/a making landfall sees all avl Typhoons in the air, of which 2 comprise the standoing patrol (take off 0644) the rest scrambled at 0729 (all off in 3-1/2 mins. Unfortunately Hornchurch Control are unable to give any useful information despite the e/a having flown over their heads and merely direct the standing patrol (F/O van Lierde and F/O Skett ) which is very low on fuel, to a point 15 miles NE of base “quite low”. The others take this vector and there is some stooging around in the Estuary. Haze reduces visibility and F/O Evans is the only one to see anything, some 30 unidentified a/c in the distance. Norwegian 331 Squadron knock down 5, controlled by North Weald, and in the evening Erik Haabjoern goes to visit them, asked if they had been celebrating he replied,” No but I have”
Otherwise there are 11 patrols and 1 scramble and the earlier disappointment is somewhat allayed when F/Sgt Stark and Sgt Leslie (airborne 0942 down at 1037) get a FW190 DE and another DA, – told of bandits near Calais they investigate and find 4 e/a at 1000ft just off the coast, lose them in the sun and then see 3, another 3 e/a at sea level between Dunkirk and Mardyck. Sgt Leslie attacked the nearest from below and astern at short range, seeing strikes, after which the 190 turned sharply for home trailing white smoke. Stark attacked the leader from 100yds astern and after shooting off pieces it was seen to be on fire. It turned slowly to port and Stark had to pull up to avoid a collision, last seeing the 190 in a 30 degree dive at 300ft, inverted and trailing clouds of black smoke. Meanwhile FW190 number 3 had got behind Stark and opened fire hitting the Typhoon. Leslie returned from the French coast just in time to drive him off and F/Sgt Stark should be duly grateful.
Enemy casualties 1 FW 190 destroyed F/Sgt Stark
1 FW 190 damaged Sgt Leslie.
Also, from Jim:
Spitfire AR213 was built by Westlands and delivered new (via MU) to 57 OTU where Ginger Lacey confiscated it for himself – it never served in 609.
Von Perthes old boy, that’s a thoroughly good bit of writing on your part. A very interesting article that has clearly been researched properly – not always the case these days…..
SnapperThought that sounded a familiar scrap. Leslie’s name triggered it:
BOLTON PILOT SCORES
FW190 SHOT DOWN OVER DUNKIRK
A recent air battle against odds of two to one which ended in the destruction of one FW190 and severe damage to another over the beach at Dunkirk has just been described by a pilot of the West Riding of Yorkshire Typhoon Squadron. He is Flight Sergeant Laurence W. F. Stark, of Bolton.
“Sergeant T. D. L. Leslie, of Carshalton, Surrey, and I were flying about three miles off Calais,” he said, “when he saw four aircraft coming up behind us. He called to me and we both turned sharply. Then I recognised them as FW190s.”
When over the beach between Dunkirk and Mardyck, Flight Sergeant Stark attacked the leading machine from about 100 yards astern and saw his fire going home on the fuselage and starboard wing. “Several pieces flew off the enemy aircraft,” he said, “then flames shot out from around the cockpit. The enemy turned slowly to port and I had to pull up to avoid a collision. Turning steeply, I saw him below me now only about 300 feet up, going down in a steep dive almost on his back, with clouds of black smoke mingling with the flames.”
Dog Fight
By this time a regular dog – fight had developed, and the flight – sergeant had to turn his attention to another F.W. which was coming round on his tail. As he turned to meet this attack a third F.W. crossed twice in front of him. He fired a burst at it each time, but could not be sure that he hit it.
“The second machine was still behind me,” added the Flight – sergeant, “and fired several times without hitting me. Then at last I felt strikes on my aircraft, and oil began to flow around the cockpit. Just then, Sergt. Leslie attacked the Hun. He made off and we flew back to base. On landing I found just two bullet holes in my Typhoon, one of them in the oil tank.”
Sergt. Leslie had previously attacked another of the F.W.s from 75 yards’ range. He saw strikes on the fuselage and wings. It pulled up sharply and then went steeply down with white smoke coming from it. This aircraft is being credited as “damaged.”
Flight – Sergeant Stark was formerly at Bolton School and Manchester College of Technology. He was studying to be an engineer when he joined up in 1940. He is 22 years old.
Bolton Evening News. 12th March 1943
I have a photo of the two on my hard-drive at home too, just after this. (Presumably taken by the newspapers).
SnapperI don’t know why they always illustrate DN406 / PR-F ‘Mavis’ as being Pinkie Stark’s aircraft. (The Revell 1:32 kit does, as does another book I’ve seen and also a decal sheet). It was P/O Peter Raw DFC’s aircraft. That info came from Pinkie himself. Pinkie only flew a PR-F coded Typhoon on 6 occasions during his first 609 tour – for a total of 4 hours. (n.b., I have no record of the serials for 1st-17th February 1943, 31 flights, or 4th-7th January 1944, 7 flights. Will try and get these asap). 2 hours of which were two flights in March 1943. His logbook records:
9th March Scramble and Patrol 1 hour 25 minutes
12th March Patrol North – South Foreland 55 minutes
Having only joined the Squadron in January, it’s doubtful Pinkie would have had a ‘regular’ aircraft anyway. By April, through until June, his most ‘regular’ was PR-J. Sept – Jan it was PR-S (He flew ‘S’ on December 1st, but so did Sgt Aitken-Quack, who was shot down. Serial JP924. By the 4th, Pinkie was in PR-S again – his next flight. That’s worth a further ‘dig’ I think.) So, basically, that aircraft has the ‘tally’ of Peter Raw, and has nothing to do with Pinkie at all.
Other than the swastika drawn in next to the entry of the 12th, with the following sentence:
Attacked four Fw 190’s between Dunkirk and Mardyck
1 Fw 190 “Destroyed” No. 1 (Sgt Leslie) “damaged” one Fw 190. I was hit by 2 – 7.9 mm bullets, one in the oil tank )
And Bob Wallings diary record of:
March 12th. In an early morning raid on London a Norwegian squadron from North Weald shot down five Jerry fighters. We had a scramble, and the kites patrolled the deck, but did not go into action. On a patrol later in the morning, Flt-Sgt Stark and Sgt Leslie had a scrap with three FW190’s. Stark got a very probable Probable – when last seen the FW was upside down at 300ft diving towards the sea with flames coming out of it. Leslie managed to get one damaged. Starks aircraft was holed through the oil tank and rudder-trimming tab. Lallemand was awarded the DFC.
My copy of the Operational Records Book is for August 1942 – Feb 1943 only (Sgt Wiseman’s months with 609) so can’t record that days ORB entry i’m afraid. Yet.
Peter ‘Slosher’ Raw was one of four brothers, of which only one, Michael, survived the war, receiving the Air Force Cross in 1955. Another brother, Anthony, also won the AFC, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross, which Peter was also awarded, and their father had previously won the Distinguished Service Cross whilst serving in the Royal Navy with the rank of Commander. Peter was killed in action over Holland as a Flight Lieutenant in 183 Squadron on 21st March 1944, while Anthony was killed with 156 Squadron, a Pathfinder unit of Bomber Command, a few months later on 11th September. Peter boxed competitively, and had joined 609 in the company of Roy Payne and Humphrey Gilbert on 30th June 1942, all of them coming from the same Operational Training Unit, and all ex-Army, Raw having been an officer. According to Roy Payne, “there are a whole load of cannon shells embedded in the grass runway at Duxford. Peter Raw was coming in to land, and when he selected Flaps the cannons started blazing. Gave him a hell of a shock. Someone had connected the wiring incorrectly.”
Raws DFC Citation:
Reccommendation ………..
Christian Names :- PETER, EDWARD. Surname :- RAW.
Rank :- P/O Current Decorations :- NIL.
Number :- 119259. Command :- FIGHTER Group :- No. 11 (F).
Unit :- No. 609 WR. Squadron. MANSTON. Nationality :- BRITISH.
If R.A.F. – Whether R.A.F. or R.A.F.V.R. :- R.A.F.V.R.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Particulars of Meritorious service for which the reccomendation is made, including date and place.
P/O. Raw is a pilot of exceptional courage and ability, and is always eager to hunt and engage the enemy. During a period of three months he has attacked and immobilised 17 locomotives, 11 by day and 6 by night, during offensive operations over France and Belgium. Recently he has taken part in two attacks on enemy shipping, and in the face of intense Flak has severely damaged two and scored hits on two more enemy motor minesweepers. He has also damaged a FW. 190 raider.
Recognition Reccomended Distinguished Flying Cross.
Appointment held (or Trade) Section Leader of “A” Flight.
Date 7/4/43. R.P.Beamont.
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 609 WR. Squadron, A.A.F.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
COVERING REMARKS BY STATION COMMANDER.
P/O. Raw has displayed the offensive spirit to a very marked degree. He has taken advantage of every opportunity to seek out and attack the enemy. I strongly support the reccomendation of his Squadron Commander.
Date 9.4.43 W/C Commanding R.A.F. Station, MANSTON, KENT.
COVERING REMARKS BY SECTOR COMMANDER.
This Officer has achieved excellent results against enemy transportation targets. He recently displayed a particularly high standard of courage and tenacity when he pressed home an attack against a force of enemy minesweepers in the face of intense opposition and in failing light. I endorse the reccomendation for the award of the D.F.C.
A.S. Adnam
Group Captain, Commanding,
12.4.1943. R.A.F. Station, Hornchurch.
Approved.
T. Leigh-Mallory
Air Marshall,
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief,
Commanding, Fighter Command.
Date 29/4/43 ROYAL AIR FORCE.
Further to that (and the bloody ridiculous name of the ‘author’ – did he write it in a Mae West?) – I have no record of AR213 ever having served with 609. The closest it came, in my knowledge, is Jim Earnshaw working on it when it was Ginger Lacey’s at 57 OTU (see different thread for that). I may be wrong though – Where’s Tom?!
SnapperI swam with dolphins on my 21st birthday in the Bahamas. I guess that merits about a 2. Pretty dull really, and they feel like rubber.
SnapperI swam with dolphins on my 21st birthday in the Bahamas. I guess that merits about a 2. Pretty dull really, and they feel like rubber.
SnapperThanks guys. Jan did indeed seem very well at Waremme – it was a massive shock a few days later to hear that he was in hospital. I knew he was ill, but it was just so rapid. Better that it was over quickly I guess. Lets hope he is, indeed, amongst old friends again.
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