Thanks Dean,
An interesting story. I am still unsure if this is the same incident that Bill Wells witnessed. I have typed out what he wrote in 1982 now, which I’ll paste below. Also when I interviewed him last year he told me the story personally. I haven’t transcribed the tape yet but I recall it being much the same as his written account.
Here’s what Bill wrote:
“That evening proof came that this beautiful machine was also effective and deadly. It was the custom, after flying for the day had finished, to assemble at the tent which was our bar, for a glass of beer and a chat with the instructors. It was the order of the day that two Spitfires should be kept nearby fully armed and at Readiness during all daylight hours. It was not yet dark and there was a low cloud base at some 1,500 feet, I suppose. Suddenly while we were looking out of the tent, there was a loud burst of heavy machine gun fire and we saw that a Dornier 17 had slipped out of the cloud, apparently without noticing us, and was machine gunning certain factories, which stood at the far side of the airfield.
In a flash the Duty Instructor practically jumped into the nearest Spitfire and within seconds it seemed, was roaring across our grass airfield, without regard for wind direction, straight towards the Dornier, which was just starting a second attack. The latter obviously never knew what hit him, because the Spitfire was still climbing towards him, firing as it came. We could all see the flashing of the de Wilde incendiary ammunition striking the Dornier and its near engine, which almost at once burst into flames. Within two or three minutes the enemy aircraft had crashed just off the airfield and the Spitfire was taxiing back to its Readiness position.
I need hardly say that there were very hearty cheers for both the pilot and the Spitfire, and that night we drank rather more beer than we usually did. It seemed a very good end to a splendid day, and one which I have never forgotten.”
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