FP_2015_05_

38 FLYPAST May 2015

194019401940

was parlous and there was a serious

shortage of ammunition.

On the evening of the 25th, the

Lysanders of 613 attacked a battery

of large field guns on the outskirts

of Peuplingues, southwest of Calais.

Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, they

successfully dive-bombed the target

and all returned safely. While the

Lysanders were airborne the Hector

flight, led by Sqn Ldr Anderson,

arrived at Hawkinge to repeat the

attack but, after standing by for a

short time, was ordered to return to

Odiham.

DIRE STRAITS

There was little rest as shortly after

04:00 on May 26 Sqn Ldr Anderson,

flying in K9706 with Plt Off

Wesson as his gunner, led a flight of

Hectors down to Hawkinge once

more. With Anderson were Plt Off

Bernard Brown and LAC R V Brown

in K8111, Plt Offs Allen Edy and

was parlous and there was a serious

shortage of ammunition.

‘Tiger’ Houghton (K8127), Plt Off D

Stewart and LAC Conache (K9727),

Plt Off Paddy Barthropp and AC1

MacKinnon (K9781) and Plt Off

Gore and AC1 Leathen (K8108).

On arrival they were given a long

briefing by ACM Sir Edgar Ludlow-

Hewitt, the inspector-general of the

RAF and were shocked to hear the

BEF had been driven back to the

Channel coast. The Hectors and

other aircraft were being sent to

support the Calais garrison trapped

in the town’s Citadel.

That 613’s antiquated biplanes

were being called upon underlined

how desperate the situation was.

Each Hector was loaded with two

120lb general purpose (GP) bombs

and left Hawkinge for the target

• the same one the Lysanders had
  attacked the previous day.
  Anderson led six Hectors off at
  09:50 in two sections of three. The
  first, led by the CO, intended to

approach the target from the north

and carry out diving attacks using

the forward-facing Vickers machine

gun and dropping bombs as a salvo.

Plt Off Gore led the second section,

planning a similar strike from the

east.

DIVE-BOMBING CALAIS

Over the Channel, Plt Off Bernard

Brown test-fired his front gun. After

a few rounds the muzzle exploded

and holed the fuel tank, spraying him

with petrol. He jettisoned his bombs

and attempted to return to Hawkinge

but finally ran out of fuel and force-

landed on Herne Bay golf course.

Calais was wreathed in smoke haze as

the rest of the Hectors dive-bombed.

Arriving over the town at 4,000ft, Plt

Off Stewart spotted a German gun

position and, despite the heavy flak,

dived down to 900ft and released a

bomb before climbing back unscathed

and setting course for Hawkinge.

Above

A rare fl ying view of a

613 Squadron Hector at

the time of the ‘ops’ over

Calais. 613 SQN ASSOCIATION

VIA R A SCHOLEFIELD

Right

Plt Off Paddy Barthropp

fl ew on the fi rst Hector

operation. P LAKE

Right centre

In the spring of 1940

Lysander IIs began to

arrive on 613 Squadron;

L4799 illustrated. J BEEDLE

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