May 2015 FLYPAST 53“FOR US GERMANS THE WORD “DUNKIRCHEN” WILL STAND FOR ALL TIME FOR VICTORY
IN THE GREATEST BATTLE OF ANNIHILATION IN HISTORY. BUT, FOR THE BRITISH AND
FRENCH WHO WERE THERE, IT WILL REMIND THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES OF A DEFEAT
THAT WAS HEAVIER THAN ANY ARMY HAD EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.” DER ADLER, 5 JUNE, 1940SAILOR S
OVER DUNKIRK
ANDREW THOMAS DESCRIBES THE ACTIONS OF ROYAL NAVY
FIGHTERS THAT HELPED COVER THE EVACUATION
FROM THE BEACHES
took off from Detling consisting of
two Skuas and one Roc. The latter,
crewed by Midshipman (Mid) A
G Day and Naval Airman (NA)
Jones, crashed on take-off, though
neither was hurt.
“Within 20 minutes we were
told that this section had been
shot down and we were to replace
it immediately. Midshipman
Graham Hogg managed to limp
into Manston with his aircraft
(serial number L2896) riddled with
bullets and his air gunner killed.”
Travelling back to Detling by train
and carrying his flying kit, Hogg
had the indignity of being arrested
for being an enemy parachutist!
It had been a traumatic beginning
as the first section, flying an
unfamiliar type and wearing naval
grey camouflage, had been attacked
by Hurricanes from 213 Squadron.
Campbell-Horsfall and Petty
Officer Leslie Clare were rescued
from the sea.COUNTERING
BOMBERS
The men of 806 Squadron had
been tasked with covering the
‘little ships’ as they sailed back
to the Kent coast. When Lt CdrCharles
Evans
in Skua
L3011 led
the next patrol,
they stayed further
offshore and remained
in mid-Channel
using cloud cover
when possible.
The following
afternoon,
May 29, Lt
Bill Barnes
in Skua L2887 led Sub Lt
Ayres in a Skua and Sub
Lt Day in a Roc to patrol
over the Channel. Off Ostend they
spotted five Junkers Ju 88s dive-
bombing shipping. The 23-year-
old Barnes immediately led his
section in to successfully break up
the German attack. They claimed
one of the Ju 88s shot down while
a second limped off, smoking and
losing height. Lt Vincent-Jones
described Roc gunner NA Newton’s
claim to the turret fighter’s onlyLeft
Lt ‘Moose’ Martyn fl ew
Skuas with 801 Squadron
over Dunkirk. OWEN
DINSDALE52-56_Blitzkrieg_fpSBB.indd 53 13/03/2015 10:32