January 2018 FLYPAST 67BATTLE OF BRITAIN 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
TWO IN A NIGHT
After a mixed week of rest and
additional training, 74 returned to
its base at Hornchurch, Essex. From
June 5 to August 14 both Rochford,
Essex, and Manston, Kent, were used
by 74 as forward operating bases.
On the night of June 5/6 about
30 Luftwaffe bombers were seen
approaching the coast. Patrols were
ordered but the enemy proved
elusive. On the 13th Malan flew
down to Farnborough, Hampshire,
to participate in a flying trial against
a captured Bf 109.
More night raids were flown by
the Germans and a number of pilots
offered to attempt interceptions.
Leading by example, Malan took
off on the night of June 18/19
from Rochford in Spitfire I K9953
at 0020hrs to intercept a raid on
Southend.
With the aid of searchlights Malan
positioned behind an He 111 at
8,000ft whose crew had not seen him
approach from astern. He opened
fire at 200 yards (182m) observing
hits all over the fuselage. Malan
continued to close the range
to 50 yards before finally breaking
off, oil from the damaged aircraft
covering his windscreen.
The He 111 was last seen spiralling
away. It was later confirmed as
destroyed, crashing on a beach,
killing the entire crew.
Almost immediately another He
111 was seen coned in searchlights
and Malan fired two five-second
bursts with slight deflection as the
enemy turned to port. The rounds
found their mark and peppered the
whole airframe. A parachute was
seen to open just before the Heinkel
burst into flames and crashed near
Chelmsford, Essex. Malan officially
became the first RAF pilot from any
unit to shoot down two aircraft in
one night.
At the end of June, King George VI
visited Hornchurch to confer Malan’s
DFC as well as to award decorations
to ‘Al’ Deere and Johnny Allen of 54
Squadron.ENTERING THE FRAY
The start of July saw 74 lose Sgt J
R B White who was killed when
his Spitfire was hit by lightning andcrashed in flames near Margate, Kent.
He had joined the Tigers just nine
days before.
The Germans were still
predominately attacking by night, but
on the 6th two He 111s were caught
in daylight and taken on by Flt Lt
W E G ‘Tink’ Measures and Plt Off
Derek Dowding. Measures claimed
one of the Heinkels, but Dowding
could only call a probable after losing
sight of his quarry in cloud.
Dowding had joined the Tigers in
early 1939 and soon acquired the
nickname ‘Scruffy’ due to his untidy
appearance. Considering he was the
son of the Commander-in-Chief
Fighter Command it was a surprising
revelation, but this delightful character
soon endeared himself to everyone on
the squadron.
Over the next few days 74 added
another He 111 and two Bf 109s to
its tally with one of the latter force
landing at Elham, Kent, with its
uninjured pilot taken prisoner.
July 10^ was the first official day of
the Battle of Britain, and the Tigers
entered the fray early on that showery
morning while on patrol overAbove left
Aircrew of 74
Squadron await the
scramble at Rochford,
complete with Lloyd
Loom chairs. VIA
AUTHOR