June 2018 FLYPAST 89RESPONSE TO BARBAROSSA 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
from 2 Group.
The large escort force flew at
heights up to 30,000ft (9,144m) with
associated variations depending on
the depth of penetration into enemy
territory, and the weather conditions.
Combat started soon after 16:00
hours near Hazebrouck when 54
Squadron led by Sqn Ldr Finlay Boyd
tangled with Messerschmitt Bf 109s of
Jagdgeschwader (JG) 2 and JG 26.
While most units reported
skirmishes, the main fight seems to
have involved the Spitfires of 609 and
611 Squadrons. The latter’s diarist
noted it was the best fighting...
“experienced since the previous
September, when the Battle of Britain
was at its height. Ten Bf 109s were
seen climbing towards the wing
before the target was reached and the
squadron went down to scare them
before continuing track. Above the
target, the wing split into fours, and
large numbers of enemy fighters were
encountered.”
Among those who claimed was Flt
Lt Theo Buys, a Dutch pilot in 611:
“We were at Gravelines at 18,000ft
when four Bf 109Es approached us
turning to get behind. The section
broke up and I attacked the leader of a
pair, easily turning inside him, and got
onto his tail. The e/a [enemy aircraft]
turned on his back and I was easily
able to deliver a three-second burst
closing from 150 to 100 yards. The e/a
dived vertically down, emitting black
and white smoke.
“I followed him down for 1,000ft
and then circled, still watching him
falling. When he was close to theground my attention was diverted by
three Bf 109s 5,000ft above diving
onto the section. I warned about
them over the radio, broke away and
returned towards Gravelines.
“I saw ahead of me two Bf 109Fs
300ft above flying away from me.
I closed in and attacked the rear
e/a from astern and slightly below,
opening fire at 30 yards range with a
two-second burst. The e/a exploded,
and flames shot out from the starboard
side near the wing root. I watched him
start to fall and returned home.”
Made in perfectly good faith,
Buys’ report reflects the difficulty in
assessing ‘kills’ afterwards. Among
609’s pilots was Sgt Tommy Rigler in
W3215, appropriately named ‘The
Marksman’, he was credited with three
shot down to become an ‘ace’.Above left
Spitfi re Vs of 92
Squadron fl ew on
offensive ‘ops’ over
France every day
during the last week
of June 1941. YAMBelow left
Blenheim IV V6437 of
18 Squadron en route
to the rendezvous for
a Circus over France.
18 SQUADRON RECORDS