Skirmish Mention the Battle of Britain and most people think of the south east of England, but Lincolnshire’s squadrons also played their part. Tom Allett reports on an eventful day over the East Coast in August 1940.
over Skegness
W
Spitfires of 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron at RAF Digby in the early summer of 1940. Crown copyright/RAF
hile Fighter Command was fending the WAAFs to guide Digby’s fighters towards their off the Luftwaffe’s assault on airfields prey. and aircraft in southern England One of the most memorable events plotted in the 70 years ago, elements of its force across the underground bunker took place on August 21, country stood ready to play their part in 1940 when the Spitfires of 611 (West Lancathe Battle of Britain. Lincolnshire’s airfields shire) Squadron scrambled into action for were part of RAF Fighter Command’s 12 the first time. Group, which was tasked with defending On that August Wednesday, after a East Anglia and the industrial Midperiod of hot weather, a good deal of lands, the hub of its activities being cloud was being blown in from the RAF Digby, ten miles south-east of north-west, bringing cooler but RAF Waddington. blustery conditions. The forecast In 1940 Digby was a Sector showed further deterioration airfield, which meant that it effectively ruling out any largeacted as an information centre scale raids, but the danger of and had several others stations strikes against individual airassigned under its comfields or factories still remained. mand. Today, its underground At around 12.15pm, RAF Operations Room is open as personnel at radar stations on The Squadron Badge – a museum and still contains the Crown copyright with permission of England’s east coast detected a the Controller, HMSO original plotting board used by formation of aircraft approach-
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ing Norfolk from across the North Sea. As they were unable to identify them, the radar operators determined them to be hostile and alerted the Sector Control Rooms at Digby and RAF Coltishall in Norfolk. As one of the personnel in the Control Room at Digby that day, you are part of the unfolding action…
Into Battle There is uncertainty in the control room as a mystery formation approaches the Norfolk coast. Before unleashing the airfield’s fighter aircraft, you designate the unidentified as raid ‘X27’ on the ops table and try to deduce the approaching formation’s intentions. Are they attacking a target in East Anglia or further inland? Is it a bombing raid against a factory or airfield, or is it merely a reconnaissance mission? While you assess the possibilities, the approaching aircraft, which are
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A Dornier Do 17 as encountered by the Spitfires of 611 Squadron. Key collection
still just blocks on the plotting table, spilt into two sections. One heads north of the Wash and along the east coast towards Hull, while the other turns south west, crossing the coast near Great Yarmouth, heading towards Norwich. You hear that the first RAF squadrons to be scrambled to intercept the incoming raiders are the Hurricane’s of 302 Squadron from Leconfield and 242 Squadron from Coltishall. Within 15 minutes of first appearing on RAF radar screens, the formation heading towards Norwich is identified as a group of Dornier 17 bombers. No.242 Squadron is sent to intercept – leading it is the legendary Squadron Leader Douglas Bader, famous for having lost both of his legs in a prewar flying accident. Very quickly one of his men has shot down the first raider. Now it’s Digby’s turn to enter the fray as you order Spitfires from ‘A’ Flight – Red Section – of 611 Squadron into battle for the first time. The German bombers that turned north are also Do 17s, capable of around 235mph. The Spitfire pilots head north-west towards Hull. They catch a fleeting glimpse of the raiders at about 4,000ft, just off the coast near Mablethorpe, but then they disappear into cloud. There follows a game of ‘cat and mouse’ as the Dorniers stay hidden for the next few minutes, but eventually they reappear and the Spitfire leader orders his men to apply emergency engine boost to close the range before the raiders can hide again. Maximum boost will push the Spitfires’ Merlin engines to their absolute limit – if this setting is maintained for more than a few minutes the overworked engines can destroy themselves. You hear all the action over the Tannoy as the pilots call to one another, their excited chatter belying the fact their adrenaline is pumping and hearts are racing. The enemy aircraft are flying in a tight Vic [V-shaped] formation. They turn east when the Spitfires approach. Red Leader, Pilot Officer J W Lund, attacks the number two in the German formation with a four-second burst from a range of 400 yards. He reports no return fire for seven or eight seconds and closes to about 100 yards from the enemy, firing two bursts which uses
The Luftwaffe’s Dorniers suffered at the hand of 611 Squadron, at least two aircraft crashing in East Lincolnshire. Key collection
Flight Lieutenant Barrie Heath of 611 Squadron photographed at Digby in 1940 on the wing of Spitfire IIa P7883 ‘Grahame Heath’. The aircraft been donated by his parents in memory of his older brother, a Royal Flying Corps pilot who was killed in World War One. Between June 1940 and February 1941 Heath shot down four enemy aircraft. RAF Official photograph
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RAF Digby Squadrons RAF Digby was home to the Digby Sector Operations Room and Staff, and the following Squadrons during the Battle of Britain: No 46 Squadron Hurricanes - from June 13, 1940 No 29 Squadron Blenheims - from 27 June 27, 1940 No 46 Squadron returned from August 19, 1940 No 151 Squadron Hurricanes - from September 1, 1940 No 611 Squadron Spitfires - from October 10, 1939 Left: A Spitfire guards the gate at RAF Digby in memory of the fighter squadrons that flew from the station during World War Two. Key – Gary Parsons
up all his ammunition before he breaks away. After a few seconds the Dornier peels away from the formation and heads south, flames and smoke emerging from its fuselage. It crashes into the sea just off the Norfolk coast. However, it isn’t a one-sided fight – as Plt Off M P Brown attacks one of the Dorniers, several bullet strike his tailplane and starboard aileron, forcing him to turn away. He starts coaxing his machine back to base. Next to attack is Flying Officer Watkins, who fires a five-second burst into a Dornier, leaving it belching smoke before it crashes into the sea off Scolt Head. Watkins reports his own aircraft is damaged by machine-gun fire, forcing him to withdraw from the fight. With elements of 611’s Red Section damaged and returning to base, the battle is moving towards Skegness. A further incoming raid is reported and you order 611 Squadron’s ‘B’ Flight – Yellow Section – into the air. Moments before they join the combat, the Spitfire flown by Red Section’s Plt Off Lund becomes the third to be hit by the German gunners and he
A Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1 in 611 Squadron markings. Image reproduced courtesy RAF website.
also sets course for home. But gradually Red Section’s pilots gain the upper hand and before long it appears that the Germans have abandoned their attack – now it’s a case of survival as they try to find safety among the clouds. Yellow Section presses home its attack, led by 611’s commanding officer, Squadron Leader McComb. He manages to fire a brief head-on burst at one of the Dorniers before it escapes into a layer of cloud. He reports contact with the enemy is lost for a few minutes, but then they reappear, slightly ahead and above the chasing Spitfires. McComb attacks again, closing to about 150 yards, reporting that his bullets have struck his target’s port wing. He breaks away in order to avoid ramming the Dornier, which is then seen to escape. The patrol continues for about another three minutes before a trio of Dorniers is spotted flying
in tight formation about 15 miles west of Mablethorpe. McComb leads the attack again, focusing his attention on the aircraft on the right of the enemy formation. Despite receiving return fire, he closes in and delivers a long burst of fire, silencing the bomber’s rear gunner and leaving the enemy aircraft trailing smoke. During this attack the Spitfire pilots report they are being shot at by the rear gunner in the Dornier at the centre of the formation, so he becomes McComb’s next target. This time a short burst from the Spitfire’s eight Browning machine-guns is enough to end any resistance. A longer hail of bullets results in a cloud of smoke from its starboard engine. McComb’s two wingmen then join in with Yellow 2 – Sergeant A D Burt – firing two short bursts at the same aircraft while Yellow 3 – Sergeant A S Darling – attacks the third bomber
In Memoriam
The German invaders of August 21, 1940, were first challenged by the Spitfires from 242 Squadron led by the legendary Sqn Ldr Douglas Bader. Crown copyright/RAF
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Squadron Leader (Retd) Basil Gerald ‘Stapme’ Stapleton DFC, DFC (Dutch), a veteran of Britain’s ‘Finest Hour’ passed away on April 13, aged 89. He flew Spitfires with 603 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and later Typhoons with 247 Squadron before spending the last few months of the conflict as a prisoner of war. Stapme was a regular and much-respected visitor to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s home at RAF Coningsby. And in 2007, the BBMF painted its Spitfire lla in the markings of the aircraft he flew during the Battle. In later life he was often seen at aviation events wearing his trademark floppy hat and flamboyant handlebar moustache – his ready smile endearing him to all. Survived by his wife, Audrey, a son and his elder brother (Air Vice-Marshal Deryck Stapleton), he is Sqn Ldr Gerald ‘Stapme’ Stapleton. Courtesy Geoff Nutkins www.aviartnutkins.com sorely missed.
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“Their excited chatter belying the fact their adrenaline is pumping and hearts are racing”
before the formation again enters cloud. Sgt Darling pursues his quarry into the cloud layer – sensing that his machine is being buffeted by the effects of his prey’s slipstream, he fires another volley before returning to base. Observers report that Sqn Ldr McComb’s initial target is seen to crash after his attack. The fight is over – you realise the last fifteen minutes or so seemed like hours.
Aftermath The Dorniers were confirmed to be from the Luftwaffe’s Kampfgeschwaders (Bomber Group) KG2 and KG3. It was KG3 that turned towards
Hull, looking for a convoy off the coast, with KG2 intending to attack the Norwich area. Unbeknown to the 611 Squadron pilots, after Yellow Section had chased the two Dorniers into cloud, the bombers collided with each other. The crew of four from the aircraft at the centre of the formation were captured after a successful crash landing, but all four of their Luftwaffe colleagues died in the other machine when it plunged into the ground near Alford, between Skegness and Mablethorpe at 13:30. Sqn Ldr McComb’s aircraft was extensively damaged with numerous bullet holes punched into its wings, tail and hydraulic system. It was so bad it
couldn’t be fixed on site and had to be taken by road to a repair depot before it could be returned to service, but Sgt Burt and his aircraft escaped the battle unscathed. Sgt Darling’s Spitfire sustained minor damage but as he was landing one of his main wheels struck a chock on the airfield and his aircraft tipped onto its nose. Fortunately he escaped injury. Red Section had been hit harder, with five of its six Spitfires damaged by the Dorniers’ gunners, though all of its pilots returned to Digby uninjured. Ten Luftwaffe aircrew were killed and two others captured during this lunchtime encounter which prevented the attack on the targeted convoy. The body of Unteroffizier (Corporal) air gunner Heinrich Kaschner, aged 27, was washed ashore at Brancaster on August 23 – he was one of crew from the aircraft that crashed into the sea. His pilot, Oberfw W Stolle, observer Lt H Kruger and Oberfw E Kotulla were also eventually recovered from the sea. Originally Stolle and Kruger were buried at Catton Churchyard in Norwich, while Kotulla was interred at Holy Trinity Churchyard at West Runton. Post war, the last three were all reburied at the Soldatenfriedhof Vossenack German War Cemetery at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. Heinrich Kaschner still lies in Norfolk. From the other aircraft, Unteroffizier air gunner Bruno Skibitszki’s body was washed ashore on September 9 and he now lies amongst his comrades at Cannock.
The author would like to acknowledge the tremendous help given by David Harrigan MBE during the preparation of this article. RAF Digby’s sector control room, now a flourishing museum and open to visitors – for more details visit www. raf.mod.uk/rafdigby/aboutus/sectoropsmuseum.cfm. Key - Gary Parsons
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