Australia’s War Diary-September 1940

Middle East. 3 Squadron RAAF commences training at lsmailia with borrowed Lysanders.

September 2 – Britain. Heavy German daylight attacks on the south and south east. W/Cdr Ron Lees, former CO of 72 Squadron, on leave from controller duties, visits and flies with his old unit. The pilots welcome him but there is little time to socialise. The day becomes the squadron’s busiest on record. Later, Lees’ Spitfire is shot up and he crash lands back at Hawkinge. With a lacerated thigh, he will spend the rest of his leave in hospital.

P/O Richard Hillary of 603 Squadron scores 2 destroyed, 1 probable and 1 damaged, all Bf 109s. South Australian, F/Lt Dick Reynell, a Hawker test pilot on loan to 43 Squadron, also shoots down a Messerschmitt.

Scotland. Since the Admiralty rerouted ocean convoys north of Ireland, a detachment of Sunderland from 10 Squadron RAAF has operated from Oban on the Firth of Lorn for air cover. Oban is hazardous, frequently blanketed by fog and low cloud at night and rough sea during winter. At 11. 10pm, because of drifted landing flares, Sunderland P9602, RB-G, strikes the shore with its bow and sinks within 5 minutes. F/Lt Dick Cohen and his crew evacuate safely.

September 3 – Britain. German bombers attack airfields. Two Australians are shot down and suffer serious burns. Sgt Desmond Fopp of 17 Squadron probably destroys a Do 17 before a Bf 110 sets his Hurricane (P3673) alight. He bails out safely but a month will pass before he can see again and three months before his release from hospital.

Richard Hillary destroys a Bf 109 before Hauptman Erich Bode, commander of 2/JG 26, transforms Spitfire X4277 into flames. At 10,000 feet (3,050m) Hillary’s unconscious form falls out. Hurtling down, he revives and instinctively pulls the ripcord, falling into the sea off Margate. A lifeboat searches for three hours before spotting him. Hillary is semi-conscious and has been grotesquely mutilated by fire.

September 4 – Britain. 234 Squadron’s F/Lt Pat Hughes from Haberfield NSW destroys 3 Bf 110s in one sortie. Other Australian scorers are F/O Clive Mayers of 601 Squadron (1 Do 17 and a Bf 110 probable) and Desmond Sheen (1 probable Bf 110). September 5 -Britain. More airfield attacks. Pat Hughes’ shooting spree continues with 2 Bf 109s claimed, but Desmond Sheen’s Spitfire (X4034) is hit. He passes out and his fighter screams down at over 400mph (645km/h). Lower, he recovers and tries to bail out but his feet become caught. With death only seconds away his feet suddenly release and he pulls the ripcord at 800 feet (245m). Luckily, the crown of a tree catches the top of his parachute and breaks his fall.

At night, Bomber Command dispatches 82 planes to targets ranging from Turin to Stettin. Berlin is raided for two hours. Dereck French of 50 Squadron (Hampden P4408) bombs Stettin with spectacular results. Three direct hits cause explosions with white flames and large fires visible for 50 miles (80km). Australia. The first Empire Air Training Scheme (EAT S) contingent, 40 pilots, 42 observers and 72 air gunners, leaves Sydney for Canada to complete training.

September 6 – Britain. The Luftwaffe allows no respite. Pat Hughes shoots down 1 Bf 109 and probably another. Dick Reynell probably destroys a Ju 88.

By evening British commanders realize that their situation is grim. Between August 24- September 6, Fighter Command has lost 295 fighters and 171 badly damaged. Only 269 new and repaired Hurricanes and Spitfires have come on strength. 103 pilots have been killed and 128 wounded and average pilot strength per squadron has sunk from 26 to 16. HQ Home Forces issues its Alert No 3: “Invasion probable within three days. ” September 7-Britain. Anticipating airfield attacks, the defenses are surprised when the Luftwaffe launches a massive daylight raid against London. Two of Australia’s finest pilots, Pat Hughes and Dick Reynell, are killed in action. Hughes apparently collides with a Do 17 he is attacking and Reynell is a victim of the escorts. Meanwhile, P/O John Curchin of 609 Squadron destroys Bf 109 and probably a Dornier.

Meanwhile, the docks, warehouses and London’s East End burn. A massive pall of smoke prematurely darkens the sky. As night falls the first of 318 German bombers approach, guided by the fires, beginning a series of violent attacks for 57 consecutive nights – the Blitz has begun. British night defenses are helpless. By morning, 306 civilians are dead and 1,337 badly injured.

The British Chiefs of Staff (COS) issue the code word ‘Cromwell’, Alert No 1 (invasion imminent and probable within twelve hours). It is received in places with panic. Numerous Home Guard and army units order the ringing of church bells, the signal that an invasion has already started. Overnight, Bomber Command, for the first time, concentrates on German invasion barges in the Channel Coast ports.

September 8 – Germany Berlin Sunday papers report: ‘Big Attack on London as Reprisal’.

Britain. After a quiet day Bomber Command attacks ports and barges again. 7 aircraft are lost.

September 9 – Britain. Crippled by flak, Wellington P9245 of 149 Squadron crashes into the sea with only one survivor. Its Australian gunner, Sgt Nugent Joseph Bull, is among those lost. A late afternoon attack on London is beaten off.

September 11-Britain. F/Lt Robert James Reed of 50 Squadron in Hampden L4097, fails to return from a night mission to Berlin. Heavy afternoon fighting over the Thames Estuary. France. Bomber and Coastal Command aircraft raid the Channel ports. Led by F/Lt Fred Flood, 6 Blenheims of 235 Squadron escort 12 Albacores to Calais. Defending Bf 109s react violently. In a running fight, Flood’s aircraft disappears.

September 14 -Britain. Erratic British defence over the past few days is noted by Luftwaffe commanders. The English seem to be weakening. Actually, the Luftwaffe’s preoccupation with London and failure to continue attacking airfields is helping the RAF to recover.

September 15 – Britain. Massive Luftwaffe attac. ks on London are beaten off with heavy losses. Australian scorers are P/O Charles McGaw of 73 Squadron (1 Bf 109 destroyed); P/O John Curchin of 609 Squadron (2 Do 17s shared); P/O John Crossman of 46 Squadron (1 Do 17 probable); and Sgt Ken ‘Dutchy’ Holland of 152 Squadron (1 He 111 shared). The BBC claims 185 German planes have been destroyed. Postwar figures are 61 for 31 British fighters lost.

September 16-Britain. Overnight, the Luftwaffe attacks London. It is obviously safer to operate at night but around 12. 30am F/Lt Charles Pritchard of 600 Squadron in a Blenheim destroys a Ju 88A-1 (7087, B3+HH) of 1/KG 54.

Middle East. 3 Squadron RAAF is ordered to Helwan. Two flights will be equipped with Gladiators and one with Lysanders plus four Gauntlets. It will be a close support squadron rather than an army co-op unit.

September 17 – Britain. PRU photographs show that despite RAF bombing, there are 600 invasion barges assembled at Antwerp, 266 at Calais, 230 at Boulogne, 220 at Dunkirk, 205 at Le Havre and 200 at Ostend.

‘Dutchy’ Holland of 152 Squadron shares the destruction of reconnaissance Ju 88A-1 No 3188, Ll+XC, of II/LG1.

Germany Hitler postpones Operation Seelowe. The RAF has obviously not been defeated and adverse weather is forecast for the coming week.

September 18. 174 Bomber Command aircraft raid the Channel ports and railway targets in Germany. P/O Ray Earl of 61 Squadron (Hampden X2911) is particularly successful over Le Havre causing huge explosions and large fires visible for 40 miles (65km). Malta. No 431 Flight, with three Martin Marylands, is officially formed and is commanded by F/Lt Ernest Whitely of Sydney. Its job is to photograph harbours and aerodromes in Sicily and Italy and search for enemy shipping. Its reconnaissance will prove vital in preparing for the RN’s attack on Taranto on November 11. Whitely and his planes had flown from England to Malta over occupied territory on the night of September 6-7.

September 19 – Britain. ‘Dutchy’ Holland from Sydney destroys reconnaissance Ju 88A-1 4065, M7+EH, of I/KGr 806. September 22 – Britain. AVM Wilfred Ashton Mcclaughry DSO, MC, DFC, is appointed Air Officer Commanding the newly formed No 9 Group RAF Fighter Command in Lancashire. September 23 – Britain. 112 bombers attack Berlin in retaliation for the London raids. To concentrate on one German city is unique at this time of the war.

September 24 – Britain. German formations fail to reach London. Elsewhere, during a raid on the Supermarine factory at Woolston, John Curchin of 609 Squadron destroys a Bf 109. September 25 – Britain. Widespread battles over southern England. Australian scorers: John Curchin (1 He 111, 1 He 111 shared), Clive Mayers of 601 Squadron (1 Bf 110) and P/O Ian Bayles of 152 Squadron (1 Ju 88, 1 He 111 shared). ‘Dutchy’ Holland in Spitfire N3173 shoots down He 111 1525, GHEP, of 6/KG 55 but is hit by return fire and killed.

Atlantic. Sunderland P9603, RB-H, captained by F/Lt Ivan Podger of 10 Squadron, RAAF, together with an RAF Sunderland on convoy protection, drive off a Focke-Wulf Condor.

Another Sunderland, N9050 (RB-D), piloted by S/Ldr Bill Gar ing finds a lifeboat full of survivors from the SS City of Benares sunk on September 17. 45 people, including 6 children, are recovered by an escort destroyer.

September 26 – Britain. Overnight, Bomber Command sends 120 aircraft to the Channel ports and targets in Germany. Brian Best of 40 Squadron (Blenheim N3592, BL-C) makes a very successful high level attack over Boulogne.

The Supermarine aircraft factory at Woolston is bombed halting Spitfire production. Fortunately, a new factory at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, is just coming into production. Deliveries of Spitfires slow until early October. 609 Squadron’s John Curchin sends a He 111 into the sea.

Bomber Command dispatched 77 aircraft to the Channel ports, Dortmund and Kiel. Two are lost, one being Hampden P2090 from 61 Squadron flown by Ray Earl and his crew. September 27 – Britain. Heavy fighting over southern England. The Luftwaffe is severely mauled. P/O Bill Millington of 249 Squadron, formerly of 79 Squadron and fully recovered from his injuries of August 31, destroys a Ju 88 and shares another. Charles McGaw of 73 Squadron and Ian Bayles of 152 Squadron both damage Bf 11Os but Bayles’ Spitfire is shot up and he force lands back at base. It is the last heavy daylight raid.

Berlin. Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact. Canada. The first Australian EATS contingent disembarks at Vancouver.

September 28 — Britain. On an anti-invasion patrol, Adelaide’s P/O Clarence Bennett of 248 Squadron (Blenheim WR-G) shoots a Do 18 into the North Sea. Bennett’s Blenheim is damaged. September29-Australia. In an amazing accident, two Ansons of No 2 SF TS, Wagga NSW, collide in mid air and interlock. Trainee pilot, LAC Leonard Fuller, manages to fly both planes, still locked together, to a safe landing in a field!

September 30- Britain. John Crossman of 46 Squadron is killed in a surprise attack by Bf 109s. John Cock of 87 Squadron destroys a Ju 88 and damages a Bf 109. Ian Bayles damages a Ju 88 and John Curchin damages a Bf 109