Australia’s War Diary- October 1940

To Fighter Command pilots, October will become known as Messerschmitt month, in which German bombers will switch almost completely to the safer nocturnal blitz while in the daylight hours heavily escorted, bomb carrying Bf 109s will make nuisance fighter bomber raids while others fly fighter sweeps.

South Australian P/O Charles Bennett of 248 Sqn, in Blenheim R3626/WR-J, fails to return from a reconnaissance mission across the North Sea to Norway in atrocious weather conditions. October 3 – Britain. At the RAF Pool Depot, Uxbridge, Sidney Cotton’s patience has reached an end. To organize his Photographic Development Unit, Cotton had been given the rank of Acting Wing Commander but, since it had been taken over by the RAF, over three months have passed without him receiving a new assignment. During this inactivity it has become obvious to the Queenslander that something has to be done swiftly to combat the night raids. He advocates the use of a master plane, large and powerful enough to carry airborne radar and a searchlight, working with an attending fighter which would attack once the target is illuminated. Determined to pursue his ideas to the limit, Cotton realizes he will not be able to do so while remaining in the RAF because of its bureaucratic chain of command, so he obtains his release. Next, he visits Lord Beaverbrook and his chief production director, Trevor Westbrook. After listening to Cotton, Westbrook expresses the opinion that at least the idea should be tried.

October 5 -Britain. At Leuchars, from 233 Squadron, Hudson QX-S containing P/O John McIntosh, becomes lost while returning from a patrol in deteriorating weather and darkness. Long overdue, QX-S crashes near Berwick but it is empty, there is no trace of its crew. Probably they have bailed out into the sea. October 6 -Britain. Foul weather persists but from Leuchars, in spite of conditions, an aircraft is sent out to search for the crew of Hudson QX-S. The missing men, including John McIntosh, will never be found.

October 7 – Britain. Utilizing better weather, waves of Bf 109 fighters and fighter bombers arrive over Kent in a practically continuous stream, but the largest single raid of the day is on the Westland Aircraft factory at Yeovil. P/O Bill Millington DFC of 249 Squadron probably destroys a Bf 109, but Hurricane R4218 flown by F/O Clive Mayers of 601 Squadron is struck in the glycol ank by a bullet from a Bf 110. Mayers crash lands in a field south of Axminster, shaken up and slightly injured.

October9-Middle East. Flying a Gladiator on a lone patrol south of Sidi Barrani, F/O Richard ‘Ape’ Cullen from Newcastle, NSW, encounters 6 Italian Breda 65 bombers and attacks, probably destroying one. Cullen is a new member of 80 Squadron. October 10-Britain. The German effort continues to consist of high flying fighter bombers coming over southern England in a steady stream, a tactic difficult to counter. For the British pilots, especially those of the Hurricanes which cannot reach the upper altitudes, the situation is particularly dangerous. The enemy is always above, so always retains the advantage in a fight. The German fighter pilots can choose when and where to do battle whereas the British have to accept whatever comes. Over Portland, P/O John Cock of 87 Squadron damages a Bf 109. October 12/13 – Britain. From June 26 to October 12/13, RAF Bomber Command has flown a total of 10,689 sorties, including 1,885 in daylight, and dropped approximately 6,01O tons of bombs. For this effort it has lost 246 aircraft, 66 of which were in daylight. October 14 – Britain. Australian troops begin their move from Salisbury Plain to winter quarters at Colchester. Altogether, 5 trains are required and the first detachment leaves at 8. 45am. The move continues all day and through the night, the last train arriving at Colchester at 3. 00am on the 15th.

While the Australians are moving, the Luftwaffe attacks London. German bombing accuracy is aided by a full moon. By morning 591 civilians will be killed and 2,300 injured. At the same time, Coventry is also severely hit. British night fighters – Blenheims,Defiants and ‘cat’s eyes’ Hurricanes-fly over 50 sorties but they are ineffective, as usual.

October 17-Atlantic. Sunderland P9600/RB-E of 1 O Squadron, RAAF, captained by F/Lt Ivan Podger, lands on the sea and successfully picks up 21 survivors in a lifeboat from the SS Stangrant of 5,804 tons which had been sunk four days earlier.

Bay of Biscay. S/Ldr Charles Pearce DFC and crew in Sunderland N9050/RB-D bomb a crash diving U-boat without obvious results.

October 18-Britain. The usual poor October weather. In the far north, from Sumburgh in the Shetland Is, P/O Lewis Hamilton of 248 Squadron in Blenheim WR-V flies an armed reconnaissance off the Norwegian coast. At Sando Island, he bombs a lookout point, shattering the abuilding. Continuing along the coast, two merchant vessels, estimated at 2,000 tons and 4,000 tons are found in the fjords and their positions recorded.

October 19 – Britain. The C-in-C of Fighter Command, ACM Dowding, writes to Lord Beaverbrook supporting the proposed airborne searchlight interception scheme put forward by Sidney Cotton. He pledges to provide a fighter, or fighters, for test trials. A Douglas Boston is delivered to Cotton at Heston before the month is out.

October 21 – Britain. Poor weather – fog, heavy clouds and intermittent rain. Nevertheless, two Spitfires of 609 Squadron intercept a Junkers Ju 88 and shoot it down to score the unit’s 100th victory, the first Spitfire squadron to achieve this figure. At Middle Wallop in the evening there is a huge celebration party. Two Australians have contributed to 609’s total: F/O Ian ‘Hack’ Russell DFC who was killed over Dunkirk; and P/O John Curchin, currently with 6 victories, whose DFC will be Qazetted on Nov 1. October 22 – Singapore. At a defence conference lasting 10 days, representatives of the Australian armed forces learn of startling deficiencies in the area’s aircraft strength. Whereas the conference recommends that for an effective defence force a total strength of 582 machinesis necessary, there-are in fact only 88 available in Malaya and Burma and of these only 48 are considered to be modern types. Concern regarding the security of the region has heightened since Japan joined Germany and Italy in the Tripartite Pact, signed in Berlin on September 27.

At this time the RAAF has a wing of 3 squadrons stationed at Singapore. No 1 General Reconnaissance Squadron had been the first to arrive in July, 1940, followed by 8 Squadron (Hudsons) on August 9 and finally 21 Squadron (Wirraways) on August 26.

October 23 – Britain. At night, the Germans bomb London in force. Meanwhile, in the north, 2/KG 26 from Stavanger, Norway, attacks Glasgow. From the Shetland Islands, Lewis Hamilton in Blenheim P4825 tries to intercept an enemy aircraft shadowing RN destroyers operating in the North Sea, but in the darkness and with no radar it is a hopeless task.

October 24 -Britain. In Hudson N7257/QX-H on a patrol over the North Sea, P/O Bill Weaber of 233 Squadron clashes with Heinkel He 115 floatplanes. His gunner is killed.

Two Hurricanes of 87 Squadron collide in mid air. The tail of John Cock’s plane (V7584/LK-P) is smashed by the propeller of the machine behind. He is barely able to retain control but manages a smooth belly landing just off the runway at Exeter. The pilot of the other plane (P3404) bails out but his parachute fails. October 25 – Britain. During a fierce dogfight with Bf 109s, 249 Squadron loses two Hurricanes. Bill Millington probably destroys a Bf 109.

Canada. The second Australian EATS contingent disembarks. October 28- Greece. At dawn, Italian troops invade Greek territory. Patrasisbombed but then poor weather grounds Italian aircraft for the next few days.

Britain. Autumn fogs persist. In a daring attack, a lone Do 17 raids North Weald. It dives through the cloud, bombs hurriedly and slipsback into the murk. 249 Squadron had already taken off and Bill Millington finds the Dornier running for home. He damages it before it can escape unscathed. Shortly afterwards he shares in the destruction of a Ju 88.

October 29 – Britain. Bill Millington probably destroys a Bf 109. October 30-Britain. Bill Millington of 249 Squadron in Hurricane V7536 is caught up in a series of sporadic actions with Bf 109s over the Channel. His aircraft is last seen chasing a German fighter out to sea.

HM King George VI inspected the Australian troops at Colchester. October 31 – Norway. A flight of 3 Lockheed Hudsons of 233 Squadron attack 3 ships sailing along the coast, sinking one. Hudson T9372/QX-R, flown by Bill Weaber, flies into a flakship’s intense anti aircraft barrage and crashes on a nearby beach. Middle East. Gladiators from 112 Squadron encounter Italian SM. 79 bombers escorted by CR. 42s. P/O B Duff of Randwick, NSW, attacks ten bombers but is set upon by no less than six CR. 42s and obliged to bail out.

Britain. On page 373 of today’s issue of Flight magazine is a tribute to Hawker test pilot, Dick Reynell from South Australia, who had been killed back on September 7 during the first great daylight raid on London.

Officially, the Battle of Britain ends at midnight. Figures vary, but according to the most recent research the Luftwaffe has lost 1,882 aircraft (approximately 2,662 aircrew) to RAF Fighter Command’s 1,017. However, to obtain the overall picture, onto the British total should be added the losses suffered by Bomber Command and Coastal Command, approximately 118 and 130 aircraft respectively.

On July 10, 1947, HM King George VI unveiled the Battle of Britain Memorial in Westminster Abbey. Therein the Roll of Honour contained the names of 1,497 (later updated to 1,503) pilots and aircrew killed or mortally wounded between July 10-0ctober 31, 1940, numbering 449 in Fighter Command, 732 in Bomber Command, 268 in Coastal Command, 14 in other RAF Commands and 34 in the Fleet Air Arm. Those killed in commands other than Fighter Command were included because their attacks on enemy shipping, invasion barges and bases of various kinds were essential to winning the Battle. As well as Britons, the Roll included the names of 47 Canadians, 47 New Zealanders, 24 Australians, 17 South Africans, 35 Poles, 20 Czechoslovaks, 6 Belgians and 1 American.

The Australians listed were: P/O Clarence Charles Bennett 248 Sqn; Sgt Nugent Joseph Bull 149 Sqn; P/O Francis Walter Cale 266 Sqn; P/O John Dallas Crossman 46 Sqn; P/ORaymond Patrick Earl 61 Sqn; NF/Lt Fredrick William Flood 235 Sqn; Sgt Benjamin Peter Gannon 206 Sqn; P/O John Allan Gilbert 206 Sqn; F/O Richard Lindsay Glyde DFC 87 Sqn; Sgt Kenneth Christopher Holland 152 Sqn; P/O James Henry Horan 233 Sqn; NF/Lt Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC 234 Sqn; NF/Lt John Conelly Kennedy 238 Sqn; P/O Phillip Allen Leach 38 Sqn; P/O Bryan Martin McDonough 236 Sqn; P/O John McIntosh 233 Sqn; P/O William Henry Millington DFC 249 Sqn; F/Lt Robert James Reed 50 Sqn; F/Lt Richard Carew Reynell 43 Sqn; P/O Angus Robson DFC 144 Sqn; F/O Ellis Henry Ross 83 Sqn; NF/Lt Stuart Crosby Walch 238 Sqn; P/O William Owen Weaber 233 Sqn; NF/Lt Latham Carr Withall 152 Sqn.

Because they fell outside the parameters set for inclusion on the Roll when it was compiled, at least 2Australian names do not appear: F/Lt Walter Blom DFC of 150 Squadron, killed on July 27 while he was helping to prepare his Fairey Battle for operations when a flare fell to the ground and burst into flames, detonating the bombs; and ACW1 Lena Button, a WRAF nursing orderly who was killed during the bombing of Biggin Hill on August 30.