10 May 1940
The pilots of the A Flight, based at Le Touquet, are awakened very early in the morning due to a bombing by Heinkel He 111 (II./KG 27). Three Hawker Hurricane Mk I [1] are damaged, two of which are quickly repaired [2], while the Leading Aircraftman Alan Brooks is burned by the hands trying to extinguish the fire [3].
According to Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll :
« We were bombed very early in the morning. The pilots were billeted at an unoccupied château a few miles from the aerodrome and we were woken up by the bombs. As we had received no warning of any kind we assumed that it was the French practising. It wasn’t until we received a call from the aerodrome that we realised the war had started »[4].
According to Pilot Officer Thomas C. Jackson :
« Woke at dawn to huge thumps. Looked out of hotel window and saw smoke from airfield half a mile away. Leapt out of bed and put uniform over pyjamas. Commandeered a car and drove back to hotel but others did not join me, so drove to the airfield and found two aircraft on fire. Got Hurricane started and took off. Saw Heinkel in distance and higher. Chased, but could not get to it. Shot at and felt something on sleeve – thought I’d been hit, but it was oil. Nil oil pressure so returned and landed. We late put the engine from the damaged Hurricane into this one and it was soon operational again »[5].
All A Flight joined the Abbeville airfield in the afternoon to join the rest of the squadron.
Regarding B Flight, the wake up in Abbeville is very similar. A formation of Heinkel He 111 of LG 1 [6] bombards the station and the airfield around 04h30. According to a report:
« The airfield was attacked ; it is safe to assume that one of the planes (two perhaps) was piloted by inexperienced men experiencing difficulties in discovering the objective»[7].
Indeed, no damage is reported following the attack. This time, however, one of the pilots is able to take off at 05h00. It is Flying Officer Levin Fredman. He intercepts the formation of Heinkel He 111, at about 6,000 meters, and damages the left engine (black smoke) of one of the aircraft [8]. He escapes however to the east. The combat report qualifies the claim as inconclusive.
At the end of the day, the No.615 (County of Surrey) Squadron is far from ideal with only nine Hawker Hurricane Mk I. Three aircraft are nevertheless received in the afternoon.
[1] Unfortunately, we do not have a list of aircraft at No. 615 Squadron on 10 May 1940.
[2] According to John Foreman, the three Hawker Hurricanes are destroyed. FOREMAN, John. Fighter Command War Diaries (September 1939 to September 1940). Air Research Publications, 1996, p. 53 et 54 ; tandis que Brian Cull fait état d’un seul appareil réparable. CULL, Brian ; LANDER, Bruce ; WEISS, Heinrich. Twelve Days in May. Grub Street, 1999. p.44.
[3] CULL, Brian ; LANDER, Bruce ; WEISS, Heinrich. Twelve Days in May. Grub Street, 1999. p.44.
[4] CULL, Brian ; LANDER, Bruce ; WEISS, Heinrich. Twelve Days in May. Grub Street, 1999. p.45.
[5] CULL, Brian ; LANDER, Bruce ; WEISS, Heinrich. Twelve Days in May. Grub Street, 1999. p.45.
[6] TAGHON, Peter. La Lehrgeschwader 1 : L’Escadre au Gruffon. Tome 1. Lela Press, 2017, p.49.
[7] GILLET, Arnaud. La Luftwaffe à l’ouest – Les victoires de l’aviation de chasse britannique (10 mai 1940 – 23 mai 1940). Béthenville : Arnaud Gillet, 2008. p.40.
[8] Levin Fredman – Combat Report 10/05/40. Kew : The National Archives, AIR 50/175. Curiously, the report is signed by the name of Readman… ; CULL, Brian ; LANDER, Bruce ; WEISS, Heinrich. Twelve Days in May. Grub Street, 1999. p.45 ; FOREMAN, John. RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims of World War Two : Part one 1939 – 1940. Red Kite, 2003. p.31 ; FOREMAN, John. Fighter Command War Diaries (September 1939 to September 1940). Air Research Publications, 1996, p. 52.
