15 May 1940

Unlike previous days, No.615 Squadron activity is quite intense and relatively well detailed. It is also the occasion of several claims, but also new losses.

The day begins with several patrols from the airfield of Le Touquet, without further clarification, according to the ORB.

Later in the morning, six Hawker Hurricane Mk I took off, under the orders of Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll, from Vitry-en-Artois, for an escort mission on Dinant along with six other aircraft from B Flight, No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron. The twelve Bristol Blenheim Mk I (three from No.15 Squadron and nine from No.40 Squadron) are responsible for destroying several bridges over the Meuse.

The entire formation is, however, intercepted by several Bf 109 and Bf 110 around 11h00. The No.615 Squadron pilots seem to have been surprised as Flying Officer Hedley N. Fowler (Hawker Hurricane Mk I P2622), at the rear of the formation, can only scream a warning before being shot by the Bf. 109. His aircraft begins to catch fire, and he is forced to jump. He managed to join several French soldiers, but they were all captured the next day [1]. The victory could have been claimed by Oberleutnant Franz Eckerle (3./JG 76) [2]. According to a subsequent letter from Flying Officer Hedley N. Fowler:

« We were escorting some bombers, bombing targets to holdup the advance, and I had dawn the position of Back and Charlie, which meant being behind the othere to warn them of attack. I got jumped by 4 Bf.109, which appeared out of nowhere, and while I was following one the cockpit, and one tank which went up like a blow-lamp. Things were decidedly warm, and as I was going pretty fast, I couldn’t get out properly but got my parachute caught blood. I was very scared, imagining I should pass out before I got down, as we were at 17 000 feet. Actually it was only a tiny piece of metal that had grazed the side of the marks. I landed with a hell of a bump in the middle of the Ardennes forest.

I had just arrived in the Ardennes and decided the best thing to do was to walk west by the sun. I must have tramped for miles in the forest without seeing a soul but all the time coming across deserted trenches and tank-traps. Eventually I was nearly shot by a patrol of French Engineers who mistook my grey uniform and flying boots for German. I kept with them, fully expecting to get back, but the whole country was flattened and all the houses in ruins. I managed to collar a big white cart-horse from a field and rode him to save my feet which were all blistered. After sleeping in a wood we were surrounded next day and having fired all our rounds there was nothing else but to give it. »[3]

He will later make the headlines after his escape from Colditz Castle on 9 September 1942. Disguised as German officers he managed to join Switzerland (with Dutch Lieutenant Damiaen Joan van Doorninck). Returning to England in April 1944, he received the Military Cross before being posted to the Armament Test Squadron of Boscombe Down. He was killed while testing a Hawker Typhoon on 26 March 1944. He is buried in the Durrington Cemetery.

According to Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll:

« The formation of Hurricanes was attacked by Messerschmitt 110 and 109 simultaneously. I did a head-on attck on the first 110, which afterwards force-landed, and a deflection shot on the second 110, which went into a dive and exploded in a wood. »[4].

Both claims do not seem conclusive. According to Peter Cornwell, this clash could be connected with that between Bloch MB.152 of GC I/8 and Bf 110 C of 2./ZG 26. Three aircraft are shot down by French [5].

If we observe the description of the fight in question, we can not deny concordant elements: the time (10:30 – 12:15), as well as places (above the Meuse, in the vicinity of Mezieres).

In addition, Adjudant Michaud indicates the presence of a Hawker Hurricane during the confrontation:

« He drops a long burst, but at this moment an unexpected Hurricane passes between him and his target. He is forced to stop shooting and is falling behind his prey that stings in front of him. The Messerschmitt has his account, a crew member jumps, but the parachute of the unfortunate goes torch. Disastrous biplane hits and explodes in a clearing northeast of Renwez »[6].

There are several elements consistent with the second part of the report written by Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll.

This is a Bf 110 C of the 2./ZG 26 (Feldwebel Kurt Friedrich and Gefreiter Willi Neuburger, killed) which crashes, around 11 h 10, at Sécheval.

Obviously, in the absence of more convincing details, this remains of the simple hypothesis. The Germans record the loss of two Bf 109 E-3 from Stab I./JG 52, Hauptman Siegfried von Eschwege and Leutnant Kurt Kirchner (captured), while three British fighters are claimed by Hauptmann Werner Molders, Oberleutnant Heinz Wittenberg and Leutnant Georg Claus of the III./JG 53. No.607 (RAF) Squadron, Squadron Leader Lance Smith (P2870) is killed during the fight, and two Bf 109 are claimed by Flying Officer Bill Whitty and Pilot Officer Bob Grassick [7].

The afternoon is still quite hectic since the A Flight is in charge of a series of three patrols in the vicinity of Wavre. Several Henschel Hs 126 are encountered and a series of confrontation breaks out. Thus, a section under the command of Flight Lieutnant Leslie T.W. Thornley conducts a patrol northwest of Gembloux at 15h00. According to Pilot Officer Thomas C. Jackson:

« Flying around, we suddenly saw a Hs126 but only when it fired at me. Had a go and hit it and belived killed the gunner. I shot past it and the Flight Commander had a go. Turned round and it had gone into the ground »[8].

According to Flight Lieutenant Leslie T.W. Thornley:

« Aircraft first seen by Pilot Officer Jackson at fairly long rang. E/a half-rolled and dived and I followed him down in the dive to 500 feet, friring all the way. E/a landed in ploughed field but did not crash. Assume engine was damaged »[9].

The aircraft could be belong to the 4. (H) / 22 (Leutnant H. Ricke injured)[10].

The events seem to be less successful for the Pilot Officer David J. Looker (P2554), who is hit by shots on the ground. As he jumps, he hits the rudder with his left arm. Touching the ground near Waterloo, he was picked up by British soldiers and quickly sent back to England for a hospital stay (Shenley Military Hospital).

Another Hs.123 was met at the same time by a second section with Flying Officer Peter Collard around 15h00 :

« Saw Henschel flying low near wood at 100 feet. Diving quarter-attack. One short burst from rear gunner at 200 yards. Enemy pulled up and on its back at 50 feet as I went underneath. No sign of aircraft after. (…) Enemy observed coming out of the sun, diving on two Hurricanes below. I came behing it but my reflector sight failed as I opened fire. E/a made a climbing turn to right, banking violently. Attack was broken off owing to running out of ammunition »[11].

Note that the latter aircraft is mistakenly identified as a Heinkel He.112. Finally, at 15.30, another Hs.126, probably from the 1. (H) / 23 (Leutnant Hermann Küster and Felix Hack, killed) [12] is intercepted by a third section east of Gembloux towards 750 meters.

According to Flying Officer Horace E. Horne:

 «The Henschel staggered after first attack and pancaked in a field. Unable to press home attack due to heavy AA fire. Attempted also to attack a balloon moored on ground but the latter was ringed with defences. Own aircraft hit four times »[13].

Due to the evolution of the events, the No.615 Squadron is ordered to leave Vitry-en-Artois to join the north-west of Belgium. According to Flight Lieutenant James G. Sanders :

« Joe Kayll and I had to fly up to locate an airfield in Belgium to operate from. I got into a Gladiator and he vent off in a Hurricane. He flew to Moorsele while I went to Evère, on the east side of Brussels. I got into Evère and had just landed when I noticed it was full of Germans, so I rapidly shot off and, keeping on the deck, headed for home»[14].  

Unsurprisingly, the final choice is of Moorsele.