26 June 1940
Twelve pilots take off from Kenley at 06h44 in the direction of Hawkinge to carry out a reconnaissance of the Dieppe – Rouen – Boos sector.
There were no events to report during the patrol and the entire formation returned to Hawkinge et 0840 hours.
However, on landing, the Hawker Hurricane Mk I N2399? [1] (Pilot Officer Cecil R. Young) is severely damaged when one of the landing gear legs retracted. The pilot, however, is not injured.
Pilots and Aircrafts : Flight Lieutenant James G. Sanders (P3487) ; Flying Officer Herbert S. Giddings (P2801) ; Pilot Officer David Evans (L1983) ; Pilot Officer Keith T. Lofts (P2578) ; Pilot Officer Ralph Roberts (P2793) ; Flight Lieutenant Lionel M. Gaunce (P2966) ; Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo (P2963) ; Pilot Officer Cecil R. Montgomery (N2328) ; Pilot Officer Michael R. Mudie (P3380) ; Pilot Officer Cecil R. Young (N2399 ?) ; Flying Officer Peter Collard (P2768) ; Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll (P2871).
Losses : Pilot Officer Cecil R. Young (Hawker Hurricane Mk I N2399 ?) : severely damaged on landing at Hawkinge as a result of a landing gear problem at about 08h40.
[1] Identification is problematic, as the ORB refers to the Hawker Hurricane Mk I P2966, which is also listed as assigned to Flight Lieutenant Lionel M. Gaunce. Given that the P2966 was his usual aircraft and that the aircraft is reported as operational the following day (27 June), it is reasonable to assume that it is an error. More reasonably, it could be N2399, which no longer appears in the ORB after.
