17 July 1940
No.615 Squadron returns to Kenley at 13:30. However, Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll (P3109) and Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo (P2963) must take off on alert (11:45 – 12:30) to intercept an intruder between Kenley and Beachy Head.[1]
This one turns out to be a Dornier Do.17, which is attacked by Pilot Officer Petrus H. Hugo, albeit unsuccessfully. It could be a Dornier Do.17Z from Stab KG 2, which lands on the Saint-Inglevert airfield with various damages in air combat.[2]
This event would also have caused the Spitfire Mk I L1065 of No.64 (RAF) Squadron to take off between 11:49 and 12:35. Sub-Lieutenant John Sykes would also have damaged a Dornier Do.17 in the vicinity of Kenley [3] Here again, the opposing aircraft escaped in the cloud cover.[4]
At the same time, Pilot Officer David J. Looker, who is still recovering, is in charge of setting up a training course for the many new pilots who have joined the various squadrons based in Kenley.
[1] No.11 (Fighter) Group ORB. Kew : The National Archives, AIR 25/193.
[2] PARRY, SIMON W. Battle of Britain Combat Archive, n°1 (10 July – 22 July 1940). Red Kite. 2015. p.76.
[3] No.64 (RAF) Squadron, Operations Record Book. Kew : The National Archives, AIR 27/589.
[4] CULL, Brian. Battle for the Channel: The First Month of the Battle of Britain 10 July – 10 August 1940. Fonthill, 2017.
