Dornier Do 17 under the fire of RAF fighter during Battle of Britain. Photo: IWM

This time, the RAF was ready, and Spitfires from No. 611 (West

Lancashire) Squadron were dispatched to the anticipated inbound route just after 1730h. These aircraft came out of Ternhill.

Berrie Heath and Tommy Williams of Yellow Section apparently

shot down Dornier Do 17 Z-5 (W. Nr. 2772) “7T+EH” of 1. Staffel,

crewed by Lt. zur See Jürgen von Krause, who ditched the aircraft

in the sea. However, the German crew was able to hit Williams’

Spitfire. The damage was bad enough for Williams to contemplate

bailing from his stricken aircraft, but he ultimately did make it

back to his base. One member of the German crew was listed as

missing, while the remaining ones were taken prisoner.

Pilots of Red Section, F/L W. J. Leather, P/O P. S. C. Pollard and

P/O J. R. G. Sutton claimed the destruction of two bombers, the

second of which was observed to have flames coming out of both

engines, and two parachutes escaping from it. The first victim was

likely Do 17 Z-5 (W.Nr. 3475) “7T+FK” of Oblt. Friedrich-Wilhelm

Richter of 2. Staffel. None of his crew survived. The aircraft with

both engines flaming was without a doubt Do 17 Z-5 (W.Nr. 2787)

“7T+HH” of 1. Staffel, under the command of Oblt. z. S. Karl-Franz

Heine.

F/O Heath, Sgt Angos and Sgt Pattison of Blue Section attacked another two Do 17s and came away with one probable and

one damaged. During the fight, a lone Hurricane from No. 312

Squadron joined in. Kenneth Clifton Pattison chased one of the

attackers in his Spitfire for some hundred miles to Kidderminster

in Worcestershire County. Ultimately, he was hit by defensive fire

from the bomber and suffered serious injuries in the ensuing crash

at Cooksey Green, the results of which he did not survive.

The Czechoslovak unit dispatched two three ship flights of

Hurricanes against the German bombers at just before 1800h.

P/O Alois Vašátko and Sgt. Josef Keprt of Yellow Section lost contact with their British leader F/Lt Harry A. G. Comeford. So, they

joined up on Red Section that included both commanders of the

squadron, S/L Frank H. Tyson and S/L Ján Ambruš with P/O Josef

Jaške. The five Hurricanes then attacked a lone Do 17 heading

southward. After several hits, the left engine began belching smoke, but was soon lost in the clouds. Jaške’s Hurricane was badly

damaged from return fire. The five fighters used up virtually all

of their ammunition, and some even fired at point blank range.

Harry Comeford, who’s Hurricane was observed by his colleagues

in the Spitfires, also attacked one of the Dorniers, but other than

the rear gunner got silent, no other result was observed. Unfortunately, the Intelligence Officer of the Czechoslovak unit, P/O

F. S. Lamping, did not prepare victory claims on time. But from

today perspective, it would appear that the end result was two

damaged Do 17s.

Liverpool docks photographed by RAF after bombing raids from 1800 feet. Photo: IWM