Strana 38
R6993, S/Ldr John Ellis, No. 610 Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, August 1940
X4352, F/O Leonard A. Haines, No. 19 Squadron, RAF Fowlmere, United Kingdom, September 1940
John Ellis was a highly experienced fighter ace
credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories. After
becoming commander of No. 610 Squadron on
July 26, 1940, he scored five victories in August
1940 flying his personal Spitfire R6993. Spitfire
R6993 was one of only ten Spitfires in the R
series equipped with a Rotol RX5/4 constant-
speed propeller. Like most of the Spitfires in
No. 610 Squadron, R6993 was equipped with
an automotive-style exterior mirror, which
was procured for the squadron by technical
officer W/O Bentall from local auto repair shops.
No. 610 Squadron was known for its large
code letters on the fuselage, and Ellis’s DW
-
W
was no exception; it also carried the squadron
commander’s pennant under the windshield.
Ellis flew at the forefront of No. 610 Squadron
throughout the Battle of Britain, until the unit
was sent north for rest. In May 1941, he was
transferred to No. 55 OTU as an instructor.
Later, he was sent to the Middle East as Wing
Commander of No. 701 OTU in Khartoum, Sudan.
In the spring of 1943, he took command of
the Krendi Wing in Malta and participated
in preparations for the invasion of Sicily.
On June 13, 1943, while escorting B-24 bombers
attacking Gerbini Airfield, he was shot down by
Hptm. Gerhard Michalski (57 victories). He was
captured and imprisoned at Stalag Luft III, where
he actively participated in the planning of the
Great Escape as Roger Bushell’s deputy. After
the war, he remained in the RAF and, with the
rank of Wing Commander, became responsible
for pilot training within Fighter Command.
Leonard Haines joined the RAF in September
1937 and, after completing his training, was
assigned to No. 19 Squadron, the first unit
equipped with the new Spitfires. In June 1940, he
took part in the fighting at Dunkirk, where he
scored his first aerial victory, and subsequently
performed very successfully in the Battle of
Britain. From September to November, his
personal aircraft was Spitfire X4352, with
fuselage codes QV
-
P, which had a lion painted
beneath the cockpit, striking a swastika with
a saber. With this aircraft, he achieved five
confirmed kills and had a total of 12 to his credit,
eight of which were solo and four in cooperation
with others. He likely destroyed two additional
aircraft, making him one of the most successful
pilots of No. 19 Squadron during the Battle of
Britain. At the end of 1940, he was reassigned to
a training unit as an instructor, but he was killed
in a plane crash in April 1941.
KITS 06/2026
INFO Eduard38
June 2026