Strana 36
R6690, P/O John C. Dundas, No. 609 Squadron, RAF Middle Wallop/RAF Warmwell, United Kingdom, August 1940
R6891, Sgt RonaldF. Hamlyn, No. 610 squadron, RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, August 1940
Flying this Spitfire Mk.Ia, R6690 PR
-
A, P/O John
Dundas shot down a Ju 87A from II./StG 2 west
of Portland on the afternoon of August 13, 1940.
During an attack on another Stuka, its gunner
hit the engine’s oil system, and Dundas made an
emergency landing with his severely damaged
aircraft at Warmwell Airfield. At that time, the
Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron did not yet have
the cockades painted on the undersides of
their wings, as mandated by the Air Ministry on
August 11, 1940. It was customary for the unit to
paint the aircraft’s individual black letter—in
this case, an “A”—on the underside of the nose
within a white panel. F/Lt John Charles Dundas
of Yorkshire was the older brother of G/Cpt H. S.
L. “Cocky” Dundas. Before the war, he worked
as a journalist for the Yorkshire Post, and in
1938 he joined No. 609 Squadron of the Auxiliary
Air Force. In August 1939, he was called up for
active duty and fought with No. 609 Squadron at
Dunkirk and in the Battle of Britain. With 16 aerial
victories, he became one of the most successful
fighter pilots of both No. 609 Squadron and the
Battle of Britain itself. On November 28, off the
Isle of Wight, he engaged in combat with Bf 109s
in his favorite Spitfire, X4586 PR
-
O, reporting
over the radio that he had just scored his 16th
aerial victory. Most likely, his victim was Major
Helmut Wick, commander of JG 2 and at that
time the Luftwaffe’s top active ace with 56 aerial
victories to his credit. A moment later, however,
Dundas himself fell victim to Wick’s wingman,
Lieutenant Rudi Pflanze, also an ace from JG 2.
Although Wick was seen jumping from his plane,
he was never found—nor was his victor, Dundas.
Sgt. Ronald Hamlyn was the RAF’s first “Ace
in a day”. On August 24, flying R6891 DW
-
Q, he
shot down four Bf 109s and one Junkers Ju 88.
Hamlyn was born in Harrogate and joined the
RAF in 1936. From the spring of 1940, he served
with No. 72 Squadron, with which he participated
in operations over Dunkirk as part of Operation
Dynamo. In June, he joined No. 610 Squadron,
with which he successfully participated in the
Battle of Britain, during which he shot down ten
enemy aircraft—including the aforementioned
five in a single day—for which he was awarded
the DFM. He was subsequently transferred
to No. 242 Squadron, with which he scored
his last two victories. In October 1941, he was
placed in command of No. 275 Squadron, an
Air Sea Rescue (ASR) unit. For his outstanding
service with the ASR, he was awarded the Air
Force Cross. During the last two years of the
war, Hamlyn served in staff and instructional
roles. After the war, he remained in the RAF and
served until his retirement in 1957.
KITS 10/2026
INFO Eduard36
October 2026