Traces of World War 2 
RAF - 1 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

1 SQUADRON - Fighter, Hawker Hurricane Mk I
AASF - 67 (Fighter) Wing (N° 1, N° 17, N° 73, N° 501, N° 242 Sqdns)

History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks

By the outbreak of the Second World War the Squadron had worked up sufficiently to deploy to France as part of 67 Wing of the Advanced Air Striking Force. In October 1939 it flew over enemy territory for the first time and on the 30th of that month claimed its first victory, a Dornier DO17. Further occasional combat took place and the successes mounted.

However, the situation developed significantly in April 1940, and 10th May was the date on which No 1(Fighter) Squadron became fully operation in every sense of the word. Fighting was intense and a week later the Squadron was bombed out of its base at Berry-au-Bac; then began a series of retreats ending finally in a return to the UK. The Squadron was back at Tangmere by 23rd June and operational the following month.

As German forces advanced on Paris, following the conclusion of the Dunkirk evacuation, the position of the French became ever more critical. On 14 June the squadron moved to Boos, on the Seine, covering evacuations from this port. Three days later it flew south into Brittany on similar duties. From here the remaining pilots flew home to England on 18 June, the ground crews coming out by sea.

What, then, had 1 Squadron achieved during this period of hectic operations and disastrous retreat in the battle for France?

Between 10 and 19 May at least 86 more victories had been claimed, at a cost of 17 Hurricanes, but with only two pilots killed and two seriously wounded. From then until the evacuation to England not a single further loss of either aircraft or pilot was suffered, although claims for 16 more opposing aircraft were submitted, to bring the total since the outbreak of war to at least 125 (17 of which remained unconfirmed).

Total losses in combat since September 1939 amounted to 22 aircraft crashed or force-landed, two pilots killed, one missing and two wounded. By the end of June 1940, ten Distinguished Flying Crosses (DFCs) had been awarded to officers of the squadron, and three Distinguished Flying Medals (DFMs) had been received by NCO pilots.

During the last days (France, June 1940) the airfield at Nantes was crowded with a strange assortment of machines as civil and communication aircraft were pressed into service to aid the evacuation. There were similar scenes at other points. Many men also left from the western ports where the German air attacks on the transports were heavy. Fighter patrols gave what protection they could and were able to drive off many attacks, but one disaster occurred at St. Nazaire on 17 June when the liner Lancastria was dive-bombed and sunk and upwards of 3000 perished. A British pilot from No.1 Squadron reported the destruction of the bomber which hit the ship. The fighter pilots were, in fact, the last to leave, with the enemy vanguard almost within striking distance. On completion of the final evacuation at Cherbourg, the last Hurricane to fly over the town and harbour was, appropriately enough, piloted by Air Vice-Marshal Park.

On this page a photo of 1 Squadron pilots can be seen, taken shortly before the outbreak of the blitzkrieg.

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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are.

10/05/1940: Intercept, F. 2 a/c lost, 2 a/c damaged (1 lost later)
11/05/1940: Intercept, F. 1 Plane lost
12/05/1940: Escort, Maastricht bridges, NL and B. 2 Planes lost
13/05/1940: Intercept, F. 3 Planes lost, 1 WIA
14/05/1940: Sedan, F. 3 Planes lost, 1 KIA, 1 MIA
15/05/1940: Patrol?, F. 2 Planes lost
17/05/1940: Patrol?, F. 2 planes lost
18/05/1940: Patrol? 2 planes lost, 1 POW
19/05/1940: Patrol?. 2 Planes lost, 1 WIA
21/05/1940: Rouen, F
23/05/1940: ?
25/05/1940: Patrol, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 POW
26/05/1940: Patrol?, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA
04/06/1940: Rouen area, F
05/06/1940: Rouen area, F. 2 Planes lost, 1 KIA
14/06/1940: Shipping escort patrol, St. Nazaire, F. 2 Planes lost, 1 POW
17/06/1940: St. Nazaire, F

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Losses 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (incomplete)

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1974, JX-?
Operation: Intercept
Damaged: 02/03/1940
F/O M.H. Brown - unhurt
Propellor disintegrated during pursuit of Do 17P of 4.(F)/11 over Metz. Made dead-stick belly-landing at Nancy, 11.15 hrs. Aircraft repairable.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1671, JX-?
Operation: Intercept
Lost: 02/03/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) John S. Mitchell, RAF 41607 (NZ), 1 Sqdn., age 21, 02/03/1940, Chambieres French National Cemetery, Metz, France
Engine damaged by return fire from Do 17P of 4.(F)/11 engaged over Metz. Crashed attempting forced-landing at Fénétrange, south of Sarre-Union.

Sources: CWGC, Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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10/05/1940: Intercept, F

F/L P.P. Hanks claims a Do17 destroyed, near Verdun, 05.00 hrs.
P/O P.W. Mould claims a He111 destroyed, near Verdun, 05.00 hrs.
F/O Billy Drake claims a He111 destroyed, near Verdun, 05.00 hrs.
F/O M.H. Brown claims a Do17 destroyed, near Metz, 06.00 hrs
F/L P.R. Walker, F/O P.H.M. Richey, F/O J.I. Kilmartin and Sgt F.J. Soper share in the destruction of this Do17.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P2649, JX-T
Operation: Patrol
Damaged: 10/05/1940
P/O W.O. Mould - unhurt
Took off from Vassincourt. Hit by return fire from Do 17 engaged east of rouvres 05.00 hrs. Returned with slight damage and punctured tyre. Aircraft damaged but repairable.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2382, JX-B
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 10/05/1940
F/L P.R. Walker - safe
Took off from Vassincourt. Belly-landed east of Verdun after engine damaged by return fire from a Do 17 of Stab KG3 (Do 17 from III/KG2 mentioned by Franks) near Metz, at 05.30 hrs (Franks) or at 05.45 hrs (Cornwell).

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1689, JX-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 10/05/1940
F/O R. Lawrie Lorimer - safe
Took off from Vassincourt. Pilot baled out near Châlons-sur-Marne at 14.45 hrs (Cornwell) or 14.30 hrs (Franks), hit by return fire from a He 111 of KG53. He was to die on 14/05/1940.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1679, JX-G
Operation: Patrol
Damaged: 10/05/1940 Lost: 14/05/1940
F/O P.H.M. Richey - safe.
Took off from Vassincourt. Damaged in combat; force-landed at Mezières airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by bombing on 14/05/1940.

Sources: CWGC, Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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11/05/1940: Intercept, F

At 08.00 hrs F/O P.H.M. Richey engages a Do17.
At 14.45 hrs F/L P.P. Hanks and F/O Leslie R. Clisby claim a destroyed Me110.
At 14.45 hrs F/L P.P. Hanks, F/O P.W.O. Mould and F/O Clisby claim a destroyed Me110.
At 14.45 hrs F/O Clisby and P/O C.M. Stavert claim a destroyed Me110.
At 14.45 hrs F/O Billy Drake claims a destroyed Do17.
Locations unknown.

At 19.15 hrs F/O M.H. Brown claims two Me110's destroyed near Mezieres
At 19.15 hrs F/O J.I. Kilmartin claims two Me110's destroyed near Mezières
At 19.15 hrs F/O P.H.M. Richey claims two Me110's destroyed near Mezières
At 19.15 hrs Sgt F.J. Soper claims three Me110's destroyed near Mezières
At 19.15 hrs F/L P.R. Walker claims two Me110's destroyed near Mezières

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1685, JX-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 11/05/1940
F/O. P.H.M. Richey - safe
Shot down by Me 110. Pilot baled out at 19.15 hrs, Mezières area, France.

Sources: (a.o.) CWGC, Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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At 09.00 hrs Hurricanes of 87 Squadron are involved in areal combat over the target area.

Six Battles from No 12 Squadron are detailed to attack the vital bridges in the Maastricht area still standing after the previous day's failed attempts to destroy them. One of the aircraft went unserviceable prior to take-off, leaving the remaining five to attack bridges at Veldwezelt and Vroenhoven. Ahead of the bombers were eight Hurricanes from No 1 Squadron. Suddenly, the fighter pilots saw the sky fill with German Bf109s - 120 in all. Despite the fearful odds, the Hurricanes fought as best they could, losing two of their own.

These Hurricane pilots of No. 1 Squadron - F/O L.R. Clisby,S/L P.J.H. Halahan, F/O A.G. Lewis, Sgt F.J. Soper and P/O P.V. Boot claimed to have destroyed seven German aircraft in the Maastricht area, at 09.40 hrs. Three of these were real 'kills'.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1671, JX-?
Operation: Escort
Lost: 12/05/1940
Squadron Leader P.J.H. Halahan
Escorted Battles of 12 Squadron. Belly-landed west of Maastricht, in Belgium. Shot down by a Me 109 of 2/JG27. S/L Halahan returned to unit.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1688, JX-?
Operation: Escort
Lost: 12/05/1940
F/O R.G. Lewis - safe
Escorted Battles of 12 Squadron. Baled out after combat with Me 109's of 2./JG27 west of Maastricht. F/O Lewis landed in Belgium, was locked in a cellar by local civilians but eventually released.

Another version is that he was captured by the Germans and freed by Belgian (or French/Senegalese) ground forces in a counterattack.

Sources: (a.o.) CWGC, Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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At 06.40 hrs No. 1 Squadron attacks a formation of Me110's and He111 near Vouziers (= Vouzières).

F/O. Leslie R. Clisby claims two He111's and one Me 110.
P/O P.W.O. Mould claims one Me 110 and a He111.
F/L P.P. Hanks, P/O G.E. Goodman and F/O Robert L. Lorrimer claim the shared destruction of a He111.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: ?, JX-P
Operation: ?
Lost: 13/05/1940
Pilot Officer Billy Drake - WIA, safe
Baled out after combat with Me 110 near Rethel.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1694, JX-F
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 13/05/1940
F/O L.R. Clisby - safe
Damaged upon landing SE of Vouziers (= Vouzières), France, at 06.40 hours to secure crew of He 111. Landed near bomber and chased crew on foot.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1681, JX-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 13/05/1940
F/O R.L. Lorimer - safe
Force-landed between St Loupe-Terria after combat with He 111's and written off.

Sources: (a.o.) CWGC, Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Google Maps, Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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No. 1 Sqdn. makes two interceptions; at 07.45 hrs (location unknown) and at 15.50 hrs, near Sedan. See 226 Squadron, 14/05/1940 for more information on the 'Sedan disaster'.


Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P2546, JX-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 14/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Leslie R. Clisbie, RAF 40043, DFC, age 25, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, France.
Shot down by Me 110 at Sedan, 08.00 hrs.
Clisbie came from North Walkerville, Australia. Clisbie was the squadron's first top-scorer, having already claimed at least ten aircraft shot down, and possibly more, by the time he was brought down and killed on 14 May.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: L1676, JX-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 14/05/1940
Flying Officer Robert L. Lorimer, RAF 37731, age unknown, 14/05/1940, missing - Runnymede Memorial
Shot down by Me 110 at Sedan

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2380, JX-S
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 14/05/1940
F/L P.P. Hanks - safe
Baled out after combat with Me 110 of ZG26 over Sedan. Crashed at St Remy le Petit.

Sources: (a.o.) CWGC, Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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Sources

Air Force POWs 1939-1945
Ardennes 1940 à ceux qui ont résisté (in French)
Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database
Australian War Memorial
Bail-outs for 1940
Belgian place names in Dutch, French and German (Wikipedia)
BBC History - France, 1940: 1 Squadron
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Ciel de gloire - Squadron 1
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945
Prisoners of War captured in Europe 1940
Royal Air Force 1939-1945
Royal Air Force - 1 Squadron
RAF against odds (Time, USA, 27/05/1940)
RAF - Campaign Diary - The Battle of France (May-June 1940)
Royal Air Force Squadron page
New Zealanders in the Royal Air Force
The War in France and Flanders, 1939-1940, by Major L.F. Ellis, 1954

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Books

Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008
B Drake & C Shores 'Billy Drake, Fighter Leader' (Grub St 2002)
Norman L.R. Franks, RAF Fighter Command losses: Volume 1, 1939-1941, Midland Publishing Limited, 2nd edition, 2008
N Franks & M O'Connor 'Number one in war & peace' (Grub Street)
P Joubert 'The fated sky: autobiography of ACM Sir Philip Joubert' (Hutchinson 1952)
Francis K. Mason, The Hawker Hurricane I, Profile Publications Ltd, Leatherhead, UK, 1966
N Monks 'Squadrons Up' (1940)
Shaw 'Twice Vertical - story of 1 Sqn' (MacDonald 1971)
Shaw 'No 1 Squadron' (Ian Allen 1986)
Peter Wykeham, Fighter Command, 1959 (reprint: Arno Press 1980)

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Links

Discussion Groups
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
RAF Commands Forum
RAF Commands Forum until November 2007

Other
Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
Air Aces
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
Australian Wargraves
Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
British Aircraft Directory
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
Canada's Air Force History
HMS Cavalier
Ciel de Gloire (in French) RAF Squadrons
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
Eagles Squadrons (American pilots in the RAF)
Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
Håkans aviation page (from Sweden, in English)
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
The Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
RAF Upwood
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de

Aircraft crashes on the North Yorkshire Moors, England
Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
Luftfahrt-Archäologie in Schleswig Holstein (in German)
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
WW1 Cemeteries

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This page is dedicated to the men of No. 1 Squadron.

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2007-2008. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if this source is mentioned with a link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html