Traces of World War 2 
RAF - No. 607 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

      home - latest update 27 February 2008


607 SQUADRON - Fighter, Hurricane Mk I
Air Component, BEF

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



Gladiators arrived in December 1938 and it took these to France as part of the Air Component in November 1939.

In March 1940 Hurricanes began to arrive and within a few days of the German invasion in May had completely replaced Gladiators. With its airfields overrun, the squadron moved back to the UK to re-equip

It spent most of the Battle of Britain at its home base (Usworth) re-equipping but in September 1940 it returned south to take part in the Battle. Returning north in October it settled mainly in Scotland returning south in August 1941 to Martlesham Heath. It moved to Manston in October remaining there until going to India in 1942.

Whilst based at Manston it pioneered the use of Hurricanes in the fighter-bomber role, paving the way for the type of operation that would become commonplace and today is the norm.

Stations
Vitry, France
Croydon, 22 May 1940
Usworth 5 June 1940
Tangmere 1 September 1940
Turnhouse 10 October 1940

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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: Patrol, F
10/05/1940: Patrol, F (2)
10/05/1940: Patrol, F (3) 1 Plane lost
11/05/1940: Escort, Maastricht, B/NL

12/05/1940: Patrol, F? 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA
13/05/1940: ?, B
. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
14/05/1940: ?, B.
4 Planes lost, 2 KIA, 1 MIA
15/05/1940: Escort, Meuse bridges, B. 1 Plane lost, 1 MIA
16/05/1940: Frontier Patrol, F
17/05/1940: Patrol, F
18/05/1940: ?, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
19/05/1940: Patrol, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
22/05/1940: re-establishment Croydon, UK
24/05/1940: ground, F. 1 KIA or DOW
26/06/1940: ?, UK.
1 Plane lost, 1 KIA

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

Flying Officer (Pilot) Nigel S. Graeme, RAF (AAF) 90254, 607 Sqdn., age 24, 24/03/1940, Douai Communal Cemetery, France
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Harry P.J. Radcliffe, RAF (AAF) 90293, 607 Sqdn., age 25, 24/03/1940, Douai Communal Cemetery, France

According to Peter Cornwell they both died on 23/03/1940, when their Gladiator collided in mid-air.

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10/05/1940: Patrol, F

At 05.15 on 10 May Yellow Section of A Flight, 607 Squadron, encountered a number of He111Hs of II/KG 1 east-north-east of Douai. One of the Heinkels was claimed by Flying Officer Bill Gore (Hurricane P2573 AF-A).
These bombers were also intercepted by William 'Rigby' Whitty (from B Flight). He reported:

'I had just arrived [at dispersal] when my Flight Sergeant pointed out aircraft bombing Cambrai. I took off and caught two flying together and got one He111 – which crashed near Mons – and got a burst at the second on his port motor before he got into cloud.'

7/KG1 lost an aircraft in this engagement when it crashed near Hinacourt, about seven miles south of St. Quentin. Oberfeldwebel Kurt Buchholz, the pilot, was captured by French forces, but the remainder of his crew were killed.

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10/05/1940: Patrol, F (2)

At 05:15 on 10 May Blue Section of B Flight met three He111s at 17,000 feet near Le Quesnoy. One of the He111s was claimed as a shared probable. Flight Lieutenant John Sample (Blue 1) (Hurricane P2615) reported:

'While patrolling Douai sighted three aircraft to south-west of base, flying east. Opened to full throttle and climbed up, but was left behind by Blue 3 [Flying Officer Charles Bowen] whose aircraft was faster. Blue 3 carried out one attack, followed by Blue 2 [Flying Officer John Humpherson], during which I climbed above e/a to identify them, as I was not entirely satisfied to their identity.

Having satisfied myself they were Heinkels, I carried out attack from astern on a single aircraft, flying about 500 yards behind and to one side of the other two. I fired two bursts, commencing at 350 yards and broke away at about 50 yards. During my fourth burst the e/a banked over to starboard slowly. After I broke away I could no longer see him. Oil appeared to come from e/a as my windscreen was covered with it.'

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10/05/1940: Patrol, F (3)

At 14:30 607 Squadron scrambled nine Hurricanes on the approach of Heinkels of III/KG 1. Seven of the bombers were encountered north-west of St Quentin at 12,000 feet and Flight Lieutenant John Sample (Blue 1) (Hurricane P2615) led the attack:

'Spotted formation of seven He111s over Albert, orbiting, with one straggler 300 yards behind others which were in close vic formation. Ordered line astern and proceeded to attack straggler. After the first burst of fire from my guns, I noticed that he was closed up with the rest of his formation. I received crossfire from all the aircraft in the formation. During my second burst of fire I saw my incendiary bullets entering the fuselage and wings of e/a and the port engine gave off light coloured smoke. The e/a began to turn away from his formation. At this moment my engine was hit by several bullets and began pouring out oil, blinding me. I broke away and escaped by parachute, as I could not have seen well enough to land.'

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: P2615, AF-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 10/05/1940

He sprained both his ankles severely on landing. Thereafter, until recovery, he was obliged to wear carpet slippers at all times, even when flying. Sample's sprained ankles, however, kept him ground during the remaining time in France.

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11/05/1940: Escort, Maastricht, B/NL

At 15:25 on 11 May Red and Blue Sections of 607 Squadron – four Hurricanes – departed Vitry to escort three Battles of 88 Squadron to Maastricht (only one of the bombers returned) [or were they from 218 Sqdn?]. When patrolling over Maastricht at 16:35, the Hurricanes were attacked by at least one of ten Ju87s of 8/StG2 seen bombing the village of Visé, south of Maastricht. The Hurricanes scattered and became separated in clouds, although Flight Lieutenant George Plinston and Flying Officer George Craig of Blue Section jointly claimed their attacker shot down; Plinston reported:

'On patrol when attacked by Ju87. Returned fire and e/a went into steep dive. No return fire from rear gunner.'

Craig added:

”Three bursts and e/a seen to dive in a deep spiral as if in trouble. Enemy formation broke up. No return fire but fairly heavy AA.”

The Ju87B, T6+MS flown by Oberleutnant Karl Janke, crashed near Visé where the injured pilot was captured by French troops.
Later during the same sortie Plinston claimed an Hs123 from 5(S)/LG2.

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12/05/1940: Patrol, F

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: P2572, AF-B
Operation: patrol
Lost: 12/05/1940
F/O W.E. Gore, injured.
Bailed out after combat with He 111 of 4/LGl.

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13/05/1940: ?, B

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: ?, AF-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 13/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Montague H.B. Thompson, RAF (AAF) 90287, 607 Sqdn., age 24, 13/05/1940, Heverlee War Cemetery, B

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14/05/1940: ?, B

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: ?, AF-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 14/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Gerald I. Cuthbert, RAF 90133, 607 Sqdn., age 28, 14/05/1940, Hotton War Cemetery, B

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Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: ?, AF-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 14/05/1940
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) John L. Sullivan, RAF 37643, 607 Sqdn., age unknown, 14/05/1940, Perwez Churchyard, B

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Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: P-2713, AF-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 14/05/1940
Pilot Officer Arthur E. Le Breuilly, RAF 42615, 87 Sqdn. [= 607 Sqdn.], age unknown, 14/05/1940 (missing)
"Twelve Days in May" Cull/Lander/Weiss records Breuilly as shot down by Bf109 of 4/JG2 and crashed near Gembloux.Pilot Killed. In the text it also mentions another Hurricane coming down near Perwez,"near where, it is believed, F/O Arthur Le Breuilly,s Hurricane(P2713) also crashed".

Arthur Eugene Le Breuilly appears to have joined 607 Squadron in April, 1940. He is thought to have come from No 1 Air Armament School at RAF Manby, he gets only one mention in the 607 Squadron ORB and none of the known pilots logbooks mention him either.
The only entry in the ORB says he was 'Killed'. He is generally accepted to have been shot down in the area of Gembloux with F/O Monty Thompson, May 14, 1940. Le Breuilly has no known grave, some of the pilots killed during this period were buried by the locals and their graves may not be recorded.

Source: RAF Commands Forum

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Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: ?, AF-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 14/05/1940
F/O Monty Thompson

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15/05/1940: Escort, Meuse bridges, B

On 15 May Squadron Leader Lance Smith (Hurricane P2870) of 607 Squadron led five Hurricanes of 607 Squadron's B Flight and six Hurricanes of 615 Squadron's A Flight in a escort of a dozen Blenheims (three of 15 Squadron and nine of 40 Squadron), which were to bomb the bridges over the Meuse in the Dinant-Celles area.

Before reaching the target they encountered Bf110Cs plus Bf109s from Stab III/JG 53 at 11,000 feet. In the ensuing combat Squadron Leader J. R. Kayall of 615 Squadron claimed two Bf110s while Flying Officer H. N. Fowler (Hurricane P2622) from the same squadron claimed a probable Bf109 before being shot down himself (he parachuted safely but was later taken PoW). 607 Squadron claimed two Bf109s shot down, one by Whitty, who reported seeing the pilot bale out of the aircraft he attacked, and the other by newly attached Pilot Officer Bob Grassick of 242 Squadron's B Flight. Squadron Leader Smith was shot down and killed in this combat.

Three Hurricanes were claimed by III/JG 53 and were credited to Hauptmann Werner Mölders, Oberleutnant Heinz Wittenberg and Leutnant Georg Claus, while two of the Blenheims were shot down by Bf109s of 1/JG 3 encountered when north-west of Charleroi.

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: ?, AF-?
Operation: Escort, Meuse bridges, F
Lost: 15/05/1940
Squadron Leader Launcelot E. Smith, RAF (AAF) 90273, Cdg. 607 Sqdn., age 31, 15/05/1940, missing

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16/05/1940: Frontier Patrol, F

George Craig of 607 Sqdn was flying a frontier patrol in Hurricane 'AF-M' in company with 615 Squadron. They were bounced by Me109's and a turning dogfight ensued in which Craig reported that the 'floored one'.

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17/05/1940: Patrol, F

In the vicinity of Le Cateau, George Craig attacked a Do17, which he noted 'crashed in flames'.
This was followed by a He111 which, when he was about to attack it, 'crashed before he fired a shot'



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18/05/1940: ?, F

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: ?, AF-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 18/05/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Robert F. Weatherill, RAF 37993, 607 Sqdn., age 24, 18/05/1940, Cambrai (Route de Solesmes) Communal Cemetery, F

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19/05/1940: Patrol, F

The squadron suffered heavy losses and lost two commanding officers in short time. As senior pilot, Flight Lieutenant John Sample was given command of the remains until the squadron was ordered to withdrawn from France on 21 May 1940.

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: P3535, AF-P
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 19/05/1940
Squadron Leader (Pilot) George M. Fidler, RAF 34219, age 27, 19/05/1940, Bachy Communal Cemetery, F
Bailed out after combat with Me 109s of LG2.

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22/05/1940: re-establishment Croydon, UK

The Squadron re-established at Croydon on 22 May.

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24/05/1940: ground, F

Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op.) Alan Clark, RAF 646783, 607 Sqdn., age unknown, 24/05/1940, Zutkerque Churchyard, F
Likely to be a ground crew member, trying to reach England via Dunkirk

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26/06/1940: ?, UK

Type: Hurricane Mk I
Serial number: ?, AF-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 26/06/1940
Sergeant (Pilot) Richard T. Glover, RAFVR 742508, 607 Sqdn., age 22, 26/06/1940, Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, UK



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Sources

Air of Authority - 607 Squadron
Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database
Bail-outs for 1940
Commonwealth fighter biplanes aces - George Craig
Commonwealth fighter biplanes aces - John Sample
Commonwealth fighter biplanes aces - William Whitty
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
RAF Battle of Britain - 607 Squadron
RAF - Campaign Diary - The Battle of France (May-June 1940)
RAF Museum: British Military Aviation in 1940
RAF Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940
Royal Air Force History Section
The Royal Air Force, 1939-1945
The Second World War - a day by day account

The War in France and Flanders, 1939-1940, by Major L.F. Ellis, 1954

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Books

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Links

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
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)
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

Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
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 607 Squadron.

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 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