warshipbuilder
Posts: 1960
Joined: 2/23/2013 From: C-eh-n-eh-d-eh Status: offline
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600 Sqn (Colerne – Beaufighter IF/IIF) 16.5.41 A day and night of ups and downs. We bagged one Hun, but should have had three. On the debit side SQUADRON LEADER PRITCHARD was shot down but baled out. FLIGHT LIEUTENANT BOYS with his operator FLYING OFFICER GLEGG destroyed a J.U.88 near HONINGTON. This is “B” Flight’s first success and it was the result of some very good work by the pilot and operator. About the same time PILOT OFFICER ROSS and SERGEANT DOVE were gaining steadily on another bandit when searchlights took a hand, illuminating the Beaufighter 5 times, blinding the pilot and enabling the Hun to take evasive action and escape. The tragic occurrence, however, was the experience of SQUADRON LEADER PRITCHARD and SERGEANT GLEDHILL. They were put onto a Hun south of Gloucester and followed him to 5 miles south of Coventry. Searchlights never illuminated the bandit, but frequently lit up our fighter. This, it is imagined, told the Hun he was being followed, for he took the most violent evasive action, doing twisting, turning and climbing. However, SERGEANT GLEDHILL kept him on the A.I. screen with very considerable skill and eventually a visual was obtained after a very long and stern chase. Just as the Beaufighter pilot was positioning himself to attack, searchlights in spite of SQUADRON LEADER PRITCHARD’s appeals for them to douse, illuminated the fighter when 100 yards from the enemy, a J.U.88, giving the Hun a perfect silhouette. The Hun opened fire, blowing the starboard side of the cockpit in, setting light to the petrol feed, causing flames to envelope the pilot. However, after certain difficulties, both SQUADRON LEADER and SERGEANT GLEDHILL baled out successfully, SQUADRON LEADER PRITCHARD suffering burns on the face and SERGEANT GLEDHILL having a bullet wound in the leg. Both were taken to Warwick Hospital and are progressing satisfactorily. Base Changes 30 Sqn (Blenheim I/IF) moved to Amnya 64 Sqn (Spitfire IIA) moved to Turnhouse 238 Sqn (Non-Op) left for the MTO 603 Sqn (Non-Op) moved to Hornchurch First and Last Operational Missions 15 Sqn (Wyton) flew its last OM in the Wellington IC 145 Sqn (Merton) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIB 224 Sqn (Limavady) flew its first OM in the Hudson V
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