[Peter Cornwell]

Clint,

Thanks for the further observations on this incident. But I regret that the account you quote from Leigh At War is seriously at fault with regard to the RAF pilots involved. YUILE of No.1 (RCAF) Squadron flying as 'Caribou Yellow 3' on that sortie was involved with others in attacking the 3./KG26 He111 that fell at Dormansland. He reported seeing the crew bale out before it crashed and exploded. He further reported Hurricane VK*N (probably BLAKE but possibly ROZYCKI both of Blue Section No.238 Squadron) and two others also being involved. SCOTT of No.222 Squadron (Spitfires) may have been one of these but I am unable to confirm so. He simply reported attacking an He111 west of Tunbridge Wells, before coming under attack himself, and seeing a wreck burning on the ground and two parachutes. The hapless Heinkel received the attention of at least nine RAF fighters as follows:

3./KG26 Heinkel He111H-3 (3157). Hit in one wing by AA fire during sortie over London, lost formation and both engines disabled in attacks by F/L G.R. McGregor, F/O H.de M. Molson, and F/O A. Yuile of No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron; S/L M.V. Blake and P/O W. Rozycki of No.238 Squadron; P/O J.F.J. MacPhail of No.603 Squadron; P/O C.F. Currant and P/O W.J. Glowacki of No.605 Squadron, and Sgt S.A. Levenson of No.611 Squadron. Crashed and exploded at Hoopers Farm, Eden Road, Dormansland, near Lingfield, 3.45 p.m. FF Oberlt Wolf Abenhausen baled out and captured unhurt, BF Fw Heinz Hauswald baled out and captured wounded, HB Fw Henry Westfalen baled out but parachute snagged aircraft and fell dead on Starborough Estate, BM Uffz Bruno Herms and HS Gefr Fritz Zähle both killed. Aircraft 1H+ML 100% write-off.