[andy bird]

Chris, Peter, & Stig,

Herewith ORB for 3rd November 1940

Regards

Andy Bird

248 Ops:

09:06 Sgt Fripp T/248 takes off, together with K/248 and R/248 on a S.A.I.E Patrol. T/248 to patrol middle track.

T/248 - 0905/QSWT 4155/360/180 MPH. A/C sighted believed to be a JU88. E/A went across tail 2,000 ft, above at distance of 1000 yards. Pilot turned towards direction of e/a but disappeared into cloud. % value 80. Good 9/10 - 12000ft 50 miles

T/248 Lands at 11:01

10:11 P/O 'Sam' McHardy Z/248, H/248 P/O Gordon Atkinson, G/248 P/O Anthony Garrard, scramble 'On Search for enemy aircraft on a Square Search PCQC 5730'

Z/248 - 1146/PCQC 4344/090T saw He 111K Mk V.A. near sea level 4,000 ft below. [Ordered attack, formation went into line astern - McHardy's Diary] After a beam and quarter attacks as well as from astern by three aircraft, during which tracers were seen to enter e/a, and dense smoke appeared. E/A obtained cloud cover, but was later seen by Atkinson of H/248 diving steeply towards the sea with dense smoke pouring from it as it went into cloud base near sea, and a large piece of black material come from port side. Aircraft H/248 circled over sea, but saw nothing.

Enemy a/c rear guns replied several times, once with cannon fire resulting in no damage, to aircraft Z/248, but H/248 received bullet hole in oil cooler which removed cowling gills. Z & H/248 returned independently to base, but aircraft G/248 failed to return and it was last seen making second attack on enemy aircraft.

G/248 and H/248 Land 12:55

10:30 J/248, C/248 take off. On Square Search for enemy aircraft between positions PCQG 5730 - PCMA 5740 PCMA 3740 - PCQG 3530 - search completed nothing sighted.

J/248 and C/248 Landed 12:08/09

Three hours later a search is tasked:

K/J/H Take Off 15:10/11 'On Search For G/248'

Search made over area QSVD 0505 XZQG 4729 - PCWT 2011. PCWT 3835 with out result. Good visibility allowed whole area to be covered.

K/J/H Land at 17:15

Form 540: Written up at 16:00 Five a/c took off at about 10:00 hours on enemy aircraft interception patrol. An e/a was sighted by these and attacked by all three. It is believed the aircraft was shot down. Aircraft G/248 with crew Garrard, Bayliss and Moynham failed to return. At 15:00 hours three aircraft were sent out to try and trace G/248, but without results.