[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

If it is the same Sgt Wylde, his career on 66 Squadron, was not quite as illustrious as his later stint with Bomber Command. Peter Caygill informs us:

p.23/ Another patrol was attempted by 66 Squadron on the 4th (January 1941), this time involving P/O Stanley Baker, P/O Peter Olver and Sgt Wylde. This also ended unfortunately as Sgt Wylde became lost and flew into a balloon cable at Chessington in poor visibility. Although he was uninjured, his Spitfire (P7660) was damaged.

p.26/ On 4 February (1941), 92 Squadron flew several patrols from Manston but nothing was seen. Over at Biggin Hill some of the more senior pilots of 66 Squadron including Bobby Oxspring, 'Dizzy' Allen, 'Bogle' Bodie and Stanley Baker carried out dusk landings but once again it was Sgt Wylde who provided the drama. During a formation patrol he managed to get himself lost in bad visibility, just as he had done a month previously, and his uncanny knack of picking out the balloon defences meant that he was odds on to fly into a cable, which he did. Incredibly he managed to retain control and landed safely [shortly afterwards Wylde was temporarily posted to the Ferry Pilots Pool at White Waltham. Whether this was due to his indiscretions in hitting balloon cables and damaging his aircraft is not recorded].

See:
The Biggin Hill Wing - 1941. From Defence to Attack,
Caygill,Peter.
Barnsley:Pen & Sword,2008.
pp.23 & 26.

Col.