[rafcommands]

Hi Peter,

I'm looking for some clues as to the possible identity of the Ju88 claimed by Sgt R F Hamlyn off Ramsgate at approx. 8 am on the 24th.

The Battle of Britain Then and Now - Ramsey et al suggests III/KG51, One NCO killed, two missing, one NCO rescued unhurt. Kampfgeschwader "Edelweiss" - Wolfgang Dierich (English version) makes no mention. Fighter Command War Diaries Sept 1939 to Sept 1940 - Foreman lists 2 claims of destroyed by No.610 Sqn and one claim of destroyed by No.85 Sqn.

Foreman adds: "24 August 1940: I was Yellow 2. I saw three waves of bombers approaching the S coast. I attacked one of these waves in which there were about 15-18 Junkers Ju88 at about 300 - 350 yards. I received a large amount of cross fire, but I didn't open fire until 250 yards. I gave a two second burst and saw one Ju88 dive away from the rest and I watched it crash into the sea. I did not break away. but throttling back a Bf109 overshot me and pulled right up in front at about 150 yards. I opened fire and saw it starting to smoke. I followed it down and saw it also hit the sea.
Sgt R F Hamlyn, Yellow Section, 610 Sqn"

Eagle Day - Richard Collier retells this as: "Soon after 8 am on August 24, Hamyln's Spitfire, off Ramsgate, was diving from 12,000 feet onto a Junkers Ju88, hosing it with fire, watching it rip like a hydrofoil along the water's surface. Banking, he fastened on the tail of a Bf109, firing until this, too, fell, trailing a red garland of flame. By 9 am, Hamlyn was back at his home base..."

Hamlyn's Combat report for this event does not appear in AIR50 at the TNA.

AIR27/703 No.85 Sqn ORB confirms combat and claim of an Bf109 by P/O Allard 3 miles off Ramsgate at about 14,000 feet
AIR27/2106 No.610 Sqn ORB confirms combat and claims of Ju88 and Bf109 by Sgt Hamlyn at 12,000 feet stepped in 3 waves stepped line astern off Ramsgate.

Try as I might I have been unable to move beyond the BoB Then and Now suggestion of III/KG51 and any suggestions or pointers would be most welcome.

All this points to more than a lone aircraft and I was hoping to come at it from the other direction of looking to identify escort then who they were escorting.

Regards
Ross