Spitfires,Thunderbolts and Warm Beer

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,
just finished reading this book by Philip D Caine, based on the diaries of LeRoy Gover - some questions:-

20 May 1942 : flying with 66 Squadron Gover claimed a B.109 over Cherbourg

30 May 1942: Combat with 109's & 190's, 1 of 66 's pilots shot down in sea.

31 May 1942: Gover shot down by a 109 and baled out landing safely

19 Aug 1942: The Author states that Gover shot down a Fw.109 over Dieppe on 66's first patrol and damaged a 109 on the second patrol

I can find no record of any of this - any comments

Cheers

Bruce Lander

[Fairlop]

Hi Bruce,

I have the same result when checked several sources - nothing, sorry.

Michal

[Chris Goss]

I am sorry but I too have drawn a blank. For example, the RAF Casualty State for 19 Aug 42 makes no mention of any combats involving 66 Sqn.

[Andy_Ingham]

The 66 Sqn ORB has the following:

20 May 42 - 4 A/C up from Ibsley at 1400 on shipping recce. Crossed coast at Portland Bill, but there was so much cloud that they returned without seeing anything.

30 May 42 - Nothing of significance recorded in F540. A training exercise was carried out and the Squadron was released at 1300. The F541 does list Gover as flying a Shipping Recce early in the morning.

31 May 42 - Nothing of significance recorded in F540. Again a training exercise was carried out by the Squadron. The F541 does list Gover as flying an Interception Patrol at 1530.

19 Aug 42 - The F40 states that no shots were fired by the squadron on the first and second patrols over Dieppe. The F541 does state that a Fw190 was shot down but by another squadron.

Looks like a bit of poet license by the author!

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,

thanks Gentlemen for your comments, I think that "don't let facts spoil a good story" strikes again.

Bruce Lander

[Steve49]

Yes that seems to be the case. 66 Sqn flew two missions during the Dieppe raid, the first escorting Hurricanes of 87 Sqn and the second escorting Boston's of 88 and 226 Sqn's. They lost two Spitfire's (with both pilots killed) on the second after being bounced by Fw190's. The attack was so quick that none of the surviving aircraft were able to even open fire. Further missions were abandoned due to weather conditions. The Sqn made no claims during the day.

PO Gover did indeed fly two missions (in AB515), but after that the book departs from the facts.

Regards,

Steve