7 OTU Interceptions during Battle of Britain

[bearoutwest]

Hello all. Quite some time ago, I recorded some notes from reading “A Summer For Heroes” (by Derek Wood with Derek Dempster, based on the book The Narrow Margin, Tri-Service Press 1990). Some of these were of No 7 OTU, based at Hawarden, Flintshire, which formed a battle flight to deal with emergencies.

14.Aug.40
Spitfires flown by W/Co. Hallings-Pott, S/Ldr. J.S. McLean and P/Off. P.V. Ayerst scramble after hearing explosions and machine-gun fire nearby, intercept a He 111 and shoot it down near Chester.

7.Sep.40
No.7 O.T.U. scores second victory of the Battle when “… Sgt. L.S. Pilkington, while instructing a pupil in formation flying, heard on the R/T that a ‘bandit’ was approaching Hoylake. Having sent the pupil home he intercepted a Ju 88 at 20,000 feet and was able to get in a good burst with his two 20mm cannon, which was a rarity at the time. The Ju 88 subsequently crashed in Wales. …”

18.Sep.40
Third victory for No. 7 O.T.U. when “… Squadron Leader McLean, Flying Officer Brotchie and Sergeant Armitage took off from Hawarden, Cheshire, and intercepted a raid flying towards Liverpool. They damaged one Do 17 and shot down another which dived into the sea off the Welsh coast. …”

Pilots McLean and Ayerst are listed in “Aces High” or “Those Other Eagles”, together with mention of Hallings-Pott. However there are no details of the actions occurring in September. Does anyone have further details? Was the 20mm cannon armed Spitfire Mk1 one of those “traded” with No 19 Squadron for machine-gun armed versions after the cannon jamming/stoppage problems which plagued 19 Squadron’s use of the early cannon-Spitfires?


Regards,
...geoff