Claim on Bf.109 5th September 1940

[Steve Brew]

Absolutely! That's my site (http://brew.clients.ch/RAF41Sqdn.htm). I saw this post at work at lunch time today, but waited till I got home to respond, but Chris beat me to it!

You may be interested to know that Terry Webster's family have, with some assistance, undertaken quite a bit of research and are of the opinion today that Hood and Webster did not collide, rather that Hood was shot down, baled out but was rendered unidentifiable by his injuries. He has not been found but a German pilot was buried on the same day by the name of 'W. Heatz' who has also not been identified (i.e. he did not exist) so there is a feeling it may actually be Hood.

As for Terry Webster, his family believes he collided with Flt. Lt. Reginald E. Lovett, DFC, a Flight Commander with 73 Squadron, who was nicknamed ‘Unlucky Lovett’ by his unit as a result of a series of mishaps. After his mid-air collision with Webster, he baled out of his aircraft, Hurricane I, P3204, H, unhurt but, only two days later, was shot down and killed in Hurricane I, P3234.

Lovett was attacking Ju88s when he was hit in the leading edge of his starboard wing by return cannon fire at a range of 300 yards. When he peeled off and away from the enemy aircraft, he collided with Webster’s Spitfire, R6635, EB-M, whilst the latter was climbing to make an attack on the enemy formation. Uninjured, Lovett baled out and parachuted to safety at Rawreth, Essex, and it is believed his aircraft crashed, minus one wing, in farmland at Nevendon Hall, in what is today Nevendon Road Sewerage Works.

Webster’s Spitfire disintegrated and pieces fell over a large area, from Bonvilles Farm on the A127 Southend Arterial Road, across fields, and in Nevendon, which is where the main portion of the fuselage was found. Webster’s body was found by the A127.

A 73 Squadron Intelligence Report for 5 September 1940 explains Lovett’s actions during the early afternoon’s attack on the Thames Estuary by large formations of He111’s and Ju88’s, with their Me109 cover:

At 1510 approx. enemy formation sighted about 1 mile to south being engaged by A/A at 19,000 ft. E/A flying westwards in 3 vics, in line astern. A Flight led by Red 1 F/Lt. Lovett D.F.C. attacked the rearmost formation. Leader commenced quarter attack, bu as E/A travelling very fast it developed into astern attack at 350 yds. Leader experienced considerable cross fire and was hit by M.G. fire on the port side. Closed to 300 yds., but hit on starboard leading edge by cannon shell, and in breaking away a Spitfire came upwards almost vertical and they collided. Leader baled out and landed near Rochford, uninjured after delayed drop.

As the areas that Lovett and Webster's Spitfires came down are very close to each other (there is also further evidence), it appears most likely that it was indeed Lovett and not Hood that collided with Webster.

As for Ryder's claim, I would suggest that the Luftwaffe pilot you mention above [Uffz Günter BEHSE of 5./JG54 went missing in Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (5353) after combat with RAF fighters south-west of Southend at 14.45 hours (BST)] probably did not fall to Ryder for the simple reason that 41 Squadron were up twice that day, the first time between 09:15 and 11:00, and the second time between 14:59 and 15:45, which means they did not take off until after Behse was shot down.

Hans, I have Intelligence Reports for both ops., if you'd like to contact me off board. I also have his Combat Report for the afternoon op., which shows his vic. is recorded at 15:00 at 15,000-8,000 feet over Sheppey. Again, let me know if you'd like a copy.

Hope this is a help
Steve