Final fate of Hurricane P3203?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hej Christer

It is not listed as lost in combat in any of my books.
Jim Halley has it as SOC on 30.9.1940 while belonging to No 79 Sq

Cheers
Stig

[Christer Bergström]

Due to "The Battle of Britain Then and Now. Mk. V", p. 392, Hptm. Bäss's He 111 (claimed to be of 10./KG 1, while in reality it was 5./KG 1) was rammed by the Hurricane P3203 flown by Pilot Officer E. J. Morris of 79 Squadron on 30 August 1940. I suspected that to be a mistake, since Morris was shot down on 31 August 1940. Or did he actually ram a He 111 on 30 August and then got shot down on 31 August? I have to check that at National Archive next month. Your reply gave me a good clue...

[Peter Cornwell]

Pilot Officer Morris of No.79 Squadron abandoned P3203 unhurt on 30 August 1940 and returned to duty. His aircraft P3877 was badly damaged by 109s in action over Biggin Hill on the following day & he returned to base wounded. A hectic 48 hours certainly, but not unusual & 'all in a days work' back in 1940.

Check out Blitz Vol.1 p272 for updated details.

[Jacek Kutzner]

P3203/79 Sqn
Damaged by return fire from He 111 and abendoned over Irish Sea, 29.09.40

J. J. Halley, Royal Air Force Aircraft P1000-R999, p. 28.

[Christer Bergström]

Thank you, all!

I guess I still have to check at Kew in June...