269 Sqdn Anson combat with Do.18. 19 Sept. 1939

[bill norman]

Stig,
Thanks for your input.
I suspect that we're talking about different incidents here - one relating to 612 Sqdn; the other relating to 269 Sqdn. What date was 'the following day' in your quotation from Shores' book?

The 269 Sqdn Anson did not make 'four firing passes' on the Dornier. Two shells from the Do.18's first (and only) burst hit the Anson, one of them killing the pilot instantly. After that, the Anson crew was too pre-occupied with trying to regain control of their aircraft (before it hit the sea) to engage in combat. After the lucky burst, the Do. disappeared into cloud and was not seen again.

According to Shores, 612's Do. was encountered c. 122 miles E of Wick at 1005hrs; 269's Do. was spotted at 1010hrs and after a brief chase the Anson was hit when about 140 miles from base (Montrose), though compass direction is not given. The locations of Wick and Montrose again suggest different incidents - unless the 269 Anson met the '612' Do. when the latter was on its way home. Assuming that Shores' date is correct, I am more inclined to think that there were two Do's involved - which makes me wonder whether both Do.18's were from the same unit (2/606).

Re. McNeill's 'claim', you are correct: I was simply (and imprecisely!) treating the omission of the 269 incident as a 'claim by omission'. Clearly, not a good idea. However, the incident did take place: I have copies of most of the official accounts relating to the incident; Burrell's grave is at Montrose; and I have spoken with Ted Willits, Burrell's navigator, who averted an almost certain disaster by exceedingly prompt action. I have also seen the citation for his DFM - and held the medal.

Bill