Claim for Spitfire near Canterbury 18 August 1940

[Andy Saunders]

Peter

Thank you for the clarification relative to the ORB for 65 Squadron on 18 August 1940. The ORB was on my list to check at Kew this Thursday since I rather sensed something might be adrift here.

However, in two seperate letters to different individuals the AHB in 1975 and 1979 (Alan Brown and the writer, respectively) have quoted the 14.50 time. I have also checked back to reports on the inquest on Gruszka at Canterbury in May 1975 and find that a Mr Kenneth Wall of the MOD gave sworn evidence to Dr Wilfred Mowll, HM Coroner that:

"(Gruszka)..was last seen chasing enemy aircraft between Canterbury and Manston on 18 August 1940 at 14.50hrs"

I must say that I am inclined to the view that the ORB times are most probably correct, but the difference in timings seems to be consistent from the MOD/AHB. I rather suspect, however, that there is perhaps a single incorrect timing entered somewhere on Gruszka's Casualty File and the MOD have simply gone with that time consistently. After all, I suppose that the accurate time of his loss is/was hardly important to the MOD in the bigger picture of the case - although it causes a bit of head-scratching to those of us now trying to assemble an accurate picture of the event.

As you say Peter, if the ORB times are taken as correct then there are certainly possible contenders for his "claim". I have not (yet) looked at anything that might exist in local Kent archives at Maidstone to give a ground report of the aircraft down at Westbere and that might help to give some timing confirmation.

As a matter of interest, Peter, do you have the other five pilots who took part in this particular flight? It will save me some time rummaging in the microfilm drawers at Kew and will earn you another pint, of course!