Defiant 11 Dec 42

[Alex Smart]

From the Tony Woods files.

11.12.42 Fw. Karl Willius: 23 ► 2./JG 26 Defiant ⬜ 2-3 km. vor Dungeness: 5 m. 12.15 Film C.2027/I Anerk: ASM.

From The JG 26 War Diary vol1 1939 - 1942
Has on page 310 -

11 December
The 3rd Staffel's Fw Willius shot up an ASR Defiant and claimed its destruction, but the claim was not confirmed; the Defiant in fact escaped..

Vol 2, Appendix page 529 has -

Date - Rank - Name - Unit - CL - Aircraft - Place - Time - Opponent - Conf.
11-12-42 - Fw - Willius - 3 - 1 - Defiant - 2-3kmE of Dungeness - 1215 - 277 Sqd - No.

So the Defiant 's 277 Sqdn ORB may have a note of the encounter ?

Having looked at the ORB for 277 Sqdn, "AIR 271600/24 & 25" for the 11/12/42 it looks like Sgt. D. LUNN who was Pilot of Defiant AA316 , UP at 1200 - 1235 hrs would have been the claim in question.
However There does not seem to be any mention of any enemy engagement, yet there is a not of another Airman going to London to buy flowers for a wedding , priorities ??

Alex

[Chris Goss]

Alex: Martlesham Heath to Castle Camps would not have taken him anywhere near Dungeness and in any case he was only airborne for 35 mins. However, B Flt at Hawkinge and C Flt at Shoreham did have aircraft airborne at the time, B Flt aircraft carrying out air firing at the right time but nothing mentioned

[Chris Goss]

Found it! It was AA312/U of 277 Sqn RAF Hawkinge which was on an air firing exercise and bounced at 1220hrs. Both lower guns smashed, bullet holes in fin, flap, wing and wheel. Flt Lt John A Spence & Sgt Howard W Brunckorst. Gunner had a jam of his guns when attacked. 11 Dec entry inserted after 12 Dec entry which is why we both missed it. Spence awarded DFC as a result

[Alex Smart]

Hi Chris,
He was flown by another Airman from his base to the other airfield where he picked up the Defiant, later returning to home base in the Defiant.
In regard to Spence and Brunckorst, it begins with a Lysander "U" but later mentions a Defiant ?

A ha, just found it, Defiant AA312 "U".

The ORB pages are a bit of a muddle

So Luftwaffe Pilot should have his claim added, a little late but 277 ORB confirms claim

Alex