Fg Off Norman Head 409 Sqn

[Chris Goss]

Found it. Scrambled in MM451 & flight lasted 2 hrs 10 mins. In a note it says destroyed 2 Ju 88. One mid Channel 2nd fell Hildenborough Nr Tunbridge near Flying Dutchman pub.

[Yeomans]

That's great Chris - I have been trying to discover which aircraft he was flying.

I have a copy of the combat report which gives a take-off time from West Malling of 22.14 hours landing back there at 00.19.
First combat timed at 23.12 (initially thought to be a Ju 188) but ADGB (whatever that may be) later confirmed it to have been a Ju 88 which crashed near Tonbridge.
Second combat timed at 23.41 was Ju 88 W/Nr 140099 which crashed at Blackbrook.

The armament report states rounds fired were : 100 X 20mm SAPI plus 100 x 20mm HEI rounds. I presume the latter could stand for high explosive incendiary but do you know what SAPI stands for ?

[Bill Walker]

SAPI = semi-armour piercing incendiary

ADGB = Air Defence Great Britain, what was left of Fighter Command after 2 TAF was spun off.

[Yeomans]

Thanks Bill.

Can anyone tell me what the squadron/aircraft code would have been for MM451.

I understand that the aircraft was abandoned over the sea following an engine failure on 7 June 1944. Sadly both of the crew P/O John Allen (Pilot) and F/Sgt William Patterson (observer) were killed.

[Tom Semenza]

Chris,

Interesting info on the serial number of the Mosquito XIII flown by Head on the night of 14/15 March. In Those Other Eagles Shores shows HK406 being flown on this mission, so he may have mixed some of the others up.
I would be very greatful if you could be so kind as to check the serials for Head's other claims and confirm or correct Shores' list as follows:

02/03.01.44 HK372
21/22.01.44 HK372
22/23.03.44 MM451

Thanks,
Tom

[Chris Goss]

Tom

These match

Chris

[Chris Goss]

Norman only started putting in codes from June 44 onwards but not linked with the serials. The only photo I have is of ZJ-B which looks to be HK417. I also have a camera gun still of one of his Ju 88 kills but which one I cannot say

[Tom Semenza]

Chris,

Much obliged to you. By the way, HK417 was flown by S/L W.P. Green in downing a V-1 during the night of 28/29 July 1944.

Cheers,
Tom

[Yeomans]

Chris,

Was Flt Lt Head's first Ju88 claimed on 14/15 March 1944 B3+CK of 2/KG54 which in "The Last Blitz" is credited to Lt Harrington (USAAF) ?

Hi I am following up on an earlier post about my mum's uncle William Patterson as follows: "I understand that the aircraft was abandoned over the sea following an engine failure on 7 June 1944. Sadly both of the crew P/O John Allen (Pilot) and F/Sgt William Patterson (observer) were killed."
The ORB that I reviewed referred to them having reported that they were bailing out from 13,000 feet due to the port engine giving trouble 10 miles out from Manston on 7/6/44.
Does bailing out mean inevitable death, or would they have drowned, or what. Forgive my ignorance.