Flt Sgt T.B.Kirk 74 Sqn Battle of Britain

[Mr Schmitt]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone know who the replacement was for Flight Sergeant Thomas Brian Kirk after he was shot down during the Battle of Britain. He was shot down on the 20.10.1940.

Kind Regards

[Chris Goss]

Due to the high turnover of pilots at this time, I am not convinced that Sgt X was posted in for Flt Sgt Y. It was very much a sausage machine with u/t or supernumerary pilots already on the Sqn waiting to be combat ready. Suggest a look at the ORB might give a clue?

[Peter Cornwell]

Chris is quite right, only Flight Commanders and Section Leaders were involved in any form of (crude) succession planning in those hectic times. All that can be said of KIRK is that he was flying as 'DYSOE Yellow 4' in 'A' Flight when shot down.

[Mr Schmitt]

Thanks Guys,

your input is much appreciated. Would anyone know if the ORB is available on the net?

Thanks again

[Chris Goss]

You can download from the National Archives site

[Mr Schmitt]

Many Thanks Guys, Much appreciated.

Best Regards

[Mr Schmitt]

Hi Guys,

Its seems that a good candidate for Thomas Brian Kirk's replacement is Flt Sgt James Murray who joined 74 Squadron on the 28th of October (from 610 Sqn). This would seem a logical timescale in that Thomas Brian Kirk was shot down on Sunday the 20th Oct and by the time paperwork and formalities where done a week would seem to be about right for a replacement.

Kind Regards

[Peter Cornwell]

I doubt it for reasons already given in Posts #2 & #3. Besides which I have Sergeant Laurence Eric FREESE flying as ‘DYSOE Yellow 4’ (the position previously occupied by KIRK) on 26 October 1940 two full days before MURRAY was posted to the unit from No.610 Squadron. There were several other pilots who arrived on No.74 Squadron around that time to replace combat losses, (all of whom could equally be considered as KIRK’s successor) but the fact remains that things just didn’t happen that way.

23 October 1940: GLENDINNING from 54 (initially to ‘A’ Flight later ‘B’ Flight)
23 October 1940: SCOTT from 611 (KIA four days later).
24 October 1940: HOWARD from 54.
26 October 1940: FREESE from 611 (initially to ‘A’ Flight).
26 October 1940: MORRISON from 72 (initially to ‘A’ Flight).
27 October 1940: BURNARD from 616 (WIA five days later).
28 October 1940: ARMSTRONG from 54 (initially to ‘A’ Flight).

[Mr Schmitt]

Hi Peter,

This kind of research isn't my forte and I guess that is why posting on this forum is very helpful, as there are many knowledgeable people out there like yourself.

Thank you for the correction. I take my hat off to you.

Kind Regards