809 Squadron 30 July 1941 aerial victories

[keith A]

I am searching for details of the victories claimed by the FAA on that date and thought I had them sorted out (courtesy of our esteemed forumites).

However when looking for the possible victor over a Dornier 18 shot down in September 1941 I found an unusual detail.

The three fighters (and probably a fourth) destroyed on this date by 809 Squadron are credited to LCdr Victor C Grenfell, SLts John Cooper and AER Wilkinson. These three are all awarded a DSC in the London Gazette on 21 October 1941 (as is the Albacore pilot who claimed a Ju87). However in the same gazette a fourth pilot SLt Kenneth James Robertson is also awarded an DSC. The award of a decoration is regularly used to highlight a claim for an aerial victory, throughout the war years.

This makes me wonder if Robertson shared in one of the aerial victories on 30 July 1941, or did he claim the Do18 on 3 September 1941?

As usual gentlemen your opinions, advice or information is gratefully sought.

best regards

Keith

[Stig Jarlevik]

If he was involved Keith, he is not mentioned by Hobbs in his FAA book

Cheers
Stig

[keith A]

I have the two new books on order. Hopefully arriving this weekend.

[keith A]

To avoid confusion I should state I amended my post when I found the LG mentioned DSCs all round rather than MiD. Robertson's decoration was for Kirkenes/Petsamo so my hunt is still on

[keith A]

https://blhf.org/?id=13514014&Article=199

Interestingly according to this site on 30 July 1941 Albacore crews claimed a Ju87 destroyed and another damaged, two Bf109 probably destroyed and one Bf110 probably destroyed. The Ju87 is confirmed by the Luftwaffe, and the Bf110 may have been a victim of Fulmars and an Albacore.

[keith A]

Also. There are no pilots in 809 Squadron after September 1941 who appear to have been decorated over the next year, and so perhaps one or two of those claimants on 30 July was also in action in September. EG "Peter" Savage who led the squadron after Grenfell received his DSC for landing in Sweden in October 1940 after being shot up while flying a Skua off HMS Furious and then being voluntarily repatriated several months later. I am not sure how these events warranted a DSC but perhaps it was a morale-booster exercise? Taking command in October 1941 he went on to lead 809 squadron for several months without conspicuous success until replaced by the redoubtable Major Ronnie Hay RM.