Squadrons attached to Biggin Hill Wing Jun-Dec 1942

[keith A]

Can anyone fill in the dates the fighter squadrons were attached to this wing. I know that in this period both 611 (September 1942?) and 340 were there but the exact composition of the wing is what I am after.

I know it was led by WCdrs "Dirty" Watkins (why the nickname??) and from November 1942 Dickie Milne ( a fellow Edinburger).

I am also interested in the relationship between 111 and 611 Squadrons in this period. There are a number of transfers between these units in the period July-December 1942 but I am not sure why this was. The veteran FL Gilmour is transferred to 111, while Flt Vancl of 111 joins 611 as his replacement. Flt WV Compton is assigned to 111 in July but his posting is changed two days later.

regards


Keith

[Bruce Lander]

Hi Kieth,

My records etc. for Wing Leaders at Biggin Hill in 1942 are as follows :-

Nov 41 - Jan 1942 W/Cdr.R.R.S.Tuck ( PoW )

Jan - April W/Cdr.C.A.Masterman ( ex 72 Sq O.C.)

April - August W/Cdr. J.E.Rankin (from 11 Group H.Q.)

August - Dec W/Cdr. E.H.Thomas (ex 133 Sq O.C.)
NB; E.H.Thomas often confused with R.E.Thomas who was Wing Leader
at Hornchurch at this time

I am pretty sure that D.H.Watkins did not serve as Wing Leader at Biggin,
he commande 611 Sq there until September 1942 when he was rested and promoted as W/Cdr at 56 O.T.U.

Jan 1943 - Mar 43 W/Cdr.R.H.Milne

Sources - "RAF Biggin Hill" : "Beware! Beware, 611 Sq History" and
"Men of the Battle of Britain"
Watkins is noted in Duncan Smith's Memoir.

Bruce Lander

[keith A]

Cheers Bruce,

I found out the origin of "Dirty" Watkins....

http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/barthroppdogtale.htm

[keith A]

Weirdly I now have another explanation for the "Dirty" Watkins nickname. According to Escape from Stalag Luft III: The True Story of My Great Escape by Bram Vanderstok Watkins was nicknamed for his ability to lure German fighters into an ambush. I prefer the Barthropp story even if he calls Watkins "Humphrey" rather than Herbert. Of course it might be another "Dirty" Watkins in the RAF but surely that is unlikely?

Keith