Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 section Yellow 3 Westhampett, AF
Sep 11, 1940
4 Destroyed 4 damaged 1 probable
Sep 11, 1940. I got the "Chop" on my 2nd outing over London today.
1100 hrs Scramble: The Sqn's 6 a/c got off alright,but we were late ( Controller ? Ops ? ) Anyway by the time we got there the enemy was going home .
Approximately 1445 hrs The flair was fired by ops and off we went, Control vectored towards S.E. London 30+ angles 20000ft Never made it, We got hit by 109's near Brighton as we were claiming. I spotted 6 of them coming down and Ack Ack fire off to the left More e/a ?. then It was dog eat dog. I was the flight Lt's wing-man so when a fighter got on his tail , I pulled in behind and gave him a 4 sec burst. ( got a few hits too ). Unfortunately, his wing mate got behind and did me in with MG fire, The Hurri's motor sputtered and puked black smoke Tenp off the clock, cooling system gone so went over the side getting banged around in the slip stream. Landed out in sticks of the city so hobbled over to a Lorrie repair shop and the attendant, https://giphy.com/gifs/rockabilly-machineshop-rocker-4HianAHkEeIYMyBYgi/fullscreen, gave me a lift. I will be with the medics for awhile.
Nicely done, Notting. I feel sure we have gone through a squad of Hurri's between us!
Connor O'Connor 32 Squadron, Biggin Hill Spent the end of July in the hospital after a nasty bailout. (Of my plane or a lady's bed...well, I am sure I don't remember!) Here's a tale of two Messerschmitts: One nice, one sassy...both dead!
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
I Know, soon I will be a German Ace. Whose side are we on ? However Notting did fine a good Tire/ Lorrie repair shop for he Sqn Commanders Lorrie. Great Vid as always Mr. Rawlings
Bloody hell Rick... that Hun pilot was throwing that 110 around like a single engine fighter! His gunner was also getting hits on you even after all that violent jockeying around!!!
Bloody hell Rick... that Hun pilot was throwing that 110 around like a single engine fighter! His gunner was also getting hits on you even after all that violent jockeying around!!!
Indeed. I guess he stopped shooting at the end because he had thrown up his pea soup all over the windscreen. Or maybe he was dead.
I had not seen the bullet hole damage decal before, that was nice, especially with the wind whistling effect. It was also a nice touch how the damaged gear wouldn't lock down but still held for the landing. Just pleasant surprises all the time!
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 section Yellow Leader Westhampett, AF
4 Destroyed 4 damaged 1 probable
Sep 21, 1940. Glad to be away from the Medico's. I say, Frightful place Male Nurses all over. 145 Squadron back to full strength off went 12 a/c on a 1500 hrs Scramble to intercept over London. I spotted 5 bombers weaving amid Ack Ack. I was element leader so when I closed and started getting hits, I became surprised when bullets flew pass my port side Breaking right, I found it was my wingman P/O Leary firing at my target. I circled and found another fat Bomber racing , empty, for France. I fire a number of 4 Sec Bursts as I closed from 300 yards. Smoke puked form the e/a starboard engine and his wing tip was sheered off. E/a went down somewhere by Harlow. I was alone so RTB. The sgn claimed 3 that day ,but we Lost the Sqn Commander. ( we kept his Lorrie since it was not Government equipment and re-assigned my wingman to A Flight . )
Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 section Yellow Leader Westhampett, AF
4 Destroyed 4 damaged 1 probable
Sep 22, 1940.
Section Scramble: Climbing over Brighton we could see the Ack Ack smoke so flew towards it. Flight Leed called Tally Ho low and to the left 4 fast moving a/c, I spotted 5 Bandits high and to the right then as we turn to for line astern 2 of our replacement pilots came together with Fire and smoke bot went down. No chutes were spotted. 4 more fast moving e/a joined from starboard side. I chased 2 fighters giving pots shots then joined up with Flight Lt. Dudley ( his a/c was smoking ) The sound was like a Rainstorm of Rocks as the motor stopped then a Me 110 shot by. I could see a 109 in the mirror diving for the kill so I bailed out. The e/a clipped my useless kite as it passed and was destroyed. I landed near Kenley AF. Lost 6 a/c from B flight. 4 KIA, 2 bailed out ( Myself and Lt Dudley. Claims 0. or 1 by midair ?
Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 section Yellow Leader Westhampett, AF
4 Destroyed 4 damaged 2 probable
Sep 24, 1940.
The Brass Hats gave me the bomber that I shot down a few days back as a probable . Orders came down 145 Sqn is on the move to Scotland for Reforming and Rest. Its about time too , We are down 4 a/c ,but one is a Hanger Queen. No Sqn Commander , and only 5 pilots. I will be driving up there since I dont have an a/c and we kept the Old C.O.'s lorrie for transportation. The Chats chipped in their Ration Coupons and a little cash. I took the lorrie down to the Repair shop in town for Used Tires. I must say, Helping the attendant looking in the shelves was a treat.
Johann Wick Hauptgfreiter 1 JG 3. Colembert, France.
11 Jul 1940. Big fight over a convoy. As we my schwarm attacked we could other a/c swarming in a Bee hive over ships. I saw 1 go down and a chute opened then I got one that I chased towards England. His Chute also opened. The Red fuel bulb would be coming on soon so scooted home.
Johann Wick Hauptgfreiter 1 JG 3. Colembert, France. 1 kill
14 Jul 1940.
Landing Accident.! DECEASED KILLED KAPUT
The schwarm ran into Spitfires over a convoy while covering Bombers. A long shoot out followed. The pilot was down to 37% Fuel when headed home. 1st Landing attemp too Hot so made so made a go around. a 2nd attemp Too fast ? went into a ground loop mode and crashed.
CRASH ATE IT DECEASED RIP TOTALED CRUNCH TIME SMASHED UP
Cyril Wadsworth Flight Lieutenant B Flight 601 Sqn, Croydon AF
July 11, 1940.
Hq at 10 Group had our Sqn switch places with 111 Sqn to get On the Job Training in Combat. . Posted to Cover Convoy Empire in mid Channel . Lumba Control ( Hornchurch) came on calling Weapon Leader ( Sgn Leader 601 ) 20+ Bandits angels 15. Soon it became a real mix up I saw 4 fighters low and fast the 4 more high and to port then they were everywhere. We Lost 2 a/c that afternoon and may have damage a few. ?
Due to a terminal case of ram-itis, Connor O'Connor is no more, but Bruno Kurtz is on the rise! I actually saw my first Spitfires and spent some time trying to decide if it was a Hurricane or a 109 before it turned and gave me a look at that big beautiful elliptical wing! I got a shared and will hopefully get another confirmed singly for the most recent flight:
pro-tip: the brakes key is apparently momentary and not a toggle...
Pol, can we get shared kills? Pretty please!
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
Cyril Wadsworth Flight Lieutenant B Flight 601 Sqn, Croydon AF
14 Jul 1940
A Flight was off duty for maintenance so B fight had Patrol over Convoy Angel. Lumba called 12 + bandits to your East at 18000. Ok Lumba, then told green section to cover us . Yellow 2 called Tallyho on a 110 high and we gave chase then I spotted a flight of Bombers at our level off to port. As I called Line Astern ,. 4 109s hit us. Scattered, I closed on one and got chunks off the wing then smoke . The e/a went down near mid Channel. No chute. We lost 2 a/c.
So...ship hunting... which I was supposed to do on an earlier mission but didn't because I didn't know that was a thing... I mean, I know the 109 has cannons and all, but I thought "Isn't that what we have bombers for?" So I was wondering what we were doing at 1500 meters the whole flight and when we got to the attack zone I was like "CLIMB! CLIMB!" Then I spent 20 minutes circling around wondering where everybody was! But not this time!
It's pretty cool. There will probably have to be some graphics work on later phases but definitely a good start!
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
