Pilot Officer Mark Fairbanks
43 Squadron
Sept. 2, 1940
Scramble before breakfast. We were off to our Hurricanes and in the air in a little over 2 minuets headed to the south of London.
Approaching the patrol area Harris called out that the enemy was spotted. I followed him in a curving dive and soon spotted the flight of enemy bombers. We dove in behind the 5 Heinkel's and I could only get off 2 bursts before pulling up. As I leveled out and looked about to make another pass I was gobsmacked to see a 110 off my wing!
I pulled up and rolled over beind the 110 and with a few long bursts had it smoking before it turned over and went down.
I found myself alone with Harris coming over the radio saying he was headed home. I did the same. Approaching our base at 4000' I ran smack into 4 110's. They must have been heading home because only one made a half hearted attempt at combat and since I was low on ammo I bid him good by.
Everyone returned safe and we had claimed seven enemy aircraft total. We had no more than sat down for tea when the siren blared again. Off to the east of London on another scramble. We arrived over the patrol area and had beat the enemy there so we were waiting for them. JU88's.
Harris and I both made a pass at the flight. I scored multiple hits on one as I pulled up. I heard the ping of hits as I rolled over for another pass. Coming in again the 88 caught on fire and went down.
Leveling off my engine sputtered and then died. In all the excitement I did not realize my fuel tank was hit. Lucky for me a field was below and after cranking down the landing gear manually I made a decent dead stick landing.