I/JG26, Audembert, 11 July 1940On resuming my campaign on the day before, the first sign that things were a bit awry was the message welcoming me back to I/JG26 - or is it I/JG51? No - I'm not sure where the latter came from, but I haven't transferred and am still with Jagdgeschwader 26 'Schlageter'.
Plans for a quiet lunch on the airfield were thereafter interrupted when we were tasked to cover a friendly convoy, just off the coast. Given that enemy bombers (or warships for that matter) are not active in this area in daylight if at all, this is a bit of a waste of time. Efforts to get the mission changed just resulted in being offered more of the same.
Orders are orders. I went through the motions, leading the eight 109s we could manage to the small convoy. Then back home again, so as not to waste too much petrol. Or miss too much lunch.
The next 'proper' mission is the following day, 11th July. We’re sent north on a fighter sweep, to cover bombers attacking shipping in the Thames Estuary. Familiar territory by now. Again, we can muster eight 109s, which is fine for a staffel, if not for a gruppe (which should routinely be able to put up two staffeln, for anything short of a maximum effort).
As before, our briefed routing takes up the east coast of Kent and over the North Foreland. I've levelled of after crossing the French coast outbound, when I realise there are other aircraft to our left front, higher up and heading the same way. It looks like a small group of bombers, maybe half a dozen.
They're not alone. Above them are three small groups of smaller specks - a close escort, about a dozen strong.
The bombers are heavily-laden Junkers 88s...
...while their escorts are 109s like our own, from I/JG 53 'Pik As', as it happens. There are rumours their leader, von Cranmon-Taubadel, has incurred Goering's displeasure over his choice of an 'insufficiently Aryan' bride. And talk of the unit being forced to paint out their Ace of Spades badge, in punishment. Which all seems a bit mean and nasty. Anyway these fellows are still proudly displaying their unit emblem, so perhaps it is just a rumour. Let's hope so.
I fancy my boys should be clearing the skies ahead of this raid, and start a full power climb towards them.
By the time I get close to their height, the English coast is in sight, but the bombers are barely visible, the fighters completely so.
Approaching the North Foreland, I lose sight of even the bombers, thanks to thick banks of cloud.
Still racing on, I suddenly come out into the clear - and there they all are, just ahead!
Sehr gut - we're back in business. Now to get in front and make sure there aren't any Tommies waiting for us, out over the Thames Estuary.
...to be continued!