To: Intelligence
H.Q. Fighter Command,
From: Intelligence Speke,
Date: 1/11/42
Ref: S.P./S 369/int.
Personal Combat Report
A) DATE OF COMBAT 18/9/42,
B) UNIT, Merchant Ship Fighter
Unit
C) TYPE OF A/C Hurricane M.K. 1
Eight Machine Guns,
D) TIME OF ATTACK About 11.55
hours,
E) PLACE OF ATTACK 68.30 N42.30
W½
F) WEATHER 7/10 Cloud at 2000
feet 10/10 Cloud at 4000 feet Vis 10 miles,
G) OUR CASUALTIES A/C Nil,
H) OUR CASUALTIES PERSONNEL nil,
I) ENEMY CASUALTIES Two H.E.
111s destroyed
On 18th September 1942 at
1015 hours local time I was at readiness when the R.D.F. Guard ship
reported that enemy aircraft were in the vicinity of the convoy. I
got into the cockpit of the aircraft and everything was made ready
for launching. The enemy aircraft appeared at a height of 4,000 feet
and were identified as Ju.88. These aircraft proceeded to bomb and
dive bomb the convoy individually from cloud and it was not thought
advisable to launch the aircraft.
At 11.00 a.m. it was reported that nine
He.111 torpedo carrying aircraft were coming in from astern low down
on the water. M F.D.O Lt. Carrigue gave the Captain instructions to
fire me off, but as the ship was not clear ahead, no action was
taken by the Captain and a red flag was given the firing officer P/O
Davies. After this attack had faded, we were still being bombed when
I noticed that my electrical installation had broken down entirely.
The R.T.O. and the other members of the crew very calmly proceeded
to check the fuses and they changed the battery with bombs falling
round the ship.
At 11.50 a.m. local time another group
of torpedo carrying aircraft were reported coming in of the port
quarter. This time we were all set to shoot off and a good launch
was effected. As the ship was in position 53 in the middle of the
convoy, I had to swerve violently to avoid balloon cables of other
ships, I also had to take avoiding action from Bofors and Oerlikon
fire from one or two of the ships who opened up on me.
I was in immediate communication with
my F.D.O. and climbed to about 700' and went round to the port
quarter of the convoy where I could see the 15 He.111 coming in in
line abreast. They were about 3 miles from the stern of the convoy
about 50'. I dived on them and carried out a head on and port beam
attack on a He.111, opening fire at 300 yards and closing to
150yards. I noticed my shots striking the engine and nose of the
Heinkel and as I turned above and behind to the left I noticed white
smoke coming from his starboard engine. I closed again to 250 yards
and gave him the rest of my ammunition in a quarter attack carried
out from both his engines, but as I was interfering with the flack
from the ships I broke right and went round the stern to the
starboard side of the convoy. From there I observed that no ships
had been hit by the torpedoes. On going round to the front of the
convoy I saw the wreckage of a Heinkel 111 in the water between the
two columns on the port side. My F.D.O. told me to patrol the
starboard side of the convoy for although I had used all my
ammunition it was my intention to show myself to any other formation
and endeavour to break it up with a mock attack. No more aircraft
appeared but the Ju.88 were still bombing from the clouds. I checked
my fuel and found I had 70 gallons left. I asked my F.D.O. for the
distance and vector to the nearest aerodrome. He replied that it was
240 miles away on a vector of 180ºM. I decided to try and save the
aircraft and I set out on this course allowing 10º for drift
steering 170ºM.
I ran into a fog bank about 40 miles
wide after 15 minutes flying but managed to make landfall and pin
point my position. I flew at heights between 200' and 2000' and
arriving at Archangel I fired the recognition signal and found Keg
Ostrov aerodrome where I landed at 14.15 hours with 5 gallons in my
reserve tank left.
Subsequent to the dispatch of my Combat
Reported dated 19th September 1942 and when the convoy
arrived at Archangel, I was informed by the Captains of H.M.S.
Ulster Queen and H.M.S. Gleaner and officers from other
ships, that when I made my first attack, they saw a Heinkel 111
swerved out of formation and in attempting a tight turn near sea
level crash into the water. I did not see this happen and therefore
knew nothing about it when my original combat report was prepared.
AHBurr
A.H. Burr. Flying Officer R.A.F.V.R
1st November 1942
