A Battle of Britain Spitfire Squadron: The Men and Machines of 152 Squadron in the Summer of 1940

by Danny Burt

Overview

Formed at Rochford on 1 October 1918, just weeks before the Armistice that ended the First World War, 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron was originally a night fighter unit equipped with the Sopwith Camel. Its existence was short-lived, for the squadron was disbanded on 30 June 1919.

With war clouds looming over Europe once more, 152 Squadron reformed at Arklington on 1 October 1939, becoming operational just over four weeks later. In January 1940, conversion to Spitfires began and after a period of defensive patrols in the North East, the squadron moved to Warmwell in Dorset to help defend southern England against attacks from the Luftwaffe forces now based in northern France.

Throughout the Battle of Britain, the men and machines of 152 Squadron, call sign Maida, defended the Warmwell sector, which included the vital Royal Navy base at Portland, as part of 10 Group. It is the period from 12 July to 28 November 1940 that the author examines in great depth and detail in this definitive account. This, then, is the story of one squadron’s part in the struggle to defend Britain during those dark days in the summer of 1940.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473899964
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	02/21/2019
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Danny Burt joined the British Army at the age of 18. As a Fire Support Team member in the Royal Artillery he served in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, completing two tours in the latter theatre. Living in Lincolnshire, he is now a Joint Terminal Attack Controller evaluator. In his spare time, Danny collects and restores Second World War military vehicles and equipment.

Table of Contents

Foreword Captain T. Baynham, DMM, MFC, SAAF vii

Acknowledgements ix

Preface x

List of Abbreviations xiii

Part I 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron

The Nizam of Hyderabad 3

RAF Warm well 4

152 (Hyderabad) Squadron during the Battle of Britain 10

152 (Hyderabad) Squadron Operations Record Book for the Battle of Britain 26

Part II The Men of 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron

Ackroyd, Pilot Officer Harold John 47

Barker, Sergeant John Keeth 48

Bayles, Flying Officer Ian Norman 49

Baynham, Flying Officer Geoffrey Theodore 52

Beaumont, Pilot Officer Walter 54

Boitel-Gill, Flight Lieutenant Derek Pierre Aumale 62

Christie, Sergeant John McBean 71

Cox, Flying Officer Graham James 73

Deanesly, Flying Officer Edward Christopher 82

Devitt, Squadron Leader Peter Kenneth 89

Fox-Male, Pilot Officer Dennis 95

Hall, Pilot Officer Roger Montagu Dickenson 101

Hancock, Pilot Officer Norman Edward 105

Hogg, Flight Lieutenant Edward Sydney 107

Hogg, Pilot Officer Richard Malzard 112

Holland, Sergeant Kenneth Christopher 116

Holmes, Flying Officer Frederick Henry 130

Humphreys, Pilot Officer Peter Harry 136

Inness, Flying Officer Richard Frederick 138

Jones, Pilot Officer John Sinclair Bucknall 144

Kearsey, Sergeant Albert Wallace 155

Klein, Sergeant Zygmunt 162

Marrs, Pilot Officer Eric Simcox 165

Marsh, Sergeant Edward Howard 178

O'Brian, Flight Lieutenant Peter Geoffrey St George 180

Posener, Pilot Officer Frederick Hyam 185

Reddington, Sergeant Leslie Arthur Edwin 189

Robinson, Pilot Officer Denis 192

Shepley, Pilot Officer Douglas Clayton 198

Shepperd, Sergeant Eric Edmund 204

Silver, Sergeant William Gerald 209

Szlagowski, Sergeant Jozef 212

Tabor, Sergeant George William 217

Thomas, Flight Lieutenant Frederick Mytton 218

Warren, Flying Officer Charles 221

Watson, Pilot Officer Arthur Roy 225

Wildblood, Pilot Officer Timothy Seddon 233

Williams, Pilot Officer William Dudley 237

Withall, Flight Lieutenant Latham Carr 243

Wolton, Sergeant Ralph 245

Appendices

Appendix I 'Pilot Officer' Pooch: The 152 Squadron Mascot 255

Appendix II Squadron Ground Crew 263

Appendix III A Night Out With the Squadron 267

Appendix IV Combat Claims by 152 Squadron Pilots in the Battle of Britain 272

Appendix V Spitfire Mk.Is Flown by 152 Squadron During the Battle of Britain 277

Appendix VI Roll of Honour: 152 Squadron Pilots Who Were Killed in the Battle of Britain 279

Appendix VII Roll of Honour: 152 Squadron Pilots Who Were Killed After the Battle of Britain 282