´óÏó´«Ã½

Recollections of the battle of Britain by LAC Clarke No. 901301 234-squadron, RAF station Middle Wallop.

I enlisted in the RAF on the 3/9/39 at RAF station Uxbridge. I failed the medical examination for aircrew when thy found I was colour blind.

I was posted to RAF station St Athans on a 2-week course as a flight rigger. I passed the examination as top of the class of 189 students and was posted to RAF station Leconfield to a spitfire squadron and to St Eval in Cornwall.
At the beginning of august the squadron was posted to middle wallop replacing 238 squadron.

We started work at 0400 hours. The engine mechanic tested the engine whilst the rigger (me) held the tail down with the help of another.
When the pilots arrived the squadron was either placed on readiness or standby.
It was not long before the squadron had to engage German aircraft. When our aircraft landed they had to be refuelled and rearmed.
And so it continued all day until the sun went down.

During august and September the station was subjected to attacks by the Lufwaffe. Two hangers were destroyed as well as several aircraft. Four German pilots were killed however.
My flight commander was an Australian, Flt. Lt. Hughes. He intercepted a Dornier 17, and as he closed in on the aircraft it exploded with such force that it wrecked his spitfire. Hughes bailed out but his parachute failed to open. In the same encounter, his squadron leader, O’Brien, also died.
Although a number of witnesses saw Hughes’ plane crash at darks farm, Bessels Green, the wreckage remained in the ground for 25 years.
Pat Hughes was awarded the DFC Posthumously. He had destroyed 15 aircraft in 24 days of intensive combat. He was buried in St James Churchyard Sutton Hill.
At that time none of the ground crew were aware of the importance of the battle. There were no speeches exhorting us, we all did our duty automatically.
The dominant feeling was of extreme tiredness, and I could only marvel at the courage of the pilots: though growing less in numbers, they could not wait to get at the enemy.
I don’t think any of us could stand the pressure much longer. Eventually the attacks from the air stopped, and London became the target. I think it was at this stage that the RAF won the battle of Britain. My contribution was only modest. I was nineteen years of age. I kept my spitfire serviceable and refuelled, but I'm proud of the fact I was there in the company of such splendid men.

LAC Clarke No 901301

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.