Only one week left until THE battle

[Brooke]

Yes, in a week, it starts.

The glorious, famous, fun-to-fly Battle of Britain! 

12 hours of amazing fun, and you can fly in any portion of it you want.  From noon to midnight Eastern on August 31, in Special Events 2 arena.

We welcome everyone -- beginners, experts, and everyone in between.

If you can play in it, please register here:
https://ahevents.net/index.php/events/target-for-today/current-or-next

[Brooke]

[CptTrips]

23 August 1940

The Fort Dunlop tyre works in Birmingham was attacked, as were targets in south Wales and various other locations including Tangmere, Maidstone, Colchester and Harwich. Bombs were jettisoned in the London suburbs.

A Dornier attacking factories in Coventry fell to anti aircraft fire and made a forced landed at Lodge Farm, Wickham Brook, near Bury St Edmunds. The crew was captured, including Oberleutnant Hellmers, a Staffel Kapitan.

https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#23-august-1940

[DmonSlyr]

Events like this should be posted on the front page website along with an arena message....

Hopefully I can make it but cannot make any promises.

[1stpar3]

Are we there yet? 

[Shuffler]

I will be in a spit in the melee this week.....

[CptTrips]

24 August 1940


With fine and clear weather across southern England, the Luftwaffe began to put into practice orders issued a few days previously by Goering. They were aimed at weakening Fighter Command “by means of ceaselss attacks”.

Manston, North Weald and Hornchurch were among the airfields hit. About 100 people were killed during an attack on Portsmouth. Poor navigation was the main reason why bombs intended for Rochester and the oil installations at Thameshaven fell in various parts of London.

At East Langdon near Dover, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 forced landed in a field after combat with RAF fighters over Manston. The pilot, Oberfeldwebel Beeck, surrendered to an armed police officer.

A Heinkel He lll of Legion Condor crash landed at Bulphan, Essex. The crew, some wounded, escaped before it exploded. Later the News Chronicle newspaper photographed the remains being guarded by men of the Home Guard, with a very young ARP messenger also present.

The Heinkel had been attacking Hornchurch airfield when it fell to the Hurricanes of Squadron Leader Kayll and Pilot Officer McClintock of No 615 Squadron. Joe Kayll had been one of a very small number of pilots awarded both the DSO and DFC for the Battle of France. He later led the Hornchurch Wing, became a PoW and was persistent in escape activities.


https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#24-august-1940

[Brooke]

CptTrips -- your posts are awesome! 

[CptTrips]

25 August 1940


What began as a quiet day significantly changed its character from the late afternoon. A considerable force of bombers, with heavy fighter escort, headed towards Dorset with the airfield at Warmwell as one of its targets. Soon afterwards another large force headed towards Dover and the Thames estuary. Both attacks were heavily engaged by RAF fighters.

This was a period when there were moves to improve the British ability to rescue downed aircrew from the sea, something at which the Germans were considerably better at that stage of the war. For example, former army co-operation Lysanders were being used to search for downed airmen and were now under the control of Fighter Command.

Packs containing flourescine, a chemical that caused the sea around an airman to turn bright green, were being issued. This morning they were handed out to Hurricane pilots of No 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill, who were told to sew the packs on their lifejackets. Not everyone did so immediately, but one who did was Pilot Officer Jack Rose. He was shot down into the Channel during the evening, and two hours later a searching aircraft spotted the dye and directed a ship to his position. Rose survived into old age.



https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#25-august-1940

[CptTrips]

26 August 1940


There was heavy fighting, with airfields including Debden, Hornchurch and Biggin Hill targeted. Bombs fell across Kent, in many cases jettisoned by bombers that had failed to reach their targets.

Today was the day the “Goodwin Sands Dornier”, raised in 2013 under the auspices of the RAF Museum, went into the sea.

The RAF casualties included Pilot Officer William Walker of No 616 Squadron, who baled out wounded, was rescued from the Channel by the Navy and brought ashore at Ramsgate to be greeted by a cheering crowd. A collection of William’s poetry was published by the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust not long before his death in 2012. Copies are still available – including some signed by William.



https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#26-august-1940

[Brooke]

[CptTrips]

27 August 1940


In contrast to yesterday, the Luftwaffe posed little threat today.

This was the period of the Battle when a number of squadrons that had been depleted and wearied by their time on the front line were sent north for a rest. Today No 32 Squadron left Biggin Hill for Acklington in Northumberland. A number of recently arrived pilots, not considered to be in need of a rest, were sent to No 501 Squadron at Gravesend. No 32 Squadron returned south in mid December, with a move to Middle Wallop.


https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#27-august-1940

[CptTrips]

28 August 1940


Airfields continued to come under attack today and there were major engagements between RAF and Luftwaffe fighters.

A British pilot forced to take to his parachute was Squadron Leader Don Finlay, flying as a supernumerary in No 54 Squadron. His Spitfire was shot down over Ramsgate in combat with Bf 109s and Finlay was wounded.

Finlay was an outstanding athlete who had won a bronze medal at the 1932 Olympics and a silver in 1936 – both in the 110 metres hurdles. He competed in the same event at the 1948 Games in London and had also represented the RAF at Football and Rugby Union.

Flight Lieutenant “Al” Deere, a New Zealander from Auckland and also of No 54 Squadron, had baled out earlier in the day, his aircraft having been hit by fire from another Spitfire.

The Defiants of No 264 Squadron, flying from Hornchurch, were in action and unsurprisingly suffered casualties. One of the aircraft downed was that of the CO, Squadron Leader George Garvin. Both he and his air gunner, 31-year-old Flight Lieutenant Robert Ash, escaped from the aircraft, but Ash, an equipment officer before he volunteered for aircrew duties, was dead when he was found. It appeared that he had been machine gunned by a German fighter on the way down. Their aircraft crashed on Luddenham Marshes, Faversham.

Having suffered heavy casualties, the Defiant ceased to be used in daylight in the Battle. No 264 Squadron moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

As the day drew to close, overnight bombing raids began on Liverpool.

https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#28-august-1940

[CptTrips]

29 August 1940


Liverpool had been attacked overnight and the raiders were to return later this evening. Meanwhile during daylight hours most activity took place during the afternoon.

An RAF pilot who achieved success today was Sergeant Glendon Booth of No 85 Squadron, who shot down a Bf 109 which forced landed near Pevensey, Sussex, with Oberfeldwebel Lampskemper being captured.

Glen Booth would achieve more success before he was badly burned and injured on 1 September, eventually dying as a result in February 1941. There is a well known photograph of a pilot asleep in an armchair which is sometimes claimed to show Glen Booth. It does not – the extensive evidence includes the testimony of his sister.




https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#29-august-1940



This Sat.  All day.   Register to reserve your ride even if you can't play the whole day.  Still Spitfire, Hurricane, and 109-E4 slots available! 
The day we can't fill up an awesome Battle of Britain scenario is the day this community has lost it's mojo.  It just doesn't get any better than this.

Register now! https://ahevents.net/index.php/events/target-for-today/current-or-next

[Shuffler]

29 August 1940


Liverpool had been attacked overnight and the raiders were to return later this evening. Meanwhile during daylight hours most activity took place during the afternoon.

An RAF pilot who achieved success today was Sergeant Glendon Booth of No 85 Squadron, who shot down a Bf 109 which forced landed near Pevensey, Sussex, with Oberfeldwebel Lampskemper being captured.

Glen Booth would achieve more success before he was badly burned and injured on 1 September, eventually dying as a result in February 1941. There is a well known photograph of a pilot asleep in an armchair which is sometimes claimed to show Glen Booth. It does not – the extensive evidence includes the testimony of his sister.




https://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org/learn/the-battle-of-britain/day-by-day/#29-august-1940



This Sat.  All day.   Register to reserve your ride even if you can't play the whole day.  Still Spitfire, Hurricane, and 109-E4 slots available! 
The day we can't fill up an awesome Battle of Britain scenario is the day this community has lost it's mojo.  It just doesn't get any better than this.

Register now! https://ahevents.net/index.php/events/target-for-today/current-or-next

All these posts with info on the war CptTrips and all I can tell you is what has been happening in the O Club.