Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 Section Yellow 3. Tangmere, AF.
14 Jul 1940.
Yellow section was posted to Brighton ( a forward field to try and catch Convoy Raiders and Weather Patrol a/c over Brighton A.O.
We just got the Petrol Browsers when Section leader Colin said go with what ya got. I had 45 % P.O Rhys had 49 % ) Ops reported a Weather or Recon machine at Angels 10 over head. We Tallyhoed the e/a ( a 110 or 215 ) in a clear shy . I made a slight dive and fired , I missed 2 long bursts but noting then shot pass to come around again. However, P/O Rhys got the brute with a six o clock shot. I did see 1 parachute come out of the stricken machine.
Pilot Officer Mark Fairbanks RAF43 Tangmere Airfield Aug. 23, 1940
We were having tea at 11h37 when the scramble alert blared. We have 3 minuets to be airborne. B flight was airborne in less than that. A bit unexpected as it was heavy cloud and raining so we thought Jerry might give us a day off. We were vectored to Poling, where one of our radar chains sit. Breaking out of the soup at 12,000’ we climbed to 13,000’. Harris called “enemy spotted”. I followed even though I had not seen them yet. “12 o’clock low” was his next signal before he dove.
As soon as I pushed on the stick I could see them in the clouds. Harris made the first pass and dove through them. I dove on the trailing Dornier and let go 3 long long burst on the starboard engine before pulling up and raking it across the cockpit. Looking back I saw 2 chutes open from the falling machine. Rolling over I came in on another using the same tactic with the same result as the Dornier went into the clouds in a spin.
Knowing I was low on ammunition I dove out north toward the coast. The weather had become worse if I thought it was possible so descended by instruments until good old terra firma came into sight at 2000’. Getting my bearings I headed back to Tangmere. With 4 confirmed victories already this would make me an ace! I hummed along in my Hurricane right proud of myself. Coming out of the soup a few miles from Tangmere I scanned the skies around me and saw nothing. Throttle back a bit, circle the field once, landing gear down, lower flaps, looking forward to finishing that tea. Tracers flash by my canopy! I break easy right slamming the throttle forward, raising gear and flaps at the same time. The Hurricane wallowed a bit but kept air between me and the earth. Looking around I saw the 109 streaking for home after missing a sitting duck!
I landed in a cold sweat. Only 5 of B flight made it back ok. Two had been hit and were seen to have bailed out. They were picked up and returned that afternoon though Harris was wounded. He was able two confirm my 2 claims.
I am now an Ace! More important, still alive
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 section Yellow 3 Tangmere, AF.
Aug 23, 1940.
Yellow section left Brighton and did a Standing Patrol over Southampton then back to Tangmere. Popped over to 43 Sqn dispersal for a visit with P/O Fairbanks. ( Hes one of the MFair Fairbanks ) The Operation people said he was up on a Flap, I did notice that their Sqn had their own car ( with a full tank of fuel ) and some Horses out in the pasture pass the Hangers. I say these Wealthy flyers bring all the little things with them to war
It has been a hectic two weeks since I arrived at the Swn. I've flown three missions: the first was a quiet patrol over pur convoys, the second involved a crash on takeoff that put me in the hospital for 13 days and then at 1130 this morning, after returning from hospital, we had a Yellow Flight Scramble to intercept a Sqn of bombers over the channel.
Leader spotted 6 JU 88s making a pass at our shipping. We kept out heads on a seivel for the escorts, but seeing none, we dove in for a turkey shoot. Geoffrey (Yellow Flight Leader) got 2, my wingman Luke Corwin and I shared one and I added another myself. It was exhilarating, but I did feel my stomach turn a bit when I did not see any chutes from my kill.
If things keep on like this, Jerry doesnt stand a chance.
I was taking a Hurri up for testing (QMB). The briefing led me to expect 2 x Bf-109's about 2 miles fro my position. My shock was palpable when I discovered said Hostile AIrcraft to be at a mere 400 yds from me approaching head on. Fortunately, between some choice remarks of a blashphemous nature and some button pinching, I managed to crank my Hurri around in a right hander that cut inside their angle and denied them a chance to perforate me before I'd begun the fight in earnest. Hauling her around after them I was surprised to find nothing but large patches of empty blue sky where I expected to find Messerschmitt. For some reason one of them seemed to have no interest in me and left me for his wingman. We fenced about the sky for a bit, he came at me from various angles and I hauled my kite inside his angle, denying him the shot and letting him have a squirt from my .303 paint strippers as he whizzed by. Little puffs of aluminium and paint indicated that I was finding my mark and after a few rounds like this he decided that sightseeing over England wasn't really his thing and he lit out back to France.
So I found myself alone and made a steep descent towards Hawkinge, keeping a weather eye out for any further Teutonic interference. Hawkinge appeared ahead and, after restarting my engine because I'd overcooled it (or let it idle too low, not sure), I entered the pattern. For some reason my flaps refused to extend, fortunately my undercarriage was more cooperative and I landed long on the field, sliding to a screeching, sideways halt mere yards from the perimeter fence. I dare say a tyre rolled off the rim as taxiing was no longer possible. With great alarum an odd juxtaposition of vehicles came clamouring up to my Hurri, from them stepping men weilding an unusual array of axes, hoses and stretchers. I slid back the hood, lit up a cigarette and politely informed them that their services would not be required.
Let's pretend I got the BWOC badge to embed here.
Wenn ihr sieg im deine Kampf selbst gegen, wirst stark wie Stahl sein. "The best techniques are passed on by the survivors." - Gaiden Shinji
One coastal patrol today. A and B flights. Heavy cloud cover. Saw a few 110's but they high tailed it back over the Channel.
August 26, Back up again with A and B flights. At 13,000' near Ford airfield we ran smack into a gaggle of 110's! I pulled up and rolled over behind one chasing a member of "A" flight. He pulled up and I hit him square with a long burst. The 110 nosed over and I observed 2 chutes exit the doomed machine
I started circling with radio chatter buzzing in my ears. I could not see anyone around and then noticed flak low near Ford airfield. I nosed down in a screaming dive and saw another 110 at low altitude heading home. I came in behind him and gave him two long bursts. Pieces flew off the 110 as I pulled up over him in a steep climb. I spotted him to the west climbing and gave chase. Before I could get back on him two chutes appeared and the 110 rolled over and went down.
Not seeing any other activity I heard Harris say he was headed home so I did the same. Everyone came in safe. Winfrey and Ross both claimed one and I put my claim in for two. It has been a good day.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 section Yellow 3 Tangmere, AF.
Aug 24, 1940.
Morning:
Sqn scramble test. The Station Commander said we were taking too long. We need to get it down to 2 mins.
Afternoon got a belly full of English Channel. Yellow section had the duty to see if any more Jerries showed up by a Convoy. Spotted 1 e/a and as we went into line astern for the attack, my motor sputtered and died. As I lost height, I did 3 restarts, but no luck. With a dead battery and starting to drop like a rock, I corkscrewed down finding Fishing boats. Canopy back and locked, Chute straps tight, seat belts off I flipped over and fell out. I lost my flight boots when the shock of the chute opened. and landed 100 yards from a small boat.
Nigel Notting Pilot Officer, RAF 145 Sgn, 11 Group B Flight, 2 section Yellow 3 Westhampett, AF
Aug 27, 1940.
II Section Scramble re in force Escort over Convoy Agent. Once airborne Top Hat directed us to South East of Thorny Island with Bandits 18 +, Angels 20, Buster. The flight of 6 Hurricanes were chomping at the bit. as we neared the flight leader spotted a lone Bomber and said line astern attack. I was #2 and saw the 1lt, Nail the e/a. two chutes came out. Then someone yelled Yellow Nosed Bandits coming down Break and we all broke. I saw a passing 109 ( 1 of many ) and shot at it no hits ( a lot behind it according to the tracers ) Then he dove away. I was alone , couldnt fine anyone , and shook up so called it a day. The Sqn lost 2 a/c. claims 3 e/a ? I only saw the Bomber.
Carrick, nice shots of the Hurricane spilling its spent brass! Good one. If I may, while “chomping “ at the bit is commonly used the correct term is “champing” at the bit. Tally Ho and all that.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
Went out for an intercept over the channel and ran into a flight of He - 111. Our flight leader dove away to attack some planes below us unseen by me, but I pressed on for the bombers, who were now beating a retreat away from us south east-ward. I closed on the first and despite taking some hits, was able to bring him down with some shots on his right engine. I then switched to his wingman but started taking some fire, some of which seemed to be coming from behind me. I broke off and repositioned, sending him down with chutes popping out. Pleased with my luck, I bugged out back for base only to find that my gear wasn't working. I tried to lower it manually, but only one wheel would lock down. (Maybe I was doing it wrong, I admit I wasn't paying close attention that day in flight school.) Not trusting my ability to land on one wheel, I took her up and bailed out on the coast. Shaken-but-not-stirred up, I waited to be picked up and went back to base to submit my claims. Here's the gun camera footage:
The older I get, the more I realize I don't need to be Han, Luke or Leia. I'm just happy to be rebel scum...
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