Squadron Leader Tom Gleave’s Hurricane was set on fire during an attack on Junkers 88s near Biggin Hill at 1pm. He baled out, seriously burned, and became a prominent member of Archibald McIndoe’s ‘Guinea Pig Club’ after undergoing extensive surgery. 📷©️bbm.org.uk 🧵2/11
Hornchurch also received two raids, with three 54 Squadron Spitfires destroyed as they attempted to take off, though the pilots survived. The airfield was badly cratered. This Dornier 17 of KG 3 force landed at Sandwich Flats at 1:40pm after being damaged during its attack run. 📷 IWM FX 68707 🧵3/11
Debden airfield was hit by around 100 bombs, several buildings being destroyed or badly damaged. Long-suffering Eastchurch again had its landing area badly cratered. Croydon and Detling were also attacked, though a raid heading for Duxford was dispersed by the Hurricanes of 111 Squadron. 🧵4/11
F/O George Gilroy baled out of his damaged 603 Sqn Spitfire over London and landed safely near Wanstead at 6:20pm, only to be attacked by a group of civilians who thought he was German. Gilroy spent several days in hospital. He ended the war as a Group Captain with 24 victories. 📷IWM CNA 1155 🧵5/11
At 6:45pm, Oblt Wilhelm Fronhöfer of JG 26 force landed his Bf 109 at Jubilee Farm, Ulcombe. Credited to P/O Colin Gray of 54 Squadron, other sources suggest he was downed by Witold Urbanowicz of 303 Squadron, as depicted in this artwork by Marc Stewart. 📷 marc-stewart.pixels.com 🧵6/11
The day’s operations had proved costly to the Luftwaffe, with 36 aircraft lost in combat. However, this was also the worst day of the Battle in terms of aircraft destroyed - 39 - for Fighter Command. 9 pilots had been killed or posted missing and a number of others were injured. 🧵7/11
Sqn/Ldr Harold Starr of 253 Squadron baled out of his Hurricane but was found dead in his parachute near Eastry after being machine gunned by a German aircraft. His daughter Carolyn, born in October, died aged just 3, while his brother John was shot down and killed in January 1945 📷©️bbm.org.uk 🧵8/11
F/O Michael Doulton of 601 Squadron was posted missing after combat over the Thames Estuary. However, in April 1984 an excavation of a Hurricane crash site near Romford found his aircraft, with its pilot still in the cockpit. 📷©️bbm.org.uk 🧵9/11
P/O Raymond Aberhardt’s 19 Squadron Spitfire was damaged in combat over Debden, causing a coolant leak. As he attempted to land at Fowlmere, Aberhardt’s flaps also failed. His aircraft flipped over onto its back and he was killed when it caught fire. 📷©️bbm.org.uk 🧵10/11
Flt/Lt Percy Weaver’s 56 Squadron Hurricane plunged vertically into mudflats on the River Blackwater at Osea Island following combat over Colchester. The aircraft was completely submerged in the mud and Weaver’s body was never recovered. 📷©️bbm.org.uk 🧵11/11
