raf officer august november british second world war fighter pilot flying ace title awarded pilot credited shooting enemy aircraft aerial combat victories born son able student academic graduation age completion studies journalist joined newspaper home county years tired life reporter joined july commissioned pilot officer west riding squadron trained pilot expense pilot training complete unit squadron raf took claimed victories remained squadron claiming german aircraft shot october awarded victories time battle credited aircraft destroyed shared destroyed probably destroyed damaged battle november believed engaged shot highest scoring ace luftwaffe time moments later shot sea pilots vanished remain missing action early life born related aristocratic families region grandson scottish liberal politician great grandson 1st earl related won scholarship age age won second scholarship christ church oxford graduated class degree winning award allowed study subsequently journalist editorial staff worked paper time recalled man indifferent personal appearance wore trousers frequently ink stained hands spill beer drinking popular newspaper younger female staff members newspaper sent czechoslovakia apart prime minister entourage travelling rome report meeting chamberlain lord halifax foreign secretary related july age commissioned pilot officer squadron raf squadron hugh john godfather set unit time squadron manned time civilians equipped bombers converted bomber fighter aircraft squadron later august equipped respected peers frequently flew commanding officer hind younger brother fighter pilot hugh wounded august recovered eventually rose rank group captain hugh survived war died second world war promoted rank flying officer january squadron positioned south coast england operations provide air cover royal_navy civilian vessels taking evacuation flew patrol following day squadron minutes readiness squadron took headed feet engaged enemy time patrol flying engaged german bomber formation destroyed score weeks squadron moved gained victory phase known july section leader led patrol convoy failing find convoy engaged german aircraft feet near portland england flying led diving attack sun claimed destroyed damaged aircraft wounded pilot france severely damaged crash landing late july night flying narrowly escaped life coming land wing struck artillery landed injury days fought continuous battles german formations noted growing intensity air battles assumed responsibility unit war diary august diary remarked far concerned nazi blitz began 8th august pilots engaged accounted august flew taking led yellow section sea near feet including lost contact squadron saw mid channel noticed climbed investigate aircraft providing cover led attack lost attacked shot received hits german rear gunners likely destroyer wing august battle repeated area shot shaking damaged forced german fighters closed fuel ammunition run low fifth victory flying ace major effort luftwaffe august christened eagle day germans began series heavy air attacks squadron flying number red section feet spotted german fighters red leader enemy instructed lead climbing sun feet saw dive bombers attacking shot dive bombing wing damaged hit dead stick landing german unit attacked badly hit squadron lost following day august patrolling feet damaged escaped cloud directed formation soon damaged bomber taking hits defensive fire returning base spotted wheels brief attack caused crash miles south west airfield machine belonged bomber wing claim september date known morning damaged knocking engines flying shared pilot officer american pilot september damaged destroying claimed shot september damaged following day claimed destroyed near bristol days later claimed probable victory battle german aircraft miles north raf despite firing second burst enemy fighter crash battle hit leg cannon round exploded cockpit flew day flew day exists having preserved october score stood award week later october destroyed feet attack radio failed unable group section noticing feet climbed attack victim crashed chased pair evaded victory aerial victory channel battle recognised highest scoring pilot unit highly regarded comrades liked passed experience younger pilots willing discuss tactics particularly squadron leader early stage war member original auxiliary pilots lamented remained sole champions auxiliary attitude november reported near southampton asked permission intercept refused approaching squadron leader asked section practice flight robinson expecting gave permission feet section contact chasing german throttle reaching healthy head start closed got yards miles france fired guns seconds german gunners determined defence port engine caught fire control sight airfield filled decided retreat credited probable victory return day november busy squadron came came approximately mean time squadrons squadron contact fighter wing led successful german ace war far minutes contact battle joined flight lieutenant heard familiar voice shout finished squadron leader heard pilot officer flying believed shot diving attack 56th aerial victory managed bail recovered momentarily distracted flew path fired short burst hitting german time sea near suggested fell victim pilot officer claim battle seen bail aircraft rescued body found moments later probably shot claimed victory saw crash sea pilot inside like body found december posthumously awarded second announced january london gazette citation flight lieutenant continued engage enemy outstanding success destroyed aircraft damaged occasion pursued enemy aircraft winchester finally destroying shown magnificent fighting spirit inspired members flight memorial known grave commemorated panel small memorial cliff path east close point final battle took place installed november 60th anniversary death aircraft flew combat number exists preserved london aircraft claimed probable kill october list victories list claims november
John Dundas (RAF officer)