Dieppe

In total the RAF committed approximately 70 squadrons to Operation Jubilee: 42 equipped with the Spitfire Mk Vb, 4 with the Spitfire Mk IX, 2 with the Spitfire Mk VI, 8 squadrons of Hurricane Mk IIcs, 4 squadrons of Boston IIIs, 2 squadrons flying Blenheim IVs, 2 squadrons of Mustang Mk Is for tactical reconnaissance, 3 Squadrons of Hawker Typhoons, 24 B17Es, and assorted air-sea-rescue units.

Opposing the RAF on 19 August 1941 were JG2 and and JG26 with a combined total of 190 FW 190 A-2 and A-3s and 16 Me 109s (mostly G-1s and a few 109Fs). KG2, KG45 and KG77 had 107 bombers between them, 59 of which were Do 217s, the remainder being Ju 88s, and He 111s.

237 ships led by 8 destroyers arrived at Dieppe in the pre dawn hours. Bostons and Hurricane bombers were ordered to attack and blind the gun emplacements just as the troops were arriving at the beaches at roughly 0500. Attacks on the west flank met with some success with the capture of a gun battery, RDF station and other objectives. Attacks on the east flank and the center were bogged down by tremendous fire from the Germans and the troops failed to make much progress off the beach. Around 1100 the troops started to re-embark on the ships, Bostons carried out more bombing and smoke laying sorites, and the Hurricanes provided close air support strafing and bombing gun positions. By roughly 1300 it was determined that no more troops could be evacuated so the convoy made its way back to England.

The RAF flew 2,955 operational sorties on 19 August 1941, losing 97 planes and 62 aircrew to enemy action. The Germans admitted to 48 aircraft lost in action, about half of what the RAF pilots claimed. The attacking force lost approximately 1,000 men killed, 600 wounded, and 1,900 captured.

No. 71 moved from Debden to Gravesend in mid August in anticipation of the Dieppe action.
The squadron took off at 0445 with No. 124, Wing Commander M. B. D. Duke-Woolley leading. They flew to Beachy Head where they joined with 81, 122, 154, and 340 Squadrons of the Hornchurch Wing, and proceeded SSE to Deippe. Peterson led the squadron with Daymond's flight on the left, Andrews led Blue flight, followed by Clarke, Strickland and Morgan. P/O Howard Stickland recorded:

"I saw flashes of heavy gunfire to my left, which was towards the sun, which was still below the horizon. In all other directions it was very dark. About 8/10ths cloud covered the sky at 7,0000 feet. As I proceeded towards the enemy I could see the outline of four aircraft patrolling about E-W, line astern, I closed toward them from out of the darkness and identified them as four FW 190s. I attacked the No. 4 with cannon and m.g. and about a 45 Deg. deflection and saw my explosive shells stike the fuselage. He dived. The other three turned into me. I turned right, pulled into a steep climbing turn and entered the cloud. Was counter-attacked three times upon leaving cloud cover. Landed at Gravesend shortly after dawn."

Harold Strickland

The only claim for this sortie was Strickland's FW 190 damaged.

The second sortie took off at 1045 and was charged with flying cover, resulting in Peterson damaging a Ju 88. Harold Stickland recorded:

"We arrived over patrol area at Dieppe with many air combats in progress. Blue Section attacked and chased away 109s believed to be carrying bombs. Dornier 217s and Ju 88s were chased away after jettisoning their bombs. Enemy reaction was reaching its peak. We encountered terrific flak and on two occasions flew through our own flak manoeuvering for position. Many fires were burning in Dieppe. Many stores and ammuntion dumps several miles from the centre of town were ablaze. Many of our assault boats were wrecked and burned on the beach. A continuous fire was out up by the naval forces against Varengeville, Dieppe and Berneval. We returned, refuelled and re-armed but in using my emergency boost in combats, excessive oil accumulated on my windscreen. I traded places with O'Regan and flew formation with him. With my propeller defective my Spitfire was unserviceable for the third sortie which I missed."

No. 71 took off at 1316 for its third sortie of the day and joined up with 222 and 611 of the Biggin Hill Wing. Peterson ordered in on 20 Ju 88s with fighter escort. Peterson shot down a Ju 88 but had to bale as a result of taking return fire from the bomber's gunner. He was picked up by a Naval MTB. Oscar Coen and Michael McPharlin attacked another Ju 88, removed some pieces, smoked its port engine and set the wing afire. McPharlin's Spitfire was hit by return fire and he was forced to bale out but was rescued by the Royal Navy. P/O Stanley Anderson attacked a third Ju 88 and damaged it. Anderson wrote in his flying book: "Plenty of FW 190s, Ju 88s, Do 217s and ME 109s-I took a crack at a Ju 88 damaging it and killing the rear gunner. CO and Mike shot down but were picked up by the air sea rescue. Plenty of fun and games for all."

At 1715 the squadron took off for its fourth sortie with orders to cover the retreating convoy. They joined with 232 and 124 squadrons with Duke-Wooley in overall command. Gus Daymond led No 71 with Bob Sprague and Oscar Coen leading the other sections. Howard Strickland recorded in his diary:

"We arrived over Dieppe to find all of our assault boats and transporters away from the beaches and on a course for England. Destroyers were still firing at long range and Dieppe itself was ablaze. A large force of 190s appeared. Wing Commander Duke-Woolly ordered the Debden Wing to prepare for attack. We manoeuvered into the sun and climbed above. When we turned towards them from below, they retreated headlong towards Le Touquet. Shortly before dusk the assault craft, transports, tank carriers were within sight of Beachy Head with a rear-guard of destroyers and E-boats. We set course for home and landed at Gravesend, refueled, re-armed, prepared for night fighting."

No. 121, led by S/L W. D. Williams, took off from Southend for its first sortie at 0840 in company with No 19 Sqdn. with orders to patrol the beach at 5,000 feet. At Dieppe they engaged a large force of FW 190s with F/LT Seldon Edner destroying one FW 190, P/O Gilbert Halsey and Sergant Leon Blanding claiming probables, and P/O F. D. Smith damaging a 190. Edner's Spitfire was hit by cannon fire in the tailplane but he made it back to base. P/O J. T. Taylor collided head on with another Spitfire and was killed. P/O G. B. Fetrow was shot down but rescued. P/O J. B. Mahon was shot down and taken prisoner. Barry Mahone later wrote of his experience over Dieppe:

"The air above Dieppe was thick with enemy and Allied aircraft. We went in as high cover. A flight of FW 190s came in below me, ready to dive on the boats. I called for my flight to follow, and I made an attack and shot down the wingman. I saw another flight of FWs, came in behind the No. 2 man and fired at him. My deflection shooting was not as accurate as it should have been. The FW started smoking, and several pieces flew off the cowling. Just as he burst into flames, I ran out of ammunition. Then I broke a rule I had established for myself in the beginning of my combat experience-never break off combat until the enemy either breaks away himself or is shot down. I pulled away from the attack in a chandelle-a steep climb- in order to gain altitude for the flight back to England to rearm.

With his No. 2 man on fire, the leader of the section undoubtedly would have broken off combat and gone into a steep dive or continuedon to France, if I had stayed in the fight. He had no way of knowing I was out of ammunition. I got a funny feeling and looked out. There was a yellow-nosed spinner about 200 feet below me and climbing. The FW had a better climbing ability than the Spitfire. He started firing, and I could tell by his inability to get his nose higher that he could not get the right deflection to hit me. Shooting planes is sort of like shooting ducks. You must aim ahead of the target to hit it. Eventually I was at such a steep angle that I stalled out and fell through his line of fire. The noise was terrifying-like a thousand shot-puts all being thrown on a galvinized tin roof over your head. The gun panels ripped off my left wing. The engine exploded, and oil covered the cockpit. Shells exploded on my right wing.

Barry Mahon

Blinded by the oil, I had rolled over on my back. I jettisoned the canopy, released the seat belt, and being upside down, fell from the cockpit. I had the presence of mind to pull my ripcord, and my parachute opened about 600 or 700 feet above the water."

At 1130 121 took off for its second sortie again in the company of No. 19. The squadron did not engage any enemy aircraft, although F/LT W. J. Daley's Spitfire was hit by a shell which caused his engine to temporarily quit.

For its third sortie of the day 121 took off at 1615, joined 19 and 165 Squadrons and patrolled over the returning convoy. No. 121 was subject to a couple of FW 190s diving out of the clouds and P/O J. M. Osborne's Spitfire was hit in the engine. He had to bale when the engine caught fire, but was rescued.

In preparation for Operation Jubilee No. 133 moved with No. 401 from Biggin Hill to Lympne, near the English south coast.

For the first sortie of the day No. 133 took off at 0720 with orders to orbit Dieppe at 7,000 ft. FW 190's were engaged with F/Lt Blakeslee and P/O Baker each claiming one destroyed and F/Sgt Alexander probably destroying another.
Flight Sergant Dixie Alexander recalled the first sortie over Dieppe:

"We had just made a turn with Blakeslee leading when four 190s carrying bombs approached from the north. They were at about 1,000 feet and flew directly below us, heading for the ships in the harbour. Blakeslee immediately called them out, and we broke down and after them. I was flying Red Four to Eric Doorly. During the descent Eric's acceleration was taking him away from me, and he was in hot pursuit of the others in the group.

Suddenly I saw two more 190s to the left and slightly below me. I closed on them and fired one burst at long range. One of the 190s immediately jettisoned his bomb and flew inland. The other proceeded toward the shipping. I was able to close to within about 300 to 400 yards, and by then was well lined up. I gave him two more bursts, and we both passed directly over the convoy at about 300 feet.

The 190 dropped his bomb. I had no idea where it hit. I was firing and observed strikes on his port wing and fuselage. Suddenly his left wing disappeared, and he went directly into the water. I do not know whether my cannon bursts did the work, of if he was hit by gunfire from the British Navy.

I flew on south and made a turn back over Dieppe, gaining altitude and looking for someone to tie onto. Upon clearing the north edge of the city I saw three Ju 88s headed for the harbour, moving very fast. I tried to get into position, fired one full deflection burst at the hindmost 88, and then came around to line up. I was about 600 yards astern and losing ground. I fired one more burst and was out of ammunition. I headed back for Lympne."

At 1015 No. 133 took off for its 2nd sortie of the day with orders to fly top cover at 12,000 feet. F/Lt Blakeslee, F/Lt Brettell, P/O's Beatty, Wright, Gentile, Baker, Doorly, and Gudmundsen flew this sortie. Combat began immediately upon arriviving at Dieppe with Blakeslee and Gentile destroying 2 FW 190s and a Ju 88. The rest of the squadron shared in damaging 4 FW 190's and 3 Do.217's.

For its 3rd sortie No. 133 left Lympne at 1225 and was again tasked to patrol Dieppe at 12,000 ft. Alexander and P/O Nelson attacked six Do 217s that were dropping bombs on the convoy, Alexander destroying a Do 217 and Nelson getting a probable. Alexander recalled "On the third operation I shot down a Do 217; he crashed in a field south-west of Dieppe. In this show , and in the following, I was flying MD-J." F/Lt Blakeslee claimed a FW 190 damaged. The squadron returned to base at 1345.

No. 133 took off at 1955 for its fourth patrol with orders to patrol the convoys returning from Dieppe. There was little combat on this sortie but there was an amusing incident when a FW 190 bounced them. Alexander called for yellow section to break and the yellow sections of most of the 36 squadrons flying at the time all were scurring about trying to reattach themselves to thier respective sqaudrons. Alexander recorded:

"On the fourth show of the day we were attacked by two FW 190s who came from above and fired on us. From a tight turn I went over on my back after them, and continued to fire down to about 3,000 feet; I observed strikes at long range, but was forced to pull out at around 3,000 feet. I barely missed going in because we were at maximum speed and I blacked out pulling out of the dive. I am reasonably sure that the 190, who was probably six or seven hundred yards ahead of me by then, had less chance of pulling out than I did. I claimed a probable."

The only operation that all three squadrons participated at the same time was the Dieppe raid of 19 August 1942.