Britain 1940 Mission 24 Defensive Patrol London 11/09/1940
Following an uneventful day on 10 September, the morning of the 11th brought forth a heavy fog covering most of south east England. F/O Tadeusz Kowalewski of No.302 Squadron had received a 48 hour pass the previous day, following the return of the rest of the flight from their own two-day stand down spent in London. Much to their surprise and satisfaction the Poles found themselves the subject of much attention in the English capital, particularly the feminine variety. Thankful the bad weather precluded early morning operations, by lunch F/O Władysław Gnyś, Sgt Tadeusz Arabski, F/O Tadeusz Nowak and F/Sgt Władysław Chciuk had pretty much shaken off the effects of liberal applications of wine, women and song.
That was fortunate because as the sky cleared about 3.15pm the Kościuszko Squadron scrambled to intercept enemy raiders coming from the south east towards London.
Over the capital No.303 Squadron met a large formation of about 50 Heinkel He-111’s (KG53) escorted by Messerschmitt Bf-109’s (JG26).
No.303's Blue Section broke into two elements. F/O Władysław Gnyś (RF-J) with wingman Sgt Tadeusz Arabski (RF-U) moved to occupy the escorts while F/O Tadeusz Nowak (RF-H) and F/Sgt Władysław Chciuk (RF-F) focussed on the bombers.
Polish campaigners Paul and Rod (forum member Rodders) were each running their usual pilots today …..
….. while regular OPFOR pilots Charlie (forum member provost 121) and Ned controlled the Heinkels and Messerschmitts respectively.
Coming in about 21,000 feet Nowak and Chciuk had an altitude advantage over the bomber stream, while Gnyś and Arabski at the same height were coming up from below the 109's.
Lifting their noses with Merlin engines opened right up clawing for height Gnyś and Arabski still cannot get a shot at the higher flying Messerschmitts.
With the bombers being constantly engaged by anti-aircraft batteries, Nowak and Chciuk eschew a frontal attack instead deciding to wheel around behind the Heinkel Kette. With the shrapnel from the flak bursts piercing his aircraft sounding like gravel hitting a tin roof, bombardier Ltn. Wilhelm Eifler in the lead machine releases his bombload targeting dock facilities on banks of the Thames.
Following the beating KG53 took over Canterbury on 9 September, replacement aircraft had to be hurriedly delivered to the unit in order to regain sufficient numbers to maintain operations. Flying one such brand new machine, pilot Hptm. Werner Tronicke opens the throttles of the lead Heinkel and banks away as the rest of the Kette position to drop their ordnance.
Eifler's aim is good as a stick of SC250 general purpose high-explosive bombs strike the docks, with some falling long on the streets and premises beyond (partial hit, full load).
Meanwhile Messerschmitt pilots Oblt. Wilhelm Fronhöfer (Yellow 13) and Ltn. Heinz Ebeling (Yellow 5) watch the two Hurricanes pass beneath them. Conscious of their limited fuel (20 points each for this mission), the Jagdflieger know they have little time for fancy manoeuvring.
Suddenly F/O Nowak's aircraft is rocked as a 3.7in anti-aircraft shell bursts in front of the Hurricane, sending white hot shards of metal into the machine. Flames engulf his Hurricane even as the dorsal gunner of a Heinkel Uffz. Gottfried Leske scores hits on Nowak's machine as both Heinkels release their bombloads.
His Hurricane burning and streaming smoke, Nowak decides it is time to leave. Releasing his harness and forcing back the canopy the Polish officer bails out before the flames flood the cockpit. Avoiding injury, Nowak's parachute opens and he lands safely.
F/Sgt Chciuk continues the attack alone, firing at his target from long range.
Whether due to the smoke from the first bomb strikes, the heavy flak or the attentions of No.303 Squadron's Hurricanes, the rest of the bombs dropped by KG53's Heinkels fall long. Missing the docks they manage to plaster St James Park, with one even landing in the grounds of Buckingham Palace!
Relieved of their 2000kg bombloads the remaining Heinkels also increase speed and bank away following their Kettenführer, still harassed by Chciuk's Hurricane.
Behind the bombers Fronhöfer and Ebeling have performed a split S manoeuvre to drop in behind the Hurricanes of F/O Gnyś and Sgt. Arabski. Conscious of his limited cannon ammunition, Oblt. Wilhelm Fronhöfer (Yellow 13) opens fire with his twin cowl mounted MG17's at long range. Despite the distance his burst strikes true, setting alight the Hurricane's fuel tank set just in front of the cockpit. Ltn. Heinz Ebeling (Yellow 5) engages Arabski's Hurricane, his machine gun fire perforating the rear fuselage without inflicting critical damage.
As F/Sgt Chciuk presses his stern attack alone he finds himself the focus of intense return fire, a 7.92mm round piercing his Glycol tank sending a stream of white smoke trailing behind his Hurricane.
F/O Władysław Gnyś hunkers down in his cockpit as a fusillade of 20mm cannon shells and machine gun fire batters his Hurricane. Realising his aircraft will soon be shot to pieces while he still has control Gnyś releases his harness and canopy, then rolling RF-J over he bails out. Free falling for a few seconds to clear the combat area, the Polish officer then deploys his parachute and lands safely. In the cockpit of his Emil Oberleutnant Fronhöfer calls 'Horrido!' marking his third victory.
A further burst from Ebeling's 109 punishes Sgt. Arabski's Hurricane causing a steady stream of smoke to trail after the aircraft. With both Arabski and Chciuk's aircraft having taken heavy damage and their positions being far from ideal things were looking grim for the Polish pilots.
Arabski's Hurricane (RF-U) is finished off by a well aimed burst of fire from Ebeling's twin MGFF cannon. 20mm shells blow great holes in the Hurricane's fuselage and port wing, inflicting more damage than event the tough Hawker fighter can take. Arabski hits the silk and makes a safe landing, providing Leutnant Ebeling with his first victory.
Seconds later the return fire from the Heinkels batters Chciuk's Hurricane into submission. For the fourth time that afternoon a Polish pilot bails out, and soon Władysław Chciuk is hanging under his parachute surveying the city below. Having just enjoyed a 48 hour pass in London he thought wryly, "I had not expected to visit again so soon."
Oblt. Fronhöfer and Ltn. Ebeling return to the 9.JG26 base at Caffiers in a celebratory mood with one victory each and no damage to their Emils.
All three KG53 Heinkels make it back to their base at Lille-Nord. Although all had sustained some damage through flak hits and the attentions of the RAF fighters, Hptm. Tronicke's aircraft was repaired within 48 hours and the other two bombers were ready for operations on 15 September. That night the KG53 mess also celebrated with Uffz. Gottfried Leske awarded the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse for downing two RAF fighters during the mission.
Back in London the four Polish pilots were collected and driven back to Northolt. Although fortunate that none had been wounded or killed, they had still lost four aircraft and the smoke rising from the fires burning on the docks of the city reminded them of their failure to stop the Luftwaffe that afternoon. The flight was grounded for the next couple of days as more aircraft were delivered to No.303 to bring it back up to strength. In the meantime Gnyś, Nowak, Chciuk and the rest were grimly determined to avenge their defeat the next time they got to grips with the Germans.
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