Operating out of an advanced airfield near Brussels JG51 Gruppe 1 commanded by Theo Osterkamp. Oberst Osterkamp had temporarily handed over command to Hauptmann Muncheburg as he had a serious leg injury which stopped him from flying.
With the Battle for France in the end phase and the B.E.F. and remnants of French and Belgian units holding a bulging line from Zeeland to Abbeville the Luftwaffe were mopping up enemy air units still active.
Haptmann Muncheburg sat in his deck chair outside his tent.
The front was moving so fast his squadron were operating from temporary airfields. They had arrived yesterday.
Intelligence reports indicated that there was an RAF airfield within operational range. He intended to send two aircraft, low level to strike the airfield. Surprise was paramount.
“You sent for us sir” Oberleutnant Karl Ebbinghausen saluted smartly.
“Yes, have a look here” he pointed to a location on the map in front of him. “Reports indicate an RAF airfield still operating in this sector. Take Noack. Low level all the way. Surprise them, hit them and destroy anything that can fly. Questions?”
“None, Hauptmann”.
“Good, study the map, take off in 15 minutes. Don’t be late back. We have liberated a nice juicy French pig and 2 crates of champagne. Dinner will be early tonight.”
Ebbinghausen saluted smartly and took note of the location of the airfield.
15 minutes later both Noack and himself were airborne, flying at 60 feet.
RAF Airfield
“OK chaps, most of the ground crew are heading for Dunkirk and we have these 3 Fairey Battles left to fly out. So I’m leaving 2 Hurricanes behind to act as escort whilst the remainder of the squadron are heading for the area south of Dunkirk as there are reports of bombers heading that way. One of the flak crews have volunteered to cover the take off, then they too will bug out. Questions. No. Right lets get off.”
The squadron was airborne in less than 5 minutes heading north east, looking for German bombers. The Fairey Battles were finishing refuelling and the Hurricane was warming up ready to take off. Suddenly the air raid siren screamed out. The flak crew were pointing as two black shapes could be seen in the far distance. The crew loaded their guns and prepared to cover the Battles. A Hurricane had already taken off acting as a close air patrol and was circling overhead as the 2nd Hurricane started to taxi as the two black shapes got bigger.
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