B Flight once RTB'd was sent out again immediately after 'pancake' to continue our defensive sweep around Cherbourg. We took off from Tangmere again and climbed to about Angels-12 before we spotted an enemy fighter within range. Myself and P/O 'Al' A. Lamothe were ordered to go for a pass on it since we had the altitude advantage, and I was poised to swiftly destroy the enemy who was in perfect killing range. As I approached it for a deflection-shot it spotted me and went flat-out in a dive trying to escape. I was ordered to give chase (but to break off before I went under cloud) and so I cranked my throttle/prop to full and away I went. The 109 noticed that I wasn't going to let him off and he slowed down in a shallow climb to try to get me to overshoot. I slammed on my rudder pedal and attempted to stay with him but darkness enveloped me and I must have slipped into unconsciousness for a moment! When I came to I was coming out of cloud and heard "6! BUMPER-2 break! Break!" over the R/T. Before I could register their words and get my hands back to the stick I started taking fire and in the confusion was forced to bail out. When I came to it was hours passed and I started WEST towards home, eventually (and luckily) getting picked up by a medical truck and brought to Dover's hosptial. F/O 'Zach' Z. Lamothe |
