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RAF - 17 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

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17 SQUADRON - Fighter, Hawker Hurricane Mk. I

History | Losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks


In June 1939, Hurricanes were received and flew defensive patrols until the German attack on France in May 1940. Fighter sweeps were then flown over Holland Belgium and French airfields were used to cover the retreat of allied troops. In June the squadron moved to Brittany as the remnants of BEF and RAF units in France were evacuated, retiring to the Channel Islands two days before returning to the UK.

The Squadron flew from Le Mans in France from 8th June 1940 until on the 17th of June when the Squadron was forced to retreat to Jersey and Guernsey where they operated for 2 days before moving on to Debden on the 19th of June.

One of the 17 Squadron pilots was Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson. He joined the squadron at Kenley during August 1938. He went to France with a squadron detachment on May 171940 and on the 18th he shared in the destruction of a Do 17. On the 19th he damaged a Bf 109 and on the 21st shared a Hs 126 destroyed.

Bird-Wilson damaged a Ju 87 on the 25th of May and shared a
Ju 88 destroyed on the 26th when patrolling the Dunkirk area.

Cedric Watcyn Williams commanded the squadron. He died on 25/08/1940.

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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are.

11/05/1940: Fighter Patrol, NL. 5 Planes lost, 2 KIA, 2 POW
13/05/1940: 4 Planes lost
17/05/1940, Brussels, B. 2 Planes lost
18/05/1940: Seclin, F
19/05/1940: ?, F. 2 Planes lost, 1 KIA, 1 POW
21/05/1940: ?, F
25/05/1940: ?, F
26/05/1940
: Dunkirk patrol, F. 2 Planes lost, 2 MIA
29/05/1940
: Dunkirk patrol, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA
01/06/1940: Dunkirk, F. 1 Plane lost
03/06/1940: Dunkirk, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
06/06/1940: Escort Abbeville, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 MIA
06/06/1940
: Patrol over France, 2 Planes lost, 2 MIA
09/06/1940
: Patrol over France. 1 Plane lost
27/06/1940: Unauthorized flight, UK. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA

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LOSSES 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (incomplete)

Pilot Officer Gordon H. Bennett, RAFVR 18242, 17 Sqdn., age 45, 30/04/1940, Gulval (St. Gulval) Church Cemetery, UK

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11/05/1940: Fighter Patrol, NL

At 17.00 hrs No. 17 Sqdn. claimed three Me 109's (by S/L G.C. Tomlinson, Sgt A.F. Pavey and F/O R.V. Meredith) and two Hs126's (by F/O J. Jeffries and Sgt N.R. Wynn) destroyed, in Rotterdam/Delft/The Hague area.

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2405, YB-Y
Operation: Patrol Den Haag – Delft – Rotterdam
Lost: 11/05/1940
Flying Officer (pilot) George W. Slee, RAF 40149, 17 Sqdn., age 27, 11/05/1940, 's Gravendeel (Kerkstraat) General Cemetery, NL
Shot down by Bf109s of I./JG51 over ‘s-Gravendeel 5.00 p.m.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2403, YB-?
Operation: Patrol Den Haag – Delft – Rotterdam
Lost: 11/05/1940
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Michael S. Donne, RAF 33186, 17 Sqdn., age 23, 11/05/1940, Numansdorp Protestant Cemetery, NL
Shot down by Bf109s over Numansdorp 5.00 p.m. Possibly one of those claimed by Oberlt Krafft of 3./JG51

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2407, YB-N
Operation: Patrol Den Haag – Delft – Rotterdam
Lost: 11/05/1940
P/O O.P. DeL Hulton-Harrop
Shot down south of Rotterdam by Me 109 of JG51 at 17.00 hrs, possibly by Lt Terry of Stab I./JG51. He bailed out near Dordrecht and was taken PoW.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2547, YB-?
Operation: Patrol Den Haag – Delft – Rotterdam
Lost: 11/05/1940
S/L George C. Tomlinson, RAF 05214 - safe
Forced-landed at Hingene damaged by Bf109s south of Rotterdam 5.00 p.m. Possibly that claimed by Oberlt Schäfer of 5./JG27. S/L G. C. Tomlinson unhurt. Aircraft abandoned. Pilot returned to the UK.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P2758, YB-?
Operation: Patrol Den Haag – Delft – Rotterdam
Lost: 11/05/1940
Sgt. J.A.A. Luck, RAF 524114
Shot down by Bf109s in combat over Dordrecht 5.00 p.m. Possibly that claimed by Uffz Schreiter of 3./JG51. Sgt. J.A.A. Luck captured.
He was held in Camp 357, Prisoner Number 4116

Sources: CWGC; War over Holland; Air Force PoWs 1939 to 1945; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008

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13/05/1940, ?

Hurricanes N3403, N2454, N2405 and N2407 all lost or abandoned on this date.

Source: Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008

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17/05/1940, Brussels, B

No. 17 Sqdn. attacks at 17.00 hrs a formation of Ju87's near Brussels and claims five destroyed enemy a/c.
Pilots: S/L G.C. Tomlinson, F/O R.V. Meredith, P/O K. Manger, P/O R.C. Whittaker and F/O A.P. Lines.

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P3277, YB-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 17/05/1940
S/L G.C. Tomlinson - safe
Force-landed 16.30 hrs SE of Brussels after combat with Ju 87's of IV(S)/LG1 and set on fire. Pilot slightly injured.

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P2822, YB-?
Operation: Patrol
Lost: 17/05/1940
F/O A.P. Lines - safe
Bailed out after a combat with Me 109s of 8/JG26, south of Brussels.

Sources: Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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18/05/1940, Seclin, F

Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson, F/L W.A. Toyne and F/L C.F.G. Adye shared in the destruction of a Do 17, SE of Seclin, 16.25 hrs. At the same time P/O K. Manger and P/O W.J. Harper shared in the destruction of a Me110.

Sources: CWGC; War over Holland; Air Force PoWs 1939 to 1945; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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19/05/1940: ?, F

Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson damaged a Bf 109.

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2408, YB-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 19/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Robert E. Harris, RAF 33449, age 22,19/05/1940, Noyelles-sur-Selle Communal Cemetery, F
Shot down by Me 109 of LG2 near Le Cateau, 16.20 hrs.

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Type:
Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2525, YB-?
Operation: ?
Lost: 19/05/1940
Sgt A.F. Pavey - POW
Shot down by Me 109 of LG2 and baled out near Cambrai.

Sources: CWGC; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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21/05/1940: ?, F

Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson
shared a Hs 126 (or 123?) destroyed.

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25/05/1940: ?, F

Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson
damaged a Ju 87.

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26/05/1940: Dunkirk patrol, F

Harold 'Birdie' Bird-Wilson shared a Ju 88 destroyed when patrolling the Dunkirk area.

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P3483, YB-?
Operation: Dunkirk patrol, F
Lost: 26/05/1940
Flight Lieutenant Capel F.G. Adye, RAF 28173 (Canada), 17 Sqdn., age unknown, 26/05/1940, missing.
Shot down by Me 109's over the Channel. He managed to bail out, but probably drowned.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: N2528, YB-?
Operation: Dunkirk patrol, F
Lost: 26/05/1940
Flight Sergeant William T. Jones, RAF 590275, 17 Sqdn., age 27, 26/05/1940, missing

In combat with Do 17's and Me 110's.

Sources: CWCG, Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008; Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945

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29/05/1940: Dunkirk patrol, F

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: ?, YB-?
Operation: Dunkirk patrol, F
Lost: 29/05/1940
P/O D.W.H. Hanson - slightly wounded
Fight with Me 110's over France. Shell splinters right leg.

Source: Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008

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01/06/1940: Dunkirk, F

Type:
Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P3476, YB-?
Operation: Dunkirk
Lost: 01/06/1940
P/O Kenneth Manger, RAF 70867 - safe
Bailed out and returned by ship to England. P/O Manger was to die on 11/08/1940 on the age of 23.

Sources: CWGC; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008

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03/06/1940: Dunkirk, F

Type:
Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P3477, YB-?
Operation: Dunkirk
Lost: 03/06/1940
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Richard V. Meredith, RAF 39746, 17 Sqdn., age unknown, 03/06/1940, Malo-les-Bains Communal Cemetery, F

Sources: CWGC; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008

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06/06/1940: Escort, Abbeville

Two seperate missions were flown this day.

1. Nine aircraft took off from Hawkinge. At 0915 hours joining No. 111 Squadron to escort twelve Blenheims bombers to Abbeville. The Blenheims split up into sections to carry out their bombing attacks
Three Me.109's attacked the rear section. Blue section of No. 17 Squadron came down from 10,000 feet to 2,000 feet to attack the Me.109's.

The leader, F/Lt W.A. Toyne, made a deflection attack from 250 yards, closing to 50 yards, saw the enemy aircraft dive with engine silent, apparently out of control. Sgt. G.A. Stewart of Blue section attacked an Me.109 at 20 yards range, and saw his bullets inflict severe damage. Sgt. Holman S.H. was last seen when making towards the
Coast, and did not return from the patrol .

P/O K. Manger of Yellow section attacked one Me.109 wich appeared to be attempting to join enemy formation. He delivered a deflection attack at 100 yards, and saw his bullets entering the enemy aircraft. The Me.109 dived to 1,000 feet, and headed north apparently damaged. Eight aircraft of No. 17 Squadron landed at Hawkinge at 1230 hours. Enemy casualties one Me.109 conclusive, two Me.109’s inconclusive.
Source:
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Type:
Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P3360, YB-?
Operation: Escort, Abbeville
Lost: 06/06/1940
Sergeant Samson H. Holman, RAFVR 740337, 17 Sqdn., age 23, 06/06/1940, missing. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Pilot seen heading for France, early morning, lost over Abbeville area.

Sources: CWGC; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008


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06/06/1940: Patrol over France

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P2905, YB-?
Operation: Patrol over France
Lost: 06/06/1940
Squadron Leader Geoffrey D. Emms, RAF 05170, 17 Sqdn., age unknown, 06/06/1940, missing. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Lost in combat with Do17 mid-afternoon.

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Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P3472, YB-?
Operation: Patrol over France
Lost: 06/06/1940
Pilot Officer Richard C. Whittaker, RAF 40450, 17 Sqdn., DFC, age 20, 06/06/1940, missing. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Shot down by Me 109. Mid-afternoon.

Sources: CWGC; Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008
- according to Franks this happened on 07/06/1940

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09/06/1940: Patrol over France

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: ?, YB-?
Operation: Patrol over France
Lost: 09/06/1940

P/O D.C. Leary - safe
Late p.m. Force-landed and returned by train on the 11 June. Hurricane assumed abandoned.

Source: Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008
- according to Franks this happened on 07/06/1940

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27/06/1940: Unauthorized flight, UK

Type: Hurricane Mk 1
Serial number: P3778, YB-?
Operation: - (Unauthorized flight)
Lost: 27/06/1940
Aircraftman 2nd Class (Pilot) Peter L. Walker, RAF 627496, 17 Sqdn., age 24, 27/06/1940, Wimbish (All Saints) Churchyard, UK
Took off from Debden, Essex. Unauthorized flight, crashed near Quendon Newport, Essex.

Sources: CWCG and Henk Welting

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Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database
Australian War Memorial
Bail-outs for 1940
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Royal Air Force - 17 Squadron
Fighter Command Air Combat Claims 1939-1945
Prisoners of War captured in Europe 1940
RAF - Campaign Diary - The Battle of France (May-June 1940)
RAF Museum: British Military Aviation in 1940
RAF Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940
Royal Air Force History Section
The Royal Air Force, 1939-1945
The Second World War - a day by day account

War over Holland


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Books

Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008
M C Cotton DFC 'Hurricanes over Burma' (1995)
Norman L.R. Franks, Fighter Command Losses, Vol 1, 1939-1941, Second edition, Midland, 2008
Francis K. Mason, The Hawker Hurricane I, Profile Publications Ltd, Leatherhead, UK, 1966
P R Reid 'Winged diplomat' (Story of A/C "Freddie" West VC, CBE; 17 Sqn flying Woodcocks & Grebes) (Chatto & Windus 1962)
Peter Wykeham, Fighter Command, 1959 (reprint: Arno Press 1980)

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Links

Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
RAF Commands Forum

Other
Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
Code Names & RAF Vocabulary

Air Aces
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
Australian Wargraves
Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War
British Aircraft Directory
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
Canada's Air Force History
HMS Cavalier
Ciel de Gloire (in French) RAF Squadrons
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots

Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
Eagles Squadrons (American pilots in the RAF)
Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
The Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
Order of Liberation (in French/English/Spanish)
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
RAF Upwood
RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Test Flying Memorial
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de

Aircraft crashes on the North Yorkshire Moors, England
Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
Luftfahrt-Archäologie in Schleswig Holstein (in German)
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
WW1 Cemeteries


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These pages are dedicated to the men of No. 17 Squadron

with special thanks to Henk Welting

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2008. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if this source is mentioned with a link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html