Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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13.05.1940 No 264 Squadron Defiant I L6974 P/O. Kay

Operation: Patrol - German troop transports

Date: 13th May 1940 (Monday)

Unit: No. 264 Squadron

Type: Defiant I

Serial: L6974

Base: RAF Duxford (via Martlesham)

Location: Aalter, Belgium

Pilot: P/O. Desmond Hayward Sidley Kay 42006 RAF Age 21. Survived (1)

Air/Gnr: L.A.C. Evan John Jones 744999 RAFVR Age 31. Survived (2)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 04:15 hrs from Martlesham along with 5 other Boulton Paul Defiants together with 6 Spitfires from 66 Squadron. The object being to patrol the Dutch coast between Ijmuiden and the Hague to attack German troop transport.

Forced to land at Aalter with slight damage and low on fuel. Had been attacked by Bf109's of 5./JG26 over the Biesbosch, Netherlands in the early hours at 05:55. Aircraft repaired.

264 Squadron pilots - early May 1940. L to R (rear): P/O. G.L. Hickman (Killed 31st May 1940 - age 19), Fl/Lt. N.G. Cooke D.F.C. (Killed 31st May 1940 - age 26), Sq/Ldr. P.A. Hunter D.S.O. (Killed 24th August 1940 - age 27), P/O. M.H. Young, P/O. G.H. Hackwood (Killed 20th November 1940 - age 20), P/O. E.G. Barwell, P/O. S.R. Thomas, P/O. D. Whitley (Killed 28th August 1940 - age 21). (front): Fl/Sgt. E.R. Thorn, P/O. D.H.S. Kay (Killed 19th October 1944 - age 25), Sgt. A.J. Lauder, P/O. R.W. Stokes (courtesy Johny Ricour)

(1) P/O. Desmond Hayward Sidley Kay was later shot down and killed flying Mosquito MM178 HS-V with 109 Squadron.

(2) Sgt. Evan John Jones was to lose his life shortly afterwards on the 29th May 1940 when, after an attack which severely damaged his turret, he baled out over the English Channel and drowned. His pilot, also P/O. Kay, managed to nurse the aircraft back to base with damaged ailerons and tailplane.

Defiants from 264 squadron in formation

Burial Details (from later operations):

Sq/Ldr. Desmond Hayward Sidley Kay DFC Bar. Adinkerke Military Cemetery, Belgium. Grave E. 22. Son of Albert Sidley Kay and Rosamond Emily Hayward Kay, of Thurlestone, Devon, England. Born 14th February 1919 and educated at Sedburgh School. Joining the RAF in February 1939 and is listed as taking part in the Battle of Britain. Grave inscribed “One Of The Few”.

Sgt. Evan John Jones. Dunkirk Town Cemetery. Plot 2, Row 17. Grave 15. Son of John and Ann Jones, husband of Janet Barr Jones, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

With thanks to Johny Recour from Belgium for further information, also to Peter Cornwell - 'Battle of France Then and Now', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 1.