Operation: Patrol

Date: 06th September 1940 (Friday)

Unit: No. 603 Squadron (motto: Gin ye daur 'If you dare'

Type: Spitfire I

Serial: X4260

Code: XT-D

Base: RAF Hornchurch, Essex

Location: Guinses, France

Pilot: P/O. James Russell Caister DFM. 44827 (358860) RAF Age 33. PoW No: 242 Camp: (L3) Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 12:45 hrs with 11 others led by Sq/Ldr. George Lovell Denholm 90190.

Engaged in combat with Oblt. Hubertu Von Bonin (1) over the channel. His Spitfire was hit several times resulting in the Merlin engine only firing on 6 cylinders. He was forced to land his aircraft in a wheels up landing near Guinses, France. Before he had a chance to destroy the Spitfire he was captured by the Germans and made a PoW.

The German pilot invited him to dinner at the officers mess which he accepted. In the meantime the Germans recovered X4260, repaired it and was sent to be evaluated it at their test and evaluation centre.

The remaining others linfrom the squadron landed back at base at 14:02 hrs.

(1) Oblt. Hubertu Von Bonin, German Luftwaffe 'Ace' was killed on the 15th December 1943, credited with 77 victories - see Kracker Archive for further details.

Above L-R: P/O. James Russell Caister, P/O. Harold Kennedy MacDonald, F/O. George Kemp Gilroy, P/O. James Storrs Morton, P/O. Patrick Gifford, Sq/Ldr. George Lovell Denholm. (Courtesy David Ross). See other details below on their fates.

Other details:

P/O. James Russell Caister DFM was awarded on the 13th September 1940. Commissioned in August 1940. Later Fl/Lt. Passed away on the 01st February 1994, age 86.

P/O. Harold Kennedy MacDonald 90193 - killed (Fl/LT.) on the 28th September 1940 age 28. Flying Spifire I L1076. Son of James Harold and Isa May Kennedy Macdonald, of Murrayfield, Edinburgh. B.A. (Cantab.); Writer to the Signet Cremated at Edinburgh (Warriston) Crematorium. Panel 3.

F/O. George Kemp Gilroy DFC. - shot down and wounded on the 31st August 1940 flying Spitfire I X4271. Later made Gp/Cpt. He passed away on the 25th March 1995 age 81.

P/O. James Storrs Morton DFC and bar - shot down and wounded on the 05th October 1940 flying Spitfire I K9807. Later made W/Cdr. Passed away in 1988, age 72.

P/O. Patrick Gifford DFC 90188 - shown and listed as missing - believed killed on the 16th May 1940 (Sq/Ldr.) age 30 whilst with 3 squadron. Hurricane I P2825. Son of Patrick and Helene Alma Gifford

Sq/Ldr. George Lovell Denholm DFC. MiD. - Later mad Gp/Cpt. Passed away on the 16th June 1997 age 89

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the National Archive Kew AIR-27-2079-15/16. Kracker Luftwaffe Archives.

Other sources as quoted below:

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