Archive Report: Allied Forces

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05.11.1941 No. 611 Squadron Spitfire VAB984 Sgt. Dales

Operation: Rhubarb (see abbreviations)

Date: 5th November 1941 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 611 Squadron

Type: Spitfire V

Serial: AB984 (Borneo III) (1)

Base: R.A.F. Hornchurch, Essex.

Location: English Channel off Gravelines, France

Pilot: Sgt. William Philip Dales 955028 RAFVR Age 22. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Murky weather on November 5 precluded any large-scale ops, but 611 Squadron sent two Spitfires out on Rhubarb sorties to the Passchendaele area of Belgium. Philip Dales and his leader, the new promoted Fl/Sgt K. Wright, set off low across the channel at 08.45 and made landfall near Knokke. In low cloud, Fl/Sgt Wright, lost contact (so he thought) with Philip and continued down the coast to the target area.

Over flying Coxyde at 1.500ft, then turning inland to Passchendaele, he attacked a barge and lock house. Wright also sighted and attacked a Bf109, but disengaged when attacked by 2 further Bf109s. He evaded these in cloud cover and made out for home between Ostend and Dunkirk, landing at Hornchurch at 10.10hrs to be informed Philip had not made it back.

Sgt. William Philip Dales at New England Cottage near Little Hemby - taken 1941 with family dogs (courtesy Ian Simpson)

Fw Adolf Glunz

What actually happened on that gloomy morning was as the pair flew over Coxyde airfield, home to 4/JG26, Fw Adolf Glunz and his Rottenflieger rapidly scrambled their Fw190A and chased after the Spitfires. Philip, unseen by his leader, had followed to the target area and was now making for home over Gravelines, when Glunz - using his Fw190s speed advantage to the full, caught and attacked Philip’s Spitfire, which crashed into the channel. (This was Glunz's 7th victory of 71 claimed during the War)

(1) It was one of about 100 Spitfires paid for by money raised from Dutch citizens in the Dutch East Indies. The original intention was for them to serve with Dutch squadrons but because the Dutch Government in exile refused to allow the training of Dutch pilots in Canada they had nobody to fly them. A good number were allocated to Polish squadrons. They were all given presentation names from the East Indies. The RAF allowed the presentation name to be painted in 2 inch grey characters on the fuselage forward of the leading edge of the wing. West Borneo II was AD231 which served with the 307th Fighter Squadron 31st F Group U.S.A.A.F. coded MK K, West Borneo III was AB984, West Borneo IV AB982 and West Borneo V AB985.

Burial Details:

None - classed as 'missing' and commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Sgt. William Philip Dales. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 42. Son of John Thomas Johnson Dales and Ada Dales, of Little Humby, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England.

Researched by Ian Simpson for Aircrew Remembered - dedicated to the family and friends of Sgt. Dales.

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