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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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17 Squadron Crest
15.07.1940 No: 17 Squadron Hurricane I P3482 P/O. Peter L. Dawbarn

Operation: Patrol

Date: 15th July 1940 (Monday)

Unit: No. 17 Squadron

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3482

Base: RAF Debden

Location: Elsenham Hall grounds, Essex

Pilot: P/O. Peter Leslie Dawbarn 41905 RAF - seriously injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

During the afternoon of the 15th July at about 16:00 hrs whilst leading a section of 3 aircraft his Hurricane suffered total engine failure - as he was flying very low due to weather conditions he was forced to make a wheel up landing. Spotting a small clearing he put the aircraft down after turning off the ignition, fuel and opening the hood to enable a fast escape, in the grounds of Elsenham Hall grounds, Essex.


As he had very little control of the aircraft he landed within the field but due to his speed the aircraft continued until brought to an abrupt stop in a wooded area.

A branch from one of the trees came into the cockpit and struck the pilot in the face and head. An Air Raid warden having witnessed him coming down rushed over and helped him away from the aircraft taking him to the hall where they provided first aid and called an ambulance.

Suffering serious injuries Peter Dawbarn spent some 6 months in hospital recovering. Posted to 59 OTU at Crosby-on-Eden to instruct. Finally joining a Polish Squadron to instruct on Hurricane conversion. Retired as Squadron leader in 1946. Sadly, Peter passed away on the 4th July 2009.

With thanks to sources as shown below.

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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