Operation: Patrol

Date: 07th October 1940 (Monday)

Unit: No. 609 Squadron (motto: 'Tally Ho')

Type: Spitfire III

Serial: N3238

Code: PR-?

Base: RAF Middle Wallop

Location: Watercombe Farm south of Warmwell

Pilot: Sgt. Alan Norman Feary 742301 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

A Battle of Britain ‘Ace’ when he was shot down over Warmwell. He did manage to bale out but it seems that he was too low for the parachute to deploy.

Credited with:
18th July 1940 Ju88 unconfirmed over Swanage
12th August 1940 Bf109E over East coast, Isle of Wight
13th August 1940 Ju87 over Lyme Regis Bay
13th August 1940 Bf110 Damaged over Lyme Regis Bay
14th August Ju88 over Boscombe Down
25th August Bf110 damaged over Warmwell - Poole
25th August Bf110 over coombe Keynes
07th September Bf109E Probable over North London
07th September Ju88 damaged over North London
24th September Do17 5km south Isle of Wight
25th September Do17 damaged over Bristol Channel
(Information courtesy Chris Shores - ‘Aces High’)

The above photograph is marked Jubilant pilots of 609 Squadron pose at RAF Warmwell after the successful action against Junkers 87’s of II/STG 2 on the afternoon of 13th August 1940 (courtesy Gerard John Drake-Feary)

Standing L-R: P/O. ‘Red’ E. Quimby Tobin ✝, P/O. ‘Osti’ Ostazewski, P/O. G.N Gaunt ✝, P/O. P. Edge,? P/O.SG Beaumont, Fl/Lt. F.J Howell, Sq/Ldr. H.S Darley, Fl/Lt. J.H.G McArthur, Sgt A.N Feary ✝, P/O. T. Nowierski, P/O.C.N. Front: P/O. M.E Staples ✝, Fl/Lt. D.M Crook ✝ P/O. R.F.G Miller.

Notes on photograph: F/O. Eugene Quimby Tobin 81622 RAF Age 24 71 (Eagle Squadron) Killed on the 07th September 1941.
P/O. Piotr Ostaszewski-Ostoja DFC 76741 PAF Survived war, understood to have died on the 08th May 1965 Age 55.
P/O. Geoffrey Norman Gaunt 91230 RAF (Aux) Killed 15th September 1940 Spitfire, R6690 609 Squadron.
P/O. Stephen Gerald Beaum survived the was passed away in September 1997 at Wiltshire, England.
Fl/Lt. Frank Jonathan Howell Shot down 18th July 1940 Spitfire I R6634, baled out, safe. But died om the 09th May 1948 after being struck accidentally by Spitfire wing tip, age 36.
Sq/Ldr. Horace Stanley 'George; Darley, survived the was, died in November 1999
Fl/Lt. ‘Butch’ James Henry Gordon McArthur, survived the war, killed in a flying accident at the Las Vegas Airshow in May 1961 aged 48.
Sgt. Alan Norman Feary, killed on 7th October 1940, age 28, Spitfire, N3238 609 Squadron
F/O. Tadeusz Nowierski 76803 PAF Spitfire I N3223 Baled out safe - died on the 02nd April 1983 Age 76,
P/O. 'Teeny' Charles Nevil survived the was, died in October 1998. DFC. MiD x 2.
P/O. P/O. Michael Edmund Staples ✝ killed 08th November 1941, age 24. Beaufighter If T4638. 604 Squadron.
Fl/Lt. David Moore Crook, killed on the 18th December 1944. Spitfire IX EN662 609 Squadron.
P/O. Roger Freeman Garland Miller, killed on 27th September 1940 , age 20, Spitfire, X4107 609 squadron.

A pensive Sgt Alan Norman Feary of the 609 Sqn, hands in pocket surveys Middle Wallop dispersal amidst tin-hatted ground crew during August 1940. The pilot on his right enjoying a cup of tea is Tadeusz Nowierski. (courtesy Gerard John Drake-Feary)

Burial details:

Sgt. Alan Norman Feary. Warmwell Churchyard (Holy Trinity) South Part. Son of Thomas and Maud Victoria Feary, of Derby, England. The grave inscription reads: ‘One Of The Few In The Battle Of Britain.’ born in Derby in 1912. Educated at Derby Municipal Secondary School, worked in the Borough Treasurer's Department. He joined the RAFVR in July 1936 and did his flying training at Burnaston aerodrome. Awarded his flying badge on 18th November 1938, Feary was called up on 1st September 1939.

His history (courtesy of husband grandson, Gerard John Drake-Feary)

Alan was educated at Derby Municipal Secondary School and worked in the Borough Treasurer's Department as a clerk. Alan joined Class 'F' of the RAF Volunteer Reserve as an Airman u/t (under training) Pilot (RAFVR Service Number: 700193) in July 1936 and transferred to the RAF in October 1938 and did his flying training at Burnaston aerodrome, officially enlisting in the RAF on 17th November, issued the new service number 742301 and gaining his wings and awarded his flying badge on 18th November 1938. Alan is listed as joining the Derby Training Centre unit on the day of his enlistment, the 17th November 1938. Alan Norman Feary was called up on 1st September 1939 and posted to 9 FTS (No 9 Flying Training School), on 10th December 1939, then to Hullavington for advanced training in the No 12 Course which ran from October 9 to December 9. On 7th April 1940, he went to 5 OTU (No 5 Operational Training Unit) at Aston Down, converted to Blenheims before joining 25 Squadron for one day at North Weald, on May 11th. Sgt A. N. Feary was then posted to 600 Squadron at Manston on May 12 and finally to 609 Squadron at Northolt on 10th June 1940.

On the 18th July 1940, Alan experienced his baptism of fire with his first claim. While piloting Spitfire Mk I L1008 (PR-K) in the skies south of Swanage Sgt. Alan Norman FEARY shared in a one-third destruction of a Junkers 88. Less than a month later on 12th August, he claimed his first solo confirmed destroyed when he shot down a Me109E over the Isle of Wight while flying Spitfire Mk I N3223 (PR-M). The following day the 13th of August the German aerial offensive Adlertag (Eagle Day) began. The 609 Squadron scrambled from RAF Warmwell at 3:30 pm. Alan flying as SORBO Red 3 piloting L1065 (PR-E) destroyed a Ju87B and in the same battle damaged a Me110C. On that day the 13th of August 1940 the 13 active pilots of the 609 claimed confirmed destroyed 13 enemy Luftwaffe aircraft, this was 609's most successful action to date and was a huge morale boost for the whole squadron which had up to that day suffered heavy losses. The next day the 14th of August Sgt. Alan Norman FEARY again flying Spitfire Mk I L1065 (PR-E) shot down and destroyed a Ju88A scoring his 3rd confirmed destroyed.

The majority of 609 Squadron was at readiness on the ground. The sky was overcast with thick rain cloud which produced intermittent showers. In the past bad weather brought with it a reduced likelihood of attack so Red Section was the only 609 Squadron section airborne when Middle Wallop airfield came under surprise attack by German bombers which had slipped in undetected under the cover of the clouds. As the German bombers swept in Alan flying as SORBO Red 2 found himself in the position of being one of only three aircraft airborne at that time. The sudden attack caught the squadron by surprise. The German Junkers dived in and released its payload bombing RAF Middle Wallop killing several ground crew and civilians. Bombs from the attacking Ju88A's went through the roof of Hanger 5 as members of the 609 ground crew scrambled to close the massive metal doors in haste in order to protect the Spitfires contained inside. A massive explosion from the detonating bombs blew the huge metal hanger doors off which fell on the ground crew crushing and killing three of them. The German Ju88A bomber suffered swift vengeance approximately thirty seconds after it had dropped its payload when Alan fell on it and shot the aircraft down. From a range of 200 to 250 yards, Sgt. Feary fired his Spitfire's 8 Browning machine guns pouring 2800 rounds into the target until every round of ammunition was exhausted. Alan's attack on the Ju88A was devastating, the stricken aircraft was crippled and crash five miles away killing all six crewmembers of the Junkers 88A

On left during a debriefing with squadron intelligence officer.

On 25th August over Wareham piloting Spitfire Mk I R6691 (PR-J) Sgt. Alan Norman FEARY claimed his 4th confirmed Destroyed, a Messerschmitt 110C and Damaged another in the same battle. On 7th September over Broxbourne flying Spitfire Mk I X4234 (PR-B) Alan claimed a probable Me109E and a damaged Ju88A. On 24th September over the Isle of Wight again flying Spitfire Mk I X4234 (PR-B) Alan scored his 5th and final confirmed Destroyed when he destroyed a Dornier 17. The following day on the 25th September Alan Damaged another Do17 over Bristol and on the 26th again Damaged a Me109E over Southampton whilst on both occasions flying Spitfire Mk I X4234 (PR-B). Sgt Alan Norman FEARY was the only Sergeant Pilot with No 609 Squadron during the Summer Battle's of the Battle of Britain.

Sgt Alan Norman Feary was killed-in-action on the 7th of October 1940 after he was forced to bale out of his battle damaged spitfire at low altitude. At 16:30 hrs piloting Spitfire Mk Ia (N3238) Alan with the rest of the No 609 Squadron AuxAF moved to engage Me110's that were escorting Ju88s which had just bombed Westland Aircraft Factory at Yeovil. In the area between Yeovil and Weymouth as they began their attack Alan's Spitfire was hit by fire from an attack by fast-moving Bf109's which unknown to the pilots of 609, were also escorting the Ju88s.

The Me109's had remained hidden by positioning their aircraft at very high altitude at such an angle from the approaching 609 Squadron that the 609 pilots would have to look directly at the sun in order to have any chance of spotting them. The Me109's angle of attack ensured they remained hidden in the glare of the sun until the last moment at which point they began diving undetected out of the sun's glare from high altitude, gaining speed as they dropped down on the formation approaching 609 Spitfires. Even if the Me109s were spotted at the last moment they were moving so fast at that point that there was little or no chance of taking effective evasive action that could prevent the attack. By the time you saw them, it was to late. The surprise attack was effective, it crippled his Spitfire. In an effort to save the aircraft Alan abandoned the attack on the Me110s and turned his machine towards RAF Warmwell. In trying to save his Spitfire from destruction he stayed with it for too long. Because of his love for the machines he flew Alan wait to long making the decision to baled out.

By the time he realised the Spitfire could to be saved he had lost altitude and was too low to the ground. He left the cockpit with ease as he bailed out but just as his parachute began to unfurl it did not have sufficient time to deploy. Alan was killed instantly when his body slammed into the ground at the exact moment the parachute successfully deployed. His Spitfire (N3238) crashed seconds later and burst into flame at Watercombe Farm south of Warmwell. The parachute which had opened too late floated genitally down and draped over his lifeless body. The parachute was still draped over him when hours later men were dispatched to retrieve his body. A week prior to his death Alan had proposed to his girlfriend, Joan Drake who was pregnant with his child. She accepted and they had made plans to inform her strict conservative family of her pregnancy and their intention to marry. Alan's death set in motion a chain of events leading to his only child who was born in March the following year being classified as a War Orphan and shipped to Australia as a child migrant.

Alan's half-brother Harry Press-Dee Morgan (shown left) idolised his older brother. He aspired to fly Spitfires just like his beloved brother Alan. On 13 June 1940, on the day of his 18 birthday, Harry enlisted in the RAF and was issued the RAFVR Service Number 1165314. While training at 9 EFTS at Ansty, Warwickshire his beloved half-brother, Sgt Alan Norman Feary of 609 Squadron, was killed. Angered by Alan’s death, he swore vengeance and was awarded his Wings as a Sergeant Pilot in May 1941. On 12 July 1941 eager to avenge him, Harry was posted to No. 41 Squadron at RAF Catterick flying Spitfires like Alan had. It was not to be, on 27 August 1941, Harry was shot down and killed off Dover returning from Circus 85 to St. Omer, France, he was aged just 19. His body was retrieved from the Channel and he was buried in Plot O, Grave 48, of Hawkinge Cemetery in Kent.

At the time of his death Sgt. Alan Norman FEARY, (742301) of No. 609 Squadron AuxAF had Confirmed 5⅓ Destroyed, 1 Probable and 5 Damaged. All his Confirmed Combat were claimed during the Battle of Britain while flying Spitfires exclusively making him a recognised Spitfire Ace of the Battle of Britain.

Researched with information and photographs supplied by Mr. Gerard John Drake-Feary, his grandson who contacted us in January 2016 and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, thanks also to sources quoted below.

Airman/women also buried within Warmwell Churchyard (Holy Trinity) - included in the hope that relatives may contact us with further information on their loss:

P/O. Harold John Akroyd 86360 RAF 152 Squadron 08th October 1940 (Shot down over Lyme Regis - aircraft Spitfire N3029 crashed and he suffered severe burns - died the following day)
Sgt. Derek Dundonal Audley 778599 RAFVR 266 Squadron 24th October 1942 (Killed flying a Typhoon when it broke up in the air)
Sgt. George Benjamin Holt Birdsell 938323 RAFVR 101 Squadron 02rd April 1941 (killed with all crew returning from an operation in a Wellington due to severe weather)
Fl/Lt. Herbert John Blackshaw DFC. 111980 RAFVR 263 Squadron 16th May 1940
F/O. Edgar Brearley J/15157 RCAF 263 Squadron 16th April 1943. (Presumably shot down over the Channel in Whirlwind P6995 - body washed ashore)
F/O. Claud Osmond HInks 73512 RAFVR 14th September 1940
Fl/Sgt. Geoffrey Maurice Campbell Hipkin 223906 RAF 01st April 1941 (WW1 Vet)
Sgt. Jaroslav Hlavac 747542 RAFVR 56 Squadron 10th October 1942 (Czechoslovakia)
Fl/Sgt. Peter Alastair Jardine 711019 RAFVR 263 Squadron 21st September 1942 (South Africa Killed in Whirlwind P7003 after crashing into the ground)
Fl/Lt. John Connolly Kennedy 40052 RAF 238 Squadron 13th July 1940 (Australia - returning from combat aircraft stalled and crashed)
AC1. Kenneth Wilfred Leonard 553254 RAF 152 Squadron 01st April 1941 (possibly killed during air raid?)
Sq/Ldr. Terence Gunion Lovell-Gregg 29244 RAF 87 Squadron 15th August 1940 (New Zealand - killed in a Hurricane after being shot down)
P/O. Gerard Glasson Osborne 80447 RAF 266 Squadron 28th November 1942 (Typhoon Ib R7687 ZH-Q flying accident)
Sgt. Tadeusz Włodzimierz Pytlak 783497 PAF 302 Squadron 09th September 1941 (Poland Flying Hurricane IIb Z3676 WX-H)
AC1. William Ernest Richardson 1359731 08th April 1942
LACW Eileen Mary Winifred Riley 446540 WAAF 18th December 1942
P/O. Lancelot Dalrymple Sandes DFC. 42892 RAF 59 Squadron 26th March 1941 (killed with all crew on Blenheim IV V6065 returning from an operation in bad weather) BAorn on the 19th March 1913 at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. Son of Robert Dalrymple Sandes (1883 - 1957) and Ruby Hilda Lamb (1884 - 1957) On one encounter on 14 July 1940 he was flying a Bristol Blenheim Bomber Mk IV and was attacked by four Messerschmitt ME109s The navnowierskiigator was wounded and the aircraft badly damaged. They got back to RAF Thorney Island and crash-landed. They all survived. On 26 March 1941 flying a Bristol Blenheim Bomber Mk IV serial number V6065 returning from a sortie to Brest it crashed in fog at Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset. The aircraft was engulfed and destroyed by fire and all crew were killed. He is buried at The Commonwealth War graves at Warmwell, Dorset. (sandesancestry.net)

Cpl. Victor Albert Tompkins (shown left) 541779 RAF 03rd March 1941- died of injuries after air raid on RAF Warmwell on the 01st Aptil 1940
Note: A wallet belonging to Cpl. Tompkins has recently been discovered and the kind person who contacted us in December 2018 would like the relatives to have it returned - please contact us in the first instance) UPDATE: February 2022 his niece contacted us and the member of the public posted them. A great result!

Sgt. Sidney Richard Ernest Wakeling 741501 RAFVR 87 Squadron 25th August 1940 (killed flying Hurricane V7250)
ber 1942 (Czechoslovakia)

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