Operation: Scramble

Date: 07th September 1940 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 43 Squadron

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: V6641

Code: Not known

Base: RAF Tangmere

Location: Purley Boys High School grounds, Purley, Surrey

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Caeser Barraud Hull DFC. 37285 RAF Age 26. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

9 Hurricanes from the squadron scrambled at 16:45 hrs to intercept a formation of Dorniers and their escorting Bf109s.

Wikipedia quotes:

"Hull led six of the aircraft towards the German bombers while Flight Lieutenant John "Killy" Kilmartin, from Ireland, headed a section of three tasked with countering the fighter escort. Hull took his aircraft above the bombers, then dived towards them, telling his pilots to "smash them up". A very fast engagement followed in which Hull was killed while diving to the aid of Fl/Lt. Richard Carew Reynell 32091 RAF, an Australian pilot who had come under heavy attack. Hull was last seen firing at a Dornier Do 17, and was shot down by a Bf109. Reynell was also killed. The Rhodesian ace's body was discovered largely burnt inside the shell of his Hurricane, which had crashed in the grounds of Purley Boys' High School in Purley, Surrey.

The loss of Hull and Reynell, two of the squadron's most popular pilots, affected morale deeply. Kilmartin, arriving back at Tangmere on the evening of the 7th September, simply muttered "My God, My God". Dalton-Morgan took over command of the squadron. Hull's remains were recovered and returned to Tangmere, where he was buried among fellow fighter pilots at St Andrew's Church. His final confirmed record for the war was four German aircraft destroyed, two damaged and four shared destroyed (counted at half a victory each); also noted were one unconfirmed destroyed, two probably destroyed and one shared probable."

He had been wounded earlier in the war flying a Gladiator II over Norway on the 27th May 1940 whilst with 263 Squadron. A memorial was placed for their action on that day by the people of Bodø, Norway. The others listed on the memorial: P/O. Jack Falkson 41688 RAF from Natal, South Africa missing - believed killed on the 08th June 1940 whilst with 263 Squadron, Lt. Anthony John Guy Lydekker DSC. Royal Navy, missing - believed killed on the 15th November 1942.

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Caeser Barraud Hull DFC. Tangemere Churchyard (St. Andrew) Plot E. Row 1. Grave 7. Son of William Barraud Hull and Winifred Cockburn Hull, of Breyten, Transvaal, South Africa.

The family were also to lose his brother, 30 year old, 2nd Lt. Robin Yorke Hull 223155 of the 1st Rand Light Infantry, South African Forces on the 01st January 1942. Buried in grave 10.D.2. at the Halfway Sollum War Cemetery, Matruh, Egypt.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Hugh Bland for bringing this loss to our attention and to sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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