Operation: Patrol

Date: 15th October 1940 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 41 Squadron (motto: 'Seek and destroy') (1)

Type: Spitfire I

Serial: X4178

Code: EB-?

Base: RAF Hornchurch, Essex

Location: English Channel

Pilot: Sgt. Phillip David Lloyd 745794 RAFVR Age 23 Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Weather: Fair but cloudy in the Straits. Clear, moonlit night.

The dat began with further adaptation by RAF Fighter Command in response to evolving German air tactics. With Luftwaffe bombers largely withdrawn from daylight operations, German fighter units—primarily Bf 109s and Bf 10s were now flying high-speed fighter sweeps and bombing missions from altitudes as high as 30,000 feet. In response, No. 11 Group ordered squadrons to maintain patrols at higher altitudes to improve interception chances. Despite the shift in enemy tactics, this day saw some of the heaviest aerial combat of the month, with a total of five major sweeps by Luftwaffe units and widespread damage reported across London and the southeast.

RAF losses for the day’s fighting amounted to fifteen aircraft, with six pilots killed or reported missing.: Sgt. Stanley Allen Fenemore Fenemore fling Hurricane I V6722 501 squadron. P/0. Peter Stackhouse Gunning flying Hurricane I N2480 462 squadron. Fl/Lt. Ian James Muirhead Hurricane I N2546 605 squadron/. Sgt Kenneth Bruce Parker flying Spitfire I R6838 92 squadron and Fl/Sgt Eric Edward Williams flying Hurricane I V6550 46 squadron.

Further seven aircraft losses this day, with all pilots surviving:

Sq/Lde. Arthur John Banham flying Hurricane I P3124 229 squadron. Sgt. Albert Thomas Gooderham flying Hurricane I V6789 46 squadron. Fl/Lt. Charles Brian Fabris Kingcome flying Spitfire I X4418 92 squadron. P/U. John Wilfred Lund flying Spitfire I R6642 92 squadron P/O. Jaromir Machacek flying Hurricane I V7337 145 squadron. Sgt. Marian Wedzik flying Hurricane I P2752 302 squadron and Sgt. Maurice Alexander William Lee flying Spitfire II P7444 421 Flight (later 91 squadron)

Say Phillip Lloyd was shot down and killed whilst on patrol over the sea in a surprise attack by Hauptmann Fozo of 4/JG51.

(Fozo shown right - courtesy Kracker Luftwaffe Archives)

His body washed ashore on the 27th October 1940 at Herne Bay. (see map above)

Burial and further details:

Sgt. Phillip David Lloyd. High Beach (Holy Innocents) Churchyard. Born on the o6th March 1917 in Loughton., Essex, England. Worked for Chigwell Urban District Council. He joined the RAFVR in September 1938 and did his weekend flying at 21 E and RFTS, Stapleford Tawney. Called to full-time service at the outbreak of war, Lloyd completed his training at Hornchurch and joined 41 Squadron at Catterick in early September 1940.

Son of James Henry (died 1941, age 67) and Elizabeth Kate Lloyd (née Harmer - died 1967, age 94), of Loughton. Husband of Phyllis Irma Lloyd (née Glasscock, later Shingleton - died 1984, age 64) of Epping England. (married on 24th August 1940, in Epping, Essex). Epitaph: 'High We Few We Happy Few We Band Of Brothers'. His elder brother Frederick Ralph Lloyd, was killed in the first World War whilst serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers in October 1918, aged 19.

(1) 41 Squadron RAF was originally formed in April 1916 and served valiantly on the Western Front between October 1916 and February 1919. The unit was disbanded on the 31st of December 1919, only to be reformed at Northolt on the 1st of April 1923. Between October 1936 and August 1937, the unit was deployed to Aden during the Italian-Abyssinian Crisis, and were posted to a new base, Catterick in Yorkshire, on their return to the United Kingdom. It was here, in late December 1938, that the Squadron received its first Spitfires, becoming the third RAF Squadron to ever receive them, and was one of the few units that flew them for the entirety of World War II, constantly receiving newer versions as they were released. We honour the men who flew against a determined enemy in the European Theatre during World War II and built a solid reputation that they and the men of 41 Squadron today - some two to three generations later - are justifiably proud of. We offer here an insight into the lives, courage and fates of the pilots of 41 Squadron during this time.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the, National Archive. Kew, Old Loughtonians Association, Kracjer Luftwaffe Archive. 41 Squadron Association.

Other sources as quoted below:

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