Operation: Patrol

Date: 13th August 1940 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 238 Squadron

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3177

Base: RAF Middle Wallop

Location: English Channel off Portland

Pilot: Sgt. ’Tony’ Henry Anthony James Marsh 562584 RAF Age 27. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a patrol on Adlerangriff (1) (Eagle Day) whilst undertaking the protection of Naval bases he came under  attack from Bf109’s - at 16.30 hrs it is understood that he was shot down, crashing into the channel of Portland. Neither he or his aircraft were recovered.

Right: Sgt. ’Tony’ Marsh missing on 13th August 1940.

238 Squadron lost 2 other aircraft this day:

Hurricane I P3764 Flown by Sgt. E.W. Seaborne was shot down earlier in the day at 07.30 hrs. He was badly burned but rescued by a Royal Navy destroyer.
Hurricane I P3805 Flown by 22 year old Sgt. Ron Little 754893 RAFVR from Armathwaite, Cumberland, was hit but managed to crash land his aircraft at Bredy Farm, near Burton Bradstock. He survived this encounter uninjured. Sadly he went missing the following month on the 28th September flying Hurricane N2400 over the English Channel at 14.45 hrs.

(1) Adlerangriff (Eagle Day) was the day that Goring announced that the Luftwaffe would attack and put out of action the RAF fighter stations in preparation for an amphibious assault of Britain (Operation Sealion) On this day, waves of strong attacks at different times over a ten-hour period came in against Essex and Kent, Sussex and Hampshire. These attacks were seen as the initial strikes.

Sgt. ’Tony’ Henry Anthony James Marsh. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 17. Son of Capt. H. Marsh, R.A.S.C., and of Agnes Marsh, of Merton Park, Surrey, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Jayne Smith for bringing this loss to our attention via our guestbook page. Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 1-3, ‘Battle of Britain database’. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Winston G. Ramsey - 'Battle of Britain Then and Now'. John Foreman RAF ‘Fighter Command Victory Claims’.

Right: The Runnymede memorial panel at Runnymede (courtesy Jayne Smith)

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