A Little Slice of the Battle of
Britain
Only eight flyers appeared for the 2001 tournament (counting
the GM), down by half from the year before.With such a disappointing
turnout, LBG is on the verge of being dropped altogether from
the convention. It is a bit mystifying how an event which shares
the same qualities as the very successful B-17 tournament;
i.e., a simple, historical solitaire flying game played in a
communal, camaraderie-evoking format, can have such disparate
attendance records. Can flying bombers be all that much more
fun than piloting the interceptors charged with shooting them
down? However, those of us who played had a great time, although
our pilot losses were more severe than expected.
Each
player started this year with one Hurricane pilot and one in
reserve. If the player lost both of those pilots, he was given
a third and final chance as a pilot of a Defiant (a two-seat
fighter of inferior performance with a dorsal turret instead
of fixed forward-firing guns in the wings). All pilots joined
No. 323 Squadron (an imaginary squadron invented for WBC), whose
motto is, "Be Joyful in Combat." Players sat two per
board, and each player controlled one aircraft (a/c).
The Germans were played by the game system as moderated by
the GM. Players alternated being the squadron leader each phase.
The squadron leader was responsible for making all decisions
leading up to the intercept (i.e., stand by or patrol, when to
scramble, how the squadron moved on the strategic board). As
soon as the leader declared he was intercepting a Raid, all pilots
had to intercept the Raid (no pilot could intercept before or
after the rest of the squadron), but each player could decide
how to attack (e.g., head on, out of the sun, etc.).
We started the game on 11 August 1940 and played through 15
August. The idea is to continue the campaign and history of No.
323 Squadron each convention at the point we left off the previous
year, with a day or two of rain in between, up through 15 September
1940. All pilots start as Pilot Officers (P/O) but can gain rank
if they survive and return in a subsequent year. The pilot ranks
from lowest to highest are as follows:
P/O: Pilot Officer
F/O: Flying Officer
F/L: Flight Lieutenant
S/L: Squadron Leader
W/C: Wing Commander
G/C: Group Captain
Any player who returns in a subsequent tournament year, whether
his pilot survived or not, may fly a Spitfire in place of a Hurricane.
New players may join any time during the campaign, but they may
only fly Hurricanes in their first year. As tournament winner
in 2001, Eric Stranger's pilot was promoted two grades to F/L.
Several other pilots were promoted to F/O, although a good number
of them were wounded and will be out of action for two or more
weeks of the campaign.
SECRET
R.A.F. Form 541
OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK
Detail of Work Carried Out by No. 323 Squadron
11 August 1940
Red Section
Hurricane, P/O Roy Gibson
Hurricane, P/O Ben Knight
Yellow Section
Hurricane, P/O Chris LeFevre
Hurricane, P/O Robert Eastman
Blue Section
Hurricane, P/O Mike Lam
Hurricane, P/O Steve Munchak
Green Section
Hurricane, P/O Eric Stranger
Hurricane, P/O Mark Brooks
Duty: Patrol
Time: 0700
Remarks: Red, Yellow, Blue and Green sections took off from Kenley
under command of P/O (Pilot Officer) Gibson and patrolled Lympne
Airfield at 25,000 ft. No e/a (enemy aircraft) sighted. Refueled
at Kenley.
Duty: Patrol & Interception
Time: 1000
Remarks: Squadron patrolled Hawkinge Airfield at 30,000 ft under
command of P/O Knight, then ordered to intercept e/a over Channel.
Sighted but did not engage small formation of He111s at 10,000
ft heavily escorted by top cover Me109s and Me110s. Dover port
lightly damaged.
Duty: Scramble
Time: 1400
Remarks: Squadron stood by at Gravesend under command of P/O
LeFevre, then scrambled to intercept raid. Manston Airfield moderately
damaged by Ju87s, Ju88s and Do17s before squadron arrived. No
e/a sighted.
Duty: Readiness
Time: 1700
Remarks: Squadron stood by at Rochford under command of P/O Eastman
for remainder of day before returning to Kenley.
12 August 1940
Red Section
Hurricane, P/O Roy Gibson (KIA)
replaced by Hurricane, P/O Gibson II
Hurricane, P/O Ben Knight
Yellow Section
Hurricane, P/O Chris LeFevre
Hurricane, P/O Robert Eastman
Blue Section
Hurricane, P/O Mike Lam
Hurricane, P/O Steve Munchak
Green Section
Hurricane, P/O Eric Stranger
Hurricane, P/O Mark Brooks
Duty: Scramble
Time: 0700
Remarks: Squadron stood by at Rochford under command of P/O Lam,
then scrambled to intercept raid. Dover port lightly damaged
by Ju87s and He111s before squadron arrived. No e/a sighted.
Duty: Readiness
Time: 1000
Remarks: Squadron stood by until afternoon at Rochford under
command of P/O Munchak.
Duty: Patrol & Interception
Time: 1400
Remarks: Squadron patrolled Hawkinge Airfield at 15,000 ft under
command of P/O Stranger, then ordered to intercept raid passing
over Kent. Dove out of the sun on formation of Ju87s, Ju88s,
and He111s at 15,000 ft escorted by top cover Me109s. P/O Stranger
destroyed one Ju87 and one Ju88. P/O Brooks destroyed one Me109
and repeatedly hit an He111, which dove smoking out of sight.
P/O Knight destroyed one Me109, emptied his guns into a Ju88,
and saw P/O Gibson destroy one Ju87 and one He111. P/O LeFevre
destroyed one He111, and P/O Eastman one Me109, and they turned
back two other bombers. P/O Lam suffered a flesh wound, which
put him out of action for the rest of the day, and P/O Munchak
lost contact with the enemy. P/O "Bertie" Gibson landed
his damaged a/c (aircraft) safely, but was found dead at the
stick by his ground crew, having bled to death from a severe
wound. Rochford Airfield lightly damaged.
Enemy Casualties: 3 Me109, 2 Ju87, 1 Ju88, 2 He111 destroyed.
Our Casualties: P/O "Bertie" Gibson killed, P/O Lam
lightly wounded, 2 Hurricanes damaged.
Duty: Readiness
Time: 1700
Remarks: Squadron (less P/O Lam, and with P/O Gibson II replacing
Gibson) stood by at Gravesend for remainder of day under command
of P/O Brooks before returning to Kenley.
13 August 1940
Red Section
Hurricane, P/O Roy Gibson II (WIA)
replaced by Defiant, P/O Gibson III
Hurricane, P/O Ben Knight (MIA)
replaced by Hurricane, P/O Knight II (KIA)
Yellow Section
Hurricane, P/O Chris LeFevre
Hurricane, P/O Robert Eastman (WIA)
replaced by Hurricane, P/O Eastman II (KIA)
replaced by Defiant, P/O Eastman III
Blue Section
Hurricane, P/O Mike Lam (KIA)
replaced by Hurricane, P/O Lam II
Hurricane, P/O Steve Munchak (WIA)
replaced by Hurricane, P/O Munchak II
Green Section
Hurricane, P/O Eric Stranger
Hurricane, P/O Mark Brooks
replaced by Hurricane, P/O Brooks II
Duty: Patrol & Interception
Time: 0700
Remarks: Squadron patrolled Hawkinge Airfield at 30,000 ft under
command of P/O Gibson II, then ordered to intercept raid approaching
southeast coast. Red and Blue sections engaged large formation
of Me109s and Ju87s at 15,000 ft (Yellow and Green sections climbed
too high and did not see enemy). P/O Lam destroyed one Me109.
P/O Munchak seriously burned, bailed out and picked up by rescue
boat. P/O Gibson II seriously wounded. P/O Knight missing, last
seen bailing out close to shore. Lympne Airfield moderately damaged.
Enemy Casualties: 1 Me109 destroyed.
Our Casualties: P/Os Munchak and Gibson II seriously wounded,
P/O Knight missing, 2 Hurricanes destroyed, 1 Hurricane damaged.
Duty: Scramble & Interception
Time: 1000
Remarks: Squadron stood by at Rochford under command of P/O Knight
II, then scrambled to intercept formation of He111s at 15,000
ft escorted by top cover Me109s and Me110s, and Me110 fighter-bombers
at 5,000 ft. Dove on e/a from out of the sun after they bombed
Biggin Hill. P/O Knight II destroyed one Me110 fighter-bomber.
P/O Eastman destroyed one Me110 and was wounded but landed safely.
P/O LeFevre had to bail out but was unhurt and returned to Kenley
by noon, hitching a ride with some friendly WAAFs. P/O Munchak
II destroyed one Me110. P/O Brooks destroyed a Me109 and a Me110
but was then wounded and shot down. P/O Gibson III in a Defiant
dove at the enemy but his gunner did not get off a shot. Enemy
fighters then chased him off. P/Os Lam and Stranger also had
no success.
Enemy Casualties: 1 Me109, 4 Me110 destroyed.
Our Casualties: P/Os Eastman and Brooks wounded, 2 Hurricanes
destroyed, 1 Hurricane damaged.
Duty: Scramble & Interception
Time: 1400
Remarks: Squadron stood by at Rochford, then scrambled to engage
raid that heavily damaged a convoy in Thames Estuary. P/O LeFevre
functioned as Ground Controller to vector squadron against large
formation of Ju87s, Ju88s, and He111s at 5,000 ft escorted by
Me109s. P/O Brooks II destroyed two Me109s and P/Os Knight II,
Eastman II and Munchak II each destroyed a Me109. P/Os Knight
II, Eastman II, Lam and Stranger were subsequently shot down,
but only Stranger bailed out. He returned to Kenley by lorry
in time for supper.
Enemy Casualties: 5 Me109 destroyed.
Our Casualties: P/Os Knight II, Eastman II and Lam killed, 4
Hurricanes destroyed.
Duty: Patrol
Time: 1700
Remarks: Squadron (less P/Os LeFevre and Stranger who had not
yet returned) patrolled over Hawkinge Airfield at 20,000 ft to
give P/O Eastman III experience flying a Defiant. No e/a sighted.
Returned to Kenley.
14 August 1940
Red Section
Defiant, P/O Roy Gibson III (KIA)
Yellow Section
Hurricane, P/O Chris LeFevre
Defiant, P/O Robert Eastman III
Blue Section
Hurricane, P/O Mike Lam II
Hurricane, P/O Steve Munchak II
Green Section
Hurricane, P/O Eric Stranger
Hurricane, P/O Mark Brooks II
Duty: Patrol
Time: 0700
Remarks: Squadron patrolled over Hawkinge Airfield at 20,000
ft under command of P/O Lam II. No e/a sighted.
Duty: Scramble
Time: 1000
Remarks: Squadron stood by at Rochford under command of P/O Munchak
II, then scrambled in response to e/a approaching Dover coast
at 15,000 ft. Hawkinge Airfield moderately damaged by Ju87s,
Do17s and Me110 fighter-bombers before squadron arrived. No e/a
sighted. Some squadron personnel believe an enemy agent in Hawkinge,
perhaps the infamous traitor "von Dolan," informed
Germans when the squadron had finished its morning patrol there,
allowing e/a to slip in afterwards unopposed.
Duty: Patrol & Interception
Time: 1400
Remarks: Squadron patrolled Hawkinge Airfield at 20,000 ft under
command of P/O Stranger, then ordered to intercept e/a over Kent.
Green section lost contact with rest of squadron and did not
find enemy. Yellow and Blue sections sighted small formation
of He111s at 20,000 ft heavily escorted by Me109s and Me110s,
but did not engage. P/O Gibson III, flying a Defiant in Red section,
engaged enemy fighters and was mortally hit. He kept his a/c
under control long enough for his wounded turret gunner to escape.
Gravesend Airfield lightly damaged.
Our Casualties: P/O Gibson III killed, Sgt gunner wounded, 1
Defiant destroyed.
Duty: Readiness
Time: 1700
Remarks: Green, Yellow and Blue sections (less P/O LeFevre, who
was exhausted and remained at base to sleep) stood by at Rochford
for remainder of day under command of P/O Brooks II before returning
to Kenley.
15 August 1940
Red Section
Defiant, P/O Ben Knight III
Yellow Section
Hurricane, P/O Chris LeFevre
replaced by Hurricane, P/O LeFevre II
Defiant, P/O Robert Eastman III
Blue Section
Hurricane, P/O Mike Lam II
Hurricane, P/O Steve Munchak II
Green Section
Hurricane, P/O Eric Stranger
Hurricane, P/O Mark Brooks II
replaced by Defiant, P/O Brooks III
Duty: Scramble & Interception
Time: 0700
Remarks: Squadron stood by at Rochford under command of P/O Knight
III, then ordered to intercept e/a over Kent. Engaged enemy formation
of Me109s and Me110s between 5,000 and 20,000 ft that had lightly
damaged Detling Airfield. P/O Knight III dove on a Me110 fighter-bomber
at 5,000 ft in a Defiant but his gunner could not gain a shot,
and they lost contact in the clouds. P/O Stranger destroyed 2
e/a, but P/O Brooks II was wounded. P/O Munchak II destroyed
1 Me110, but P/O Lam II had no success. P/O LeFevre was killed,
and the gunner in P/O Eastman III's Defiant was wounded.
Enemy Casualties: 2 Me109, 1 Me110 destroyed.
Our Casualties: P/O LeFevre killed, P/O Brooks II wounded, Sgt
gunner wounded, 1 Hurricane destroyed, 1 Hurricane damaged, 1
Defiant damaged.
Duty: Patrol
Time: 1000
Remarks: P/O Knight III stood down, and his Sgt gunner transferred
to P/O Eastman III's Defiant. Yellow, Blue and Green sections
then patrolled over bomb-damaged Hawkinge Airfield at 20,000
ft under command of P/O LeFevre II. No e/a sighted.
Duty: Patrol & Interception
Time: 1400
Remarks: Yellow, Blue and Green sections under command of P/O
Eastman III patrolled over Dunkirk Chain Home Station at 20,000
ft, then ordered to intercept e/a over Kent. Blue and Green sections
climbed too high and did not sight enemy. P/O Eastman III destroyed
one Ju87 but was then shot down and his gunner killed. P/O Eastman
III bailed out successfully but was chased across a field by
several farmers who thought he was German. West Malling Airfield
moderately damaged. Squadron stood down for rest of day.
Enemy Casualties: one Ju87 destroyed.
Our Casualties: Sgt gunner killed, 1 Defiant destroyed.
PILOT ROSTER OF NO. 323 SQUADRON
Joined 11 August 1940:
P/O Eric Stranger, 4 kills. Promoted to F/L (Flight Lieutenant),
17 Aug.
P/O Steve Munchak, 0 kills. Seriously wounded and flying career
over, 13 Aug.
P/O Mike Lam, 1 kill. Killed in action, 13 Aug.
P/O Chris LeFevre, 1 kill. Killed in action, 15 Aug.
P/O Robert Eastman, 2 kills. Wounded and to remain in hospital
until 27 Aug. Promoted to F/O (Flying Officer), 17 Aug.
P/O Roy "Bertie" Gibson, 2 kills. Died of wounds, 12
Aug.
P/O Mark Brooks, 3 kills. Wounded and to remain in hospital until
10 Sep. Promoted to F/O, 17 Aug.
P/O Ben Knight, 1 kill. Missing in action, presumed drowned,
13 Aug.
Joined 12 August 1940:
P/O Roy "Pongo" Gibson II, 0 kills. Seriously wounded
and flying career over, 13 Aug.
Joined 13 August 1940:
P/O Roy "Iron" Gibson III, 0 kills. Killed in action,
14 Aug.
P/O Ben Knight II, 2 kills. Killed in action, 13 Aug.
P/O Steve Munchak II, 3 kills. Promoted to F/O, 17 Aug.
P/O Mark Brooks II, 2 kills. Wounded and to remain in hospital
until 29 Aug. Promoted to F/O, 17 Aug.
P/O Robert Eastman II, 1 kill. Killed in action, 13 Aug.
P/O Robert Eastman III, 1 kill. Promoted to F/O, 17 Aug.
P/O Mike Lam II, 0 kills. Promoted to F/O, 17 Aug.
Joined 15 August 1940:
P/O Mark "The Defiant" Brooks III, 0 kills. Promoted
to F/O, 17 Aug.
P/O Chris LeFevre II, 0 kills. Promoted to F/O, 17 Aug.
P/O Ben Knight III, 0 kills. Promoted to F/O, 17 Aug.
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