218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Association - Introduction: At War, The End of a Dream

On the afternoon of September 2 nd 1939 the forward sea party of No.218 Squadron consisting of 45 airmen under the command of Flying Officer Mc Hughes sailed to France .

At 1510hrs 16 Battles took off from RAF Boscombe Down lead by Wing Command Duggan, once formed the formation circled the aerodrome once and set of towards France . They landed at Auberieve at around 17.40hrs. The very next day war was declared.

The first reconnaissance flight over enemy territory was carried out on September 17 th 1939 when three Battle 's lead by Flight lieutenant Daish inadvertently crossed the frontier with Germany and flew over the heavily defended town of Karlsruhr.

Over the following months the squadron carried out a series of reconnaissance flight over the frontier. The squadron also worked closely with the local French fighter squadrons. A series of exercises were flown with French Curtis Hawk 75 fighters to ascertain the best defensive formations. On November 13 th the squadron's first fatality of WW.2 occurred. Once again the enemy did not cause the loss. While on a practice dive-bombing sortie, 20-year-old Pilot Officer Robert Thynne and his crew were killed when the port wing of their Battle K.9356 ripped off when reaching a near vertical dive.

The activities of the squadron over the winter of 1939 was minimal, it was not until February 1940 that the squadron began to carryout routine flights let along offensive sorties. Another fatal accident occurred in March when Flying Officer Hulbert crashed his Battle (K.9252) 40 miles north of Dijon . Hulbert survived with a broken ankle, his two crew were both killed.

On March 22 nd 218 squadron entered German air space again. Two crews were detailed and briefed to carry out a reconnaissance of the Rhine from Boppard to Mainz . Airborne at 22.10hrs, Flight lieutenant Rogers in Battle P.2240 HA-U set off for Germany . Crossing the frontier at 49'15'N 06'04E the crew comprising of Sergeant Andrews and Corporal Conneley experienced considerable searchlight and Flak activity. Soon after crossing the frontier banks of heavy cloud was encountered between 5-10,000ft, the crew pressed on to Mainz where they dropped their load of ‘Nickels'. Due to the cloud the crew were unable to gain any valuable reconnaissance details.

Next away at 2215hrs was Sergeant Dockerill, like F/Lt Rogers he encountetred heavy cloud, however Dockeril decided to continue the operation at an altitude of 4,500ft. A series of photographs were taken of the River Rhine, both aircraft and crews returned safely to Auberive by 01.25hrs.

Saturday April 20 th 1940 , 4 aircraft were briefed to carry out a reconnaissance and Nickel dropping raid over the Rhine from Worms to 5 miles south of Mainz . The first crew away was Flying Officer Newton flying in Battle L.5235, at 20.35hrs. Pilot Officer Wardle in Battle P.2201 followed him 20 minutes later. Flight lieutenant Crews in Battle P.2192 captained the third aircraft which took-off at 21.46hrs. Finally at 22.20hrs Sergeant Horner and crew in Battle L.5237 departed from Auberieve and headed to the frontier. On reaching the frontier Horner was informed by his Observer, Flight Sergeant Waverall that the W/T transmitter was unserviceable. Having no option other than returning to base, Horner swung around. Landing back after just 20 minutes, it was hoped that a replacement Battle would be available. However due to the limited time allotted to the squadron over the target this was cancelled by Wing Commander Duggan.

The remaining three aircraft continued onto their allotted targets. No Anti aircraft fire was encountered en-route, although there was much searchlight activity.

Both F/O Newton and F/Lt Crews located their targets and dispatched bundles of propaganda pamphlets as instructed. On their return they flew low over the Rhine at times well below the briefed height of 2,500ft. Both crew successfully returned to base around mid-night.

By 0200hrs Pilot Officer Howard ‘Hank' Wardle and crew had not returned. At first there was no reason to worry, on many occasions squadron aircraft had been force to make emergency landings due to weather or malfunction. By 06.00hrs still no signal had been received. Wing Commander Duggan telephone Wing HQ for information. No aircraft had had been reported crashing in that sector.

It was soon apparent that 218 Squadron had suffered its first operational loss in World War II. The circumstances surrounding the loss of Pilot Officer Wardle are unclear. Wardle on his return to England in February 1944 reported his engine suddenly burst into flames, the subsequent fire forcing him to order the crew to bailout. Sadly, Sergeant Edward Davidson, Observer and Aircraftsman 1 st Class Albert Bailey were killed. Recent research can now establish that Pilot Officer Wardle was shot down by a Bf109E flown by Feldwebel Schmale of IV.(N) JG2 at around 00.45hrs. This encounter was one of the earliest known Nightfighter kill's in WW.II.

On the evening of Sunday 21 st , Hamburg Radio broadcast a report on the successful capture of RAF pilot, Pilot Officer Wardle. The report confirmed that a British bomber was shot down over Kreilsheim the previous evening. Within days, this was confirmed by a signal via Geneva 's Red Cross.

The month of May 1940 would witness the annihilation of 218 Squadron and the slaughter of the squadrons of the A.A.S.F. Due to the chaotic retreat the squadron's Operational Records Books are missing for the month of May. This is not surprising considering the speed in which the squadron was driven out of France .

The squadron is known to have participated in an attack on the afternoon of Friday 10 th May. Orders via No.75 Wing ordered No.103 and 218 Squadron to dispatch aircraft to attack a troop concentration on the Luxembourg to Dippach road, the rather vague order was as follows.

Despatch two half sections each squadron to attack enemy mechanised column between AZ 42 and Dippach. Town must be avoided. Position and troops as notified but specila care to be taken if target not found as indicated. Above sections may attack between AS 55 and AZ 39. Position of our most advanced troops is a point 3 ½ miles south of Dippach and another lot at Mont St.Martin, 10 miles south west of Dippach.

The squadron was airborne between 01.45hrs and 02.30hrs. Intense light flak and ground fire met the squadron as they swept into attack. A low level approach was made, bombs were dropped and by a miracle all the squadron returned to base, if but with various degrees of damage.

The following morning, two sections led by Flying Officer Crews flying Battle P.2326 were airborne at 09.30hrs, their target was advancing German troops crossing over the bridges at St.Vith. The remaining aircraft were flown by Flying Officer Hudson in Battle P.9325, Sergeant Dockerill in P.2203 and finally Pilot Officer Murray in P.2249. None of the crews returned.

A barrage of light flak and machine gun fire hit Flying Officer Charles Crews as he raced over the densely wooded forest of the Ardennes . A fire in the glycol system soon erupted, realising that a force landing was impossible he ordered his two companions to bailout. Having reached an altitude of no more than 100ft, the crew as ordered bailed out. Their only chance of survival was to pull the ripcord immediately on clearing the Battle , within seconds the crew were crashing through the branches of pine trees. It was these trees that saved the life of F/O Crews and his wireless operator airgunner Sergeant Evans. Their parachutes had caught up in the branches, which broke their fall. Sadly, the crew's observer, 20-year-old Sergeant Cederic Jennings was killed. Both airman set about reaching the front line, but were soon captured.

While a PoW he made three unsuccessful escape attempts, he was eventually repatriated in September 1944 after feigning illness.

Flying Officer Hudson and Pilot Officer Murray and their crews met with the same intense machine gun fire, the outcome was the same. Both crews made forced landing to begin a five-year spell as prisoners of war. Pilot Officer Murray was slightly burnt and his observer Sergeant Stubbs was wounded in his right arm.

Sergeant Charles Dockrill, RAF and crew crashed near Troisvierges, 10kms north of Clervaux, there was no survivors.

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