On the afternoon of Sunday 12 th , a section of three Battles were given orders to attack German mechanised columns near Bouillon. Airborne from the recently bombed Auberieve the three Battles, captained by Flight Sergeant Horner, Pilot Officer Bazalgette and Pilot Officer Anstey headed towards their target at 1000ft. Sergeant Horner was leading the section when he was immediately hit by machine gun and cannon fire, his starboard wing ablaze the crew crashed near Sensenruth, 3kms north of target. There were no survivors. Pilot Officer Bazalgette successfully bombed the target but not without his Battle receiving extensive damage. A successful crash landing was made close to the village of Donchery , which was at the time still unoccupied by the Germans. Bazalgette was badly injured, it is not known if his injuries were caused by the subsequent crash landing or by the murderous ground fire. His two crew, Sergeant Harris, Observer and Leading aircraftsman Jones made every effort to save their brave pilot, sadly 22-year-old Frederick Balzalgette RAF succumbed to his wounds on the night of May 12 th . With their pilot dead, they destroyed what was left of their Battle and set off to the reach the Allied lines. Their biggest obstacle was the river Semois that had to be crossed. With the aid of a retreating French officer, the three successfully crossed the river, and eventually reported to AASF HQ at Rheims . The only survivor from the formation Pilot Officer Anstey on completion of his bomb run headed back to Auberieve at 500ft.
The squadron was not required to operate on the 13 th , all remaining aircraft were frantically serviced and repaired for the next operation. Once again, due to the sheer hard work and skill of the ground crews 11 Battles were operational by the morning of the 14 th . It was apparent to all that the squadron and the AASF were in a struggle for survival.
On the afternoon of Tuesday 14 th May 1940 , 75 Wing sent out instructions to its squadrons that a major attack was to be carried out against various tactical targets. 218 Squadron was instructed to attack advancing German columns between Givonne and Bouillon and the bridge at Douzy. Eleven Battles took off from Auberieve, once again due the loss of the squadron O.R.B's it is uncertain who operated. What is certain is that 10 crews failed to return. The squadron was split into two formations, seven crews were given the task of attacking German columns between Bouillon and Givonne, the remainder were given the bridge over Douzy. The bravery and determination of the squadron crews is unquestionable, there actions that afternoon is unsurpassed.
Pilot Officer Harris flying in Battle L.5232 was shot down near Sauville, 12 miles SSW of Sedan by a combination of machine gun and cannon fire, he survived wounded and managed to cross the front line and return to the squadron. His two fellow crewmembers were not so fortunate, Sergeant Basil Herriot, Observer and Aircraftsman 1 st Class William Robinson were killed.
Flying Officer John Crane, RAF was shot down and killed near Noyers-Pont-Maugis , France flying Battle L.5422. His observer gunner, AC 1 st Holloway survived to become a Pow. John Crane was an original squadron member, he had flown to France in September 1939. Since then he had been involved in two flying incident's while at Auberieve, a force landing on January 12 th and a crash landing on April 17 th . Battle P.2324 and crew were lost, both Flying Officer Foster and Aircraftsman Bryan survived to become PoW's. Pilot Officer Imrie and his gunner Leading Aircraftsman Alfred Taylor in Battle L.5235 were shot down by ground fire near Thelonne, 5kms south of Sedan . Pilot Officer Imrie a native of Southern Rhodesia survived his gunner was killed. The last known fatalities were that of Pilot Officer Robert Buttery RAF and his gunner Aircraftsman 2 nd Class William Waterson, RAF. Both they are their Battle P.2360 was lost without trace. They are remembered of the panels of the Runnymede Memorial.
One crew known to have survived was that Flying Officer Hughes. Hughes successfully bombed the target and his gunner managed to shoot down a Bf109. It is thought that the squadron accounted for three Bf109s on this operation
The squadron had effectively been wiped out. Within three bloody days 17 brave crews had been lost. The squadrons involvement in the Battle for France was albeit over. On Wednesday 15 th the Luftwaffe paid a visit to Auberive, one fully loaded Battle was destroyed as was a number of transport vehicles.
The remains of the squadron departed Auberieve for Moscou Ferne on the afternoon of the 15 th . The stay was short lived for with 24hrs the squadron had moved to St.Lucien Ferme, Rheges, no operations were undertaken. Friday 17 th Squadron strength stood at six operational Battles and crews. On Friday morning the squadron participated in a desperate attack on advancing German columns on the Neufchatel-Montcornet road. Results are unknown.
On May 24 th 218 squadron was transferred from No.75 Wing to No.71 Wing. This move effectively meant the disbandment of the squadron. Orders received on the 21 st gave instructions that all squadron personnel were to once again move, this time to No.2 Base area at Nantes . All remaining Battle were to be transferred to No.103 Squadron. The intention of this move was to refit both 218 and 105 squadron to form a reserve for No.71 Wing. However, due to the rapid German advance this did not happen, both squadrons spent a number of days and weeks uncertain of their future.
With the remnants of the squadron now non operational the surviving air and ground crews spent their time erecting temporary tents and the essential NAAFI. Reports via the international Red Cross began to filter through, Sergeant Thompson was reported a PoW by his parents on June 1 st . On June 3 rd details arrived concerning Sergeant Stubbs, he was in a reserve hospital in Neuss . A verbal message was received on the afternoon of the 3 rd , the squadron was to move back to the U.K on the next available boat. The initial excitement was short lived when on the 4 th orders were given that the majority of the squadron's armourers were to be posted to No.21 and No.16 Servicing Flights. If that was not bad enough, all surplus N.C.O's and airman were posted to No.21 A.D. Finally 14 airgunners and wireless operators were posted to No.98 Squadron. What the German had started No.71 Wing had finished. By the evening of June 4 th 1940 the squadron had all but ceased to exist.
The postings began on June 6 th , the O.R.B records the following.
It is difficult to understand the reason for this as the squadron left the forward area fully operational believing it was to be rapidly equipped and returned to an area of operations. Now with only the pilots, observers and a few ground personnel remaining it will take a considerable time before the squadron can operate once again, and a further long period will elapse before the same co-operation between the ranks and between all sections can be completely re-established. It is generally felt that all the training and effort made by the squadron since it's reforming in 1936 has been wasted and practically the period of training from September 1939 to May 1940 while with the A.A.S.F
At 13.30hrs on June 7 th , Wing Commander Duggan addressed the remnants of the squadron, he thanks them for the work they had done and stressed that he had done everything possible to prevent the squadron splitting up. It was indeed a sad day, the last ground crew who had worked so tirelessly boarded the transports and moved off, separating officers, N.C.O's and men who had worked together for periods up to 3 or 4 years.
On Monday June 10 th , orders to strike camp were issued, all tents and temporary structures were pulled down and returned to No.21 A.D. The squadron was to move off at 18.00hrs. This order was cancelled at 16.30hrs due to transport problems. The squadron spent a night in the open, cover was found were possible, to add to the gloom for the first time in weeks it rained.
Tuesday 11 th , the unexpected and welcome news arrived that the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross had been awarded to acting Flight lieutenant John Hughes, RAF. Two Distinguished Flying Medals had been also been awarded, Corporal James Drummond, RAF and Aircraftman 2 nd Class Edward Evans were the recipients. News also arrived that Pilot Officer Imrie had survived to become a PoW.
At around 01.30hrs the squadron finally moved off, their first destination was the railway at Bluguenaines. The beginning of the squadrons move home had begun. The train pulled out of Bluguenaines at 17.30hrs, the journey took them via Nantes , Ancenis and Angers . Finally at 13.40hrs on the afternoon of the 12 th the squadron's disillusioned crews reached Cherbourg . They were immediately moved out into the harbour where the Prince Albert docked at 21.15hrs. Within half hour, the vessel was loaded and cast off for Spithead .
The Prince Albert arrived at Spithead at 05.30hrs and dropped anchor, the waters into Southampton were full of every conceivable type of vessel sailing in and out of the docks, it was not until 12.00hrs that the Prince Albert finally managed to dock at the quay side and unload its cargo of men. A special train had been arranged to take the members of 218 directly to R.A.F Mildenhall, this was scheduled to leave at 13.00hrs. Such was the chaos the train was delayed until 14.30hrs, when it did arrive it was immediately commandeered by the Army. It was not until 17.30hrs the squadron moved out, it arrived at Shippea Hill at 23.30hrs where transportation took the tired squadron straight to Mildenhall.
© 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Association
© Steven SMITH
