Fighterboy

Many people are of the opinion that the Battle of Britain was Britain's involvement in the Second World War and the continued bombing that had been sustained from late 1939 until the end of 1944.
In actual fact, the Battle of Britain was one of the first major battles of WW2 that lasted officially from July 10th until October 31st 1940.

By the 22nd May 1940, the 615 squadron had arrived and settled at Kenley. Up until now, Charlie had carried out numerous flight duties, but no confirmed combats had been recorded. It is not hard to imagine just how frustrated Charlie would have been at this time!

On the 30th May 1940, Charlie receives his commission as a Pilot Officer (acting)for the duration of the war.

Charlie's patience finally paid off when on the 30th of June at 1145 hours, he claimed a Me 109 shot down over the Merville Area. Unfortunately, this kill was not confirmed but it was the first recorded for Charlie.

Charlie wrote in his combat report:

"Approaching Merville at 12000ft about 2000ft above Blenheim bombers. The section leader gave "Tally Ho Starboard." We dived down on 3 Me 109's. I myself attacked one just as it had begun its attack on the last Blenheim of the formation. I opened fire at 300 yards - at the same moment the Blenheim caught fire. I then closed into about 50 yards. Bits flew off the enemy machine and a large column of smoke issued forth as it went into a vertical dive towards the ground. Ammunition exhausted I turned towards home and was chased by another 3 Me 109s and was forced to land at Martlesham Heath."

After this encounter, Charlie experienced another lull right up to and into the Battle of Britain.

Charlie wrote to his parents on the 4th of July 1940 from Kenley aerodrome:

"Well, I expect you all know about the situation at home nowadays. At the moment we're working terribly hard, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week more or less. The chief thing as far as we're concerned is lack of sleep. They've started bombing over here now, yesterday we were bombed. 8 bombs were dropped but only two hit the aerodrome doing no damage at all. Needless to say the two aeroplanes responsible didn't get back. We're expecting the real "BlitzKreig" (sic) as far as this country is concerned to begin any day now, we're all ready for them so all I say is good luck to them."

To-date we have no records of Charlie's combat during the early days of the Battle of Britain. The first record is for the 14th of August, Charlie was one of many of 615 Squadron to claim a Dornier 17 damaged over the Dungeness area, 1830 hours.

Just two days later, on the 17th August, Charlie confirmed his first kill over the Brighton area at 1710 hours.
The aircraft destroyed was a Heinkel 111. On that same sortie, Charlie also confirmed an aircraft damaged, also a He 111.
These two aircraft where part of a formation of He 111 bombers and an escort of Me.110s attacking around Sussex at the time.

From the "Battle of Britain" by Norman Franks the following account is given:

"Hurricanes of 615 Squadron were in evidence during a raid near Brighton at 1615 hours. Pilot Officer JAP McClintock attacked on He111 he found out of formation. He opened fire from 300 yards closing in to 50. The Heinkel's starboard engine began to pour out smoke followed by flames, then it went down. Pilot Officer C R Young attacks two others, one of which he left smoking. The second, hit by a long burst, went down into the cloud and Young followed it. Coming out he fired again from 100 yards. The bomber levelled out at sea level, streaming smoke, but a third burst sent it crashing into the sea leaving a large green swirl in the water."

On the 18th of August, the day Kenley airfield was almost completely destroyed; Charlie confirms a Dornier 215 shot down over the Kenley area at 1345 hours. Again in the same sortie he claims a Bf109 probably destroyed.

On the 20th Aug it is widely thought that a Do215 destroyed at Herne Bay 1500 hours was by S/L J.R. Kayll and shared with P/O B.P. Young.
There is not a P/O B.P. Young in the 615 Squadron and from Charlie's combat records it is confirmed that it was in fact P/O C.R. Young, the official records have been changes.

At the end of August, 615 Squadron was moved to Prestwick in Scotland to rest and re-equip.

Like all young men Charlie's was to find romance, we are not sure where or when but the girl, F/O Beryl Pockett was the WAAF commander at Tangmere, therefore we believe it would be during his days with 601 squadron at Tangmere that they first met.

Beryl was a well known international golfer before the war, so maybe they had met before the war but we have no proof that this was the case.

We do not have the date of their engagement but from Charlie's old School's newsletter "The Felstedian", dated July 1940, there is the following announcement:

"The engagement is announced between Pilot Officer Charles R Young and Miss Beryl M Pockett, daughter of Mr and Mrs Mansell Pockett,of Worthing."

We have not been able to find out much more about Charlie and Beryl time together. Beryl's family have not been able to confirm their engagement but the know that Beryl looked after a pilot's dog "Henry" who remained with the family after Beryl married Flying Officer Gordon Green in 1942.

We believe it was Charlie's intention to get back to Malaya with his new wife. We do know that Beryl kept in touch with the Young family after the fall of Singapore 1942 as seen from this telegram sent to Charlie's younger brother Robert in March 1942.

Telegram reads:

"REQUEST NEWS OF YOUR PARENTS LOVE BERYL WACKETT"

Guess it was a bad "p"

Beryl and Henry

While in Scotland, 13th of September, Charlie was transferred to 607 Squadron based at Tangmere.
607 Squadron spent most of the Battle of Britain at its home base (Usworth) re-equipping but in September 1940 it returned south to take part in the Battle.

After half-a-month of flight duties with 607 Squadron. with no evident result, Charlie finally succeeded in damaging a Bf 110 over West Needles on the 1st October, 1045 hours.

Charlie gives details of the encounter in his combat report as follows:

"I was Red 2 and Red section went into line astern of Blue section and carried out a headon attack. I attacked the right hand E.A which turned off to the left and gave me an astern attack of about 200 yards. I fired two long bursts and the port engine of the 110 was seen to catch fire, at which time I was myself hit by another Me 110 who was on my tail and this caused me to head away. I saw first Me. 110 dive down towards sea but could not observe final outcome."

607 Squadron returned north to Turnhouse on the 10th October.

Spending only eight days in the safety of Turnhouse, Charlie somehow managed to get a transfer to 46 Squadron, based at Stapleford Tawney. Whether or not Charlie asked for the transfer, the decision would cost him his life.
From the 46 Squadron Operations Record Book :

"STAPLEFORD Oct 18 Four new Pilots were to-day posted to the Squadron for flying duties; they were P/O C.R. YOUNG, P/O F SURMA, P/O HEDLEY and P/O P.G. LEGGETT."

On the 27th October from the 46 Squadron Operation Record Book it is recorded

" P/O Young, of "B" flight, stated he saw two He 113's at 1030 hours flying due east, camouflaged pale blue on top with what appears to be white crosses on the wings. He fired at long range without effect."

This is the last record we have of Charlie's Battle of Britain combats.