Fighterboy

On the 13th May, Charlie is transferred to 615 Squadron Air Component British Expeditionary Force in France.
On Tuesday the 14th May, the R.A.F reinforcement Hurricanes and their pilots continued to arrive at various bases in France.

"Five landed at Merville to serve in 615 Squadron; these were P/O V.B.S. Verity, P/O J.E.M. Collins and P/O M. Revenhill from 'B' Flight, 229 Squadron. Flight Officer Leonid Ereminsky from 151 Squadron (the latter a White Russian) and P/O C.R. Young from 601 Squadron."

The next day, the 15th May 'A' wing of 615 Squadron flew to Vitry where they refueled and waited for further orders.

The then joined with 5 Hurricanes from 'b' Flight of 607 Squadron to escort a dozen Blenheims which were to bomb bridges over Meuse.

When they set out they were met by Bf110C and bf109s from StabIII/JG53.

In the afternoon three patrols from 615 Squadron reported encounters with Hs126 reconnaissance machines.

A section of Hurricanes carried out low-level patrol north-west of Gemblous at 15:00 attacking several German barrage balloons.

615 Squadron was ordered to move northward into Belgium.

on the 16th May 615 Squadron from Vitry moved North across the Belgium border to Moorsele, a small civilian airfield east of Countrai.

Shortly after take off newly attached P/O Grassick attacked what he believed to be a Ju88. which turned out to be a Blenheim, which crash landed after the attack.

The remainder of the squadron from Abbeville joined them at Moorsele.

615 Squadron immediately flew patrols from its new base. At 15:00 nine Hurricanes led by F/L Leslie T.W.Thornley went on escort to a 4 Squadron Lysander.
Near Tirlemont the formation was bounced by Bf109s of II/JG26 and F/L Thornley was shot down and killed.

P/O Thompson was shot down but parachuted out but was taken POW.

P/O Brian Young was also shot down and his machine crashed near Essene, P/O Brian Young bales out although badly burned and was further wounded from ground fire from British soldiers.

P/O Grassick was the only member of the Squadron to make a claim one of the attackers.

The Lysander was also shot down.

The 17th May saw 615 squadron busy from early morning operating from the advanced airfield in Moorsele.

3 sections each of three aircraft departed at 05:30 and were soon in action.
At about 09:30 another section of 615 Squadron encountered a Ju88 which was shot down.

Three consecutive patrols by 615 Squadron failed to meet enemy aircraft.

the 18th May was a relatively quiet day, apart form a brief skirmish with the KG1 Heinkels with 32 also based at Moorsele.

The only other patrol of note undertaken by 615 Squadron during the day was when two Hurricanes of the attached 245/A flight had become separated and lost.
P/O Pennington and Yapp landed near Dunkirk, they returned to Moorsele next day.

On the 19th May, still operating from Moorsele, 615 Squadron carried out a number of uneventful patrols during the day.

At 19:40 a section of four reported sighting hostile aircraft an estimated fifteen Bf109s from 9/JG26.

F/O Eyre claimed two Bf109s.
F/O Pexton shot down between Arras and Cambrai, pilot wounded and baled out.

The 20th May was to be 615 squadron's last day in France.

They were very active during the day following their early arrival at Norrent-Fontès with thirteen Hurricanes and the Magister.

Three hours later at 08:00 the squadron mounted an offensive patrol over Lille,
while a section maintained a defensive patrol of the airfield.

615 squadron provided three aircraft to take part in a composite formation, which was to attack the German advance along the Cambria-Arras road.

Three hours later at 16:00 a section from 615 Squadron patrolled Arras-Douai-Lens, met 12 He111Hs.
Two were shot down claimed by S/L Kyall and P/O Hugo.

Apart from the two He111 claimed by Kyall and Hugo at 13:00 P/O Verity claimed a Ju88 and P/O Pennington claimed a Bf110.
P/O Verity's aircraft was damaged and it crash-landed at Norrent-Fontès, he was unhurt.

Orders were received in the evening to evacuate Norrent-Fontès.

Nine Hurricanes of 615 Squadron and four of 607 Squadron escorted a Departing SABENA SM73P to RAF Kenley.

Three operationally unserviceable Hurricanes of 615 Squadron were returned to Kenley independently as did at least four of the squadron's Gladiators.

Charlie certainly carried out flight duties during his short time in France although no confirmed combats have been found to date.

Of the nine hurricanes flown back to R.A.F. Kenley, it's likely Charlie flew one of them.