Fighterboy

Although the Battle of Britain official stop date was October 31st 1940 it was by no means the end of the conflict.

On the first of November there is another controversial combat account as from intelligent report:

"The Squadron was vectored from Maidstone to the coast. P/O Young (Green 2)searching in the rear of the squadron at 20,000 feet when over DEAL-DOVER area sighted five aircraft flying in a S.E. direction and sent this information on the R/T to Red Leader. A minute later he sighted three others flying in the same direction in a wide loose "vic" formation. The information he also conveyed to Red Leader, but neither of these reports were clearly received or understood by Red Leader.
P/O. Young broke away and chased a three-engined aircraft flying at 12,00 feet 20 miles to sea off DEAL, succeeding in disabling the port engine. However, the aircraft was able to continue its journey on the remaining two engines. NO return fire was experienced from the aircraft attacked but cross fire from other two aircraft in this formation was very inaccurate.
These enemy aircraft were obviously Italian and after studying the features described by P/O. Young they would appear to have been SAVIOA MARCHETTIS. Roundals were seen on the fuselage and wings."

Charlie's own combat report is similar, he was flying Hurricane V6916 the attack being 1625 hours.

"As blue three of the search section I spotted five aircraft going SE about 8000ft below. I called up the leader and reported but they were too far off. One minute later I noticed three more going South-East, reported to the leader but got no reply so broke away in chase. I caught up with enemy aircraft about 20 miles out to sea flying in very wide vic formation. I attacked the port machine sighting on the port engine which was put out of action. But this enemy aircraft managed to proceed with and of the other two. I received cross fire from the other two aircraft which was very inaccurate. No return fire from the machine attacked."

It would appear that Charlie was on patrol at least three times that day as the Operational Record Book also records up times of 0945 hours and 1225 hours.

From Italian records we know that twenty-six Fiat G.50s of 20 Gruppo, Regia Aeronautica flew a sweep over Canterbury that afternoon, meeting violent anti-aircraft fire near Folkestone, while thirty-nine Fiat CR.42s of 18 Gruppo swept over Ramsgate, Canterbury and Dover. These aircraft would have been the fighter escorts; however, no combats were recorded.

The Operation Record Book for 7th November shows Charlie on Patrol 0900 hours over North Weald flying Hurricane V7617 later that day, 1205 hours, they were patrolling Chelmsford this time flying Hurricane V7594 and up again with V7594 at 1515 hours without any recorded incidents.

As per the Operation Record Book on 8th November 1940, 11.30 hours the 46 Squadron moved to the North Weald sector Charlie again flew V7594. This is where Charlie remained until his death.

The following incident was recorded for the 19th Nov 1940:

A patrol was carried out by the Squadron but the weather closed in and pilots were obliged to land away from the base. Four landed at ROCHFORD, three at EASTCHURCH, and one at MARTLESHAM HEATH. P/O YOUNG landed in a field near MALDON and SGT. PARROTT force landed at WYE, ASHFORD, both through lack of petrol. There were no casualties."

Tragically, Charlie's luck ran out when on the 5th of December 1940, at 11:25am, Pilot Officer Charlie R. Young was shot in the back of the head while patrolling over the Maidstone Line.
It is believed that a patrol of the 46 Squadron was chasing a German formation out to sea and on returning; a Me109 dived out of the clouds and shot Charlie's aircraft down.
He was seen to go into an uncontrollable dive and crash at Homestall Lane (Nash Farm), Boughton, Faversham, Kent.

It is likely that Charlie's aircraft was attacked and shot down by a Luftwaffe pilot, Oberleutnant Kurt Ebersberger of 4/JG26.
Oberleutnant Kurt Ebersberger claimed a Hurricane shot down near Rochester on the 5th of December at 1220 hours (German time).
Oberleutnant Ebersberger was himself killed in action on the 24th of October 1943, in North Africa.

Again we have the obituary from Charlie's old School's newsletter "The Felstedian":

"C.R. Young(E,33-37) Pilot Officer, RAF
Cecil Young was in Elwyn House from 1933 to 1937. With a fine Physique and an exceptional aptitude for games, he became a triple colour and one of the outstanding athletes of his year. He joined the R.A.F. on the outbreak of the war; in December last his fighter squadron chased a German formation out to sea, and on returning a Messerschmitt dived on him out of the clouds and shot him down. He was killed instantaneously by a bullet wound in the head."

The Air Historical Branch(RAF)gives this circumstantial report from the Officer Commanding 46 Sqn dated 11 Dec 1940 stating:

"Squadron was on operational patrol over Maidstone Line on 5.12.40 when P/O Young's machine was seen to go into a dive, apparently out of control. The pilot was found to have been shot in the head, although the aircraft was seen to go into a dive, no enemy aircraft were discovered."

Their records show that the wreckage was recovered by the RAF at the time.