FIGHTER COMMAND BRISTOL BLENHEIM

ALWAYS ON

Blenheims of 23 Squadr on pioneered the RAFs night

intruder role, as Andrew Thomas describes

58 FLYPAST October 2016

the Attack

hristmas came early for

23 Squadron in 1938. On
December 5, the unit, based
at Wittering, north of Peterborough,
began re-equipping with Bristol
Blenheim If fighters. Up until that
point, 23 had flown obsolescent
Hawker Demon biplanes with two
forward-firing machine guns and
fitted with a twin-gun Frazer-Nash
hydraulic turret.
The increase in firepower the
twin-engined Blenheim gave the
squadron was all too obvious.
There was just a single 0.303in
machine gun in the dorsal turret; it
was under the centre section where
the punch was packed. Below the
belly, four forward-firing 0.303s
were nestled in a streamlined
fairing. This relatively simple
modification had transformed the
light bomber into a potent longrange day and night-fighter.
The air and ground crew of 23
Squadron were fully operational
when war broke out on September
3, 1939. Initially the unit flew
searchlight co-operation sorties but
staged its first North Sea patrol on
October 23.
During the spring of 1940 Fg Off
Myles Duke-Woolley conducted
some highly secret
airborne

interception (AI radar) trials with

23 Sqn. He said: We hadnt the
faintest idea how we were going to
find a target; no idea at all. Initially
we had no airborne radar and it
wasnt until well into 1940 that
Spike OBrien told me that we
had some electronics expert and
instrumentation to see.
This gear was an early AI set. The
system came to maturity by the
time the Germans began the night
blitz later in the year.

FIRST ENGAGEMENT

June 18, 1940 saw the first

major nocturnal battle of the
war when Heinkel He 111s from
Kampfgeschwader 4 (KG 4) targeted
bomber bases in East Anglia.
Among the fighters scrambled
were seven Blenheims from 23
Sqn. Over the Norfolk coast two
spotted He 111H-4 5J+DM flown
by Oberleutnant Ulrich Jordan.
On board was the Gruppen
Kommandeur, Major Deitrich von
Massenbach.
Oblt Jordan recalled: A few
minutes later they were behind
us Blenheims! The combat lasted
nearly 20 minutes; the fighters
attacked continuously from behind,
one after another causing
a lot of damage to the

fuselage, engines and tail of my

plane. The seats, being protected by
armour plates, were responsible for
my being alive today.
The flight engineer, Feldwebel
Karl Amburger, was hit twice
once in the belly and once in the
leg and was not able to operate his
machine gun. The fighters reduced
in number [but] succeeded in
stopping one of the engines.
I ordered the bombs to be
dropped and decided to try to make
any airfield in German-occupied
territory. However, the fight
continued until the other engine
stopped which happened just after
the last fighter disappeared.
First to attack was Sgt Alan Close
in L1458 S-for-Sugar but the
Blenheim was hit by return fire. He
and LAC L R Karasek were forced
to bale out, but Close was killed.

CLOSING IN

Nearby was Flt Lt Myles DukeWoolley, a former Cranwell cadet,

and his gunner AC Bell in L-forLondon. Duke-Woolley said: I was
on patrol off the east coast over the
Wash. It was a gin-clear night and
control called me up to say that
German aircraft had been raiding
the Midlands and some of them
were coming our way.

Left

Wearing pre-war code

letters, a 23 Squadron
Blenheim If at
Wittering just before
the start of the war.
E G CABAN

Below

Duxfords Blenheim
carries the markings
of 23 Squadrons
L6739 Q-for-Queenie.
The Mk.If nose section
came from L6739
which served the unit
until struck off charge
on December 31, 1940.
KEY-NIGEL PRICE

Bottom left

The badge of 23
Squadron depicts an
eagle preying on a
falcon. The Latin motto
Semper Aggressus
translates as Always
on the Attack. ALL 23
SQUADRON RECORDS
UNLESS NOTED

October 2016 FLYPAST 59

FIGHTER COMMAND BRISTOL BLENHEIM

Right

Blenheim If L1466 in
January 1939 shortly
after 23 Squadron was
re-equipped. D M DIXON

I looked to the west and could

see a number of searchlights crisscrossing about, so called back to say
that it looked as if the searchlights
had somebody and should I
investigate? I was told no, it was
being dealt with so I just watched.
Then, about 10 to 12 miles away
I saw a very small yellowy light
going down, then it went out. Then
I saw a parachute, and suddenly
realised that what I had seen was
one of our intercepting aircraft
going down on fire. Again, I called
control, told them a Blenheim had
gone down and that I was going to
engage. After a short silence I was
told to engage in my own time.
Closing in I began to
realise I should also soon
be fired at and that I had no
armour protection in front
of me. My fuel tanks were not
self-sealing and the
more I thought
about it, the
more I realised
that I was going
to live just long
enough
to get
tangled
with this
German
aircraft about
four minutes.
I was thinking
furiously about
how I was
going to
attack and
perhaps
get away
with it.
A plan
occurred
to me which I then imparted to
my gunner. Theyve still got a
searchlight on him and what were
going to do is this. Im going to keep
port until the light goes out, then Im
going to come up in line astern of
him at 100 yards and open fire with a
five-second burst.
If that doesnt work Ill come back
and do another one. I shall then break
away to port and shall come up under
his wing and I shall want you to put
bursts up into him. If that doesnt
work, well have to go back and start
again. And thats what we did.

HARMONISATION

I flew alongside him it was a He

111 about 500 yards away, until the
last light flicked out, came in behind,
put the sight on him and counted
out five seconds as I pressed the gun
button.
60 FLYPAST October 2016

I then broke off and looking where

Id been I could see all these red
flashes, which I later realised was the
return fire from the German gunner.
I then went in again, but after
another long burst he was
still flying along. I then
flew underneath and let
my gunner have a go
but still he didnt
appear to be hit or
damaged.
All the time
something
kept
nagging
at me
that I

Squadron. Further south the CO, Sqn

Ldr Spike OBrien in L8617, saw the
Heinkel go down and then spotted
another Feldwebel Willi Maiers
5J+AM.
OBrien opened fire with the gun
pack as did Cpl D Little from the
turret. As they did so a Spitfire of 19
Squadron attacked. Both fighters
hit the bomber, and Maiers crew
baled out. OBrien lost control while
manoeuvring after his attack. He
managed to evacuate the doomed
Blenheim but Plt Off C King-Clark
and Cpl Little were killed.
On September 12 the unit moved
south, the HQ and B Flight to Ford
in West Sussex while A settled in at
Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
During the late evening of October
15 Fg Off Philip Ensor was patrolling
over the coast at 15,000ft (4,572m) as
enemy aircraft approached. At about
2035hrs he spotted a He 111 and gave
chase, catching it near Redhill.
Ensor approached from underneath
and astern, opening fire from 400
yards
(365m)
with a
threesecond
burst. He
closed and
unleashed
another
long volley
that was seen to
enter the fuselage,
starboard wing and

Our only concern was whether our rather

worn-out old Blenheims would stand up to
the longer flight across to the continent.
But as things turned out they performed
the task nobly...
was doing something wrong. Then I
suddenly realised that our guns were
harmonised to 250 yards. This meant
that at 100 yards, the range Id been
told Id blast him from the sky; I was
hardly hitting him at all.
So I slid in again, aimed high up on
the Germans tail fin, fired and broke
to port, but this time his return fire
was much less, so I knew I was hitting
him. I pulled in again and gave him
seven seconds, but as we broke this
time we were hit.
A fuel line had been struck requiring
Duke-Woolley to shut down an
engine before descending and landing
safely. The Heinkel came down at
Cley next the Sea, Norfolk; it was 23s
first victory of the war.
The drama was not yet over for 23

engine. Both the AI operator and the

air gunner saw the starboard engine
blow up and the aircraft fell away to
starboard. Ensor probably destroyed
another near Eastbourne on October
18.

ON THE OFFENSIVE

During the autumn of 1940 as

other units began re-equipping
with Beaufighters, 23 remained
with Blenheims, much to the crews
chagrin. The CO, Sqn Ldr George
Heycock was told his squadron would
now pioneer night intruding against
Luftwaffe bomber bases in France.
The Blenheims possessed sufficient
endurance for this tactic, although
relatively poorly armed and slow.
Eight aircraft had their secret AI gear

Above

A Blenheim If of 23
Squadron outside a
hangar at Wittering in
January 1940.
Centre left

With its engine covers

in place, Blenheim
If YP-H, perhaps at
Middle Wallop.
Left

First victory for 23

Squadron was claimed
by 24-year-old Flt Lt
Myles Duke-Woolley.

removed by December 9. Turrets

were refitted and navigators posted
to the crews. External racks to carry
up to a dozen 20lb bombs were also
added.
New Zealander Plt Off Alan
Gawith flew with an all-Kiwi crew
with Sgt Hogg as navigator and Sgt
Forsyth the air gunner. He noted:
All the aircrew were delighted at
the prospect of switching over to the
offensive after long months of tedious
and none too successful defensive
patrols.
Our only concern was whether
our rather worn-out old Blenheims
would stand up to the longer flights
across to the continent. But as things
turned out they performed the task
nobly and there were seldom reports

of engine trouble.
Six Blenheims raided Abbeville with
small bombs on December 21. The
following night Plt Off Duff attacked
a Ju 88 at 10,000ft but was unable to
assess any damage.
By the year end a new CO, former
Airspeed test pilot Sqn Ldr Cyril
Percy Colman, had taken over. His
time in command was to be short,
failing to return on January 4 (see the
panel on page 64).
The first intruder success for 23
occurred on the night of January 2,
1941 when Fg Off Ensor with Sgts
Roberts and Langley were in U-forUncle near Caen. They spotted an
aircraft with its navigation lights on
and trailed it to Dreux where it was
attacked and claimed as a probable.

Having been promoted to wing

commander, George Heycock was
re-appointed to lead 23 and intruder
operations continued most evenings.
On January 9, L1226 was lost near
Beauvais; the pilot, Sgt Jones, died
but Sgts G Bessell and R Cullen were
taken prisoner.

INCREASING CLAIMS

Having damaged a Dornier the

previous night, Fg Off Derek
Willans caught an He 111 in the
circuit at Poix on January 17, 1941
and claimed it shot down, 23s
first confirmed intruder victory.
During a long-running combat in
the vicinity of Lille on the 25th Plt
Off Browns crew claimed a Ju 88
destroyed.
October 2016 FLYPAST 61

FIGHTER COMMAND BRISTOL BLENHEIM

Plt Off Grellis then opened fire and all

rounds were seen to enter cockpit. The
enemy banked vertically to port and went
into a violent sideslip and disappeared
from sight

At around 2245hrs the following

night, Plt Off Love claimed two more
bombers damaged in the Merville
area. A few nights later this crew had
a narrow escape when a bomb which
had failed to release exploded on
landing back at Ford. The navigator
was killed; Love and gunner Sgt
McDermott were lucky to survive
with only slight burns.
On March 3, Fg Off Ensor, piloting
U-for-Uncle, found a Heinkel at
Merville. Closing to minimum range
he opened fire and claimed it shot
down in flames. It was not all onesided: Blenheim L1453 was hit by flak
near Gunes with the loss of Sgts Jim
Rose, Tom Nicholas and Ray Walker.

CLASH OVER BEAUVAIS

Plt Off Gawiths crew had an eventful

sortie when they arrived over Beauvais
at about 2130hrs on March 8, 1941,
as he explained: We found the whole
area brilliantly lit up with flare path,
leading lights and taking off lights
stretching over approximately five
miles from north to south.
Saw navigation lights of aircraft
gliding in to land at about 100ft
but decided I couldnt reach it so
62 FLYPAST October 2016

gave chase to another enemy. This

was circuiting the aerodrome and
although I gave chase at full boost
was unable to catch it until we
had completed four or five circuits
and enemy began to lower his
undercarriage. I then opened fire
and held it to point blank range.
We narrowly averted a collision
and passed just above the enemy
aircraft. Ammunition was seen to
enter fuselage and starboard engine
which emitted a sizeable explosion.
I broke away and turned sharply but
members of the crew had lost sight
of enemy which must have doused
its navigation lights. We think enemy
aircraft attempted to land and ran into
a light AA [anti-aircraft] barrage which
went up around the aerodrome.
Within 30 seconds of attacking the
He 111, I saw another enemy aircraft
with navigation lights in front of me
and closed to fire on what turned
out to be a Dornier 215 or 17.
Ammunition seen to enter fuselage.
Ceased fire at about 15 yards as I
went through slipstream.
Passed enemy aircraft again about
20ft above but then lost sight of it.
By this time all lights on the ground

were doused so we flew off about ten

miles north, climbed to 6,000ft and
returned to aerodrome which we
could see in moonlight.
As we passed over on a dummy
run, aerodrome lights came on so
I turned and flying from south to
north laid a stick of bombs which
were seen to explode parallel to flare
path and about 100 yards to the east
of it. We saw the navigation lights
of another aircraft gliding in to land
just as our bombs were bursting.
Did not see what happened to this
enemy machine, but all aerodrome
lights were immediately doused.
As we could not see any more
navigation lights about we set course
for base In the darkness the crew
may have misidentified the target; a
Ju 88A-5 of KG 77 was damaged at
that time and the pilot wounded.

DOWN-MOON

Stalking prey in the dark was full of

danger. This was brutally brought
home on March 10 over AmiensGlisy. Blenheim YP-X flown by Sgt
Vic Skillen, a 24-year-old Ulsterman,
collided in the landing circuit with
Feldwebel Walter Schlagregens He

111 of KG 1. Skillen, Sgts Frank

Abbott and Ron Nute and the
Luftwaffe crew all perished.
Fg Off Ensor was up again the
following night, piloting H-for-Harry
revisiting Amiens, attacking a He 111
on the ground.
At the same time 23 gained an
experienced and successful new
pilot when Sqn Ldr Jumbo Gracie
joined the unit. In the early hours of
the 15th he found himself in F-forFreddie over Merville with his crew of
Sgt Streeter and Plt Off Grellis.
Gracie said: We maintained a
patrol on the down-moon side of
aerodrome looking for a suitable
target. Whilst patrolling at 6,000ft
one e/a [enemy aircraft] seen flying
in opposite direction with navigation
lights at approx 2,000ft we closed
throttle and turned to dive on the e/a
but it was flying so slowly that we
overshot 1,000ft above it and lost it.
About ten minutes later we saw
another e/a flying with navigation
lights at 1,500ft. We turned and
chased it in the circuit waiting for a
suitable moment to open fire. As it
turned into the moon it was plainly
seen to be a Do 17 or 215 and with

a very good view of the target we

opened fire from the port quarter
aiming at the cockpit from 75 to 50
yards.
Nearly all ammunition was seen
to enter e/a and as we passed from
port to starboard a large flare came
from the starboard engine. [Gunner]
Plt Off Grellis then opened fire and
all rounds were seen to enter cockpit.
The e/a banked vertically to port
and went into a violent sideslip and
disappeared from sight. Gracie was
credited with a probable.
Fg Off Dufort also attacked what
he thought was a Messerschmitt Bf
110, but more likely a Do 17. On
the 16th he managed to drop bombs
through the door of a hangar that had
imprudently been left open with the
lights on.
By the end of March, 23 Squadron
had flown 94 sorties over enemy
territory, during which 13 German
aircraft had been attacked, two shot
down, six probably destroyed and
others damaged. The key element
of 23s activities was that it spread
doubt in the minds of tired crews
returning to their bases after
operations over England.

Top left

Sqn Ldr J S Spike

OBrien shot down 23s
second Heinkel, but
he lost control of his
Blenheim and had to
bale out.
Above left

Flt Lt Myles DukeWoolley flying N-forNuts on a North Sea

patrol, February 14,
1940.
Inset above left

A view of the gun pack

fitted to Duxford-based
Bristol Blenheim G-BPIV.
DARREN HARBAR

Above

One of 23 Squadrons
leading intruder pilots,
Fg Off Philip Ensor.
Bottom left

Flt Lt Bertie Hoare

commanded 23
Squadron in 1942.

October 2016 FLYPAST 63

FIGHTER COMMAND BRISTOL BLENHEIM

Top right

Sqn Ldr Jumbo Gracie

led 23 Squadron for its
final few weeks with
the Blenheim. AUTHORS
COLLECTION

Below

Shot down on June 19,

1940, He 111H 5J+DM in
the creek at Cley next
the Sea. VIA B CULL

RETURN TO FIGHTERS
Joining the RAF in January 1927, Flt Lt Cyril
Henry Arthur Colman served most of his
time on fighters, ending his service at the
Armament & Gunnery School, Eastchurch.
After a brief spell flying with a Scottish
airline, Percy, as he was nicknamed,
became chief test pilot for Airspeed at
Portsmouth. On June 26, 1934 he took
the first Envoy twin for its maiden flight.
The following year, on June 19, he flew
the prototype Oxford L4534, the first of
8,586, of which 4,411 were churned out at
Portsmouth.
With the advent of war, despite the
demands of mass production by Airspeed,
Airspeed Gazette paid tribute to Percy Colman
Percy elected to return to the RAF. He
on his departure to re-join the RAF in 1939 with a
became the CO of 23 Squadron. On January
superb caricature of him riding an Oxford. KEC
3/4, 1941, Percy was flying Blenheim If L6781
back from an intruder operation against Dieppe, but did not make it home. The aircraft
came down in the English Channel. F/Sgt D W Mathews and Sgt H I MacRory were never
found and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sqn Ldr Cyril Colmans body
was washed ashore at Worthing and he is buried at St Andrews Church at Tangmere.

BLINDING FLASH

Also serving on 23 Squadron was a

great character, Flt Lt Bertie Hoare
who was given command the
following year. He opened his account
on April 3, 1941. Flying T-for-Toc
over Lille, he claimed a Heinkel
probably destroyed.
A week later 23 lost another crew
when L8616 flown by Plt Off George
Simpson was shot down by flak near
Avelin killing him and Sgts Horace
Brewer and Tom Nicholls.
Hoare nearly suffered a similar
fate on April 21 when flying W-forWilliam with Sgt Sherrington as
navigator and Sgt Fletcher as gunner.
As they neared the French coast
homebound, a large bomber was

64 FLYPAST October 2016

sighted on the same course.

It was identified as a Focke-Wulf
Fw 200 so Hoare closed and opened
fire. The first bursts must have hit the
bombload as it resulted in a blinding
flash, followed by a terrific explosion
as the Condor blew up.
Hoares fighter was tossed about
and the air filled with debris. After
landing, the crew discovered a large
piece of armour plating measuring
almost three sq ft sticking out
of the leading edge. It was a
spectacular final success
for the Blenheim and
the first of Hoares
nine victories,
although in all
probability they

had destroyed a Ju 88A of KG 1.

The end was in sight for 23s tired
Blenheims as the first US-built
Douglas Havocs began operations.
Wg Cdr Heycock, the CO, flew
AW404 over France on April 7 and
Sgt John Raffels claimed the first
victory on the new type near Rosires
in the early hours of the 30th.
Raffels brought 23s Blenheim era
to an end when on May 6/7 he flew
the final intruder mission, to Rosires
landing back at Ford at 0050hrs.
Subsequently Ensor, Gawith, Hoare
and Willans each received the DFC
and Langley, Raffels, and Sherrington
the DFM for their pioneering
intruding work.
With its aged Blenheims, 23
Squadron had lived up to its
Latin motto of Semper
Aggressus Always
on the attack.
The author is
grateful to the late
Wg Cdr Alan
Gawith for his
contribution to
this feature.