On the morning of the 18th August 1940, Flight Lieutenant John Dunlop-Urie at RAF Westhampnett in West Sussex rushed to his aircraft in order to intercept an incoming German raid. Finding his assigned plane undergoing maintenance, he ran instead to Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I serial number X4110 that had been freshly delivered to 602 Squadron. During the course of the combat, Dunlop-Urie was caught from behind by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 that landed several hits with its 20mm cannon.
Fragments from the exploding shells injured both of Dunlop-Urie’s legs in spite of the fact that the closest hit was several feet away. This illustrates the advantage of the German cannon armament compared to the contemporary British choice of rifle caliber 0.303” machine guns whose bullets would only damage objects in their path.Looking at X4110’s right side, one can see the large number of small fragment holes resulting from the cannon shell detonations. The damage from gunfire and the resulting heavy landing was so severe that the aircraft was deemed beyond repair and was struck off charge less than an hour after taking off on its first combat flight, making it apparently the shortest serving aircraft in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
Comments
I’ve been on a train the past 6 hours
When HQ tells you're taking too long to pick your loadout in the arsenal.
A flight of Messerschmitts
This is why I have to be bathroom sentry in regiment for the foreseeable future
Now that is funny....
fun time at the base killhouse today
You're Canadian, that's a "sorryhouse" eh?
Me and my "Battle Rattle"
On the morning of the 18th August 1940, Flight Lieutenant John Dunlop-Urie at RAF Westhampnett in West Sussex rushed to his aircraft in order to intercept an incoming German raid. Finding his assigned plane undergoing maintenance, he ran instead to Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I serial number X4110 that had been freshly delivered to 602 Squadron. During the course of the combat, Dunlop-Urie was caught from behind by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 that landed several hits with its 20mm cannon.
Fragments from the exploding shells injured both of Dunlop-Urie’s legs in spite of the fact that the closest hit was several feet away. This illustrates the advantage of the German cannon armament compared to the contemporary British choice of rifle caliber 0.303” machine guns whose bullets would only damage objects in their path.Looking at X4110’s right side, one can see the large number of small fragment holes resulting from the cannon shell detonations. The damage from gunfire and the resulting heavy landing was so severe that the aircraft was deemed beyond repair and was struck off charge less than an hour after taking off on its first combat flight, making it apparently the shortest serving aircraft in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
Poor jacket from my previous unit - 1st Marine Division
Small meetup.
Left to right.
Me, Mico, Rodgers and his wife
Today at the machine gun range
that's me, btw
@Pvt. Skelly [Ret.] said:
Haven't laughed that hard in a while
Found this little gem while waiting for Drill.