Post by Snapper on Nov 11, 2011 21:37:13 GMT
I feel very strongly about honouring those who have served in time of war and today seems the day to share this with you. Some years back, ten in fact, I became involved with a gentleman by the name of Jim Earnshaw. Now, Jim was an octogenarian ex-erk who had served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force from 1938 and went through Europe during the war, having some interesting experiences and meeting some interesting people. A couple of examples from his days at 57 OTU are being friendly with another sergeant who went by the name of 'Screwball' Beurling and being one of the crew on AR213, the Spitfire piloted by the OC, 'Ginger' Lacey. If not in the know you might want to google those two. Anyway, Jim originally joined no. 609 (West Riding) Squadron, his local Auxiliary unit and they always held a special place in his heart; his first love as it were. It was post-retirement that Jim really got stuck in with his own 'remembrance'.
Jim amassed a huge archive of material of, from and relating to the squadron and was in touch with many of the former members of it. It was in July 2001 that I met him and I soon became his 'right hand man' somehow or other. I was very fortunate. At this time I was somewhat involved in historic aviation and kind of 'known about town' as it were.
Jim and I worked on a couple of books together and over the few years we knew each other before his death his almost daily emails were a source of great pleasure to me. I became the squadron archivist by default and still have some involvement with the squadron association. Alas more and more remembrance becomes involved as veteran groundcrew and pilots I have met and/or got to know dwindle in number as the years pass and sadly I do not see the occasion coming again where I shall be sitting drinking beer with former Spitfire and Typhoon pilots; but remember them I do.
Now this is leading soemwhere and in fact it is backwards that I am taking you. I am taking you in fact to a cold November day in 2002. A cold and grey day when I went driving around the countryside to find a memorial at Ashby-with-Oby in Norfolk. I was looking for a member of 609 Squadron who had been killed in action long before. John had been introduced on camera by a charming gentleman I had spent time with on occasion, 'Joe' Atkinson, as 'Johnny from Yarmouth, where they catch herrings'. Of course there is nothing there - Ashby is a field as is Oby. Soo I stuck something in the paper about that and my intention to raise a memorial to John.
It turned out that he was a Martham boy and his name was on the memorial there but no matter, I was started and with the assistance and encouragement of friends and through leads from the article and some detective work I made contact both with John's sister and the brother of the pilot he was flying with on that day in 1943, Alan Haddon.
So, what has this to do with today? Just another dead serviceman from long ago? A footnote in history? Well, maybe, but not to me. I always pass the memorial when I'm nearby, always greet the boys. The thing is I shall be going back there on Sunday, back to that plinth outside his old home. I shall be there with my girls, I shall be at the town memorial too and then I shall be visiting a lady in a neraby village. After John's sister, betty, passed away some items passed to her cousin and she contacted me some time back as the person who may be able to help. There is no-one else really to whom John's RAF Flying Logbook could go, could be entrusted to. I had it here before, have held it in my hands many times, this lads entire service history. I had it here alongside Alan's diary. John's wings were with too. I think if there is one thing I've held more poignant than these items I would be surprised. So, I've arranged Sunday as the day when I should collect these to bring them home. So, with this introductory tale I would like to introduce you all to somebody unimportant, who you've never heard of and likely never will. Perhaps, though, when you next pass down the B1152 past Martham you might however just turn up it and pull into the track that runs parralel, just by the entrance to Grange Farm and stop at the memorial and reflect one moment at someone who could have been anyone.
(Nb there may be some repetition amongst this as I am copying and pasting rom various sources from long ago, sorry about that! It's also all written ten years or so ago. )
Johnny Wiseman
Babe Haddon
-------------------------------------
A Story of St. Valentines Day
February 14th, 1943.
By Mark Crame
Johnny and Babe.
60 years ago today, the World was at war. Much of Europe was occupied by the Third Reich, with German soldiers on the streets of, amongst others, our European neighbours; France, Belgium, and Holland. The ‘Chindits’ of the British Fourteenth Army (among whom were many men of the Royal Norfolk Regiment) had just crossed the River Chindwin in the Far East, The Germans and Russians were battling it out at Stalingrad, whilst the Americans and Japanese were fighting at Guadalcanal in the Pacific. While all this was going on abroad, the South Coast of England was under daily attack by fighter – bomber ‘raiders’ of the German Luftwaffe, flying from airfields on the Continent. The aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Force’s Fighter Command were the first line of defence, with 609 (West Riding) Squadron, based at RAF Manston in Kent, being one of the major units involved in the patrolling and defending of the English Channel. Among the men of 609 Squadron involved in this task was a young Norfolk pilot, who, with a colleague, was killed in action on Saint Valentines day, 1943.
1333551 Sergeant John George ‘Johnny’ Wiseman was born on January 31st 1923 and lived and grew up at Grange Farm, in Martham, Norfolk, (about 10 miles from Great Yarmouth) with his Father Percy, Mother Hilda, and sister Betty (three years his elder, and still living in Norfolk. She joined the ATS during the war to try and ‘do her bit’. She was at home on leave with her mother when the dreaded telegram arrived, notifying the family of Johnny’s loss). The farm consisted of around 200 acres of mainly arable land. Johnny’s father was from Ashby-With-Oby, a few miles away, a village to which he returned during the war years. A popular, kind, and intelligent boy, Johnny was a scholar and prefect at Great Yarmouth Grammar School, although he completed his Grammar schooling in Sevenoaks, Kent, as the school had been moved from Great Yarmouth (though not all the boys had gone, some having stayed in Martham due to it being a rural farming community, where they were needed). He returned to Martham after completing his schooling, and worked on the farm, doing all the tractor work, (it was the only tractor they had in those days) until he was old enough to join the Royal Air Force, having always been keen on flying. After completing his training as a pilot in Canada, Johnny returned to England in 1942 and was posted to 609 (West Riding) Squadron at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, flying Hawker Typhoon fighters. In October of that year, the Boulting Brothers were making a short propaganda film for the Royal Air Force Photographic Unit featuring 609 (West Riding) Squadron. Johnny appears twice in this film, once being described by Flight Commander Joe Atkinson as being “from Yarmouth, where they catch herrings”, and another segment where he discusses the merits of Polish Vodka with ‘Tony’ Polek.
Johnny is fondly remembered as a bit of a local hero, coming home on leave in RAF uniform at a time when the heroes of the Battle of Britain were still held in great esteem. One local boy, Roy Sales, was born and brought up on Grange Farm, as his grandfather was team manager looking after the horses. He often used to ride on the tractor with Johnny, from when he was about 5 years old. He remembers that there was an anti-aircraft gun and two searchlights stationed at the top of Grange Hill, about half a mile from the farm. On one night the Germans dropped several incendiary bombs in the area. Johnny was on leave at the time and he found one stuck in a hedgerow that had not detonated – which he promptly took home. The next day, he asked the young Mr Sales if he would like to have it. Receiving a positive reply, he dismantled the bomb, taking out all the explosives and combustible contents and igniting them out on the field, and gave him the empty bomb casing. He went back two days later, and Roy never saw him again.
On the day of Johnny’s death it was ‘A’ flights turn to come to readiness, and Johnny, flying Hawker Typhoon R7872 PR-S was paired with Flight-Sergeant Alan ‘Babe’ Haddon in Typhoon DN294 PR-O as Red Section. Together they took off in perfect flying weather from RAF Manston in Kent. Also patrolling was Yellow Section, consisting of the Belgian (and future Commanding Officer) Flying Officer Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemand in R7855 PR-D, and Polish pilot Flying Officer Antoni ‘Tony’ Polek in R8889 PR-X. Their mission was to protect some Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats, which had got into difficulties close to the French coast. During the night, the MTB’s had been making a nuisance of themselves around the French ports, and one was now lying disabled off Cap Gris-Nez, having struck some hidden wreckage. With dawn breaking, and still in range of the German coastal artillery, attempts were made to tow it to safety, as the men on board were now at the mercy of both this, and the German Luftwaffe who would surely soon appear.
Sergeant Wiseman and Flight-Sergeant Haddon (from Leicester) were tasked with the job of close escort, while Lallemand and Polek patrolled close by, ready to help if needed. Then bad luck struck the Navy. The cable that was being used to tow the stricken vessel snapped (although by this time they were out of range of the German guns). With the boats now stationary, Wiseman and Haddon could do no more than circle relentlessly around them. It was around this time that contact was lost between Red Section and Bill Igoe (the Sector Controller at RAF Biggin Hill, codenamed ‘Swingate’) and Yellow Section (who were now mid-Channel)
At around 11am on 14th February 1943, Sergeant ‘Johnny’ Wiseman was shot down, by one of two Focke-Wulf FW190’s of Stab III./Jagdgeschwader 2 ‘Richtofen’ based at Vannes-Meucon in France. One of these also shot down Flight-Sergeant Alan ‘Babe’ Haddon. Luftwaffe records show three claims from that day (at 11:36, 11:40, and 12:12 hrs) made by the Squadron Commander Oberleutnant Egon Mayer, holder of the Knights Cross, and one by Leutnant Fritz Rösle (at 11:38 hrs.) Mayer, the first Luftwaffe pilot to reach 100 kills on the Western Front, was officially credited with shooting down 102 enemy aircraft in 353 combat missions, and developed the head on attack against the American daylight bombers in conjunction with Major Georg-Peter Eder. He was killed in action just over a year later on 2nd March 1944, believed to have been shot down by an American pilot of the 365th Fighter Group flying a P47 Thunderbolt fighter 1½ miles south of Montmédy, France. The Captain of the immobile MTB was later to tell ‘Cheval’ Lallemand that the Focke-Wulfs had come up on the Typhoons, which were patrolling at 500ft and a 1000yds apart, from just above sea level, and being unable to give a warning to the pilots in time, they could only watch as one aircraft was seen to go down in flames, while the other folded up ‘like a book’, its wings shot away, and also crashed into the sea.
Shortly afterwards, Yellow Section engaged the first of two flights of four German fighters, with Lallemand altogether claiming two Focke-Wulfs confirmed destroyed and one probable, with Polek (in his first combat) claiming two probables. They were then joined by fellow 609 Squadron pilots Flying Officer Roy Payne, flying Typhoon R7845 PR-H, and another Belgian, Flying Officer Jean De Selys Longchamps in R8888 PR-Y, who proceeded to destroy another Fw190 apiece off Calais.
Official Luftwaffe losses were three pilots with their Focke-Wulf Fw190-A-4 aircraft. JagdGeschwader 2 ‘Richtofen’ recorded losing 3 aircraft destroyed and 3 pilots missing, believed killed, in the area of this combat on this day: Fw190-A4 Werknummer 0733 flown by Unteroffizier Fridolin Armbruster of 7/JG2, to the west of Boulogne at 12:20 hrs, Fw190-A4 Werknummer 2421 flown by Leutnant Leonhard Deuerling of 9/JG2, north west of Calais at 12:08 hrs, and Fw190-A4 Werknummer 7177 flown by Unteroffizier Gerhard Bischoff of 7/JG2 around Gris Nez at 11:50 hrs)
The Nine O’ Clock News that night announced: “In the course of defensive patrols over the English Channel, Typhoons of Fighter Command destroyed five Focke-Wulf 190’s, the latest type of German fighter. Two of our pilots failed to return.”
Sergeant ‘Johnny’ Wiseman has no grave but the sea.
Outside Martham Church, in the heart of Norfolk, there is a War Memorial to those from the village who died in the two World Wars. Johnny’s name is inscribed here, as well as on the Runnymede Memorial at Windsor; along with the 20,450 other Commonwealth and Allied aircrew whose bodies were never recovered. It is my goal to erect a permanent stone memorial to Johnny’s sacrifice now, 60 years after his death. Mr Peter Norton, the current owner of Grange Farm, Martham (himself ex-aircrew, flying operationally during the war on Lancasters as a member of Bomber Command) has generously agreed to the placing of a stone on land next to the roadside that once belonged to Johnny’s family, and Timpson’s Ltd (Lowestoft Branch) have pledged two large engraved brass plaques engraved with John’s name and details, and his Squadron badge, to affix to it.
The village memorial at Martham
INTELLIGENCE FORM “F”
COMBAT REPORT
609 Squadron Manston
Battle of the M.T.B
F/O Payne F/O Lallemand F/O De Selys F/O Polek F/Sgt Haddon Sgt Wiseman
A. 14/2/43
B. 609 (West Riding) Sqdn
C. Typhoons 1B
D. 1150, 1200, 1210 hours
E. Between Dover and Gris Nez
F. 10/10ths cloud at 1000ft, 500ft thick
G. 1 Typhoon Cat.B 2 Typhoons Cat E
H. F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman missing believed killed
J. 4 Fw190’s destroyed 3 Fw190’s probable
609 Squadron was detailed to supply sections to patrol in defence of an M.T.B lying between Dover and Gris Nez disabled after striking hidden wreckage. Altogether 3 sections, of 2 Typhoons, were involved, taking off between 1030 and 1145. The first section (F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman) left at 1030 and both pilots failed to return. The skipper of the M.T.B reported that he saw the 2 Typhoons flying at 500ft in line astern, 1000yds apart. 2 Fw190’s then bounced the second Typhoon and it crashed in flames, they then attacked the first Typhoon and cut off both the wings, this Typhoon also crashed into the sea.
The remaining 4 Typhoons shot down 7 Fw190’s destroyed, or probably destroyed and prevented any further attacks on the M.T.B
F/O Lallemand (Belg) and F/O Polek (Polish) left Manston 1129 on defensive patrol and were then vectored to the position of the M.T.B Flying at 300ft they sighted 4 Fw190’s in square formation, on the deck and heading W. Typhoon’s attacked and the 190’s split up, there was a dogfight. On his first burst from astern Lallemand saw no result. After various gyrations he saw Polek chasing a 190 with another 190 behind him and firing. Lallemand approached from the beam and fired at the 190 behind Polek, obtaining hits on the cockpit. Lallemand almost rammed the enemy aircraft which crashed into the sea. Polek meantime had fired at a 190 while it was turning and diving, and then gave it a long burst as it climbed. The 190 poured thick white smoke and made cloud at such a low rate that Polek, following, was at stalling point. Polek believes the pilot was dead as he made no attempt to evade or avoid stalling.
Our two pilots then rejoined and continued patrol for about 10 minutes near Gris Nez when Swingate reported bandits approaching them from the east. Presently 4 Fw190’s were seen, again in 2 pairs and flying parallel, ahead and to port. Typhoon’s and 190’s all climbed and orbited. F/O Lallemand reports he had no trouble in out turning them. With the leading pair turning on a parallel course to port, he fired at one of the second pair from 15 degrees and it turned on its back. Whilst it was inverted he fired again from above, seeing strikes on its belly. As he overshot the e/a was still inverted, travelling at great speed in a dive from 300ft. He believes it went straight into the sea. (It is requested that if the evidence is considered sufficient, this claim be stepped up to Destroyed). Lallemand then fired a full beam shot at the second E/A of the pair from 350-400 yds, E/A dived and to his surprise burst into flames – Polek saw it go in. Polek himself got on the tail of another E/A (presumably one of the leading pair). This made a sharp climbing turn and Polek fired from the quarter at 100yds range shortly before the E/A reached cloud and he had to break away as the fourth E/A was on his tail. Though he saw no results of his fire, Lallemand saw this E/A flying slowly along the coast below cliff level, losing height and pouring blue-black smoke. (Claim:- probably destroyed) The 2 Typhoons landed Manston at 1217hrs.
F/O De Selys (Belg) and F/O Payne (airborne 1145-1233) hearing E/A reported, and knowing the other section of Typhoons were with M.T.B’s decided first on the wide sweep towards Calais from West, then down the French Coast to Gris Nez. As they were approaching Calais, and turning south, they were attacked by 3 Fw190’s flying North. The shooting missed and De Selys, warning his No.2 behind, turned sharply – observing the third E/A to be continuing North – the second was flying inland over Calais and the third was finishing a wide turn.
F/O De Selys engaged this third E/A in a head on attack, opening fire as he closed to 700 yes and seeing the E/A catch fire as it flashed overhead. Turning, he saw it stall at 300ft and spin into the sea about half a mile off Calais. Fire from the 190 had hit De Selys’ aircraft in the wings.
F/O Payne chased a 190 up into cloud and lost him. On re-emerging from cloud, off Calais, he saw 2 Fw190’s behind another a/c which he thought was De Selys and called a warning (De Selys was not in the area at that moment). The 2 E/A’s broke away however and climbed up into cloud over France. Payne followed and above cloud found himself 350 yds behind the starboard E/A. Opening fire from a slight angle he saw many strikes on the starboard wing and flames from the side of the fuselage. The 190 turned right and fell away into cloud still on fire. The other 190 turned left and was not seen again despite a search below cloud.
The two Typhoons met up over the Channel and returned to base.
Enemy Aircraft Camouflage.
The first quartet of 190’s were painted very dark, with black crosses on the wings, without white outline and no crosses on the fuselage.
The second quartet were a light grey with grey-blue bellies, yellow fins, a yellow band round the rear of the fuselage, and a yellow stripe running from leading to trailing edge, halfway along the wing. One of them also had a yellow arrowhead on the fuselage, and had the lower half of the fuselage painted black fro exhaust to cockpit. One of the final 190’s appeared black from the plan view.
4 Fw190’s destroyed.
2 Fw190’s probables.
F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman, missing believed killed.
Roy Payne Recalls His Part In The Battle In November 2002
Roy Payne and Jean De Selys Longchamps were scrambled to help out the previous pilots - it probably took about ten minutes to reach the MTBs, flying to mid-Channel at about 300 mph. He said:- “Just as we flew overhead the MTB’s, we couldn’t believe our luck; just about two miles ahead we spotted a very old Junkers 52 three-engined transport plane heading North, just inside the French coastline. We headed towards it, but fantastic flak came up at us from the coastal defences. As we were concentrating so hard on the JU 52 we made the classic mistake; we stopped scanning the sky for enemy aircraft. In those few seconds, I saw tracer flash over my wings from behind. We both broke away suddenly. I turned steeply then saw them (the FW190’s) go up into cloud. I followed them in, and on re-emerging saw two planes. I thought the one in front of the other was Jean, so I called out to him on the radio. Then I opened fire on the closest of the two and saw my shells rip into his wing and lots of white smoke emerge from the fuselage. I thought I couldn’t claim it as destroyed because I hadn’t seen it hit the water, however on returning to Manston the Intelligence boys gave it to me. I think they wanted to keep the numbers up. Afterwards, de Selys and I wondered whether the JU52 was there as a decoy, but quickly realised that logistically it would have been impossible. It turned out that Jean’s was not one of the pair of aircraft that I saw emerging from the cloud, as he had corkscrewed away.”
Roy says that after that day he insisted that no tracer rounds were ever loaded on his aircraft, because it really takes away the element of surprise. In response to a query about the markings of the Fw-190’s in the Combat Report, Roy says that as he came up right behind the FW190 he personally couldn’t have seen any markings, and none of the Typhoons had arrowheads on their fuselages.
His Logbook Records The Following:
Feb 14, Typhoon PR-H, Escorting MT Boats, 50mins duration, 1FW 190 destroyed over Calais. Plus a swastika of course...
There is also a pull-out page headed ‘Fighter Pilot’s Gunnery Record’. It shows that on Feb 14th 1943, Roy Payne fired 120 rounds (cannon) and used 1.5 feet of film when attacking the FW190.
The days entry from the diary kept by 809082 F/Sgt F.II.E Robert ‘Bob’ Walling
Feb 14th
Babe Haddon and Johnnie Wiseman both went for a Burton.
They were shot into the sea off the French coast by one Fw190.
There was a general mix up over some MTBs in the Channel and in the end 4 Fw’s had been definitely destroyed and three probably destroyed.
Cheval got two and one probable and De Selys got one Payne got one and P/O Polak a probable.
Form 540 - Operations Record Book for 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Manston. February 14th 1943.
Feb 14th. For the IO to go away on a Sunday is as effective as the CO saluting W/D de Goat.
Today it results in the 'Battle of the MTB', a success comparable to the classic 'Battle of the Dinghy' on 8/5/41. Though F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman are lost, 4 other Typhoons between them score no less than 7 Fw190's destroyed or probably destroyed. Initial situation: an MTB disabled between Dover and Gris Nez after striking hidden wreckage. First to be airborne, at 1030, are Haddon and Wiseman. Concerning them the skipper of the MTB reports that he saw 2 Typhoons flying at 500 ft in line astern. 2 190's converged to attack No 2, and the Typhoon went into the sea on fire. They then attacked No 1, cutting off both his wings, and this aircraft also went into the sea. At 1129 F/O's Lallemand and Polek go off.After some minutes they see 4 Fw190's on the deck, and attack. E/A split up and a dogfight begins. After a burst from astern Lallemand sees Polek chasing a 190, with another behind him, shooting. He aims at Polek, from the beam, and hits the 190 behind him. It slips sideways into the sea. Polek continues his attack, finally firing from astern as it climbs. There is thick white smoke from both sides of the engine, and E/A makes cloud at such a slow pace that Polek, following, nearly stalls himself. He thinks the pilot is killed, no attempt being made to evade or avoid stalling. (Probably destroyed). After resuming their patrol for another 10 minutes, they are near Gris Nez when Swingate reports bandits coming from the east, and presently 4 new 190's, again in 2 pairs, loom to port and ahead. Typhoons and 190's climb and orbit, Lallemand reporting little difficulty in out-turning them. Finally he gets into position to fire at one of the second pair: it turns on its back. While it is inverted he strikes it again in the belly and overshoots, leaving it diving inverted at 300 ft (probably destroyed). He then fires a full beam shot at the second E/A of the same pair from 350-400 yds, and to his surprise it bursts into flames and Polek sends it into the sea. Polek gets on the tail of one of the others, and he fires from the quarter at 100 yds shortly before it reaches cloud, and he has to break away on finding the 4th E/A on his own tail. Though he himself sees no results, Lallemand saw the E/A attacked flying slowly along the coast, below cliff level, losing height and pouring blue-black smoke (probably destroyed). Lallemand altogether has only fired 50 rounds from each gun, a total of 5 secs.
The last pair, off at 1145, are F/O de Selys and F/O Payne. Knowing the other section is with the MTB, de Selys decides on a wide sweep to Calais and then down to Gris Nez. As they are turning south at Calais they are attacked by 3 Fw190's flying north. The shooting misses, and de Selys, warning Payne, turns steeply and sees the third E/A continue north, the second steer inland over Calais, and the first finishing a wide turn. He engages this one head-on, opening fire at 7/800 yds and seeing E/A catch fire before it flashes over him. Turning, he sees it stall at 300 ft and spin into the sea ½ a mile off Calais. E/A has also been firing, and the Typhoon is hit in the spinner and wings. Meanwhile Payne has chased E/A No 2 into cloud over land and lost it. Returning below cloud off Calais he sees 3 190's and pursues 2 of them into cloud over France again. Above cloud he finds one 350 yds in front, and firing from a slight angle, sees many strikes and flames on the starboard fuselage. E/A descends into cloud still on fire. No further attacks are made on the disabled MTB.
Enemy Casualties: 2 Fw 190's destroyed F/O Lallemand - Belgian)
1 Fw 190 destroyed (F/O de Selys Longchamps - Belgian)
1 Fw 190 destroyed (F/O Payne - Scottish)
2 Fw 190 probable (F/O Polek - Polish)
1 Fw 190 probable ( F/O Lallemand - Belgian)
Our Casualties: 2 Typhoons Cat E F/DSgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman missing.
1 Typhoon Cat B.
N.B Our aircraft were outnumbered by at least 2 to 1.
This brings 609's score on Typhoons to 17 destroyed, 6 probable and 7 damaged, for the loss through enemy action of 5 pilots. Total score for the war is now 180 destroyed, 64 probable and 94 damaged for the loss of 36 pilots.
Evening sees a dance at Doone House, at which F/O Baldwin appears wearing the DFC (the first since 1941, and F/O Van Lierde the Croix de Guerre Belge. The CO turns up very angry because the G/C night Ops at 11 group has refused to let him take off on an Intruder, on the ground that it is still 6 days before full moon - albeit conditions are ideal and previously the CO has Intruded at an even greater distance from the full moon. Result: next day the CO writes another letter.
Various Newspaper Reports On The Engagement
TYPHOONS GET FOUR FW’s
FOUR F.W. 190s which were attacking high-speed launches in the Channel yesterday afternoon were shot down by Typhoons in 20 minutes.
Daily Sketch 15th February 1943
Typhoons Win Fighter Battle
Four FW190’s were shot down over the Channel yesterday afternoon by a Scotsman, two Belgians and a Polish pilot. Two of our pilots are missing.
Six pilots from the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron were over the Channel in their Typhoons when they saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six FW 190’s. The Typhoons sailed in and a “dog-fight” developed.
One of the Belgians had already shot down two FW 190’s and yesterday he doubled his score.
News Chronicle, 15th February 1943.
Typhoons to rescue: four F.W.s down
Four F.W.190’s were shot down for a cost of two R.A.F. planes in fights over the Channel yesterday. In one fight Typhoons of the West Riding Auxiliary Squadron broke up an attack by six F.W.190s on two high-speed launches.
Daily Express, 18th February 1943.
TYPHOONS ROUT NEWEST NAZI FIGHTERS
F.W.s Routed While Attacking Launches
The battles of the F.W.s began when six pilots from the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron, flying over the Channel in their Typhoons, saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six enemy planes. The Typhoons promptly went in to attack.
A Belgian pilot was leading a section when, in his own words: “We met four F.W.190’s. They did not see us until we fired. They split up immediately and after a dogfight for four or five minutes I saw my No. 2 shooting at one F.W.190 and being chased by another.
“I turned to help him and hit the Hun, who went straight into the water. I climbed again, found my No. 2 and resumed patrol, as there were on other enemy aircraft in sight.
A Second Clash
“After fifteen minutes we saw another formation of four F.W. 190s making for Gris Nez, so we started climbing and got on theoir tails. I saw my fire hit one, but did not see what happened to him after he had turned on his back because I overshot him. I made a steep turn and got in some good bursts on another F.W. 190, which went down in flames.”
The Belgian pilots pilot’s No. 2 was a Polish flying officer, who severely damaged other F.W.s
“I could not wait to see if they crashed, because we weretwo against four,” he said “I got in a long burst against the the first F.W. 190. He was climbing and turning very steeply all the time, but I saw a number of strikes and smoke. The Hun disappeared in cloud.
“In the second dog-fight we were again two against four. I got in a burst before my target disappeared again in cloud. When I turned I saw him going down with smoke pouring out, making for the French coast.”
Another Belgian, also a flying officer, shot down his first enemy aircraft.
The fourth F.W. 190 destroyed was shot down by a Scottish-born flying officer.
Yorkshire Evening News, 15th February 1943.
TYPHOONS ROUT NEWEST NAZI FIGHTERS
F.W.s Routed While Attacking Launches
The battles of the F.W.s began when six pilots from the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron, flying over the Channel in their Typhoons, saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six enemy planes. The Typhoons promptly went in to attack.
A Belgian pilot was leading a section when, in his own words: “We met four F.W.190’s. They did not see us until we fired. They split up immediately and after a dogfight for four or five minutes I saw my No. 2 shooting at one F.W.190 and being chased by another.
“I turned to help him and hit the Hun, who went straight into the water. I climbed again, found my No. 2 and resumed patrol, as there were on other enemy aircraft in sight.
Daily Telegraph.
Scot gets one of 4 F.W.s over Channel
Four FW 190s were shot down over the channel early yesterday afternoon – one by a Scotsman, two by a Belgian, and one by a Polish pilot.
Six pilots of the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron were over the Channel in their Typhoons when they saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six FW 190s. The Typhoons sailed in.
A Belgian pilot was leading a section when in his own words: “We met four FW 190’s. They did not see us until we fired. They split up immediately and after a dog-fight for four or five minutes I saw my No. 2 shooting at one FW 190 and being chased by another.
INTO SEA
“ I turned to his help and hit the Hun who went straight into the sea. I climbed again, found my No. 2 and resumed patrol as there were no other enemy aircraft in sight.
“After 15 minutes we saw another formation of four FW 190s going to Gris Nez, so we started climbing and got on their tails.
‘I hit one but did not see what happened to him after he had turned on his back, because I over-shot him. I made a steep turn, however and got in some good bursts on another FW 190 which went down in flames.”
After a Polish flying-officer had downed a third the fourth was shot down by a Scottish-born flying officer.
“My leader chased two of them,” he said “and I chased another, but lost him in cloud. When I came down again I saw two FW 190s but they also took cloud cover.
“I followed, got right behind one, and gave a good burst which sent him down.”
The Scotsman
1333551 Sergeant John George Wiseman
Record of Sevice
28/06/41 - 05/07/41 No. 1 Receiving Centre, Babbacombe, England
05/07/41 - 15/08/41 No. 4 Initial Training Wing, Paignton, England
17/09/41 - 23/11/41 No. 31 Elementary Flying Training School, Calgary, Canada
23/11/41 - 13/02/42 No. 32 Service Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, Canada
10/03/42 - 29/04/42 No. 3 Personnel Receiving Centre, Bournemouth, England
29/04/42 - 26/05/42 No. 17 Air Fighting Unit, Watton, England
26/05/42 - 13/08/42 No. 56 Operational Training Unit, Dundee, Scotland
21/08/42 - 18/09/42 No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Duxford, England
18/09/42 - 06/11/42 No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Biggin Hill, England
06/11/42 - No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Manston, England
14/02/43 - Killed in Action over Straits of Dover
It started like this:
Relating to: Sergeant J G 'Johnny' Wiseman, 20 years old, shot down in Hawker Typhoon R7872 PR-S of 609 (West Riding) Squadron by FW190 of III/JG2 at around 1100 hrs, 14th February 1943. Johnny was from a small Norfolk Village called Ashby-with-Oby, the son of Percy and Hilda Wiseman. (Johnny is seen in the Boulting Brother PR film 'Between Friends' where they say "That's Johnny, he's from Yarmouth, where they catch herrings you know!").
About 10-12 miles from (Great) Yarmouth, in the middle of a bunch of fields is a farm. That's Ashby. Also nearby are a couple of houses. That's Oby. On the side of the road is a small sign saying Ashby-with-Oby. Clearly, a place of that size is unlikely to have either a church, or even a War Memorial. Having trekked out to this hitherto unheard of area this morning with the intention of placing a poppy and remembering his sacrifice, I was surprised to find that he has no local commemoration (He is, however, listed on the Runnymede Memorial). His name is not recorded on the memorials of the two other churches nearby (Thurne and Repps-with-Bastwick), nor could I find anything at the church at Clippesby (admittedly it was locked, so I couldn't enter). Ultimately, I left the poppy at Thurne church and came home.
Now this has got me thinking, how many of our forebears who died have no memorial to their passing in defence of our future in their home village/town/city? I can recall, every time I went to my local village church, reading the names of those who died in the two World Wars. It always seemed to me to be important that their names were visible to those of us living in the village all these years after, and that I read them. To say that I was surprised to find no mention of Johnny at not finding a lasting tribute is even more so. For this reason, I would like to ask all who read this today to think of Johnny for a minute or two, and also Alan 'Babe' Haddon from Leicester who was also lost with him that day, and all those countless others who didn't get to grow up, grow old, and die after a full life.
On a practical note too, I would like to ask for advice from any of you who may have done this at some point - How can I go about arranging for a suitable memorial at Ashby-with-Oby, say on the roadside? I am thinking of an appeal in the local press (plus an article or two) to find surviving relatives, further information on his life and RAF career, and to ask for donations to put a plinth there. Are there any organisations who may be willing to help? I think that almost 60 years is long enough for any village to forget their son. The surprise is that their is now someone to remember Johnny.
And became this:
Unveiling and Dedication Service for the Memorial to
Sergeant John Wiseman and Flight Sergeant Alan Haddon
of 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Killed in Action, 14th February 1943
Remembered with Honour, 14th July 2003
Before the service:
On Remembrance Sunday 2002 I went to look for a memorial bearing the name of a pilot who had been killed during the Second World War. I am involved with veteran members of his squadron, and as he was born locally I decided to place a poppy by his name on his village War Memorial. For various reasons I had looked in the wrong place and failed to find his name - I therefore decided that I would raise the money to erect a memorial to him. His name was Johnny Wiseman, and he was 20 years old.
Back in 1943, the world was at war. The Eastern Daily Press, the newspaper serving the region in which John had grown up, had as its main news items on Monday 15th February reports that Rostov in Russia had been captured by the Red Army, 1000 tons of bombs had been dropped on Lorient in France, and that the 8th Army were moving forward in Tunisia. While all this was going on abroad, the south coast of England was under daily attack by fighter-bomber ‘raiders’ of the German Luftwaffe flying from airfields on the Continent. There appeared on the front page of the paper on this day, and in many more papers nationally, a report on one of these raids. It had as its title 'Four Nazis Down in Channel'. The article related to RAF Fighter Commands continuing battle against the Luftwaffe, and, in this instance, the engagement was heralded as a success. The aircraft belonging to Fighter Command were southern England's first line of defence, and No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron, based at RAF Manston in Kent, was one of the main units involved in the patrolling and defending of the English Channel. Among the men of 609 Squadron involved in this task was a young Norfolk pilot, John Wiseman, who, along with his colleague Alan Haddon, was killed in action during this particular engagement. Outside Martham Church, there is a War Memorial to those from the village who died in the two World Wars. Johnny’s name is inscribed here, as well as on the Runnymede Memorial at Windsor with a further 20,450 other Commonwealth and Allied aircrew whose bodies were never recovered.
The stone, covered by the squadron flag
Sixty years and six months after the events of this winters morning, at the entrance to Johnny's old home at Grange Farm, Martham, a memorial to himself and his flying partner Alan Haddon was unveiled by John’s sister, Mrs Betty Kennedy of Reedham, and Alan's brother Mr Ron Haddon of Leicester in the company of around 150 people. While some were local, others had travelled from as far away as Walsall, Doncaster, Brighton and Duxford. The memorial, a pillar of bathstone, is adorned with two beautifully engraved brass plaques generously donated by the Lowestoft branch of Timpson Ltd. Attended by members of the local Royal British Legion, Royal Air Force Association and the Friends of War Memorials, bearing a total of ten standards between them. The memorial service and dedication ceremony was carried out by RAF chaplain Squadron Leader Colin Hewitt, who is based at RAF Honington in Norfolk. The service began as Jaguar jets from No. 41 Squadron led by their Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Hopkins, flew over the ceremony from RAF Coltishall which Alan Haddon occasionally flew during the summer of 1942, performed a moving flypast as a tribute to their forebears.
Coming from RAF Leeming in Yorkshire was an honour party of three members of the current 609 (West Riding) Squadron, 2 of whom have just returned from the Gulf having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. With them was Air Commodore William de Goat. ‘Billy’ has been the squadron mascot since 23rd June 1941, when the Belgian landlady of the ‘Old Jail’ public house near Biggin Hill donated him to the gallant Belgian Spitfire pilot Vicki Ortmans (whose younger brother was also to join 609), ‘Billy’ was in the advance party Dakota on its arrival in Northern France on July 1st 1944 after the invasion of Europe. The original 'Billy' became a legend in the RAF, and was even the subject of an article by the author John Steinbeck. His memories of Duxford are however, tinged with anger - as when the squadron departed for Biggin Hill, he somehow remained behind. According to the Squadron Operational Records Book, "The Intelligence Officer goes to Duxford to continue enquiries about F/Lt William de Goat. He finds that the day after 609's departure the Station Adjutant ordered his immediate disposal or destruction. The service police, used to arresting him, then gave him to a farmer who sold him for meat. Great efforts are now being made to rescue him". Fortunately, he was rescued in time to again inspire the squadrons efforts against German raiders along the South Coast. Though not the original goat ‘Billy’s’ replacement was far better behaved and looked resplendent in his new ceremonial uniform, handmade by Mrs Margaret Earnshaw of Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
The service, lasting almost one hour, began with Mr David Ridge of the 609 Squadron Association relating the story of the pilot’s loss, before S/Ldr Hewitt took over with prayers and the lesson. As he led the prayer of dedication, Betty and Ron removed the squadron flag from the memorial, unveiling the plaques, before both eulogising their long-departed siblings. After the reading by Mr Kevin Mears of a poem he had written, the memorial was blessed and highly talented 16 year old Cornet player Tom Poulson of Gorleston played the ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ as the 150 people in attendance, the youngest aged 11 months, observed a two minute silence in remembrance. With the raising of the parade’s standards, the local veterans marched from the place of remembrance to a shaded lawn at the farm where people were able to chat as light refreshments were served.
Ron Haddon and Betty Kennedy with their briother's memorial
A representation from the current 609 (West Riding) Squadron
The memorial:
The ceremony followed a very important weekend for the squadron. Returning to Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire, where they were first introduced to the mighty Hawker Typhoon aircraft 61 years ago in 1942, veteran officers and men of 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, were once again on the airfield for what was possibly their final (though unoffficial) reunion, with 'The Fighter Collections' annual Flying Legends airshow supplying a suitably evocative backdrop. This two-day event, widely regarded as the number one vintage airshow in Europe, spans an entire weekend and features an unrivalled collection of piston engined military aircraft flying in from all over Europe and the United States. With 12 wartime pilots from 609 attending, and with more friends from other squadrons joining them, the line up of aircraft were arguably eclipsed by the line up of living legends.
The main reason for 609's presence at the show was the book launch (and signing session) of '609 at War', a photographic record of the squadron from the first days of war in the north of England, up until their recall from Germany for disbandment soon after the end of hostilities. The book, compiled by Jim Earnshaw AE (who, as an auxiliary F II A served as groundcrew with 609 from 1937 until 1940, when he was posted to 238 Squadron at Tangmere) and on which I was honoured and privileged to work on for over a year retouching the 400 or so photographs used, is the end result of a 'retirement' devoted to collating and preserving the memory of those who fought 'Under the White Rose'. It follows the fortunes of the squadron from convoy protection duty off the Scottish coast in the early days of the war, through the evacuation of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain and the taking of the offensive to occupied Europe from bases in the south of England, to the defence of the South Coast from German raiders and onto the ground attack sorties of the Normandy invasion and the dying days of the Third Reich. Published by Colin Smith of Vector Fine-arts, the book (limited to 609 copies) is the culmination of 18 months concentrated work by Jim, on top of many years of putting together an incredible archive that remains as a lasting tribute to the men of 609.
In addition to the book launch and reunion, another important event for the squadron happened on the first day of the show. Lieutenant General Baron Michel Donnet, CVO, DFC, a Belgian wartime fighter pilot famed for his own book 'Flight to Freedom' which tells the story of his escape from occupied Belgium in a mothballed Stampe biplane under the very noses of the German Wehrmacht, flew in from Belgium to present a posthumous Belgian 'Croix de Guerre' to the family of the late Wing-Commander Roland 'Bee' Beamont, CBE, DSO*, DFC*, DFC (USA), DL, FRAeS. The Commanding Officer when John and Alan were lost, ‘Bee’ had fought in both the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, before becoming involved in the development of the Typhoon at Hawkers in Langley. Widely regarded as the father of the Typhoon (in its operational sense), Bee was its prime defender at a time when many in the Air Ministry wanted the aircraft to be abandoned. Championing the aircraft, it was Bee who was to prove that it was, indeed, a war winning aircraft, when he took command of 609 from October 1942 until May 1943, developing its role as a cross-Channel ground attack intruder aircraft and low-level interceptor, before leaving once again for Hawkers to help on the Tempest development program. He subsequently led the first Tempest wing into action over Normandy and against the V1 flying bomb threat before being shot down by ground fire in late 1944 and being taken prisoner. Postwar, 'Bee' was to become one of this countries greatest aviators through his work for English Electric / British Aerospace as a test pilot on the Lightning, Canberra, TSR2 and finally Tornado. In addition to his multi-decade career at the forefront of aviation, Bee also found the time to write many books on his role in 20th century aviation. 609's connection with Belgium began in 1941 under the command of Squadron-Leader Michael Robinson. He was later followed by even more Belgian pilots, to the point that, unofficially at least, 609 fielded a Belgian Flight (one of two flights in the squadron). As such, the squadron had strong links with Belgium - a situation which is maintained to this day, with the weekends line-up of veteran pilots again counting around half of its members as Belgian.
For those who entered the Vector Fine-Arts marquee, it was a great pleasure to meet with such men as two former commanding officers of 609 – Col Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemand, DFC*; and S/Ldr Lawrence ‘Pinkie’ Stark, DFC*, AFC, Croix de Guerre (Belgian) - and other wartime 609 pilots such as Ken Adam (more widely known for his involvement with the James Bond films), Sir 'Joe' Atkinson, KCB, DFC; (609’s longest serving operational pilot) Jim Stewart, DFC; Allen Billam; Rik Dupre; Georges Jaspis, DFC; Jan Mathys; Albert Laforce; and groundcrew members Alan Enser and Danby Barber; who had all clearly enjoyed their reunion dinner and the accompanying speeches and were more than happy to reminisce as they signed books and pictures for all those in the queue. These men, not a single one of them under 80 years of age, had travelled from all over the country, and from Belgium and Canada to be here, for what was to be possibly their squadrons swan-song. Of those present, Lallemand, Stark and Atkinson had all known John and Alan and remembered them fondly.
Formed at Yeadon in February 1936 as a bomber squadron flying Hawker Harts and then Hinds, 609 changed to a fighter role in December 1938, soon converting onto the Supermarine Spitfire MK1’s that were to see them score the first of many aerial combat victories with the shooting down by Flying Officers G.D. Ayre, D. Persse–Joynt and Pilot Officer J.R. Buchanan of a Heinkel He111 on February 1940. Having fought at Dunkirk and through the Battle of Britain, 609 became the first RAF Spitfire squadron to reach 100 victories, with the shooting down by Frank Howell and Sydney Hill on 21st October 1940 of a Ju88 which had been machine–gunning Old Sarum. It was in April 1942 that 609 was to finally become acquainted with the Hawker Typhoon, (giving up their much loved Spitfire's,) which they first used operationally on 30th June of that year from Duxford. When I spoke to ex-Commanding Officer Roland Beamont a few months before his death in 2001, he told me that “609 pioneered the use of the Typhoon for ground attack from December onwards, and this led to the great and successful Typhoon strike force from Normandy to the Baltic in 1944-45.” During the run up to D-Day, and until the end of the war, 609, who soon became a part of 123 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force, was continually prowling the European mainland by day and night, attacking German troops, armour, installations and locomotives. Bee added “I successfully attacked 25 trains in the first two months when I was in command of 609 squadron, that was at the end of 42, the beginning of 1943, and we went after trains in a big way to establish the capability of the aircraft in air to ground attack.” They did this with a mixture of 20mm cannon, 60lb rocket projectiles, and 500lb bombs. In September 1945, having lost 53 pilots killed, 20 missing, and a further 31 killed or missing who had transferred to other squadrons, the original 609 (West Riding) Squadron was disbanded. But the story did not end there. 8 months later, the squadron reformed with De Havilland Mosquito XXXII’s, before moving onto first the Spitfire LF XVI, and then into the jet age with the De Havilland Vampire and subsequently Gloster Meteor V and VII’s, before again being disbanded in March 1957. 609 (West Riding) Squadron was once more resurrected on 1st July 1999. Components of its current incarnation have recently returned from the Gulf, where they have been supporting forces involved in 'Operation Iraqi Freedom'
Sergeant John Wiseman was born on January 31st 1923 and grew up at Grange Farm in Martham. After finishing school he returned, working in the fields and joining the Martham Local Defence Volunteers (forerunner to the Home Guard) until he was old enough to join the Royal Air Force, training as a pilot in Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Johnny returned to England in 1942, being posted to 609 (West Riding) Squadron in August, at Duxford in Cambridgeshire, flying the new Hawker Typhoon fighters. His colleague on the day of his loss was Flight Sergeant Alan Haddon, who was a couple of years older than John and had been with the squadron for eight months when John arrived. He was an experienced and successful fighter pilot. Born in the north of England, 'Babe', as he became known, moved to Leicester, where he worked as a trainee draughtsman before joining the RAF as aircrew. 609 was his first operational posting also.
On 14th February 1943, ‘A’ flight was at readiness. Babe and Johnny took off in perfect flying weather from Manston. Their mission was to protect some Royal Navy vessels in difficulties near the French coast. One was now lying disabled off Cap Gris-Nez, having struck some wreckage. With dawn breaking, and the boats still in range of the German coastal artillery, attempts were made to tow it to safety. Sgt Wiseman and F/Sgt Haddon were tasked with the job of close escort, while F/O Raymond Lallemand and F/O Antoni Polek patrolled close by, ready to help if needed. Then the towing cable snapped. With the boats now stationary, John and Alan could only circle relentlessly around them. It was at around this time that contact was lost between them, the Sector Controller at RAF Biggin Hill and Yellow Section (who were now mid-Channel). At approximately 11am on 14th February 1943, Sergeant John Wiseman, and Flight Sergeant Alan Haddon were shot down; The Captain of the immobile MTB was later to state that the German Focke-Wulf fighters had come up on the Typhoons, which were patrolling at 500ft and a 1000yds apart, from just above sea level.
The Eastern Daily Press recorded on the 15th: "Yesterday afternoon our fighters shot down four enemy fighters into the Channel. Two of our aircraft are missing." It is the pilots of these two aircraft that we honoured on Monday 14th July.
As a final act of remembrance I’d like to post the words of a mate of mine, Steve Young, who wrote about the memorial unveiling on a forum we all belonged to:
“Gary, it did get quite emotional.
What Snapper is a little too modest to say is that the number of people who turned out to attend the memorial and dedication service was absolutely astounding. Representatives from the Royal British Legion, Royal Air Forces Association, 609 Squadron association and the current 609 Sqn (a Royal Auxilliary Air Force Regiment unit) were all there, as indeed were three Jaguars from RAF 41 Sqn, who came past in a tight vic formation before the leader pulled up into a missing man salute.
The memorial itself is a simple yet beautiful monument to two young men who died nearly thirty years before Snapper was born, and as Snapper says, Johnny's sister and Alan's brother were also there to see their siblings honoured.
It must have been a huge task to organise this all, for two young men he'd never known, but that's what Snapper did. I feel very humble and priveleged to have been there”
Steve was to die in a road accident a couple of years later and I miss him greatly too.
------------------------------
Thank you for your patience.
Jim amassed a huge archive of material of, from and relating to the squadron and was in touch with many of the former members of it. It was in July 2001 that I met him and I soon became his 'right hand man' somehow or other. I was very fortunate. At this time I was somewhat involved in historic aviation and kind of 'known about town' as it were.
Jim and I worked on a couple of books together and over the few years we knew each other before his death his almost daily emails were a source of great pleasure to me. I became the squadron archivist by default and still have some involvement with the squadron association. Alas more and more remembrance becomes involved as veteran groundcrew and pilots I have met and/or got to know dwindle in number as the years pass and sadly I do not see the occasion coming again where I shall be sitting drinking beer with former Spitfire and Typhoon pilots; but remember them I do.
Now this is leading soemwhere and in fact it is backwards that I am taking you. I am taking you in fact to a cold November day in 2002. A cold and grey day when I went driving around the countryside to find a memorial at Ashby-with-Oby in Norfolk. I was looking for a member of 609 Squadron who had been killed in action long before. John had been introduced on camera by a charming gentleman I had spent time with on occasion, 'Joe' Atkinson, as 'Johnny from Yarmouth, where they catch herrings'. Of course there is nothing there - Ashby is a field as is Oby. Soo I stuck something in the paper about that and my intention to raise a memorial to John.
It turned out that he was a Martham boy and his name was on the memorial there but no matter, I was started and with the assistance and encouragement of friends and through leads from the article and some detective work I made contact both with John's sister and the brother of the pilot he was flying with on that day in 1943, Alan Haddon.
So, what has this to do with today? Just another dead serviceman from long ago? A footnote in history? Well, maybe, but not to me. I always pass the memorial when I'm nearby, always greet the boys. The thing is I shall be going back there on Sunday, back to that plinth outside his old home. I shall be there with my girls, I shall be at the town memorial too and then I shall be visiting a lady in a neraby village. After John's sister, betty, passed away some items passed to her cousin and she contacted me some time back as the person who may be able to help. There is no-one else really to whom John's RAF Flying Logbook could go, could be entrusted to. I had it here before, have held it in my hands many times, this lads entire service history. I had it here alongside Alan's diary. John's wings were with too. I think if there is one thing I've held more poignant than these items I would be surprised. So, I've arranged Sunday as the day when I should collect these to bring them home. So, with this introductory tale I would like to introduce you all to somebody unimportant, who you've never heard of and likely never will. Perhaps, though, when you next pass down the B1152 past Martham you might however just turn up it and pull into the track that runs parralel, just by the entrance to Grange Farm and stop at the memorial and reflect one moment at someone who could have been anyone.
(Nb there may be some repetition amongst this as I am copying and pasting rom various sources from long ago, sorry about that! It's also all written ten years or so ago. )
Johnny Wiseman
Babe Haddon
-------------------------------------
A Story of St. Valentines Day
February 14th, 1943.
By Mark Crame
Johnny and Babe.
60 years ago today, the World was at war. Much of Europe was occupied by the Third Reich, with German soldiers on the streets of, amongst others, our European neighbours; France, Belgium, and Holland. The ‘Chindits’ of the British Fourteenth Army (among whom were many men of the Royal Norfolk Regiment) had just crossed the River Chindwin in the Far East, The Germans and Russians were battling it out at Stalingrad, whilst the Americans and Japanese were fighting at Guadalcanal in the Pacific. While all this was going on abroad, the South Coast of England was under daily attack by fighter – bomber ‘raiders’ of the German Luftwaffe, flying from airfields on the Continent. The aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Force’s Fighter Command were the first line of defence, with 609 (West Riding) Squadron, based at RAF Manston in Kent, being one of the major units involved in the patrolling and defending of the English Channel. Among the men of 609 Squadron involved in this task was a young Norfolk pilot, who, with a colleague, was killed in action on Saint Valentines day, 1943.
1333551 Sergeant John George ‘Johnny’ Wiseman was born on January 31st 1923 and lived and grew up at Grange Farm, in Martham, Norfolk, (about 10 miles from Great Yarmouth) with his Father Percy, Mother Hilda, and sister Betty (three years his elder, and still living in Norfolk. She joined the ATS during the war to try and ‘do her bit’. She was at home on leave with her mother when the dreaded telegram arrived, notifying the family of Johnny’s loss). The farm consisted of around 200 acres of mainly arable land. Johnny’s father was from Ashby-With-Oby, a few miles away, a village to which he returned during the war years. A popular, kind, and intelligent boy, Johnny was a scholar and prefect at Great Yarmouth Grammar School, although he completed his Grammar schooling in Sevenoaks, Kent, as the school had been moved from Great Yarmouth (though not all the boys had gone, some having stayed in Martham due to it being a rural farming community, where they were needed). He returned to Martham after completing his schooling, and worked on the farm, doing all the tractor work, (it was the only tractor they had in those days) until he was old enough to join the Royal Air Force, having always been keen on flying. After completing his training as a pilot in Canada, Johnny returned to England in 1942 and was posted to 609 (West Riding) Squadron at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, flying Hawker Typhoon fighters. In October of that year, the Boulting Brothers were making a short propaganda film for the Royal Air Force Photographic Unit featuring 609 (West Riding) Squadron. Johnny appears twice in this film, once being described by Flight Commander Joe Atkinson as being “from Yarmouth, where they catch herrings”, and another segment where he discusses the merits of Polish Vodka with ‘Tony’ Polek.
Johnny is fondly remembered as a bit of a local hero, coming home on leave in RAF uniform at a time when the heroes of the Battle of Britain were still held in great esteem. One local boy, Roy Sales, was born and brought up on Grange Farm, as his grandfather was team manager looking after the horses. He often used to ride on the tractor with Johnny, from when he was about 5 years old. He remembers that there was an anti-aircraft gun and two searchlights stationed at the top of Grange Hill, about half a mile from the farm. On one night the Germans dropped several incendiary bombs in the area. Johnny was on leave at the time and he found one stuck in a hedgerow that had not detonated – which he promptly took home. The next day, he asked the young Mr Sales if he would like to have it. Receiving a positive reply, he dismantled the bomb, taking out all the explosives and combustible contents and igniting them out on the field, and gave him the empty bomb casing. He went back two days later, and Roy never saw him again.
On the day of Johnny’s death it was ‘A’ flights turn to come to readiness, and Johnny, flying Hawker Typhoon R7872 PR-S was paired with Flight-Sergeant Alan ‘Babe’ Haddon in Typhoon DN294 PR-O as Red Section. Together they took off in perfect flying weather from RAF Manston in Kent. Also patrolling was Yellow Section, consisting of the Belgian (and future Commanding Officer) Flying Officer Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemand in R7855 PR-D, and Polish pilot Flying Officer Antoni ‘Tony’ Polek in R8889 PR-X. Their mission was to protect some Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats, which had got into difficulties close to the French coast. During the night, the MTB’s had been making a nuisance of themselves around the French ports, and one was now lying disabled off Cap Gris-Nez, having struck some hidden wreckage. With dawn breaking, and still in range of the German coastal artillery, attempts were made to tow it to safety, as the men on board were now at the mercy of both this, and the German Luftwaffe who would surely soon appear.
Sergeant Wiseman and Flight-Sergeant Haddon (from Leicester) were tasked with the job of close escort, while Lallemand and Polek patrolled close by, ready to help if needed. Then bad luck struck the Navy. The cable that was being used to tow the stricken vessel snapped (although by this time they were out of range of the German guns). With the boats now stationary, Wiseman and Haddon could do no more than circle relentlessly around them. It was around this time that contact was lost between Red Section and Bill Igoe (the Sector Controller at RAF Biggin Hill, codenamed ‘Swingate’) and Yellow Section (who were now mid-Channel)
At around 11am on 14th February 1943, Sergeant ‘Johnny’ Wiseman was shot down, by one of two Focke-Wulf FW190’s of Stab III./Jagdgeschwader 2 ‘Richtofen’ based at Vannes-Meucon in France. One of these also shot down Flight-Sergeant Alan ‘Babe’ Haddon. Luftwaffe records show three claims from that day (at 11:36, 11:40, and 12:12 hrs) made by the Squadron Commander Oberleutnant Egon Mayer, holder of the Knights Cross, and one by Leutnant Fritz Rösle (at 11:38 hrs.) Mayer, the first Luftwaffe pilot to reach 100 kills on the Western Front, was officially credited with shooting down 102 enemy aircraft in 353 combat missions, and developed the head on attack against the American daylight bombers in conjunction with Major Georg-Peter Eder. He was killed in action just over a year later on 2nd March 1944, believed to have been shot down by an American pilot of the 365th Fighter Group flying a P47 Thunderbolt fighter 1½ miles south of Montmédy, France. The Captain of the immobile MTB was later to tell ‘Cheval’ Lallemand that the Focke-Wulfs had come up on the Typhoons, which were patrolling at 500ft and a 1000yds apart, from just above sea level, and being unable to give a warning to the pilots in time, they could only watch as one aircraft was seen to go down in flames, while the other folded up ‘like a book’, its wings shot away, and also crashed into the sea.
Shortly afterwards, Yellow Section engaged the first of two flights of four German fighters, with Lallemand altogether claiming two Focke-Wulfs confirmed destroyed and one probable, with Polek (in his first combat) claiming two probables. They were then joined by fellow 609 Squadron pilots Flying Officer Roy Payne, flying Typhoon R7845 PR-H, and another Belgian, Flying Officer Jean De Selys Longchamps in R8888 PR-Y, who proceeded to destroy another Fw190 apiece off Calais.
Official Luftwaffe losses were three pilots with their Focke-Wulf Fw190-A-4 aircraft. JagdGeschwader 2 ‘Richtofen’ recorded losing 3 aircraft destroyed and 3 pilots missing, believed killed, in the area of this combat on this day: Fw190-A4 Werknummer 0733 flown by Unteroffizier Fridolin Armbruster of 7/JG2, to the west of Boulogne at 12:20 hrs, Fw190-A4 Werknummer 2421 flown by Leutnant Leonhard Deuerling of 9/JG2, north west of Calais at 12:08 hrs, and Fw190-A4 Werknummer 7177 flown by Unteroffizier Gerhard Bischoff of 7/JG2 around Gris Nez at 11:50 hrs)
The Nine O’ Clock News that night announced: “In the course of defensive patrols over the English Channel, Typhoons of Fighter Command destroyed five Focke-Wulf 190’s, the latest type of German fighter. Two of our pilots failed to return.”
Sergeant ‘Johnny’ Wiseman has no grave but the sea.
Outside Martham Church, in the heart of Norfolk, there is a War Memorial to those from the village who died in the two World Wars. Johnny’s name is inscribed here, as well as on the Runnymede Memorial at Windsor; along with the 20,450 other Commonwealth and Allied aircrew whose bodies were never recovered. It is my goal to erect a permanent stone memorial to Johnny’s sacrifice now, 60 years after his death. Mr Peter Norton, the current owner of Grange Farm, Martham (himself ex-aircrew, flying operationally during the war on Lancasters as a member of Bomber Command) has generously agreed to the placing of a stone on land next to the roadside that once belonged to Johnny’s family, and Timpson’s Ltd (Lowestoft Branch) have pledged two large engraved brass plaques engraved with John’s name and details, and his Squadron badge, to affix to it.
The village memorial at Martham
INTELLIGENCE FORM “F”
COMBAT REPORT
609 Squadron Manston
Battle of the M.T.B
F/O Payne F/O Lallemand F/O De Selys F/O Polek F/Sgt Haddon Sgt Wiseman
A. 14/2/43
B. 609 (West Riding) Sqdn
C. Typhoons 1B
D. 1150, 1200, 1210 hours
E. Between Dover and Gris Nez
F. 10/10ths cloud at 1000ft, 500ft thick
G. 1 Typhoon Cat.B 2 Typhoons Cat E
H. F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman missing believed killed
J. 4 Fw190’s destroyed 3 Fw190’s probable
609 Squadron was detailed to supply sections to patrol in defence of an M.T.B lying between Dover and Gris Nez disabled after striking hidden wreckage. Altogether 3 sections, of 2 Typhoons, were involved, taking off between 1030 and 1145. The first section (F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman) left at 1030 and both pilots failed to return. The skipper of the M.T.B reported that he saw the 2 Typhoons flying at 500ft in line astern, 1000yds apart. 2 Fw190’s then bounced the second Typhoon and it crashed in flames, they then attacked the first Typhoon and cut off both the wings, this Typhoon also crashed into the sea.
The remaining 4 Typhoons shot down 7 Fw190’s destroyed, or probably destroyed and prevented any further attacks on the M.T.B
F/O Lallemand (Belg) and F/O Polek (Polish) left Manston 1129 on defensive patrol and were then vectored to the position of the M.T.B Flying at 300ft they sighted 4 Fw190’s in square formation, on the deck and heading W. Typhoon’s attacked and the 190’s split up, there was a dogfight. On his first burst from astern Lallemand saw no result. After various gyrations he saw Polek chasing a 190 with another 190 behind him and firing. Lallemand approached from the beam and fired at the 190 behind Polek, obtaining hits on the cockpit. Lallemand almost rammed the enemy aircraft which crashed into the sea. Polek meantime had fired at a 190 while it was turning and diving, and then gave it a long burst as it climbed. The 190 poured thick white smoke and made cloud at such a low rate that Polek, following, was at stalling point. Polek believes the pilot was dead as he made no attempt to evade or avoid stalling.
Our two pilots then rejoined and continued patrol for about 10 minutes near Gris Nez when Swingate reported bandits approaching them from the east. Presently 4 Fw190’s were seen, again in 2 pairs and flying parallel, ahead and to port. Typhoon’s and 190’s all climbed and orbited. F/O Lallemand reports he had no trouble in out turning them. With the leading pair turning on a parallel course to port, he fired at one of the second pair from 15 degrees and it turned on its back. Whilst it was inverted he fired again from above, seeing strikes on its belly. As he overshot the e/a was still inverted, travelling at great speed in a dive from 300ft. He believes it went straight into the sea. (It is requested that if the evidence is considered sufficient, this claim be stepped up to Destroyed). Lallemand then fired a full beam shot at the second E/A of the pair from 350-400 yds, E/A dived and to his surprise burst into flames – Polek saw it go in. Polek himself got on the tail of another E/A (presumably one of the leading pair). This made a sharp climbing turn and Polek fired from the quarter at 100yds range shortly before the E/A reached cloud and he had to break away as the fourth E/A was on his tail. Though he saw no results of his fire, Lallemand saw this E/A flying slowly along the coast below cliff level, losing height and pouring blue-black smoke. (Claim:- probably destroyed) The 2 Typhoons landed Manston at 1217hrs.
F/O De Selys (Belg) and F/O Payne (airborne 1145-1233) hearing E/A reported, and knowing the other section of Typhoons were with M.T.B’s decided first on the wide sweep towards Calais from West, then down the French Coast to Gris Nez. As they were approaching Calais, and turning south, they were attacked by 3 Fw190’s flying North. The shooting missed and De Selys, warning his No.2 behind, turned sharply – observing the third E/A to be continuing North – the second was flying inland over Calais and the third was finishing a wide turn.
F/O De Selys engaged this third E/A in a head on attack, opening fire as he closed to 700 yes and seeing the E/A catch fire as it flashed overhead. Turning, he saw it stall at 300ft and spin into the sea about half a mile off Calais. Fire from the 190 had hit De Selys’ aircraft in the wings.
F/O Payne chased a 190 up into cloud and lost him. On re-emerging from cloud, off Calais, he saw 2 Fw190’s behind another a/c which he thought was De Selys and called a warning (De Selys was not in the area at that moment). The 2 E/A’s broke away however and climbed up into cloud over France. Payne followed and above cloud found himself 350 yds behind the starboard E/A. Opening fire from a slight angle he saw many strikes on the starboard wing and flames from the side of the fuselage. The 190 turned right and fell away into cloud still on fire. The other 190 turned left and was not seen again despite a search below cloud.
The two Typhoons met up over the Channel and returned to base.
Enemy Aircraft Camouflage.
The first quartet of 190’s were painted very dark, with black crosses on the wings, without white outline and no crosses on the fuselage.
The second quartet were a light grey with grey-blue bellies, yellow fins, a yellow band round the rear of the fuselage, and a yellow stripe running from leading to trailing edge, halfway along the wing. One of them also had a yellow arrowhead on the fuselage, and had the lower half of the fuselage painted black fro exhaust to cockpit. One of the final 190’s appeared black from the plan view.
4 Fw190’s destroyed.
2 Fw190’s probables.
F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman, missing believed killed.
Roy Payne Recalls His Part In The Battle In November 2002
Roy Payne and Jean De Selys Longchamps were scrambled to help out the previous pilots - it probably took about ten minutes to reach the MTBs, flying to mid-Channel at about 300 mph. He said:- “Just as we flew overhead the MTB’s, we couldn’t believe our luck; just about two miles ahead we spotted a very old Junkers 52 three-engined transport plane heading North, just inside the French coastline. We headed towards it, but fantastic flak came up at us from the coastal defences. As we were concentrating so hard on the JU 52 we made the classic mistake; we stopped scanning the sky for enemy aircraft. In those few seconds, I saw tracer flash over my wings from behind. We both broke away suddenly. I turned steeply then saw them (the FW190’s) go up into cloud. I followed them in, and on re-emerging saw two planes. I thought the one in front of the other was Jean, so I called out to him on the radio. Then I opened fire on the closest of the two and saw my shells rip into his wing and lots of white smoke emerge from the fuselage. I thought I couldn’t claim it as destroyed because I hadn’t seen it hit the water, however on returning to Manston the Intelligence boys gave it to me. I think they wanted to keep the numbers up. Afterwards, de Selys and I wondered whether the JU52 was there as a decoy, but quickly realised that logistically it would have been impossible. It turned out that Jean’s was not one of the pair of aircraft that I saw emerging from the cloud, as he had corkscrewed away.”
Roy says that after that day he insisted that no tracer rounds were ever loaded on his aircraft, because it really takes away the element of surprise. In response to a query about the markings of the Fw-190’s in the Combat Report, Roy says that as he came up right behind the FW190 he personally couldn’t have seen any markings, and none of the Typhoons had arrowheads on their fuselages.
His Logbook Records The Following:
Feb 14, Typhoon PR-H, Escorting MT Boats, 50mins duration, 1FW 190 destroyed over Calais. Plus a swastika of course...
There is also a pull-out page headed ‘Fighter Pilot’s Gunnery Record’. It shows that on Feb 14th 1943, Roy Payne fired 120 rounds (cannon) and used 1.5 feet of film when attacking the FW190.
The days entry from the diary kept by 809082 F/Sgt F.II.E Robert ‘Bob’ Walling
Feb 14th
Babe Haddon and Johnnie Wiseman both went for a Burton.
They were shot into the sea off the French coast by one Fw190.
There was a general mix up over some MTBs in the Channel and in the end 4 Fw’s had been definitely destroyed and three probably destroyed.
Cheval got two and one probable and De Selys got one Payne got one and P/O Polak a probable.
Form 540 - Operations Record Book for 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Manston. February 14th 1943.
Feb 14th. For the IO to go away on a Sunday is as effective as the CO saluting W/D de Goat.
Today it results in the 'Battle of the MTB', a success comparable to the classic 'Battle of the Dinghy' on 8/5/41. Though F/Sgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman are lost, 4 other Typhoons between them score no less than 7 Fw190's destroyed or probably destroyed. Initial situation: an MTB disabled between Dover and Gris Nez after striking hidden wreckage. First to be airborne, at 1030, are Haddon and Wiseman. Concerning them the skipper of the MTB reports that he saw 2 Typhoons flying at 500 ft in line astern. 2 190's converged to attack No 2, and the Typhoon went into the sea on fire. They then attacked No 1, cutting off both his wings, and this aircraft also went into the sea. At 1129 F/O's Lallemand and Polek go off.After some minutes they see 4 Fw190's on the deck, and attack. E/A split up and a dogfight begins. After a burst from astern Lallemand sees Polek chasing a 190, with another behind him, shooting. He aims at Polek, from the beam, and hits the 190 behind him. It slips sideways into the sea. Polek continues his attack, finally firing from astern as it climbs. There is thick white smoke from both sides of the engine, and E/A makes cloud at such a slow pace that Polek, following, nearly stalls himself. He thinks the pilot is killed, no attempt being made to evade or avoid stalling. (Probably destroyed). After resuming their patrol for another 10 minutes, they are near Gris Nez when Swingate reports bandits coming from the east, and presently 4 new 190's, again in 2 pairs, loom to port and ahead. Typhoons and 190's climb and orbit, Lallemand reporting little difficulty in out-turning them. Finally he gets into position to fire at one of the second pair: it turns on its back. While it is inverted he strikes it again in the belly and overshoots, leaving it diving inverted at 300 ft (probably destroyed). He then fires a full beam shot at the second E/A of the same pair from 350-400 yds, and to his surprise it bursts into flames and Polek sends it into the sea. Polek gets on the tail of one of the others, and he fires from the quarter at 100 yds shortly before it reaches cloud, and he has to break away on finding the 4th E/A on his own tail. Though he himself sees no results, Lallemand saw the E/A attacked flying slowly along the coast, below cliff level, losing height and pouring blue-black smoke (probably destroyed). Lallemand altogether has only fired 50 rounds from each gun, a total of 5 secs.
The last pair, off at 1145, are F/O de Selys and F/O Payne. Knowing the other section is with the MTB, de Selys decides on a wide sweep to Calais and then down to Gris Nez. As they are turning south at Calais they are attacked by 3 Fw190's flying north. The shooting misses, and de Selys, warning Payne, turns steeply and sees the third E/A continue north, the second steer inland over Calais, and the first finishing a wide turn. He engages this one head-on, opening fire at 7/800 yds and seeing E/A catch fire before it flashes over him. Turning, he sees it stall at 300 ft and spin into the sea ½ a mile off Calais. E/A has also been firing, and the Typhoon is hit in the spinner and wings. Meanwhile Payne has chased E/A No 2 into cloud over land and lost it. Returning below cloud off Calais he sees 3 190's and pursues 2 of them into cloud over France again. Above cloud he finds one 350 yds in front, and firing from a slight angle, sees many strikes and flames on the starboard fuselage. E/A descends into cloud still on fire. No further attacks are made on the disabled MTB.
Enemy Casualties: 2 Fw 190's destroyed F/O Lallemand - Belgian)
1 Fw 190 destroyed (F/O de Selys Longchamps - Belgian)
1 Fw 190 destroyed (F/O Payne - Scottish)
2 Fw 190 probable (F/O Polek - Polish)
1 Fw 190 probable ( F/O Lallemand - Belgian)
Our Casualties: 2 Typhoons Cat E F/DSgt Haddon and Sgt Wiseman missing.
1 Typhoon Cat B.
N.B Our aircraft were outnumbered by at least 2 to 1.
This brings 609's score on Typhoons to 17 destroyed, 6 probable and 7 damaged, for the loss through enemy action of 5 pilots. Total score for the war is now 180 destroyed, 64 probable and 94 damaged for the loss of 36 pilots.
Evening sees a dance at Doone House, at which F/O Baldwin appears wearing the DFC (the first since 1941, and F/O Van Lierde the Croix de Guerre Belge. The CO turns up very angry because the G/C night Ops at 11 group has refused to let him take off on an Intruder, on the ground that it is still 6 days before full moon - albeit conditions are ideal and previously the CO has Intruded at an even greater distance from the full moon. Result: next day the CO writes another letter.
Various Newspaper Reports On The Engagement
TYPHOONS GET FOUR FW’s
FOUR F.W. 190s which were attacking high-speed launches in the Channel yesterday afternoon were shot down by Typhoons in 20 minutes.
Daily Sketch 15th February 1943
Typhoons Win Fighter Battle
Four FW190’s were shot down over the Channel yesterday afternoon by a Scotsman, two Belgians and a Polish pilot. Two of our pilots are missing.
Six pilots from the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron were over the Channel in their Typhoons when they saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six FW 190’s. The Typhoons sailed in and a “dog-fight” developed.
One of the Belgians had already shot down two FW 190’s and yesterday he doubled his score.
News Chronicle, 15th February 1943.
Typhoons to rescue: four F.W.s down
Four F.W.190’s were shot down for a cost of two R.A.F. planes in fights over the Channel yesterday. In one fight Typhoons of the West Riding Auxiliary Squadron broke up an attack by six F.W.190s on two high-speed launches.
Daily Express, 18th February 1943.
TYPHOONS ROUT NEWEST NAZI FIGHTERS
F.W.s Routed While Attacking Launches
The battles of the F.W.s began when six pilots from the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron, flying over the Channel in their Typhoons, saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six enemy planes. The Typhoons promptly went in to attack.
A Belgian pilot was leading a section when, in his own words: “We met four F.W.190’s. They did not see us until we fired. They split up immediately and after a dogfight for four or five minutes I saw my No. 2 shooting at one F.W.190 and being chased by another.
“I turned to help him and hit the Hun, who went straight into the water. I climbed again, found my No. 2 and resumed patrol, as there were on other enemy aircraft in sight.
A Second Clash
“After fifteen minutes we saw another formation of four F.W. 190s making for Gris Nez, so we started climbing and got on theoir tails. I saw my fire hit one, but did not see what happened to him after he had turned on his back because I overshot him. I made a steep turn and got in some good bursts on another F.W. 190, which went down in flames.”
The Belgian pilots pilot’s No. 2 was a Polish flying officer, who severely damaged other F.W.s
“I could not wait to see if they crashed, because we weretwo against four,” he said “I got in a long burst against the the first F.W. 190. He was climbing and turning very steeply all the time, but I saw a number of strikes and smoke. The Hun disappeared in cloud.
“In the second dog-fight we were again two against four. I got in a burst before my target disappeared again in cloud. When I turned I saw him going down with smoke pouring out, making for the French coast.”
Another Belgian, also a flying officer, shot down his first enemy aircraft.
The fourth F.W. 190 destroyed was shot down by a Scottish-born flying officer.
Yorkshire Evening News, 15th February 1943.
TYPHOONS ROUT NEWEST NAZI FIGHTERS
F.W.s Routed While Attacking Launches
The battles of the F.W.s began when six pilots from the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron, flying over the Channel in their Typhoons, saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six enemy planes. The Typhoons promptly went in to attack.
A Belgian pilot was leading a section when, in his own words: “We met four F.W.190’s. They did not see us until we fired. They split up immediately and after a dogfight for four or five minutes I saw my No. 2 shooting at one F.W.190 and being chased by another.
“I turned to help him and hit the Hun, who went straight into the water. I climbed again, found my No. 2 and resumed patrol, as there were on other enemy aircraft in sight.
Daily Telegraph.
Scot gets one of 4 F.W.s over Channel
Four FW 190s were shot down over the channel early yesterday afternoon – one by a Scotsman, two by a Belgian, and one by a Polish pilot.
Six pilots of the West Riding of Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron were over the Channel in their Typhoons when they saw a couple of high-speed launches being attacked by five or six FW 190s. The Typhoons sailed in.
A Belgian pilot was leading a section when in his own words: “We met four FW 190’s. They did not see us until we fired. They split up immediately and after a dog-fight for four or five minutes I saw my No. 2 shooting at one FW 190 and being chased by another.
INTO SEA
“ I turned to his help and hit the Hun who went straight into the sea. I climbed again, found my No. 2 and resumed patrol as there were no other enemy aircraft in sight.
“After 15 minutes we saw another formation of four FW 190s going to Gris Nez, so we started climbing and got on their tails.
‘I hit one but did not see what happened to him after he had turned on his back, because I over-shot him. I made a steep turn, however and got in some good bursts on another FW 190 which went down in flames.”
After a Polish flying-officer had downed a third the fourth was shot down by a Scottish-born flying officer.
“My leader chased two of them,” he said “and I chased another, but lost him in cloud. When I came down again I saw two FW 190s but they also took cloud cover.
“I followed, got right behind one, and gave a good burst which sent him down.”
The Scotsman
1333551 Sergeant John George Wiseman
Record of Sevice
28/06/41 - 05/07/41 No. 1 Receiving Centre, Babbacombe, England
05/07/41 - 15/08/41 No. 4 Initial Training Wing, Paignton, England
17/09/41 - 23/11/41 No. 31 Elementary Flying Training School, Calgary, Canada
23/11/41 - 13/02/42 No. 32 Service Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, Canada
10/03/42 - 29/04/42 No. 3 Personnel Receiving Centre, Bournemouth, England
29/04/42 - 26/05/42 No. 17 Air Fighting Unit, Watton, England
26/05/42 - 13/08/42 No. 56 Operational Training Unit, Dundee, Scotland
21/08/42 - 18/09/42 No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Duxford, England
18/09/42 - 06/11/42 No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Biggin Hill, England
06/11/42 - No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Manston, England
14/02/43 - Killed in Action over Straits of Dover
It started like this:
Relating to: Sergeant J G 'Johnny' Wiseman, 20 years old, shot down in Hawker Typhoon R7872 PR-S of 609 (West Riding) Squadron by FW190 of III/JG2 at around 1100 hrs, 14th February 1943. Johnny was from a small Norfolk Village called Ashby-with-Oby, the son of Percy and Hilda Wiseman. (Johnny is seen in the Boulting Brother PR film 'Between Friends' where they say "That's Johnny, he's from Yarmouth, where they catch herrings you know!").
About 10-12 miles from (Great) Yarmouth, in the middle of a bunch of fields is a farm. That's Ashby. Also nearby are a couple of houses. That's Oby. On the side of the road is a small sign saying Ashby-with-Oby. Clearly, a place of that size is unlikely to have either a church, or even a War Memorial. Having trekked out to this hitherto unheard of area this morning with the intention of placing a poppy and remembering his sacrifice, I was surprised to find that he has no local commemoration (He is, however, listed on the Runnymede Memorial). His name is not recorded on the memorials of the two other churches nearby (Thurne and Repps-with-Bastwick), nor could I find anything at the church at Clippesby (admittedly it was locked, so I couldn't enter). Ultimately, I left the poppy at Thurne church and came home.
Now this has got me thinking, how many of our forebears who died have no memorial to their passing in defence of our future in their home village/town/city? I can recall, every time I went to my local village church, reading the names of those who died in the two World Wars. It always seemed to me to be important that their names were visible to those of us living in the village all these years after, and that I read them. To say that I was surprised to find no mention of Johnny at not finding a lasting tribute is even more so. For this reason, I would like to ask all who read this today to think of Johnny for a minute or two, and also Alan 'Babe' Haddon from Leicester who was also lost with him that day, and all those countless others who didn't get to grow up, grow old, and die after a full life.
On a practical note too, I would like to ask for advice from any of you who may have done this at some point - How can I go about arranging for a suitable memorial at Ashby-with-Oby, say on the roadside? I am thinking of an appeal in the local press (plus an article or two) to find surviving relatives, further information on his life and RAF career, and to ask for donations to put a plinth there. Are there any organisations who may be willing to help? I think that almost 60 years is long enough for any village to forget their son. The surprise is that their is now someone to remember Johnny.
And became this:
Unveiling and Dedication Service for the Memorial to
Sergeant John Wiseman and Flight Sergeant Alan Haddon
of 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Killed in Action, 14th February 1943
Remembered with Honour, 14th July 2003
Before the service:
On Remembrance Sunday 2002 I went to look for a memorial bearing the name of a pilot who had been killed during the Second World War. I am involved with veteran members of his squadron, and as he was born locally I decided to place a poppy by his name on his village War Memorial. For various reasons I had looked in the wrong place and failed to find his name - I therefore decided that I would raise the money to erect a memorial to him. His name was Johnny Wiseman, and he was 20 years old.
Back in 1943, the world was at war. The Eastern Daily Press, the newspaper serving the region in which John had grown up, had as its main news items on Monday 15th February reports that Rostov in Russia had been captured by the Red Army, 1000 tons of bombs had been dropped on Lorient in France, and that the 8th Army were moving forward in Tunisia. While all this was going on abroad, the south coast of England was under daily attack by fighter-bomber ‘raiders’ of the German Luftwaffe flying from airfields on the Continent. There appeared on the front page of the paper on this day, and in many more papers nationally, a report on one of these raids. It had as its title 'Four Nazis Down in Channel'. The article related to RAF Fighter Commands continuing battle against the Luftwaffe, and, in this instance, the engagement was heralded as a success. The aircraft belonging to Fighter Command were southern England's first line of defence, and No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron, based at RAF Manston in Kent, was one of the main units involved in the patrolling and defending of the English Channel. Among the men of 609 Squadron involved in this task was a young Norfolk pilot, John Wiseman, who, along with his colleague Alan Haddon, was killed in action during this particular engagement. Outside Martham Church, there is a War Memorial to those from the village who died in the two World Wars. Johnny’s name is inscribed here, as well as on the Runnymede Memorial at Windsor with a further 20,450 other Commonwealth and Allied aircrew whose bodies were never recovered.
The stone, covered by the squadron flag
Sixty years and six months after the events of this winters morning, at the entrance to Johnny's old home at Grange Farm, Martham, a memorial to himself and his flying partner Alan Haddon was unveiled by John’s sister, Mrs Betty Kennedy of Reedham, and Alan's brother Mr Ron Haddon of Leicester in the company of around 150 people. While some were local, others had travelled from as far away as Walsall, Doncaster, Brighton and Duxford. The memorial, a pillar of bathstone, is adorned with two beautifully engraved brass plaques generously donated by the Lowestoft branch of Timpson Ltd. Attended by members of the local Royal British Legion, Royal Air Force Association and the Friends of War Memorials, bearing a total of ten standards between them. The memorial service and dedication ceremony was carried out by RAF chaplain Squadron Leader Colin Hewitt, who is based at RAF Honington in Norfolk. The service began as Jaguar jets from No. 41 Squadron led by their Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Hopkins, flew over the ceremony from RAF Coltishall which Alan Haddon occasionally flew during the summer of 1942, performed a moving flypast as a tribute to their forebears.
Coming from RAF Leeming in Yorkshire was an honour party of three members of the current 609 (West Riding) Squadron, 2 of whom have just returned from the Gulf having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. With them was Air Commodore William de Goat. ‘Billy’ has been the squadron mascot since 23rd June 1941, when the Belgian landlady of the ‘Old Jail’ public house near Biggin Hill donated him to the gallant Belgian Spitfire pilot Vicki Ortmans (whose younger brother was also to join 609), ‘Billy’ was in the advance party Dakota on its arrival in Northern France on July 1st 1944 after the invasion of Europe. The original 'Billy' became a legend in the RAF, and was even the subject of an article by the author John Steinbeck. His memories of Duxford are however, tinged with anger - as when the squadron departed for Biggin Hill, he somehow remained behind. According to the Squadron Operational Records Book, "The Intelligence Officer goes to Duxford to continue enquiries about F/Lt William de Goat. He finds that the day after 609's departure the Station Adjutant ordered his immediate disposal or destruction. The service police, used to arresting him, then gave him to a farmer who sold him for meat. Great efforts are now being made to rescue him". Fortunately, he was rescued in time to again inspire the squadrons efforts against German raiders along the South Coast. Though not the original goat ‘Billy’s’ replacement was far better behaved and looked resplendent in his new ceremonial uniform, handmade by Mrs Margaret Earnshaw of Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
The service, lasting almost one hour, began with Mr David Ridge of the 609 Squadron Association relating the story of the pilot’s loss, before S/Ldr Hewitt took over with prayers and the lesson. As he led the prayer of dedication, Betty and Ron removed the squadron flag from the memorial, unveiling the plaques, before both eulogising their long-departed siblings. After the reading by Mr Kevin Mears of a poem he had written, the memorial was blessed and highly talented 16 year old Cornet player Tom Poulson of Gorleston played the ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ as the 150 people in attendance, the youngest aged 11 months, observed a two minute silence in remembrance. With the raising of the parade’s standards, the local veterans marched from the place of remembrance to a shaded lawn at the farm where people were able to chat as light refreshments were served.
Ron Haddon and Betty Kennedy with their briother's memorial
A representation from the current 609 (West Riding) Squadron
The memorial:
The ceremony followed a very important weekend for the squadron. Returning to Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire, where they were first introduced to the mighty Hawker Typhoon aircraft 61 years ago in 1942, veteran officers and men of 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, were once again on the airfield for what was possibly their final (though unoffficial) reunion, with 'The Fighter Collections' annual Flying Legends airshow supplying a suitably evocative backdrop. This two-day event, widely regarded as the number one vintage airshow in Europe, spans an entire weekend and features an unrivalled collection of piston engined military aircraft flying in from all over Europe and the United States. With 12 wartime pilots from 609 attending, and with more friends from other squadrons joining them, the line up of aircraft were arguably eclipsed by the line up of living legends.
The main reason for 609's presence at the show was the book launch (and signing session) of '609 at War', a photographic record of the squadron from the first days of war in the north of England, up until their recall from Germany for disbandment soon after the end of hostilities. The book, compiled by Jim Earnshaw AE (who, as an auxiliary F II A served as groundcrew with 609 from 1937 until 1940, when he was posted to 238 Squadron at Tangmere) and on which I was honoured and privileged to work on for over a year retouching the 400 or so photographs used, is the end result of a 'retirement' devoted to collating and preserving the memory of those who fought 'Under the White Rose'. It follows the fortunes of the squadron from convoy protection duty off the Scottish coast in the early days of the war, through the evacuation of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain and the taking of the offensive to occupied Europe from bases in the south of England, to the defence of the South Coast from German raiders and onto the ground attack sorties of the Normandy invasion and the dying days of the Third Reich. Published by Colin Smith of Vector Fine-arts, the book (limited to 609 copies) is the culmination of 18 months concentrated work by Jim, on top of many years of putting together an incredible archive that remains as a lasting tribute to the men of 609.
In addition to the book launch and reunion, another important event for the squadron happened on the first day of the show. Lieutenant General Baron Michel Donnet, CVO, DFC, a Belgian wartime fighter pilot famed for his own book 'Flight to Freedom' which tells the story of his escape from occupied Belgium in a mothballed Stampe biplane under the very noses of the German Wehrmacht, flew in from Belgium to present a posthumous Belgian 'Croix de Guerre' to the family of the late Wing-Commander Roland 'Bee' Beamont, CBE, DSO*, DFC*, DFC (USA), DL, FRAeS. The Commanding Officer when John and Alan were lost, ‘Bee’ had fought in both the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, before becoming involved in the development of the Typhoon at Hawkers in Langley. Widely regarded as the father of the Typhoon (in its operational sense), Bee was its prime defender at a time when many in the Air Ministry wanted the aircraft to be abandoned. Championing the aircraft, it was Bee who was to prove that it was, indeed, a war winning aircraft, when he took command of 609 from October 1942 until May 1943, developing its role as a cross-Channel ground attack intruder aircraft and low-level interceptor, before leaving once again for Hawkers to help on the Tempest development program. He subsequently led the first Tempest wing into action over Normandy and against the V1 flying bomb threat before being shot down by ground fire in late 1944 and being taken prisoner. Postwar, 'Bee' was to become one of this countries greatest aviators through his work for English Electric / British Aerospace as a test pilot on the Lightning, Canberra, TSR2 and finally Tornado. In addition to his multi-decade career at the forefront of aviation, Bee also found the time to write many books on his role in 20th century aviation. 609's connection with Belgium began in 1941 under the command of Squadron-Leader Michael Robinson. He was later followed by even more Belgian pilots, to the point that, unofficially at least, 609 fielded a Belgian Flight (one of two flights in the squadron). As such, the squadron had strong links with Belgium - a situation which is maintained to this day, with the weekends line-up of veteran pilots again counting around half of its members as Belgian.
For those who entered the Vector Fine-Arts marquee, it was a great pleasure to meet with such men as two former commanding officers of 609 – Col Raymond ‘Cheval’ Lallemand, DFC*; and S/Ldr Lawrence ‘Pinkie’ Stark, DFC*, AFC, Croix de Guerre (Belgian) - and other wartime 609 pilots such as Ken Adam (more widely known for his involvement with the James Bond films), Sir 'Joe' Atkinson, KCB, DFC; (609’s longest serving operational pilot) Jim Stewart, DFC; Allen Billam; Rik Dupre; Georges Jaspis, DFC; Jan Mathys; Albert Laforce; and groundcrew members Alan Enser and Danby Barber; who had all clearly enjoyed their reunion dinner and the accompanying speeches and were more than happy to reminisce as they signed books and pictures for all those in the queue. These men, not a single one of them under 80 years of age, had travelled from all over the country, and from Belgium and Canada to be here, for what was to be possibly their squadrons swan-song. Of those present, Lallemand, Stark and Atkinson had all known John and Alan and remembered them fondly.
Formed at Yeadon in February 1936 as a bomber squadron flying Hawker Harts and then Hinds, 609 changed to a fighter role in December 1938, soon converting onto the Supermarine Spitfire MK1’s that were to see them score the first of many aerial combat victories with the shooting down by Flying Officers G.D. Ayre, D. Persse–Joynt and Pilot Officer J.R. Buchanan of a Heinkel He111 on February 1940. Having fought at Dunkirk and through the Battle of Britain, 609 became the first RAF Spitfire squadron to reach 100 victories, with the shooting down by Frank Howell and Sydney Hill on 21st October 1940 of a Ju88 which had been machine–gunning Old Sarum. It was in April 1942 that 609 was to finally become acquainted with the Hawker Typhoon, (giving up their much loved Spitfire's,) which they first used operationally on 30th June of that year from Duxford. When I spoke to ex-Commanding Officer Roland Beamont a few months before his death in 2001, he told me that “609 pioneered the use of the Typhoon for ground attack from December onwards, and this led to the great and successful Typhoon strike force from Normandy to the Baltic in 1944-45.” During the run up to D-Day, and until the end of the war, 609, who soon became a part of 123 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force, was continually prowling the European mainland by day and night, attacking German troops, armour, installations and locomotives. Bee added “I successfully attacked 25 trains in the first two months when I was in command of 609 squadron, that was at the end of 42, the beginning of 1943, and we went after trains in a big way to establish the capability of the aircraft in air to ground attack.” They did this with a mixture of 20mm cannon, 60lb rocket projectiles, and 500lb bombs. In September 1945, having lost 53 pilots killed, 20 missing, and a further 31 killed or missing who had transferred to other squadrons, the original 609 (West Riding) Squadron was disbanded. But the story did not end there. 8 months later, the squadron reformed with De Havilland Mosquito XXXII’s, before moving onto first the Spitfire LF XVI, and then into the jet age with the De Havilland Vampire and subsequently Gloster Meteor V and VII’s, before again being disbanded in March 1957. 609 (West Riding) Squadron was once more resurrected on 1st July 1999. Components of its current incarnation have recently returned from the Gulf, where they have been supporting forces involved in 'Operation Iraqi Freedom'
Sergeant John Wiseman was born on January 31st 1923 and grew up at Grange Farm in Martham. After finishing school he returned, working in the fields and joining the Martham Local Defence Volunteers (forerunner to the Home Guard) until he was old enough to join the Royal Air Force, training as a pilot in Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Johnny returned to England in 1942, being posted to 609 (West Riding) Squadron in August, at Duxford in Cambridgeshire, flying the new Hawker Typhoon fighters. His colleague on the day of his loss was Flight Sergeant Alan Haddon, who was a couple of years older than John and had been with the squadron for eight months when John arrived. He was an experienced and successful fighter pilot. Born in the north of England, 'Babe', as he became known, moved to Leicester, where he worked as a trainee draughtsman before joining the RAF as aircrew. 609 was his first operational posting also.
On 14th February 1943, ‘A’ flight was at readiness. Babe and Johnny took off in perfect flying weather from Manston. Their mission was to protect some Royal Navy vessels in difficulties near the French coast. One was now lying disabled off Cap Gris-Nez, having struck some wreckage. With dawn breaking, and the boats still in range of the German coastal artillery, attempts were made to tow it to safety. Sgt Wiseman and F/Sgt Haddon were tasked with the job of close escort, while F/O Raymond Lallemand and F/O Antoni Polek patrolled close by, ready to help if needed. Then the towing cable snapped. With the boats now stationary, John and Alan could only circle relentlessly around them. It was at around this time that contact was lost between them, the Sector Controller at RAF Biggin Hill and Yellow Section (who were now mid-Channel). At approximately 11am on 14th February 1943, Sergeant John Wiseman, and Flight Sergeant Alan Haddon were shot down; The Captain of the immobile MTB was later to state that the German Focke-Wulf fighters had come up on the Typhoons, which were patrolling at 500ft and a 1000yds apart, from just above sea level.
The Eastern Daily Press recorded on the 15th: "Yesterday afternoon our fighters shot down four enemy fighters into the Channel. Two of our aircraft are missing." It is the pilots of these two aircraft that we honoured on Monday 14th July.
As a final act of remembrance I’d like to post the words of a mate of mine, Steve Young, who wrote about the memorial unveiling on a forum we all belonged to:
“Gary, it did get quite emotional.
What Snapper is a little too modest to say is that the number of people who turned out to attend the memorial and dedication service was absolutely astounding. Representatives from the Royal British Legion, Royal Air Forces Association, 609 Squadron association and the current 609 Sqn (a Royal Auxilliary Air Force Regiment unit) were all there, as indeed were three Jaguars from RAF 41 Sqn, who came past in a tight vic formation before the leader pulled up into a missing man salute.
The memorial itself is a simple yet beautiful monument to two young men who died nearly thirty years before Snapper was born, and as Snapper says, Johnny's sister and Alan's brother were also there to see their siblings honoured.
It must have been a huge task to organise this all, for two young men he'd never known, but that's what Snapper did. I feel very humble and priveleged to have been there”
Steve was to die in a road accident a couple of years later and I miss him greatly too.
------------------------------
Thank you for your patience.
