This aircraft took off at 17.30hrs from Stavanger in Norway on 11th August 1940 with the crew tasked with a high altitude photo-reconnaissance flight over Dishforth and Linton on Ouse airfields in Yorkshire. The aircraft crossed the Yorkshire Coast at Whitby where the town's R.O.C. post near Whitby Abbey reported the aircraft as being an enemy. Fighters of 41 Squadron were sent to intercept which found the Junkers Ju88 over Helmsley and flying at 18,000 feet. Soon afterwards the Spitfire pilots, F/O Ronald Wallens, F/O John Boyle and Sgt Edward Darling began their attacks. The starboard engine of the Ju88 was damaged in the first attack and one of the Luftwaffe crew was killed in the second attack which also damaged the port engine. The aircraft by now had flown an erratic route and was now near the north coast again, to the north of Whitby. It briefly flew back over the sea before turning inland, flying low over Hinderwell and making a landing on moorland near Scaling reservoir, in the area of Newton Mulgrave Moor / Skelder Moor at 19.08hrs. As previously stated, one airmen was already killed in the Spitfire attacks and his body was taken to Thornaby. The other three airmen survived the crash and were taken in a butcher's van to Whitby Police Station to become PoW's.
The airman killed was not a regular member of this crew, he was a communications specialist whose job was to listen to Allied transmissions. When the wreckage was searched, a second radio set was discovered strapped to the back of a seat, is was later found out that this was used purely as a receiver.
Pilot - Fw Otto Hofft (Luftwaffe). Uninjured.
Wireless Operator - Fw Karl-Heinz Hacker (Luftwaffe). Uninjured.
Observer - Oblt Hans Marzusch (Luftwaffe). Uninjured.
Specialist Wireless Operator - Lt Heinrich Meier (Luftwaffe), aged 21, initially buried at Thornaby on Tees but later exhumed and reburied in his German homeland in 1954.
Ronald Wallens was born Stourbridge, Worcestershire in 1916. He joined the RAFO having been granted a short service commission as Acting P/O on probation in Summer 1937. After completing pilot training he was posted to 41 Squadron on 26th March 1938 and was granted a commission in the RAF on 7th October 1938 as P/O rising to F/O on 7th July 1940 and to F/Lt exactly a year later. On 6th September 1940 he sustained injuries in combat with a Bf109, he rejoined 41 Squadron after hospital treatment but his commanding officer rejected him as he was not fully fit. He later commanded No.1 ADF and was promoted to S/Ldr on 1st July 1943 and was posted to Command 277 (ASR) Squadron in late 1943. For service with this unit he was awarded the DFC (Gazetted on 15th August 1944), the citation for the award reads.. "In the early phases of the war, Squadron Leader Wallens took part in a large number of sorties during which he destroyed at least 4 enemy aircraft. In combat in September 1940 he was wounded in the leg by a cannon shell. Since his return to operational duties he has undertaken many air/sea sorties and has been responsible for saving a number of personnel from the sea. He has set a splendid example of gallentry and devotion to duty." He survived the War and wrote his autobiography "Flying Made My Arms Ache". He died in November 1995.
John Boyle was born in March 1914 in Castlemain, Ontario, Canada. He joined the RAF on a short service commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 24th October 1937, he was graded as P/O on 23rd August 1938 and rose to F/O on 23rd March 1940. Prior to posting to 41 Squadron he briefly served with 611 Squadron. On 28th September 1940 he was flying Spitfire X4426 when he was shot down over the South of England and killed in combat with enemy aircraft. He was twenty six years old and is buried at Lynstead New Churchyard, Kent.
Edward Darling was born in October 1914 in Wellington, India. He joined the RAF in August 1937 as a trainee pilot, after completing his training he was posted to 12 Group Pilot Pool. Towards the end of 1939 he converted to fly Spitfires and was posted to 41 Squadron after this conversion training. He was wounded in action on 27th September 1940 and baled out Spitfire X4409 over West Malling and was admitted to hospital. He was posted back to 41 Squadron when he recovered and received his commission in January 1941 before postings to 602 and 616 Squadrons. He was awarded the DFC (Gazetted on 17th October 1941), the citation reads.. "This officer has been engaged in active operations over a long period and has proved himself to be a skilful and courageous fighter pilot. He fought in the Dunkirk operations and later in the Battle of Britain. He has since completed 32 operational sweeps and throughout he has displayed excellent leadership, keenness and efficiency. He has destroyed at least 3 enemy aircraft and damaged a further 2." After a spell as an instructor he was posted to 403 Squadron but failed to return on 2nd June 1942 F/O Darling was flying Spitfire BL707 or BM162, 403 Squadron lost seven aircraft on the same sweep though he was the only pilot to die. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Heinrich Meier was born on 21st Jul 1919 at Bettmar.
The pilot and observer were both holders of the Iron Cross, the pilot had been in the German Air Force for five years, the observer for over six years.
More is known of the three 41 Squadron Spitfire pilots...