Cyril F. Babbage
The Gauntlet Action South of Portsmouth 26th August 1940.
We were brought to readiness in the middle of lunch and scrambled to intercept
mixed bag of 100+ Heinkel III's and DO 17's approaching Portsmouth from the
South. The controller did a first class job and positioned us one thousand feet
above the target. with the sun behind us, allowing us to spot the raiders from a
long way off. No escorting Messchersmitts were in sight at the time, although a
sizable force was to turn up soon after. then something strange happened.
I was about to give a ticking off to our chaps for misusing the R/T when I
realised I was listening to German voices. It appeared we were both using the
same frequency and, although having no knowledge of the language it sounded from
the monotonous flow of the conversation that they were unaware of our presence.
as soon as we dived towards the leading formation, however we were assailed
immediately to loud shouts of Achtung Spitfuern Spitfuern! as our bullets began
to take their toll.
In spite of having taken jerry by surprise our bag was only six, with others
claimed as damaged, before the remainder dived for cloud cover and turned for
home. In the meantime the escorting fighters were amongst us when two of our
fellows were badly shot up. hector Maclean stopped a cannon shell on his
cockpit, blowing his foot of above the ankle although, in spite of his grave
injuries, he managed to fly his spitfire back to Tangmere to land with wheels
retracted. Cyril Babbage's aircraft was also badly damaged in the action.
forcing him to abandon it and take to his parachute. He was ultimately picked up
by a rescue launch and put ashore at Bognor, having suffered only minor
injuries.
No. 602 'City of Glasgow' auxiliary squadron was a household name long before
WW11 began. It had been the first auxiliary squadron to get into the air in
1925, two of its members, Lord Clydeside and David McIntyre were the first to
conquer Mount Everest in 1933; the squadron swept the board in gunnery and
bombing in 1935, beating the regular squadrons at their own game. It was the
first auxiliary Squadron to be equipped with Spitfire Fighters as far back as
March 1939 and it was the first squadron to shoot down the first enemy aircraft
on British Soil.
The squadron moved south from Drem airfield in east Lothian on August 14th 1940.
to relieve the already battered no. 145 squadron at Westhapnett, Tangmere's
satellite station in Sussex. the squadron suffered 5 casualties during the
battle. The squadron remained at Westhapnett until December 1940 to be replaced
by no. 610 auxiliary airforce squadron. No 602 squadron itself remained active
up until 1957 when it was put into mothballs.
BABBAGE, Cyril Frank, DFM, Pilot Officer, 432134, 41 Squadron
RAFVR, flew initially with 602 Squadron. He is credited with 7.25 victories.
(Source)
At 16:45 on 26 August, whilst flying 602 Squadron's Spitfire I, X4188, Sergeant
Cyril Babbage was shot down by an Me109 of JG53, and baled out safely south of
Selsey Hill. (Source: RAF Fighter Command Losses, Vol. 1, p. 64, Norman Franks)
Air Ministry.
25th October, 1940.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following appointment and
awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the
enemy:—
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.
742134 Sergeant Cyril Frederick BABBAGE, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Sergeant Babbage has shown consistent keenness and ability in operations against
the enemy. He has personally destroyed six enemy aircraft and probably one
other. (Source: London Gazette, 25 October 1940)
.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
The undermentioned are granted commissions for the duration of hostilities: —
As Pilot Officers on probation.
8th Dec. 1940. (Seniority 29th Nov. 1940.)
742134 Sergeant Cyril Frederick BABBAGE, D.F.M. (89298). (Source: London
Gazette, 21 January 1941)
.
ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
Plt. Offs. (prob.) confmd. in appts. and to be Flg. Offs. (war subs.): —
C. F. BABBAGE, D.F.M. (89298). 8th Dec. 1941. (Seny. 29th Nov. 1941.)
(Source: London Gazette, 17 February 1942)
.
ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
Flg. Offs. granted the rank of Flt. Lt. (war subs) : —
8th Dec. 1942.
C. F. BABBAGE, D.F.M. (89298). (Seny..29th Nov. 1942.)
(Source: London Gazette, 19 January 1943)
