Supermarine Spitfire MK I

Flown by Pilot Officer John C. Dundas, No 609 Squadron, Middle Wallop/England, November 28, 1940

 

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4

Flown by Major Helmut Wick, Stab/JG 2, Cherburg/France, November 28, 1940

 

This day, the 28th of November 1940, Major Helmut Wick was the leading fighter ace in the Jagdwaffe. His score stood at 55, one more than the commander of JG 51 Werner Mölders, after shooting down the Spitfire of Archie Lyall in the early afternoon. Upon his return to JG2's base in Cherbourg, Wick ordered the aircraft refueled and re-armed. He took off once more, with Erich Leie as his wingman, heading for the Isle of Wight.

After spotting a flight of Spitfires, Wick climbed hard before intercepting from the most favorable attack position. In a diving attack, Wick shot down Pilot Officer Paul A. Baillon of 609 Squadron. However, the attack on Baillon was not without cost. Polish pilot Zygmunt Klein claimed hits on Wick's Messerschmitt, as did Pilot Officer Eric Marrs. The attack disintegrated into a melée, during which another JG 2 pilot, Rudolf Pflanz, saw a Spitfire shoot down a Bf 109, whose pilot bailed out.

In fact it was Pflanz commander, Major Helmut Wick who had jettisoned his canopy and jumped over the side of his Messerschmitt. The solitary parachute drifting down towards the sea south-west of The Needles. This would be the last anybody ever saw of him.

While celebrating this, his 13th 'kill', Flight Lieutenant John Dundas was himself caught and shot down by Pflanz, who saw the stricken Spitfire crash with its pilot still inside.

Whether or not Wick's aircraft had been hit by either Klein or Marrs, Dundas was the man who finished the job and was heard to shout: "I've finished a 109, Whoopee!" It was to be his last transmission. Squadron Leader Robinson congratulated Dundas but nothing more was heard from Dundas, or his wingman.

Helmut Paul Emil Wick, with 56 Abshuss and John Charles Dundas, with 13 1/2 kills both had fell into the cold waters around the Isle of Wight, two victims of the sustained and exhausting clashes during the Battle of Britain.

Please note that there is not any photos of Dundas machine, this profile is therfore based on other machines from the 609 Sqn and the space of time.

© Claes Sundin 2015