On November 28, 1940, Flight-Lieutenant John Charles (Cocky) Dundas, engaging one of three Me 109s that flashed by in close formation above the Isle of Wight, shot down the enemy.  In the moment of reporting to his Squadron Commander, Dundas was himself shot down and killed by another Messerschmitt, but he had achieved a fine victory, since his first opponent had been Major Helmuth Wieck (right), Germany's greatest fighter ace at that time.  Wieck had scored 56 successes in aerial combat.  Flight-Lieutenant Dundas was awarded the D.F.C and Bar posthumously.

Victor and Vanquished Died Together

Cpl. Sims and Pte. Shaw with the Spandau machine-gun which destroyed a Messerschmitt 109.  The gun was salvaged from a Dornier 17 brought down over the S.E. coast in October 1940, and mounted by a detachment of the Somerset Light Infantry on a high-angle mounting.  The Messerschmitt, flying at about 1,000 feet, was hit and crashed into the sea two miles from the shore.  The rescued pilot is seen in the following photograph.

German Gun Destroyed German Plane

British workers preparing Spitfire fighters destined for the Soviet Union, date unknown