Sixty years ago, on the Third of September 1939, The Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain uttered the words that would plunge the world into the bloodiest conflict between Nations ever; "... Great Britain is at war with Germany... "

Let us pause to reflect on a particular day in dark and distant 1939, over a month after the declaration of war when the German armed forces, full of pride from their swift subjugation of Poland, struck at the British Isles for the first time since 1918. The young men of the Luftwaffe were brimming with confidence in their dynamic leaders and their newest warplane. Soon they would be faced with a more formidable enemy, which would shatter their confidence and dent their pride, RAF Fighter Command.

In the early afternoon of October the sixteenth, the Luftwaffe airfield at Sylt on the Island of Westerland was buzzing with activity. Nine Junkers Ju-88 schnellbomber's of 1/KG30 were taking off for an attack on the Royal Naval Base at Rosyth, believed to be the location of the pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood. Just before 14.30 hours, the German bombers had sighted the distinctive peaks of the Forth Rail Bridge, beyond lay the Naval Base. At the RAF Station Turnhouse, recently acquired Supermarine Spitfires of 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force were scrambled to intercept the raiders.

Airborne at that time were also Spitfires of 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, from RAF Drem, East Lothian, they were assigned to patrol the Midlothian skies at 20, 000 feet. The stage was set for the first air battle over Britain since 1918.

Hauptmann Helmut Pohle, the Commander of 1/KG30 could see several warships in the harbour, including a large battlecruiser at Rosyth, though none of them was HMS Hood. The decision was made to attack nonetheless, though Pohle was advised against bombing the dockyards for fear of inflicting casualties on civilians. At approximately 14.35 hours, bombs rained down on the vessels moored in the harbour, anti aircraft fire opened up from land positions and from the vessels in the harbour, adding to the conflagration from the exploding ordnance.

No sooner had the 603 Squadron Spitfires left the ground when they made contact with the first wave of three Ju-88s at 4000 feet. The German formation was scattered, with the bombers being pursued in all directions. Three Spitfires of 'Red' Section, led by Flt Lt. Pat Gifford encountered a stray '88 that had veered away from the first wave of their attackers, the fighters pounced on the bomber and sent it earthward, Gifford himself firing the final shots into the doomed Junkers. The aircraft dived into the sea four miles off the coast of Port Seton. A local fishing boat picked up three survivors. It was one-nil to the RAF. Meanwhile, the flight of 602 Squadron Spitfires received the signal: "Enemy aircraft bombing Rosyth. Patrol five miles north of present position." Aircraft were sighted and hotly chased, Royal Navy Blackburn Skuas on training operations out of Donibristle had strayed into the aerial battlefield causing some confusion, being mistaken for enemy aircraft in the heat of combat.

During his diving attack on the vessels in the Forth, the cockpit canopy of Hauptmann Pohles Ju-88 flew off, leaving the four crewmembers open to the elements. In his embarrassingly exposed position, Pohle climbed away northwards to observe the efforts of his unit. Almost instantly, .303 shells began pounding his aircraft from behind, 602 Squadron had entered the battle. Pohle struggled to shake off his Glaswegian assailants, Flt Lts George Pinkerton and Archie McKellar, who chased the Junkers out to sea. The stricken bomber plunged into the water three miles east of Crail, nearly colliding with a coaster. Pohle was recovered, bleeding from facial wounds suffered in the crash, the other three crewmembers were dead on impact.

The German raid continued into the early evening before 1/KG30 returned to Sylt, battered and bruised from the days pounding. They failed in their objective to sink the Hood, losing two aircraft with four crewmembers killed and four captured, including their commanding officer. Though they did inflict damage upon the vessels in the Forth, notably HMS Southampton, a light cruiser at anchor and HMS Mohawk, a destroyer escorting a convoy assembling in the river. The total Royal Navy casualties were 16 killed and 44 wounded.

The day's efforts were a kill each for 602 and 603 Squadrons and the first victories for the Supermarine Spitfire in combat. Both Pat Gifford and George Pinkerton received Distinguished Flying Crosses (DFC) for their efforts. Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding, Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command sent the following message to 602 Squadron the next day, "Well done. First blood to the Auxiliaries".

Sixty years later, on October Sixteenth 1999, with the co-operation from the 602 and 603 Squadron Associations, the Museum of Flight at East Fortune in East Lothian opened a commemorative display of images and dioramas reflecting that day's events. Over a two-day period, the exhibition included squadron reunions, talks and speeches, culminating in a fly past of a surviving Spitfire, all adding a unique perspective to the history on display.

Research by

Grant Newman

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The Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette dated Oct 17^th 1939 reported the raid of the previous day. The cruisers Southampton, Edinburgh and destroyer Mohawk were attacked. There were 3,7 and 25 casualties respectively.