Black day for 261 Squadron – five British fighter pilots disappear

Pilot Officer John Southwell was fighting for his life. Tracer shells were streaking by the Hawker Hurricane he was flying. He flung his aircraft in a tight turn in order to try to evade the enemy aircraft that was shooting at him. So tight was the manoeuvre that for a few seconds he lost consciousness, gravity having stopped the blood flow to his brain.

But it was all in vain. The faster Messerschmitt Bf 109 German fighter was still clinging to his tail, waiting for the opportune moment to strike again. Southwell frantically called for help on his VHF radio. There were supposed to be seven other British Hurricanes somewhere in the vicinity. But to no avail, there was no answer to his pleas for help.
Southwell kept glancing at his mirror and looking over his shoulder, trying to spot the elusive German fighter. Then suddenly it happened. Loud noises erupted in the fuselage while the instrument panel in front of him disappeared in a shower of glass. He desperately pulled at his control column, trying to turn the Hurricane again in order to avoid the shells and bullets that were butchering his aircraft. However, this time, there was no response from the controls. Instead, the...