First Air Raid of WWII – 27

14:40 Pursuit over Hillend

At Swanston Cottages, Herbert More, one of a number of eyewitnesses at Hillend, reported seeing two bombers coming under attack from Spitfires before seeking refuge in a bank of low cloud. According to a report given to the Evening News, one of the bombers was seen to flee on a north westerly heading in the direction of Auchendinny.

It was this aircraft, flown by Storp, which Red Section, led by Patsy Gifford with Ken Macdonald and Robbie Robertson came across at 4,000 feet over Carberry Hill as they headed west back towards the city after a patrol which had taken them on a heading towards Haddington.

Eyewitnesses described the Spitfires flying low overhead followed by a ‘terrific roar’.  In trying to establish the height of the aircraft at this time the reports given by the eyewitnesses on the ground conflict with those given by the pilots – the latter provided the more accurate record of the two.

Yet to encounter the enemy bombers, Gifford eagerly took up the chase. Perhaps a little too eagerly. As he made his first attack the bomber veered sharply to port to avoid the gunfire.  They were dealing with an experienced pilot.  It was now heading north towards the Forth.

Patsy, Ken and Robbie each made an attack. Pieces of wreckage were observed falling from the aircraft and one engine was out of action – the result of the earlier attack by Black Morton of Yellow Section.

Bearing in mind that attack had also killed the gunner, it would explain the lack of return fire at this stage of the pursuit.  At Cockenzie School the children were startled by the low flying aircraft as they flew overhead, the crackle of gunfire sharp to their ears.