Australians in the Battle of Britain. 31 August 1940. Bill Millington.

Bill Millington was in the air twice on 31 August, which was, for him at least, another epic day. During his first encounter, ‘we engaged about twenty Me 109s and slapped quite a few down. I was again badly shot up and made a forced landing near Folkestone and returned to my station per police car’. He was credited with one Me 109 destroyed.

At 17.45 p.m., Bill and his section were tasked with aerodrome guard duties when fifteen Dornier Do 215s escorted by large numbers of Messerschmitt Me 109s and 110s were sighted. Bill attacked, setting alight the port engine of one of the Do 215s. Three Me 109s then attacked him. He damaged one and shook off the other two. He was on his own by that stage. He attacked the bombers again but was beset by two Me 109s. He shook off one and shot the other down. In doing so he was attacked by another Me109 and was wounded in the left thigh. His engine started to burn and flames licked his skin. As the flames caught hold, Bill had two choices but his decision was obvious. ‘I considered it unwise to bale out’, he later explained, ‘as my machine would probably have crashed into a small village’. Bill’s Hurricane crashed in flames at Conghurst Farm, Hawkhurst, completely missing the village of Tenterden and, ‘covered in blood and grease’ he ‘managed to scramble out before the machine exploded’.

Bill later told his sister that he ‘was taken to a nearby cottage to clean up and drunk the inevitable cup of tea. The typical village police constable turned up, pulled out a note book and said ‘name and address please’. He wouldn’t believe I was the Prince of Wales!!’ Given there wasn’t one at the time, this, of course, is not surprising! But back to Bill. ‘I eventually finished up in hospital for about ten days, where most of the shrapnel in my thigh was removed. The few pieces remaining will probably eventually work out causing no inconvenience. I can recommend hospital as a very noble institution. The nurses were terrific particularly my little Irish night nurse. Two other officers were with me, and we had quite a few gay evenings together.’

Bill recovered well in hospital but he would not return to 79 Squadron. On 19 September he would head to 249 Squadron at North Weald and on his chest would be a DFC ribbon. Attached to the DFC recommendation were some additional remarks by the Air Officer Commanding 11 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park: 

‘This young Australian officer has shot down six enemy aircraft. He showed great courage in landing his aircraft and so saved it crashing into a village with its engine on fire, despite the fact he was wounded. He has exhibited dash and courage in attacking superior numbers. I consider he is well worthy of reward and strongly recommend him for the Immediate Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

Bill Millington DFC