2 October 1940. Australians in the Battle of Britain. Robert Bungey

Australians in the Battle of Britain. 2 October 1940

And what has been happening with Robert Bungey of Adelaide? He is not one of the nine I am researching but it is good to keep in touch with what he is up to.

Bob was one of the few Bomber Command pilots who answered the call to join Fighter Command during the days of very tough fighting and high casualties. He had had much success in the Battle of France and still wore his Australian RAAF uniform. It was quite battered by this stage, but it was a close link to his homeland and he repaired it himself rather than part with it.

He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 3 September and, after his conversion to Hurricanes, he was posted to 145 Squadron, arriving on 145 Squadron on 24 September with his ‘chauffeur’, Belgian Jean ‘Pyker’ Offenberg. Here is Pyker Offenberg’s diary entry of the day he met his new flight commander:

‘...An officer in a leather jacket came up, dumped his pack and introduced himself. “I’m Flight Lieutenant Robert Bungey and you’ve probably come from Dyce to fetch me. Well I’m all set.”...As we walked towards the control tower, Bungey, who was walking next to me, said in his odd drawling Australian accent:

“Are you from 145 Squadron?”

“Yes sir, B Flight, yours.”

“By the accent I can tell you’re not English” he said, shifting his valise to his other hand.

“No, I’m Belgian. There are three Belgians in B Flight”.

“Have you been in action yet?”

“Yes, I have one German confirmed and a second damaged.” Wishing to change the subject, I added “There are also a Czech and an Anglo-Argentine in B Flight...”

“Well that’s fine. I’m a Digger. We shall be a fine bloody Russian salad and there won’t be any chance of getting bored. You can call me Robert or Bob if you like.” ’

Bob wasted no time and was flying almost every day, and on some days more than once, carrying out patrols and sorties. He had carried out a patrol on 1 October in Hurricane 2924 and afterwards, in Hurricane 2696, flown to Montrose. He returned to Dyce on the 2nd and later that day, again in 2924, carried out some dogfighting practice.

 

 

(Flying Officer Peter William Dunning-White (L) and Flight Lieutenant Robert Bungey (R) 145 Squadron.)