1 October 1940. Bill Millington and Clive Mayers: Australians in the Battle of Britain

Australians in the Battle of Britain. 1 October 1940. Bill Millington and Clive Mayers

The London Gazette of 1 October 1940 published details of Bill Millington’s Distinguished Flying Cross:

‘In August, 1940 [ie 31 August 1940], this officer was flying as a member of a section engaged on aerodrome guard patrol. Fifteen Dorniers escorted by a large number of Messerschmitts were sighted and an attack was ordered. Pilot Officer Millington succeeded in damaging a Dornier, but was in turn engaged by three Messerschmitts. He damaged one, shook off the other two and, single-handed, again engaged the bombers. During a further attack by two of the enemy fighters, he shot down one but a cannon shell burst in the engine of his aircraft causing it to burn. Pilot Officer Millington, although suffering from a wound, chose to make a crash landing rather than abandon his aircraft and so endanger a village in front of him. He succeeded in getting clear just before the petrol tanks exploded. A few days previously, he attacked a formation of about sixty Heinkels, two of which he destroyed. He has displayed great courage in attacking superior numbers of enemy aircraft.’

 

(Bill Millington)

It was a bumper edition for the RAF. As well as Bill’s DFC, there was Douglas Bader’s DSO, five Distinguished Flying Medals and twenty other DFCs, including another to Australian-born Howard Clive Mayers of 601 Squadron who:

 ‘has participated in a number of interceptions and has destroyed seven enemy aircraft and possibly three others. During a recent engagement, a cannon shell passed through the port wing of his aircraft making a hole four feet in diameter, but Flying Officer Mayers succeeded in bringing his aircraft safely to base. He has displayed great courage and a fighting spirit.’

 

(Clive Mayers)

 

Not a bad effort for the Australians!

 

On a lighter note, Mayers was not always known for superb airmanship. In 1930 he visited his old school, Canford, in his Tiger Moth. He descended with some skill amongst the goalposts of Tadmoors. But the next day encountered problems on what later, tongue-in-cheek, became known as Mayer’s Swamp. Within weeks, according to The Canfordian, that unfortunate event paled into insignificance in comparison with a more thrilling ‘landing’ at Dagenham, Essex where, at dusk, he descended upon some high tension cables and crashed. Fortunately he was not strapped into the cockpit so was able to jump out before the Moth burst into flames.

 

(Mayers at Canford 1930: the landing that went well and the landing that didn't!)