Channel Dash – The Bravest of the Brave
12th February 2026 marked the 84th anniversary of the Channel Dash in 1942. Three of Germany’s largest battleships ran the gauntlet of the Dover Strait from their location at Brest...
Category: World War II
F/Lt Baron Jean de Selys Longchamps’ Attack on Secret Police HQ and a hectic day for No.609 Squadron – 20th January 1943
Baron Jean Michel P.M.G. de Selys-Longchamps was born 31st May 1912 in Brussels as the son of Baron Raymond Charles Michel Ghislain de Selys-Longchamps and Emilie de Theux de Meylandt...
Loss of F/O Henry “Harry” Hector MacKenzie (RCAF) – 3rd January 1944
No.198 Sqn Typhoon JR523 piloted by F/O Henry “Harry” Hector MacKenzie (RCAF) took off from Manston at 1143hrs as “Blue 3” in a formation of four Typhoons with F/Lt R.O....
Messerschmitt Bf109 “Black 12” crash lands at Manston, 27th November 1940
Messerschmitt Bf109E ‘4101 / Black 12’ of 21 year old Leutnant Wolfgang Teumer from 2/JG51 based at Wissant near Calais, was attacked by the Spitfire of 66 Squadron’s Flt Lt...
Manston’s role in Operation Market Garden, 17th September 1944
Updated and expanded for 2024 for the 80th Anniversary But there is still more to add! Because this post is now starting to turn into a bit of a monster...
Battle of Britain Day, 15th September 1940
New Luftwaffe tactics On 15 September – now known as “Battle of Britain Day” – the Luftwaffe launched two huge bombing raids on London. Believing that the RAF was close...
