"They're going to run on the field all at once!" Hyatt warned Simms over the radio.
Even though the RAF pilots had whittled the German squadron down, when Captain Simms looked up through his canopy, he could see the last six German planes regroup for another run on the airfield. Below, Simms watched the brave crewmen feverishly repairing the field while depending on the Spitfires to keep them out of danger.
"We can't stop all six at the same time," Hyatt continued.
In a determined voice Simms called to the other two pilots, "Do the best you can gentlemen. Let's at least shake them up!"
At Simms' command, the three Spitfire pilots hurled themselves head on at the flight of attacking Me 109s. On the ground, Harry and Colonel Harrison watched the battle turn. The enemy planes raced to attack the men working on the landing strip. At first, Colonel Harrison quietly cheered as he watched Simms, Hyatt and Gainey close on the diving Me 109s.
"Come on, Simms. Yes, yes, head them off ! Get as many as you can. We'll take care of ourselves down here."
Then realizing there was no way the three RAF planes could hold off all six enemy fighters, Harrison shouted to warn his men on the airfield, "Take cover, everyone. Take cover!"
Dropping their shovels and diving to the ground, the men on the field covered their heads to protect themselves as best they could. Colonel Harrison grabbed Harry and held him tight, prepared to sacrifice himself in order to shield the boy from harm. Harry, wrapped in the Colonel's arms, buried his head into the chest of the strong RAF commander.
While the men below fell to the ground, roaring gunfire from the British Spitfires collided with two of the German fighters, stopping them well short of the cratered field. But an instant later, the distance between the Spitfires and the remaining attacking planes evaporated. Four of the menacing Me 109s screamed past the oncoming RAF planes, and continued their deadly run at the men on the field below.
The Spitfires banked hard to correct their path in order to pursue the remaining Messerschmitts. But, it was too late. Even the powerful Spitfires couldn't turn fast enough to catch up to the German fighters racing past them.
Sadly, the English pilots were too far away to be of any help to the men on the ground. As the four remaining Me 109s closed on the field, the helpless men below braced for the deadly crack of machine gun fire. The ear splitting roar of airplane engines intensified as the planes came closer and closer.
Oddly enough, the thunder of engines roaring across the field seemed to be coming from behind the men as much as in front of them. Frightened, but even more confused, the men on the ground rolled over to see what was happening. When they peered into the sky, their eyes widened at the miraculous sight. Barely ten feet above them, the circular RAF insignia on the bottom of the wings of the 14th Squadron's rugged Hawker Hurricanes passed in a flash.
Captain Dawson and his exhausted Hurricane pilots screamed over the pock-marked airfield. Realizing the life threatening situation, Dawson led the returning RAF squadron on a dangerous low level fly-by, racing to intercept the deadly German Messerschmitts before they could reach the men on the field.
Like an arm sweeping dishes off a table, the line of sturdy RAF fighters swept across Hampton Field. Firing head on into the group of enemy planes, Dawson and his men forced the Germans to break off their attack. In a panic, the last four Me 109s scattered an instant before they reached their target.
Amazed, the men on the ground climbed to their feet and watched the battle between the RAF and German planes. Thankful to be alive, the men cheered at the sight of the nine Hurricanes sending the last of the enemy threat running for home. In one well-timed pass over the airfield, Dawson and his pilots saved Hampton from disaster.
After driving off the German fighters, the Hurricanes circled the airfield. Wary of any remaining enemy aircraft, they searched the skies above Hampton and surveyed the damage below.
Dawson and his pilots save Hampton from disaster.
Concerned with landing on the crater-filled runway, Dawson ordered his fuel-starved squadron to stay in the air as long as possible. Silently, he watched the ground crews feverishly work to repair the field before the exhausted planes dropped from the sky.
"Form up on me," Dawson ordered into his radio, "including you, Spitfires!"
The entire 14th Squadron regrouped, all of the pilots taking their usual positions in formation. When Captain Dawson looked to his right, he saw Captain Simms waving at him from the new Spitfire.
Simms keyed his radio, "I guess now we know who gets to fly one first, eh Ted?"
Dawson retorted, "If I knew the Spitfires were ready, I would have taken it easy!"
"So you were pushing hard to get back," laughed Simms. "Were you worried about us?"
"Worried?" Captain Dawson asked. "What harm could come with three RAF pilots watching over the place? It was just that our fuel gauges were getting low, old man!"
"Well, we're all glad you made it back in time," Simms replied.
Captain Dawson nodded his head and laughed, "It's nice to know you can still appreciate the Hurricanes!"
Then he called to the rest of his pilots, "Listen up, gentlemen. The lads on the ground have marked the field for landing. Stay in the lane, and be prepared for some rough spots."
On the ground, the anxious air crews watched the pilots skillfully land their aircraft on the narrow makeshift runway. The mix of Hurricanes and Spitfires made their way to the end of the field. With smoke still billowing up from the destroyed Hurricanes and the maintenance hangers behind them, the pilots lined their planes up along the west edge of the field and cut power.
Captain Simms threw back the canopy of his plane and jumped to the ground. Ducking under the wing, he walked over to meet Hyatt and Gainey. The three pilots instantly began to blurt out stories of their experience in the new Spitfires. Simms teased Gainey and Hyatt about learning to fly a Spitfire the "hard way." More importantly, he understood just how lucky they were to have lived to tell about it.
Further up the row of airplanes, Dawson stepped down from his Hurricane and was immediately greeted by Sergeant Pendleton.
"Your timing was perfect, Captain!" Pendleton exclaimed. "You saved the day! And with Captain Simms and Lieutenants Gainey and Hyatt up in the Spits, those Germans didn't have a chance!"
Dawson replied, "Our intercept at Dover took longer than expected. Funny thing, on the way I noticed something in the clouds. But once we joined the 62nd Squadron fighting the German formation, it never occurred to me another group was on the way to attack Hampton. After the fight there, we were running out of fuel and needed to land. When we got back to the airfield, we had no choice but to clear the way."
Then Dawson added with a wry grin, "I'm glad you and the others were able to hold out as long as you did. It's sure lucky those Spitfires came from the factory fueled, armed, and ready to fly. Isn't it, Thomas?"
Growing red-faced, Sergeant Pendleton avoided the Captain's question and began to poke at the numerous bullet holes that pierced Dawson's Hurricane. As usual, Pendleton complained about the condition of the battle damaged fighter plane.
"Once again, I must say with all due respect, Captain, I am tired of fixing all the holes that end up in my airplane every time you use it."
"Thomas," Dawson chided back with a smile, "hopefully you'll fix those holes better than the ones you fixed on the airfield today!"