Howard Mayers

However, he was shot down himself, baling out at 19000 ft and coming down into the English Channel near Portland.

Having received minor wounds to his legs, he was rescued by a motor torpedo boat.

After hospital treatment, he returned to No. 601 Squadron later in the day.

On 16 August, he shot down two Ju 87s and claimed another as a probable.

He destroyed a Bf 109 over Selsey two days later.

At the end of the month, flying from Debden, he destroyed a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber that was attacking the London docks and claimed another as damaged.

On 4 September, having returned to Tangmere, Mayers destroyed a Do 17 and had a half share in a Bf 110 probably destroyed, both south of Worthing.

He shot down a Bf 110 on 25 September and damaged a Do 17 the same day.

On 1 October, and by this time holding the rank of flying officer, his award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was announced in The London Gazette.

The published citation read:

"This officer 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."

Mayers was shot down again on 7 October, crash-landing near Lyme Regis after an encounter with a Bf 110.

Wounded, he was hospitalised at Torquay and this ended his involvement in the Battle of Britain.

In December, No. 601 Squadron was moved to Northolt in Middlesex, where it spent the winter months.

The squadron carried out missions escorting bombers to targets in France.

Howard Clive Mayers, (9 January 1910 – c. mid/late 1942) was an Australian flying ace of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) during the Second World War.

He was credited with the destruction of at least eleven enemy aircraft.

From Sydney, Mayers studied at the University of Cambridge before becoming a businessman in London.

Called up for duty in the RAFVR soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, he was posted to No. 601 Squadron after completing his training.

Flying during the Battle of Britain, he destroyed a number of aircraft but was shot down himself twice.

Born in Sydney, Australia, on 9 January 1910, Howard Clive Mayers was the son of George and Penelope Mayers.

After completing his schooling in Australia, he went to England where he studied at the University of Cambridge's Jesus College.

While there, he joined the Cambridge University Air Squadron.

He later lived in London and went into business as a company director.

A serving member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Mayers was called up for service soon after the outbreak of the Second World War.

Allocated the service number 77976, he was commissioned as a probationary pilot officer on 11 March 1940 in the General Duties Branch.

After completing his training, he was posted to No. 601 (County of London) Squadron on 3 August, at the time based at Tangmere and operating the Hawker Hurricane fighter.

The squadron was well known for its upper-class pilots and was nicknamed the "Millionaire's Squadron".

No. 601 Squadron was heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain, with Mayers shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter south of St Catherine's Point on 8 August.

It was part of an escort for several Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers targeting shipping in the English Channel.

Mayers destroyed a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber on 12 August, and the following day claimed another Ju 88 and a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter as probably destroyed, and also damaged a further Bf 110.

In mid-1941, he was sent to the Middle East and given command of No. 94 Squadron, leading it during Operation Crusader.

He was later commander of a wing in Egypt.

On one of these, on 10 February 1941, one of the Hurricanes in Mayers' flight was shot down, its pilot baling out and coming down in the English Channel.

Mayers guided a motor torpedo boat to the rescue of the downed pilot.

In early May, Mayers was shot down again and had to bale out to the north of Dover.

At the end of the month, he was posted to the Middle East.

Shortly after arriving in Egypt, Mayers was given command of No. 94 Squadron, equipped with Hurricanes and based at Ismailia, near the Suez Canal.

After a few months, the squadron shifted to Ballah and, on 11 September, he had a third of a share in a destroyed Ju 88.

He went missing after being forced to land in the Western Desert in July 1942 and is believed to have died, either by ground fire or later while being transported to Europe for internment in a prisoner of war camp.