We met them over Deal that afternoon:
High-flying One-O-Nines. We had the height,
Their bombers well below, to us a boon -
Ignore their fighters - quick to join the fight!
In echelon we mount our fierce foray:
Head-on into the bombers we dive down,
Black smoke and fire blotch the sunny day,
Formations split, each pilot on his own -
A shambles now, with aircrew baling out.
Their bombers turn towards the saving sea;
I watch one burn - mistake without a doubt,
For now a One-O-Nine disables me;
Force-land at Manston, thereto count the cost:
Our brave CO - two other pilots lost.