Combat Report of No. 145 Squadron for 29 July 1940

Combat reports were official documents detailing operational encounters with enemy aircraft. They convey both the mental strain of operations and the sense of excitement when victory claims were made.

This combat report provides details of an engagement involving No. 145 Squadron personnel on 29 July 1940. No. 145 Squadron Red and Yellow section planes left RAF Westhampnett with a Junkers Ju 88 being engaged by Yellow section and covering support provided by Red section. Blue section left RAF Westhampnett 10 minutes later and supported the other sections in the rest of the combat resulting in the destruction of the Ju 88. A survivor from the crash was seen swimming following its destruction. One pilot is named in this combat report, this being Squadron Leader John Ralph Alexander Peel, whose aircraft suffered damage during this combat. Peel was in command of No. 145 Squadron for a considerable portion of the Battle of Britain. He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1941 and became Deputy Director of Fighter Operations in 1943. He retired from the RAF in 1948, retaining the rank of Group Captain.