Combat report of No. 145 Squadron for 12 October 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 12 October 1940. The engagement resulted in one Luftwaffe aircraft being destroyed, an Arado Ar 196, and by contrast, no RAF losses. The encounter took place around twelve miles south of St Catherine's Point, the most southerly point of the Isle of Wight. Two pilots are named on this report, Squadron Leader Boyd and Flying Officer Honor. Adrian Hope Boyd was Acting Squadron Leader of No. 145 Squadron at this time and had by this point, already been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 21 June 1940 and then a bar to this on 20 August 1940. He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 2 December 1941 and left the RAF at the rank of Wing Commander in 1947. Boyd was a flying ace credited with at least 18 victories. Dudley Sandry Garton Honor was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 5 November 1940 and then a bar to this on 10 June 1941. Throughout his RAF career, Honor served in a variety of combat theatres such as the Middle East, Malta, Sicily and Italy. In 1944, he was appointed as Air Attaché to Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, later being released from RAF service with the rank of Group Captain in 1947. Honor continued with an aviation career following his RAF service, becoming the director for Latin America for the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1951 as well as later becoming the manager of Air Canada in South America.