An anniversary dinner attended by among others, the Chief of the Air Staff Harv Smyth at the RAF Museum in Hendon, was the perfect venue to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The event also allowed the remarkable story of Flight Lieutenant Carl Raymond Davis DFC from 601 Squadron – one of ‘The Few’ - to be told to an enthralled audience.
‘Ray,’ as he was known was born in 1911 in South Africa and studied at Trinity College Cambridge and also McGill University in Montreal. He had intended to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a mining engineer.
An interest in aviation saw his return to the UK in 1935 where he joined the Hendon based 601 Squadron – known as the ‘Millionaires’ squadron, in 1936. The unit flew Hawker Harts & Demons as well as Gloster Gauntlets but began the Second World War flying Bristol Blenheims.
Image courtesy of Air Historical Branch
In March 1940 Ray’s unit were flying Hawker Hurricanes, and the flyer scored his first kill on 11 July when he downed a Me-110, followed by a further five within a few weeks. Ray had achieved the coveted title of ‘Ace.’ Official recognition came on 20 August when he was gazetted with the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). His citation reads:
Image courtesy of Air Historical Branch.
“Fg Off Davis has been engaged on operational flying since 3rd September 1939. He has taken part in nearly all patrols and interceptions carried out by the squadron. He has been a section leader for the last 2 months, and on several occasions has led his flight. Fg Off Davis has personally destroyed 6 enemy aircraft, and severely damaged several others. He has shown great keenness and courage.”
During September of 1940 a further five kills were notched up as well as promotion to Flight Lieutenant on 3 September. An engagement with fifty enemy aircraft over Woking was modestly noted in his combat report:
"…The squadron was put into a line astern…as we dived, I saw a Me-110 about 2000 feet below the remainder of the formation and ahead of them……I attacked this formation out of the sun in a ¼ head on attack. Black smoke came from the machine fired …… I pulled up over this formation and found myself in the middle of a mass of Me-110s attempting, without much success, to form defensive circles…… After taking several snap shots, the results of which I did not see, I saw a Me-110 about 1000 feet below. I dived on him and opened fire at 200 yards from behind and above.…… I remained on his tail, firing whenever he turned and gave me a plan view. After a couple of bursts his air gunner ceased fire, and he went into a right-handed diving turn and crashed into the sea."
Image courtesy of Air Historical Branch
Sadly, the seemingly invincible Ray was about to see his luck run out.
On 6 September eleven Hurricanes from 601 Squadron were patrolling Mayfield when fifty Me109s surrounded them. The Squadron claimed five Me109s, but two pilots had to bale out.
Two pilots were killed including Ray, who saw his Hurricane crash, inverted, in the garden of a cottage in Matfield, Tunbridge Wells. He was 29 years old. The Flight Lieutenant was later buried at St Mary’s Churchyard in Storrington, West Sussex.
around one of the squadron's Hurricanes.
Image courtesy of Air Historical Branch
Ray was one of many brave souls who took on the might of the enemy in the skies so that we could enjoy freedom from tyranny.
Ray’s widow was presented with her husband’s DFC in late 1940, but his other campaign medals – the 1939-45 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp, Aircrew Europe Star & 1939-45 Medal - were never claimed.
A chance conversation with Ray’s descendants at a commemorative stone laying service at the National Memorial Arboretum led to the presentation of the medals at the dinner at the RAF Museum in Hendon. The three missing medals have now been mounted alongside his DFC and were presented to Ray’s grandchildren, Rob Davis, Helen Davis and Jules Jermyn by ACM Harv Smyth.
Image courtesy of Richard Gray Photography
It is my great honour and a true privilege to present Ray’s hard-earned medals to Ray’s grandchildren….on behalf of a very grateful Royal Air Force and nation.
Air Chief Marshal Smyth
Wing Commander Chappell MBE, CAS-AS 601 Squadron commented:
“It was also a great privilege to be part of this story and helping the family to claim Ray’s Campaign Medals and thus completing a missing part of Ray’s story and legacy. When collecting Ray’s DFC from the family it was very emotional to be reading the personal letters that Ray had written in the days preceding his death, which give an indication of the combat fatigue that he and his fellow Sqn pilots were suffering from at that point in the Battle. “
Lest we forget.