Seventy years after Biggin Hill fighter station notched up the sector’s 1,000th kill, veterans gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion. ROBERT FISK went along to hear their stories.

AS VICTORIES mounted up in May 1943 there was tremendous rivalry between the two squadrons based at Biggin Hill as to who would shoot down the 1,000th enemy aircraft.

Station Commander Group Captain ‘Sailor’ Malan encouraged the competition, even to the extent of organising a sweepstake.

And after several sorties on May 7 brought the total of kills to 998, the moment came eight days later on May 15 when both No. 611 (West Lancashire) Auxiliary Squadron and No. 341 (GC II/2 ‘Alsace’) Squadron of the Free French Air Force were airborne.

In the ensuing dogfight with FW190s, 611’s Canadian Squadron Leader Jack Charles gained the 999th and, lining up another enemy aircraft, fired at the same time as Rene Mouchotte of 341 who shot down another FW190.

So just who shot down the 1,000th raider is not precisely known and after much discussion the honour was shared and Biggin Hill was besieged by the media.

The pilots were photographed chalking on the final 0 of the 1,000 on the propeller of a Spitfire.

News Shopper: Airmen in 1943 celebrate the 1,000th kill by chalking the number on a Spitfire propeller.

And last Wednesday some surviving veterans who had flown from Biggin Hill during World War Two recreated the moment at the heritage hangar.

Flight Lieutenant Rodney Scrase DFC, who flew 250 operations mostly in Italy and Tunisia, said: “It’s exciting to be back here.

“I live in Bromley and Biggin Hill is on my route map and we go down the valley behind and I meet up with the Battle of Britain Supporters Club.

“I came to Biggin Hill to fly Mark IX Spitfires.

“I was 21 and I knew that I was going to be prepared for operational activities in North Africa."

Mr Scrase, 92, added: “The first time I encountered the enemy was when we came across a bunch of Italian fighters.

“Some of the people in the formation bailed out before we got to shooting distance.

“I remember seeing a man in white overalls and a posh pair of boots and then I remember seeing one of the boots going right past me.”

Warrant Officer Maurice Macey was tasked with the honour of chalking up the zero on the celebratory day.

The 90-year-old said: “I think it’s important events like this are commemorated and it is nice to be invited.

He is a member of the Caterpillar Club, an honour given to people who have successfully used a parachute to bail out of a plane, after his plane was shot down in flames by anti-aircraft fire in the Battle of Falaise in August 1944.

“I came down amongst a troop of Germans, it was one of those things that one did not want to happen but it did.

“I spent the last year of the war as a prisoner of war on a so-called death march.

“The Russians were coming so the Germans forced the whole POW camp to go on this march to escape from them as the Germans were terrified of the Russians.

“Eventually we were rescued by Americans.”