Sir – I read with great interest your brief obituary of Mr Richard Jones of Witney, who was a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain and who has recently died aged 93. He was one of the RAF Fighter Command heroic “Few” who, against overwhelming odds of German aircraft, had a crucial, front-line role in defending the UK in the dark days of 1940.
Out of respect to the memory of Mr Jones and his fellow fighter pilots, it is necessary to clarify the record. Your obituary (March 15) stated that: “He joined the Battle of Britain on September 16, 1940”, also you reported that Mr Jones “was one of the very few fighter pilots to fly for the entire duration of the Battle of Britain”.
It is accepted by both RAF and Luftwaffe air records that the Battle of Britain effectively began on July 10, 1940 and, with variations in the intensity of aerial combat, continues until October 31, 1940. The “peak” day for German aircraft losses was Sunday, September 15.
On a point of usual RAF terminology, fighter aircraft do not fly “raids”, as you reported. It is bombers that fly raids. Fighter aircraft are usually described as flying sorties or missions.
J.H. Williams, (ex-RAF officer), Oxford
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