(611 squadron) and Mouchotte both destroyed an Fw 190 of I./JG 2, as the Biggin Hill Wing's 999th and 1,000th kill claim. He was shot down and killed in combat with Fw 190s of JG 26 during Ramrod S.8, escorting Flying Fortresses on the first daylight raid to Blockhaus d'Éperlecques in the Pas de Calais on 27 August 1943. After take off at 18.02 hours No. 341 squadron flew with bombers to a point 5 miles N.W. of Saint-Pol-sur-Mer where the whole formation turned to port on a direct course for the target. Halfway between Saint-Pol and Saint-Omer the Fortresses were attacked by several formations of Fw 190s diving out of the sun. Breaking to meet these attacks which were coming mostly from behind, the squadron became split up and a general melee followed which lasted for about 15–17 minutes. Cmdt. Mouchotte (Red 1) became separated from the squadron and las last heard to say on the R/T:"I am alone with the bombers". Nothing more was seen or heard after. His body was later washed ashore on 3 September and was buried in Middelkerke, Belgium. After the War in 1949, his body was exhumed, repatriated and buried in the family tomb at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris on 3 November after a memorial service with full military honours conducted at Les Invalides in Paris. In the same combat, 341 Squadron lost also Blue 4 F/Sgt Pierre Magrot who was last seen going down with Fw 190 on his tail. Both were killed by Uffz. Schöhl of 8./JG 26, Spitfire 5 km. N.W. Dunkirk at 6.000-6.500 m. 19.50 (Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.12) and Hptm. Kurt Ebersberger of 4./JG 26, Spitfire St. Pol at 2.000-50 m. 19.50 (Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.130). He had accumulated some 1,748 flying hours, including 408 operational hours flying 382 war sorties. He had claimed two aircraft destroyed (with a further one "shared"), one "probable" and one damaged. Legacy After the war, his diaries and flying logs were compiled into a book by Andre Dezarrois which was published in France in 1949 as "Les carnets de René Mouchotte, 1940-1943" and later as "Mes carnets : juin 1940-août 1943". In 1956 it was translated into English by Philip John Stead and published in the United Kingdom under the title The Mouchotte Diaries; by the following year, eight editions had been printed. The book was reissued in France