ˌɔn fˈɪftiːn ˈɔːɡəst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˌaɪl ˌɔn ɐ tˈɛmpɚɹˌɛɹi ɹˈɛst bɹˈeɪk æɾ ˌɑːɹɹˌeɪˈɛf kˈæɾɚɹˌɪk, hɪz skwˈɑːdɹən wʌz ɪn ˈækʃən ɐɡˈɛnst ɐ lˈʌftwɑːf fˈoːɹs ʌv wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti bˈɑːmɚz ænd twˈɛnti wˈʌn mˈɛsɚʃmˌɪt bˌiːˈɛf wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd tˈɛn fˈaɪɾɚz ɐlˈɔŋ ðə jˈɔːɹkʃɚ kˈoʊst nˌɪɹ hˈɑːɹtlɪpˌuːl.
On 15 August 1940 while on a temporary rest break at RAF Catterick, his squadron was in action against a Luftwaffe force of 120 bombers and 21 Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighters along the Yorkshire coast near Hartlepool.