wˌaɪl stˈeɪʃənd æɾ ˌɑːɹɹˌeɪˈɛf hˈoːɹntʃɜːtʃ, hiː ɹᵻkˈoːɹdᵻd hɪz fˈɜːst səksˈɛs ˌɔn twˈɛnti ˈeɪt dʒuːlˈaɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wɛn hiː ʃˈɑːt dˌaʊn ɐ mˈɛsɚʃmˌɪt bˌiːˈɛf wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪn ʌv dʒˌeɪdʒˈiː fˈɪfti wˈʌn.
While stationed at RAF Hornchurch, he recorded his first success on 28 July 1940 when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG 51.