Nationality: British

Unit: 501 Squadron

Serial number: N2617

Call sign: N/K

Date of loss: 18th August 1940

One of four Hurricanes shot down by Oberleutnant Gerhard Schoepfel of JG26 over Canterbury in an action lasting a mere five minutes. Schoepfel was leading the unit in the absence of its usual commander, Major Adolf Galland.

JG 26 were flying on a fighter sweep ahead of a German bomber formation when they spotted the Hurricanes of 501 squadron, who had scrambled from RAF Gravesend, beneath them. The Hurricanes were climbing in a wide spiral over Canterbury in formations of three aircraft each i.e. 'Vic' formation. The Vic was the standard RAF flying formation of the time, but was rapidly becoming obsolete in tactical terms with the high speed of modern fighters. At a height and tactical disadvantage and not having observed their enemy, the Hurricanes were effectively sitting ducks.

This aircraft flown by Sergeant Donald McKay was the third to be shot down, at 1.32pm, crashing at Dargate (between Faversham and Whitstable) in Kent. Sgt McKay was able to escape by parachute, but suffered from burns which were sufficiently serious for him to be hospitalised. He eventually re-joined his unit on the 12th September, 1940.

Oberleutnant Schoepfel was decorated with the Ritterkreuz for this action, which resulted in his 8th, 9th 10th and 11th victories. He survived the war with a final rank of Major and 45 confirmed victories. Likewise, Donald McKay survived the Battle of Britain and the war with 20 confirmed victories.

The small items which we have from this particular crash site are a section of aluminium casing, maker marked B T-H (British Thomson-Houston), which would have originated from the magneto, distributor assembly or compressor for the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. There is also an end to some brass pipe work dated January 1940, a union clip for the engine pipe work and a small section of circuit board with the resistors still intact.

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