Appendix B - 'Combat Report'

Date:- 2/7/43.

Time:-1802½B.

Position: ½ mile South of St. John's Lock, Lechlade, Berks.

Duty: Swimming Reconnaissance.

No. and Type of E/A:- One bull.

Own Machines: Red 1 - Royal Enfield, Red 2 - Rudge Whitworth

Casualties: Own - Nil, Enemy - Nil.

Ammunition Expended: Two packed lunches.

Narrative (This is to include details of own and enemy tactics, together with a brief account of combat, etc.)

1. Having become separated from the main formation, Red 1 (T/C/II Griffiths) and Red (C/O Spurgeon) were refuelling when Red 1 sighted an E/A believed to be a bull at 500 yards on the port quarter. E/A had four legs, a long tail, two heavy calibre horns fixed in the nose, brown and white camouflage and a malevolent expression.

2. Red I took off rapidly, closely followed by Red 2, as the E/A closed at great speed with obvious hostile intent. Our hostellers were heavily outnumbered and rapid evasive action was taken by diving into wire and bush cover. The E/A was successfully evaded and was last seen heading in a North Westerly direction at great speed, emitting noises.

3. All our hostellers returned, without damage, to their base.

Signed: D.R.L.Griffiths, Red 1; R.W.Spurgeon, Red 2

Unit Commander's Opinion of Attack: Subsequent investigation has established that the E/A referred to as a bull was, in fact, a cow! No further comment appears necessary. Signed: A. Prune, P/O.

Station Commander's Opinion: Never heard so much tosh in all my life. Signed: Ive Heardet, K/O.

• For E/A (Enemy Aircraft) read Excited Animal.

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