Author guest post from Malcolm Sutherland.

When researching information to write the biography of Wing Commander Brooker, I was surprised to discover the story behind the presentation of the faux iron cross to him by his fellow pilots on 56 Squadron during the battle of Britain. The cross still exists among his memorabilia.

Relevant sections of the 56 Squadron Operational Record Book for August 1940 reveals the forced landings that Peter had to carry out.

To summarise Peter’s August:-

Over the Month of August 1940 Peter flew 69 sorties in 49 hours and 5 minutes during the month. His crash landings were as follows:-

1. 13.8.40. He crash lands at RAF Hawkhinge, wheels up, following engagement with 12 Heinkel111’s and 30 Me110’s over Rochford. The aircraft is a write off.

In respect of this event , the ORB simply states

“Hurricane flown by Flight Officer R.E.P.Brooker force-landed at Hawkinge following combat over Sheppey with Me109s.”

2. 21.8.40. He crash lands in a field near Ipswich, the aircraft is burned out, after coming across at Do17 while out on patrol and he shoots it down but is hit by return fire.

The ORB simply posts him as ‘Missing’. However the transcript of Peter’s hand written combat report of the engagement is as follows:-

“I was practice flying in the vicinity of Ipswich in formation with P/O Weaver. We were carrying out an R/T test with the forward tender at Martlesham, when the controller warned us that there was a hostile aircraft in the vicinity. F/O Weaver sighted an aircraft about 6 miles away north of Ipswich flying South. We went to investigate and saw the A.A. [anti-aircraft] fire from Wattisham. F/O Weaver lost sight of the aircraft in the clouds, but I saw it come out again and was able to get on its tail as it headed for the next cloud. I closed to about 50yards concentrating on the starboard engine until I lost it in a cloud. I experienced return fire from their top centre gun, some of which must have entered my radiator. I was blinded for a time by fumes and my engine commenced cutting out and then stopped. My windscreen was covered with oil, probably from the Do 17, and I endeavoured to put the aircraft down in a field with the wheels up. I undershot and had to crash into a hedge. The engine was burning but this was put out after about10 minutes by fire extinguishers produced by the LDV [Local Defence Volunteers]. My nose was cut slightly on the reflector sight during the accident. I saw a man was descending by parachute as I was gliding down but did not see the enemy aircraft again. I would not have claimed this as a definite casualty if the people on the ground had not witnessed it coming down after my attack.”

3. 30.8.40. the ORB simply says he crashed, but further research online reveals he crash landed at Harpenden after engagement with enemy bombers attacking Luton.

Thus in a period between the 13th and 30th, he had crashed landed his stricken aircraft 3 times following engagement with the enemy. In fact, he had only flown for 8 days in that period, as from the 21^st through to the 29th he was recuperating from the crash on the 21^st.

In those 8 days of flying, he flew 30 sorties in a total time of 20 hours, but had crash landed three times and survived.

Peter’s experiences didn’t go unnoticed by his fellow pilots on 56, especially the core of them that had been together since before the war. Probably instigated by his best friend Willie Wicks, a faux Iron Cross was made and presented to Peter by all his fellow pilots. It was made utilising metal probably taken from the Dornier Peter had shot down on the 21^st, (he and Willie had visited the crash site and took away with them some souvenirs), some deck chair canvas and a Kensitas cigarette box to act as a presentation case.

The award of this “medal” to Peter was gentle tongue in cheek banter from his fellow pilots pointing to the fact that he had destroyed three hurricanes – and that if he were a German pilot, he would get an award. But beyond this it was recognition of his skill and airmanship that he had crash landed three times and survived. It is typical of squadron banter and dark humour that was prevalent at the time. It is not surprising that Peter cherished this memento more than any of his other official awards.

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